The Handbook of Social Problems provides a unique, broadly comparative perspective on the current state of social problems and deviance in a variety of societies around the world. George Ritzer, gathers a number of leading international sociologists and social theorists to examine the relationship between social problems and a society's level of development and affluence. The essays in this volume focus on four interrelated issues involved in the relationship between social problems and the level of development and affluence:
· Less developed and less affluent societies are more likely to experience a range of social problems than developed and affluent societies.
· Affluence causes or at least brings with it a series of social problems that do not exist in less affluent societies.
· It is only with affluence that certain things can come to be imagined as social problems, such as excessive consumption.
· The very affluence of a society makes it vulnerable to problems that would not be social problems in poorer societies.
The Handbook explores the theory of the weakness of the strong-in other words, strong or wealthy nations may have greater vulnerability to some social problems than less developed or affluent societies. This theory is clearly illustrated in this volume by the aftermath of September 11, 2001depicting the vulnerability of the U.S. to social problems in far-removed corners of the world. In addition, the international and comparative essays in this volume cover other important issues such as the impact of modern technologies on social problems, ecological problems, global inequality, health as a social problem, and much more.
The Handbook of Social Problems is a vital resource for students studying on a number of courses across the social sciences and will be an excellent addition to any academic library.