The Politics of…
For the fall of 2012, Team Kenan presented a two-part series of discussions that examine the ethical implications of political life at the global, national, and local levels.
In an election year in which there was no shortage of talk about politics, but most of it was incredibly narrow. This series sought to broaden the conversation of what politics is and how it impacts our lives: in international trends, in national debates about the role of collective action, and in how these manifest in students’ lives on campus. At the heart of these “political” debates are questions about which competing claims make better societies, how to make social change happen without harming people in the process, and how we choose to interact (or not) with one another on a daily basis. In other words, much of politics is really about ethics.
These discussions are meant to be relaxed, intimate gatherings in which students will have the chance to substantially interact with one another and at least one faculty member. Think of The Politics of… as a thematically consistent extension of the iThink: An Ethics Cafe discussion series.
Thursday, October 11th
The Politics of Google and Global Speech
The recent controversy surrounding Youtube’s role in hosting (and in selected cases blocking access) to the inflammatory video trailer for “The Innocence of Muslims” has raised many questions about the role of corporations in policing speech around the world. Google’s stance on free speech closely mirrors laws and norms in the United States, but those same policies chafe with policy and culture in many parts of the globe. With Ken Rogerson, Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Sanford School of Public Policy. More info.
Wednesday, November 7th
The Politics of Boycotts
Boycotts are often associated with the struggle for civil rights in the American South, but in recent years calls for consumer boycotts of products and brands have increased, with mixed results. Can we admire the benefits of collective action while being mindful of the collateral harm caused to people impacted by boycotts? Do the ends justify the means? Come talk about the strategy, structure, and symbolism behind boycotts throughout history. With Amy Laura Hall, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at Duke Divinity School. More info.