Abstract
This project examines how capital punishment undermines the legitimacy of democracy in the United States by exposing the deep racial and class-based inequities embedded within the foundation of state power. Drawing on a conceptual framework from key political theorists, it argues that the death penalty functions not as a neutral tool of justice but as a mechanism of systemic oppression. Disparities in sentencing and legal representation show how execution disproportionately targets marginalized communities, violating core democratic principles of equality, freedom, and effective participation. By relying on state violence to assert authority, the United States weakens the public trust necessary for genuine legitimate governance. Ultimately, the use of capital punishment reveals how the United State’s democracy remains structurally reliant on exclusion, demanding a reevaluation of state power and a commitment to justice rooted in true democratic equality.
Advisor
McBride III, Lee A.
Second Advisor
Weber, Désirée
Third Advisor
Simpson, Sid
Department
Philosophy; Political Science
Recommended Citation
Harris, Samanatha, "The Politics of Death: Race, Class, and the Legitimacy of Capital Punishment in America" (2026). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 13318.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/13318
Disciplines
Ethics and Political Philosophy | Law and Politics | Political Theory
Keywords
capital punishment, death penalty, legitimacy, democracy, oppression, punishment, justice, race, class
Publication Date
2026
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2026 Samanatha Harris