New Books in Sociology

Jason A. Higgins, a historian and Digital Scholarship Coordinator at Virginia Tech Publishing, explores the profound ties between military service and mass incarceration in his groundbreaking work. He unveils eye-opening oral histories of veterans who became entangled in the criminal justice system post-service. Highlighting the impacts of government policies rooted in racism and patriarchal values, he discusses the rise of Veterans Treatment Courts and the importance of acknowledging veterans' complex realities. His research also emphasizes the need for thoughtful commemoration on Veterans Day.

Michelle C. Smith, an author and scholar of rhetoric and gender studies, explores women's labor in 19th-century intentional communities. She highlights the unique dynamics at Brook Farm, Harmony Society, and Oneida Community, discussing how these spaces addressed the value of women's work amidst industrialization. Smith challenges conventional notions of 'failure' in utopian communities and reveals their lasting impact on labor practices, childcare, and birth control. She also previews her upcoming research on the myths surrounding Rosie the Riveter, aiming to reshape historical narratives.

Christopher Ali, an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia, dives into the challenges of rural broadband in America. He highlights the urban-rural digital divide and critiques current policies favoring big telecom companies over local providers. Ali suggests a model for rural broadband based on historical electrification efforts, advocating for democratic, community-driven solutions. He also discusses the implications of broadband on economic growth, education, and the shift toward seeing internet access as a potential human right.

Join Patrick Eisenlohr, an expert in sonic practices and ethnography, and Birgit Abels, an anthropologist with deep ties to Pacific cultures, as they dive into the concept of atmospheric knowledge. They explore how nonverbal and sonic experiences shape our connection to places. The duo discusses the significance of latency in understanding atmospheres, the role of sound in oceanic belonging, and how music serves as a medium for indigenous wisdom. Their insights bridge phenomenology, environment, and the emotive power of atmospheres.

Our Primary Expertise argues counter to the longstanding trend in the field by seeing religion as mundane and not unique, which means that the field's research and teaching can have relevance all across human culture, and well beyond academia. Russell McCutcheon offers a timely argument by taking seriously threats to the humanities now happening all across higher education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Christopher T. Nelson, an anthropologist and author, dives into the haunting effects of war memory and sacrifice in Okinawa. He explores how local Okinawans are intertwined with the legacies of colonialism and military occupation. Nelson discusses the complexities of life and death through Okinawan concepts like inochi and mabui. Artistic representations and community practices highlight the ongoing struggle for identity and historical remembrance. He shares insights into the ethical implications of his research and the powerful voices of those affected by past traumas.

Claudia Gastrow, an anthropologist and assistant professor at North Carolina State University, delves into the urban transformation of Luanda, Angola, after the civil war. She discusses how the post-war rebuilding efforts, fueled by oil wealth, often neglected the intrinsic value of informal neighborhoods, or musseques. Gastrow highlights the aesthetic dissent that emerged in response to government designs, framing local urbanism as a form of political critique. As she reflects on the impact of halted development projects, she raises questions about the future of these communities.

Tamar Mitts is an Associate Professor at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, specializing in online extremism. She discusses the urgent challenge of content moderation in combating hate online. Mitts reveals how varying platform standards create safe havens for extremist groups like the Islamic State and QAnon. She explains the tactics these groups use to evade bans and choose platforms strategically, such as Telegram. Mitts also explores the implications of centralized moderation efforts and the risks of losing free speech in the fight against extremism.

Pablo Meninato, an Associate Professor at Temple University, explores informal settlements in Latin America through his insights on urban architecture and social change. He discusses innovative initiatives like Rio's Favela-Bairro program and Medellín's phased Social Urbanism strategy, emphasizing community involvement and cultural sensitivity. Meninato also addresses the challenges of violence and maintenance post-intervention, along with the importance of tenure security. His work illustrates how thoughtful urban design can transform marginalized areas while respecting existing cultures.

What does it mean to be a political subject? This is one of the key questions asked by Massimo Modonesi in ​The Antagonistic Principle: Marxism and Political Action (2019)​, published as part of the Historical Materialism book series from Brill and Haymarket books. The book takes on the theories of Marx and Gramsci to develop a philosophical triad of subalternity-antagonism-autonomy as a way of studying political subjectification under oppressive conditions and the potential for resistance. The book then looks at political developments in South and Latin America, trying to understand the underlying dynamics of both where it’s coming from, and what its possibilities are for anticapitalist resistance.Massimo Modonesi is professor and chair of the Political and Social Sciences Faculty at the Autonomous National University in Mexico, and is the author of numerous books on political theory and history in Latin America, his most recent in English being ​Subalternity, Antagonism, Autonomy: Constructing the Political Subject.​ He is a member of the coordinating committee of the International Gramsci Society.Maria Vignau served as a research assistant under Modonesi, and now teaches while working on her PhD at the University of Washington in Seattle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology