Marvin Surkin

PhD, Political Science

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  • PhD, Political Science, New York University
  • M.A., Political Science, New York University
  • B.A., Political Science, University of Florida

Address

 

706 Wagener Lane
Easton, PA 18040
610/253-2522

Email 

 

marsurkin@yahoo.com

Marvin Surkin
PhD, Political Science

Dr. Surkin, a graduate of New York University, is a specialist in comparative urban politics and social change. He conducts workshops on Workplace and Community Organizing, Urban Political Economy, and Urban Renewal in the U.S.A. and its Significance for Development in the Third World, and Comparative Urban Architecture. Dr. Surkin lectures frequently on urban issues.  His book, Detroit: I Do Mind Dying: A Study in Urban Revolution, examines the activities, perspectives, and changing formations of the cadre of black revoluntionaries that worked at the core of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers in the early 1970’s. The book served as the inspiration for the 1999 Film, Finally Got The News-Revolutionary Black Unions in Detroit. In addition to his activism with urban politics and development, Dr. Surkin has served as consultant to the New World Foundation, which seeks to help progressive community activist in the United States, Mexico, and around the world build stronger alliances to social justice, civil rights, economic, and electoral issues.

Professional Experience

2008-Present–Intercultural Open University Foundation, Core Faculty

2011–Professor of Urban Studies at Long Island University and Ramapo State College of New Jersey

2003-2006–Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos Cuernavaca, Mexico
Visiting Professor, Axis of Urbanism, School of Architecture
 
1978-2005–The Union Institute and University
Cincinnati, OH
Core Faculty Professor
 
1987-1993–private practice in acupuncture
Philadelphia, PA
 
1988-1993–St. Joseph’s Hospital
Philadelphia, PA
Director, Clinical acupuncture detoxification
 
1976–Fairleigh Dickinson University
New Jersey
Visiting Professor
 
1974-1977–CUNY, Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY
Adjunct Professor, School of Contemporary Studies
 
1974-1977–CUNY, Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY
Director of Independent Studies Program
 
1972-1973–Autonomous University of Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
Visiting Professor
 
1971-1974–CUNY, LaGuardia Community College
Long Island City, NY
Adjunct Professor
 
1969-1971–Adelphi University
Garden City, NY
Adjunct Professor
 
1968-1969–CUNY, Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY
Professor
 
1966-1968–Moravian College
Bethlehem, PA
Professor
 
1962-1964–Institute for North American Studies
Barcelona, Spain
Professor

Grants

1978–New York Council on the Humanities, New York, NY

1978–The New World Foundation, New York, NY

1973–Louis Rabinowitz Foundation, New York, NY

Publications

1998–Detroit: I Do Mind Dying: A Study in Urban Revolution. A new updated edition. (co-authored by Dan Georgakas) South End Press. Cambridge, MA
1978–“Autoreducation and the New Urban Revolt in Europe,” Social Policy
1976–“Too Old to Work, Too Young to Die,” Social Policy
1976–“Immigrant Nation,” New York Times. (co-authored by Colin Greer)
1975–Detroit: I Do Mind Dying: A Study in Urban Revolution. (co-authored by Dan Georgakas) St. Martin’s Press. New York, NY
1975–“Work: USA,” in US: People-Questions.  Friendship Press. New York, NY
1975–“La Clase Obrera Americana en una Economía en Crisis,” El Correo Catalán. Barcelona, Spain
1974–“An Interview with Michael Hamlin,” The Guardian. New York, NY
1973–“Un Debate Sobre la Economía Política,” Destino. Barcelona, Spain
1972–“Aspectos de la Poíitica Economía de Nixon,” Destino. Barcelona, Spain
1974–“Recent Cuban Cinema,” Cineaste
1971–“The Myth of Community Control,” in Peter Orleans and William Ellis; Race and Change in Urban Society. Sage Publications, Santa Barbara, CA
1970–“On Rationalizing the Irrational, PS (Political Science journal) Washington, DC
1970–“An End to Political Science, The Caucus Papers,”(co-authored by Alan Wolfe) Basic Books. New York, NY
1970–“Reply to Professor Lipjhart,” Acta Politica. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1969–“Sense and Nonsense in Politics,” PS (Political Science journal) Washington, DC
1969–“The Political Dimension of Political Science,” Acta Politica. Amsterdam
1968–“Political Science: The Battle for Relevance,” The Nation

Conferences and Seminars

2003–Lecture, “Urban Political Economy and Urban Renewal in the USA and its Significance for Development in the Third World.” Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos. Cuernavaca, Morelos, México

2003–Lecture, “Urban Sociology and Recent Development Trends in the USA and Mexico, A Comparative Analysis.” Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos. Cuernavaca, Morelos, México

2003–Delivered Paper, “American Culture since September 11: Dilemmas of Power.” Foro Arete 2002, Asociación Española de Patrimonio Cultural, Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain

1980–Lecture, “Ethnicity and Immigration.” Brooklyn Public Libray Brooklyn, NY

1977 and 1979–Seminar, “Political Economy of Urban America,” New York Theological Seminary, New York, NY

1977–Panelist, “Ethnicity: New Realities.” National Conference of Christians and Jews. New York, NY

1977–Member of the Jury for Social Issues, American Film Festival, NY, NY

1976–Organized and Chaired Panel: “State Repression and the Rule of Law.” American Political Science Association Convention, Chicago, IL

1975–Panel Moderator, “Socialist Perspectives on the American Working Class and on the Concept of Class in Marxist Theory.” Caucus for a New Political Science, Providence, RI

1975–Delivered Paper, “The Revolt against Company, Union and the State.” Caucus for a New Political Science, American Political Science Association Convention, San Francisco, CA

1975–Delivered Paper, “The Working Class and the Current Crisis.” American Sociological Association Convention, San Francisco, CA

1975–Delivered Paper, “Recovering our own History: One Class Conscious Worker Equals 100 Students.” American Education Studies Association Convention, New York, NY

1975–Delivered Paper, “The Politics of Everyday Work: A Case of Worker Insurgency in the Detroit Auto Plants.” Western Political Science Association Convention, Seattle, WA

1975–Delivered Paper, “Worker Insurgency and Political Organizing

(1967-1973).” University of Oregon, Eugene, OR

1975–Delivered Paper, “Workplace Organizing and Community Organizing.” Conference for a Relevant Social Science, Indiana University-Purdue University, Bloomington, IN

1975–Delivered Paper, “Detroit: The Working Class and the Next American Revolution,” Middle Atlantic Radial Historians Organization, CUNY, John Jay College, New York, NY

1972–Delivered Paper, “Ethnic and Class Politics in America,” Western Political Science Association Convention, Albuquerque, NM

1969–Organized Conference and Delivered Paper: “Sense and Nonsense in Politics.” Caucus for a New Political Science, American Political Science Association Convention, New York, NY

1968–Organized and Chaired Panel, “Race, Power and Money.” Caucus for a New Political Science, American Political Science Association Convention, Washington, DC

Areas of Academic Specialization

  • Political Science and Government
  • Political Philosophy
  • Latin American Politics and Society
  • International Politics
  • Urban Studies
  • Race and Ethnic Studies
  • Labor Studies
  • American Politics and Society
  • Phenomenology and Research
  • Social Science Research
  • Acupuncture and Psychoenergetic Therapy
  • Alternative Health, Theory and Practice
  • Public Health Policy Interdisciplinary Studies