Policing Racial Capitalism (020IRA)
Policing Racial Capitalism
Module 020IRA
Module details for 2021/22.
30 credits
FHEQ Level 6
Full Module Description
What are prisons? How is state violence linked to extraction and accumulation? Should the police be abolished?
In this course, we examine the relationship between racism, carcerality, and the history of global capitalism. Drawing on Marxist approaches, post/decolonial theory, feminism, and critical Indigenous studies, we examine the colonial and transnational roots of borders, detention centres, prisons, and policing. Moving from the local to the global鈥攆rom Grenfell to Guantanamo, Windrush to Palestine, Yarl's Wood to Standing Rock鈥攚e think about how seemingly 鈥渘ew鈥 and 鈥渘eoliberal鈥 forms of state violence have been a constant feature of racial and colonial capitalism. In doing so we ultimately explore what an abolitionist world without prisons, police, and borders might look like.
Module Outline
What are prisons? How is state violence linked to extraction and accumulation? Should the police be abolished?
In this course, we examine the relationship between racism, carcerality, and the history of global capitalism. Drawing on Marxist approaches, post/decolonial theory, feminism, and critical Indigenous studies, we examine the colonial and transnational roots of borders, detention centres, prisons, and policing. Moving from the local to the global鈥攆rom Grenfell to Guantanamo, Windrush to Palestine, Yarl's Wood to Standing Rock鈥攚e think about how seemingly 鈥渘ew鈥 and 鈥渘eoliberal鈥 forms of state violence have been a constant feature of racial and colonial capitalism. In doing so we ultimately explore what an abolitionist world without prisons, police, and borders might look like.
Module learning outcomes
Examine the relationship between racism, capitalism, and carcerality using a variety of theoretical approaches.
Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the transnational history of borders, prisons, and police.
Identify and summarise the historical connections between a range of geographically distinct carceral sites.
Critically evaluate core academic debates about prisons and policing in a historical perspective.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 30.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Group Presentation | T1 Week 11 (10 minutes) | 33.33% |
| Essay | T1 Week 7 | 66.67% |
| Essay (3500 words) | Semester 1 Assessment Week 1 Mon 16:00 | 70.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Semester | Seminar | 3 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Dr Ida Danewid
Assess convenor, Convenor
/profiles/480436
Dr Melanie Richter-Montpetit
Assess convenor
/profiles/349663
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