Have contemporary Francophone Marxist theorists learned from previous critiques regarding the relationship between race and class? In this presentation, Dr. Elisabeth Paquette will outline several debates within, and critiques of, Marxism that have taken place over the last few decades with respect to how racial analysis should be framed in relation to class analysis. In particular, she demonstrates that these critiques remain relevant today, most notably for the writings of Alain Badiou, a prominent 21st Century French Marxist political theorist. Drawing from her 2020 book, Universal Emancipation: Race beyond Badiou, Paquette offers an in-depth analysis of Badiou’s project, and the role of race within his theory of emancipation. To support and extend her analysis, she draws from Black political theorists Aimé Césaire, Frantz Fanon, and Sylvia Wynter to illustrate some the shortcomings of Badiou’s universalizing project.
Elisabeth Paquette is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of North Carolina. Her research interests include social and political philosophy, decolonial theory, feminist theory, critical race theory, queer theory, and continental philosophy. Her scholarly work has been published in philoSOPHIA, Philosophy Compass, Radical Philosophy Review, Hypatia, Philosophy Today, and Badiou Studies. Her first book, Universal Emancipation: Race beyond Badiou, was published with the University of Minnesota Press in 2020.
Concordia faculty, students, and staff are welcome to attend in-person. All are welcome to attend via Zoom.