Overview
The role of Buddhism in politics, law, social movements, war and peace-making. Students will examine case studies, original Buddhist texts and latest trends in research.
About this paper
| Paper title | Buddhism, State and Society |
|---|---|
| Subject | Religious Studies |
| EFTS | 0.1500 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2023 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $955.05 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 36 points
- Restriction
- RELS 336, RELS 436
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Theology
- Contact
- Teaching staff
- Textbooks
All readings will be made available electronically.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Communication, Critical thinking, Ethics, Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Self-motivation, Research
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.- Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will have:
- A broad knowledge of the differing ways in which Buddhist thinkers have imagined the ideal relationship between religious and civil power, morality and politics, monks and kings
- A familiarity with the ways in which experiences of direct colonialism and indirect/internal colonialism (e.g. in Siam) have altered the relationships between political power and monastic life
- An ability to assess the ways in which Buddhist notions of governance accommodate, acknowledge and/or permit moral and soteriological diversity
- The ability to make connections between ideals of Ideal governance and historical religious and political realities so as to evaluate the ways in which the first might reflect, subvert or legitimate the other
- The ability to design a research paper, identify a clear research question, conduct independent research using appropriate primary and secondary source materials and to draft a cogent, persuasive and original written argument
Timetable
Overview
The role of Buddhism in politics, law, social movements, war and peace-making. Students will examine case studies, original Buddhist texts and latest trends in research.
Often imagined as a peaceful, other-worldly religion, Buddhism has for a long time been involved in politics, law, statecraft and social movements throughout Asia. This paper considers Buddhist political philosophy and statecraft, Buddhist law and nationalist movements, and a variety of other topics. Although background lectures will be given on some materials, the class will mostly be run as a seminar, with students discussing key issues and analysing texts directly in class.
About this paper
| Paper title | Buddhism, State and Society |
|---|---|
| Subject | Religious Studies |
| EFTS | 0.1500 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1
(Distance learning)
Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $981.75 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 36 points
- Restriction
- RELS 336, RELS 436
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Theology
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Religion website: www.otago.ac.nz/religion
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
Topics covered include:
- Buddhist kingship.
- Buddhist political philosophy.
- Buddhist secularism.
- Buddhism and law.
- Buddhism, race and nationalism.
- Buddhist perspectives on war and peace.
- Buddhist protest movements.
- Buddhism and violence.
- Buddhism, democracy and globalisation.
Assignment:
- Class prep, peer engagement & online discussion 20%
- Essay (incl. outline) 40%
- Final exam (2 hours) 40%
- Teaching Arrangements
One 2-hour lecture per week, plus fortnightly tutorials.
- Textbooks
All readings will be made available electronically.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Communication, Critical thinking, Ethics, Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Self-motivation, Research
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.- Learning Outcomes
By taking this course students will gain:
- A deep awareness of the differing ways in which Buddhists have imagined the ideal relationships between religion, politics, law and statecraft.
- A strong understanding of how Buddhism has been interwoven in Asian society and politics in South, Southeast, East and Himalayan Asia. This includes a better understanding of Asian history and culture more generally.
- A sophisticated knowledge of Buddhist approaches to important legal-political concepts such as democracy, secularism, justice, and law.
- Awareness of the complex ways in which Buddhism has intersected with race, violence, nationalism, politics and other topics.
- Direct experience in reading and analysing Buddhist texts in translation.