Friday July 21, 2006
What ethnic studies is
In this respect, they have made a start by venturing into an area “where angels fear to tread”.
However on the basis of almost a lifetime of studies, research and experience in this area I would like to make certain suggestions so that the course itself can continue, albeit in a different format.
The first thing is to recognise that ethnic studies come within the rubric of “area of comparative” studies.
This means simply that there are no specific answers to questions posed.
In academic conceptualisation, there are no sufficient conditions (one-factor causation), only necessary conditions (more than one factor) to explain behaviour, and this too within a comparative perspective of the social sciences.
This means that we look at the issues or problems mainly as political, economic and social causes. There are, of course, others as well.
This is understandably the most difficult course to teach, particularly to a multi-ethnic student population.
I have found that the most effective way to do this, at least initially, is to use the research findings undertaken by local lecturers (not discriminating against expatriates whose work tends to be somewhat more “complicated”).
Lecturers could make a very useful start by prescribing some selected research findings in books or journals to students beforehand, providing guidelines, and then jointly discussing the material preferably in tutorial-style presentations.
In this way, an important dimension can be included, which is the students' own experiences.
Dr COLLIN ABRAHAM,
Kuala Lumpur.
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