Interrogating the Global Social Challenges

1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-5292-5272-9
Verlag: Bristol University Press

Buch, Englisch, 224 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

How can sociological thinking help us make sense of today’s biggest global challenges?

In what is understood as ‘an age of crisis’, headlines are dominated by topic such as climate change, migration, radicalisation and inequality. These topics are core to sociology, yet sociological insights are drowned out in public debate frequently dominated by technological optimism, economic rhetoric or polarising politics.

This accessibly written textbook centres the sociological voice. It demonstrates how evidence-based, critical perspectives can illuminate the causes, interconnections and possible solutions to some of the most urgent issues of our time.

Each chapter is crafted to support students new to sociology, guiding them to think critically and make connections between complex global problems. Key pedagogical features include:

• Clear statements of key messages at the start of each chapter;

• Bold-highlighted definitions of sociological terms with minimal jargon;

• ‘Focus point’ boxes with data, case studies or visual insights;

• Suggested sources for further exploration, including videos and online media.

Essential reading for undergraduate students and anyone working in policy, advocacy or social change—offering the tools to think critically, act thoughtfully and engage with today’s most pressing global challenges.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Gillan, Kevin

May, Vanessa

Weitere Mitwirkende

Nimmo, Richie

Holmes, Helen

Pieri, Elisa

Cernušáková, Barbora

Bhallamudi, Isha

Byrne, Bridget

O’Neill, Siobhan

Hannell, Briony

Buffel, Tine

Phillipson, Chris

Doran, Patty

Pilkington, Hilary

Tinsley, Meghan

Bunting, Josie

Simola, Anna

Wrede, Sirpa

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Foreword - Gary Younge

Part 1: Setting the Scene

1. Making Sense of Global Social Challenges - Kevin Gillan and Vanessa May

2. Decolonisation - Meghan Tinsley

Part 2: Trends and Challenges

3. Economic Inequalities - Kevin Gillan

4. Climate, Ecology and Solidarity - Richie Nimmo

5. The Global Waste Crisis - Helen Holmes

6. The Next Pandemic - Elisa Pieri

7. Technology and Labour - Barbora Cernušáková and Isha Bhallamudi

Part 3: Rethinking Social Categories

8. Racialised Injustice - Bridget Byrne and Siobhan O’Neill

9. Gender and Anti-Gender - Briony Hannell

10. Seeing Migration Differently - Vanessa May, Anna Simola and Sirpa Wrede

11. Rethinking Ageing in a Global World - Patty Doran, Tine Buffel and Chris Phillipson

12. Radicalisation - Hilary Pilkington

Part 4: Ways Forward

13. Social Movements and Social Change - Josie Bunting

14. Conclusions: Social Responses to Global Challenges - Kevin Gillan and Vanessa May

Über Autor(innen)

Buffel, Tine
Tine Buffel is Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology at the University of Manchester and Director of the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group (MUARG).

May, Vanessa
Vanessa May is Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester and a member of the Morgan Centre for Research into Everyday Lives.

Gillan, Kevin
Kevin Gillan is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manchester.

Byrne, Bridget
Bridget Byrne is Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester, UK and Director of the ESRC research Centre on Dynamics of Ethnicity (CoDE).

Phillipson, Chris
Chris Phillipson is Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Manchester. He has published a number of general books in the field of ageing as well a number of papers on age-friendly issues.

Doran, Patty
Patty Doran is Research Fellow at the University of Manchester and Deputy Director of the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group (MUARG).

Kevin Gillan is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manchester.

Vanessa May is Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester and a member of the Morgan Centre for Research into Everyday Lives.