2020-21 Academic Catalog

Does social difference always lead to conflict and inequality?  Can we forge common ground with justice across deep differences?  What forms of respect, recognition, reciprocity, and redistribution do democratic citizens owe one another?  We will explore these and related questions through a roughly equal mix of democratic theory and empirical studies of race/class/gender/religion diverse grassroots democratic movements in the U.S.  We will consider the demands and challenges of "different types of difference" (racial-ethnic, gender-sexuality, class-culture, citizenship, language, and religion) for fighting inequity and pursuing ethical democracy in the United States (and beyond).   Prerequisite: The department strongly recommends that Sociology/Anthropology 110 or 111 be taken prior to enrolling in courses number 200 or above