Dr. Steve Macek at Open University of the Left

Join Open University of the Left on Saturday September 15 at 2:30 pm at the Lincoln Park branch of the Chicago Public Library at 1150 W. Fullerton Ave. (cross street: Sheffield) Chicago, (Red Line: Fullerton) free parking, wheelchair accessible (Bus route: 74 Fullerton).

Dr. Steve Macek presents: Higher Education Under Siege

Since the late 1960’s, higher education has been under attack from the right as a breeding ground for leftist of various stripes. During this time, we’ve witnessed one wave after another of such attacks.

It is not a coincidence that this reactionary public relations campaign against higher education has coincided with the casualization of much of the university workforce, a political attack on the rights of faculty unions and dramatic cuts to government financial support for higher education. Though not as visible or well publicized as the right’s ideological attacks on the supposed “liberalism” of the academy, the decline in state support for post-secondary education, the corresponding rise in average tuition and student debt, and the increasing “adjunctification” of college instruction have also been part of a carefully coordinated campaign, which is funded and lead by many of the same right-wing organizations and wealthy individuals.

Open University of the Left welcomes back Steve Macek who is a Professor in Communication and Media Studies at North Central College and a member of the Executive Committee of the Illinois AAUP.

All Open University of the Left event are free of charge and open to all.

Join the OUL low traffic email announcement list (yahoo group) at:
[email protected]

View prior videos of OUL programs on our YouTube page:
https://www.youtube.com/user/OpenUnivoftheLeft

OUL NEW Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Open.University.of.the.Left/

Now Up on YouTube, Jerry Harris: Who Leads Global Capitalism? The Unlikely Rise of China

 

The YouTube video of Saturday, August 11, 2018 is now available for viewing on the
YouTube channel of the Open University of the Left.

All prior video programs are viewable on our YouTube  channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/OpenUnivoftheLeft

Our Facebook page is located at:
https://facebook.com/Open.University.of.the.Left/

Join our low traffic email list (Yahoo Group) located at:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/oulchicago/

Jerry Harris presents: Who Leads Global Capitalism? The Unlikely Rise of China

The Following Location Has Been Scheduled For This Event:
Join Open University of the Left on Saturday August 11, at 2:30 pm at the Logan Square Branch of the Chicago Public Library at 3030 W. Fullerton Ave. Chicago, free parking, wheelchair accessible (Bus route:74 Fullerton)
Jerry Harris presents: Who Leads Global Capitalism? The Unlikely Rise of China
 
The idea that China, once the center of world revolutionary passion, should lead global capitalism is as unexpected as it is
ironic. Disappearing is the dominant position of the US, further undercut by the erratic nationalism of President Trump. With the US acting as if globalization is the unwanted step-child of its hegemonic power, the guardianship of transnational capital has fallen to the Chinese.
 
The Chinese TCC has been cautious in taking on the role of world leadership. But as China grew to the second largest world economy the CCP wanted to step-up the value chain ladder, develop a consumer middle class, and take the lead in key technologies such as robots, electric cars, green energy, and semi-conductors. With capital accumulation bulging out of the pockets of state banks and their sovereign wealth fund, President Xi’s call for “outward bound” investments opened a new door for accumulation. No longer would China simply be a platform for foreign investments, but a global power taking the lead on foreign direct investments (FDI) and sending their capital into the markets of the world.
 
 China has taken a number of distinct steps in its emergence as a leader of global capitalism. Some of the most significant were the creation of the BRIC’s bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the promotion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, their rapid development of wind and solar power, and the strategic economic plan for the One Belt Road (OBOR). The presentation will discuss this broad strategy and its contradictions. 
All Open University of the Left event are free of charge and open to all.
Join the OUL low traffic email announcement list (yahoo group) at: [email protected]
View prior videos of OUL programs on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/OpenUnivoftheLeft