Sociology

Drawing on research for 'Cracking the Class Code', Lee Elliot Major and Anne-Marie Sim argue that success in elite workplaces is shaped not only by talent and hard work but also by hidden class-based cultural norms that influence who is seen as credible, authentic and deserving of advancement.…Read more

Independent Bookshop Week’s 20th anniversary highlights how bookshops like the Arnolfini Bookshop have evolved into vital cultural spaces that foster reading, creativity, community, and the exchange of ideas. #IDW26…Read more

On the eve of what FIFA bills as ‘the greatest show on earth’ – the 2026 World Cup hosted in North America – it’s worth pausing to ask how well it serves the interests of the fans of the planet’s biggest spectator sport.…Read more

Francesca Romana Ammaturo, author of 'The Politics of Pride Events', argues that Pride events have become vital spaces for LGBTQIA+ visibility and resistance worldwide, but growing political hostility and declining support make grassroots solidarity essential to their survival.…Read more

The article argues that rising inequality, scapegoating and misinformation are driving social division in the UK, but history shows societies can renew themselves by confronting structural problems rather than blaming vulnerable groups.…Read more

In this episode of the podcast, George Miller speaks to Madeleine Sumption, author of 'What is Immigration Policy for?'. They discuss why there is no single ‘right’ level of immigration, how the same evidence can lead to such different conclusions, and why attempts to control migration numbers so often fail.…Read more

Jonatan Leer and Stinne Gunder Strøm Krogager, authors of 'Food Porn', discuss how restaurants have long used sexualised imagery, staff roles, and nostalgic or ironic aesthetics to intertwine desire with dining, subtly reinforcing gendered power dynamics as part of the overall experience.…Read more

George Miller discusses the What Is It For? book series, inspired by Gauguin’s existential questions, arguing that in an age of global “polycrisis,” critically examining the purpose of institutions can help us imagine better alternatives, even if it cannot solve problems outright.…Read more

Gurminder K. Bhambra, editor of 'The Modern World After Colonialism', draws on Chinua Achebe’s insight to argue that dominant social-science narratives overlook colonial histories, and that re-centering empire is essential to rethinking modernity.…Read more

Simone da Silva Ribeiro Gomes, author of 'Latin American Activism and Routine Violence in the 21st Century', argues that across Latin America, activism is shaped not by isolated bursts of repression but by permanent, routine violence from both state and non-state actors, including paramilitaries and criminal organisations, which profoundly constrains collective action.…Read more