BHUM 17A16 - On Violence and Non-Violence in American Racial Conflicts

This course explores the philosophy of violence and non-violence in various US race-based social movements throughout the twentieth century. We will analyze the historical and conceptual roots of violence and nonviolence, compare case studies of armed and unarmed struggles between diverse racial groups, and identify some important critiques on violent and nonviolent strategies. Classes will apply a theoretical and empirical framework to analyze movement organization and leadership, action repertoires, political compromises and complex interactions between gender, class and ethnicity. Particular attention will be paid to a relational approach to race in order to study multiple voices of marginalized groups. Students will be able to understand the rationale and goal of violence and nonviolence in racial protests and debate the growing body of counternarratives on race and intersecting identities.

Laure ASSAYAG-GILLOT

Séminaire

English

Required readings will be provided electronically. We will rely on a wide range of primary sources, including manifestos against racial injustice, radical writings on State violence and the art of racial dissent.

Autumn and Spring 2020-2021

Reading report (25%) 300 words +/-10% (Times New Roman 12, single spacing) Comparative reading (25%), 1000 words +/-10% (Times New Roman 12, single spacing) Essay (50%), 2000 words +/-10% (Times New Roman 12, single spacing)