Slavery and Modernity - OEBXO2103Z

• Title: Slavery and Modernity
• Guaranteed by: Katedra občanské výchovy a filosofie (41-KOVF)
• Faculty: Faculty of Education
• Actual: from 2022
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 4
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:1/1, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unknown / unknown (10)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: not taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: prof. Frank Thompson Nesbitt, BA, M.A., Ph.D.

Annotation

The course will examine the place of plantation slavery in the development of capitalist modernity. We will focus on two classic texts: Eric Williams' Capitalism and Slavery, and CLR James' famous history of the Haitian Revolution, The Black Jacobins. We will also discuss in this context Marx's critique of capitalist slavery in the pages of Capital, and its importance for the tradition of Caribbean critique. Also to be considered are the writings of Toussaint Louverture, Henry Christophe, Aimé Césaire, and Suzanne Césaire—key figures of the 'Black Jacobin' tradition—as they develop original critiques of slavery, colonialism, and Antillean capitalism, these being understood as what Marx called the 'social forms' of labour and wealth.

Last update: Zicha Zbyněk, Mgr., Ph.D. (24.01.2022)

Aim of the course

Students will examine the nature and history of capitalist slavery in the Caribbean, examining classic works by Williams, James, and Marx, as well as more recent literature on capitalism and slavery.

Last update: Zicha Zbyněk, Mgr., Ph.D. (24.01.2022)

Course completion requirements

Students will be expected to prepare the reading, participate in discussion, give one presentation, and write a final paper. Student presentations will form an important part of each class. The final grade will reflect participation in the course as a whole, as well as the final paper.

Last update: Zicha Zbyněk, Mgr., Ph.D. (24.01.2022)

Literature

Literature:

-       Eric Williams, Capitalism and Slavery (selections)

-       CLR James, The Black Jacobins (selections)

-       Marx, Capital Vols. I-III (selections)

-       Dale Tomich, Slavery in the Circuit of Sugar (selections)

-       Aimé Césaire, The Tragedy of King Cristophe

-       Suzanne Césaire, The Great Camouflage

-       Sven Beckert, ed., Slavery's Capitalism

-       Ellen Wood, The Origin of Capitalism (selections)

-       Michael Heinrich, How to Read Marx's Capital (selections)

-       Nick Nesbitt, The Price of Slavery: Capitalism and Revolution in the Caribbean

Last update: Zicha Zbyněk, Mgr., Ph.D. (24.01.2022)

Syllabus

Syllabus

-Week 1   Introduction: Marx and the Caribbean critique of slavery

-Week 2  Eric Williams, Slavery and Capitalism; Nesbitt Ch. 1a

-Week 3  CLR James, Black Jacobins; Nesbitt ch.4

-Week 4  Beckert, Slavery’s Capitalism; Nesbitt ch. 1c

-Week 5  Wood, Origin of Capitalism; Nesbitt ch. 1b

-Week 6   Marx, Capital (selections); Nesbitt ch. 2a

- Week 7 Henry Christophe, Code Henry

- Week 8 Marx, Capital (selections); Nesbitt ch. 2b

- Week 9 Tomich, Slavery in the Circuit of Sugar (selections)

- Week 10 Suzanne Césaire, Le grand camouflage; Histories of Racial Capitalism

- Week 11 Aimé Césaire, The Tragedy of King Christophe

- Week 12 (12/12) Conclusions

Last update: Zicha Zbyněk, Mgr., Ph.D. (24.01.2022)