Race and Racism in Political Theory

Module description

This module analyses the place of race and racism, primarily in ‘Western’ political theory. Many of the great, classic Western political thinkers make controversial comments on racial issues, e.g. offering apparently universalistic claims about all humans being equal or perfectible, but also denigrating certain ethnic groups or supporting racialised slavery. Yet Western academics have mostly overlooked these tensions, as if political theory can be detached from questions of race.

This module will thus discuss such matters as: when did racism originate, and how far back in history does it go? What different kinds of racism are there? How racist are the great thinkers of Western political thought and philosophy, and to what extent can their racism can be separated from their other moral/political arguments? What can we learn about race, and about political theory more generally, from oppressed/marginalised Western and non-Western theorists? What does it mean when these issues and thinkers are overlooked? And what can we learn from depictions of race and racism in art, music and literature, historically and today? (This last topic will be an enjoyable way to end the term but will not be part of the assessments.)

Assessment details

2,500-word essay (50%) & 2,500-word essay (50%)

Educational aims & objectives

This course is designed to help students:

• compare, contrast and assess different ideas of and about race and racism in political theory;
• critically assess the implications of what is said and not said about race and racism by political theorists;
• reflect on our place in the knowledge-production process.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

• apply different ideas of race and racism to political ideas and texts;
• uncover, analyse and evaluate empirical and normative assumptions about race in political texts;
• critically assess the importance of authors’ ideas about race to their other political arguments;
• address whether, and to what extent, ideas about race and racism can be separated from other aspects of political theory
• explain what it means when these ideas are systematically excluded from study.

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.