Undergraduate Course: Indigenous Political Thought (PLIT10193)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces some of the key texts and figures of indigenous political thought, and some of the major academic responses to it. It is grounded in the global history of settler colonialism and indigenous resistance, in both theory and practice. It thereby provides students with the tools critically to assess the challenges and potential for engagement with indigenous worldviews within and across the Western human and social sciences. |
| Course description |
This course has three main themes. The first introduces conceptual approaches to the study of indigenous politics: topics may include indigeneity, (settler) colonialism, (dis)possession, civilization and empire, property, progress, genocide, etc. The second surveys practices and strategies of indigenous politics: topics may include indigenous globalisms and (inter)nationalisms; spiritualism; traditionalism; communalism; 3rd and 4th Worldism; Indianismo, Andyan Utopianism, pan-Maya movements, and Red Power; recognition, reconciliation, and resurgence, etc. The third critically assesses academic approaches to indigeneity and indigenous politics: topics here may include Indigenous studies; decolonizing methodologies; grounded political theory, etc. Throughout, we will be concerned with the relevance and legacies of global indigenous activism to contemporary political struggles: these may include indigenous land claims, climate colonialism, reparations, etc.
The course prioritizes dialogical seminar engagement grounded in close, careful reading of classic texts of indigenous political thought. Some sessions may be introduced by a brief theoretical overview or historical contextualization. But students primarily engage with difficult ideas and concepts directly through discussion
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least four Politics/IR courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). Only university/college level courses will be considered |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
85 %,
Practical Exam
15 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Final Essay (2,500 words) 70%
Discussion posts (1,000 words) 15%
Regular and Active Seminar Participation 15%
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| Feedback |
Feedback on all written assessed work shall normally be returned within three weeks of submission. Formative feedback on non-written assessed work shall normally be provided during class. Where this is not possible, students shall be given clear expectations regarding the timing and methods of feedback. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of key texts and thinkers of indigenous political thought
- evaluate arguments about the nature and implications of settler colonialism
- assess epistemic, normative, and strategic questions about indigenous politics
- write clearly and confidently about core concepts in political theory and the history of political thought
- defend interpretations of challenging historical and theoretical texts which discuss indigenous political thought
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Reading List
George Manuel. 2019 [1974]. The Fourth World: An Indian Reality. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Huanani-Kay Trask. 1993. From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawai'i. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press.
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson. 2017. As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom through Radical Resistance. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Fausto Reinaga. 1969. La revolución india. La Paz: Partido Indio Boliviano.
Ranginui Walker. 1990. Ka whawhai tonu matou = Struggle without end. Auckland, NZ: Penguin.
Demetrio Cojtí Cuxil. 1997. El movimiento maya : en Guatemala. Guatemala: Cholsamaj. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
creative problem solvers and researchers
critical and reflective thinkers
skilled communicators
curiosity for learning that makes a positive difference
passion to engage locally and globally |
| Keywords | indigenous,political theory,settler colonialism,anticolonialism,decolonization,imperialism |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jared Holley
Tel:
Email: jholley@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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