The Union for Radical Political Economics is pleased to announce the

Rescheduled 2025 David Gordon Memorial Lecture

https://urpe.org/announcement/2020-david-gordon-memorial-lecture/

The 27th Annual David Gordon Memorial Lecture has been rescheduled and will be delivered via webinar, on Friday 28 March 2025, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern US time/4:00 p.m. London time.

Please register here: https://forms.gle/5Ybe9vAMoz37ReqW9

Imperialism in Marx, the Marxist Tradition, and Today

Speaker: Dr. Radhika Desai, University of Manitoba

Session Chair: Dr. Zhongjin Li, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Abstract: The centrality of imperialism to left discourse today is attested to by the proliferation of writing on the subject. This paper argues, however, that unless certain fundamental and long-standing misapprehensions about Marx’s analysis of capitalism—as contradictory value production—among Marxists themselves are addressed, the contributions of Marxism and its key figures, including Marx and Lenin, to the understanding of imperialism historically and at the complex conjuncture at which it stands today, cannot be appreciated. Building on the theoretical ground clearing I conducted in proposing geopolitical economy as a new, Marxist, approach to understanding the international relations of the era of capitalism, one in which the dialectic of imperialism and anti-imperialism is the central driver, I propose to outline how a proper Marxist understanding of imperialism may proceed.

The David Gordon Memorial Lecture is an invited lecture presented annually at the Allied Social Science Association meetings by an economist whose work follows in the tradition of David Gordon’s contributions (in 2025, in solidarity with the UNITE-HERE strike in San Francisco, the DGML has been rescheduled as a webinar). Not all David Gordon Memorial Lectures have been published in the RRPE, but those that have been are listed here.

Please register here: https://forms.gle/5Ybe9vAMoz37ReqW9

The Union for Radical Political Economics is pleased to announce the

2025 David Gordon Memorial Lecture

https://urpe.org/announcement/2020-david-gordon-memorial-lecture/

The 27th Annual David Gordon Memorial Lecture will be delivered via webinar, on Friday 31 January 2025, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern US time/5:00 p.m. London time.

Please register here: https://forms.gle/hrtGxyH7awXPF4QY8

Imperialism in Marx, the Marxist Tradition, and Today

Speaker: Dr. Radhika Desai, University of Manitoba

Session Chair: Dr. Zhongjin Li, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Abstract: The centrality of imperialism to left discourse today is attested to by the proliferation of writing on the subject. This paper argues, however, that unless certain fundamental and long-standing misapprehensions about Marx’s analysis of capitalism—as contradictory value production—among Marxists themselves are addressed, the contributions of Marxism and its key figures, including Marx and Lenin, to the understanding of imperialism historically and at the complex conjuncture at which it stands today, cannot be appreciated. Building on the theoretical ground clearing I conducted in proposing geopolitical economy as a new, Marxist, approach to understanding the international relations of the era of capitalism, one in which the dialectic of imperialism and anti-imperialism is the central driver, I propose to outline how a proper Marxist understanding of imperialism may proceed.

The David Gordon Memorial Lecture is an invited lecture presented annually at the Allied Social Science Association meetings by an economist whose work follows in the tradition of David Gordon’s contributions (in 2025, in solidarity with the UNITE-HERE strike in San Francisco, the DGML has been rescheduled as a webinar). Not all David Gordon Memorial Lectures have been published in the RRPE, but those that have been are listed here.

Please register here: https://forms.gle/hrtGxyH7awXPF4QY8

Dear URPE members,

Thank you for your valuable feedback on the poll about participation in the URPE@ASSAs 2025. We write to you with information on recent developments and the efforts of the Steering Committee and Conference sub-committee with regard to URPE sessions.

It has, unsurprisingly, been the overwhelming response of the membership that URPE should not cross picket lines. Indeed, for those worried that this was ever contemplated, please know that crossing picket lines was never an option for the Steering Committee.

At this point, we are recommending that URPE presenters and members planning to attend URPE sessions cancel their hotel accommodations and find alternative places to stay, if your current accommodation is in a conference hotel that is on strike, has authorized strike, or is at-risk. Please consult this link (type San Francisco in the search bar) https://www.fairhotel.org/ for the status of your hotel. We believe that there is still sleeping availability in other non-striking, non-at-risk hotels, but these are likely further away from conference locations. We urge acting now to secure your stay.

Non-participation in the conference in its current form does mean that we will likely not be able to be on the program. The AEA has, thus far, indicated that if we do not hold our sessions in the hotels that are striking or at-risk, then we lose our ability to be on the program. They have also been categorical in stating that they cannot obtain alternative meeting or event spaces. There are ongoing efforts to re-negotiate being on the program, alongside other progressive organizations such as ICAPE, IAFFE, AFEE, LERA etc. These organizations are also in the process of polling their members. We will share more information as it becomes available. If the AEA remains unflinching in its refusal to let us remain on the program, we will send an email out advising URPE members to withdraw from the ASSAs completely. A full refund of pre-registration is possible before December 3rd.

Since we are quite clear that we will not be participating in the ASSAs in their current form and it is likely that we will not be on the program if the AEA does not allow us to relocate, we are working with other heterodox economists and organizations to find in-person alternatives. However, relocation of our sessions to other venues is likely to be expensive and URPE has financial constraints that will limit these options. We are also exploring the possibilities of collaborating with other organizations (such as ICAPE, IAFFE, and AFEE) on co-hosting and expense-sharing and will share information on these if they work out. Please know that we realize the immense costs and sacrifices that URPE members have made to be able to attend the ASSAs, and we are doing our utmost to find alternative locations so that the planned URPE sessions can be held. We will also issue letters and an alternative program for the URPE sessions, for folks receiving university funding to attend a conference. For those whose reimbursements depend on attending the ASSAs in particular, we regret that URPE can no longer be the vehicle for doing so. We suggest presenters download the current version of the program from the ASSA website now as some evidence of having been selected the URPE@ASSAs.

Some members have noted that the strike may be resolved before the ASSAs take place. Please know that requesting the withdrawal of organizations who are participating in the ASSAs is an active boycott strategy that UNITE-HERE Local 2 is using (we have been in touch with the union), and solidarity requires that we join them in this struggle. That is, a flurry of boycotts by people planning to stay in or use these hotels might in itself contribute to the union’s bargaining power and lead to a resolution of the strike. The question at this juncture, therefore, is how we can support UNITE HERE Local -2 in achieving this outcome, and we can do so by refusing to cross picket lines. In addition, the URPE SC is only able to make decisions based on the information we have at this current juncture, and before December 3rd, in order to minimize the financial impacts on conference attendees.

Some members have indicated a worry with respect to future participation in the ASSAs and the implications for the number of ASSA sessions we are allocated. While the AEA has hinted that future sessions will not be impacted, we are seeking a written guarantee of the same. Despite this risk, however, we think that crossing a picket line as a radical organization is simply untenable.

Lastly, we are exploring options to join UNITE-HERE Local 2 on the picket lines and show our support more actively. We will update the membership on this aspect once we hear back from them.

We hope that this information is helpful as you make your decision with regard to the ASSAs. We will communicate with more information, once we have more to share. Please know that the SC is working very hard on exploring viable alternatives in order to avoid a complete cancelation of conference sessions.

Economists for Palestine

We stand in unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people. Since October 7th, 2023, over two million people have faced a brutal onslaught by the Israeli military and state. They have been forced to flee with nowhere to go as homes, shelters, evacuation routes, border crossings, hospitals, places of worship and entire neighborhoods have been bombed.

We mourn civilian deaths in both Israel and Palestine. Israel’s retaliation for the October 7th incursion continues, however, and over 9,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing assault so far.  More than 8,000 people have been killed in three weeks in Palestine. The estimated number of children among the casualties is over 3,000 and UNICEF estimates that about 420 children have been killed or wounded daily. Even reporters have been threatened with violence or killed.

Since the Nakba 75 years ago, the Palestinian people have endured profound suffering, forced displacement, and a brutal 16-year-long inhumane siege and blockade in Gaza. Human rights organizations have characterized Gaza as ‘the largest open-air prison’.

We also condemn the role of the U.S. state in supporting the ongoing siege in Palestine, its support for the horrors inflicted on Gaza, and its refusal to support a humanitarian ceasefire. It is imperative that we do not turn our backs on the devastating impact of this violence on people’s lives. The fight for Palestinian liberation and a fair, enduring peace in the region is intricately linked with the liberation and resistance efforts spearheaded by indigenous, colonized, and oppressed communities historically and worldwide.

We stand in support of efforts by the Palestinian people to sustain themselves economically through control over their land and their labor. We stand in solidarity with the anti-Zionist Jewish communities that have been raising their voices against the carpet bombing of Gaza, for the liberation of the Palestinian people, and who are working for a just, equitable, and durable peace.

We urgently call for:

(1)    An immediate ceasefire

(2)    Immediate restoration of food, fuel, water, and electricity to the Gaza Strip

(3)    Cessation of all settlement activity and disarmament of all settlers

(4)    Immediate delivery of humanitarian aid on the scale required

(5)    Respect towards the Geneva Conventions by all parties concerned

(6)    An end to apartheid and strident moves toward a democratic future for all people regardless of race, religion, gender identity and nationality

In addition, we strongly uphold the principle of academic freedom, especially in light of the current global climate where individuals in educational institutions worldwide face termination, doxing, and harassment for speaking up against the atrocities of the Israeli state and in support of the civilian population in Gaza. Neglecting this commitment would be a betrayal of our scholarly and moral obligations.

In Solidarity,

The Steering Committee of the Union for Radical Political Economics

Conference to Celebrate the Life and Work of Jim Crotty

Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23, 2023

Crotty Hall and Gordon Hall

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, MA

Sponsored by PERI, The UMass Amherst Dept. of Economics, and Review of Radical Political Economics (RRPE)

IMPORTANT LOGISTICAL INFORMATION AND CALL FOR PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS

July 13, 2023

As a follow up to our “Save the Date” announcement in May, we are now sending you important logistical information about the upcoming memorial conference in honor of Jim Crotty, this coming September 22 and 23 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Here we have a tentative schedule for the conference, important deadlines and information about registration for the event, and information about transportation and lodging, etc. that we hope will be helpful to you. We are very much looking forward to seeing many of you in September.

Conference Schedule and Venue:

The conference will be held for two full days, Friday September 22 and Saturday September 23, at Crotty and Gordon Halls, UMass, Amherst.

On Friday morning, there will be two sessions in which authors will present papers prepared for a special issue of the RRPE in honor of Jim.

Friday afternoon will be a time for remembering and reminiscing. People will have an opportunity to present remarks about Jim and their own experiences with him as a friend, teacher and mentor.

On Saturday, we will have additional sessions with panels for those who have submitted papers on topics related to Jim’s work.

Conference Modes:

Friday’s sessions will be HYBRID with a remote option available. But Saturday’s sessions (paper presentations and discussions) will ONLY be available ONSITE.

Meals, Housing and Transportation

Meals

Breakfast and lunch will be provided by PERI and held in Gordon Hall on Friday and Saturday, and we will host a reception on Friday afternoon /evening at Crotty Hall. PERI will also have a dinner for all attendees on Friday night at a venue to be determined. The conference will end late Saturday afternoon.

Housing

Participants will be responsible for booking/paying for their own housing for the conference. At the end of this message, we provide a list of motels and hotels in the area. Unfortunately, there is a conference being held at the UMass Hotel/Conference Center during that weekend so there may not be any rooms available there. But as you can see from the list, there are many other options in the area.

Transportation

Participants are responsible for paying for/providing their own transportation to and from Amherst.

• By Plane: Bradley (BDL), located between Hartford and Springfield is the closest airport.
• Train: The closest Amtrak train stop is in Northampton, MA.
• Bus: Peter Pan Bus has stops in Amherst.
• By Car: If you are planning to bring a car and will be parking near the Gordon Hall/Crotty Hall complex for the conference, please let Nicole Dunham know so we can arrange for parking passes/information: ndunham@umass.edu.

Important Deadlines:

Paper Proposals: If you would like to present a paper on Saturday, please let us know with a title and abstract NO LATER than August 15. This paper presentation option is ONLY available if you are planning to attend the conference IN PERSON.

Conference Registration Deadline: September 1.  It is necessary for you to register for the conference, so we know who and how many people are attending.

So please fill out and send in this form  to Nicole Dunham ndunham@umass.edu by September 1^st at the latest.

POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS FOR FRIDAY’S SESSIONS:

For the RRPE papers being presented on Friday, it is important that you send in your PowerPoint presentations (if you are using them) by September 8. Unfortunately, we cannot accept a PDF format.

We very much hope many of you will come to celebrate Jim’s life and work. It will be wonderful to see you.

All the best,

Jerry Epstein, Bob Pollin, and Don Goldstein

Local Hotel Information

Call for Papers – URPE at ASSA 2024

January 5 – 7, 2024

San Antonio, TX – Marriott

Every January URPE sponsors a series of panels at the Allied Social Science Associations meeting to provide a venue for the presentation and discussion of current research in heterodox economics.  In addition, each year the RRPE publishes a selection from the papers presented in a Proceedings Issue.  All presenters at URPE sessions must be URPE members in good standing.

Click here to update your account or join URPE.

Click here to submit an individual paper submission.

Click here to submit a complete session proposal.

URPE invites proposals for complete sessions and individual papers for the URPE at the ASSA’s program.  We welcome submissions on topics of interest to radical political economists from a wide variety of theoretical perspectives.  The deadline for proposed sessions and papers is May 15^th, 2023.

Guidelines for Complete Sessions

Proposals for complete sessions should include the following information:

• Session title
• A brief abstract of each paper (limited to 250 words)
• Two JEL bibliographic codes for the proposed panel
• The names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses of all session participants

Proposals for sessions should contain four papers.  Session organizers are responsible for conveying administrative information to session members, including confirmation that the session has been accepted, the time and location of the session, and the deadlines for distributing papers.

The total number of URPE sessions is limited by the ASSA, and we regret that high-quality session proposals may have to be turned down.  Chairs and discussants should preferably be chosen amongst the panelists.  External discussants and chairs, as well as co-authors, will be not listed on the ASSA program.  However, they will be listed on an URPE program on the URPE website.  The ASSA allocation of sessions is based upon the number of people attending sessions, and the ASSA does not consider chairs, discussants, co-authors, and panelists as attendees.  Thus, we welcome the participation of those who would like to serve as external discussants or chairs, but will not include their names in our submission to the ASSA.

Guidelines for Individual Papers

• Proposals for individual papers should include the following information:
• Paper title
• Abstract (limited to 250 words)
• Two JEL bibliographic codes for the paper
• Author’s name, institutional affiliation, and email address

Individual papers that are accepted will be assigned to sessions, and each session will have an assigned chair.  Session chairs are responsible for conveying administrative information to session members, including the time and location of the session, and the deadlines for distributing papers.  We regret that high quality individual papers may be turned down due to the inability to place them in a session with papers with similar themes.

Proposals submitted after the May 15^th deadline will not be considered.  You should receive word from URPE about the decision on your session or paper in late June.  The date and time of sessions are assigned by the AEA at the end of August.

Papers and panels that cannot be included on the URPE at ASSA program will automatically be considered for the ICAPE (International Confederation of Associations for Pluralism in Economics) conference that immediately precedes the ASSA conference.  The ICAPE conference will take place on January 4, 2024 at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. The ICAPE conference will also include a virtual component that will take place following the ASSA conference on January 12, 2024.

Please note that all session participants must be a current member of URPE at the time of submission of the session or paper proposal.  Anyone not current with their dues will be notified, after which proposals will be deleted if membership is not made current.  Membership information is available by clicking here.

Applications for individual papers should be made to URPE@ASSA Individual Paper Proposals, or for complete session submissions to URPE@ASSA Complete Session Proposals.

If you have questions or problems with the online submission, please contact email the URPE National Office.  For questions about the meetings, please contact the URPE at ASSA coordinators, Mona Ali and Jared Ragusett.  See the American Economic Association website for general logistical information about the conference, and our past programs page for more information on sessions at the conference.