Liene Ozoliņa
Duke University researcher | Exploring individual blame in economic crises
About
Liene Ozoliņa is a researcher at Duke University who examines the complex relationship between individual responsibility and systemic economic failures. Her work challenges conventional narratives that place blame on individuals during financial crises, instead exploring the deeper structural forces at play.
Through her research, Ozoliņa investigates how societies tend to scapegoat individuals rather than address fundamental economic vulnerabilities. Her TEDxRiga presentation in 2019 brought this critical perspective to a broader audience, questioning why we consistently point fingers at people rather than examining the systems that enable crisis conditions to develop.
Talks1
Why do we blame individuals for economic crises?
In 2008, the global financial crisis decimated Latvia. As unemployment skyrocketed, the government slashed public funding and raised taxes, while providing relief to the wealthy and large businesses -- all without backlash or protest from struggling citizens. Sociologist Liene Ozoliņa examines how Latvian officials convinced their people to accept responsibility for the country's failing economy -- and highlights the rise of similar social policies upholding inequality worldwide.
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