Juan Cole visits CSULB

Humorous Historian makes appearance at CSULB

               To the average college student, the very mention of the term “historian” could be enough to trigger a yawn or possibly even coax one into a deep slumber. Thursday afternoon on NOV 10 in the Beach Auditorium, American scholar and historian Juan Cole disproved this theory-- combining his impeccable insight on Middle East affairs with a dry sense of humor that ensured very few dull moments during his guest lecture at CSULB.

                Cole, 59, who has been a guest on several television programs on ABC, PBS and CNN made a guest appearance in the Student Union at noon to discuss neoliberalism, insider trading and the Arab Spring. There weren’t too many open seats as students packed the auditorium to listen to Cole’s calculated but engaging opinions on the uprisings in Libya, Yemen, Syria and other Arab nations. Even if students weren’t up to speed on the history and current state of these nations, Cole used clear and concise power point slides for them to follow along with his lecture.

                Hailing from the University of Michigan, professor Cole outlined neoliberalism, which began in the 90’s, and credited it with the birth of insider trading. He explained that there was a global emphasis on deregulation and the privatization of previously public-owned enterprises.

                “If you know which companies will privatize or know which businesses will go under, you get insider trading” Cole said.

                Sandwiched between his critique on economic and social policy, Cole was not shy at poking fun at political figures, often prompting approving laughter from the student body crowd. Notably Ahmed Ezz, an Egyptian business man who is now in prison accused of corruption on many levels. Cole took special care in shrewdly skewering Ezz, whom is believed to have monopolized the steel industry in Egypt, holding more than 60 percent of the market.

                Cole vividly referenced the Mohamed Bouazizi incident, which served as a transition his views on the Arab Spring. He explained the grim realities of being a Tunisian citizen prior to the Tunisian Revolution. Bouazizi, according to Cole, was a street vendor who set himself on fire in protest to unfair treatment by government officials. Cole explained that Bouazizi had experienced a number of humiliating acts at the hands of several officials, even being slapped by a woman at the municipal office.

                Fed up with the daily corruption he faced, such as getting fined for selling goods and not having a license to drive or getting his selling cart confiscated, Bouazizi made one last ditch effort to the governor’s office. He demanded that he received justice but to no avail, as officials refused to see him. In what is seen as a catalyst to the Arab Spring, Bouazizi doused himself in gasoline and lit himself on fire.

                Cole credited social media as a major force in the multiple uprisings in the Arab Spring against corruption, high unemployment and political freedom. The youth movement he said were becoming a force and holding important roles in political positions.