Teaching and Debating from a Critical Global Perspective

COVID-19 is a pandemic that is global in nature. It is not only a medical phenomenon but has social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions. Its human effects – particularly distributional consequences – are shaped by economic and political drivers.  This is a moment when our critical and global perspectives on urgent social challenges has never been more important. Historical analyses of pandemics and society are replete with insights. Multi-country analyses of its spread, national policy responses, its consequences on poverty and inequality must inform the design of short and long term strategies to address the issue and to prevent recurrence.  The pandemic is already revealing the asymmetries of power in 21st century capitalism where economic and political power is concentrated in large corporations and large countries leaving households and workers vulnerable.  This global problem requires local and global solidarities. While COVID-19 reveals huge holes in our current arrangements for global governance, it is also a time to promote out of the box thinking for strengthening international cooperation and new forms of multilateralism. 

Starting immediately and continuing into the fall, SGPIA will be engaging with COVID-19 as a new lens for the study of international affairs through analysis, online events, summer and fall 2020 courses, and community-based reflections.  Please check back often for updates.

The New School’s Coronavirus Information Page

SPE COVID-19 Resources (for current Schools of Professional Engagement students, faculty, and staff)