Study Group
Every 4th Tuesday, 7pm: Progressive Network Study Group, Network offices, 2025 Marion St. Free and open to anyone. Meetings are informal; bring snacks and drinks to share. We encourage participants to read the suggested material before each session. For details, call 803-808-3384 or email network@scpronet.com.
March 24: At this first meeting we will review the different “isms” (capitalism, socialism, racism, sexism etc.) and their role in the struggle for equality and justice. Reading material includes two articles from The Nation: The Soul of Capitalism and Rising to the Occasion, Reimagining Socialism.
April 28: “Economics for Dummies“ Confused and a bit intimidated about the fact that the economy is tanking and what should be done to address the problem? Join the crowd. The discussion will focus on the US economy. Dr. Jerel Rosati, who teaches international economics at USC, will help us grapple with this complicated issue. Suggested reading:
Can You Spare a Dime? - Book Review by Robert Skidelsky, New York Review of Books
How We Were Ruined & What We Can Do – The New York Review of Books, By Jeff Madrick
Economy Falling Years Behind Full Speed – The New York Times, By Louis Uchitelle
May 26: Privilege — What is it, who benefits, who loses? This discussion aims to move us toward deeper understanding of a difficult social dynamic. Suggested reading:
Reflections on SDS, Black Power, War and Racism
White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
June 23: Culture as a tool for social change. In discussing culture as a tool for social change, it is helpful to look at successful social movements in the past. The civil rights movement in the US certainly had a strong cultural component, songs, slogans, art and a strong addition of religion. Popular movements in South Africa, or more recent ones in South America, all had their anthems and colors. The use of culture by today’s dominant society is more complex. The readings below provide some classical understanding of how culture is used to maintain power, as well as overthrow it.
Download: Culture as a Tool for Social Change
Aug. 25: This month’s reading comes from Harpers’ July edition: “Barack Hoover Obama, The Best and the Brightest Blow it Again.” This engagingly written piece by Kevin Baker takes Obama to task for his lack of audacity, and provides a chilling sense of deja vu. You can find the story here.
