Political Economy and Social Movements: Race, Class and Gender

In this program, we will examine the nature, development and concrete workings of modern capitalism as well as the interrelationship of race, class and gender in historical and contemporary contexts. In fall quarter, the U.S. experience will be the central focus, whereas winter quarter will have a global focus. Recurring themes will be the relationship among oppression, exploitation, social movements, reform and fundamental change, and the construction of alternatives to capitalism, nationally and globally. We will examine how social change has occurred in the past, present trends, and alternatives for the future. We will also examine different theoretical frameworks such as liberalism, Marxism, feminism, anarchism and neoclassical economics, and their explanations of the current U.S. and global political economy.

In fall quarter, we will begin with the colonization of Native North America, and the material and ideological foundations of the U.S. political economy, including the historical development of capitalism from the 18th century to the present. We will explore specific issues including the slave trade, racial, gender and economic inequality, the labor movement and the western push to "American Empire." We will also carefully examine the linkages from the past to the present between the economic core of capitalism, political and social structures, and gender, race and class relations. We will also study microeconomics principles from a neoclassical and a political economy perspective. Within microeconomics, we will study various topics and concepts such as the structure and failure of markets, work and wages, and the gender and racial division of labor.

In winter quarter, we will examine the interrelationship between the U.S. political economy and the changing global system, as well as U.S. foreign policy. We will study the causes and consequences of the globalization of capital and its effects in our daily lives, international migration, the role of multilateral institutions and the meaning of various trade agreements and regional organizations and alliances. This program will also analyze the response of feminist, environmental and peace movements in opposing this emerging global order in countries such as Venezuela and Bolivia. We will look at alternatives to neoliberal capitalism including socialism, participatory economies and community-based economies. We will study macroeconomic theory and policy and examine key components of Keynesian economics. We will study the determinants and impact of inflation and unemployment and various indicators of economic well-being. Students will be introduced to competing theories of international trade and finance in the context of examining their applicability in the global South and North.