PHIL 034. Marx, Marxism, & Race

Few figures have inspired as much admiration and detestation-and even fewer have had as global a reception-as Karl Marx. Movements for justice and emancipation throughout the 20^th century embraced Marxist ideals as alternatives to the hegemonic and totalizing logics of capitalism and liberalism that had (and has) kept the majority of the world’s population in chains, both literally and metaphorically. A study of Marx’s core insights-that the contradictions inherent in capitalism will lead to its (and perhaps our) eventual demise-remains critical if we are to interrogate the resurgence of white supremacist fascism, the logics of neocolonial exploitation, and the origins of the looming climate catastrophes that define our present moment. In this course, we will interrogate the philosophical assumptions regarding history, subjectivity, and alienation that underpin Marx’s critique of capitalism, and assess the many ways these ideas have been taken up, challenged, and reimagined by thinkers working in the service of antifascist, antiracist, and anticolonial struggles for liberation. Alongside those of Marx himself, we will engage with the writings of such thinkers as Antonio Gramsci, W.E.B. DuBois, Amílcar Cabral, Vivek Chibber, Silvia Federici, and C.L.R. James, as well as several contemporary reflections on racial capitalism.
Prerequisite: First- and second-year students must complete one introductory level PHIL course before enrolling in this course.
Humanities.
1 credit.
Fall 2023. Ahmed.
Fall 2024. Ahmed.
Catalog chapter: Philosophy
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/philosophy

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