Author Archives: Belden Fields

For almost two years, some selfdescribed “good Capitalist” allies of the University of Illinois have been hard at work in forging the Academy on Capitalism and Limited Government. In line with the conservative agenda of the Hoover Institute, the Fund … Continue reading →

The accompanying photo shows police kneeling over and cuffing three supposed protestors during the North American Summit on August 21 and 22, 2007. President Bush, Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada, and President Felipe Calderon of Mexico were meeting as … Continue reading →

On Saturday, April 28, a May Day Solidarity Celebration was held at the IMC as a benefit for the Central Illinois Jobs with Justice Campaign. Also benefitting from the celebration were striking Steinway workers who had come over from Indiana … Continue reading →

On May Day we celebrate the struggle for the eight-hour day and other workers’ rights. In the above article, David Johnson recounts the history of May Day that is too little known in this country. Workers who try to organize … Continue reading →

THE POLITICAL AND THE CULTURAL I have, for many years, been interested in how a single political ideology or a set of political institutions will vary when they are implemented in different cultural contexts. For example, in 1988 I published … Continue reading →

The public schools in Champaign and Urbana are meeting the needs of some students very well but are not meeting the needs of other students, low income and minority students nearly so well. All students should receive a secondary education … Continue reading →

A FACT AND A QUESTION Rafael Correa, a 43 year-old who took a Ph.D. in economics at the University of Illinois in Urbana, won big in Ecuador’s presidential election on November 26. Correa received 68% of the votes cast. His … Continue reading →

Ben Grosser’s article discusses the larger implications of introducing at-large seats in Urbana’s city council elections. It raises serious issues. However, there is also a subtext to this story, the intriguing circumstances leading to this proposal so ardently supported by … Continue reading →

In the above article, Mike Griffin tells of his disillusionment with the lack of support he feels that he got from both the AFL-CIO and his local’s own national union in the Staley lockout. This was perhaps the most important … Continue reading →

In his article,Walter Feinberg refers to the university’s firing of Professor Leo Koch. Koch was fired by the president of the university, David Dodds Henry, during the academic year 1959-60. Koch was fired because he responded to a letter to … Continue reading →

It has come to my attention that early this year a training class for law enforcement officers was held in our community. The instructor was Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman. His biographical statement modestly describes him as one of the “foremost … Continue reading →