American sociologist and social theorist Robert Nisbet was #BOTD in 1913 in Los Angeles. Known as a major architect of postwar conservative thought, he was also among the founders and the first chair of the Department of Sociology at UC Berkeley. 1/2

Sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein was born on this day in New York City in 1930. #botd 1/3

How does organized religion affect governance, both in a macro way—like on social norms—and in a micro way—like how a politician or legislator organizes their values and beliefs? How does the US government navigate the “separation of church and state,” if at all? 1/2

Philosopher Judith Shklar was born on this day in Riga, Latvia, in 1928. #botd Known for her work on political thought of the Enlightenment, as a political theorist Shklar was also interested in injustice. 1/3

Amid institutionally sanctioned attacks on higher education, especially in the US, how do individual players in the university—like faculty and administration—fare in the public imagination? 1/3

This #SundayRead coincides with the autumn equinox. Happy Fall! We’re returning to “Climate Demands We Change. Why Aren’t We?,” our Fall 2015 issue, as a complement to the Northern Hemisphere’s transition to autumn, which is consistently and unpredictably impacted by climate change. 1/2

Political philosopher Leo Strauss was born on this day in 1899 in Kirchhain, Germany. #botd A staunch believer in the “Greats” of Western philosophy, like Socrates and Aristotle, Strauss was adamant about the role of political philosophy in both macro political and micro individual life. 1/3

“Whether some version of civility is essential to democratic politics, . . . it is indispensable to institutionalized intellectual life.”—Len Gutkin in “Institutionalized Incivility” for “The Embattled University” (Summer 2025). Read his article here: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...

It’s #TBT—you know what that means. “Explanation” was published in the summer of 1989. Although a shorter issue, its contributors—including Amartya Sen and 1/2

The US Constitution was signed today in Philadelphia in 1787, marking an international bend toward democracy. 1/2

Breyten Breytenbach was born on this day in 1939 in Bonnievale, South Africa. #botd Breytenbach, an artist and activist, was imprisoned for 7 years for his involvement in anti-apartheid work. 1/2

It’s #SundayRead day! We’re returning to “Patience” (Fall 2023). With authors including Cass Sunstein, Noam Yuran, Paul A. 1/2

Philosopher Alain Locke was born on this day in 1885 in Philadelphia. #botd Locke is credited with spurring on the Harlem Renaissance with his book “The New Negro,” which ignited a cultural movement. He was the first African American recipient of the Rhodes scholarship. 1/3

In the new issue of @socres.org, Judith Butler issues their defense of extramural speech and academic freedom "No matter where we stand on particular issues of the day, we should all stand for these principles" Free thru 30 Sept at @ProjectMUSE tinyurl.com/mrvj5u8a

Today we’re honoring the victims of the tragedy that occurred on 9/11/2001, which claimed a total of 2,977 lives. Our issue “Fear: Its Political Uses and Abuses” (Winter 2004) was in large part inspired by 9/11 and its aftermath. 1/3

Scientist/paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould was born today in 1941 in New York City. #botd He developed the theory of punctuated equilibrium, which in evolutionary biology is the phenomenon where evolution is largely stable except for quick, explosive episodes of rapid change. 1/2

“Ours is an age that has no patience for persuasion—or the openness and civility upon which it depends. 1/3

For this #SundayRead, we’ll be returning to “Political Theology” (Spring 2013). It’s often been argued that politics and organized religion must coincide—that there cannot be one without the other. 1/3

It’s that time again—to see what our readers enjoyed in the previous month.

It’s #TBT! How might one describe conversation? The verbal and nonverbal cues of communication? The very stuff of human life? 1/2

In 1983 we published “Women and Morality,” an issue tackling the often moral (rather than political or economic) perspective taken by feminists on women’s issues. 1/3

“If universities openly break their commitments to academic freedom in the name of ‘security’ or ‘property’ or ‘safety’ without examining the grounds for those invocations, then they are able to consolidate administrative powers, often with the support of governments and donors 1/2

Today is Labor Day, a holiday in the US and Canada to recognize the labor movement and its successes in championing the 8-hour workday and safer workplaces, among other causes that prioritized the humanity of the worker. 1/3

Shlomo Avineri was born on this day in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, in 1933. #botd He was interested in Zionism as a liberation-based movement, and much of his philosophical inquiries were based in the ideas of Jewish emancipation. 1/3

Today marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the southern US. In “Difficult Choices” (Spring 2007), medical ethicist Kenneth Kipnis wrote about the impossible decisions that healthcare workers were forced to make in extremis during Katrina. 1/3

Sociologist Louis Wirth was born on this day in 1897 in Gemünden, Germany. #botd Interested in urban and minority group sociology, he was based in Chicago where he earned his PhD. His dissertation, “The Ghetto,” was published as a complete book and remains one of his seminal works. 1/2

For many students, teachers, and professors, back to school season has arrived. What does it mean that the institution of school imparts certain kinds of knowledge over other kinds of knowledges? What is knowledge? When is it useful to limit access to knowledge, if ever? 1/2

The world is replicated through language, image, and other representational means—but it can never be accurately transmitted in full. For this #SundayRead, we’re returning to Winter 1984: “Representation.” What does it mean to reckon within the impossibility of representation? 1/2

Clifford Geertz, influential cultural anthropologist, was born today in San Francisco, California, in 1926. #botd 1/4

American economist Robert M. Solow was born on this day in 1924 in Brooklyn, New York. #botd 1/3

Listen to the podcast and then be sure to read Lisa Anderson's incisive article muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl... (now in open access!).

For this #TBT, we’re returning to philosopher Hans Jonas’s critique of Marxist utopia and unimpeded progress, “Reflections on Technology, Progress, and Utopia,” which was published in fall 1981—before the advent of AI, social media, and the like. 1/2

What does it mean to belong to a community, be that a family unit, a religious group, a neighborhood block, an industry, or a culture? 1/2

“On campus and off, pieties about freedom of speech, academic freedom, and the abiding spirit of open inquiry seem increasingly fragile under conditions in which everything from the meaning of common words and phrases to the nature of truth itself can no longer be anchored 1/3

What is “courage”? Is it held individually? Collectively? What is its utility? How can courage be weaponized? For this #SundayRead, we’re returning to “Courage” (Spring 2004). 1/3

What is “courage”? Is it held individually? Collectively? What is its utility? How can courage be weaponized? For this #SundayRead, we’re returning to “Courage” (Spring 2004). 1/3

As NYC approaches the end of its annual, long-beloved tradition of #RestaurantWeek, we’re looking back to “Food: Nature and Culture,” which we published in the spring of 1999. When food is a daily ritual, it can be difficult to objectify it or to divorce it from its routine. 1/2

It’s #NationalDay in India, a celebration of independence from British rule beginning in 1947. 1/2

#TBT In our informal series of reexamining Social Research’s “summer decades,” we’ve already looked at the summers of 1985 and 2015. But what about the ’90s—1995? 1/2

“While inclusivity is a necessary condition, it is not a sufficient one. 1/3

Horace Kallen was born on this day in 1882 in Bernstadt, Prussia. #botd A beloved New School professor—and one of its founders—Kallen was exceptionally influential as a philosopher. 1/3

For this #SundayRead, we’re poring over Emil Oestereicher’s 1982 essay “The Depoliticization of the Liberal Arts”—a complement to the sentiments espoused in “The Embattled University.” 1/4

Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget was born today in 1896 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. #botd Piaget is best known for naming four distinct stages of childhood development. He wrote over 50 books and articles, and is a founding figure in developmental psychology. 1/2

#TBT With President Trump’s ongoing trade war—most recently, by imposing a 25% tariff on India and penalizing them for trade with Russia—we’re looking back to winter 2015: “Purse Power: Economic Weapons for Political and Social Change.” 1/2

Historian, professor, and two-time Pulitzer prizewinner Richard Hofstadter was born today in 1916 in Buffalo, NY. #botd 1/3

The 20 journal articles that you read most in July? They were about collegiate reading comprehension, democratic resilience, Black Panthers, the Chinese Civil War, tenure bans, the provincialization of Harlem, AI, AI, AI and more! Read 'em all here: tinyurl.com/27ne9bts

Here’s what our readers found very worth reading in the month of July:

“Institutional incivility, ritual anathematization, and disciplinary politicization all share a common dogmatism, a bullying manner convinced both of its rightness—often despite strong contrary evidence—and its righteousness.”—Len Gutkin 1/2

Alain Touraine, pioneer of modern sociology, was born 100 years ago on this day in Hermanville-sur-Mer, France. #botd Specializing in the sociology of work early in his career, Touraine later became interested in the sociological study of solidarity and social movements. 1/3

Pierre Bourdieu, eminent French sociologist, was born on this day in 1930 in Denguin, France. #botd 1/3