Seminars

Globalization, Labor, and Popular Struggles

  • Founded
    1998
  • Seminar Number
    671

The seminar seeks to clarify the boundaries of what might be broadly understood as labor politics and the labor movement by examining theoretical and historical developments in order to clarify what has been learned and what needs to be learned in the current world-historical moment of global capitalist reorganization. Included in the purview of the seminar are broader issues in popular politics as well as forms of popular action that are often identified by such alternative labels as “social movements” or “contentious” politics. Presentations, by specialists from the academic and labor communities, focus on issues in contemporary labor and popular politics, on a thematic basis, in settings around the world, and bring to bear a strongly comparative focus, which challenges a common division between specialists on labor in the industrialized world and labor in less developed areas. Debate is facilitated by the provision of papers in advance.

Co-Chairs
Professor David Bensman
dbensman@smlr.rutgers.edu

Professor Sheila Collins
sheila.collins65@verizon.net

Rapporteur
Aggie Meiping Sun
ms4196@columbia.edu

Meeting dates and locations are subject to change. Please confirm details with the seminar rapporteur.

Meeting Schedule

09/19/2016 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:15 PM
Employment and Income Guarantees: Which Will Do the Better Job?
Gertrude Schaffner Goldberg, Professor Emerita of Social Work, Adelphi University
Abstract

Abstract

These two strategies to reduce unemployment, poverty, and economic inequality, once seriously considered by lawmakers and candidates for the presidency, are not currently on the agenda in the United States. Indeed, neither was proposed by either Secretary Clinton or Senator Sanders. Yet, they are not completely eclipsed. The author discusses current proposals for both guarantees and how they are being conceptualized and advocated by their proponents. Both recognize that economic growth alone will not solve the problems of either unemployment or poverty and that such an effort would be detrimental to the environment. Whereas one strategy rejects full employment, the other proposes a 21st century full employment policy in which an updated model of New Deal job creations is the major means of providing living-wage jobs for all who are able to work and income guarantees to those who are not. The strategies are compared with regard to the achievement of economic justice goals, cost, benefits to specific economically-vulnerable groups, and political prospects. The presentation will give some attentions to an important question: why both strategies were bypassed by Democratic contenders for the Democratic nomination. The question arises particularly in relation to Sanders whose campaign focused on growing, egregious economic inequality.
Notes: Joint Meeting with the Seminar on Full Employment, Social Welfare, and Equity
10/17/2016 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:15 PM
Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal
Gerald Markowitz, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
Abstract

Abstract

Professor Markowitz's narrative and slideshow is of particular relevance to current full-employment proposals that feature updated models of New Deal job creation programs and what they can accomplish for both jobless workers and the public.
Notes: Joint Meeting with the Seminar on Full Employment, Social Welfare, and Equity
11/14/2016 Faculty House, Columbia University`
7:15 PM
After the Elections: Where Does the Progressive Movement Go From Here?
Mark Weisbrot, Center for Economic and Policy Research

Liz Krueger, State Senator



Notes: Joint Meeting with the Seminar on Full Employment, Social Welfare, and Equity
12/19/2016 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:15 PM

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02/27/2017 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:15 PM

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03/27/2017 Faculty House, Columbia University
7:15 PM

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04/24/2017 Faculty House, Columbia University`
7:15 PM

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05/01/2017 Faculty House, Columbia University`
7:15 PM

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Notes: Joint Meeting with the Seminar on Full Employment, Social Welfare, and Equity