Photo credit: Lauren Ahn
Thinking Ahead with Paul Pierson: The Key to Prosperity Lies with Government

"Over the last 30 years, political support for government has been slipping away, and so has broad prosperity," said UC Berkeley Professor Paul Pierson during the second installment of our Thinking Ahead Speaker Series hosted by the Haas Institute as part of the conversation to understand the importance of government for improving the quality of life. “Building and sustaining effectiveness requires broad and organized political coalitions,” Pierson, who is also a member of the Haas Institute Economic Disparities research cluster, added. The talk continued the theme of how an effective government made the United States a prosperous nation, which is central to his new book co-authored with Jacob S. Hacker, entitled "American Amnesia." This talk, like all in the Thinking Ahead series, took place at the Citizen Engagement Lab in downtown Oakland.

Director john a. powell added, “It’s not about defending government as it is, but understanding that we can’t have a fair and inclusive society without a robust role of government.” Co-emcee Jessica Bartholow underscored the sentiment with a personal story, “I was able to exit poverty because of government,” she said, then offered a long list of government programs that made it possible for her to eat, attend college, and get a graduate degree.

“None of us are healthy when we live in a community where people are going hungry or don’t have a place to sleep,” Bartholow said. “We need to think of a paradigm shift and create together the government and economy and country that all of us need.” Read about the event. 

Inclusive Democracy Track at the Facing Race National Conference

We are pleased to partner with Race Forward and the Center for Social Inclusion on the "Inclusive Democracy” track at the Facing Race National Conference, to be held November 10–12 in Atlanta, GA. Workshops and panels in the Inclusive Democracy track will feature innovative policies, practices, research, and narratives that support governing for racial equity.

“To achieve a truly inclusive democracy, community and government must work together,” Director john a. powell said, “To achieve our vision of an inclusive and effective government, we must expand our understanding of ‘who belongs.’ Facing Race is an excellent space for examining racial inequities across our society, and who has the opportunity to contribute to—and make demands on—society and political institutions.” Read more.

The Stakes of the 2016 Election for those with Disabilities

Restoring Voting Rights to Formely Incarcerated People

Expanding the Circle of Human Concern

Migration, Austerity, and the Crisis at the Periphery of Europe

When an economic crisis takes hold of a country, what happens to its citizens under the duress of limited resources? What happens to the people seeking refuge at the borders who need asylum and opportunity?

These are some of the critical questions being asked as the European Union is struggling to meet the needs of both groups and to provide relief for those who have no other options. Researcher Ilaria Giglioli leads us through the precedence of similar migration patterns, and how the most recent economic downturn has produced additional problems and bred resentment from nationals who demand help before assisting those at the borders. Read the article.