THIRTEEN Forum » democracy

Branding Democracy: Barack Obama and the American Void

Chie Witt — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:05:13 +0000

Simon Critchley examines Obama’s subjectivity, the existential detachment that seems to haunt him, and its relation to democracy. When democracy is promoted as a brand, it can be seen to generate many desires, such as participation, freedom of expression, a sense of belonging, and the promise of individual success—all embodied in the notion of “liberty.” How and where do these desires find fulfillment or displacement? Simon Critchley is a philosopher and author. This program is in conjunction with The New School’s international, interdisciplinary exhibition—Ours: Democracy in the Age of Branding—investigating democracy as a global brand.

Finance and Labor: Perspectives on Risk, Inequality, and Democracy

Chie Witt — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:29:37 +0000

Income inequality and employment risk are on the rise. How does financial development link to these benchmarks? Sanford Jacoby, Howard Noble Professor of Management at UCLA Anderson School of Management, addresses these questions, which are then taken up by a panel of representatives from the government, labor movement, and Wall Street. Panelists include Charles Jeszeck, U.S. Government Accountability Office; Mark Levinson, Unite-Here, and; Peter Rappoport, JPMorgan, Research Analyst. This event was moderated by Teresa Ghilarducci and was held at The New School.

The Conservative Ascendancy

Chie Witt — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:09:09 +0000

Despite significant losses in the 2006 midterm elections, the Republican Right remains a powerful force in American politics. In his book The Conservative Ascendancy, Donald Critchlow explores the anomaly of the Republican Right’s anti-statist ideology in an age of mass democracy and Cold War hostilities. In Critchlow’s view, though today’s intensified partisanship can be unsettling, it reflects the vibrancy of a mature democracy and deepening political participation. Critchlow is joined by panelists Tom Edsall, Joseph Pulitzer II and Edith Pulitzer Moore Professor of Journalism, 25-year veteran of the Washington Post, and author of Building Red America: The New Conservative Coalition and the Drive for Permanent Power; John Judis, senior editor of the New Republic; and Wendy Kaminer, an author and lawyer who serves on the National Board of the American Civil Liberties Union; and moderator Lewis Bateman, senior editor, Cambridge University Press. This event was sponsored by the Wolfson Center for National Affairs at The New School.

The Future of Pakistan

Chie Witt — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:55:33 +0000

Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) Party, spoke at the Asia Society about the need to pave the way for democratic governance in Pakistan.