This course explores Critical Race Theory (CRT), mapping its origins in the late 1980s in the US legal academy and exploring its transnational and international trajectories. The project of CRT proceeds from the premise that race and law are mutually constitutive, and its canonical works have explored law as historically central to constructing and maintaining racial hierarchy, alongside hierarchy on the basis of gender, religion, disability status, class and sexual orientation among others. In addition to exploring CRT's origins and the liberal and conservative theoretical frameworks to which it sought to respond, this course will consider internal and external critiques to the project, as well as the recent salience and (mis)representation of CRT in political discourse. Unlike most typical CRT courses, this course will also devote significant attention to CRT's trajectory in international legal scholarship, particularly attempts to grapple with race and racism as global structures mutually constitutive with law and imperialism. After the term begins, students accepted into the course can transfer from section (LAW 01) into section (LAW 02), which meets the R-paper requirement, with consent of the instructor. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, written assignments, final paper.
3 units · Law Honors/Pass/Restrd Cr/Fail
This course explores Critical Race Theory (CRT), mapping its origins in the late 1980s in the US legal academy and exploring its transnational and international trajectories. The project of CRT proceeds from the premise that race and law are mutually constitutive, and its canonical works have explored law as historically central to constructing and maintaining racial hierarchy, alongside hierarchy on the basis of gender, religion, disability status, class and sexual orientation among others. In addition to exploring CRT's origins and the liberal and conservative theoretical frameworks to which it sought to respond, this course will consider internal and external critiques to the project, as well as the recent salience and (mis)representation of CRT in political discourse. Unlike most typical CRT courses, this course will also devote significant attention to CRT's trajectory in international legal scholarship, particularly attempts to grapple with race and racism as global structures mutually constitutive with law and imperialism. After the term begins, students accepted into the course can transfer from section (01) into section (02), which meets the R-paper requirement, with consent of the instructor. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, written assignments, final paper.
Offered in Spring 2026 at Stanford University.