Seungsook Moon, a sociology professor at Vassar College and expert on South Korea, discusses her latest book on civic activism and neoliberalism. She illuminates how citizens' organizations emerged from a democratization movement and tackle socioeconomic challenges. The conversation examines the interplay between civic activism and state governance, highlighting the evolution from top-down to collaborative power dynamics. Moon also explores the role of local feminist organizations and the impact of neoliberal policies on women's employment, underscoring the complexities of promoting democratic ideals in a shifting landscape.

Debra J. Davidson, a professor of environmental sociology at the University of Alberta, explores how our emotions drive our responses to the climate crisis. She uncovers the power of empathy in fostering collective action while addressing social divides. Davidson challenges entrenched systems of capitalism and patriarchy, advocating for awareness to inspire change. The discussion emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate impacts and the benefits of democratic governance over authoritarianism, highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives in climate action.

Alisse Waterston, a Presidential Scholar and Professor Emerita at John Jay College, discusses her poignant book, 'My Father's Wars.' She reflects on her father's migration across continents shaped by war, weaving personal narrative with anthropology. The conversation highlights the fusion of storytelling and introspective ethnography, exploring identity through change and the emotional complexities of family histories. Waterston also emphasizes innovative multimedia approaches to enhance ethnographic writing, illustrating how personal experiences can challenge traditional academia.

Gabriella Coleman, a Harvard anthropologist and expert on hacker cultures, joins Paula Bialski, a digital sociology professor, to discuss the evolution and ethics of hacking. They explore the changing identities of hackers, from 'white hats' to 'black hats,' and how aesthetics in coding can provoke moral outrage. The conversation highlights the professionalization of hacking and the tensions between quality and speed in software development. Coleman also hints at founding a new field of Critical Mold Studies—an intriguing twist on traditional academic disciplines!

In this engaging discussion, Carola Lorea, an expert in global religion, and Rosalind Hackett, a prominent figure in religious studies, delve into the concept of 'religious sounds.' They explore how sounds shape communities and identities beyond the Global North, emphasizing the significance of sonic experiences. The duo advocates for a 'sonic turn' in religious studies, challenging Eurocentric narratives and promoting diverse cultural perspectives. They also highlight women's contributions to electronic music and the spiritual connections within this genre, calling for greater recognition and inclusivity.

Yuca Meubrink, a social scientist and researcher at the Berlin Brandenburg Academy, dives into the nuanced impacts of inclusionary housing in London and New York City. He critiques the controversial 'poor door' practice, where affordable units are segregated from wealthier ones, revealing how these policies often exacerbate gentrification rather than alleviate it. Meubrink explores the complexities of urban policies and their failure to address true social equity, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to reform housing strategies.

Zai Liang, a sociology professor at SUNY Albany and author of "From Chinatown to Every Town," delves into the fascinating evolution of Chinese immigration in America, particularly its impact on the restaurant industry. He discusses the shift from traditional Chinatowns to new immigrant destinations, driven by employment agencies and innovative transportation like Chinatown buses. Liang also highlights the cultural exchange between Chinese entrepreneurs and mainstream businesses, and the vital community ties that persist despite geographic changes.

Dr. Arvid J. Lukauskas, a political economy expert at Columbia University, and Dr. Yumiko Shimabukuro expose the overlooked social tragedies in East Asia's economic landscape. They dive into pressing issues like elderly poverty, emphasizing a shocking 40% poverty rate among seniors in South Korea. The guests challenge conventional success narratives by discussing inadequate labor policies and low wages, while shedding light on alarming child abuse rates and housing crises. Their multidisciplinary approach advocates for a deeper understanding of social welfare amidst economic growth.

Antonio A. Casilli, a sociology professor at the Institute Polytechnique de Paris, delves into the overlooked human labor powering AI technologies. He argues that rather than robots stealing jobs, it's humans taking on increasingly menial roles in digital labor. Casilli sheds light on the exploitation of underpaid workers, particularly from the Global South, whose efforts keep algorithms functioning. He emphasizes the urgent need for recognizing these contributions and rethinking labor rights in the gig economy. His insights reveal the delicate balance between automation and human value in today's workforce.

In An Archive of Possibilities: Healing and Repair in Democratic Republic of Congo (Duke UP, 2024), anthropologist and surgeon Rachel Marie Niehuus explores possibilities of healing and repair in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo against a backdrop of 250 years of Black displacement, enslavement, death, and chronic war. Niehuus argues that in a context in which violence characterizes everyday life, Congolese have developed innovative and imaginative ways to live amid and mend from repetitive harm. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and the Black critical theory of Achille Mbembe, Christina Sharpe, Alexis Pauline Gumbs and others, Niehuus explores the renegotiation of relationships with land as a form of public healing, the affective experience of living in insecurity, the hospital as a site for the socialization of pain, the possibility of necropolitical healing, and the uses of prophesy to create collective futures. By considering the radical nature of cohabitating with violence, Niehuus demonstrates that Congolese practices of healing imagine and articulate alternative ways of living in a global regime of antiblackness.Rachel Marie Niehuus is an anthropologist and a surgeon currently on faculty in the Department of Surgery at University of North Carolina. Her next project continues this study of world-making through an analysis of the role of medicine in what might come after the world of Man.Atalia Israeli-Nevo is an anthropology PhD student at the University of Texas at Austin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology