Does COVID-19 Change Everything? Building Our New Normal

Will COVID change everything? Will it change how we work, educate, govern, and play?

Political strategist Roger Fisk leads a discussion with climate change expert Mark Boyer, economist Daron Acemoglu, human rights advocate Shareen Hertel, and pollster David Paleologos to explore what may come next as the pandemic progresses. In addition to considering the future of climate, politics, economics, social justice, and popular mobilization, they examine who may emerge from this massive inflection point as winners or losers. Finally, they explore the concept of crisis as an opportunity to fundamentally re-imagine and address some of the massive issues we face as a community, a nation, and a global society.

This Suffolk University lecture series, presented with the Ford Hall Forum and WGBH Forum Network, is designed as a broad examination of the themes of interest to political scientists and public policy experts. The series is part of a novel online course offered to incoming Suffolk students and made available to the public.

WEEK 9 ASSIGNMENTS
Listen:
Pascal Canfin, the chair of the European Parliament’s environment committee, outlines what MEPs want to see from the EU’s recovery plan. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron outlined their vision for that plan this week but how does the Parliament think the money should be raised and spent, particularly to help the EU meet its climate goals?

Read:

The RAND Blog: Relaxing COVID-19 Restrictions Presents Stark Health and Economic Choices

Project Syndicate: How to Reset the US Pandemic Response

Project Syndicate: Time for a Great Reset

Project Syndicate: The Post-COVID State

Civic Engagement Activity & Reflection
Students will be required to engage in at least one civic / political engagement event of their choice during the course of the term and document this with a short reflection essay. The type of event you attend remotely is up to you. It can be a virtual town or city hall meeting with local or state representatives, a meeting of an activist group, etc. The reflection must draw on readings from the class and your own additional research. Members of the public who wish to share their reflections should post a link on Twitter and tag @ForumNetwork and @supolscilegal.

GBH Forum Network ~ Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas

[arlenechambers]

Politics will never be boring again. If Biden is elected, from day one we will be pushing for Medicare for all, police reform, prison reform, climate change action, just to name a few. Biden is no hero for the people but at least we have a chance to get real change. Politics will never be"boring" again.