In The Passing of the Phantoms: A Study of Evolutionary Psychology and Morals, Charles Joseph Patten examines moral consciousness through the lens of evolutionary thought, tracing how inherited instincts, fears, and social habits give rise to ethical systems. The book belongs to the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century effort to reconcile Darwinian science with philosophy and social theory. Patten writes in a speculative yet analytical mode, combining psychological observation, bio...

Since the 2010 Citizens United and SpeechNOW rulings, campaign finance laws have undergone a seismic shift. These changes include the establishment of super PACs, which have allowed unlimited contributions and spending from megadonors to be funneled into political activism. These dramatic changes in campaign finance have allowed a small number of ultra-wealthy contributors to reshape American democracy and all three branches of government.Using data from the 2024 ...

This book traces how the student loan system has created insurmountable student debt traps for millions of student borrowers contrary to its original purpose of promoting social mobility. Today, approximately 45 million Americans hold over $1.7 trillion in student loan debt, with over 20% of borrowers in default. Student loan debt has the greatest negative impact of wealth-poor students, with Black and first-generation students less likely to attain a college degree, more likely to default...

In Inequality and Governance in an Uncertain World: Perspectives on Democratic & Autocratic Governments, the authors address structural and systemic inequalities in democratic and autocratic governments from a multidimensional perspective in nine world regions (Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Eurasia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North America, and Latin America). Their focus is on issues of race, caste, class, gender, religion, culture, and ...

In the twenty-first century, democracies across the globe are in crisis. The strength of basic democratic institutions and core enduring political principles and values are eroding in key regions and countries. Authoritarian regimes are rising and populist leaders are emerging. Democracy in Crisis across the World weaves threads of history and politics in two parts to analyze how long this trend may last and what the future may bring. By first examining the state of democracy in Sub-Sahara...