Descriptif

How is it that voters make decisions that are in opposition to their own interests? Why don’t Americans enact stronger gun control laws? Should protesting, blocking traffic or throwing milkshakes on politicians be qualified as political action?

In this course, we’ll apply an interdisciplinary approach, mobilizing political theory, philosophy, history and literature to try to understand what has been called the crisis of contemporary democracy. More specifically, we’ll attempt to isolate the power struggles underlying the political and social landscape all types of people are attempting to navigate.

Coursework will culminate in a project focusing on one specific problem, tension or historical moment that the student(s) will attempt to understand using the different tools and theoretical notions we’ll have explored. A great deal of discussion, reflection and energy will dominate our sessions!