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This episode we catch up with Gregory Hooks and Brian McQueen about their article, American Exceptionalism Revisited, winner of the ASA Political Sociology section Best Article award. Our conversation touches upon racial migration, defense spending, and how the post-World War II era was a critical juncture in the American social welfare state.

Download Office Hours #46

This week we talk with Richard Lachmann, author of the article, The Roots of American Decline in the Winter 2011 issue of Contexts. Lachmann addresses common misunderstandings we Americans tend to have about our government’s spending, particularly military spending, and the current “fiscal crisis”. Lachmann compares the decline of American dominance with past empires and offers some lessons about what we might do to have a graceful decline as opposed to a painful, violent one.

Download Office Hours #23

What’s the difference between “genocide” and “crimes against humanity”? Both are terrible crimes, so why does the distinction matter? John Hagan addresses just this question in his new book, Darfur and the Crime of Genocide. While Hagan was on campus at the University of Minnesota for a lecture about the book, we sat down with him to discuss the meaning of genocide, the role of language in creating the conditions for genocide and the politics of numbers.

Also, Kristin Haltinner shares a fascinating discovery about how white power activists manage their identity.

Download episode #12 now!

Katherine McCoy, author of our Winter 2009 cover article, Uncle Sam Wants Them, talks with Arturo about the rise of private military corporations in Iraq and Afghanistan. After you listen in here, be sure to head over to thesocietypages.org where you can read Katherine’s article in its entirety. For free!

Also, Wes Longhofer stops by to share a discovery from Politics and Society that may surprise you: corrupt government doesn’t necessarily equal ineffective government.

Download episode #9 now!