Ethnolinguistic and Ethnoreligious Nationalism(s) in Education in the Context of Global Crises: Symposium on the Humanities and Education

The ascension of populist leaders (e.g., Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, Donald Trump in the US, Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka) keenly supported by ethnoreligious and ethnolinguistic groups and movements in democratic societies is a global phenomenon in the past decade. In their struggle for power, neo-nationalist groups (e.g., Boko Haram in Nigeria, Buddhist-nationalists in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, and Bharatiya Janata Party of India) have led to crimes against humanity testing the strength and boundaries of democratic societies and their values. Neo-nationalist movements have impacted education systems making schools and other educational institutions a site of struggle between proponents and detractors of ethnocentric education.

We are convening a one-day symposium on the 3rd of March, 2023, on the topic of Ethnolinguistic and Ethnoreligious Nationalism(s) in Education in the Context of Global Crises. The theme of the symposium emerged as our sensitivity to ethnonationalist violence around the world, especially in Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, China, and the US during the past decade.

Invited Speakers
Mary Juzwik
Professor, Department of Teacher Education & Department of English, MSU

Sitara Thobani
Assistant Professor, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, MSU

Arjuna Parakrama, Professor of English, Department of English, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka