Sociologists have often been accused of being the bearers of bad tidings. Their statistics on crime, family change, poverty, and global economic trends sometimes leave the impression that huge, impersonal, and irreversible forces are at work in America and the world.
Now, 28 leading American sociologists give practical prescriptions for a more perfect world, based on solid social science research. In the current issue of Contemporary Sociology (an official journal of the American Sociological Association), scientists tackle our most pressing social problems-genocide, murder, homelessness, discrimination, poverty, and health care. They grade our most cherished institutions-families, communities, schools, workplaces, and democracy itself-and suggest changes for a better world.
National experts like Anthony Oberschall (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) suggest that shared sovereignty orchestrated by the United Nations might help to head off ethnic conflict and genocide. Jennifer Glass (University of Iowa) suggests that only when fathers as well as mothers are expected and required to take time with young children, will women gain equality and children develop optimally. Talmadge Wright (Loyola University, Chicago) suggests that attacking homelessness by building shelters is doomed to failure.
According to co-editors Barbara Risman and Donald Tomaskovic-Devey, these essays break new ground by asking "what is socially possible, not just what is politically probable." These essays provide an antidote to the cynicism and lowered expectations of today's political scene. They give the best expert advice available about what our global society could become if bureaucrats and political leaders would use research, rather than polls, to create policy.
The price for the special issue is $10 to American Sociological Association (ASA) members, $20 to non-member individuals, and $25 for institutions. Orders for individual copies of the special January 2000 issue must be prepaid and should be sent to: ASA Publications, 1307 New York Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005-4701. Credit card orders may be phoned in to (202) 383-9005 x389.