Archive for April, 2012
Decolonizing Methodologies
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
The Graveyard of Empires: The Debacle that is the US Mission in Afghanistan
Way back in my undergraduate years I read a book by Dr. Edward S. Herman called The Real Terror Network. The book really opened my eyes to the true nature and purpose of war. It was written in 1982 but 30 years hasn’t changed a single thing, except the victims involved. I gotta say, if you want to understand what war is really about, and you want to disabuse yourself of the delusions and illusions of international state-craft, you should read this book.
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If Obama’s Not an American, Then Neither Are You
In the days since Osama bin Laden’s execution much of the hullabaloo surrounding Barack Obama’s citizenship has quieted. Out of gratitude for dispatching the world’s most annoying terrorist, the majority of Americans have joyfully re-embraced President Obama as a favorite son. Putting a bullet through Osama’s brain did more to convince the public that Barack [...]
Airlines to Charge Passengers by the Pound
On the heels of Allegiant Airline’s plan to charge up to $35 per carry-on bag, other major airlines have begun considering plans to charge passengers by weight.”It’s simple math,” stated Howard Fine, a spokesperson for Universal Airlines. “Heavier passengers cost more to ship from point A to point B.” In response to questions about consumer backlash over [...]
Educating The Human – Capital or Capability?
There’s something wrong in the world today, and Sociologists know what it is. We live in a system that privileges cash value over everything else. If you can’t lay a dollar value, and if you can’t generate profit, it is worthless in the eyes of the system. That might be a great way to pursue personal enrichment, but it sucks as a way to live healthy, environmentally sound, happy lives. It’s time to consider some alternatives, don’t ya think?
Elenchus?
Here at sociology.org / Athabasca University, we’ve always been pioneers. Decades ahead of the curve, we smashed the brick and mortar boundaries of traditional post-secondary ed, and pioneered distance education. We ( and when I say we I mean me), also started the very first online journal of Sociology way back when the Internet was nothing more than an online dust bowl and now we, and by we I mean a handful of interested scholars, are pioneering online pedagogy, in the interests of the student and not profit (as some of the initiatives in the U.S. seem to be doing). Our goal here isn’t to use technology as an excuse to corrupt education for personal enrichment, or to gut post-secondary education in the interests of conservative economic policy, but to use technology to enhance the educational experience, and bring it to a wider audience. If you like what we’re doing, jump on board.
What to know about the nature of money, the value of money, and money's role in our modern economies of exchange, then download The Rocket Scientists' Guide to Money and the Economy and let the truth set you free. [download]
Statistics for the rest of us. Afraid of math? Not sure how you're going to get your social statistics credit without permanent damage to your mental health? Consider Sociology 301: Social Statistics from Athabasca University. This course is designed for you, as a grounded and thorough introduction to social statistics. Learn everything you need to know in a sophisticated, well designed, and gentle package. Credit in Sociology 301 is fully transferable.
