Ever since the 1960’s, Paris has emerged as a major center in the development of critical theory. During this period the capital of France has also reaffirmed its position both as a center of European intellectual and cultural life and as a meeting place for European and non-European cultures. Questions of multiculturalism and polyglottism play an increasing role in French and European life, while Paris provides a particularly rich and exciting laboratory in which problems of cultural, political and economic difference can be studied and analyzed.
Paris also offers access to many libraries and centers of learning. The Program has established good working relationships with Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris III), the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, the École Normale Supérieure, Sciences Po and the Collège International de Philosophie. Students often establish contact with scholars based in Paris who agree to serve as mentors for their research.