Critical Race Theory Seminar

Discussion - 2 hours. This course examines the relationship between racial power and the law.  Contrary to the dominant legal paradigm which contends that racial subordination is a deviation from the liberal legal ideal, the Critical Race Theory movement views the U.S. legal apparatus as complicit in upholding white supremacy, capitalism and heteropatriarchy.  We will begin the course by focusing on the origins of Critical Race Theory and its relationship to Critical Legal Studies.  Throughout the semester, we will examine CRT's relationship with other radical legal movements, including Feminist Legal Theory and Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), as well as evaluating critiques of CRT from the right. Course materials will include case law and theory, in addition to some legal history.  As part of the class, students will attend and participate in the Aoki Center Interdisciplinary Research Seminar Series on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00 PM, where a range of scholars will discuss their research.

Graduation Requirements: May satisfy Advanced Writing Requirement with instructor's permission.
Final Assessment: Paper