Critical Theory and Social Justice is
fundamentally interdisciplinary, drawing on
ideas from across traditional academic
disciplines. “Critical” refers to
various bodies of theory and method—Marxism,
psychoanalysis, the Frankfurt School,
deconstruction, critical race studies, queer
theory, postcolonial theory, and
intersectionality—that interrogate the
essentialist assumptions that underlie
social identities. “Social justice”
refers to an extrajuridical concept of
fairness that is focused on exposing and
ending social inequalities. The aim of
the Critical Theory and Social Justice
Department is to promote understanding of
how categories such as “race”, “sexual
orientation”, and “nationality” help people
recognize and combat some injustices and
hinder them from recognizing and combating
others.
