Join us for a lecture and discussion on Capitalist Humanitarianism, the new book by Professor Lucia Hulsether, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Skidmore College.

In her recent book Capitalist Humanitarianism (Duke University Press, 2023), religious studies scholar Lucia Hulsether combines historical accounts, ethnographic research, and personal narrative to critically interrogate how global economic systems have absorbed critiques of capitalism in recent decades. Refuting the claim that movements such as “fair trade” or “ethical investing” exemplify a progressive approach to corporate humanitarianism, her work traverses the Americas to identify and explore how economic elites have repackaged criticisms of neoliberalism from the Left in the service of capitalist expansion and the ways in which these projects compromise, rather than further, efforts at indigenous self-determination, feminist solidarity, and racial justice. At Washington University in St. Louis, Hulsether will discuss her book, the ethical commitments that inform her research, and the possibilities of what it means to “write a history of the impossible.”

Hulsether will offer a talk on her book, which will be followed by a discussion with Cody Musselman and Eric Stephen, both postdoctoral fellows with the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics.

About the speaker
Lucia Hulsether is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Skidmore College. As an ethnographer and historian of religion, her scholarship draws from critical religious studies, feminist and queer theory, critical race and ethnic studies, and the study of labor and capitalism to examine religious cultures in the Americas. She interprets this topic broadly to encompass the ritual practices and collective forms through which people organize their lives and articulate their values. Her first book, Capitalist Humanitarianism (2023), explores these topics in relation to transnational “conscious capitalist” initiatives like fair trade, microfinance, and corporate social responsibility.

This event is free and open to all, no tickets required. General admission seating—first come, first served. Doors will open at 4:00 p.m. RSVPs to rap@wustl.edu are appreciated so we can send you event and parking information.

We are unable to offer a livestream of this event, but will archive a recording on our website for future viewing.