RISE & FALL OF NEOLIBERALISM, 8-week social design workshop, explores HOW neoliberalism — an economic paradigm that, in the name of 'efficiency' and 'freedom,' lets the market, with hardly any intervention by the government, determine the outcome came to be accepted as the unquestioned ideology through the 80s and 90s —  ended up contributing to the extreme wealth gap and concentration of wealth in the hands of the few that we see now. It will also explore how neoliberalism resulted in physical manifestations of uneven spacial development both within cities and between cities and peripheral regions.  

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Neoliberalism 'fell' when it came to be challenged by both the Left (push toward taxing the wealthy) & the Right (push toward nationalist agendas).  The course will end on exploring what alternative paradigm can replace the neoliberal paradigm, with a particular concern for reviving the peripheral 'left-behind' regions that are fueling the populist backlash.

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​The workshop empowers participants with:​​

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• Understanding what Neoliberalism is & HOW it ended up contributing to the extreme wealth gap and concentration of wealth in the hands of the few that we see today;

• Understanding the physical manifestations of Neoliberalism, which resulted in uneven spatial development both within cities and between cities and peripheral regions;  

• Understanding HOW Neoliberalism came to be challenged;

• What alternative paradigm can replace Neoliberal paradigm;

• Critical thinking, interdisciplinary thinking & design thinking skills in direct engagement with urgent issues of our time; 

• Capacity to zoom out & SEE the the whole;  

• Capacity to generate solutions;

• Writing skills to present your own analysis & vision & construct a strong/coherent line of argument

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Participants are led through weekly modules with engaging lectures & readings as well as stimulating rounds of discussion. 

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The workshop is offered throughout the year — SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER — please see the WORKSHOP CALENDAR.  Upon a successful completion of 2 x social design workshops, you will receive SOCIAL DESIGN CERTIFICATE. MULTICULTURAL CHALLENGE is also interested in partnering with institutions across the globe in integrating this workshop into their curriculum — to inquire about this partnership, please use the inquiry form below.