Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
9-2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Program
Political Science
Advisor
Susan Buck-Morss
Subject Categories
Philosophy | Political Science
Keywords
Black Lives Matter; capitalist state repression; fetishized secularism; police violence; political resistance; popular sovereignty
Abstract
This essay explores the purpose and function of the police in a modern state. It draws mainly from the ideas put forth by Walter Benjamin in his 1921 essay, Critique of Violence, and focuses exclusively on the events surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement. By applying political theory to concrete events, it attempts to expose the mechanics of capitalist state repression as presented in its current form. Central themes are police violence, state repression, popular sovereignty and political resistance. It is the intention of this piece of writing that it be used for practical purposes, to serve as a foundation on which the public can more easily critique the American political system. We must understand racist police violence in order to resist it.
Recommended Citation
Milnor, Menemsha P.S., "Civil Unrest in the Untied State of America: Facing the Threat" (2015). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/1057