Social Science Research Council

A cornerstone of the Obama campaign was a call for national unity and renewal of public spirit: “Yes we can!” Yet this comes after an era of intensified inequality, amid a sharp financial crisis and growing unemployment, and during polarizing international conflicts. What early policies can President Obama pursue that will in fact renew social [...]

The Social Science Research Council congratulates Paul Krugman for winning the 2008 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics. Krugman’s seminal papers on international trade and the economics of location are of pivotal importance.
The SSRC is grateful for Paul Krugman’s leadership in its Applied Economics Program (1998–2005), his participation in summer workshops for PhD students, and his [...]

What do we know about bailouts from previous experience and existing theory? How can this inform the current public discussion of government actions in the US and other countries?
Elaboration: The US government has acted in recent days to rescue some enormous firms (but not others) and to try to stabilize volatile financial markets and is [...]

In this special double edition of Societas (40 minutes long), Craig Calhoun addresses the current financial meltdown and says that it provides an opportunity to assess the kind of society we live in—if we are not led into a conversation only about how to “keep what’s mine,” or into a conversation solely about technical remedies by economists. Calhoun goes on to trace a trend of privatization and inarticulateness about the public good and the legitimate purposes of government. Finally, he hopes that McCain and Obama will use this occasion to flesh out their competing visions of appropriate government action and public service.

Read the complete transcript of this episode (PDF, 136 KB)

 

 Societas #6 - Sept. 26, 2008 [39:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I’d like to extend to Cora B. Marrett my enthusiastic congratulations, as well as the congratulations of everyone here at the Social Science Research Council, for the honor of the American Sociological Association’s (ASA) prestigious Cox-Johnson-Frazier Award.

Both democracy and social science depend on open public communication. Sadly, Egypt’s government–or at least factions in that government–have declared themselves hostile to such openness. By launching a new attack on Saad Eddin Ibrahim, one of Egypt’s most distinguished social scientists and a leading advocate for democracy, these leaders have sought to deprive Egyptian citizens of both democracy and scientific knowledge.

The Iraq War, Abu Ghraib—Craig Calhoun says that such topics continue to surface in conversations he has had with people he encountered during his recent sojourns to Morocco, Brazil and various European countries. But most of the people he met seem to realize the difference between the American people and the current U.S. government. Despite his sense that the Bush administration has hastened the decline of the United States as a superpower, many non-Americans are hopeful about the upcoming election. He therefore speculates that anti-Americanism, while widespread, is not irreparable.

 

 Societas #5 - Aug. 1, 2008 [18:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Craig Calhoun continues his analysis of supposedly irrational factors at play in electoral politics. This time they focus on charisma: to what extent is Barack Obama’s unique mix of political passion and a cool demeanor the source of his political appeal? Referring to Max Weber’s model of charismatic leadership, Calhoun notes that Obama has the gift of making us see him as someone who stands outside the traditional structures of government—and who can therefore help Americans break the “iron cage” of bureaucracy, politics-as-usual, and prevailing social roles.

 

 Societas #4 - July 2, 2008 [20:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Charles Tilly passed away last week. He was among the most distinguished of contemporary social scientists. Indeed, the SSRC had just awarded Tilly its highest honor, the Albert O. Hirschman Prize. Like Hirschman, however, Tilly was not only distinguished but distinctive. He had a voice of his own….

Editor’s Note: This essay tribute originally appeared in the SSRC’s collection of “Tributes to Charles Tilly.”

Craig Calhoun focuses on the separation of church and state, this time with reference to religion scholar Mark Lilla’s new book on secularism, The Stillborn God. Calhoun goes on to discuss the Christian worldview that underpins American politics. He concludes by considering whether broad and energetic support for Obama constitutes a social movement. For more on American religion and politics, go to the SSRC blog The Immanent Frame, especially its extended discussion of Lilla’s book.

 

 Societas #3: March 6, 2008 [14:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download