Struggle, Explotation and Global Inequalities

The aim of the module is to introduce the variety of approaches and theoretical tools for a critical and system-specific analysis of modern capitalism and corresponding phenomena such as inequalities, alienation, exploitation, ideology, hegemony. It builds on fundamental issues and questions from the tradition of Marxism and critical social theory and attempts to provide a deep understanding of how the system-specific features and problems of capitalism could be approached, interpreted and challenged.
Firstly, the module will seek to familiarise students with central ideas and theories that play a fundamental role in the critical study of capitalism from the likes of class struggle and oppression, hegemony- and world-system analysis and cultural production. Secondly, the course will allow students to study certain key thinkers and their ideas, ranging from the lawgivers of critical theory as Karl Marx and Antonio Gramsci to contemporary theorists like Slavoj Zizek and Thomas Piketty.
The module is structured around exploring topics and questions mainly from the tradition of Marxism and critical social theory and will enable students to gain a sense for how issues and problems in relation to the capitalist system can be approached, interpreted and challenged. Through the theoretical investigation in the field of philosophy, politics, political economy and critical social theory together with discussions on contemporary topics students will gain knowledge to consider and to formulate their own ideas about capitalism and whether it is a promising opportunity to change or even completely overthrow the current status quo.
As understanding and discussing the topics and problems investigated in each session require an interdisciplinary approach, the theoretical investigation will be carried out within an eclectic theoretical framework that covers various scientific disciplines and fields of study. It encompasses philosophy, economic and political theory with a special focus on the history of ideas.