government Archives - Society Today

In the Shadow of the Border: The Untold Struggles of Mexican Americans

Mexican Americans near the Arizona-Mexico border must live in a "low-intensity conflict zone" in which several of their constitutional rights are effectively suspended. Through frequent, arbitrary interactions with Customs and…

Demography, Education, Health, Politics

What Happens to Kids When Their Government Runs Out of Money?

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

A study of more than 1.9 million children in 67 countries finds austerity increases the odds of child poverty by an average of 14 percent. The two biggest moderating factors…

Politics

Egocentrism in Politics: How Unelected Officials Misinterpret Public Desires

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

Unelected elites do not correctly perceive public opinion: their beliefs about where the public stands on policy are off by an average of 14 percentage points. However, unlike elected elites,…

Culture, Fundamentals

What Would Sociology’s Founder Say About 2024’s Culture Wars?

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

Today's culture wars have their roots in conflicts between industrial and pre-industrial ways of life. Emile Durkheim, a founder of modern sociology, referred to them as organic solidarity and mechanical…

Fundamentals, Inequalities

Unveiling Hidden Structures: How to Activate Your Sociological Imagination

Randy Lynn, Ph.D.0 Comments

The sociological imagination was coined by C. Wright Mills in 1959. Like the James Dean of sociology, Mills was a motorcycle and boxing enthusiast, unafraid to challenge the status quo.…