The Dig: Counterrevolution w/ Melinda Cooper

In 'The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State,' Friedrich Engels examines the historical development of social structures. He traces the origins of the family, private property, and the state to specific economic and social changes. Engels argues that the rise of private property led to the subjugation of women and the creation of patriarchal family structures. The book analyzes how the state emerged as an instrument of class rule, serving the interests of the dominant economic class. Engels draws on anthropological and historical evidence to support his analysis. His work provides a foundational text for Marxist feminism and offers insights into the relationship between economic systems and social institutions.

In this book, Arlie Russell Hochschild travels from her liberal hometown of Berkeley, California, to the conservative heartland of Louisiana to understand the rise of the Tea Party movement. She profiles individuals such as Mike Schaff, a former oil industry worker whose town was devastated by a drilling accident, and Lee Sherman, who suffered from toxic waste dumping. Hochschild seeks to overcome the 'empathy wall' between liberals and conservatives by exploring the deep emotional and social reasons behind their political views, including feelings of loss, anger, and a sense of betrayal. The book provides a nuanced understanding of why people might vote against their apparent self-interest and argues for the possibility of mutual compassion and understanding between the right and the left.

This book, written by James M. Buchanan and Gordon Tullock, is a classic in the field of public choice theory and constitutional political economy. It introduces a model of constitutional decision making, focusing on the choice of rules that govern political activities. The authors use economic methods and contractual constitutionalism to address the problem of democratic justification, exploring how individuals might consent to institutional rules that benefit everyone. The book is significant for its analysis of constitutional choice, logrolling, and political exchange, and it has had a lasting impact on the fields of economics and political science.