Political Science 290P - PowerPriv&Inequal:Global Scale

What are the major political forces that shaped our world? Why is the world so unequal? How are powerful groups in society able to maintain their position? While human inequality has often been explained in terms of a natural order, in social scientific terms inequality can be understood as a condition related to historical processes and access to political power. In this class we will examine the theories, evidence and debates concerning human inequality on a global scale as well as its perpetuation. A particular focus is on how different forms of inherited privilege operate around the world and how elite social status is forged and maintained.