MIT IAP

IAP 2002 Activities by Sponsor

Felix Kreisel

After September 11: Marxist Analysis of the New World Order
Felix Kreisel
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Limited to 50 participants.
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Prereq: Read the World Socialist Web Site at www.wsws.org

The new post-Cold War and post-September 11th world order is emerging, characterized by world economic recession, break-up of whole countries under the pressure of global competition, and an eruption of American imperialism in its attempt to dominate the globe. These classes will present a Marxist perspective on some of the major issues in history, economics, politics, and philosophy.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/fjk/Public/iap/
Contact: Felix Kreisel, 8-105, x3-8625, fjk@mit.edu

Marxist View of Progress and Decline, Permanent Revolution and its Implications.
Felix Kreisel
Intellectual think tanks, both right-wing and liberal, talk today of the need for the Western world to "civilize" the backward nations. Does capitalism offer any way for humanity to move ahead? Crisis of the nation state and Pax Americana.
Thu Jan 10, 06-08:00pm, 8-105

The Crisis of 21st Century Culture, Part I - The Assault on Darwin.
Alex Steiner
Darwin's theory of evolution has been the object of attack since its publication in mid-19th century. We will examine the motivations and arguments of Darwin's enemies and discuss the problems encountered by his defenders in answering these critics. As a corrective to the problems encountered by the traditional defenders of Darwin, we will propose a defense of evolution based on a philosophical tradition spanning the figures of Aristotle, Hegel and Marx.
Fri Jan 11, 10-12:00am, 8-105

The Crisis of 21st Century Culture, Part II - The End of Irony or the Irony of "Ends"?
Alex Steiner
Starting with Adorno's statement that after Auschwitz it is no longer possible to write poetry we have witnessed a dizzying array of proclamations signalling the end of civilization. We will critically survey some of these doomsday prognoses as they have played out in the culture wars of the past half-century. Finally we will discuss the implications of the barbaric events of Sept 11 for a philosophy of hope in the future of mankind.
Fri Jan 11, 02-04:00pm, 8-105

Russia Ten Years After the Collapse of the Soviet Union.
Felix Kreisel
Balance sheet of ten years following the restoration of capitalism in the former Soviet Union. Which way forward for Eastern Europe, Russia and Asia?
Thu Jan 17, 06-08:00pm, 8-105

The Boxer Uprising in China (1900) and the Birth of American Imperialism
Alex English
The Boxer Uprising was decisive in the development of American imperialism. The United States played a decisive role in preserving foreign interests in China. Many traits exhibited by American imperialism a century later were developed in the suppression of the Boxers and the humbling of the ruling Manchu dynasty.
Thu Jan 24, 06-08:00pm, 8-105

Prospects for Socialism in America.
A. English
Has the September 11 bombing ushered in a dystopian future for the United States? Is there an alternative to war, suppression of democratic rights, and economic dislocation? This lecture will discuss the social and economic foundations of socialism in America that continue to develop after the September attack. Just as the terrorist attack on American targets was a product of a protracted development, so is the development of socialism around the world and in the US. What might a socialist America look like, and why is it the only reasonable alternative to an explosion of American militarism?
Thu Jan 31, 06-08:00pm, 8-105


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