New Books in Sociology

In this insightful discussion, award-winning journalist Claudia Rowe delves into the complexities of the American foster care system, drawing on her book, Wards of the State. She highlights the harrowing stories of six former foster youth and the systemic failures that lead many into the criminal justice system. Rowe shares personal motivations for her work and underscores the urgent need for reform, addressing societal misconceptions and the challenges faced by vulnerable children. Inspiring tales of resilience illustrate the fight for a better future in child welfare.

Diana Graizbord, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Georgia, discusses her new book on the interplay of democracy and evaluation expertise in Mexico. She delves into how institutions like Coneval aim to ensure accountability but often grapple with complex political realities. The conversation touches on the emergence of 'techno-democracy' and the significance of citizen involvement in shaping policies. Graizbord also examines how political transitions influence the effectiveness of evaluation processes and the broader implications for democracy in the Global South.

Nat Dyer, a writer and researcher specializing in global political economy, delves into the legacy of David Ricardo, a key figure in economic theory. He highlights how Ricardo's abstract models have obscured real-world issues like power and inequality. The conversation critiques the simplistic assumptions of modern economic theories and discusses the socio-economic consequences of globalization and colonialism. Dyer also emphasizes the limitations of historical economic models in addressing pressing challenges, including climate change and societal well-being.

Tattoos are not merely decorative; they contain deep meaning for individuals and communities. They document their wearers' personal histories and position in families or society, and they engage with a communal understanding of symbols.Stories on Skin: A Librarian's Guide to Tattoos as Personal Archives (Bloomsbury, 2025) by Terry Baxter & Libby Coyner-Tsosie makes the case that archivists who want to preserve as full a human story as possible must recognize the rich documentation provided by tattoos. It also argues, in a broader sense, that traditional archives are not representative of the ways human beings transmit information through time and that they must be augmented by other types of storytelling to provide a more complete record of our species.Baxter and Coyner-Tsosie touch on timely topics such as historical narratives, storytelling, cultural traditions, the body as a text, social control, and memorialization by considering tattoos as a personal and community archive. Discussing tattoos as a storytelling tool, the authors also challenge how history is kept and who gets included. Stories on Skin is committed to the rights of communities to tell their stories in their own way and to the power that right brings. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey speaks with Stephen Hanson and Jeffrey Kopstein, co-authors of The Assault on the State: How the Global Attack on Modern Government Endangers Our Future (Polity Press, 2024). In this conversation, they discuss how today’s right-wing movements, from the United States to Hungary, are waging a new form of politics that undermines the very foundations of the modern, rules-based state. Drawing on Max Weber’s concept of “patrimonialism,” Hanson and Kopstein explore how these leaders erode public trust, demolish impersonal bureaucracies, and replace rational governance with personal loyalty and whim. Along the way, they examine the role of conspiracy theories, the rise of “deep state” narratives, and the uneasy alliances connecting libertarians, Christian nationalists, and advocates of an all-powerful executive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Elia Cornelio Marí, an Assistant Professor specializing in television and audience studies, shares her insights on the evolving landscape of streaming media. She discusses the significance of melodrama in Netflix’s strategy for Latin American audiences. The conversation dives into how translation impacts viewer perceptions in Mexico and Italy. Elia also explores the concept of cultural proximity, explaining why some series resonate more than others across different cultures. Dubbing vs. subtitling is examined, revealing how these choices affect cultural identity and media reception.

Why are young men leaning right while young women shift left? Hosts Nina dos Santos and Owen Bennett-Jones speak with NYU’s Scott Galloway, political analyst Sophie Stowers, and commentator Oliver Dean to explore the forces behind this growing divide.Whether it’s a broken social contract where young people no longer believe they will lead better, more prosperous lives than their parents or the work of algorithms that feed off rage and division, the implications are profound.This podcast was recorded live at NYU London, in front of an audience of students who are part of a generation searching for increasingly radical solutions to fix society.GuestsScott Galloway is a Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern School of Business where he teaches Brand Strategy and Digital Marketing to second-year MBA students. He is also a Bestselling author, professor and entrepreneur.Sophie Stowers - A Research Associate at UK in a Changing Europe. Her background is in British and European politics, and her research focuses on UK-EU relations, British politics and parties, and public opinion. She previously worked as a Parliamentary Assistant.Oliver Dean a political commentator with Young Voices UK. He studies History and Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science where he is the Treasurer of the LSE Hayek Society.Producer: Pearse LynchExecutive Producer: Lucinda Knight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Randy Laist, a Professor of English at the University of Bridgeport, and Brian A. Dixon dive into the intriguing aspects of freedom in their latest work, exploring its representations in contemporary society. They discuss the shifting concepts of liberty versus individual freedom, and how popular culture mirrors these changes. With a focus on reality TV and its paradox of surveillance, the duo challenges listeners to reconsider their definitions of freedom amid the rise of authoritarianism and social movements like Black Lives Matter.

In The Grammar of Time: A Toolbox for Comparative Historical Analysis (Cambridge UP, 2023), political scientist Marcus Kreuzer synthesises the different strands and traditions of Comparative Historical Analysis to show how interpretive and positivist research designs might complement rather than compete with one another. Like the contents of the book, our discussion on this episode of New Books in Interpretive Political and Social Science is wide-ranging and lively, addressing topics like the many types of time, the meaning of its “grammar”, the importance of context, debates over transparency and replicability, and why pedagogy matters. Whether you are persuaded by Kreuzer’s advocacy for CHA or not, you will surely appreciate his enthusiasm to communicate about it, his deep knowledge of methodology and respect for its various traditions, and his concern to build (rather than burn) methodological bridges.Like this episode? Why not check out others in this special series on the political science channel of the New Books Network, including the previous episode, also from the Methods for Social Inquiry book series, with John Boswell and Jack Corbett talking about The Art and Craft of Comparison.Looking for something to read? Marcus recommends Arlie Hochschild’s Stolen Pride, Carol Kaesuk Yoon’s Naming Nature, and How the Heartland Went Red, by Stephanie Ternullo, whom Miranda Melcher has interviewed for the American Studies channel of our Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Katie Rose Hejtmanek, a cultural and psychological anthropologist, discusses her book on CrossFit's intersection with American Christianity. She delves into how CrossFit embodies themes of redemption and apocalyptic imagery, shaping its community culture. Hejtmanek highlights CrossFit's unique affiliate model that fosters personal empowerment while critiquing traditional fitness norms. She also addresses evolving hero archetypes, gender roles, and the impact of social media on women's health, linking these issues to broader American cultural narratives.