UGLB
3122

Transnational Feminist Politics

Schools of Public Engagement: Global Studies

Transnational Feminist Politic
Spring 2022
Taught By: Esther M. Franke
Section: A

Course Reference Number: 11331

Credits: 4

Solidarity is one of the central concepts of our time. It is evoked – oftentimes uncritically – indiscourses around anti-racism, migration or Covid-19. Transnational feminists have a long history of debating (im)possibilities of solidarities across difference and have highlighted the centrality of struggle in the concept of solidarity. Postcolonial and Black feminists in particular have highlighted the limits of solidarity in power-laden North/South relations. However, transnational feminist movements can be seen as one of the strongest political forces of our time. This course will look at transnational feminist discourses and movements and how they engage with the (im)possibilities of solidarities. How is feminism understood and debated in transnational settings? What role does intersectionality play? How can solidarity be theorized to work for feminist activist practice and what are its theoretical and practical limits? How do feminists build political communities that go beyond the local or national? In this course, students will become familiar with key debates around universalisms and particularisms, difference, scale, knowledge making across difference, North/South and South/South relations and complementary or alternative concepts like alliances, coalition or companionship, considering different feminist movements from a global perspective.

College: Schools of Public Engagement (NS)

Department: Global Studies (UGLB)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Seminar (R)

Max Enrollment: 18