PPI, Freedom House, the Albert Shanker Institute | Event | February 20, 2008
Should Labor and the Democrats Revive the Muscular Liberal Internationalism of Albert Shanker?
Including a discussion of Richard Kahlenberg's new book, 'Tough Liberal: Albert Shanker and the Battles over Schools, Unions, Race, and Democracy'
For many years, the American labor movement was at the center of an assertive liberal internationalism that fought authoritarianism on the left and right. As Richard Kahlenberg describes in his new book, Tough Liberal: Albert Shanker and the Battles over Schools, Unions, Race, and Democracy, Shanker was part of a long tradition in both organized labor and liberalism that believed trade unions should be a driving force in a broad movement to promote freedom abroad. This world view came under attack after Vietnam, and more recently, during the Iraq War. As the United States enters a new political period, what role should labor play in American foreign policy and democracy promotion? Can labor again occupy a central role in an American policy that seeks to further the spread of freedom to countries under dictatorship?
Richard Kahlenberg, author of Tough Liberal: Albert Shanker and the Battles over Schools, Unions, Race, and Democracy; senior fellow, the Century Foundation
Carl Gershman, president, National Endowment for Democracy
Harold Meyerson, columnist and editor-at-large, The American Prospect
Arch Puddington, director of research, Freedom House; author of Lane Kirkland: Champion of American Labor
Herb Magidson, vice president, American Federation of Teachers
Will Marshall, president, Progressive Policy Institute
Sponsored by
Freedom House, The Albert Shanker Institute, and the Progressive Policy Institute.
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