A LOOK TO THE PAST WITH A VIEW TO THE FUTURE

As The New School for Social Research approaches the 75th anniversary of the founding of the University in Exile, we at TCDS are reflecting on two other upcoming anniversaries and their implications for democracy and democratic transition today: the worldwide protests of 1968, which shattered the status quo and ushered in new forms of democratic participation, and the 1989 revolutions that led to the peaceful dismantling of authoritarian regimes in Central Europe and beyond. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the conflict in Tiananmen Square – the most telegenic events of 1989 – stimulated developments well beyond Central Europe and unleashed the imagination that brought about the end of apartheid and the flowering of pro-democracy movements in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

As we reflect on these anniversaries in this Bulletin, we share with you insights on the recent events in Burma – the brutal repression of the peaceful marches led by the Buddhist monks, their international implications, and the hope for democratization that the protests inspired. We also invite you to read about the upcoming elections in South Africa and Zimbabwe, both of which hold promise for – and potentially present challenges to – further democratic consolidation and development in southern Africa.

Here in New York we are planning for an exciting spring semester ahead. We have been happy to discover a growing constituency of both faculty and students at The New School who work on issues related to the two large parts of the world that TCDS is engaged in: both the “new” and “old” Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. To solidify the intellectual space that supports research and teaching focused on these areas, and to share in the work that TCDS conducts in these regions, we have invited interested faculty to join two newly organized groups, the Europe and Africa Committees. These committees are actively involved in planning the programs of the Democracy & Diversity Institutes in Krakow and Cape Town, and will ensure a continuous intellectual and pedagogical link between our summer and New York campuses.

Finally, as we approach the 20th anniversary of 1989’s non-violent transformations, we think that it is important not only to celebrate the achievements of negotiated transitions, but to draw from them lessons for future democratic politics. In addition to a student seminar series that will focus on both 1968 and 1989, this coming spring TCDS will facilitate a two-layer conversation of senior and junior scholars at the conference 1989 and Beyond: The Future of Democracy. Please see the full announcement of the event on our website and in this issue of the Bulletin and join us for the event.

Warmest wishes for the holiday season and we look forward to working with you in 2008!

Elzbieta Matynia