Susan George (political scientist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Susan George
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Susan George, in 2010
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| Born | June 29, 1934 Akron, Ohio, U.S.
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| Education | Smith College (BA), Sorbonne (BA) University of Paris (PhD) |
| Spouse(s) | Charles-Henry George |
Susan George was born on June 29, 1934, in the United States. She is a well-known American and French writer and activist. She studies how countries can be fair to everyone. She also writes about helping poorer countries around the world.
Susan George leads the Transnational Institute. This is a group in Amsterdam that thinks about big world problems. She often speaks out against large organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. She believes their plans sometimes make things worse for developing countries. She has dual citizenship, meaning she is a citizen of both the U.S. and France.
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About Susan George
Her Early Life
Susan Vance Akers was born on June 29, 1934. Her hometown was Akron, Ohio, in the U.S. She was the only child of Edith and Walter Akers. Her family had lived in the United States since the 1600s.
Even though she was born during the Great Depression, Susan grew up in a comfortable home. She had a special helper called a nursemaid. She also took dance, music, and swimming lessons.
After attending a public elementary school, she went to a private school just for girls. She felt that going to an all-girls school helped her. She learned that women could be leaders and smart. She never felt that being a woman held her back.
Susan's father encouraged all her interests. He supported her love for science and baseball. When he went to fight in World War II, Susan helped plant a "victory garden." These gardens helped families grow their own food.
Her Education
Susan George was a very good student. She became very interested in the French language and French culture. As a teenager, she chose to attend Smith College. She wanted to study abroad in France.
While studying in France, she took classes at Sciences Po. She earned her first degree from Smith College. She studied French and philosophy. Later, she went to the Sorbonne in France. There, she earned another degree in philosophy. Susan George also earned her doctorate degree in political science from the University of Paris.
Her Family Life
While studying in France, Susan met Charles-Henry George. He was a French lawyer. She moved to France and married him in 1956. She said she missed her women friends from home. But she was happy with her choice to live in France.
The couple soon started a family. Susan George became a French citizen in 1994. Charles-Henry George passed away in 2002. As of 2013, Susan George had three children and four grandchildren. She says her grandchildren inspire her activism even more. She wants to help create a better future for them.
Susan George's Career
Throughout her career, Susan George has been an activist. She has worked against wars. She has also spoken out against what she sees as greedy actions by large companies. She became a leader in the movement to end hunger. This was at a time when women rarely held powerful positions.
Early Activism Against War
Susan George became an activist because of wars. She was concerned about France's war in Algeria. She also worried about the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. She said the Vietnam War helped her understand that America could do negative things.
In 1967, she joined a group called the Paris-American Committee to Stop War (P.A.C.S.). She also worked for an organization called the American Centre for Students and Artists. The CIA became interested in her activities. In 1971, she worked with a group that organized anti-war talks and protests in France.
Later, the French government closed P.A.C.S. Susan then worked with the Institute for Policy Studies. Together, they formed a new organization for social justice. This group became the Transnational Institute in 1973.
Working to End Hunger
In 1974, Susan George went to the World Food Conference in Rome. But she felt disappointed. She believed that big food companies had too much influence. She said that the real reasons for hunger were not addressed. She felt that power and control were in the wrong hands.
In 1976, her first book was published. It was called How the Other Half Dies: The Real Reasons for World Hunger. In 1984, she helped organize the World Food Assembly. This was another meeting held in Rome, Italy.
Involvement with Organizations
From 1990 to 1995, Susan George was on the board of Greenpeace International. She also served on the board of Greenpeace France. She opposed a proposed agreement called the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) in the 1990s. She also spoke out against the plans of the World Trade Organization in Seattle in 1999.
From 1999 to 2006, she was vice-president of ATTAC France. This group works for a tax on financial transactions to help citizens. She is still a member of their scientific council. In 2008, she was given the title of honorary president.
Susan George was involved with the World Social Forum from its start in 2000. She also participated in the European Social Forum. She believed these forums helped change the political world.
In 2004, she supported John Kerry for president. She campaigned for him in Pennsylvania. She wrote that Kerry was not the most exciting candidate. But she felt he was better than the alternative. She worried about the future if the other candidate won.
Throughout the late 2000s, George continued to make appearances. She took part in the 2006 Table of Free Voices conference. She also appeared in the 2008 documentary film, The End of Poverty?
Today, Susan George is the honorary president of ATTAC France.
Awards and Recognition
- Honorary president of ATTAC
- Mentioned as an honorary advisor of The Other Economic Summit
See also
In Spanish: Susan George para niños
