Leiden University Student Repository

Van Zwieten, Gwendolyn (2020)

Progress, politeness, or suppression? An examination of the term ‘Political Correctness’

Master thesis | International Relations (MA)

This thesis is aimed to demonstrate that the term 'Political Correctness' is more complex than the way that we use it in popular culture indicates. The trivial manner in which this term gets thrown around in debates, where it triggers tensions on both sides to run high, is an indication of the simplistic manner in which many have regarded the term. We examine where the term ‘political correctness’ originates from, how is has been possible for the term to proliferate in political debates, without it being clearly defined, and what the differences are in perception and usage of the term. Moreover, this thesis provides a deeper analysis on why it this term provokes such polarizing views in those who use it, or have it be used against them.

Political

Correctness

PC

Author

Van Zwieten, Gwendolyn

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Culture & Politics

Supervisors

Macaj, Gjovalin

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en