
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
The Pitchforks are Coming (2024) - Myra Hamilton, Carl Rhodes & Jordan van den Berg
Ordinary citizens are starting to realise that their dwindling share of our common wealth is no accident, but the inevitable result of the current system. As life becomes more precarious, has the time come when the ‘discontented majority’ will flex their muscles and seize, by whatever means, a fairer share of the economic and social pie? Or will the world’s wealthiest 1% step back from the precipice by realising that inequality is as much of a problem for them as it is for everyone else?
Myra Hamilton is an Associate Professor in Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney Business School. She is a sociologist and social policy scholar whose work identifies and challenges inequalities arising from gender, age and social disadvantage. Among other things, her most recent work challenges the notion of the ‘generation wars’ and seeks to uncover the workings of elite privilege and its harms.
Carl Rhodes is Dean and Professor of Organization Studies at the University of Technology Sydney Business School. Carl writes about the ethical and democratic dimensions of business and work. His work endeavours to question and reformulate the role of business in society so prosperity can be shared by all.
Jordan van den Berg, an office-worker in Melbourne, is known for his reviews and visits of the worst rentals Australia has to offer by his audience on TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube as purplepingers. Alongside his reviews, Jordan also uses his platform to passionately contribute to Australian political discourse, educating his audience on anything and everything that society failed to educate young Australians.
Chaired by philosopher, writer, and public commentator, Gwilym David Blunt.