Problem Society

Why Nations Are Divided

Niki J.P. Alsford, Fatimaah J. Menefee

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English

Routledge
02 June 2025

Colonialism & imperialism; Ethnic studies; Social & cultural anthropology; International relations; Human geography

Problem Society is an essential introduction to the many facets of divided societies. It examines the complexities of how and why ancient grievances and new conflicts coexist with unprecedented connectivity and develops students’ understanding of the daily lived experience of people in cultural, economic, and political landscapes affected by global shifts.

Structured around critical problems facing global societies in transition, it equips students with analytical tools to interpret the complex world around them. It provides a multidisciplinary exploration of the historical contexts of nation-state building and the politics of divided nations and illuminates the geopolitical upheavals of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Illustrated by diverse case studies and vignettes, it takes readers on a chapter-by-chapter journey through key topics including balancing interests and needs at different societal levels, from the global to local; shifts in the tension between individualism and collectivism; obstacles to problem-solving and decision-making; causes of, and ways of managing and resolving, conflict; the challenge of ensuring effective, accountable, and transparent governance; peacekeeping forms and the ethical and political dilemmas they entail; establishing and verifying truth in an era of misinformation; and balancing privacy and security amid widespread surveillance.

Borne from the authors’ extensive experience of teaching and collaborating with students to bridge theory, concepts, and issues with their real-world experience, pedagogical features include definitions of key concepts, activities, reflection questions, further reading, as well as carefully curated suggestions for films and docuseries, to deepen students’ understanding of contemporary international politics.

Problem Society is an engaging introduction to the intricate dynamics of a rapidly changing, interconnected world for students of sociology, politics, international relations, human geography, anthropology, area studies, and conflict resolution.

By: Niki J.P. Alsford, Fatimaah J. Menefee
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 410g
ISBN: 9781032877761
ISBN 10: 1032877766
Pages: 210
Publication Date: 02 June 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

1. Introduction, 2. Reconciling the Global, National, and Local, 3. The Problem of the Individual, 4. The Problem of Resolution, 5. The Problem of Conflict, 6. The Problem of Compromised Governance, 7. The Problem of Peacekeeping, 8. The Problem of Truth, 9. The Problem of Surveillance, 10. Reviewing the Situation

Niki J.P. Alsford is Professor of Anthropology and Human Geography and Director of Asia Pacific Institutes at the University of Central Lancashire, UK. He is a Research Associate at the Centre of Taiwan Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and an Associate Member of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford, UK. In 2023, he was selected as the prestigious Ewha Global Fellow at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea. Fatimaah J. Menefee is a PhD candidate at the International Institute of Korean Studies (IKSU) at the University of Central Lancashire, UK. Before academia, she worked in the applied public health field for the Municipality of Anchorage Health Department in the United States.

Reviews for Problem Society: Why Nations Are Divided

Having been a student in Professor Niki Alsford’s Divided Nations class, I witnessed how understanding divided nations and conflict became increasingly crucial to better comprehending our world through a more critical lens. His teaching provided an invaluable framework for analysing global governance and contemporary political tensions. The highlight of his class was our analysis of carefully curated documentaries and films, including exclusive Q&As with their creators, which taught us to more critically engage with the media that we consume such as questioning the funding sources and examine whose voices were being represented. I’m delighted to see this approach captured in the textbook’s ‘Watch and Chill Vibes’ sections. His textbook, all in all, captures his unique teaching approaches, making it an essential resource for anyone seeking to comprehend the intricate dynamics of divided nations and conflict resolution in our interconnected world. Mariama Sekloawu, MA Graduate in North Korean Studies, University of Central Lancashire In an age when textbooks might be seen as less critical, this volume brings clarity, organisation, and creativity to the teaching of divided nations. With insightful questions and activities covering various topics, from history to human geography to anthropology, it is a thorough guide to understanding fracture and reconciliation. Dr Virginie Grzelczyk, Reader in International Relations, Aston University