PO210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Social Darwinism, Intersectionality, Critical Race Theory
Document Summary
Highlights the lack of attention that cls directed to race power dynamics in particular. Race is a social construction rather than biological reality (social darwinism) Race is primarily systemic and only derivatively discrete; Law is a tool used to perpetuate racial biases and racist practices. Crt advocates for an activist approach to promote change, often through storytelling. Branches off of cls by attending more to the biases towards women. Liberal feminists advocate for stronger individual rights for women (including greater representation in existing institutional schemes); others (radical feminists) call for dismantling of the inherently discriminatory patriarchal system. Challenges the traditional view that law is top- down, state-centric. Points to various legal structures that exist alongside one another at the domestic level and at the international level and by exposing instances where non-state actors develop regulatory rules for particular areas of law. Acknowledges the existence of multiple legal regimes at the same time in the same space produced by various actors.
