Susan George (political scientist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Susan George
George in 2010
Born	(1934-06-29)June 29, 1934 Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Died	February 14, 2026(2026-02-14) (aged 91)
Education	Smith College (BA), Sorbonne (BA) University of Paris (PhD)
Spouse(s)	Charles-Henry George

Susan George (born June 29, 1934, died February 14, 2026) was an important American and French writer and activist. She studied politics and society and worked hard for social justice around the world. She wrote many books and articles about global poverty and how to help developing countries. Susan George was the president of the Transnational Institute, a research group in Amsterdam. She often spoke out about the policies of big organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. She believed these groups could do more to help poorer nations grow fairly. Born in the U.S., she lived most of her life in France and became a citizen of both countries.

Susan George's Early Life

Susan Vance Akers was born on June 29, 1934, in Akron, Ohio, in the U.S. She was the only child of Edith and Walter Akers. Her family had lived in the United States for a very long time. Her father worked in insurance, and her mother managed their home. Even though she was born during the Great Depression, a tough economic time, Susan grew up with many advantages. She had help at home and enjoyed dance, music, and swimming lessons.

She first went to a public school with both boys and girls. Later, she attended a private school just for girls. She felt that this type of schooling helped her believe that girls could do anything. She saw women as leaders in sports and academics. She never felt that being a girl held her back.

Susan's father supported all her interests, even those not usually seen as "girly," like science and baseball. When her father served in World War II, Susan helped plant a "victory garden." These gardens helped families grow their own food during the war.

Susan George's Education and Studies

From a young age, Susan became very interested in the French language and French culture. When she was a teenager, she decided to go to Smith College. Her goal was to study in France. While studying there, she took classes at a famous school called Sciences Po.

She earned her first college degree from Smith College, studying French and philosophy. Later, Susan continued her studies at the Sorbonne in France. There, she earned another degree in philosophy. She also completed her highest degree, a doctorate, in political science from the University of Paris. This showed her deep commitment to understanding how governments and societies work.

Career

Standing Up for Peace and Justice

Susan George became an activist because she was concerned about wars. She spoke out against France's war in Algeria and the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. She felt it was important to understand the true impact of these conflicts.

In 1967, she joined a group in Paris called the Paris-American Committee to Stop War. Later, she worked for an organization that helped students and artists. She also worked with another group that organized talks and protests against war in France. These experiences led her to help create a new organization in 1973. This group, called the Transnational Institute, focused on promoting social justice around the world.

Fighting World Hunger

In 1974, Susan attended a big meeting in Rome about world food issues. She felt that the meeting didn't focus enough on the real reasons for hunger. She believed that power and control were often in the wrong hands.

In 1976, she published her first book, How the Other Half Dies: The Real Reasons for World Hunger. This book explored why so many people in the world faced hunger. In 1984, she helped organize another important meeting about food in Rome.

Working with Global Organizations

Susan George was involved with many important groups. From 1990 to 1995, she served on the board of Greenpeace International, a group that works to protect the environment. She also worked with Greenpeace France.

She spoke out against certain international agreements about trade and money in the 1990s. She believed these agreements might not help everyone fairly. From 1999 to 2006, she was a leader in ATTAC France. This organization works to make financial systems fairer for citizens. She was later named its honorary president.

Susan George was also involved with the World Social Forum, which started in 2000. This forum brings together people from around the world to discuss social issues. She believed these forums helped change the way people thought about global problems.

In 2004, she supported John Kerry for president in the U.S. She hoped for leaders who would work for peace and fairness. She continued to make public appearances and was featured in a 2008 documentary film, The End of Poverty?.

Awards and Recognition

Susan George received several honors for her important work:

• She was named honorary president of ATTAC France.
• She was also an honorary advisor for The Other Economic Summit.

Susan George's Family Life

While studying in France, Susan met Charles-Henry George, a French lawyer. She moved to France and they married in 1956. She sometimes missed her friends from home, but she was happy with her choice to live in France. They soon started a family together.

Susan George became a French citizen in 1994, holding dual citizenship with the U.S. Her husband, Charles-Henry, passed away in 2002. Susan had three children and four grandchildren. She often said that her grandchildren inspired her even more in her work. She wanted to help create a better future for them and for all children. She believed it was important to work together to protect our planet and ensure fairness for everyone.

See also

In Spanish: Susan George para niños