Contemporary Social and Political Thought

This course examines the evolution of political and social theory from the twentieth century to the present, with emphasis on power, epistemology, European capitalism, identity, and resistance. We engage canonical thinkers (e.g., Marx, Arendt) alongside historically marginalized voices (e.g., King) to interrogate questions of governance, race, gender, queerness, and political economy. The course also explores political theory as a subfield of political science — its relationship to the broader discipline and its role in evaluating ideals of justice, inequality, and human flourishing. Students will critically reflect on what constitutes political theory, whose ideas shape the canon, and why historical texts matter in contemporary debates.