Class 1: Comparative Area Studies
Lecture objective: the lecture will explore the emerging field of Comparative Area Studies and the theoretical and methodological opportunities and challenges that it presents
Core reading (*priority)
Ahram, A. I. (2011), ‘The Theory and Method of Comparative Area Studies’, Qualitative Research, 11, 1: 69-90 Ahram, A. I., P. Köllner, and R. Sil eds. (2025) Advancing Comparative Area Studies: Analytical Heterogeneity and Organizational Challenges (Oxford University Press), chs 1 -3
Ahram, A., I. P. Köllner, and R. Sil, eds. (2018) Comparative Area Studies: Methodological Rationales and Cross-regional Applications (Oxford University Press), chs 1-4
Further reading
Basedau, M., Köllner, P. (2007), ‘Area Studies, Comparative Area Studies, and the Study of Politics: Context, Substance, and Methodological
Challenges’ Zeitschrift für Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft (German Journal of Comparative Politics), 1, 105–124.
Hoffmann, B. (2015), ‘Latin America and Beyond: The Case for Comparative Area Studies’, European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies / Revista Europea de Estudios Latinoamericanos y Del Caribe, 100: 111–20
Middell M. ed. (2018), The Routledge Handbook of Transregional Studies (Routledge), ch. 6
Milutinovic, Z., ed. (2019) The Rebirth of Area Studies: Challenges for History, Politics and International Relations in the 21st Century (I.B. Tauris), ch 6
Presentation objective: presenters will consider the strengths and weakness of Comparative Area Studies with reference to specific pieces of research
Reading
Ahram, Ariel Ira, Patrick Köllner, and Rudra Sil eds. Advancing Comparative Area Studies: Analytical Heterogeneity and Organizational Challenges Oxford University Press. 2025, ch. 10 (human rights)
Ahram, A. I., P. Köllner, and R. Sil, eds. (2025) Advancing Comparative Area Studies: Analytical Heterogeneity and Organizational Challenges (Oxford University Press), ch. 8 (China and Russia), ch. 9 (Middle East), ch. 10 (Africa, Asia, Middle East), ch. 11 (Latin America and Africa), ch. 12 (China)
Chaisty, P., N. Cheeseman and T. Power (2018), Coalitional Presidentialism in Comparative Perspective: Minority Presidents in Multiparty Systems (Oxford University Press), chs. 1-2
Harris, E. and H. Baumann (2019), ‘Identity and War: Comparisons and Connections between the Balkans and the Middle East”, East European Politics, 35, 4: 401-414
Sil, R. and A.I Ahram (2020), ‘Comparative Area Studies and the Study of the Global South’, Vestnik RUDN. International Relations, 20, 2: 279—287
Class 2: Area Studies, Transnational and Transregional Studies
Lecture objective: the lecture will discuss the impact of Transnationalism on Area Studies
Core reading (*priority)
Dávila, J. (2011), ‘Ethnicity, Latin American Area Studies, and Transnationalism’, Latin American and Caribbean Ethnic Studies 6, 2: 225-232 * Matthias M. ed. (2018), The Routledge Handbook of Transregional Studies (Routledge), introduction & ch. 1
Mielke, K. and A.-K. Hornidge eds (2017), Area Studies at the Crossroads: Knowledge Production after the Mobility Turn (Palgrave), pp. 289-307
Vertovec, S. (2009) Transnationalism (Routledge), introduction
Further reading
Boccagni, P. (2012), ‘Rethinking Transnational Studies: Transnational Ties and the Transnationalism of Everyday Life’, European Journal of Social Theory 15, 1: 117-13
Freitag, Ulrike, and Achim Von Oppen (2010), ‘Introduction.‘Translocality’: An Approach to Connection and Transfer in Area Studies’. In Translocality (Brill)
pp. 1-21
Mintz, S. W. (1998), ‘The Localization of Anthropological Practice: From Area Studies to Transnationalism’, Critique of Anthropology 18, 2: 117-133
Portes, A., L. E. Guarnizo and P. Landolt (1999), ‘The Study of Transnationalism: Pitfalls and Promise of an Emergent Research Field’, Ethnic and Racial Studies 22:2: 217-237
Presentation objective: presenters will summarise and assess one or more pieces of research combining Transnational and Area Studies themes
Reading
Dupont, A. (2001), East Asia Imperilled: Transnational Challenges to Security (Cambridge University Press) Middell M. ed. (2018), The Routledge Handbook of Transregional Studies (Routledge) (covers a variety of different policy areas)
Oza, R. (2016), ‘The Entanglements of Transnational Feminism and Area Studies’, Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 34, 5: 836-842
Risse-Kappen, T. (1995), ed. Bringing transnational Relations Back In: Non-State Actors, Domestic Structures and International Institutions (Cambridge
University Press) (covers a variety of different policy areas)
Yamaura, C. (2015), ‘Marrying Transnational, Desiring Local: Making “Marriageable Others” in Japanese–Chinese Cross-border Matchmaking’. Anthropological Quarterly 88, 4: 1029-1058
Class 3: Area Studies and Globalization
Lecture objective: the lecture will explore the challenges and opportunities that Globalization presents to Area Studies
Core reading (*priority)
Ludden, D. (2000), ‘Area Studies in the Age of Globalization’, Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 6, 1: 1-22
Robertson, R. (1995), ‘Glocalization: Time-Space and Homogeneity-Heterogeneity’ in M. Featherstone, S. Lash and R. Robertson, eds., Global Modernities, (Sage), pp. 25-44
Middell M and K Naumann (2010), ‘Global history and the Spatial Turn: From the Impact of Area Studies to the Study of Critical Junctures of Globalization’, Journal of Global History, 5, 1:149-170
Mirsepassi, A., A. Basu and F. Weaver, eds. (2003), Localizing Knowledge in a Globalizing World: Recasting the Area Studies Debate (Syracuse University Press), chs. 1, 3-4, 7, 12
Further reading
Gille, Z. and S. Ó Riain (2002), ‘Global Ethnography’, Annual Review of Sociology 28: 271-295
Juergensmeyer, Mark et al. eds (2018), The Oxford Handbook of Global Studies (Oxford University Press), chs. 1, 5-6
Walter, S. (2001), ‘The Backlash Against Globalization’, Annual Review of Political Science 24: 421-442.
Presentation objective: presenters will discuss the response of different fields of Area Studies to the challenge of Globalization
Reading
Barter, S. J. (2015), ‘Area Studies, Asian Studies, and the Pacific Basin’, Geographical Review, 105, 1: 105–119 Mendieta, E. (2005), ‘Re-mapping Latin American studies: Postcolonialism, Subaltern Studies, Postoccidentalism and Globalization Theory’, Dispositio 25, 52: 179-202
Mirsepassi, A., A. Basu and F. Weaver, eds. (2003), Localizing knowledge in a Globalizing World: Recasting the Area Studies Debate (Syracuse University Press) chs. 8 (African studies), 10 (Middle Eastern Studies), 11 (East Asian Studies)
Jackson, P. A. (2003), ‘Space, Theory, and Hegemony: the Dual Crises of Asian Area Studies and Cultural Studies’, Sojourn: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia 18, 1: 1-41 Stetter, S. (2012), ‘The Middle East and Globalization: Encounters and Horizons’, in The Middle East and Globalization: Encounters and Horizons (Palgrave), pp. 1-17.
Class 4: Conclusions and research presentations
The concluding seminar will wrap up with a summary of the key learnings, and will give students the opportunity to present their own research ideas on themes raised by the course.
Last update: Buben Radek, PhDr., Ph.D. (05.02.2026)
