Books & ideas

In the Land of Voluntarism

Nicolas Duvoux — 2012-04-19T16:46:21Z

In Made in America, sociologist Claude S. Fischer develops the idea that voluntarism, not individualism, is the key feature to describe social ties in America and that this notion of voluntarism best helps us understand what makes America exceptional among other Western societies.

When Trust is Lost

Ben Bradford & Jonathan Jackson — 2011-11-08T14:00:00Z

Are rioters different from the rest of the British people when it comes to their relationship with the police? Public debates have answered in the affirmative, and demanded more aggressive policing styles. But Bradford and Jackson argue that trust in the police might be as important in explaining rioting as it is in explaining compliance.

The Transformation of Heartland America: a Success Story?

Peter Simons — 2011-06-17T10:16:13Z

When it is not considered as the heartland of conservatism, Middle America is looked down on as backward and regressive. Sociologist Robert Wuthnow challenges this narrative of decline by looking at innovative local communities and stressing their impressive adaptability. But one can regret that he does not consider that alternative paths could have been taken.