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LSJ 490: Inequality and Politics in the 21st Century

Inequality is a ubiquitous feature of social and political life in the 21^st century. We all experience it every day in our personal relationships, at the UW, and in the workplace. In national politics, inequality has received increasing attention amid crises like the Great Recession and the Covid-19 pandemic, and protests for racial and gender justice. At the international level, inequality is a defining feature of the global economy and international security alike, and its impacts are likely to be exacerbated amid wars and climate change. But what, exactly, is inequality? How can we think about and measure the differences between social, economic and political inequality?  Is inequality a feature or a bug of our institutions? How do people experience inequality and how does it impact politics around the world? In this class, we will think about these questions from an interdisciplinary socio-legal perspective, drawing on research from across the social sciences, and sometimes from fiction, films, and documentaries. We will study inequality in its many manifestations, both within and across countries. Students will produce bi-weekly reading reflections; participate in roundtable discussions of readings; and develop independent research on a topic of their choice that will culminate in Ted Talk-style presentations and advocacy letters.