SOCIAL PROBLEMS THEORY
2011
Brian Monahan*
Iowa State University
The Theory Division promotes the empirical study of social problems and the development of theoretical understandings of these problems. The scholarship and outreach efforts of our members often focus on the interconnections and commonalities among social problems. Themes of social justice reverberate throughout the work of the Division, whose members often seek to address the inequities of social life, shape social policy and bridge the divide between academics and non-academic audiences.
Social problems theorizing finds outlets in a number of venues, most notably in the classrooms of colleges and universities. Indeed, this is where much of the Division’s mission is advanced as students learn to critically examine the world they confront. As critical thinking is reinforced throughout the curriculum, it can inform individuals’ participation in their social, political and economic worlds. The vibrancy and value of social problems theory is also evident in the scholarship of the Division’s members, whose work appears in leading academic journals and other forums reflecting a vast collection of intellectual traditions and substantive disciplines. The theoretical and empirical insights from these works are routinely incorporated into policy and practice. At its best, the work of social problems theorists represents a knowledge base for policy makers and advocates who work toward the equitable distribution of resources. More importantly, social problems theory often provides critical scrutiny of the claims made by the powerful, which can help to level the political and social playing field and provide a voice to those who challenge the status quo.
