Politics of Haitian Relief Effort is Subject of Columbia College Chicago Lecture February 25, 2010

As with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Haitian earthquake survivors were forced to be “their own first responders,” in the words of Gen. Russell Honore. The false fears of security issues in Haiti that delayed and militarized the initial U.S. response to the country will be the topic of Louisiana State University Professor John Protevi at a free public lecture Feb. 25 at Columbia College Chicago.

“Haiti and Human Nature” will be presented 4-6 p.m. on Feb. 25 at Columbia College’s Alexander Campus Center, 600 S. Michigan Ave., Room 921.

Protevi will discuss the ways in which politics interfered with the Haitian relief effort. He will review sociological evidence that shows widespread prosocial behavior in the aftermath of disasters, discuss the role of media in spreading so-called “disaster myths,” and cover the evolutionary theory (debates on altruism and group selection) and neuroscience (empathy and mirror neurons) needed to account for prosocial behavior. Lastly he will discuss the political consequences of how delaying help can eventually produce incidents of antisocial behavior.

Protevi is on the faculty at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His current research is on the intersection of dynamical systems theory, affective cognition, and politics. His latest book, published in 2009, is Political Affect: Connecting the Social and the Somatic.

MORE INFO: For further information, contact Dr. Ann Gunkel at agunkel@colum.edu