POL379H1S L5101
Topics in Comparative Politics III
Race and Politics in America
Themes
This seminar draws from a variety of sources to understand contemporary politics of racial & ethnic identity. Much of the class will focus on white perceptions of Black-Americans, other minority groups, and themselves in the United States, to:
• Understand how social identities & psychological perspectives influence how we view ourselves and others, and how these differences find political expression.
• Differentiate between individual-level theories of racism and structural theories of the impact of racism that may persist even when people and policies are unintentionally racist or think they are acting without prejudice;
• Gain insight into recent and/or historical events, including the elections of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, hatred directed at Asian-Americans during COVID, and the debate over how to teach about race and racism in schools.
Texts
Readings drawn from academic articles, newspaper stories, auto-biographies, book chapters and movies that are all available on-line through the university library.
Format and Requirements
Online synchronous course where readings and films will be accessed online. Since the class is synchronous, students will be expected to attend most sessions ‘live’ and be ready to participate in break-out discussions with peers.
A final exam with multiple choice and short answer questions will be administered online via Quercus.
Assignments include a [recorded] presentation and the composition of a reflection journal, plus two short assignments.
Prerequisites
1.0 credit in POL/ JPA/ JPF/ JPI/ JPR/ JPS/ JRA courses