China took a lot of heat for its handling of the Coronavirus outbreak —being slow to acknowledge its existence, minimizing the risk it posed to public health, and suppressing information all to avoid embarrassing the ruling party. These are actions we would expect from an authoritarian government like China’s. Contrast that with the response of […]
Can democracy survive when large segments of the population no longer have faith in it? And what happens if one of the two major political parties actively works to undermine that faith as a strategy to achieve their political goals? Is this where we now find ourselves? One of my favorite programs for news and […]
www.nytimes.com/2019/10/19/business/economy/workers-strike-economy.html
One of my favorite podcasts is the “Hidden Brain” (it’s also a show heard on National Public Radio). It’s not only extremely well-produced but it’s a good example of how social science can shed light on important issues. As a public sociologist I respect host Shankar Vedantam‘s effort to bring social science to a wider […]
Here is the district map for the state House of Representatives in place since 2012. There are 118 Illinois House Districts in all. On the eve of the 2018 General election, 67 of these seats were held by Democrats and 51 held by Republicans. Most of the Town of Normal and all of Illinois State […]
Here are four segments this week from National Public Radio that struck me as particularly relevant to some of the topics we are discussing in my courses. Why More Men Don’t Get Into The Field Of Nursing Story illustrating the power of gender roles and gender as a social institution. New Book Looks At Why […]
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Here are some videos I’ve compiled on the topic of political beliefs and ideology in the United States. Given our politically divided times, this seemed like a relevant theme to explore. The goal of the playlist is to give some historical context, highlight key philosophical and moral differences, and show how liberalism and conservatism relate […]
Next week four thousand ISU students wearing long gowns and funny hats will walk across a stage and receive an empty red diploma cover in a ritual marking the end of a successful college career. The mood at the various commencement ceremonies on campus is festive. At the one I participate in each year as […]
Here is an episode from The Hidden Brain, of one of my favorite radio programs that uses social science and storytelling to explain the hidden patterns behind our behavior and beliefs (it’s also a podcast). In this segment the host explores the role unconscious racial bias might play in recent police shootings of unarmed black […]