Analysis and theories of power

Teacher(s)

Zitouni Benedikte;

Language

French

Prerequisites

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Distinguish the different theoretical underpinnings that guide debates on the question of power, its workings and how it is still called into question today. Such knowledge is not only desirable from a societal point of view, it is also useful in that it will facilitate the student's subsequent academic and professional career.

Content

Students will discover and delve into theories of power, its mechanisms, its institutions, its weaknesses and the ways in which different intellectuals, social and political scientists went about qualifying that power. They will have to read and understand several classic texts and will have to show their ability to get into a conversation about these texts as a scholar-to-be. Overall, the course aims at sharpening their critical eye.

Teaching methods

Classes are interactive. They revolve around in-depth discussion and analysis led by the students with help of the professor. Before coming to class, students must read a text every single week. Furthermore, will have to read a book of fiction related to the course, chosen from a compulsory list. All of this is part of the course and can be assessed. Overall, a liking for in-depth reading and intellectual curiosity are a plus for this course, as well as the willingness to learn from one another through discussion.

Evaluation methods

Open-book oral exam.

Other information

As the learning process is an interactive and collective one, weekly attendance is required of students. 

Bibliography

Pendant le cours, nous lirons et analyserons des textes des auteurs·rices suivant·e·s (dans l'ordre prévu, par cluster): Karl Polanyi, Pierre Clastres et Marshall Sahlins; Aimée Césaire, Frantz Fanon et Léopold Senghor; James Baldwin, Audrey Lorde et bell hooks.
Nous visionnerons plusieurs documentaires parmi les titres suivants: Nuit et Brouillard d’Alain Resnais (1956), «1945-1964, L’ouragan africain» dans la série Afrique(s) une autre histoire du 20e siècle réalisée par l’INRA (2010), Ouvrir la voix d'Amandine Gué (2016), I Am Not Your Negro de Raoul Peck (2017) ou encore Dahomey de Mati Diop (2024).
En outre, un livre de fiction est imposé - à lire à la maison - et devra être choisi par les étudiant·e·s parmi une liste de livres des auteurs·rices suivant·e·s: Chinua Achebe, Maryse Condé, Toni Morisson. 

Teaching materials

• Le recueil de textes sera mis à disposition peu avant le début du séminaire.

Faculty or entity

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