Problem Society

Problem Society is an essential introduction to the many facets of divided societies. It examines the complexities of how and why ancient grievances and new conflicts coexist with unprecedented connectivity and develops students’ understanding of the daily lived experience of people in cultural, economic, and political landscapes affected by global shifts.

Structured around critical problems facing global societies in transition, it equips students with analytical tools to interpret the complex world around them. It provides a multidisciplinary exploration of the historical contexts of nation-state building and the politics of divided nations and illuminates the geopolitical upheavals of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Illustrated by diverse case studies and vignettes, it takes readers on a chapter-by-chapter journey through key topics including balancing interests and needs at different societal levels, from the global to local; shifts in the tension between individualism and collectivism; obstacles to problem-solving and decision-making; causes of, and ways of managing and resolving, conflict; the challenge of ensuring effective, accountable, and transparent governance; peacekeeping forms and the ethical and political dilemmas they entail; establishing and verifying truth in an era of misinformation; and balancing privacy and security amid widespread surveillance.

Borne from the authors’ extensive experience of teaching and collaborating with students to bridge theory, concepts, and issues with their real-world experience, pedagogical features include definitions of key concepts, activities, reflection questions, further reading, as well as carefully curated suggestions for films and docuseries, to deepen students’ understanding of contemporary international politics.

Problem Society is an engaging introduction to the intricate dynamics of a rapidly changing, interconnected world for students of sociology, politics, international relations, human geography, anthropology, area studies, and conflict resolution.