Deadline for Applications: Monday, December 2, 2024
Established in 1789, King’s College is Canada’s oldest chartered university and is associated with Dalhousie University. A small and extraordinarily lively academic community located in Halifax (Kjipuktuk), Nova Scotia, King’s is known nationally and internationally for its highly acclaimed interdisciplinary programs in the humanities, including its renowned Foundation Year Program, its professional programs in journalism and its fine arts programs in creative writing. King’s is a community where students, faculty, alumni and staff work to bring greater understanding, creativity and compassion to the world.
The Contemporary Studies Program at the University of King’s College invites applications for a Teaching Assistant to handle duties in CTMP 3121.03, “Genocide: Comparative Perspectives.” This is an interdisciplinary course that inquires into the concept of “genocide,” considering the historical, cultural and socio-political in which it arose. Which atrocities have been included in the official UN definition of genocide and why? What is the nature of the relation between “genocide” and “human rights”? Does the fact that the term was coined in a specific context (after the Second World War) limit its applicability to non-European contexts, both prior to and after the war? How has the idea of genocide evolved under the impact of contemporary events and debates, especially in relation to Indigenous peoples’ demands for the recognition of settler colonial genocides? We will examine several documented instances of genocidal violence and reflect on the relations between genocide and the politics of memory, including a variety of representations in literature, film and public commemorations. We will look at competing claims from victim groups and ask questions about the significance of race, gender, ethnicity and religion in targeting a specific population and reflect on the role of world powers’ political and economic interests in deciding about intervention or non-intervention. In the last section of the class, we will consider contemporary instances of war, mass violence and human rights violations, and the claims of targeted groups that they should be recognized under the rubric of genocide.
Candidates may come from various fields and should have at least a master’s degree in a humanities subject. Some familiarity with the subject matter is required, as is prior TA experience at the university level.
Hourly Rate of Pay: $30.05 (classification of TA130). Position is conditional on the course’s final enrollment numbers
To apply for this position, please forward your C.V. (including a statement concerning your teaching experience) to Sharon Brown at sharon.brown@ukings.ca.
Questions regarding the position should be directed to course instructor, Dr. Dorota Glowacka, who can be reached by email at glowacka@dal.ca.
The University of King’s College is committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. We encourage and welcome applications from Indigenous persons (especially Mi’kmaq), persons with a disability, racialized persons, including persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), women, persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversification of our community.