Descriptif

This course examines the social dimensions of racial identity politics and racial diversity in contemporary France, especially with regards to French racial minorities. We will review how social scientists have made sense of race and ethnicity through key concepts, theories, historical accounts, and empirical research.

We will also examine the “sites/locations” where racial/ethnic experiences take place and identify the contextual factors that make racial identities and that define race relations in contemporary France. Some common sites social scientists look at are social institutions such as work/economy, culture, media, and politics.

The main objectives of this course are:

®    Provide key concepts to discuss issues of racial politics in France.

®    Identify how race and ethnicity has shaped the lives of different majority and minority groups in France.

®    Utilize key scholarly literature to discuss issues related to race and ethnicity in contemporary France.

Some of the issues that will be discussed in class include:

®    Overview of the major concepts: race, racism, discrimination, prejudice

®    National identity, nationality, citizenship

®    Immigration versus racial minorities

®    Naming and numbering

®    Socio-economic structures

®    Politics and public policy