The Occupy Wall Street movement has spread to cities and towns around the country, as well as to the Duke campus. The demonstrations have initiated debates about capitalism and democracy -- and what the purpose of the protests should be.
In a live, interactive "Office Hours" conversation at noon Thursday, Oct. 27, Professor Robert Korstad will take viewer questions on how the current Occupy efforts can be understood in light of past social movements, such as Vietnam War teach-ins, anti-apartheid campaigns and post-World War I Bonus Army protests.
"It's a fascinating movement, particularly in the way it's spread around the county so rapidly," said Korstad, the Kevin D. Gorter Professor of Public Policy and History. "Obviously, the issues are resonating with a lot of people other than just with the people who are there."
Robert KorstadKorstad will be joined by Duke sophomore Anastasia Karklina, a participant in the Occupy Duke demonstration taking place on the Chapel Quad.
Watch the webcast live on the Duke Ustream channel. To send a comment or question for Korstad and Karklina -- before or during the broadcast -- email live@duke.edu, post to the Duke University Facebook page or Tweet with the hashtag #dukelive.
Korstad is a co-director of the Duke Program on History, Public Policy and Social Change. This semester he is teaching a course on the "History of Poverty in the U.S."
Duke's weekly "Office Hours" webcast series aims to bring the insights of Duke faculty members to anyone with an Internet connection and an interest in ideas. For a schedule of upcoming broadcasts, as well as archives of previous conversations, go to the Office Hours website.