Center for the Study of Nationalism

The Center for the Study of Nationalism, under the leadership of Carsten Schapkow, associate professor of history and Judaic studies and L.R. Brammer Jr. Presidential Professor, brings together OU faculty across the campus who are interested in nationalism studies. On its board are Karin Schutjer of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, Jim Cane Carrasco of the Department of History, Afshin Marashi of IAS), and Misha Klein of the Department of Anthropology.

The center has also been a leader in establishing international research partnerships. An essential part of the center’s activities is the collaboration with Nord University in Bodo, Norway. Two edited volumes based on this collaboration have either been published or will be published in October 2022 with de Gruyter:

Nationalism and Populism: Expressions of Fear or Political Strategies? Carsten Schapkow, Frank Jacob (eds.), Berlin: de Gruyter, 2022.

Nationalism in a Transnational Age. Irrational Fears and the Strategic Abuse of Nationalist Pride, Frank Jacob, Carsten Schapkow (eds.) Berlin: de Gruyter, 2021.

In fall 2022, a roundtable with some of the authors of the volumes took place virtually.

The Center for the Study of Nationalism plans to extend the partnership with Nord University to faculty and student exchanges. With the University of Potsdam, similar negotiations are underway: a small grant from the University of Potsdam was recently awarded that will enable a co-teaching seminar with a focus on “Transatlantic Jewish History.” This cooperation will enable cultural exchange between the students at both universities, familiarize them with other university systems and offer incentives for international networking. In this way, the teaching project promotes the international visibility of the Center for the Study of Nationalism on both sides of the Atlantic.

Photo: Director Carsten Schapkow, L.R. Brammer, Jr. Presidential Associate Professor in History, Department of History and Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies