AFRS 361 - The Global Haitian Revolution

This seminar works through the essential contours of CLR James’ The Black Jacobins, which offers a powerful transnational vision of revolutionary change by reconsidering the global “Age of Revolutions” from the perspective of its most radical and most systematically erased constituent process: the slave revolution in Haiti. Rethinking the place of Haiti in world history, international relations, and political thought means rethinking much else as well: the stages and movement of historical progress, the relationship between formal rights and true freedom, and the deep-seated (and ongoing) centrality of race as a governing structure of global politics, law, sovereignty, humanitarianism, and humanity. More than simply a revolution against slavery or colonialism, Haiti marked a revolution in global order and how we understand it. George Ciccariello-Maher.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

One 2-hour period.

Not offered in 2023/24.

Course Format: CLS