Crisis, Politics and Critical Sociology draws upon the work of contemporary sociologists searching for the roots of our present social and economic problems. This peer-reviewed volume offers insights into our current reality by exploring the content and consequences of power relationships under capitalism and by considering the spaces of opposition and resistance to these changes that have defined our new age.

This collection of articles presents a critical, issue-oriented approach to law and society, emphasizing its important relationship to contemporary social problems. By exploring the interstitial area between the sociology of law, social problems and social movements, the initial chapters trace out a theoretical trajectory which points to the need to move beyond traditional and social constructionist approaches. A variety of empirical studies together explore the contradictory dynamics of class as they relate to race and gender in both a national and global context, illustrating the dialectical interplay between the state and social movements. Employing a wide range of perspectives so as to convey the great diversity found in the contemporary sociology of law and justice studies, these authors collectively share a broad consensus concerning the need to explore how social movements and the larger political economy play a pivotal role in shaping state reactions to the challenges presented by contemporary social problems. With its integrated presentation of theoretical perspectives and empirical studies, this unique anthology will be useful in a variety of sociology, criminology, and justice studies course offerings such Law and Society, Social Problems, Crime and Social Justice, Social Movements, Law and Social Control, Social Change, Law and Public Policy, Introduction to Legal Studies, and others. Undergraduate and graduate students alike will appreciate that these articles, selected for their academic rigor, are highly readable and strongly oriented towards high profile social issues, including those of class, race, and gender inequalities as well as social movement and legal struggles in community, national and global settings.

Within Social Change, Resistance and Social Practises, critical sociologists of various nationalities focus on cutting-edge approaches to conflict-driven social change. By emphasising the role played by contemporary social movements such as environmentalists, migrant organisations, world social forum activists, and others, these studies grapple with diverse forms of organised resistance in the 21st century.

This collection of works by prominent Latin Americanists explores the social and political dynamics of this important region in transition to a post-neoliberal era. The first part deals with the intensifying regional crisis created by neoliberal policies, showing how regime stability has been broadly undermined, with specific attention given to the cases of Panama and Argentina. In the second part, a sympathetic yet critical evaluation is offered on the diverse development strategies that have been pursued by four leftist governments in power, namely, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela and Uruguay. In the final section, various aspects of the constraints facing the region are discussed and consideration is extended to some of the emerging social movements that seek to radically transform Latin America.
Richard A. Dello Buono, Ph.D. (1986) in Sociology is Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, Manhattan College. He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Havana, National University of Colombia, Autonomous University of Zacatecas and a Fulbright Professor at the University of Panama. His research areas include comparative social problems and Latin American/Caribbean Studies.
Jose Bell Lara is a Cuban Sociologist and Professor at the University of Havana. As a Senior Researcher in the FLACSO-Cuba Program, he has conducted various studies concerning development, social change and social policies in Cuba and Latin America. He has lectured extensively in Latin America, Europe and North America over a period of decades and has been a Visiting Professor at universities in Chile, Canada, Panama and Mexico.

Latin America after the Neoliberal Debacle studies the crippling problems that plague civilian democracies in the region. Ximena de la Barra and Richard Dello Buono draw on their extensive first-hand knowledge of Latin America to provide a rich analysis of why the needs of the region are too often put second to powerful foreign interests. In particular, they look at the shortcomings of the neoliberal development model, combining a broad historical overview with analysis of critical issues today. In a region that displays some of the worst social disparities in the world, popular movements have begun to confront the forces of domination. Their struggles for social justice have proposed new political agendas that in some cases dovetail with the new generation of progressive leaders, fueling important social changes. The authors argue that genuine development, free of dependency, can only be achieved in the context of a more profound democratization and new forms of regional integration. This interdisciplinary study will be useful for students, scholars, and general readers concerned with the past, present, and particularly the future of this important region.

Latin America after the Neoliberal Debacle studies the crippling problems that plague civilian democracies in the region. Ximena de la Barra and Richard Dello Buono draw on their extensive first-hand knowledge of Latin America to provide a rich analysis of why the needs of the region are too often put second to powerful foreign interests. In particular, they look at the shortcomings of the neoliberal development model, combining a broad historical overview with analysis of critical issues today. In a region that displays some of the worst social disparities in the world, popular movements have begun to confront the forces of domination. Their struggles for social justice have proposed new political agendas that in some cases dovetail with the new generation of progressive leaders, fueling important social changes. The authors argue that genuine development, free of dependency, can only be achieved in the context of a more profound democratization and new forms of regional integration. This interdisciplinary study will be useful for students, scholars, and general readers concerned with the past, present, and particularly the future of this important region.