Understanding American Society and Politics - Basic Readings

Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival of American Community By ROBERT D. PUTNAM

(New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000). In a groundbreaking book based on vast data, Putnam shows how we have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and our democratic structures– and how we may reconnect.  Putnam warns that our stock of social capital – the very fabric of our connections with each other, has plummeted, impoverishing our lives and communities.  Putnam draws on evidence including nearly 500,000 interviews over the last quarter century to show that we sign fewer petitions, belong to fewer organizations that meet, know our neighbors less, meet with friends less frequently, and even socialize with our families less often. We’re even bowling alone. More Americans are bowling than ever before, but they are not bowling in leagues. Putnam shows how changes in work, family structure, age, suburban life, television, computers, women’s roles and other factors have contributed to this decline.  America has civicly reinvented itself before — approximately 100 years ago at the turn of the last century. And America can civicly reinvent itself again – find out how and help make it happen at our companion site, BetterTogether.org, an initiative of the Saguaro Seminar on Civic Engagement at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. 

http://bowlingalone.com/

Who Rules America: Wealth, Income, and Power By G. William Domhoff

http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

This document presents details on the wealth and income distributions in the United States, and explains how we use these two distributions as power indicators. The most striking numbers on income inequality will come last, showing the dramatic change in the ratio of the average CEO's paycheck to that of the average factory worker over the past 40 years.
First, though, some definitions. Generally speaking, wealth is the value of everything a person or family owns, minus any debts. However, for purposes of studying the wealth distribution, economists define wealth in terms of marketable assets, such as real estate, stocks, and bonds, leaving aside consumer durables like cars and household items because they are not as readily converted into cash and are more valuable to their owners for use purposes than they are for resale (see Wolff, 2004, p. 4, for a full discussion of these issues). Once the value of all marketable assets is determined, then all debts, such as home mortgages and credit card debts, are subtracted, which yields a person's net worth. In addition, economists use the concept of financial wealth -- also referred to in this document as "non-home wealth" -- which is defined as net worth minus net equity in owner-occupied housing. As Wolff (2004, p. 5) explains, "Financial wealth is a more 'liquid' concept than marketable wealth, since one's home is difficult to convert into cash in the short term. It thus reflects the resources that may be immediately available for consumption or various forms of investments."

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The Power Elite By C. Wright Mills

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Elite-C-Wright-Mills/dp/0195133544

First published in 1956, The Power Elite stands as a contemporary classic of social science and social criticism. C. Wright Mills examines and critiques the organization of power in the United States, calling attention to three firmly interlocked prongs of power: the military, corporate, and political elite. The Power Elite can be read as a good account of what was taking place in America at the time it was written, but its underlying question of whether America is as democratic in practice as it is in theory continues to matter very much today.  What The Power Elite informed readers of in 1956 was how much the organization of power in America had changed during their lifetimes, and Alan Wolfe's astute afterword to this new edition brings us up to date, illustrating how much more has changed since then. Wolfe sorts out what is helpful in Mills' book and which of his predictions have not come to bear, laying out the radical changes in American capitalism, from intense global competition and the collapse of communism to rapid technological transformations and ever changing consumer tastes. The Power Elite has stimulated generations of readers to think about the kind of society they have and the kind of society they might want, and deserves to be read by every new generation.

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The Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/

The Census Bureau's mission is to serve as the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy. We honor privacy, protect confidentiality, share our expertise globally, and conduct our work openly. Keeping pace with our dynamic economy and society constantly challenges the Census Bureau's data collections. Our users want more data, and want it sooner. The cost of using our existing methods keeps going up, while statistical budgets are tight. We stay current by making research the basis of everything we do at the Census Bureau. Our researchers explore innovative ways to conduct surveys, increase respondent participation, reduce costs, and improve accuracy. They analyze the data we collect and uncover trends that give us a deeper understanding of our complex society.  This investment in our nation's statistical infrastructure enables our leaders to make decisions based on the best information available. We've designed these pages to give analysts, academic researchers and policymakers improved access to the data tools and research they need to move our country forward.

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Social Inequality and Social Stratification in U.S. Society By Christopher B. Doob

https://www.pearsonhighered.com/program/Doob-Social-Inequality-and-Social-Stratification-in-U-S-Society-with-My-Search-Lab-with-e-Text-Access-Card-Package/PGM147466.html

Social Inequality and Social Statification in US Society, 1st edition uses a historical and conceptual framework to explain social stratification and social inequality.   The historical scope gives context to each issue discussed and allows the reader to understand how each topic has evolved over the course of American history. The authors use qualitative data to help explain socioeconomic issues and connect related topics.     Each chapter examines major concepts, so readers can see how an individual’s success in stratified settings often relies heavily on their access to valued resources–types of capital which involve finances, schooling, social networking, and cultural competence.   Analyzing the impact of capital types throughout the text helps map out the prospects for individuals, families, and also classes to maintain or alter their position in social-stratification systems.

Table of contents: Chapter 1: The Road to Social Inequality: A Conceptual Introduction  Chapter 2: In Marx's Wake: Theories of Social Stratification and Social Inequality  Chapter 3: Repeat Performance: Globalization Through Time and Space  Chapter 4: Foundation for Social Inequality: Concepts and Structures  Chapter 5: Heading the Hierarchy: Upper Class or Superclass?  Chapter 6: The Badly Besieged Middle Class  Chapter 7: Working Class: Estranged from Entitlement  Chapter 8: American Poverty: The Dream Turned Nightmare  Chapter 9: Racism: A Persistent American Presence  Chapter 10: Women's Oppression: Sexism and Intersectionality  Chapter 11: Astride with the Best and the Wisest

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American Apartheid: Segregation and the Making of the Underclass By Douglas S. Massey and Nancy A. Denton

http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674018211

This powerful and disturbing book clearly links persistent poverty among blacks in the United States to the unparalleled degree of deliberate segregation they experience in American cities.  American Apartheid shows how the black ghetto was created by whites during the first half of the twentieth century in order to isolate growing urban black populations. It goes on to show that, despite the Fair Housing Act of 1968, segregation is perpetuated today through an interlocking set of individual actions, institutional practices, and governmental policies. In some urban areas the degree of black segregation is so intense and occurs in so many dimensions simultaneously that it amounts to “hypersegregation.”
Table of contents: 1. The Missing Link 2. The Construction of the Ghetto 3. The Persistence of the Ghetto 4. The Continuing Causes of Segregation 5. The Creation of Underclass Communities 6. The Perpetuation of the Underclass 7. The Failure of Public Policy 8. The Future of the Ghetto

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History of the American Economy By Gary M. Walton and Hugh Rockoff

http://www.cengage.com/economics/discipline_content/preview_guide/preview_guide/PreviewGuide_WaltonRockoff_11e.pdf

Tying America's past to the economic policies of today and beyond, HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY 12e presents events chronologically for easy understanding. Get a firm foundation in the evolution of the American economy with this ever-popular classic. Few text packages have the staying power of HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, 12E, the text that has helped generations of students understand how the American economy evolved. Completely updated, this classic text ties our past to the policies and debates of today and beyond. A variety of visual aids and provocative statistics encourage interest in the study of economic history.

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