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.
Ronaldo Munck, Matthew Johnson and Katy Jenkins introduce the latest special issue of Global Discourse offering new perspectives on development, and exploring the tensions and challenges embedded in the discipline. …Read more
John Lazarus introduces his guest-edited issue of Global Discourse on cooperation and social policy, and examines how the science of cooperation can be applied to societal issues such as refugee assistance and organ donation.…Read more
George Miller talks to Robert Gildea, Emeritus Professor of Modern History at Oxford University, about his new book, What is History For?, and why the past matters.…Read more
Marcos González Hernando and Gerry Mitchell, authors of 'Uncomfortably Off', discuss the impact of their book. By delving into the complex issue of the wealth divide, they shed light on how reducing income inequality could have far-reaching benefits, even for the top 10% of earners.…Read more
Kris Clarke shatters the Nordic myth of egalitarian, inclusive and progressive societies. As trust in the Finnish welfare state plummets, some social workers are at the forefront of reimagining what a caring society could be.…Read more
Racial justice is never far from the headlines, but, although the ideals of the legal system such as fairness and equality seem allied to the struggle, campaigners have been all too often let down by the system. In this episode Jess Miles and Bharat Malkani talk through cases like those of the Colston Four and Shamima Begum to explore this paradox and establish where change is possible.…Read more
Scott Timcke considers the impact of AI systems on democratic politics, as our lives become managed experiences optimised for efficient data extraction, and our social relations mediated by computer engineering.…Read more
Jeffrey Ian Ross explains why convict criminology, where incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals are given a voice, might change the status quo and improve the criminal justice system. …Read more
Sophia Seung-yoon Lee explains why South Korea is an important case study for examining ‘melting labour’ – the increasingly blurred lines between formal and informal roles in the jobs market.…Read more
Gerardo Arriaga reminds us that the Academics Stand Against Poverty manifesto audit will scrutinise parties’ policies on poverty, climate change and gender equality in the run up to the UK election.…Read more