New Books in Sociology

Author Gary S. Cross discusses the history of free time and its evolution from leisure activities to modern time-wasting habits. He explores the societal expectations of increased free time with industrialization but the reality of limited and unsatisfying leisure time. The podcast covers the cultural, social, and economic factors influencing our perceptions of free time, from peasant festivals to digital distractions, revealing the roots of our obsession with work and productivity.

In Seeking a Future for the Past: Space, Power, and Heritage in a Chinese City (U Michigan Press, 2024), Philipp Demgenski examines the complexities and changing sociopolitical dynamics of urban renewal in contemporary China. Drawing on ten years of ethnographic fieldwork in the northeastern Chinese city of Qingdao, the book tells the story of the slow, fragmented, and contentious transformation of Dabaodao - an area in the city’s former colonial center - from a place of common homes occupied by the urban poor into a showcase of architectural heritage and site for tourism and consumption.The ethnography provides a nuanced account of the diverse experiences and views of a range of groups involved in shaping, and being shaped, by the urban renewal process - local residents, migrant workers, preservationists, planners, and government officials - foregrounding the voices and experiences of marginal groups, such as migrants in the city. Unpacking structural reasons for urban developmental impasses, it paints a nuanced local picture of urban governance and political practice in contemporary urban China. The book also weighs the positives and negatives of heritage preservation and scrutinizes the meanings and effects of “preservation” on diverse social actors. By zeroing in on the seemingly contradictory yet coexisting processes of urban stagnation and urban destruction, Seeking a Future for the Past reveals the multifaceted challenges that China faces in reforming its urbanization practices and, ultimately, in managing its urban future.Philipp Demgenski is Assistant Professor in Anthropology within the Department of Sociology at Zhejiang University, China, and a Senior Research Fellow at Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Germany. His research interests include intangible cultural heritage, the politics of space and place, memory, and urban redevelopment.Yadong Li is a PhD student in anthropology at Tulane University. His research interests lie at the intersection of the anthropology of state, the anthropology of time, hope studies, and post-structuralist philosophy. More details about his scholarship and research interests can be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Vaia Touna and Richard Newton discuss revisiting classical theorists in religious studies, challenging the norm of prioritizing the latest thinkers. They highlight the importance of reshaping academic paradigms and engaging with diverse scholarly material. The conversation emphasizes nuanced approaches to generating new questions and insights, exploring the relevance of classical theorists in religious studies and the significance of incorporating them into research.

Fumilayo Showers discusses 'Migrants Who Care: West Africans Working and Building Lives in U.S. Health Care'. She highlights how West African immigrants have become essential in the U.S. healthcare system. The podcast explores their migration journey, challenges, successes, and the role of immigrant social networks. It delves into the discrimination they face and the implications for both sending and receiving countries.

Exploring women's experiences of gender-based violence and harassment in Cambodia's construction industry, the podcast discusses the challenges faced by women workers, the disparity between regulations and working conditions, and the psychological and physical impacts of workplace violence. It also highlights the importance of addressing these issues through effective policies and interventions, emphasizing the need for quality research to drive awareness and action globally.

Ahmed M. Abozaid’s Undesired Revolution: The Arab Uprising in Egypt--A Three Level Analysis (Brill, 2023) introduces new non-Western perspectives on the Arab Uprisings, decentering and decolonizing International Relations, and Middle Eastern Studies. Drawing on over ten years of fieldwork, ethnography, over 250 interviews, and empirical research, it is one of the first books to evaluate the position of International Relations theorists towards studying the Arab Uprisings. It relies on local IR scholarship from the region, which is rarely considered. It provides a critical account of why democratic revolutions have failed, how counterrevolutions and authoritarianism have fortified, and why revolutions will once again experience a resurgence in this part of the world.Ibrahim Fawzy is a literary translator and academic based in Egypt. His interests include translation studies, Arabic literature, ecocriticism, and disability studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Author Arsalan Khan explores Pakistan's Tablighi movement, focusing on preaching, ethical worldviews, and challenging notions of Islam and secularism. The podcast delves into violence, religion, community formation, modernity, and family ties within Islamic communities, offering an insightful look into piety movements in South Asia.

Lorenza B. Fontana discusses indigenous rights and ethnic conflict in the Andes, exploring post-recognition dynamics and conflicts. The podcast covers recognition reforms' impact on intergroup competition, challenges of navigating indigenous recognition politics in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru, and struggles of Quechua migrant parents in accessing indigenous scholarships in Peru. It advocates for inclusive approaches to recognition policies for conflict resolution.

Author Bruce O'Neill discusses how Bucharest's subterranean world reflects urban gentrification, from repurposed metro stations to basement apartments, revealing the vertical dynamics of inequality shaping the middle class's place in the city.

Author Elliott Prasse-Freeman discusses grassroots activism and state violence in Myanmar post-coup. Topics include activism challenges, resistance at mining sites, political cartoons' role, Rohingya genocide complexities, and global biopolitics of violence. A deep dive into Myanmar's revolutionary dynamics.