Race, Culture and Nation: Key Concepts in Political Thought

Race, culture, and nation are all familiar concepts in political discourse. The course explores these concepts from three different perspectives. First, it examines the meaning and significance that early modern and modern European thinkers attached to the concepts. Second, it considers the engagement with these concepts that can be found in nineteenth and twentieth century African American political thought. And, third, it explores various normative and theoretical controversies surrounding these concepts arising in contemporary political philosophy. The seminars will be largely driven by student reading and discussion.