Global Problems, Global Solutions: Prospects for a Better World approaches social problems from a global perspective with an emphasis on using one’s sociological imagination. Perfect for instructors who involve students in research, this text connects problems borne by individuals to regional, global and historical forces, and stresses the importance of evidence in forming opinions and policies addressing social issues. The book introduces readers to the complexities of the major problems that confront us today such as violent conflict, poverty, climate change, human trafficking and other issues that we encounter in our lives. It book concludes with a chapter on politics and government, underscoring the need for good governance at all levels–and cooperation among many layers of government–to build a better world.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Acknowledgments About the Author Chapter 1. Private Troubles and Social Problems: Developing a Sociological Imagination It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times Private Troubles, Public Issues Vulnerability to Global Problems Using a Social Science Lens Glass Half Empty or Half Full? Perspectives for Studying Problems Understanding the Global Order Part I: Nourishing Human Capital Chapter 2. Socioeconomic Fault Lines: Inequality, Poverty, and Development How Well Does the Global Economy Function? Understanding Inequality Impacts of Global Poverty and Inequality Quality of Life Along Levels of Development Origins of Contemporary Inequality Among Nations Factors Influencing Varying Levels of Development Varying Pathways to Development Fighting Poverty and Inequality Chapter 3. Starving in the Shadow of Plenty The Global Food System Food Security How Can We Fix Our Broken Food System? Food Safety Nets Chapter 4. Optimizing Human Capital: Good Health The Global Burden of Disease How Our Lifestyles Harm Us: Non-Communicable Disease Discrimination in Health Care Anomie in the 21st Century: Mental Health Concerns Infectious Outbreak, Epidemic, Pandemic Making Health Care Work Coordinated Action Chapter 5. Expanding Horizons Through Lifelong Learning Achieving Universal Education Measuring Quality Education The Pivotal Problem of Funding Reaching More with Education Improving the Quality of Education Part II: Restoring Civility to Social Life Chapter 6. From Difference to Discrimination: Fault Lines of Race, Ethnicity, and Religion Defining Difference: Diversity and Meaning Burned by the Sun or White Like the Ice: The Social Creation of Race The Rights of Indigenous Communities: The "First" Peoples Human Rights, Life Chances, and Discrimination Falling Between the Cracks: Statelessness in a World of States Having the Wrong Religion Could Cost You Your Life Confronting Discrimination and Persecution Chapter 7. You Can′t Empower Us with Chickens: Gender Through the Lifespan Gender Inequality and Human Development Gender Inequities Throughout the Lifespan Chapter 8. When Life Becomes a Commodity: Human and Wildlife Trafficking Globalization Effects on Crime Individual and Environmental Vulnerability to Transnational Organized Crime The Legal Framework to Combat Transnational Organized Crime Human Trafficking: When People Become a Commodity Combatting Human Trafficking Trafficking in Wildlife: Flora and Fauna Chapter 9. Transnational Property Crimes The War on Drug Trafficking The Human Cost of Illegal Drugs Death and Violence Along Trafficking Routes Economic Costs of Drugs and Alternative Development Trafficking in Firearms and Weaponry Intellectual Property Crime: Trafficking in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods Emerging Crimes Combatting Cybercrime: The Legislative Framework Combatting Transnational Crimes Chapter 10. The Challenge of Political Violence The Nature of War, Armed Conflict, and Political Instability Correlates and Causes of Violent Conflicts Consequences and Costs of Violent Conflict The Conflict Trap Protecting Peace and Problems of Peacemaking Promoting Peace and Getting Out of the Conflict Trap Part III: Sustaining Natural and Manufactured Environments Chapter 11. Global Flows of Refugees Types of Migration Global Flows of Refugees Life as a Refugee The "Solutions" Internally Displaced Persons Chapter 12. Environmental and Economic Migration What Is a Migrant? Patterns of Migration Displaced by Climate Change and Environmental Disaster Demographic, Economic, and Social Impacts of Migration Populist Backlash to Immigration Mitigating the Challenges of Migration Chapter 13. Destruction and Depletion of the Natural Environment Scope of Environmental Problems Chemical Contaminants Air, Land, and Water Degradation and Depletion Developing Nations and Toxic Dumping Pollution in the Developing World Water Pollution in the Developed World Environmental Assessment in the United States Depletion of Water Resources The Global Water Regime A Global View: Air Pollution Land Degradation The Forests The Global Chemical Regime Escaping the Toxic: Living Green Chapter 14. Climate Change and Global Warming The Threat of Climate Change The Symptoms of a Changing Climate Extreme Weather and Displaced People Health and Nutrition Effects The Environmental Regime "Greening" the Earth: Sustainable Development Chapter 15. Urbanization: The Lure of the Cities What Makes a City? What Does it Mean to Be Urban? Contemporary Cities The Urban Slums: Cities of Tomorrow? Achieving Urban Sustainability Chapter 16. A World Gone Awry? The State of Governance Is the World Unmanageable? Goals of Governance Layers of Governance A Normative Basis for Good Governance Meeting the Challenges of Governance References Index