L'Institut Conférenciers

cinziaThe elaborations on gender of the last 20 years, in particular Queer theory, challenge the Marxist approach to the issue of gender oppression, and thereby demand the overcoming of an approach based on the establishment of a hierarchy of priorities between oppressions. At this year's annual Left Forum (the former Socialist Scholar Conference), IIRE Fellow Cinzia Arruzza hosted a panel to discuss this challenge: "Does Marxism have Gender Trouble?" on Saturday, March 19th.

The challenge is to see how a complex relation of material and ideological factors contributes to the continuous reproduction of Capitalism as a whole, and therefore of women's oppression. The panel focused on gender oppression within Capitalism, coping with issues as gender division of labor and social reproduction. In dealing with these topics, the panel took into account the general question of the relation between gender theories, in particular Queer theory, and Marxism. An aim of the panel was the discussion of the critical potential of the notion of gender performativity, and the way in which this transformative perspective might offer a common ground for both Socialist and Queer politics.

The panel was joined by Catherine Sameh, Johanna Brenner and Rutgers University's Nancy Holstrom. For a full programme of this year's Left Forum see: http://www.leftforum.org/conference/2011

Quelles sont les implications de la présence militaire dans le noyau du gouvernement égyptien? Gilbert Achcar, membre de l’IIRE et auteur du livre sur The Clash of Barbarisms a été interviewé par le Real News Network. Achcar, qui est professeur à l’École des Études Orientales et Africaines de Londres, explique qu’il existe beaucoup d’illusions sur le nouveau régime. Ce régime reste un client des Etats-Unis d’Amérique et représente ainsi la continuité dans l’après Moubarak.

The IIRE's latest newsletter spotlights some impresisve accomplishments by the Institute's fellows. The lastest Asian edition of the Global Justice School (GJS), and the Youth School in Amsterdam are also reported. The newslatter also highlights the plans for our upcoming GJS in Amsterdam and other developments. The IIRE's successful contribution to the European Social Forum, also reported in this issue, is one of the reasons why we are extending our fundraising partnership with the SOWS, a Dutch foundation for scientific research.

Thousands of people gathered at La Mutualité in Paris on Sunday, January 24, 2010 to render homage to deceased IIRE fellow Daniel Bensaïd. Hosted by Fred Borras and Myriam Martin, both from the leadership of the NPA and from Toulouse, like Daniel, this was an emotional and militant act of remembrance to his memory.

bensaidThe IIRE team was very sad to hear about the death of our fellow Daniel Bensaïd. We want to express first of all our sincere condolences to his family and to all his friends and comrades all over the world.

A revolutionary activist form his adolescence, Daniel Bensaïd was one of the founding members of the JCR (Revolutionary Communist Youth) in 1966, he was one of the leaders of the 22 March Movement and one of the main actors of the Mai 68 student revolt in France. He participated in the creation of the Ligue Communiste in April 1969.

 

L'Institut Conférenciers