M2202
Cultural
Pluralism and Anti-Discriminatory Practice in Western Europe and North America
Lecturer:
PhDr. Laura Laubeová
Semester:
Summer
Duration:
2 lecture/seminar hours per week
ECTS
Credits:
6
Prerequisites:
None
Contents:
The goal of the course is to present the theoretical and practical framework of
multiculturalism in Europe while using comparative studies covering other parts
of the world, mainly Canada and the USA. The course will also analyse major
political and legal instruments for the protection of minorities and the
elimination of racism. The aim is to enable participants to understand issues of
inequality, race, and gender and their impact on policy making and policy
implementation. Topics covered include:
Introduction to terminology: sociological perspectives, political science and
political philosophy approaches. Diversity and multiculturalism in the late
1990's and 2000's: policy and practice in EU countries, USA and Canada.
Development of policies solving interethnic tensions: definitions and forms of
discrimination, levels of discrimination, equal opportunity policy and positive
action. Institutional racism in Europe and the USA. Immigration and asylum
policies. The Roma as a transnational European minority. International
instruments for protection of minorities and non-discrimination.
Antidiscrimination legislation in the UK and Canada, the EU "race equality"
directive. Human rights protection in the Czech Republic. The liberal theory of
multiculturalism in the Czech environment: the civil principle and minority
rights protection, the government programme of Romani integration, the Act of
the Protection of Minorities and other measures aiming to solve interethnic
tensions.
Assessment:
Essay (up to 3000 words; one third of final result). Oral presentation (one
third). Final exam (one third). Active participation and a minimum seventy-percent
attendance is required.