Twelve population scientists address the questions: What are the major changes that occurred in the 1980s? What created these changes? What major consequences result from these changes for the present and for the future? Included are chapters that give theoretical explanations of social change, discuss the social and ecological effects of high population density, and show the change in population composition, fertility and mortality rates, and migration patterns. In addition to these traditional demographic concerns, the work also provides insights into community redevelopment, poverty, changing family patterns, and ethnic identification.

Democratization involves far more than instituting a few democratic practices, such as universal sufferage. Instead, people must be able to debate issues, have access to diverse sources of information, be able to tolerate viewpoints that are disliked, and have access to every aspect of government. But before today's society can be considered truly democratic, the entire culture must be democratized. Thus persons will demand autonomy and the freedom required to be self-governed.

Yet, as Murphy and Peck and the analysts brought together for this collection point out, self-government or democracy does not occur in a vacuum. Democracy will occur only when personal autonomy, critical thought, and the desire for self-government are encouraged by social institutions. In this collection, these and other considerations related to real, participatory democracy are the focus of attention. As such the volume will be of concern to political sociologists and those interested in social change.

This unique collection of case studies introduces readers to many of the common yet extraordinary social problems in contemporary American society. Employing a symbolic interaction approach to the case studies, the authors identify the origins of the problems, define the issues, and explore the outcomes and potential remedies. The case studies themselves introduce readers to the very personal side of the problems as the emotions, actions, and perceptions of the subjects are revealed and analyzed. The problems studied here are organized into three categories-- health-related issues, family issues, and behavior beyond the boundaries--and include many problems that often receive too little attention in the existing literature, making this book an original and timely contribution. Each of the three sections is preceded by a general review of the chapters to follow and offers readers a prelude to the exploration of human thought, language, and behavior captured and illustrated in the case studies. In the first section of the book, problems covered include suicide, anorexia nervosa, alcohol and drug abuse, and AIDS/STDs. The second section covers teenage mothers, domestic violence, divorce and poverty, child support and deadbeat dads, and homelessness. The last section focuses on sexual harassment, equal protection and racial exclusion, prostitution, career criminals, mass murder, and serial killers. This book represents a fresh new approach and a welcome addition to the study of social problems in America today.

This unique collection of case studies introduces readers to many of the common yet extraordinary social problems in contemporary American society. Employing a symbolic interaction approach to the case studies, the authors identify the origins of the problems, define the issues, and explore the outcomes and potential remedies. The case studies themselves introduce readers to the very personal side of the problems as the emotions, actions, and perceptions of the subjects are revealed and analyzed. The problems studied here are organized into three categories-- health-related issues, family issues, and behavior beyond the boundaries--and include many problems that often receive too little attention in the existing literature, making this book an original and timely contribution.

Each of the three sections is preceded by a general review of the chapters to follow and offers readers a prelude to the exploration of human thought, language, and behavior captured and illustrated in the case studies. In the first section of the book, problems covered include suicide, anorexia nervosa, alcohol and drug abuse, and AIDS/STDs. The second section covers teenage mothers, domestic violence, divorce and poverty, child support and deadbeat dads, and homelessness. The last section focuses on sexual harassment, equal protection and racial exclusion, prostitution, career criminals, mass murder, and serial killers. This book represents a fresh new approach and a welcome addition to the study of social problems in America today.