The Berkeley syllabus on wealth and poverty maps how inequality is produced, experienced, and challenged across local, national, and global contexts. It examines institutions, power, and everyday survival strategies, preparing students to analyze policy and design responses that center justice.
By combining sociological theory, empirical research, and civic engagement, the course links campus learning with community realities. The following sections outline key topics, readings, and questions that structure the semester.
| Module | Key Focus | Core Theorists | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Inequality | Definitions, measurement, history | Marx, Weber, Du Bois | Reflective journal, map exercise |
| Institutions & Policy | Labor, housing, taxation | Pierson, Esping-Andersen | Policy memo, stakeholder interview |
| Global Political Economy | Trade, debt, extraction | Wallerstein, Arrighi | Research proposal, data analysis |
| Resistance & Futures | Movements, mutual aid, design | Harvey, Lorde | Community project, final portfolio |
Structural Drivers of Wealth and Poverty
This section investigates how labor markets, finance, and property systems concentrate advantage and disadvantage. Students analyze wage gaps, occupational segregation, and the racialized dimensions of economic hierarchy.
Key concepts
- Capital accumulation and exploitation
- Segmented labor markets
- Spatial mismatch and redlining
- Intersectional stratification
Global Political Economy of Inequality
Here the syllabus frames wealth and poverty at the planetary scale, linking imperial histories to contemporary supply chains and debt regimes. Case studies highlight export processing zones, climate vulnerability, and financialization.
Core readings
- Dependency and world-systems theory selections
- Contemporary analyses of tax havens and offshore finance
- Grassroots campaigns on debt relief and reparations
Policy Institutions and Social Welfare
This segment evaluates how states and NGOs attempt to manage inequality through welfare regimes, housing policy, and labor regulation. Debates focus on targeting versus universalism, and the limits of market-based solutions.
Comparative frameworks
- Varieties of capitalism and welfare regimes
- Conditional cash transfers and work requirements
- Public–nonprofit partnerships in service delivery
Community Organizing and Civic Engagement
Students examine movement strategies around housing, living wages, and student debt. The course connects campus-based research with advocacy, emphasizing participatory methods and ethical accountability.
Skills and practices
- Asset mapping and oral histories
- Design thinking with community partners
- Narrative framing and media strategy
Learning Pathways and Next Steps
- Map your own position within structures of wealth and poverty
- Eng critically with quantitative data and qualitative narratives
- Design interventions that prioritize equity, transparency, and community leadership
- Build a portfolio of civic research and advocacy artifacts
- Continue inquiry through internships, independent studies, and local coalitions
FAQ
Reader questions
How does the syllabus define wealth and poverty beyond income?
It treats wealth as access to assets, power, and security, while poverty is framed as material deprivation, stigma, and restricted agency, incorporating race, gender, and spatial dimensions.
Can I use community-based research for my final project?
Yes, the syllabus encourages community-engaged projects that co-produce knowledge with local partners, provided methodological and consent protocols are followed.
What policies are examined in the United States context?
Topics include the social safety net, tax expenditures, public banking experiments, labor standards, and the politics of inflation and austerity.
How are readings balanced between theory and empirical evidence?
The course pairs classical and contemporary theory with ethnography, policy reports, and data visualization to connect concepts with lived experience.