Progressive Archives - Public Seminar

Democracy

The Right Hand of the State and the American Left

Progressives are increasingly wary of the “national securitization of the state”

May 31, 2024 • by Basak Kus

The rift within the Democratic base stems not so much from disagreement over the left hand—which both sides support, albeit in varying ways and degrees—but over the excesses of the right hand....

The Right Hand of the State and the American Left

North America

Next Steps for the Left – and for America

Why the Democratic Party must coalesce around Joe Biden – and Biden must compromise with the left

March 10, 2020 • by Peter Dreier

It is possible, perhaps even likely, that no candidate will win a majority of Democratic delegates. But seems clear now that Biden will have a plurality. At this point, it makes no sense to prolong the internal battle within the Democratic Party and endure a conflict at the July convention ...

Next Steps for the Left – and for America

Politics

How The New York Times Turned Me into a Bernie Supporter

When the liberal media cries wolf, it energizes the grassroots

February 7, 2020 • by Hannah Leffingwell

Among my reasons for resisting his renewed candidacy: the bad taste left in my mouth from the Bernie Bros phenomenon, his age, and honestly? His gender. As the 2020 democratic field came into focus, my choice to support Elizabeth Warren felt easy. Warren boasted an impressive record, but one that wouldn’t allow ...

How The New York Times Turned Me into a Bernie Supporter

Feature

Socialist Humanism

Integrating Psychology into a New Progressive Politics

September 26, 2019 • by Mick Cooper

The Alternative: Towards a New Progressive Politics is, perhaps, one of the most inspiring and forward-thinking texts to come out of UK progressive politics for several years. Edited by a Green MP (Caroline Lucas), a Labour MP (Lisa Nandy), and a Liberal Democrat candidate (Chris Bowers), the book lays out a ...

Democracy

For Democracy / Against Cynicism

On Trump, McConnell, Pelosi and Company

July 31, 2019 • by Jeffrey C. Goldfarb

“I believe the single most pressing challenge facing American society today is widespread public cynicism.” With these words, I opened my book The Cynical Society, published in 1991. I was deeply concerned by the interaction between the cynicism of politicians, on the one hand, and the cynicism of the media ...

Feature

Transversal Democracy in Spain

An interview with Clara Ramas San Miguel

February 22, 2019 • by Gerardo Muñoz

This year marks the five-year anniversary of the emergence of the Spanish progressive political party Podemos, which was successful in translating the social demands of the 15-M movement against austerity into a coherent progressive political platform. Since then, Podemos has gained seats in the European Parliament and has erected alliances with progressive mayors in major ...

Feature

Why Liz Watson’s Progressive Endorsements Matter

A look into Indiana’s 9th district

January 25, 2018 • by Jeffrey C. Isaac

Fighting for democratic ideals and for social justice must include principled thought and careful strategic calculation. In this post, Jeff Isaac demonstrates how this is done, as he links his political thought to political action in the race to unseat a particularly bad Republican Congressman, Trey Hollingsworth. -Jeff Goldfarb For well ...