210172 PS G1: Anti-Discrimination Law and Policy in the EU (2007W)

This course deals with the law and policies of the European Union in the field of anti-discrimination. In order to understand the anti-discrimination policy of the European Union, we will first read and discuss literature dealing with the concepts of discrimination and equality. In this part, we will tackle the following questions: What does discrimination mean? When is a person or group being discriminated? What does it mean to be treated equally -- equality of opportunities, equality of outcomes, or some other concept of equality? When is it justified to discriminate and when not? Having worked ourselves through these theoretical questions, we will examine the origins and historical development of EU anti-discrimination policies and legislation in detail. Applying our previously acquired theoretical knowledge, we will then be able to critically assess the main implications and limitations of the existing supranational legislation in the field of anti-discrimination.