CANCELLED: Obama, Neoliberalism, and the 2012 Election

a talk by Cathy J. Cohen

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.  WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

Cathy J. Cohen, Political Science, University of Chicago
On May 9, 2012 President Barack Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage. It was the first time a sitting president in the United States had made such a declaration. His new stance in support ofsame-sex marriage marked an evolution in President Obama’s position. The President’s new stand on same-sex marriage also re-ignited a debate or complaint heard repeatedly in black communities regarding the administration’s willingness to respond to other marginal communities, especially the gay and lesbian community, while largely ignoring the specific or targeted needs of black people, in particular those most vulnerable in black communities. In this talk I will argue that the nature or character of the demands emanating from each community has played a significant role in the perceived accountability of the administration. Specifically, much of what the Obama administration has provided to other marginal communities, in particular the most visible policy wins of the gay and lesbian agenda, are policies and programs that are deeply rooted in and preserve the structurallegitimacy and order of neoliberalism. These policies are markedly different from the type of policy interventions called for from many in black communities, interventions that challenge the logic of neoliberalsim and demand a significant shift in resources.
Department of Social and Cultural Analysis
20 Cooper Square
, 4th Floor
This event is free and open to the public.  Venue is wheelchair accessible.
Facebook event page here.
For more information, please email csgs(at)nyu.edu or call 212-992-9540.


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