Difference between revisions of "Left Forum 2008"
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'''Cracks in the Edifice''' | '''Cracks in the Edifice''' | ||
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'''Reimagining 1968: The Black Power Movement & Its Legacies''' | '''Reimagining 1968: The Black Power Movement & Its Legacies''' | ||
| − | This panel critically analyzes the way in which Black Power radicalism impacted the local, national and international events of 1968. | + | ''This panel critically analyzes the way in which Black Power radicalism impacted the local, national and international events of 1968.'' |
| − | Donna Murch | + | *[[Donna Murch]], Rutgers University |
| − | Herb Boyd | + | *[[Herb Boyd]], Journalist, New York, [[Amsterdam News]] |
| − | Moderator: Peniel Joseph | + | *Moderator: [[Peniel Joseph]], Brandeis University |
| − | + | '''No Neoliberalism Without 1968? The Contradictory Legacy of the Cultural Rebellion''' | |
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| − | + | ''Is it possible that the cultural upheavals of the ë60s paved the way for neoliberal policies to be not only implemented but accepted widely?'' | |
| − | + | *[[Ingar Solty]], York University, Toronto | |
| − | + | *[[Barbara Epstein]], University of California, Santa Cruz | |
| − | + | *[[Thomas Seibert]], [[Interventionist Left]], Germany | |
| − | + | *[[Leo Panitch]], York University, Toronto | |
| − | Moderator: | + | *Moderator: [[Lisa Maya Knauer]], Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, [[Rosa Luxemburg Foundation]], Berlin |
| − | + | '''Looking Back, Looking Forward: The Legacy of '68''' | |
| − | + | *[[Tariq Ali]], Journalist | |
| − | + | *[[Max Elbaum]], Journalist | |
| − | + | *[[Frank Deppe]], Political Science, University of Marburg, Germany | |
| − | Moderator: | + | *[[Frances Fox Piven]], Political Science, Graduate Center, [[CUNY]] |
| + | *Moderator: [[Lori Minnite]], Political Science, Barnard College, Columbia University | ||
| − | + | '''Movement-Building: Finding Common Ground''' | |
| − | + | ''Drawing on organizing experience across race, ethnic, gender, and generational lines, panelists will discuss what kind of movement we need to build, how we can bridge theory and practice, how to raise difficult issues, and how older activists can make themselves useful to the young.'' | |
| − | + | *[[Howie Machtinger]], [[Heirs to a Fighting Tradition]], "Intergenerational Politics: Legacies of the Sixties" | |
| − | + | *[[Susan Wilcox]], [[Brotherhood/SisterSol]], "Youth Development for Social Change" | |
| − | + | *Moderator: [[Suzanne Pharr]], Southerners on New Ground [[SONG]], "Let the Circle Be Unbroken" | |
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| − | + | ==Migration== | |
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| − | + | '''The Battle for Immigrant Rights: From Dialogue To Action''' | |
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| − | + | ''Join us for a dialogue exploring how we can respond effectively to tough questions about immigration, chip away at the anti-immigrant attitudes being amplified by the media, and support immigrants who are organizing against deportation, defending their labor rights and building community power.'' | |
| − | + | *[[Jane Guskin]], Author | |
| − | + | *[[Aarti Shahani]], Co-founder, [[Families for Freedom]] | |
| − | + | *[[Victor Toro]], Founder, [[Vamos a la Peoa del Bronx]] | |
| − | + | *[[Ana Maria Archila]], Co-Executive Director, [[Make the Road]], New York | |
| − | Moderator: | + | *Moderator: [[Adriana Rocha]], Program Officer, [[New York Foundation]] |
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| − | + | '''Gender, Ethnicity and Culture: Organizing on the Margins''' | |
| − | + | ''In the context of the steady decline of organized laborís white male workers manufacturing jobs, this panel shifts the focus to organizing precarious employment and immigrant labor in an increasingly anti-immigrant climate.'' | |
| − | + | *[[Jennifer Klein]], History, Yale University, "We Were the Invisible Workforce: Low-wage Labor in the American Welfare State" | |
| − | + | *[[Graham Cassano]], Sociology and Anthropology, Oakland University, "Republicanism, class war, and the cultural struggle: Lou Dobbs and the new nativism" | |
| − | + | *[[Troy Rondinone]], History, Southern Connecticut State University, "Republicanism, class war, and the cultural struggle: Lou Dobbs and the new nativism" | |
| − | + | *[[Nicole Trujillo-Pag·n]], Sociology, Wayne State University, "From 'Gateway to the Americas' to the 'Chocolate City': The Racialization of Latinos in New Orleans" | |
| + | *Moderator: [[David Fasenfest]], Editor, Critical Sociology, Sociology, Wayne State University, [[Critical Sociology]] | ||
| − | + | '''Left Perspectives On Immigration Controversies''' | |
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| − | + | ''This panel will focus on the impact of immigrant workers on the political and economic realities facing the US working class today.'' | |
| − | + | *[[Amy Sugimori]], Executive Director, [[LaFuente]] | |
| + | *[[David Van Arsdale]], Sociology, Hartwick College and Joseph S. Murphy Institute, [[CUNY]] | ||
| + | *[[Immanuel Ness]], Political Science, Brooklyn College, [[CUNY]] | ||
| + | *[[Stephen Steinberg]], Urban Studies, Queens College and Graduate Center, [[CUNY]] | ||
| + | *Moderator: [[Marty Oppenheimer]], Sociology, Rutgers University | ||
| − | The | + | '''Reorganizing The Working Class''' |
| − | + | ''The panel will address the profound crisis within the labor movement and the strategic dimensions of its potential revival as an oppositional force.'' | |
| + | *[[Kate Bronfenbrenner]], Labor Education Research, Cornell University, "The Impasse in Unions and Union Organizing" | ||
| + | *[[Ai-Jen Poo]], [[Domestic Workers United]], "Organizing Immigrant Workers in Non-traditional Union Sectors" | ||
| + | *[[Bill Fletcher, Jr.]], [[The Black Commentator]], co-founder of [[Center for Labor Renewal]], "From the Workplace to the Community: Re-strategizing Class Struggle" | ||
| + | *Moderator: [[Jerry Tucker]], Co-founder, [[Center for Labor Renewal]], [[United Auto Workers]] | ||
| − | + | '''A Labor Movement For the 21st Century''' | |
| − | + | ''What kind of labor movement is needed to deal with 21st century conditions of globalization, labor migration, widespread unemployment and a huge but largely unorganized service sector; and how do womenís rights and workersí rights, workplace issues and community issues, come together to build this kind of movement?'' | |
| + | *[[Willie Baptist]], [[Union Theological Seminary Poverty Initiative]], "Organizing the Poor" | ||
| + | *[[Marisa Franco]], [[Domestic Workers United]], "Unionizing Domestic Workers" | ||
| + | *[[Katie Quan]], University of California, Berkeley, Labor Center, "Women, Work, and Globalization" | ||
| + | *Moderator: [[Carol Barton]], "Women's International Coalition for Economic Justice, Economic Rights" | ||
| − | + | '''Beyond Walls and Cages: Linking Immigrant Rights and Prison Abolition Movements''' | |
| − | + | ''The criminalization of migration builds on the nearly three-decade long project of mass incarceration. How can we understand how walls and cages target different groups of people, yet with similar effects, and how can the prison abolition and immigrant justice movements learn from and support each other?'' | |
| − | + | *[[Andrew Burridge]], Geography, University of Southern California, "Might a theory and politics of open borders manifest themselves spatially and challenge current forms of border securitization and militarization" | |
| − | + | *[[Trishala Deb]], [[Audre Lorde Project]], "The intersections of racism, transphobia, and homophobia for immigrant community members, particularly around issues of enforcement and incarceration" | |
| − | + | *[[Micol Seigel]], African American Studies, African Diaspora Studies, American Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, "Zero Tolerance Goes South: focus on the international police consulting of former NYPD and current LAPD Police Chief William Bratton" | |
| − | + | *[[Seth Freed Wessler]], Research associate, [[Applied Research Center]] | |
| − | + | *[[Fahd Ahmed]], [[DRUM]], [[Desis Rising Up and Moving]] | |
| − | + | *Moderator: [[Lisa Bhungalia]], Geography, Syracuse University | |
| − | + | *Moderator: [[Jenna Loyd]], Syracuse University | |
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Revision as of 03:12, 23 April 2010
Cracks in the Edifice
- Naomi Klein, Writer and filmmaker
- Mahmood Mamdani of Columbia University
- Tariq Ali, Journalist and author
- Adam Hochschild of the Graduate School of Journalism, University of California, Berkeley
- Moderator: Heather Rogers, Journalist and filmmaker
Resistance is fertile: Changing the World from the Ground Up
- Grace Lee Boggs of James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership, Detroit
- Maude Barlow, Chairman of The Council Of Canadians
- Patricia McFadden of the Southern African Feminist Review, SAFERE, Zimbabwe
- Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!
- Moderator: Eddie Yuen of the San Francisco Art Institute
Africa
Popular Struggles for Democracy in Kenya: Lessons from the 2007 Elections
- Mukoma wa Ngugi of the University of Wisconsin: "African Leadership in Crisis"
- Caroline Elkins of Harvard University: "Historical Legacies and Kenya's Contemporary Crises"
- Micere Githae Mugo of Syracuse University, "What went wrong? A class analysis of the pitfalls of the democratic project in Kenya"
- Tavia Nyong'o of New York University, "Perverse Neoliberalism"
- Moderator: Horace G. Campbell of the Syracuse University, "Kenyan political struggles and political transformation in Africa"
The African Crisis: Politics, Philosophy and Social Movements: A Roundtable
Contributing authors to the November 2007 special issue of Socialism and Democracy will exchange ideas about the current prospects for popular progressive and revolutionary movements in Africa.
- Nigel C. Gibson of Emerson College
- Paget Henry of Brown University
- Biodun Jeyifo of Harvard University
- Judith Van Allen of Cornell University
- Moderator: Victor Wallis of Socialism and Democracy
Southern Africa - Southern African Feminist Review (SAFERE), Zimbabwe
- Patrick Bond of the Center for Civil Society, South Africa
- Dennis Brutus of the Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Moderator: Thomas Ponniah of Harvard University
Speaking Truth to Power: Africa's Independant Media and its Relationship to Democratic Struggles around the Continent
How does the traditional press and new media forms, including blogs, websites, and text messaging, contribute to democracy movements on the continent and among the diaspora?
- Sowore Omoyele, Journalist and Sahara Reporter
- Kassahun Checole, of the Africa World Press and the Red Sea Press
- Miampela Mpela, of the UN Department of Public Information
- Moderator: Milton Allimadi, of Black Star News, and the Global Information Network
Political Violence in Darfur
This panel will focus on the debate around how to understand the political violence in Darfur since the start of the February 2003 rebellion.
- Mahmood Mamdani of Columbia University
- Stephen Eric Bronner of Rutgers University
- Moderator: *Lawrence Davidson of Middle Eastern History, West Chester University, Pennsylvania
Race & Racism: Reimagining 1968: The Black Power Movement and its Legacies
This panel critically analyzes the way in which Black Power radicalism impacted the local, national and international events of 1968.
- Donna Murch of Rutgers University
- Herb Boyd, a Journalist, New York, Amsterdam News
- Moderator: Peniel Joseph of Brandeis University
Harlem is Seized!
How do land issues manifest within black communities, what are their commonalities to other liberation struggles, what is the relationship between the struggle for specific local reforms such as tenants rights and the liberation of the ìimagined community", in what ways is Harlem a new manifestation of the diaspora of folks of African descent.
- Nellie Hester Bailey of the Harlem Tenants Council
- Kamau Franklin of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
- Haja Worley of Community Gardens
- Rene Francisco Poitevin of New York University
- Moderator: Cleo Silvers of the For A Better Bronx
Radicalizing Human Rights: Bringing Human Rights Home
In recent years, important sectors of the feminist movement and the left have adopted a strategy of using the language of international human rights to mobilize people for economic and social justice within the US; in what ways is this approach useful in winning reforms and building a movement and what are its possible limitations in terms of a radical strategy?
- Cathy Albisa of the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, "Bring Human Rights Home"
- Loretta Ross of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective, "Reproductive Justice"
- Sangeeta Budhiraja of Queers for Economic Justice,"Immigration and Human Rights"
- Moderator: Meredith Tax of Women's World Organization for Rights, Literature & Development, Womens WORLD, "Some Strategic Questions about Human Rights"
Race and Ethnicity in America: A Left Perspective
An author/critic discussion of Stephen Steinberg's provocative new book, Race Relations: A Critique, which argues that social science has been complicit in advancing "an epistemology of ignorance" that glosses over racial oppression and denies the reality of a "dual melting pot" one for peoples of African descent, the other for everybody else, including Asians and light-skinned Latinos.
- Jerry Watts, English and Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Stephen Steinberg of Urban Studies, Queens College and Graduate Center, CUNY
- Philip Green, Government, Smith College, and Political Science, New School for Social Research
Moderator: *Alyson M. Cole - Political Science, Queens College and the Graduate Center, CUNY
Why Have the Women's and Blacks' Movements Stalled? What Can Be Done to Restart Them?
- Johanna Brenner, Sociology, Portland State University, and Women and the Politics of Class
- Bill Fletcher, Jr. of the Center for Labor Renewal and the Black Commentator
- Frances Fox Piven, Political Science, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Moderator: Kazembe Balagun of the Brecht Forum
Sports and the Culture Wars
In a world where coverage of sports is increasingly pervasive, this panel examines the way that popular journalism address issues of race, gender and culture.
- Dave Zirin of The Edge of Sports
- Selena Roberts of the New York Times and Sports Illustrated
- David Aldridge of the Philadelphia Inquirer and TNT
- Moderator: Jack McCallum and Sports Illustrated
Non-Degreed Theorizings are Possible, Non-Traditional Revolutions are Necessary, Music is the Weapon
Lyrical Resistance/Action Planning: Fighting the criminalization of black youth. An interactive dialogue of artists and activists on the criminalization of black youth and how art intersects with scholarship to fight these racist ideologies, the potentials available in revolutionary music to mobilize communities and students to resist the criminalization and mass incarceration of black people.
- Viviane Saleh-Hanna of the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
- Spiritchild, Poet and performer, Mental Notes
- Stephanie Rooker of Party for the People
- Not4prophet, Musician
- Moderator: Ashanti Alston of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
The Thousand-Yard Stare: Public Health on a Corrupt Trajectory
We propose that AIDS prevention and treatment have failed in the US as a consequence of the harms to thinking systems that resulted from the US original sin of counting African Americans as 3/5ths of a man.
- Mehret Mandefro, Founding Director of TruthAIDS
- Rodrick Wallace, a Research Scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, "Concentration is NOT containment"
- Robert E. Fullilove of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, "Finding the moral high ground"
- Moderator: Lourdes Hern·ndez-Cordero of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University and the Mailman School of Public Health
Racial Justice and Public Education
Panelists will discuss the ways in which different communities are addressing the challenges they face fighting for decent and equitable education, how they have resisted and organized, and how their particular struggles speak to the larger political climate of the US.
- Priscilla Gonzalez of the Center for Immigrant Families
- Donna Nevel of the Center for Immigrant Families
- Mona Eldahry of Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media
- Adem Carroll of the Muslim Consultative Network
- Fatin Jarara of Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media
- Moderator: Makani Themba-Nixon, Executive Director of The Praxis Project, (Center for Immigrant Families)
Keeping Down the Black Vote: Race and the DeMobolisation of African Voters
New voters are trouble, so it is more efficient to work to suppress opposition voters, and blacks are the usual target of vote suppression, a tactic is used both by the Republican and the Democratic parties.
- Lori Minnite, Political Science, Barnard College, Columbia University
- Major Owens of the US Congress, retired
- Frances Fox Piven, Political Science, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Moderator: Andrew Hsiao of The New Press
Beyond Walls and Cages: Linking Immigrant Rights and Prison Abolition Movements
The criminalization of migration builds on the nearly three-decade long project of mass incarceration. How can we understand how walls and cages target different groups of people, yet with similar effects, and how can the prison abolition and immigrant justice movements learn from and support each other?
- Andrew Burridge, Geography, University of Southern California, "Might a theory and politics of open borders manifest themselves spatially and challenge current forms of border securitization and militarization?"
- Trishala Deb of the [[Audre Lorde Project, The intersections of racism, transphobia, and homophobia for immigrant community members, particularly around issues of enforcement and incarceration
- Micol Seigel of the African American Studies, African Diaspora Studies, American Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, Zero Tolerance Goes South: focus on the international police consulting of former NYPD and current LAPD Police Chief William Brattonî
- Seth Freed Wessler, Research associate at the Applied Research Center
- Fahd Ahmed of DRUM, (Desis Rising Up and Moving)
- Moderator: Lisa Bhungalia, Geography, Syracuse University
- Moderator: Jenna Loyd of Syracuse University
Neoliberalism, Citizenship, and Land Wars in the "New India"
As the Indian state attempts to bring into being a new consumer citizen, farmers, workers and cultural activists fight to retain a democratic notion of citizenship, located within specific political spaces and practices.
- Leela Fernandes, Political Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick "The Political Economy of Lifestyle: Consumption, India's New Middle Class and Changing Development Regimes"
- Dolly Daftary, Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, "Morphing dryland communities into 'India Shining': A critique of participatory democracy, watershed development and the postcolonial state"
- Moderator: Kanishka Chowdhury, English, and Director of the Program in American Culture and Difference, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, "Contesting Claims: Land Acquisition and Dispossession in Bengal"
Marxism, Feminism and Critical Theory In Contemporary China
A discussion of recent trends in Chinese philosophy and social theory, with participants from China and the US.
- He Ping of Wuhan University, China, Gender in China
- Wu Xinwei of Wuhan University, China, Purdue University, ìGramsci in Chinaî
- Li Dianlai of Wuhan University, China, Purdue University, ìHabermas in Chinaî
- Wang Xinyan of Wuhan University, China, "Keeping a Foothold on Concrete Reality in Chinese Marxist Philosophy"
- Discussant: Peter Hudis of Oakton Community College
- Moderator: Kevin B. Anderson of Purdue University
- Moderator: Josh Howard of the Graduate Center, CUNY
China: Economic Crisis, Environmental Collapse, and Workers Struggles in Chinas' Market Stalinism
The introduction of market reform in China has installed economic forces that are savaging Chinese society and driving the country toward ecological collapse ó trends which are exacerbated by Chinaís hybrid capitalist-communist social structure which has defeated all efforts at reform but provoked growing resistance from workers and farmers.
- Richard Smith, Author, ìChinaís Capitalist Catastrophe
- Stephen Philion, Sociology, St. Cloud State University, "The Ideology of Rights and Workers Resistance to Privatization in China"
- Yan Sun of Queens College and Graduate Center, CUNY, "Corruption, growth and reform, the Chinese enigma"
- Moderator: Magali Sarfatti Larson of Temple University (emerita)
Tariq Ali on Pakistan
- Tariq Ali, Journalist and Author
- David Barsamian a Journalist, Alternative Radio
Culture
Sports and the Culture Wars
In a world where coverage of sports is increasingly pervasive, this panel examines the way that popular journalism address issues of race, gender and culture.
- Dave Zirin of The Edge of Sports
- Selena Roberts of the New York Times and Sports Illustrated
- David Aldridge - Philadelphia Inquirer, TNT
- Moderator: Jack McCallum - Sports Illustrated
Literature and Politics: A Session in Memory of Annette Rubinstein
Marxist literary historians and theorists will discuss the red line of literary history and the continuing necessity for historical materialism in literary criticism and cultural critique.
- Jacqueline DiSalvo, English, Baruch College and Graduate Center, CUNY, "William Blake's Revolutionary Socialism"
- Alan Wald, English, University of Michigan,
- Ann Arbor, "Humboldt's Gift: Annette Rubinstein, Charles Humboldt, and the Masses & mainstream writers in Cold War America"
- Kimberly Macellaro of Rice University, "The Politics of 'Intersectional' Feminism"
- Moderator: Barbara Foley, English, Rutgers University, Newark, Science and Society
Left Perspectives on Psychoanalysis
- Isis Leslie, "Romantic Individualism, Existentialism, and Melancholia: The Case of Richard Wright"
- Stanley Aronowitz of the Graduate Center, CUNY, "Can We Grasp the Social World with Psychoanalysis?"
- David N. Smith - ìResistance of the Wrong Kind: Probing the Psychological Roots of Resistance to Psychology"
- Richard Lichtman - Critical Theory in Psychology, Sacramento, California, ìPsychology and Torture: Their Long Dark Historyî
- Moderator: Harriet Fraad - Psychologist
Closed Doors: Household Exploitation and the Struggle for a New Society
The hidden class struggles that occur within contemporary households and their implications for understanding social change and politics today.
- Harriet Fraad, a Psychotherapist, New York, "The Class Analysis of Caring Labor"
- Rick Wolff, Economics, University of Massachussetts, Amherst, "Households and Families, Class Analysis, and Revolutionary Strategy Today"
- Moderator: Graham Cassano, Sociology, Oakland University, Michigan
Political Satire: Speaking Spoof to Power
If you're tired of Leftists over-analyzing everything, and just want a good, pain-filled laugh, see comics, writers and filmmakers present their ingeniously outraged work, inspired by what the US government is doing to us and to the world. Billionaires for Bush
- Alrick Brown, Filmmaker
- Andy Bichlbaum of The Yes Men
- Andrew Boyd author and humorist
- Elissa Jiji of Billionaires for Bush
- Moderator: Marco Ceglie of Billionaires for Bush
- Moderator: Susie Day, Columnist
Transformative Thinking, Indigenous Knowledge, and the Future of Capatilism
What role can indigenous or "precapitalist" forms of knowledge and spirituality play in this transformation, and what are the politics of mobilizing them, and does the recent (re)turn to consciousness mark a significant break from the distinction between idealism and materialism? *Jack Z. Bratich of Rutgers University
- Tiokasin Ghosthorse, "First Voices Indigenous Radio," WBAI Radio
- Daniel Pinchbeck, Author
- Moderator: James Trimarco, Writer
The Left Analyzes Everyday Life
- Lauren Langman, Loyola University, Chicago, "Consumption and the Colonization of Daily life"
- Richard Lichtman, Critical Theory in Psychology, Sacramento, California, "'Cry' Morality in American Life"
- Chyng Sun of New York University, ìWhy Is Pornography a Left Issue?î
- Moderator: Harriet Fraad, Psychologist, "Laborers in the Field of Emotion: What is Emotional Labor and Why Is It Unpaid?"
Non-Degreed Theorizings Are Possible, Non-Traditional Revolutions are Necessary: Music is the Weapon
Lyrical Resistance/Action Planning: Fighting the criminalization of black youth. An interactive dialogue of artists and activists on the criminalization of black youth and how art intersects with scholarship to fight these racist ideologies, the potentials available in revolutionary music to mobilize communities and students to resist the criminalization and mass incarceration of black people.
- Viviane Saleh-Hanna of the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
- Spiritchild, Poet and performer, of Mental Notes
- Stephanie Rooker of Party for the People
- Not4prophet, Musician
- Moderator: Ashanti Alston, of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
Ecology and Environment
Water Privatization: The Ultimate Theft
The campaign to make clean water accessible to all brings together socialists, environmentalists, wealthy suburbanites and the poorest people in the world in a fight that may save the planet.
- Maude Barlow, Chairman of The Council Of Canadians
- Alan Snitow, Author and Filmmaker
- Patrick Bond of the Center for Civil Society, South Africa
- Moderator: Barbara Garson, Writer
Daniel Singer Essay Prize: Eco Socialism in the Time of Global Warming
The panel will feature comments on the essay of Arthur Mitzman, Dutch professor and the winner of the 2007 Daniel Singer Prize, on the theme of his paper, "The Eco-Socialist Challenge."
- Michael Lowy, Sociology, National Center for Scientific Research, Paris
- William Kornblum, Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Eleni Varikas, Political Science, University of Paris VIII
- Moderator: Frank Fried, Activist, Daniel Singer Foundation
Radical Approaches to Global Warming
Global Warming is not a technical problem, and cannot be solved within the terms of capitalism; we need, rather, a massive uprising and joining together of movements from below, dedicated to keeping carbon within the ground, and to the transformation of society accordingly.
- Michael Lowy, Sociology, National Center for Scientific Research, Paris
- Karen Charman, Managing editor of Capitalism Nature Socialism
- Moderator: Joel Kovel, author and editor of Capitalism Nature Socialism
China: Economic Crisis, Environmental Collapse and Worker's Struggles in China's Market Stalinism
The introduction of market reform in China has installed economic forces that are savaging Chinese society and driving the country toward ecological collapse ó trends which are exacerbated by Chinaís hybrid capitalist-communist social structure which has defeated all efforts at reform but provoked growing resistance from workers and farmers.
- Richard Smith, Author, China's Capitalist Catastrophe
- Stephen Philion, Sociology, St. Cloud State University, "The Ideology of Rights and Workers' Resistance to Privatization in China"
- Yan Sun, Queens College and Graduate Center, CUNY, "Corruption, growth and reform, the Chinese enigma"
- Moderator: Magali Sarfatti Larson, Temple University (emerita)
Corporate Vs. Popular Solutions To the Climate Crisis
In a warming world, corporate intransigence and government dithering are getting heat from grassroots movements around the world mobilizing to stop climate catastrophe.
- Ted Glick, Climate Crisis Coalition, Coordinator of the US Climate Emergency Council, "Building a Mass Movement for Climate Solutions that Solve the Crisis and Advance Justice and Peace"
- Michael K. Dorsey, Environmental Studies, Dartmouth College, "Neoliberal Bird Flu Infects Climate Policy Making: Unveiling Reactionaries, Responses, & Resistance"
- Anne Petermann, Co-Director of Global Justice Ecology, "Climate Change: Crisis and Opportunity"
- Moderator: Natalie Jeremijenko of New York University, (Climate Crisis Coalition)
Education
Racial Justice and Public Education
Panelists will discuss the ways in which different communities are addressing the challenges they face fighting for decent and equitable education, how they have resisted and organized, and how their particular struggles speak to the larger political climate of the US.
- Priscilla Gonzalez of the Center for Immigrant Families
- Donna Nevel of the Center for Immigrant Families
- Mona Eldahry of Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media
- Carroll of the [[Muslim Consultative Network
- Fatin Jarara of Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media
- Moderator: Makani Themba-Nixon, Executive Director of The Praxis Project, Center for Immigrant Families
Between Teaching, Facilitating and Promoting: What Kind of Worlds do Teachers Envision?
Examining the Friere, the Free School and the Zapatista models, and questioning the responsibilities of teachers to students, this panel will explore these questions through both personal experience and professional critique, calling on those who work in all levels to participate in this critical discussion.
- Fernando Reals, Teacher, Rikers Island
- Ora Wise, Palestine/Israel Education Project
- Matt Meyer, High School Teacher, New York City
- Esperanza Martel, Community Organizing, Hunter College, CUNY
- Moderator: Rosemary Mealey, Writer and educator
Education Vs. Schooling - The Roles of the Political Intellectual In and Out of Academia
- Stanley Aronowitz, Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY, "Against Schooling"
- C. Ricardo Brown, Cultural Studies, Pratt Institute, "The end of critical theory and the institutionalization of cultural studies asks for creating a new political culture in the universityî"
- Michael Pelias, Philosophy, Long Island University, Brooklyn, "Doing Philosophy and confronting its consistent depoliticization in the academy - restoring historical materialism"
- Edwina Stokes, Long Island University, Brooklyn
- Moderator: Dominic Wetzel - Graduate Center, CUNY, Situations Journal
Electoral Politics
Left Political Parties, Left Electoral Successess and the Strategic Challenge of NeoLiberalism and Right Wing Populism
- Michael Krotke, Political Economy, University of Amsterdam, "The Origins of the Success of the Dutch Socialist Party"
- John Sanbonmatsu, Philosophy, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts, "Building the Left in the United States"
- Ingar Solty, Political Science, York University, Toronto, "Neoliberalism, Right-Wing Populism and Neosocialism: The Significance of the New German Left Party"
- Asbjorn Wahl of the Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees, "The Origin of the Success and the Experience With the Government Participation of the Norwegian Left Party"
- Moderator: Leo Panitch, York University, Toronto, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Berlin
Electoral Reform in the US
The elections of 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 cast a spotlight on serious distortions in the American electoral system, exposing problems so serious that the term "vote suppression" had become commonplace in the press.
- Regina Eaton, Associate Director, The Democracy Project at Demos, "Voter Registration Reform"
- Rob Richie, Director of Fair Vote
- Mike Slater, Director of Project Vote, "The Promise and Politics of Voter Registration"
- Moderator: Lori Minnite, Political Science, Barnard College, Columbia University
The Interplay of Movements and Electoral Politics in the US
Focusing on particular movements, the perennial dichotomy between doing electoral work or movement work will be examined, as will what can we learn about the impact of electoral politics on political movements, and the impact of political movements on electoral politics.
- Dorian Warren, Political Science, Columbia University, "Electoral/movement dynamics in the labor movement"
- Howard Hawkins of Teamster, Green Party, "A Green Party Strategy Debate"
- Linda Gordon, New York University
- Ron Scott, Member, Detroit Black Panther Party, TV producer
- Ronnie Eldridge of Eldridge & Co., CUNY-TV, "The Second Wave Women's Movement, or How the Victims became Victorious - Women and Politics"
- Moderator: Nancy Holmstrom of Rutgers University, Newark
Keeping Down the Black Vote: Race and the Demobolization of American Voters
New voters are trouble, so it is more efficient to work to suppress opposition voters, and blacks are the usual target of vote suppression, a tactic is used both by the Republican and the Democratic parties.
- Lori Minnite, Political Science, Barnard College, Columbia University
- Major Owens of the US Congress, retired
- Frances Fox Piven, Political Science, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Moderator: Andy Hsiao of The New Press
Anarchism and the 2008 American Elections
Can anarchists shrug off the end of the Bush era and this particular U.S. presidential election as just the same old statecraft - and proceed to "shut down" the conventions - or do the race (Obama), gender (Clinton), and "hope" factors problematize our usual responses?
- Cindy Milstein of the Institute for Anarchist Studies
- Ashanti Alston of Anarchist People of Color
- Ariel of the New York City Anarchist Bookfair Collective
- Eric Laursen of the New York Metro Alliance of Anarchists
Looking Presidential? Symbols and Substance, Obama and Clinton
How race and gender have been used, abused and misunderstood in the primaries.
- Amy Richards, Writer
- Patricia Williams of The Nation
- Peggy C. Davis of the New York University School of Law
- Moderator: Gary Younge of The Guardian and The Nation
Europe
Building the Left in Northern Core Capitalist Countries
- Frank Deppe, Political Science, University of Marburg, Germany, "The crisis of neoliberal hegemony and the emergence of authoritarian capitalism"
- Javier Navascues, Management Science and Industrial Organisation, University of Seville, Spain, "United Left in Spain - Its current difficulties and former successes"
- Mimmo Porcaro, Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, "Building a new Left party into a populist society: Is the 'Italian Case' back?"
- Thomas Seibert, Interventionist Left, Germany, Party and movements, moderates and radicals. Lessons learned from Cologne 1999 to Heiligendamm 2007
- Moderator: Rainer Rilling, University of Marburg, Germany
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Berlin
The Balkans in Crisis: 1990 - 2008
This panel will examine the history of the dismantling of Yugoslavia and the politics of "humanitarian intervention" and capitalist transition as seen "from below" through the struggles of workers, students, Roma and other political activists in the region.
- Irina Ceric, York University, Toronto
- Ziga Vodovnik, University of Ljubljana
- Moderator: Tamara Vukov, McGill University
Understanding Class Dynamics, State Restructuring and Political Alternatives
An examination of the recent dynamics of Turkish capitalism in terms of the accumulation process, social classes and the state, with a specific focus on the post-2001 period.
- Fuat Ercan, Economics, Marmara University, Turkey
- Selime Guzelsari, Department of Public Administration, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Turkey
- Moderator: Sebnem Oguz, Trent University, Canada
Left Political Parties, Left Electoral Successes and the Strategic Challenge of Neoliberalism and Right Wing Populism
- Michael Krotke, Political Economy, University of Amsterdam, "The Origins of the Success of the Dutch Socialist Party"
- John Sanbonmatsu, Philosophy, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts, "Building the Left in the United States"
- Ingar Solty, Political Science, York University, Toronto, "Neoliberalism, Right-Wing Populism and Neosocialism: The Significance of the New German Left Party"
- Asbjorn Wahl - Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees, "The Origin of the Success and the Experience With the Government Participation of the Norwegian Left Party"
- Moderator: Leo Panitch, York University, Toronto, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Berlin
Kosovo Independence: Timely or Absurd?
- Bogdan Denitch, Sociology (emeritus), Graduate Center, CUNY
- George Szamuely, Writer
- Susan Woodward, Political Science, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Moderator: Julia Wrigley - Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY
Women, Gender & Sexuality
What Would a Feminist Left be Like?
The next wave of the left must integrate the experience and ideas of the feminist and queer movements with an understanding of class and race in order to build a social justice movement that is not only progressive but humane, and able to address people's real life concerns.
- Amber Hollibaugh, Queers for Economic Justice, "Sex, Class, and Desire"
- Sara Kershnar, Generation Five, "Transformative Justice"
- Vanessa Moses, Generation Five, "Transformative Justice"
- Patricia McFadden, Southern African Feminist Review (SAFERE), Zimbabwe, "The Need for a Radical African Feminism"
- Moderator: Meredith Tax, President, Women's WORLD, "What I've Learned"
The Pleasure Frontier: An Intergenerational Dialogue On Sex in Feminism An interrogation of sex and sexuality through various generations of feminisms
- Nona Willis-Aronowitz, Journalist
- Rebecca Traister, Salon.com
- Jennifer Baumgardner, Grassroots
- Loretta Ross, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective, "Reproductive Justice"
- Moderator: Marcia Gillespie, Ms. Magazine
Dangerous Liason: Feminism and Neo-Liberalism
This panel explores the unexpected ideological and political points of convergence — in the US, Europe, and the Third World — between the economic orthodoxy of free market neoliberalism (privatization, welfare cuts, free access for capital everywhere) and mainstream feminism (individualism, women's autonomy).
- Hester Eisenstein, Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY, "Feminism Seduced? The Uses Of Feminist Ideology For Corporate Elites In The Age Of Terror"
- Iris Nowak, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, "About the conservative German Secretary of Family Affairs and other feminists. Why feminism is (not) a Left issue"
- Kornelia Hauser, University of Innsbruck, Austria, Sociology of Education, Gender Studies, "Neocapitalistic Construction of the Self in Third Wave Feminism"
- Moderator: Soniya Munshi, Queens College, CUNY
- Moderator: Steve Brier, Graduate Center, CUNY
Advancing a Left Feminist Agenda
This panel seeks to create an intergenerational, multiracial, multicultural left feminist analysis of global capitalism and patriarchy including intersections of gender, race/ethnicity, nationalism, sexuality, and class and to focus on the relationship between theory and practice and the need to build a broad-based feminist movement for social justice.
- Patricia Blau Reuss, "The State of Reproductive Rights in the US Today"
- Nkenge Toure, "Not All Panthers were Men"
- Beverly Guy-Sheftall, "The Role of Women of Color in the Feminist Movement"
- Andree-Nicola McLaughlin, "Feminist Resistance: An International Perspective"
- Nancy Holmstrom, "The Role of Socialist Women in the Feminist Movement"
- Luz Marquez, "Violence and Hate Crimes against Women"
- Moderator: George Friday, National Coordinator of the Independent Progressive Politics Network
Sex Work, Trafficking and Left Politics: Towards a New Vision on Prostitution and Justice
This panel will unite sex workers, rights activists and professional intellectuals working on queer theory, feminism and progressive sexual politics to discuss the relationship between sex work and the Left.
- Audacia Ray, Spread Magazi
- Kerwin Kaye, New York University
- Elizabeth Wood, Nassau Community College
- Amber Hollibaugh, Queers for Economic Justice
- Ignacio Rivera, Queers for Economic Justice
- Moderator: Antonia Levy, Graduate Center, CUNY
Is a Radical Homosexual Agenda Possible?
- Jessica Rechtschaffer, Radical Homosexual Agenda
- Tim Doody, Radical Homosexual Agenda
- Kaitlyn Tikkun, Callen Lorde Community Health Center, Transgender Community Advisory Board
- Josh Pavan, Q-Team
- Moderator: Dominic Wetzel, Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY, Radical Homosexual Agenda
A Labor Movement for the 21st Century
What kind of labor movement is needed to deal with 21st century conditions of globalization, labor migration, widespread unemployment and a huge but largely unorganized service sector; and how do womenís rights and workersí rights, workplace issues and community issues, come together to build this kind of movement?
- Willie Baptist, Union Theological Seminary Poverty Initiative, "Organizing the Poor"
- Marisa Franco, Domestic Workers United, "Unionizing Domestic Workers"
- Katie Quan, University of California, Berkeley, Labor Center, "Women, Work, and Globalization"
- Moderator: Carol Barton - Womenís International Coalition for Economic Justice, ìEconomic Rightsî
Why Have the Womens and Blacks Movements Stalled? What Can be Done to Restart Them?
- Johanna Brenner, Sociology, Portland State University, "Women and the Politics of Class"
- Bill Fletcher, Jr., Center for Labor Renewal, Black Commentator
- Frances Fox Piven, Political Science, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Moderator: Kazembe Balagun, Brecht Forum
Marxism, Feminism and Critical Theory In Contemporary China
A discussion of recent trends in Chinese philosophy and social theory, with participants from China and the US.
- He Ping, Wuhan University, China, "Gender in China"
- Wu Xinwei, Wuhan University, China, Purdue University, "Gramsci in China"
- [[Li Dianlai],] Wuhan University, China, Purdue University, "Habermas in China"
- Wang Xinyan, Wuhan University, China, "Keeping a Foothold on Concrete Reality in Chinese Marxist Philosophy'
- Discussant: Peter Hudis, Oakton Community College
- Moderator: Kevin B. Anderson, Purdue University
- Moderator: Josh Howard, Graduate Center, CUNY
Organising For Tax Justice
- Mimi Abramovitz, Social Policy, Hunter School of Social Work, CUNY, "Taxes are a Woman's Issue"
- Lucy Komisar, Journalist, Tax Justice Network, USA, taxjustice-usa.org, "Tax Justice Activism: targeting the corporate & super-rich tax cheats"
- Stephanie Greenwood, Editor, 10 Excellent Reasons Not to Hate Taxes
- Carol Barton, Women's International Coalition for Economic Justice, "Economic Rights"
- Moderator/Discussant: William Tabb, Economics, Queens College, CUNY
Healthcare
Not Politically Feasible? Not so Fast!: Organising For Single Payer Health Care in an Election Year
- Len Rodberg, Queens College, CUNY, "Back to the Health Care Future: Why the Mainstream Candidates Proposals Can't Work, and Can't Win"
- Ayana Jordan, Einstein College of Medicine, "Medical student organizing"
- Mary OíBrien, "Organizing in the Medical Profession"
- Bill Henning, Vice-President, CWA, Local 1180, Labor's role
- Eric Sawyer, ACT UP, Community activism
- Moderator: Martha Livingston, SUNY College, Old Westbury, Physicians for a National Health Program, New York-Metro Chapter
The Thousand Yard Stare: Public Health on a Corrupt Trajectory
We propose that AIDS prevention and treatment have failed in the US as a consequence of the harms to thinking systems that resulted from the US original sin of counting African Americans as 3/5's of a man.
- Mehret Mandefro, Founding Director of TruthAIDS
- Rodrick Wallace, Research Scientist, New York State Psychiatric Institute, "Concentration is NOT containment"
- Robert E. Fullilove, Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, "Finding the moral high ground"
- Moderator: Lourdes Hernandez-Cordero, Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health
Labor
Reorganising the Working Class
The panel will address the profound crisis within the labor movement and the strategic dimensions of its potential revival as an oppositional force. Kate Bronfenbrenner - Labor Education Research, Cornell University, The Impasse in Unions and Union Organizing
- Ai-Jen Poo, Domestic Workers United, "Organizing Immigrant Workers in Non-traditional Union Sectors"
- Bill Fletcher, Jr., The Black Commentator, co-founder of the Center for Labor Renewal, "From the Workplace to the Community: Re-strategizing Class Struggle"
- Moderator: Jerry Tucker, Co-founder, Center for Labor Renewal, United Auto Workers, Center for Labor Renewal
In the Shadow of the Anti-Labor Law
This panel examines the state of US labor law 60 years after the passage of Taft-Hartley through critique and assesses alternative means of establishing a just labor law through innovative political and activist strategies by workers.
- Sarumathi Jayaraman, Brooklyn College, CUNY and ROC-NY
- James Gray Pope, Rutgers Law School
- Steve Early, Union Activist, Writer
- Harris Freeman , Western New England Law School, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
- Moderator: Harris Freeman, Working USA: The Journal of Labor and Society
Gender, Ethnicity and Culture: Organising on the Margins
In the context of the steady decline of organized laborís white male workers manufacturing jobs, this panel shifts the focus to organizing precarious employment and immigrant labor in an increasingly anti-immigrant climate.
- Jennifer Klein, History, Yale University, "We Were the Invisible Workforce: Low-wage Labor in the American Welfare State"
- Graham Cassano, Sociology and Anthropology, Oakland University, "Republicanism, class war, and the cultural struggle: Lou Dobbs and the new nativism"
- Troy Rondinone, History, Southern Connecticut State University, "Republicanism, class war, and the cultural struggle: Lou Dobbs and the new nativism"
- Nicole Trujillo-Pag·n, Sociology, Wayne State University, "Limits to Solidarity: The Case of Latina Organizers of Male Casual Laborers in Post-Katrina New Orleans"
- Moderator: David Fasenfest, Editor, Critical Sociology, Sociology, Wayne State University, Critical Sociology
A Labor Movement For the 21st Century
What kind of labor movement is needed to deal with 21st century conditions of globalization, labor migration, widespread unemployment and a huge but largely unorganized service sector; and how do womenís rights and workersí rights, workplace issues and community issues, come together to build this kind of movement?
- Willie Baptist, Union Theological Seminary Poverty Initiative, "Organizing the Poor"
- Marisa Franco, Domestic Workers United, "Unionizing Domestic Workers"
- Katie Quan, University of California, Berkeley, Labor Center, "Women, Work, and Globalization"
- Moderator: Carol Barton, "Women's International Coalition for Economic Justice, Economic Rights"
US Manufacturing: Restructuring Or Disappearing?
The hollowing out of American manufacturing is an article of faith in much left analysis, but the truth is more complex and this has important organizing, bargaining, and political implications
- Mark Brenner, Labor Notes, “Overview of job loss and restructuring in US manufacturing”
- Nicole Aschoff, Sociology, John Hopkins University, "New data on the net flow of jobs out of and into the US auto industry”
- Stanley Aronowitz, Graduate Center, CUNY, long-time labor activist, “The shift to high tech manufacturing and the implications for organizing”
- Moderator: Sam Gindin, York University, former Assistant to the President of CAW, Socialist Register
Precarious Work, Precarious Lives
- Mia Son, Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Korea
- Iris Nowak, *Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Berlin
- David Van Arsdale, Sociology, Hartwick College and Joseph S. Murphy Institute, CUNY
- Moderator: Bill DiFazio, St. Johns University
How Can Studying Workers Class Consciousness Help To Raise It?
An attempt to combine our research interests on this important topic with our political ones.
- Bertell Ollman, New York University, "Are Class Interests Part of What Workers Are or Part of What They Know (Or Don't)?"
- Howard Horowitz, Howard Horowitiz Associates, "Report on Two Focus Group Studies on Workers' Class Consciousness]]
- Lee Levin, Public Administration, Baruch College, "Problems of Class Consciousness in Working Class Women]]
- Moderator: Michael Zweig, Economics, SUNY, Stony Brook
Sex Work, Trafficking, And Left Politics: Towards a New Vision on Prostitution and Justice
This panel will unite sex workers rightsí activists and professional intellectuals working on queer theory, feminism and progressive sexual politics to discuss the relationship between sex work and the Left.
- Audacia Ray, $pread Magazine
- Kerwin Kaye, New York University
- Elizabeth Wood, Nassau Community College
- Amber Hollibaugh, Queers for Economic Justice
- Ignacio Rivera, Queers for Economic Justice
- Moderator: Antonia Levy, Graduate Center, CUNY
China: Economic Crisis, Environmental Collapse and Workers' Struggles in China's Market Stalinism
The introduction of market reform in China has installed economic forces that are savaging Chinese society and driving the country toward ecological collapse, trends which are exacerbated by China's hybrid capitalist-communist social structure which has defeated all efforts at reform but provoked growing resistance from workers and farmers.
- Richard Smith, Author, "China's Capitalist Catastrophe"
- Stephen Philion, Sociology, St. Cloud State University, "The Ideology of Rights and Workers' Resistance to Privatization in China"
- Yan Sun, Queens College and Graduate Center, CUNY, "Corruption, growth and reform, the Chinese enigma"
- Moderator: *Magali Sarfatti Larson, Temple University (emerita)
Latin America
Militant Puerto Ricans: Diaspora, Struggle & Political Prisoners
This panel focuses on the role of the Diaspora in the struggle for Puerto Rican national liberation describing and evaluating the radicalization of communities, the differing forms of struggle, political prisoners and use of the grand jury today.
- Mickey Melendez, Author, former Young Lord, "Trends in community organizing from the Young Lords to actual Diaspora struggles"
- Michael Gonz·lez-Cruz, University of Puerto Rico, Mayag¸ez, "Militant Puerto Ricans: from Diaspora to Nation Building"
- Juan Antonio Ocasio Rivera, LMSW, La Nueva Escuela, "Historic role of the Diaspora in the Struggle for Independence"
- Moderator: Ana Lopez, "Grand Jury, Repression, and Resistance in Puerto Rico and the US"
The Latin American Right
Much attention in recent years has been devoted to the Latin American ìleft turnî with little attention focused on how right-wing politics has adjusted to meet new challenges to its dominance.
- Steve Ellner, Political Science, University de Oriente, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
- Fred Rosen, NACLA
- Forrest Hylton, New York University
- Carlos Vilas, Political Science, Argentina
- Moderator: Jack Hammond, Sociology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, CUNY, NACLA
New Participatory Working Class Movements Challenge Left Reformism in Latin America Confronting Left Reformism in Latin America: Non-hierarchical, democratic, and participatory working class movements present challenges to social democratic and centrist governments
- Jack Hammond, Sociology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, CUNY, "Popular Movements and Left Governments: Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela and Chile"
- Peter Ranis, Political Science, Graduate Center and York College, CUNY, "Struggles of Worker Recuperated Enterprises and Cooperatives in Argentina"
- Nancy Romer, Psychology, Brooklyn College, CUNY, "Indigenous and Workers Organizations in Bolivia"
- Moderator: Renate Bridenthal, History, Brooklyn College, International Committee of PSC-CUNY, AFT, Local 2334))
Evaluating Chavez From the Left
The international Left must address whether we should line up behind Chavez, is he a populist and/or a revolutionary, and is the opposition in Venezuela, perhaps, correct?
- Steve Ellner, Political Science, University de Oriente, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
- Greg Wilpert, Venezuelanalysis.com
- Fernando Coronil, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, University of Michigan
Moderator: *Olivia Burlingame Goumbri, Director, Venezuela Information Office
Urban Roots of Resistance And the New Left in Latin America
The historical antecedents of many of the leftist movements coming to power across Latin America today, the relationships of social movements with new Left leaders, and the current social movements and their historical roots will be examined.
- Forrest Hylton, New York University, "Indigenous Movements in Bolivia"
- Marina Sitrin, New College, "Horizontalism in Argentina"
- Alejandro Velasco, New York University, "El 23 de Enero in Caracas"
- Moderator: Sujatha Fernandes, Queens College, CUNY, "Barrio-based movements in Caracas"
Changing the World by Taking Power? Challenges Facing the Latin American Left
Leftists have come to power in governments throughout Latin America, from Venezuela to Brazil to Cuba and beyond, and questions of the relationship between state power and social movements are a subject of heated debates: How do left forces relate to questions of electoral struggles, executive power and its contestation, parliamentary reform and revolutionary movements, socialism from above and below?
- Carlos Vilas, Political Science, Argentina
- Michael Lowy, Sociology, National Center for Scientific Research, Paris
- Greg Wilpert, Venezuelanalysis.com
- Moderator: Nancy Romer, Brooklyn College
Marxism & Theory
No Neoliberalism Without 1968? The Contradictory Legacy of the Cultural Rebellion
Is it possible that the cultural upheavals of the 60s paved the way for neoliberal policies to be not only implemented but accepted widely?
- Ingar Solty, York University, Toronto
- Barbara Epstein, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Thomas Seibert, Interventionist Left, Germany
- Leo Panitch, York University, Toronto
- Moderator: Lisa Maya Knauer, Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Berlin
Towards a Synthesis of Anarchism and Marxism?
- Dave Berry, European Studies, Loughborough University, UK, "Towards a libertarian communism? Daniel Guerin and the synthesis of marxism and anarchism"
- Ruth Kinna, Politics, Loughborough University, UK, "Bridging Differences Through Revolutionary Action: Aldred on Anarchism and Marx"
- Moderator: Laurence Davis - Founding member, Anarchist Studies Network, "Anarchism, Marxism, and the Ends of Revolution"
Dialectics of Liberation: Praxis For a New Century?
Utilizing over 90 years of collective movement experience, participants in this conversation will discuss using dialectics to explore ways that theorizing social change must change to fit the 21st Century.
- Melanie Bush, Sociology, Adelphi University
- Kazembe Balagun, Brecht Forum
- Matt Birkhold, Independent scholar and writer
- Moderator: Roderick Bush, Sociology, St. John's University
Real Utopia: Participatory Society For the 21st Century
This panel engages visions for what a future participatory society may look like while looking at real world examples in the US, Asia and Latin America, and the strategy and activism needed to take us there.
- Michael Albert, Znet, "Participatory Society for the 21st Century"
- Jessica Azulay, WebRoot Solutions, "Parecon in Practice"
- Brian Dominick, WebRoot Solutions, ìOrganizing for a Participatory Societyî
- Richard W. Franke, Montclair State University, New Jersey, "Kerala. India"
- Chris Spannos, ZNet
- Marie Trigona, ZMag, "Argentina"
- Greg Wilpert, Venezuelanalysis.com, "Socialism for the 21st Century/Venezuela"
- Moderator: Meaghan Linick-Loughley, New York Organization for a Participatory Society, Students for a Democratic Society, Z Communications
Lenin's Return?
While many have proclaimed ìGoodbye to Leninî since Communismís collapse, discussions and debates are re-emerging regarding his historical meaning, contemporary resonance and future relevance.
- Paul Le Blanc, History, La Roche College, Pennsylvania
- Lars Lih, Independent scholar and author
- Helen Scott, English, Women's and Gender Studies, University of Vermont
- August Nimtz, Jr., Political Science, African Studies, University of Minnesota
- Moderator: Immanuel Ness, Brooklyn College, CUNY, Working USA: The Journal of Labor and Society
Connecting Globalization and Revolution
Marx's slogan about "workers of the world unite" was premature such that only today are the conditions in place to make that possible, and how does contemporary globalization repose anew the strategic question, "Reform and/or Revolution?"
- Maliha Safri, Drew University, "The Global Household: Immigration and Economics in Transnational Families"
- John Manley, Political Science, Stanford University, 'Globalization: Precondition of Socialist Revolution?"
- Rick Wolff, Economics, University of Massachussetts, Amherst, "Reaction to Global Neoliberalism: Reform or Revolution?"
- Moderator: Cathy Mulder, Economics, Washington College
Rethinking Marxism and the Future Of Global Struggles: Class Theory, Political Subjects and Contemporary Capitalism
Scholars associated with Marxism and with Rethinking Marxism will interrogate the journalís goals and accomplishments, Marxismís history in relation to political transformations in the world over the last 20 years, and the future of Marxism in the United States and abroad, as both a scholarly discourse and a form of political practice.
- Rick Wolff, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
- Maliha Safri, Drew University
- David Harvey, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Joseph Buttigieg, Notre Dame
- Moderator: David Ruccio, Notre Dame University, editor of Rethinking Marxism
How Can Studying Workers' Class Consciousness Help to Raise It?
An attempt to combine our research interests on this important topic with our political ones.
- Bertell Ollman, New York University, "Are Class Interests Part of What Workers Are or Part of What They Know (Or Don't)?"
- Howard Horowitz, Howard Horowitiz Associates, "Report on Two Focus Group Studies on Worker's Class Consciousness"
- Lee Levin, Public Administration, Baruch College, "Problems of Class Consciousness in Working Class Women"
- Moderator: Michael Zweig, Economics, SUNY, Stony Brook
Beyond the Inarticulate: A "Conversation" With Staughton Lynd On Anarchism and Marxism and History From the Bottom Up
An exploration of the contributions of historian and organizer Staughton Lynd.
- Staughton Lynd, Historian and Author
- Carl Mirra, Adelphi University
- Daniel Gross, Co-author, "Labor Law for the Rank and File"
- Moderator: Jerry Watts, English and Sociology, Graduate Center, [[CUNY
Marxism, Feminism and Critical Theory In Contemporary China
A discussion of recent trends in Chinese philosophy and social theory, with participants from China and the US.
- He Ping, Wuhan University, China, "Gender in China"
- Wu Xinwei, Wuhan University, China, Purdue University, "Gramsci in China"
- Li Dianlai, Wuhan University, China, Purdue University, "Habermas in China"
- Wang Xinyan, Wuhan University, China, "Keeping a Foothold on Concrete Reality in Chinese Marxist Philosophy"
Discussant: *Peter Hudis, Oakton Community College
- Moderator: Kevin B. Anderson, Purdue University
- Moderator: Josh Howard, Graduate Center, CUNY
Media
Speaking Truth to Power: Africa's Independent Media and its Relationship to Dmocratic Struggles Around the Continent
How does the traditional press and new media forms, including blogs, websites, and text messaging, contribute to democracy movements on the continent and among the diaspora?
- Sowore Omoyele, Journalist, Sahara Reporter
- Kassahun Checole, Africa World Press and Red Sea Press
- Miampela Mpela, UN Department of Public Information
- Moderator: Milton Allimadi, Black Star News, Global Information Network
Unembedded From Corporate Journalism At Home - Grassroots Media-Making
Panelists will share video and radio examples as they discuss media-making as a critical component of their community organizing, analysis and communications.
Moderator: *Lisa Rudman, Director of Making Contact, National Radio Project
Middle East
The Iran Crisis: Continuing Threat of War, Post-National Intelligence Estimate
Our panelists will explore US-Iran relations and questions raised by the striking US Intelligence turnaround by looking at domestic politics in the US and Iran, the effects of trade sanctions on Iran's economy and its people, the connection to the war in Iraq, and the long-range energy ambitions of the US.
- Reza Ghorashi, Richard Stockton College
- Tom O'Donnell, Fulbright Scholar, CENDES Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, and The New School
- Faramarz Farbod, Moravian College, Union for Radical Political Economics
Lessons of the Iraq Occupation
This panel will explore a broad range of issues ó from mercenaries and outsourcing to counterinsurgency warfare in Iraq and the impact of the ongoing occupation for other conflicts, as well as the anti-war movement.
- Jeremy Scahill, The Nation
- AK Gupta, Editor, The Indypendent
- Dennis Brutus, Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Frida Berrigan, Senior Program Associate, New America Foundation's Arms and Security Initiative
- Moderator: Lisa Maya Knauer, Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, The Indypendent and International Socialist Review magazine
Oil and Politics in a Neoliberal World Economy
The political economy of the international oil industry in the neoliberal world economy with special foci on the consequences of the rising cost of oil extraction and nationalization of the oil industry for Middle East politics and US foreign policy.
- Michael Klare, Peace and World Security Studies, Hampshire College, "Oil, War, and Geopolitics: The Struggle Over What Remains"
- Max Fraad Wolff, International Affairs, The New School, "Rising Petrol Prices and Redistribution"
- Irene Gendzier, Political Science, Boston University, "Past Tense, Present Sense: Reflections on US Oil Policy and Middle East Politics from the start of the Good Old Days"
- Moderator: Adolfo Doring
The Backlash Against Dissent on Israel - Strategies For Response
Drawing upon their own experiences, panelists will address how dissenting voices on Israel have been suppressed or silenced, and ways to respond politically to the backlash that is taking place against dissent on Israel.
- Joel Kovel, Author, Overcoming Zionism, Founding Member, Committee for Open Discussion of Zionism, CODZ
- Debbie Almontaser, Educator, Founding Principal, Khalil Gibran International Academy, New York City
- Donna Nevel, Community Psychologist and educator
- Alison Weir, Journalist, Founder of If Americans Knew
- Moderator: Esther Kaplan, Investigative editor at the Nation Institute, "Author of With God on Their Side: George W. Bush and the Christian Right", Committee for Open Discussion of Zionism
Movement Building
Whither the World Social Forum?
This panel will reflect on the World Social Forum process over the last 8 years in terms of challenges, successs, ideologies and future possibilities.
- Patrick Bond, Center for Civil Society, South Africa
- Heather Gautney, Fordham University
- Michael Menser, Brooklyn College
- Marina Karides, Florida State University
- Moderator: Thomas Ponniah, Harvard University
Usable Pasts: Approaches to Movement Histories For Today's Struggles
This panel, featuring a range of younger scholar-activists, will stimulate discussion around creatively and critically bringing movement histories into contemporary struggles.
- Sean Burns, History of Consciousness, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Maia Ramnath, History, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Marina Sitrin, New College of California
- Eddie Yuen, San Francisco Art Institute
- Moderator: Chris Dixon, History of Consciousness, University of California, Santa Cruz
Poverty and Poor People's Movements - Social Analysis and Reflections on Strategies
This workshop analyzes the political economy of todayís poverty and discusses the potentials and difficulties of re-igniting sustainable poor peopleís movements today, looking at theoretical debates and the experiences of current anti-poverty movements in the US.
- Willie Baptist, Poverty Initiative, Union Theological Seminary
- Chris Caruso, Cultural Anthropology, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Jan Rehmann, Co-editor, German Historical-Critical Dictionary of Marxism, Philosophy and Social Theories, Union Theological Seminary
- Liz Theoharis, Coordinator of the Poverty Initiative, Union Theological Seminary
- Moderator: Charlene Sinclair, Union Theological Seminary, Organizer in Poor People's movements
Real Utopia: Participatory Society For the 21st Century
This panel engages visions for what a future participatory society may look like while looking at real world examples in the US, Asia and Latin America, and the strategy and activism needed to take us there.
- Michael Albert, Znet, "Participatory Society for the 21st Century"
- Jessica Azulay, WebRoot Solutions, "Parecon in Practice"
- Brian Dominick, WebRoot Solutions, "Organizing for a Participatory Society"
- Richard W. Franke, Montclair State University, New Jersey, "Kerala. India"
- Chris Spannos, ZNet
- Marie Trigona, ZMag, "Argentina"
- [[Greg Wilpert", Venezuelanalysis.com, "Socialism for the 21st Century/Venezuela"
- Moderator: [[Meaghan Linick-Loughley", New York Organization for a Participatory Society, Students for a Democratic Society, Z Communications
Organizing For Tax Justice
- Mimi Abramovitz, Social Policy, Hunter School of Social Work, CUNY, "Taxes are a Woman's Issue"
- Lucy Komisar, Journalist, Tax Justice Network-USA, taxjustice-usa.org, "Tax Justice Activism: targeting the corporate & super-rich tax cheats"
- Stephanie Greenwood - Editor, 10 Excellent Reasons Not to Hate Taxes
- Moderator/Discussant: William Tabb, Economics (emeritus), Queens College, CUNY
Towards a Revolutionary Student Movement: Organization, Vision and Strategy For a Revitalized Left
This panel is an opportunity for young radicals in the student movement to discuss and share their views on the role students can play in confronting the new challenges our society is faced with, how to transcend the errors of previous generations of revolutionaries, and the difficulties in creating a new new left.
- [[Patricia Gonzalez], The New School, Students for a Democratic Society
- Rachel Haut, Queens College, Students for a Democratic Society
- Dave Shukla, UCLA, Students for a Democratic Society
- Moderator: Pat Korte, The New School, Students for a Democratic Society
The Evolution of Revolutionary Theory and Practice
Detroit City of Hope campaign points the way for twenty-first century cities.
- Ron Scott, TV producer
- Shea Howell, Co-founder and coordinator, Detroit Summer, columnist, Michigan Citizen
- William Copeland, Poet, cultural worker
- Moderator: Grace Lee Boggs, James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership, Detroit
Study Groups in Search of the Questions
This panel is composed of several actual study groups who have been trying to confront the really difficult questions of revolution around consciousness-raising, organizational structure, ideology and the intersections of identity, class-race-gender-place and what ìif notî revolution as we have understood it.
- Another Politics is Possible study group
- Revolution & Evolution in the 20th Century study group
- Resistance in Brooklyn study group
- Party Study Part study group
- Moderator: Edget Betru, Guant·namo Global Justice Initiative, Center for Constitutional Rights
Movement-Building: Finding Common Ground
Drawing on organizing experience across race, ethnic, gender, and generational lines, panelists will discuss what kind of movement we need to build, how we can bridge theory and practice, how to raise difficult issues, and how older activists can make themselves useful to the young.
- Howie Machtinger, Heirs to a Fighting Tradition, "Intergenerational Politics: Legacies of the Sixties"
- Susan Wilcox, Brotherhood/SisterSol, "Youth Development for Social Change"
- Moderator: *Suzanne Pharr, Southerners on New Ground (SONG), "Let the Circle Be Unbroken"
Radicalizing Rights: Bringing Human Rights Home
In recent years, important sectors of the feminist movement and the left have adopted a strategy of using the language of international human rights to mobilize people for economic and social justice within the US; in what ways is this approach useful in winning reforms and building a movement and what are its possible limitations in terms of a radical strategy?
- Cathy Albisa, National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, "Bring Human Rights Home"
- Loretta Ross, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective, "Reproductive Justice"
- Sangeeta Budhiraja, Queers for Economic Justice, "Immigration and Human Rights"
- Moderator: Meredith Tax, Women's World Organization for Rights, Literature & Development Women's WORLD, "Some Strategic Questions about Human Rights"
Re-Constructing Solidarity
Often invoked, rarely examined, this panel addresses the concept of solidarityówhat it is, why itís important, and the various reasons why it is blocked or flourishes in particular instances.
- Barbara Epstein, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Bill Fletcher, Jr., Center for Labor Renewal, Black Commentator
- Staughton Lynd, Historian and author
- Moderator: Chris Dixon, History of Consciousness, University of California, Santa Cruz
Autonomy, Social Change and the Global Justice Movement
Panelists will present on urban and rural movements in Europe and North America, discuss how these local activities are linked to larger movements, and then raise questions about the modalities of feminist, anti-racist, and anticapitalist social change being offered by these actors that are both antagonistic and transformative.
- Thomas Seibert, Interventionist Left, Germany
- Brenda Biddle, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Mike Menser, Brooklyn College, CUNY
- Omar Freilla, Green Workers Cooperatives, New York City
- Cindy Milstein, Institute for Anarchist Studies
- Moderator: Jamie McCallum, Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY
Building the Left in Northern Core Capitalist Countries
- Frank Deppe, Political Science, University of Marburg, Germany, "The crisis of neoliberal hegemony and the emergence of authoritarian capitalism"
- Mimmo Porcaro, Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, "Building a new Left party into a populist society: Is the 'Italian Case' back?
- Thomas Seibert, Interventionist Left, Germany, "Party and movements, moderates and radicals. Lessons learned from Cologne 1999 to Heiligendamm 2007"
- Moderator: Rainer Rilling, University of Marburg, Germany, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Berlin
A Labor Movement For the 21st Century
What kind of labor movement is needed to deal with 21st century conditions of globalization, labor migration, widespread unemployment and a huge but largely unorganized service sector; and how do womenís rights and workersí rights, workplace issues and community issues, come together to build this kind of movement?
- Willie Baptist, Union Theological Seminary Poverty Initiative, Organizing the Poor
- Marisa Franco, Domestic Workers United, Unionizing Domestic Workers
- Katie Quan, University of California, Berkeley, Labor Center, "Women, Work, and Globalization"
- Moderator: Carol Barton, Women's International Coalition for Economic Justice, "Economic Rights"
The Solidarity Economy as a Path Towards Radical Economic Transformation
Speakers from the US and Canada, representing five different solidarity economy networks, including the recently founded US Solidarity Economy Network, will introduce the solidarity economy framework and debate key aspects of solidarity economy organizing.
- Ethel Cote, Canadian Community Economic Development Network, International Network for the Social/Solidarity Economy, Solidarity Economy of Ontario
- Emily Kawano, US Solidarity Economy Network, North American Network for the Solidarity Economy, Center for Popular Economics
- Ethan Miller, US Solidarity Economy Network, Grassroots Economic Organizing
- Carl Davidson, US Solidarity Economy Network, solidarityeconomy.net
- Moderator: Julie Matthaei, US Solidarity Economy Network, Economics, Wellesley College
Political Economy
Building the Left in Northern Core Capitalist Countries
- Frank Deppe, Political Science, University of Marburg, Germany, "The crisis of neoliberal hegemony and the emergence of authoritarian capitalism"
- Mimmo Porcaro, Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, "Building a new Left party into a populist society: Is the 'Italian Case' back?"
- Thomas Seibert, Interventionist Left, Germany, "Party and movements, moderates and radicals. Lessons learned from Cologne 1999 to Heiligendamm 2007"
- Moderator: Rainer Rilling, University of Marburg, Germany
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Berlin
Oil and Politics in a Neoliberal World Economy
The political economy of the international oil industry in the neoliberal world economy with special foci on the consequences of the rising cost of oil extraction and nationalization of the oil industry for Middle East politics and US foreign policy.
- Michael Klare, Peace and World Security Studies, Hampshire College, "Oil, War, and Geopolitics: The Struggle Over What Remains"
- Max Fraad Wolff, International Affairs, The New School, "Rising Petrol Prices and Redistribution"
- Irene Gendzier, Political Science, Boston University, "Past Tense, Present Sense: Reflections on US Oil Policy and Middle East Politics from the start of the Good Old Days"
- Moderator: Adolfo Doring
Decline of the Dollar: Decline or Flexibility of the Empire?
- Jane DiArista, Financial Markets Centre
- David Harvey, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Doug Henwood, Left Business Observer
- Chris Rude, Writer
- Moderator: Leo Panitch, York University, Toronto, Socialist Register
The Solidarity Economy As a Path Towards Radical Economic Transformation
Speakers from the US and Canada, representing five different solidarity economy networks, including the recently founded US Solidarity Economy Network, will introduce the solidarity economy framework and debate key aspects of solidarity economy organizing.
- Ethel Cote, Canadian Community Economic Development Network, International Network for the Social/Solidarity Economy, Solidarity Economy of Ontario
- Emily Kawano, US Solidarity Economy Network, North American Network for the Solidarity Economy, Center for Popular Economics
- Ethan Miller, US Solidarity Economy Network, Grassroots Economic Organizing
- Carl Davidson, US Solidarity Economy Network, solidarityeconomy.net
- Moderator: Julie Matthaei, US Solidarity Economy Network, Economics, Wellesley College
The Housing Meltdown
Panelists review the massive house price inflation (2001-2007), withdrawal of money and eventual decline of home prices, wealth and ownership.
- Max Fraad Wolff, International Affairs, The New School, The Huffington Post, "How Big? How Bad? How Long?"
- Doug Henwood, Left Business Observer, WBIA, KPFA, "The Building/Housing Boom, Bust and Response"
- Kenneth Levin, Queens College, CUNY, "Middle Class Home Insecurity: Policy and Practice"
- Moderator: Jason Ricciuti Borenstein, Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
The Coming Depression?
- Jack Rasmus, "From Minsky to Marx and Beyond: Financial instruments and value"
- Hillel Ticktin, Critique - A Journal of Socialist Theory, "Why this downturn is different from all others since 1929"
- Elizabeth Ramey, University of Massachussetts, Amherst, "The Commodity/Ethanol Boom and the Housing Bubble"
- Moderator: Suzi Weissman, Critique - A Journal of Socialist Theory
The Political Economy of Oil, Energy and the Environment
How the changing oil industry affects recession in the US economy, energy politics, and the growing US inequality of income and wealth.
- AK Gupta, Editor, The Indypendent, "The United States and the political-economy of the global oil order"
- Michael Tanzer, Tanzer Economic Associates, "Oil, Energy and Global Warming: The Disconnect between Scienceís Warnings and Proposed Solution"
- George Caffentzis, Philosophy, University of Southern Maine, "Oil, the US Working Class and the Crisis of Neoliberalism"
- Moderator: Cathy Mulder, Economics, Washington College
Organising For Tax Justice
- Mimi Abramovitz, Social Policy, Hunter School of Social Work, CUNY, "Taxes are a Woman's Issue"
- Lucy Komisar, Journalist, Tax Justice Network, USA, taxjustice-usa.org, "Tax Justice Activism: targeting the corporate & super-rich tax cheats"
- Stephanie Greenwood, Editor, 10 Excellent Reasons Not to Hate Taxes
- Moderator/Discussant: William Tabb, Economics, Queens College, CUNY
Dimensions of the Financialization Crisis
- David McNally, York University, Toronto, "Global Finance, the Current Crisis, and Challenges to the Dollar"
- Michael Krotke, University of Amsterdam, "The Financial Crisis has arrived in Europe - Europe`s share in the international bubble economy"
- William Tabb, Economics, Queens College, CUNY, "The Minsky Moment and the Structure of Contemporary Finance"
- Jane DArista, Financial Markets Centre, "Broken Systems: the US Financial and Monetary Policy Framework"
- Moderator: Rainer Rilling, University of Marburg, Germany
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Belin
Up to Our Eyeballs: America's Unfolding Crisis of Personal Debt An unregulated lending and financial services industry, crying out for rules far tougher than our political leaders (with their Wall Street bankrollers) will propose, will be examined, and solutions discussed.
- Robin Blackburn, Committee on Historical Studies, New School for Social Research
- Jose Garcia, Senior Research and Policy Associate at Demos
- James Lardner, Journalist, Senior Fellow at Demos
- Danny Schechter, Television Producer and Independent Filmmaker
- Moderator: Heather McGhee, Economic Opportunity Program
Religion & Spirituality
Transformative Thinking, Indigenous Knowledge, and the Future of Capitalism
What role can indigenous or "precapitalist" forms of knowledge and spirituality play in this transformation, and what are the politics of mobilizing them, and does the recent (re)turn to consciousness mark a significant break from the distinction between idealism and materialism?
- Jack Z. Bratich, Rutgers University
Tiokasin Ghosthorse, First Voices Indigenous Radio, WBAI Radio
- Daniel Pinchbeck, Author
- Moderator: James Trimarco, Writer
The Radical Roots of Theology: What Left Movements Can Learn From Religion
Left movements tend to be skeptical (typically for good reasons) about religion, but are there theological approaches within contemporary religions that can not only be compatible with left politics but can contribute to leftistsí ability to understand the world and create social change?
- Robert Jensen, University of Texas, Austin
- Junaid S. Ahmad, College of William and Mary School of Law, Virginia
- Fahd Ahmed, DRUM, Desis Rising Up and Moving, "Immigrant Rights Since 9/11"
- Moderator: Reverend Jim Rigby, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas
Racial and Religious Solidarity: Breaching the Barriers
What keeps religious leftists and secular leftists from building coalitions, what keeps white religious leftists and religious leftists of color from true dialogue and understanding?
- Noble Bratton, Trade Union activist
- Reverend Osagyefo Sekou, National Coordinator of Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq, Minister, Judson Memorial Church, New York City
- Elliot A. Ratzman, Swarthmore College
- Moderator: Juanita Webster, Religion & Socialism Commission of DSA
United States
Left Perspectives on Immigration Controversies
This panel will focus on the impact of immigrant workers on the political and economic realities facing the US working class today.
- Amy Sugimori, Executive Director, LaFuente
- David Van Arsdale, Sociology, Hartwick College and Joseph S. Murphy Institute, CUNY
- Immanuel Ness, Political Science, Brooklyn College, CUNY
- Stephen Steinberg, Urban Studies, Queens College and Graduate Center, CUNY
- Moderator: Marty Oppenheimer, Sociology, Rutgers University
The Battle For Immigrant Rights: From Dialogue To Action
Join us for a dialogue exploring how we can respond effectively to tough questions about immigration, chip away at the anti-immigrant attitudes being amplified by the media, and support immigrants who are organizing against deportation, defending their labor rights and building community power.
- Jane Guskin, Author
- Aarti Shahani, Co-founder, Families for Freedom
- Victor Toro, Founder, Vamos a la PeÒa del Bronx
- Ana Maria Archila, Co-Executive Director, Make the Road, New York
- Moderator: Adriana Rocha, Program Officer, New York Foundation
Torture and the Decline of the American Empire
Torture yields intelligence of dubious value, but its development and use is increasing by the US government as its grip on empire is challenged.
- Michael Ratner, President, Center for Constitutional Rights
- Alfred McCoy, University of Wisconsin
- Marnia Lazreg, Sociology, Hunter College and Graduate Center, CUNY
- Naomi Wolf, Author
- Moderator: Michael Steven Smith, Attorney and author
The State of the Anti-War Movement
There is an urgent need for analysis as to why the anti-war movement has faded from public view despite the fact that it was the burning issue of the 2006 election and that nearly 70 percent of Americans support a US withdrawal from Iraq. Also, we will discuss how the movement can get back on track and make an impact in 2008 and beyond.
- AK Gupta, Editor, The Indypendent
- Max Uhlenbeck, Brecht Forum, Editor, Left Turn
- Max Elbaum, Journalist
- Moderator: Susie Day, Columnist
Beyond Walls and Cages: Linking Immigrant Rights and Prison Abolition Movements The criminalization of migration builds on the nearly three-decade long project of mass incarceration. How can we understand how walls and cages target different groups of people, yet with similar effects, and how can the prison abolition and immigrant justice movements learn from and support each other?
- Andrew Burridge, Geography, University of Southern California, "Might a theory and politics of open borders manifest themselves spatially and challenge current forms of border securitization and militarization?"
- Trishala Deb, Audre Lorde Project, "The intersections of racism, transphobia, and homophobia for immigrant community members, particularly around issues of enforcement and incarceration"
- Micol Seigel, African American Studies, African Diaspora Studies, American Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, "Zero Tolerance Goes South: focus on the international police consulting of former NYPD and current LAPD Police Chief William Bratton"
- Seth Freed Wessler - Research associate, Applied Research Center
- Fahd Ahmed, DRUM, Desis Rising Up and Moving
- Moderator: Lisa Bhungalia, Geography, Syracuse University
- Moderator: Jenna Loyd, Syracuse University
Soldiers Resist: Organizing Against War
This panel features the testimonials of activists employing diverse viewpoints and strategies in order to rebuild a vibrant anti-war movement.
- David McReynolds, War Resisters League
- Anna Brown, Witness Against Torture and the Kairos Community
- Bill Weinberg, Editor, World War 4 Report
- Brian Moore, St. Pete (Fla.) for Peace Coalition, Socialist Party USA
- Moderator: Billy Wharton, Socialist Party USA, New York City Local
Is the Christian Right Dead?
The coalition between economic and social conservatives seems kind of rocky coming out of the Bush Presidency that brought them together. Is the Christian Right dead?
- Chip Berlet, Senior Analyst, Political Research Associates
- Tarso Luis Ramos, Research Director, Political Research Associates
- Michelle Goldberg, Author
- Rich Meagher, Political Science, Marymount Manhattan College
- Moderator: Esther Kaplan, Nation Institute, The Public Eye, Political Research Associates
Anarchism and the 2008 Presidential Elections
Can anarchists shrug off the end of the Bush era and this particular U.S. presidential election as just the same old statecraft - and proceed to "shut down" the conventions - or do the race (Obama), gender (Clinton), and "hope" factors problematize our usual responses?
- Cindy Milstein, Institute for Anarchist Studies
- Ashanti Alston, Anarchist People of Color
- Ariel, New York City Anarchist Bookfair Collective
- Eric Laursen, New York Metro Alliance of Anarchists
The Arrival of the American Police State
However narrow and restrictive American bourgeois democracy was before 9/11, its juridical and institutional underpinnings have been transformed by the Bush administration (with the complicity of the Democratic Party) into what can now most accurately be described as a police state.
- Heidi Boghosian, Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild
- C. Clark Kissinger, Not In Our Name Statement of Conscience
- Lynne Stewart, Attorney
- Moderator: Michael Steven Smith, Law and Disorder Radio
Keeping Down the Black Vote: Race and the Demobolization of American Voters
New voters are trouble, so it is more efficient to work to suppress opposition voters, and blacks are the usual target of vote suppression, a tactic is used both by the Republican and the Democratic parties.
- Lori Minnite, Political Science, Barnard College, Columbia University
- Major Owens, US Congress, retired
- Frances Fox Piven, Political Science, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Moderator: Andy Hsiao, The New Press
Urban Issues
A Right to the City!
Communities throughout New York City are coming together to create a proactive, unified and strategic community-based response to gentrification and displacement, including through the development of a local and national alliance, Right to the City, that is working to build a broad-based urban movement fighting for housing, education, health, racial justice, and democracy.
- Nayhshene Molina, Families United for Racial and Economic Equality
- Nova Strachan, Mothers on the Move
- Robert Robinson, Picture the Homeless
- Rickke Mananzala, Fabulous Independent Radicals for Community Empowerment
- Moderator: Laine Romero-Alston, Urban Justice Center
Homelessness & Resistance In New York City
An interactive discussion around critical themes relating to homelessness, housing exclusion and the housing market, and the implication for strategies of resistance in terms of race, class and gender.
- Jean Rice, Board Member and civil rights leader, Picture the Homeless
- Nikita Price, Organizer, Rental Subsidies Campaign, Picture the Homeless
Rogers - Housing Campaign, Picture the Homeless
- Lynn Lewis, Picture the Homeless
- Sam Miller, Picture the Homeless
- Moderator: Frances Fox Piven, Political Science, Graduate Center, CUNY, Picture the Homeless
Harlem Is Seized!
How do land issues manifest within black communities, what are their commonalities to other liberation struggles, what is the relationship between the struggle for specific local reforms such as tenants rights and the liberation of the ìimagined community", in what ways is Harlem a new manifestation of the diaspora of folks of African descent.
- Nellie Hester Bailey, Harlem Tenants Council
- Kamau Franklin, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
- Haja Worley, Community Gardens
- Rene Francisco Poitevin, New York University
- Moderator: Cleo Silvers, For A Better Bronx
The Evolution of Revolutionary Theory & Practice
Detroit City of Hope campaign points the way for twenty-first century cities.
- Ron Scott, Detroit Black Panther Party, TV producer
- Shea Howell, Detroit Summer, columnist, Michigan Citizen
- William Copeland, Poet, cultural worker
- Moderator: Grace Lee Boggs, James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership, Detroit
1968 - 40 Years Later
Reimagining 1968: The Black Power Movement & Its Legacies
This panel critically analyzes the way in which Black Power radicalism impacted the local, national and international events of 1968.
- Donna Murch, Rutgers University
- Herb Boyd, Journalist, New York, Amsterdam News
- Moderator: Peniel Joseph, Brandeis University
No Neoliberalism Without 1968? The Contradictory Legacy of the Cultural Rebellion
Is it possible that the cultural upheavals of the ë60s paved the way for neoliberal policies to be not only implemented but accepted widely?
- Ingar Solty, York University, Toronto
- Barbara Epstein, University of California, Santa Cruz
- Thomas Seibert, Interventionist Left, Germany
- Leo Panitch, York University, Toronto
- Moderator: Lisa Maya Knauer, Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Berlin
Looking Back, Looking Forward: The Legacy of '68
- Tariq Ali, Journalist
- Max Elbaum, Journalist
- Frank Deppe, Political Science, University of Marburg, Germany
- Frances Fox Piven, Political Science, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Moderator: Lori Minnite, Political Science, Barnard College, Columbia University
Movement-Building: Finding Common Ground
Drawing on organizing experience across race, ethnic, gender, and generational lines, panelists will discuss what kind of movement we need to build, how we can bridge theory and practice, how to raise difficult issues, and how older activists can make themselves useful to the young.
- Howie Machtinger, Heirs to a Fighting Tradition, "Intergenerational Politics: Legacies of the Sixties"
- Susan Wilcox, Brotherhood/SisterSol, "Youth Development for Social Change"
- Moderator: Suzanne Pharr, Southerners on New Ground SONG, "Let the Circle Be Unbroken"
Migration
The Battle for Immigrant Rights: From Dialogue To Action
Join us for a dialogue exploring how we can respond effectively to tough questions about immigration, chip away at the anti-immigrant attitudes being amplified by the media, and support immigrants who are organizing against deportation, defending their labor rights and building community power.
- Jane Guskin, Author
- Aarti Shahani, Co-founder, Families for Freedom
- Victor Toro, Founder, Vamos a la Peoa del Bronx
- Ana Maria Archila, Co-Executive Director, Make the Road, New York
- Moderator: Adriana Rocha, Program Officer, New York Foundation
Gender, Ethnicity and Culture: Organizing on the Margins In the context of the steady decline of organized laborís white male workers manufacturing jobs, this panel shifts the focus to organizing precarious employment and immigrant labor in an increasingly anti-immigrant climate.
- Jennifer Klein, History, Yale University, "We Were the Invisible Workforce: Low-wage Labor in the American Welfare State"
- Graham Cassano, Sociology and Anthropology, Oakland University, "Republicanism, class war, and the cultural struggle: Lou Dobbs and the new nativism"
- Troy Rondinone, History, Southern Connecticut State University, "Republicanism, class war, and the cultural struggle: Lou Dobbs and the new nativism"
- Nicole Trujillo-Pag·n, Sociology, Wayne State University, "From 'Gateway to the Americas' to the 'Chocolate City': The Racialization of Latinos in New Orleans"
- Moderator: David Fasenfest, Editor, Critical Sociology, Sociology, Wayne State University, Critical Sociology
Left Perspectives On Immigration Controversies
This panel will focus on the impact of immigrant workers on the political and economic realities facing the US working class today.
- Amy Sugimori, Executive Director, LaFuente
- David Van Arsdale, Sociology, Hartwick College and Joseph S. Murphy Institute, CUNY
- Immanuel Ness, Political Science, Brooklyn College, CUNY
- Stephen Steinberg, Urban Studies, Queens College and Graduate Center, CUNY
- Moderator: Marty Oppenheimer, Sociology, Rutgers University
Reorganizing The Working Class
The panel will address the profound crisis within the labor movement and the strategic dimensions of its potential revival as an oppositional force.
- Kate Bronfenbrenner, Labor Education Research, Cornell University, "The Impasse in Unions and Union Organizing"
- Ai-Jen Poo, Domestic Workers United, "Organizing Immigrant Workers in Non-traditional Union Sectors"
- Bill Fletcher, Jr., The Black Commentator, co-founder of Center for Labor Renewal, "From the Workplace to the Community: Re-strategizing Class Struggle"
- Moderator: Jerry Tucker, Co-founder, Center for Labor Renewal, United Auto Workers
A Labor Movement For the 21st Century
What kind of labor movement is needed to deal with 21st century conditions of globalization, labor migration, widespread unemployment and a huge but largely unorganized service sector; and how do womenís rights and workersí rights, workplace issues and community issues, come together to build this kind of movement?
- Willie Baptist, Union Theological Seminary Poverty Initiative, "Organizing the Poor"
- Marisa Franco, Domestic Workers United, "Unionizing Domestic Workers"
- Katie Quan, University of California, Berkeley, Labor Center, "Women, Work, and Globalization"
- Moderator: Carol Barton, "Women's International Coalition for Economic Justice, Economic Rights"
Beyond Walls and Cages: Linking Immigrant Rights and Prison Abolition Movements
The criminalization of migration builds on the nearly three-decade long project of mass incarceration. How can we understand how walls and cages target different groups of people, yet with similar effects, and how can the prison abolition and immigrant justice movements learn from and support each other?
- Andrew Burridge, Geography, University of Southern California, "Might a theory and politics of open borders manifest themselves spatially and challenge current forms of border securitization and militarization"
- Trishala Deb, Audre Lorde Project, "The intersections of racism, transphobia, and homophobia for immigrant community members, particularly around issues of enforcement and incarceration"
- Micol Seigel, African American Studies, African Diaspora Studies, American Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, "Zero Tolerance Goes South: focus on the international police consulting of former NYPD and current LAPD Police Chief William Bratton"
- Seth Freed Wessler, Research associate, Applied Research Center
- Fahd Ahmed, DRUM, Desis Rising Up and Moving
- Moderator: Lisa Bhungalia, Geography, Syracuse University
- Moderator: Jenna Loyd, Syracuse University