Sociology and Criminology
Coloniality, Racism and Inequality
Module code: L3118A
Level 6
15 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Workshop
Assessment modes: Essay
On this module, you’ll explore how ideas of race and racism emerged, from colonialism to today.
From a de- and postcolonial perspective, you’ll examine the histories, geopolitics and institutions of race and racism. You’ll trace the ideas of Europe’s internal and external Others, and the relevance of scientific racism during the Enlightenment. You'll explore different dynamics of racialisation and the effect on hierarchy during colonialism.
Topics include:
- how and why categories such as the ‘Orient’ and the ‘Occident’ were coined
- how and why humans were classified into ‘different races’
- how these classifications operate ambiguously – by producing categorisations and sub-categorisations of belonging
- how the division of labour and property is justified on their basis
- how current policies draw on and reproduce racism
- how people have resisted and mobilised against forms of racist domination.
Through case studies, you’ll also examine how this history shapes whose lives matter today, including:
- current issues, such as the humanitarian crisis at Europe’s borders or the ‘War on Terror’
- how colonial legacies and ideas of difference shape our understanding and practice of:
- Higher Education
- citizenship
- human rights
- borders
- leisure
- travel
- home.
Module learning outcomes
- Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of different sociological perspectives on global social inequalities and consider their relative merits
- Apply the contributions of different strands of de- and postcolonial thought to a variety of country case studies across and beyond Europe
- Analyse and structure material from recent academic research, public debates, and, where relevant, personal experience, to illustrate the conceptual approaches covered in the module
- Conduct independent research and critically appraise diverse sources of knowledge