2021 Retrospective: That Was the Year That Was

Monday, January 10, 2022 - 1:00pm
CST
Jeff Faux, Doug Henwood, Cynthia Kaufman & Peter Kuznick

The Center for Global Justice assembled a panel to assess the year 2021. A historian, two economists and an activist/philosopher will look at the year just passed. Peter Kuznick, Doug Henwood, Jeff Faux and Cynthia Kaufman all agree this has been a year with multiple crises. The pandemic that just won’t let up, growing climate collapse, continuing racism, worsening U.S. relationship with both Russia and China, deep economic problems, massive refugee migrations, widening inequalities both within and between societies, and a dysfunctional political system that is unable to deal with any of the above -- all of that has contributed to a mood of despair. Who wants to bring a child into such a world in disarray? Consequently, birth rates are declining. Despair is also reflected in the rising suicide rate and opioid addiction.

We are at one of those rare times in history when the old structures can no longer perform the functions they were designed for and where the new structures have not come into being. If we are in an interregnum, it is not clear what might lie beyond it. Perhaps, this is the end time for humanity.

Early in 2021 there seemed to be some room for hope. Political activism by young people keeps hope alive. But on the other side there is the Right striking against anything that is rational, foretelling a future fascism. Still, there are organizing opportunities for positive change.

That is the hope that activists/philosopher Cynthia Kaufman carries over from the year. Among other books, she is author of Challenging Power –and that is probably what it takes. Doug Henwood is an economic analyst and journalist who has long edited the Left Business Observer. He is also a contributing editor at The Nation. Jeff Faux is an economist well known to our audience for his incisive political analysis. He has authored The Global Class War and The Servant Economy. Peter Kuznick is a historian, focusing on international relations. He is well known for his collaboration with Oliver Stone on The Untold History of the United States.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, October 11, 2025 - 3:00pm
CST
Location:
1º de Mayo #58, Colonia Aurora, San Miguel de Allende

In October 2024, we had our first artistic and cultural project to continue speaking about Palestine and to raise our voices in favor of the liberation of the Palestinian people and against the genocide being committed in Palestine.

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Monday, October 13, 2025 - 1:30pm
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Film Screening
Followed by discussion with Brad Rockwell
Location:
La Biblioteca, Teatro Santa Ana, Insurgentes 25, Centro, San Miguel de Allende

2025 Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary

Remarkable largely unknown footage of a dramatic turning point in world history covering events over three continents concerning a tragic coup in the Congo. Featuring: Maya Angelou, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy... Read more

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - 12:00pm
CST
Organized by The Reentry Resource Program

You are invited to join a discussion with filmmaker Santiago Esteinou and Cesar Fierro about the new documentaryThe Freedom of Fierro.

César Fierro has just become a free man, and he needs to rebuild his life after being wrongly sentenced to death in Texas. César spent 40 years in prison before being released... Read more

Monday, November 3, 2025 - 1:30pm
CST
Joe Belden
Location:
La Biblioteca, Sala Quezal, Insurgentes 25, Centro, San Miguel de Allende
This mostly forgotten war led to Mexico losing over half its territory and the United States expanding to the Pacific. The lecture examines the political and economic background of the conflict, what led to it, and the roles of such factors as Texas annexation in 1845, slavery, racism, the Democratic and Whig parties, and Manifest... Read more