New Books in Sociology

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

In this engaging discussion, Taylor N. Carlson, an associate professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis, delves into the dynamics of how information spreads in today's society. He explains that a significant portion of Americans now rely on peer-to-peer communication rather than traditional media for political insights. Carlson reveals the consequences of this shift, including increased bias and misinformation, leading to distorted democratic processes. He also explores the dual impact of social conversations on public attitudes, especially regarding critical issues like immigration and environmental policy.

Erica Borgstrom and Renske Visser dive into the multifaceted world of death, dying, and bereavement. Borgstrom, a medical anthropology professor, and Visser, a medical anthropologist with a focus on space and place, explore how social and political factors influence death experiences. They discuss the impact of government policies on mortality, the evolving landscape of hospice care, and the need for a more nuanced understanding of grief. Listeners will also gain insights into their future research projects and the importance of critical approaches to palliative care.

Naomi Hodgson, an expert in educational philosophy and parenting, and Stefan Ramaekers, who focuses on family policy, dive into the philosophical dimensions of raising children. They discuss how contemporary films can reshape our understanding of parenting, emphasizing its role beyond mere training. The pair critiques traditional parenting advice, highlighting moral complexities and the dangers of over-simplified strategies. They also reflect on the influence of digital media on modern parenting, suggesting that cinema can enhance our grasp of the existential facets of family life.

In this engaging discussion, Andrew Smith, a Professor of Sociology at the University of Glasgow and author of 'Class and the Uses of Poetry,' delves into the often-overlooked connection between poetry and class. He reveals how poetry can be exclusionary for working-class readers and shares insights from community reading groups that foster inclusivity. Smith emphasizes the need to appreciate poetry’s aesthetic value while critiquing existing cultural barriers. He also explores collaborative approaches to interpretation, highlighting the power of shared experiences in understanding poetic texts.

Casey Golomski, an associate professor at the University of New Hampshire, unpacks his enlightening book, 'God's Waiting Room'. He reveals the intriguing dynamics between older white residents and younger Black caregivers in a post-apartheid South African nursing home. The conversation dives into themes of racial reckoning, ageism, and the complexities of care in a historically charged environment. Golomski also discusses the impact of systemic inequalities on healthcare and the powerful stories that emerge from these intimate interactions.

Jing Xu, a research scientist at the University of Washington, dives into children's moral development in a Taiwanese village during martial law. She blends anthropology and psychology, revealing how children learn morality through peer interactions and disobedience. Xu discusses innovative methodologies that merge ethnography with machine learning to reinterpret historical fieldnotes. She emphasizes the importance of children's voices, highlighting their agency and the dynamics of play, all while challenging traditional narratives in sociocultural anthropology.

Why are women's friendships so deep yet so fragile? Friendship coach and educator Danielle Bayard Jackson unpacks the latest research about women's cooperation and communication, while sharing practical strategies to preserve and strengthen these relationships.Fighting for Our Friendships: The Science and Art of Conflict and Connection in Women's Relationships (Hachette, 2024) is one part textbook, one part handbook. Readers will not only learn what the latest research has to say about the mechanics of women's friendships, but they'll walk away with real-life solutions for the most common conflicts that arise in their platonic relationships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

How do Black women experience education in Britain?Within British educational research about Black students, gender distinctions have been largely absent, male-dominated or American-centric. Due to the lack of attention paid to Black female students, relatively little is known about how they understand and engage with the education system, or the influences which shape their long-term strategies and decision-making in order to gain educational 'success'.Babygirl, You've Got This! Experiences of Black Girls and Women in the English Education System (Bloomsbury, 2024) by Dr. April-Louise Pennant will illustrate the educational experiences and journeys of Black British women graduates and considers the influence of the intersections of race, gender, ethnicity, culture and social class on their educational journeys. Dr. Pennant uniquely documents the entire educational journey - from primary school to university - within both predominantly white (PW) and predominantly global majority (PGM) educational institutions in order to examine the various accessibility, financial and academic hurdles which face Black girls and women.The book combines theoretical frameworks such as Critical Race Theory, Bourdieu's Theory of Practice and Black Feminist epistemology, alongside the personal accounts of the author and a range of Black British women graduates. Through analysis of the strategies, choices and decisions made by Black British women in their educational journeys, the book ultimately provides insights into how to navigate the education system effectively, and provides alternatives to normalised understandings of educational 'success'.Find out more about Dr. April-Louise Pennant on her website!This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Bureaucratic Archaeology: State, Science and Past in Postcolonial India (Cambridge UP, 2022) presents a novel ethnographic examination of archaeological practice within postcolonial India, focusing on the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a site where scientific knowledge production intersects with state bureaucracy. Through granular analysis of ASI's quotidian operations, this monograph demonstrates how archaeological micro-practices materially influence the construction of political and religious identities, while simultaneously serving as empirical evidence in India's highest judicial proceedings.This unprecedented study illuminates the epistemological ecology of postcolonial knowledge production from within the bureaucratic apparatus itself. As the first book-length investigation of archaeological practice beyond the Euro-American tradition, it reveals how non-Western archaeological theory and methodology generate distinct forms of knowledge, thereby expanding our understanding of archaeology's role in postcolonial state formation.About the Author:Ashish Avikunthak is a distinguished scholar working at the intersection of archaeology, cultural anthropology, and avant-garde filmmaking. He is Professor of Film Media at the University of Rhode Island's Harrington School of Communication, where his research bridges theoretical and practical approaches to cultural production. His experimental films have been exhibited internationally at prestigious institutions including Tate Modern, Centre Georges Pompidou, and Pacific Film Archive, as well as major film festivals such as Rotterdam and Locarno.About the Host:Stuti Roy has recently completed her MPhil in Modern South Asian Studies at the University of Oxford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology