Rethinking Empathy

A review of Imperfect Solidarities by Aruna D’Souza

A deceptively simple question animates Imperfect Solidarities (Floating Opera Press, 2024), a short new book by writer and art critic Aruna D’Souza: “What would it mean if our politics were based not on our ability to empathize with people whose experiences are distant from our own, but on our willingness ...
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Rethinking Empathy

Migrants Are Parents and Children

New York parents are using mutual aid networks to welcome migrant families

Although New York can be a violent, unequal, and segregated city, radical acts of solidarity through mutual aid groups shape the experiences of those who live there and strive to transform it into a more livable place—especially for new arrivals. In the winter of 2023, just as the migrant shelter ...
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Migrants Are Parents and Children

Until We Meet Again

Public Seminar suspends publication until the conclusion of the part-time faculty strike at The New School

Public Seminar has suspended publication as of November 16, 2022, until The New School and the part-time faculty union have arrived at a new contract, allowing our part-time colleagues to return to work. We will not be accepting pitches, or answering queries, until further notice....

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Until We Meet Again

Educators on Hunger Strike in Turkey

A Call for Solidarity with Nuriye Gulmen and Semih Ozakca

OUR CALL TO THE GOVERNMENT AND TO THE PUBLIC Tens of thousands of public employees in Turkey have been dismissed through statutory decrees (KHK) issued under the state of emergency (OHAL) that has been declared using the 15 July 2016 coup attempt as a pretext. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) ...
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Educators on Hunger Strike in Turkey

A Postcard from France: A Canadian in Avignon

To provide some context for what follows: I live in France, in the small southern city of Avignon. My wife, Audrey, is French, but I’m not. I, like so many others here, am “an immigrant.” Recent events have made the last few days emotionally and intellectually complex. I’ve been, at ...

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A Postcard from France: A Canadian in Avignon

The Weird Global Media Event

It will be made of half-facts and one-and-a-half facts. And made quickly, as the desire for a media story quickly outstrips the reliable data. Certain corrections will later have to be made -- silently. It is only global in appearing to speak of a world; somewhere indifference reigns. But it does ...
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The Weird Global Media Event

Capitalism Never Ends?

A discussion responding to the Capitalism Studies Manifesto and Zaretsky's "How Capitalism Will End" -- One of my frustrations as the editor of Public Seminar is knowing that there have been interesting responses to our posts, but people are reluctant to publish them on the site itself. We are trying to ...
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