Course Overview

Today, Indigenous Peoples’ rights are outlined in international law conventions such as the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) or the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (through the Nagoya Protocol). This course will investigate how and whether these rights are being put into action through norm and regulation processes around the world at the national and local levels. In order to do this, it will take a deeper look at the theories of postcolonialism, decolonisation and anti-colonialism proposed by academics and activists. Mainly focusing on British settler societies, this course will also investigate the different methods of colonisation: trade, religion, culture, science, mapping, and knowledge production. It will discuss the pre-colonial, the colonial period and its aftermath. We will explore such questions such as, what are traditional knowledge, customary law systems and the different forms of indigenous governance? What are Indigenous Peoples’ connections to Nature and how do they differ to Western practices? How was colonial power enforced and what are its remnants today? How is justice perceived and can it be achieved for Indigenous Peoples? What are Indigenous Peoples doing to attain what they want? What (re)conciliation processes exist between Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in settler colonies? In taking this course, students will be asked to reflect on the notion of ‘Western society’, and analyse what the features of a true ‘postcolonial society’ might be and whether one can exist.

Schedule:

Students will be required to prepare for each lecture: the reading of an article/book excerpts, or the viewing of media documents, and the answering of questions. Student’s grades for this course will consist of an evaluation of student class participation and a written paper or oral exam (depending on class numbers).

Learning Achievement

Competence

Course prerequisites

Grading Philosophy

Final exam

Course schedule

Course type

Lecture

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Ms Reia Anquet

Other information

Course content can evolve at any time before the start of the course. It is strongly recommended to discuss with the course contact about the detailed program.

Please consider the following deadlines for inbound mobility to Grenoble:
- April 1st, 2020 for Full Year (September to June) and Fall Semester (September to January) intake ;
- September 1st, 2020 for Spring Semester intake (February – June).

Site for Inquiry