SOC 298 - Sociology of Militarism: Race, Gender, Class and US Empire

What is national security? Who gets to feel safe? Which bodies are deemed worthy of protecting and which bodies are marked as the enemy? In this introduction to the sociology of militarism, we will examine how the ideology of militarism operates through the military industrial complex–a system that produces and maintains security through state violence under capitalism. We will think about the military industrial complex as a global process that is deeply shaped by gender, race, and class as well as sexuality, ability, citizenship and other systems of power through the lens of US empire-building. This course will explore the sociology of militarism through critical engagement with academic readings, news and policy briefings, film, photography, podcasts, and poetry. Students will gain an understanding of the military industrial complex as a geographic, political, economic and ideological institution and practice since its formal emergence in the 20th century.

Credits 1

Notes
Cross-listed with WGS 298