In this intensive course, we will examine the dialectic between visions of abolition democracy from the Black radical tradition and contemporary left social movement activism in the United States and Canada. Law has structured the neoliberal governance regimes that have given rise to populist authoritarianism, dominance movements (based on race, gender, and legal status), and our era of polycrisis. In the last 15 years, we have seen an awakening of direct action and mobilizations by left social movements against police violence, inequality, and fossil fuel extraction. Left movements have set forth affirmative visions of prospective futures rooted in abolitionism.

Together, we will work to sharpen our understanding of those visions of abolition democracy and, through case studies of contemporary social movements, pay attention to the role of law and lawyers in systems of domination and liberation. To the extent possible, this course will be run as a seminar in which we will co-generate knowledge through reflection papers, discussion, and final papers. We will hear directly from movement organizers and lawyers when possible.