Dr. Michael Sosteric | The Socjournal – Part 2

He is a refreshing admission of failure. Western social thought sucks and has failed to provide solutions to any “of our most pressing domestic social and economic issues.” Well duh. Natural science may have been successful at ramping up the technological quotient of this world, but social thought has done nothing but goggle the environmental, psychological, emotional, and spiritual disaster that has resulted. We definitely need a new way of thinking about the world. Still, and sadly, I’m pretty sure you wont’ find it in this book.

Dr. Michael Sosteric | Aug 16, 2012 | Comments 0

Got your attention? Good. Feminists have long challenged men to treat women with respect, and to acknowledge their “sins.” But now, feminists themselves face a challenge. Men might be part of the problem, but women play a role as well. In fact, their role in creating the world “as it is” is just as significant, and just as worthy of critical analysis, as the roles (father, warrior, ruler) that men have played. The only question is, will we face the part we played, take responsibility for the damage, and change what we’ve done. Or will it be business as usual once again.

Dr. Michael Sosteric | Jun 19, 2012 | Comments 13

Here’s a little criminological snapshot of incarceration rates in the U.S. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this one speaks volumes not only about the high rates of incarceration in the U.S., but the incredible social cost that is associated. Something to think about for all you would-be criminologists in the audience.

Dr. Michael Sosteric | Jun 12, 2012 | Comments 4

What is creativity? How does one become creative? Turns out, nobody knows. Or at least that is the conclusion of Dr. Monika Reuter who, after thousands of hours of research, throws up her hands in frustration at the lack of theory and explanation. Should we give up? No. But if yo uask me, if we want to understand creativity then what we need is a revolution in how we understand the nature of our reality, our existence, and ourselves.

Dr. Michael Sosteric | Jun 11, 2012 | Comments 8

Here’s a paper by a student in my Sociology 460 class. Great analysis of control strategies, oppression, even deskilling the labour process. There’s also some stuff on panoptic observation and control that would make Foucault proud. All in all an excellent use of the sociological imagination.

Dr. Michael Sosteric | May 22, 2012 | Comments 4

Is our socialization process a process of ideological indoctrination? As part of our socialization we learn “how the world really works.” Our religions teach us of a cosmic “fight” between good and evil, science teaches us about the struggle for survival and “survival of the fittest,” and everybody talks about how its OK for the “winners” to dominate the “losers.” It is all part of the natural (or divine) social order! But is it really, or is it just indoctrination. You be the judge.

Dr. Michael Sosteric | May 22, 2012 | Comments 5

Ah school. Frolicking days of care free learning in positive and loving environments right? Guess again. Schools are contested grounds and parents, administrators, and teachers struggle to find equitable, democratic, and positive ways to raise the next generation of citizens. But what does that entail? Better yet, what do we want to teach our children? Do we want to teach them love, acceptance, and tolerance, or do we want to model judgment, punishment, and disdain. Children learn by watching what the adults do so as adults we should be careful what we do to our children.

Dr. Michael Sosteric | May 09, 2012 | Comments 3

A refreshing, thoughtful and historical reading of the dramatic changes sweeping the Arab world.’ Marwan Bishara, senior political analyst, Al Jazeera

Dr. Michael Sosteric | May 01, 2012 | Comments 0

To the colonized, the term ‘research’ is conflated with European colonialism; the ways in which academic research has been implicated in the throes of imperialism remains a painful memory. This essential volume explores intersections of imperialism and research – specifically, the ways in which imperialism is embedded in disciplines of knowledge and tradition as ‘regimes of truth.’ Concepts such as ‘discovery’ and ‘claiming’ are discussed and an argument presented that the decolonization of research methods will help to reclaim control over indigenous ways of knowing and being

Dr. Michael Sosteric | Apr 30, 2012 | Comments 0

Please help the Socjourn and take our reader survey. It is anonymous and we won’t share any information with Big Brother. Most important, some decent reader statistics will help us approach Athabasca University for support of this resource, thereby ensuring that it remains free for all to see. Pause for the cause. It won’t take more than a minute.

Dr. Michael Sosteric | Apr 20, 2012 | Comments 0