How can sociological thinking help us make sense of today's biggest global challenges?
In what is understood as 'an age of crisis', headlines are dominated by topic such as climate change, migration, radicalisation and inequality. These topics are core to sociology, yet sociological insights are drowned out in public debate frequently dominated by technological optimism, economic rhetoric or polarising politics.
This accessibly written textbook centres the sociological voice. It demonstrates how evidence-based, critical perspectives can illuminate the causes, interconnections and possible solutions to some of the most urgent issues of our time.
Each chapter is crafted to support students new to sociology, guiding them to think critically and make connections between complex global problems. Key pedagogical features include:
* Clear statements of key messages at the start of each chapter;
* Bold-highlighted definitions of sociological terms with minimal jargon;
* 'Focus point' boxes with data, case studies or visual insights;
* Suggested sources for further exploration, including videos and online media.
Essential reading for undergraduate students and anyone working in policy, advocacy or social change-offering the tools to think critically, act thoughtfully and engage with today's most pressing global challenges.
Table of Contents:
Foreword - Gary Younge
Part 1: Setting the Scene
1. Making Sense of Global Social Challenges - Kevin Gillan and Vanessa May
2. Decolonisation - Meghan Tinsley
Part 2: Trends and Challenges
3. Economic Inequalities - Kevin Gillan
4. Climate, Ecology and Solidarity - Richie Nimmo
5. The Global Waste Crisis - Helen Holmes
6. The Next Pandemic - Elisa Pieri
7. Technology and Labour - Barbora Černušáková and Isha Bhallamudi
Part 3: Rethinking Social Categories
8. Racialised Injustice - Bridget Byrne and Siobhan O’Neill
9. Gender and Anti-Gender - Briony Hannell
10. Seeing Migration Differently - Vanessa May, Anna Simola and Sirpa Wrede
11. Rethinking Ageing in a Global World - Patty Doran, Tine Buffel and Chris Phillipson
12. Radicalisation - Hilary Pilkington
Part 4: Ways Forward
13. Social Movements and Social Change - Josie Bunting
14. Conclusions: Social Responses to Global Challenges - Kevin Gillan and Vanessa May
About the Author :
Kevin Gillan is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manchester.
Vanessa May is Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester and a member of the Morgan Centre for Research into Everyday Lives.
Review :
‘To resist environmental collapse and challenge devastating inequalities requires facts, analysis and sociological imagination. This brilliant collection offers all three. Thought-provoking, evidence-based, and accessible, it is a powerful resource to build more hopeful futures. Sociology at its best.’ Bridget Anderson, University of Bristol
