Dozens of the world’s leading historians, political scientists, sociologists, and economists are gathering in New York City on April 9th for a one-day conference examining issues of economic inequality, poverty, and corporate influence in politics.
“Are we in a Second Gilded Age? A look at Historic Parallels, Differences and Lessons” is organized in part by York Professor and co-editor of The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, Associate Professor (History) Boyd Cothran. The joint venture is co-sponsored by the history departments at York University, The Graduate Center and George Mason University, as well as the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at York University.
Cothran calls the collaboration ideal. “We [York] are a community of thought leaders with our eyes on the world, shaping the most important conversations of the day. Having York University be part of such an important conversation, front and centre, it’s part of being a world leader in research and innovation.”
The Gilded Age is the term applied to the period after the Civil War until about 1896, that witnessed vast wealth and crushing poverty. The era was also characterized by an influx of immigration, political corruption, rapid expansion of industrialization, and a concentration of wealth.
Cothran says the timing for the conference is ideal. “Inequality is perhaps one of the most pressing concerns of our day; the economic challenges facing the vast majority of families in North America are beginning to seriously influence our society and politics; political corruption and corporate greed are rampant today as they were in the 19th century… it’s time for historians, economists, and political scientists to weigh in and debate the lessons, differences, and historical parallels we can learn.”
More than 250 participants are registered to attend the sold-out conference. Among the distinguished guests were Nobel laureates Joseph Stiglitz (Columbia University) and Paul Krugman (The Graduate Center, CUNY). They join a host of experts that will look closely at the different factors driving inequality and the effectiveness of current policies designed to curb these inequalities.
After the conference, The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era plans to run a major special issue “featuring essays from leading scholars in the field debating the utility of this historical analogy in greater details and using cutting edge research from a variety of perspectives,” says Cothran. The special issue is slated for publication in early 2020.
Tickets to the conference are sold out, however a live stream will be available online Tuesday, April 9th.