So Many Civilizations,So Few Pages: A Review Essay*

Books reviewed in this article: Christian Joppke Selecting by Origin: Ethnic Migration in the Liberal State Douglas S. Massey and J. Edward Taylor (EDS.) International Migration: Prospects and Policies in a Global Market United Nations Research Institute For Social Development Gender Equality: Striving for Justice in an Unequal World International Organization For Migration Arab Migration in a Globalized World     

Elders and the courts: judicial policy for an aging America

This article examines how trial courts should address complex issues of an aging society. More older people, living longer, will enter courthouses with underlying problems that will impede effective access and court processes and will require judges to enhance linkages with community health, mental health, and social services providers. The article analyzes how court systems perceive these issues and explores how they have begun to address them. It concludes with an argument in support of innovative new approaches to assist courts in responding to emerging issues of older adults.     

Why do couples seek relationship help online? Description and comparison to in‐person interventions

Couples are increasingly utilizing newly developed online adaptations of couple therapy; however, different presenting problems could drive couples to seek either online or in‐person services. This study compared the presenting problems of 151 couples seeking an online couple intervention for relationship distress (OurRelationship) with responses from 147 couples seeking in‐person couple therapy. Presenting problems were generally consistent across gender and whether or not the respondent was the initial help‐seeker. Online and in‐person samples frequently endorsed difficulties with communication and emotional intimacy; however, they differentially endorsed trust, time together, and child/parenting difficulties. Therefore, while basing online interventions on existing couple therapies is generally supported, efforts should be made to tailor online services to meet the unique needs of this population.     

Our Day Jobs: Politics and Pedagogy in Academia

This essay addresses the changing face of the university. It is based on my presidential address at the 2016 meetings of the Eastern Sociological Society.     

Liberalism and the decay of the American political economy

Free markets and liberalism in Europe both emerged as the result of a particular combination of structural, cultural and personality variables. Both functioned relatively successfully because they operated within the framework of certain assumptions about the nature and acceptable limits of self-interest. These assumptions are now collapsing, in part as a function of internal contradictions in liberal capitalism itself, and, in part, as a function of the challenge of new elites which have become increasingly significant in advanced capitalist societies.     

Conversing about aging and practice

Using four open-ended questions, individual conversations were conducted with 20 professionals from 10 fields of practice in aging. Professionals were over 60 years of age, had worked in the field at least 10 years, and personally considered themselves elders. This project found that they were aware of their personal aging process, were knowledgeable about resources, had considered their values, beliefs, and interests, and had developed an “aging plan” that would optimize a meaningful and enjoyable quality of life. They generally viewed themselves positively, had a strong sense of identity, accepted the changes that come with aging, and maintained an active and engaged lifestyle. They understood the commonalities of aging, but also respected and valued the uniqueness of each individual’s experiences. Aging had significantly affected their professional practice as well, primarily by increasing empathy, sensitivity, understanding, and patience, as well as through greater awareness and special attention to meaningful communication with clients and patients. Their personal aging awareness had a generally positive effect on professional practice. Practitioners’ thoughts and experiences with their own aging can both serve as a model for the general public and be utilized to programs to assist seniors in remaining vital members of society