F1GD 5715 - Equality, discrimination, Affirmative Action:  A Comparative Perspective

***UPDATED for 2025/26***

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

Daniel SABBAGH

Séminaire

English

- In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

- Reading and Preparation for Class: 6 hours a week / 72 hours a semester

- Research and Preparation for Group Work: 20 hours a semester

- Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 34 hours a semester

None

Spring 2025-2026

(iv) Each student, as part of a two- or three-person team, will make an in-class presentation of 20 to 25 minutes and write a paper (maximum 5,000 words). The paper (on a topic to be defined jointly by the student and the instructor) is due on the date of the final session. The final grade will be determined based on the in-class presentation (50%,) the paper (50%, and in-class participation (potential bonus points).

Feedback will be provided through detailed comments both on the exposé and on the final paper and through answering promptly question regarding the content of the course by email in between sessions if need be.