Social problems 06/07 / editor, Kurt Finsterbusch.

Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction, the nature of social problems and general critiques of American society: Social problems, definitions, theories, and analysis / H.A. Widdison and H.R. Delaney; Fragmentation of social life / D.S. Eitzen; How to re-moralize America / F. Fukuyama -- Problems of the political economy: Who rules America? / G.W. Domhoff; Sugar daddies / J.L. Steorts; Rights, liberties, and security, recalibrating the balance after September 11 / S. Taylor Jr.; Places where the system broke down / J. Carney; Evaluating economic change / J.E. Stiglitz; America isn't ready / G. Colvin; Born to buy / J. Schor; Will great cities survive / J. Kotkin; Longest journey / from Economist -- Problems of poverty and inequality: Rich and the rest / S. Pizzigati; Vanishing middle class / G. Witte; Understanding welfare reform / S. Winship and C. Jencks; Shame in our own house / G. McDougall; Why we hate / M. Monteith and J. Winters; Human rights, sex trafficking, and prostitution / A. Leuchtag; Family's value / J. Rauch; Reversing the "gender gap" / J. Wendland; Biology, destiny, and bad science / R.C. Barnett and C. Rivers -- Institutional problems: Can marriage be saved / F. Furstenberg; Overworked, time poor, and abandoned by Uncle Sam / J.C. Gornick; We're not in the mood / K. Deveny; Learning for ourselves / J.C. Jundt; Doctors vanish from view / K. Hobson -- Crime, violence, and law enforcement: Fighting crime / J.J. Donohue; Aggregate burden of crime / D.A. Anderson; America's most dangerous drug / D.J. Jefferson; Causes and consequences of wrongful convictions / H.A. Bedau; On patrol / E. Lehrer; EMP, America's Achilles' Heel / F.J. Gaffney, Jr.; Islamists' other weapon / P. Marshall; Inside the mind of an Iraqi suicide bomber / A. Ghosh -- Problems of population, environment, resources, and the future: Challenge of an aging society / R.D. Lamm and R.H. Blank; Pushing beyond the earth's limits / L.R. Brown; Future of humanity / C. Tudge; Secret nuclear war / E. Goncalves; Embracing today's global economy / J.A. Challenger; Community building, steps toward a good society / A. Etzioni; Understanding our moment in history / W. Van Dusen Wishard.

The articles presented [in this book] were selected for their attention to important issues, the value of the information and ideas they present, and/or their ability to move the reader to concern and possibly even action toward correcting social problems. This [book] begins ... by defining social problems and presenting a general critique of American society. [Then, the book] examines some big issues in the political and economic systems that have society-wide impacts. Next, [it] examines issues of inequality and injustice that challenge basic American values. [The book then] considers how well the various institutions of society work [and] studies the traditional problem of crime and law enforcement ... Finally [the book] focuses on the future and problems of population, environment, technology, globalization, community, and long-term change. -Pref.