The Global Sociology Blog

Two items that landed in my RSS feeds allow me to examine the differences between the processes of humanization and individualization. First, via Elizabeth Pisani, the Canadian NGO Stepping Stones has launched a media campaign to humanize sex workers: It is a common problem for stigmatized categories that they are often reduced to the stigmatized [...]

Dave Zirin: “Over the decades that have marked the tenure of Egypt’s “President for Life” Hosni Mubarak, there has been one consistent nexus for anger, organization, and practical experience in the ancient art of street fighting: the country’s soccer clubs. Over the past week, the most organized, militant fan clubs, also known as the “ultras,” [...]

It’s been a while, but here’s the first single, White Knuckle Ride… but like a lot of die-hard Jamiroquai fans, I am disappointed by this latest album. JK needs a better producer. At least, WKR rocks:

This whole mess might actually have one positive side-effect: “That sort of statement is enough to give Piven great concern. “I am teaching a new class soon and I don’t know who is going to be in there,” she said. However, at the same time she is excited. Beck’s attention has given her a sudden [...]

Seriously, guys, the more I think about it, the more this movie seems incredibly prescient to me: This is only the first part, you can catch the rest on YT. This is one of my favorite films of all time. If you have not seen it, then do so NOW.

I offer this as evidence: “Amid great secrecy, about 200 of America’s wealthiest and most powerful individuals from the worlds of finance, big business and rightwing politics are expected to come together on Sunday in the sun-drenched California desert near Palm Springs for what has been billed as a gathering of the billionaires. They will [...]

Two English-language blogs have gotten my attention. First, Michael Burawoy, the Godfather of Public Sociology, now President of the International Sociological Association, has created a blog (well in line with the public sociology project, while his main critic, Matthieu Deflem has created a course on Lady Gaga… compare, contrast… you be the judge): Universities in [...]

In-group / out-group!

What strikes me between these two items: – couple stoned to death in Pakistan (video at the link) – woman flogged in Sudan is how much the male participants, those inflicting pain seem to be enjoying themselves. For all the talk of Shariah Law being ultra puritan and repressive, there is a great deal of [...]

See that little badge on the right? That is my small contribution to supporting our former ASA president and colleague Frances Fox Piven against attacks from some overpaid, deranged TV / radio personality and his poo-flinging monkeys. I’m not linking to them. Instead, I invite you to read a good article about this over at [...]

Since Despicable Me was shamefully ignored in the Academy Awards nominations, I decided to dedicate a post to it, putting together a few thoughts I had while reading Richard Sennett’s The Craftsman. In the book, Sennett describes craftsmanship as such (Kindle edition): “Craftsmanship names an enduring, basic human impulse, the desire to do a job [...]

In the Social Europe Journal, Zygmunt Bauman argues that military technology has shifted power and responsibility away from the axmen to the axes: “By the start to the 21st century, military technology has managed to float and so “depersonalise” responsibility to the extent unimaginable in Orwell’s or Arendt’s time. “Smart”, “intelligent” missiles or the “drones” [...]

Nothing is worse for women and girls than the combination of religious fundamentalism, patriarchy and poverty. Case in point: “Parvatamma is a devadasi, or servant of god, as shown by the red-and-white beaded necklace around her neck. Dedicated to the goddess Yellamma when she was 10 at the temple in Saundatti, southern India, she cannot [...]

Via Alternatives Economiques: Also, this: The graph above means that, in Denmark, inequalities are reduced by roughly 39% through taxes and other redistribution mechanisms. So, we can see the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of tax and redistribution policies on inequalities.

I am always especially happy to find socbloggers outside of the Western hemisphere. So, without further ado… Sociologia do Absurdo via kwout By Brazilian socblogger Carlos Augusto Magalhães Teixeira. And lookie here, already a good film recommendation. As always, update your bookmarks and RSS feeds or follow Carlos on Twitter.