History/Social Sciences   

Why are we who we are? Everyone has a worldview, a part of which is political ideology. This class is intended as an interactive discussion to explore the various ideologies from far left to far right and how, according to political psychologists, people acquire their worldviews and ideologies. Bring your thoughts and an open mind.

Recommended reading: “On Being Conservative,” (1956) by Michael Oakeshott, essay online.

Iran has had stormy relationships with countries throughout the region and the world in recent decades—particularly the United States. We will examine the source of this animus and the government upheavals in 1953 and 1979. What exactly happened to cement Iranian hostilities towards so many globally? And where do things stand in 2026? Are hostilities only getting worse? Is there any hope for a future of democratic governance in Iran? What are the implications of the March, 2026 War on Iran for Israel and the United States?

In the popular imagination, lethal injection is a slight pinch and a swift nodding off to forever-sleep, it is performed by well-qualified medical professionals, it is regulated and carefully conducted, and it is certainly the most ‘humane’ form of capital punishment. In reality, not one of these statements is true. Lethal injection is nothing like what people think. This is its untold story.

Recommended reading: Secrets of the Killing State: the Untold Story of Lethal Injection by Corinna Lain, 2025.

The summer term class features morning and afternoon sessions, with time for lunch in between! 

June 2: Session 1 (10-11:30) Merrily Mazza will discuss Anya Varampil’s Corporate Coup: Venezuela and the End of US Empire. The book tells the story of US hybrid warfare on Venezuela harking back to 2019 and the tectonic social and economic shifts reshaping the world. Timely.

June 2: Session 2 (12:30-2:00) Cathy Perme takes the podium to discuss Robert Fritz’ 1984 The Path of Least Resistance: Principles for Creating What You Want to Create. Cathy is a successful entrepreneur who has provided consultative services for businesses and private persons alike.

June 9: Session 1 (10-11:30) Retired social worker Ruth Campbell (MSW, U of Iowa) will take on Father Time: A Natural History of Men and Babies.

June 9: Session 2 (12:30-2:00) Our friend, Dr. John Fredell, reviews Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right, by Laura Field.

June 16: Session 1 (10-11:30) Sherrie Gette will present on Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference by Rutger Bregman.

June 16: Session 2 (12:30-2:00) OLLI Program Manager Briana Smith presents on Nobel Prize winning author Svetlana Alexeivich's Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets, an oral history about Russian nostalgia for the Soviet years.

June 23: Session 1 (10-11:30) Course Leader Jim Martin thinks American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard is worth a discussion in light of the continuing polarization of 21st century America.

June 23: Session 2 (12:30-2:00) Steve Birch says he’s never been as excited about a book as he is about Tiny Blunders/Big Disasters: Thirty Tiny Mistakes that Changed the World Forever, by Jared Knott. 

Join us as we partner again with the Ramsey County Library, Global Minnesota, and the Foreign Policy Association for our annual Great Decisions series on the most critical international issues facing America. Study the issues and join the discussions led by expert speakers. Ten copies of the Briefing Book for this series are available for checkout through the generosity of Global Minnesota.

June 6th: Henry Berman on U.S. Engagement of Africa.

Join Bob Frame and Nicholas Malnarcic in conversation with industrial historian Fred Quivik for a discussion of Minnesota flour milling history and the current state of milling in Minnesota. Learn more about Bob Frame’s new book about the Minneapolis flour milling industry and Nic’s work as the Assistant Plant Manager at the large and historic Ardent Mills four mill in Hastings.

Recommended Reading: Robert M. Frame III, Making Mill City: Flour and Fortune in Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 2026.

Are you concerned about the turmoil in our economic, political and social environments? Do you want to do your part to make a difference? Do you want to stay motivated and connected? Join us for Vital Voices to share your views, listen to others and strengthen your civic identity. Together we’ll find ways to use our influence — in big ways and small ways — to make a better world. VAN will facilitate to ensure meaningful and respectful discussions. The summer session will meet for four weeks with the intent to convert to an ongoing special interest group for those who are interested.

Fareed Zakaria omitted the American Revolution from his book Age of Revolutions saying "it did not immediately transform society's deeper structures." This course will explore Zakaria's thesis with reference to the Academy of Arts and Sciences report "Expanding Representation.” Week 1 will begin with prehistory: natural selection, "self-ishness," and socialization. Week 2 moves to Western Europe to explore themes of supremacy, subjection, and insatiability. Topics for Weeks 3 and 4 include the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and Article I of the US Constitution.

Recommended reading: "Expanding Representation, Reinventing Congress for the 21st Century." American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 2025. (Provided week 1).

British labor economist Guy Standing coined the term Precariat to identify a social class whose members' lives are marked by economic insecurity and a form of second-class citizenship as a result of relying for their livelihood on the gig economy. This course summarizes Standing's description of this social class.

Economics plays a central role in the functioning of every aspect of society. This course addresses a set of prominent policy issues where economics is at their core. We will explore their origins as policy matters, the underlying data and evidence, and what policy levers are available to deal with them. Lectures will be standalone, taught by a subject matter expert. Potential topics include Climate, Healthcare Economics, Economic Federal Debt, Social Security and many more. The topics presented will be determined by what is most topical at the time of the course

Join scholars from area colleges and elsewhere as they share their specialized knowledge and enthusiasm. It’s like hearing from your favorite college professors again, without worrying about writing papers or taking finals!

June 2: Tshuaj Ntsuab: A Compendium of Hmong Medicinal Plants, Zongxee Lee, Natalie Hoidal, Alex Crum

June 9: Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, Maggie Lorenz, executive director

June 16: TBA

June 23: Supreme Court Docket 2026, Professor Tim Johnson from the U of M