{"id":118530,"date":"2020-10-12T14:56:55","date_gmt":"2020-10-12T12:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=118530"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:07","slug":"iss-celebrates-its-dies-natalis-with-a-debate-on-global-crises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/10\/12\/iss-celebrates-its-dies-natalis-with-a-debate-on-global-crises\/","title":{"rendered":"ISS celebrates its Dies Natalis with a debate on global crises"},"content":{"rendered":"

To mark the 68th anniversary of its foundation, the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) held a debate on three global issues last Thursday: COVID-19, climate change and racism. \u201cThe best thing ISS can do is to become an ally to marginalised people.\u201d<\/p>\n

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ISS\u2019s auditorium was transformed into a studio. Seated behind a table were moderator Marcia Luyten, academics Wendy Harcourt, Aminata Cairo and Murat Arsel and Rector Inge Hutter. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to remember how we celebrated Dies anniversaries before the Covid era,\u201d ISS Rector Hutter said in her opening words. \u201cThe coronavirus pandemic is not the only crisis we are facing at the moment. We\u2019re also facing a climate crisis and racism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inequality<\/h2>

After Hutter\u2019s speech, the President of EUR\u2019s Executive Board, Ed Brinksma, and EUR Rector Magnificus Rutger Engels congratulated the institute on its anniversary in pre-recorded videos. Moderator Luyten then kicked off the debate. Each subject was introduced by an argument presented by a speaker.<\/p>\n

Wendy Harcourt, a Professor of Gender, Diversity and Sustainable Development at ISS, opened her plea by touching on the impact the coronavirus crisis is having on the healthcare system. \u201cThe healthcare system is largely determined by gender, race and age,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople die of COVID-19, not just because they are vulnerable, but also because healthcare is determined by politicians.\u201d She argued in favour of making the economy more healthcare-centred. Lecturer in Inclusive Education Aminata Cairo then referred to the inequality that is emerging due to the crisis. \u201cFor some people, staying at home is not an option. They have to leave the house to earn money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Insecurity<\/h2>

The second speaker, Professor of Political Economy of Sustainable Development Murat Arsel, argued that the government is using the insecurity caused by the coronavirus pandemic so as not to have to review its climate policy. \u201cDespite the fact that we need long-term and sustainable changes,\u201d said Arsel. He emphasised that we need a drastic reallocation, both of natural resources and of the system. \u201cWe are not implementing the measures that need to be implemented because we\u2019re not feeling the urgency of the climate crisis. But by the time climate change will be clearly visible to us, we will be too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colour blind<\/h2>

In the final section of the debate, Aminata Cairo explained the correlation between the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. The vulnerability of people of colour has become more visible during the pandemic. She said this is what evoked the sentiments behind Black Lives Matter. \u201cAnd social media caused the movement to go global.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Netherlands has a long history of racism, she went on to say in her argument. \u201cBut the Netherlands is unique in that regard. White Dutch people prefer to remain colour blind. Racism is something that happens in America. Here people won\u2019t talk about it, as if the subject is a personal attack on them. They\u2019ll say, \u2018we are tolerant and nice,\u2019 but racism has nothing to do with being nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ally<\/h2>

All three speakers agreed that change is needed. But they also shared another concern: that everything will be business as usual after the coronavirus crisis. Nevertheless, Harcourt was a little more optimistic. \u201cThis crisis taught us that certain things can be done differently. I hope that this change will remain permanent once the coronavirus era is over.\u201d Arsel added: \u201cThe best thing we can do here at ISS to bring about change is to become an ally to marginalised people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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