In the United States, the term “socialism” has been widely misunderstood and used to discredit even modest reforms.  This symposium explored achievements and missteps in implementing socialism in China, India, Scandinavia, and Latin America.  It weighed socialism’s value in addressing global challenges of climate change, economic inequality, and human rights abuses.

The Symposium Flyer is available here, and Symposium Poster here.

PROGRAM

See abstracts and speaker bios here.

9:00 IN-PERSON CHECK IN

9:15 WELCOMING REMARKS

9:30 - 11:30 UNDERSTANDING SOCIALISM: ACHIEVEMENTS AND MISSTEPS

“Socialism in China: Past and Future”
Ying Chen, Assistant Professor of Economics, New School for Social Research

“Experiments with Socialism in India: Comparing Kerala and West Bengal”
Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst

“Would Democratic Socialism Be Better?”
Lane Kenworthy, Professor of Sociology and Yankelovich Chair in Social Thought, University of California San Diego

11:30 - 12:30 LUNCH

12:30 - 1:50 SOCIALISM AS A RESPONSE TO GLOBAL PROBLEMS

“Eco-Socialism and the Green New Deal”
Robert Pollin, Distinguished Professor of Economics; Co-Director, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Amherst

"Why 21st Century Socialism Will Focus on Democratizing Workplaces, not Government Economic Interventions"
Richard Wolff, Visiting Professor, The New School; Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst

2:00 - 3:20   SOCIALISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS

“Latin America’s ‘Left Turns’: Socialism, Democracy, and Social Citizenship Rights”
Kenneth Roberts, Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government, Cornell University

“Rethinking Economics for Social Justice: The Radical Potential of Human Rights”
James Heintz, Andrew Glyn Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst

3:20 - 3:30   CLOSING REMARKS & WRAP-UP DISCUSSION

Sponsors: Alison Des Forges Memorial Committee; University at Buffalo: Departments of Comparative Literature, History, Political Science, and Africana and African-American Studies; Gender Institute; Humanities Institute; James Agee Chair in American Culture; Office of the Vice Provost for International Education, The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy; Jack Walsh in Honor of Connie Walsh.

This symposium honors the life and work of human rights activist Alison Des Forges (1942-2009).