The Latin American Studies and Global Affairs programs at George Mason University will cohost a discussion on the worldwide implications of the “Occupy” movement, taking place in various cities throughout the United States.
The panel discussion, entitled “The Occupy Movement in Global Perspective: Citizen Protest from Wall Street to the Arab Uprising,” takes place Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Johnson Center Cinema.
The event is co-sponsored by the School for Conflict Analysis & Resolution, the Human Rights & Global Justice Working Group and the Center for Global Studies at Mason.
The event will feature scholars from Mason and beyond, including:
- Rich Rubenstein, Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution
- Bassam Haddad, Director of Middle East Studies at Mason
- Kevin Zeese, Organizer of the occupation at Freedom Plaza
- Ricardo F. Vivancos Pérez, Assistant Professor of Spanish and Latino Studies
- Panel Chair: Jo-Marie Burt, Director of Latin American Studies at Mason
According to Burt, the Occupy Movement is something that's on everyone's mind, for its local and global implications.
"Everyone wants to know what the Occupy Movement is about, how it got started, what it means and where it's going," she said. "Beyond that, I was interested in bringing people to this event, because I do believe the movement is a global phenomenon. There are a number of related movements in the world that have similar structure and similar sets of demands, from the protest movements in Madrid in March this year to the Arab uprisings, Tahrir Square and beyond."
Vivancos Perez said it is important to look at the Occupy Movement in a global perspective, especially considering the revolutionary nature of many countries around the world today.
"Although [the Occupy Movement] is relatively new, as compared to other protests that started earlier this year, it is playing an important role because of being at one of the centers of corporate power," he said. "However, we must be careful not to identify it as the lead movement, or as the main model for other protests around the world. Rather, it is one that, due to its strategical location, becomes essential in solidifying global indignation protests."
November 29, 2011