ORONO – Global controversies over peace, war, politics and human rights are topics to be covered in depth by the University of Maine Marxist-Socialist Studies Lecture Series for spring 2006.

Lectures featuring guest speakers, UM professors and student perspectives on critical issues of international importance are offered 12:30-1:45 p.m. Thursdays in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union. They are free and open to the public.

The series is co-sponsored by the Marxist-Socialist Studies Interdisciplinary Minor, Maine Peace Action Committee and the Memorial Union, supported by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Speakers’ topics are intended to raise thought-provoking questions, but do not necessarily present socialist or Marxist viewpoints. For information, contact Professor Doug Allen, coordinator, The Maples, 581-3860 or e-mail: douglas.allen@umit.maine.edu.

Scheduled programs are:

. Feb. 2: “Human Rights Violations: Student Perspectives,” a panel with students Sarah Bigney, Jeff Hake, Alex Lehning and Tiffany Warzecha. Part of Human Rights Awareness Week.

. Feb. 9: “Combating War Propaganda: The American Socialist Party, Gender and World War I,” with Professor Elizabeth McKillen, history.

. Feb. 16: “The U.S. 60 Years after World War II: War Making and Peace Building, Some Historical and Philosophical Reflections,” with Professor Doug Allen, philosophy.

. Feb. 23: “Russia: Transition to Democracy?” with Thomas F. Remington, professor and chairman of political science at Emory University, a leading scholar of Russian domestic and international affairs. Recipient of Emory Williams Distinguished Teaching Award, he is author of numerous books on Russian politics.

. March 23: “The Iraq War: Lessons Three Years after the U.S. Invasion and Occupation,” with Ilze Petersons, coordinator, Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine; Michael Howard, philosophy; Alex Grab, history; and Doug Allen, philosophy.

. March 30: “‘The Desire Called Utopia:’ Kim Stanley Robinson, Fredrick Jameson and Science Fiction as a Force for Progressive Change,” with David Gross, former professor of English at Oklahoma University, activist in peace and social justice groups author on Marxist cultural theory.

. April 6: “Post-Election Israel,” with Professor Alex Grab, history.

. April 13: “Resisting The New Conquistadors: Struggles Against U.S. Corporations’ Control of Resources in Latin America,” with Sean Donahue, journalist and director of PICA, a Bangor-based group working for global economic justice.