I should clarify that I didn't mean to attack all CED practitioners by my
remarks -- only to highlight the nebulousness, perhaps treacherously so,
of CED. Like all things that have a cachet of "alternative", CED may
indeed provide a niche equally for seekers of genuine change,
time-serving bureaucrats, politcal burn-outs and con artists. The same
can be said for "the left" or "education" or anything I personally believe
in, for that matter. I'll leave the pornography remark though. It appeals
to me in the sense, without intending any disrespect, of CED being
somewhat of a surrogate for the extent and kind of changes that would be
needed to build, say, socialism. Besides, one could always joke about
"spilling their CED."
As for SFU, they settled _my_ grievance after the teaching support staff
union's lawyer filed suit for "civil fraud" because of adulterations that
had been made in my student evaluation files.
Paul Phillips wrote:
It is unfortunate that CED is carrying the ball for decades of
academic repression at SFU. There is good CED stuff and
teaching. Particularly here at Manitoba we have CED as an
economics course dedicated to teaching aboriginals primarily, in
economic development inititiatives at the local community/reserve
level. I have not been involved in teaching the course but I have
been supervisor of one or more theses on CED/Reserve Economic
Development. The main instructor in this area here is John Loxley
who has an exemplary record in fighting for social justice,
economic development and heterodox economics with aboriginals,
with local and provincial governments, with African countries, the
ANC etc. There is nothing wrong with CED, just with some of the
practitioners of it that use it as a modus of oppression.
I too have had my problems with SFU. I taught there many years
ago as a replacement with the promise/expectation of a tenure
stream position. When it came time for renewal of my position, I
was told I wasn't wanted. My students complained to the
Vancouver Sun which sent a reporter to the U to find out why. The
official reason was -- I am paraphrasing as I don't remember the
exact quotation -- "Professor Phillips' interest is in the Canadian
economy. In North America the Canadian economy is of minor
importance. Therefore, we have little interest in continuing his
appointment." (Tom, if you are interested, you can search the
Sun's archives to find the exact quotation.)
As a result, I came to Manitoba -- for which I am eternally grateful!
We have a mixed heterodox department, and with a vibrant CED
and development program.
Tom Walker
(604) 947-2213
