***UPDATED for 2023/24***
This multidisciplinary seminar is located at the intersection of political science, law, philosophy, sociology, social psychology, and economics. While considering in greater detail the US historical experience, it will provide a comparative exploration of affirmative action policies including the cases of India, South Africa, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France. Some of its goals are to examine the connections (or lack thereof) between philosophical theories of social justice and equality and antidiscrimination law and policies; to disaggregate the notion of ‘discrimination' so as to highlight distinctions that are relevant to policy analysis; to clarify the links between racism, discrimination, and affirmative action; and to distinguish and assess the potential justifications for affirmative action, while accounting for the predominance of some over others in political and legal spheres.
Learning Outcomes
1. Familiarity with the main conceptions of justice, equality, and discrimination
2. Identify and account for the most distinctive features of the U.S. case
3. Compare affirmative action policies across countries
Professional Skills
Justify a position on a complex, equality-related policy issue
Understand legal decisions on equality-related issues
Assess the effectiveness of an equality-related policy