Global social challenges
There are multiple interlocking crises currently gripping the planet. Significant threats and dangers lie ahead of us, but so do opportunities, as new ways of being, thinking, and doing emerge.
This stream of Transforming Society is a space for exploring the complexities of the global social challenges across disciplines and fields. It seeks to build and share the knowledge needed to shape a fairer world, across and for the global south and north, hoping to foster dialogue between academics, practitioners, policy makers and the wider public.
Farhang Morady, author of ‘Contemporary Iran: Politics, Economy, Religion’, outlines the cumulative economic effects of sanctions, COVID-19 and government mismanagement on an already shattered economy, but draws hope from the imminent US elections and from regime change in Iran.…Read more
Vicki Dabrowski, author of 'Austerity, Women and the Role of the State', calls out the toxic narrative of blame on women and minority groups to deny the need for social provision in times of COVID-19 and austerity.…Read more
Launching the paperback of 'Borders, Migration and Class in an Age of Crisis', Tom Vickers charts UK COVID-19 policy as evidence of capitalist exploitation of migrant workers and vulnerable groups, but sees the potential for a positive mobilisation of society and new alliances.…Read more
Lindsey German, contributor to 'Social Work and the COVID-19 Pandemic: International Insights', explains why, when we talk about how work and society should change post COVID-19, we must put the role of women and work at the centre of our analysis.…Read more
Launching the new Rapid Response title ‘COVID-19 in the Global South’ - available to download free Open Access - Pádraig Carmody, Gerry McCann, Clodagh Colleran and Ciara O’Halloran explore some of the key issues that have arisen in the Global South with the COVID-19 pandemic.…Read more
Philippe Bihouix outlines how a low-tech alternative exists to our society hell-bent on extraction, production and consumption, and how we must reinvent our modes of production to build a more resilient, equitable and sustainable society.…Read more
Launching his new book ‘Cities and Communities beyond COVID-19’, Robin Hambleton calls for a harnessing of the response shown by local communities during the pandemic, in line with the theme of UN World Cities Day 2020.…Read more
Reporting on the research behind their new book 'Beer and Racism: How Beer Became White, Why It Matters, and the Movements to Change It', Nathaniel G. Chapman and David L. Brunsma join the new narrative challenging the entrenched whiteness of craft beer in the US.…Read more
Anna Wienhues, author of 'Ecological Justice and the Extinction Crisis' explains ecological justice, and asks, why does it matter today?…Read more
Matthew Flinders considers how populist politicians exploit our collective doubt and anguish in this age of anger and looks at how feelings trump facts.…Read more