Alliance Party Media release for immediate release Thursday 12 July 2007

"Democratic Socialism in New Zealand": A Christchurch Public Lecture by Professor Jim Flynn

Professor Jim Flynn, Emeritus Professor of Political Studies at the University of Otago, will present a public lecture "Democratic Socialism in New Zealand" on Sunday 15 July 2007, at the Trade Union Centre, 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch, starting at midday.

The lecture will consider how the humane principles of democratic socialism are relevant to New Zealand today.

Professor Flynn says some of the key policies of democratic socialism include universal access to publicly funded health care and education, and the use of a progressive taxation system to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of wealth.

He says the move away from the idea of equality is causing profound damage to society and the foundations of democracy.

"Throughout the twentieth century, great progress was made towards a society where all people could enjoy security and equality, but in recent decades this positive trend has been reversed and we are moving towards a society divided on the basis of wealth."

Author of six books, Professor Flynn has combined political and moral philosophy with psychology to clarify problems such as justifying humane ideals, and whether it makes sense to rank races and classes by merit. The findings of his research into increasing IQ levels are known widely as "the Flynn effect."

Professor Flynn has been profiled in the Scientific American, Times of London and The Guardian, and in November 2006 he debated author Charles Murray at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington DC.

He has stood for the New Zealand Parliament several times as a candidate of the Alliance Party. He is currently the Alliance Party spokesperson for finance and tax.

His research interests include humane ideals and ideological debate; classics of political philosophy; and race, class and IQ.

The public lecture is presented by the Alliance Party.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

email jim.flynn@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

Alliance Party Christchurch – Tom Dowie on 0272276135

Further background information for journalists:

University of Otago profile webpage http://www.otago.ac.nz/politicalstudies/jim_flynn.html

Alliance Party website http://www.alliance.org.nz

Jim Flynn profile, Education Guardian, UK, 2 January 2007 http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/profile/story/0,,1981813,00.html

Jim Flynn profile, The Times, UK, 18 December 2006 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article756647.ece

Jim Flynn and Charles Murray debate, American Enterprise Institute, Washington DC, USA, 28 November 2006 http://www.aei.org/events/eventID.1425,filter.all/event_detail.asp#

ENDS

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