American Economic Crisis and Social Change

3 credits

Course is offered every semester. Course is offered every semester. This course offers a new way to think about American and global capitalism, focusing on our values, our intertwined economic, environmental and social crises exploding in the 2008 Wall Street meltdown, the coronavirus economy, the new militaristic economy after the Ukraine crisis of 2022, and the extinction threats of energy and climate change. We examine economic problems include growing poverty and inequality, an insecure job market, and the failure of many of our industries and corporations to compete globally. We also examine our social crises, involving the growth of violence, family breakdown, global warming, systemic racism, overweening corporate power and erosion of democracy. We look at new visions and social movements to transform our socio-economic system toward a more just, sustainable and democratic economy and society.