By now you're aware of what a tremendous resource the Internet can be, especially when it comes to researching trends and topics in sociology. It's no secret, though, that finding useful and credible websites as you sift through enormous amounts of information can become a daunting and overwhelming task. Whether you've just begun your exploration, or are knee deep in search engines, our "Sociology Web Resources" page is sure to lend a helping hand. The menu above lists 16 of the most common sociology topics today. Click on each one for a brief overview, followed by a number of annotated web links, all of which have been reviewed and chosen for their timeliness, depth and accuracy as resources.

Return to Top

I. Culture

Humans and some animals are described as having "culture" because they have learned behaviors that are transmitted socially. A diversity of social practices defines culture, yet many basic cultural practices, such as family, games, medicine, and religion, are universal to all cultures and subcultures. In the twentieth century, colonialism, as well as the advent of mass media, had a tremendous impact on the livelihood of cultures. On the one hand, the impact of these normalizing influences is seen as responsible for the demise of many societies and cultures. However, they have also led to the concept of a "global village," where people of all cultures can communicate more effectively and learn from one another. What will the impact of "Internet culture" be on world culture? The Web sites below, in addition to being good general resources, will help answer this question.

Culture and UNESCO

http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm

A must see for those concerned with the protection of cultural diversity. This site provides information on the many faceted projects related to world culture conducted by UNESCO. It also includes a link to the Web site for the historic UNESCO "World Heritage" site.

Anthropology Internet Resources

http://www.wcsu.ctstateu.edu/socialsci/antres.html

A good set of hyperlinks to sites on related topics in anthropology is provided here. The site also includes an online introduction to basic cultural theories in anthropology, called What Is Culture. This informative link also includes case studies for further investigation.

Academic Info: Anthropology

http://www.academicinfo.net/anth.html

Another good site to bookmark for academic resources related to anthropology. In addition to a listing of comprehensive meta-indexes, this site also contains information on contemporary European, American, and Latin American cultures.

Kinship and Social Organization

http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/kintitle.html

An online introduction to this important topic that includes both the basics as well as case studies for further investigation.

Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies

http://www.com.washington.edu/rccs

The Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies is an online, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to research, study, teach, support, and create diverse and dynamic elements of cyberculture. RCCS seeks to establish and support ongoing conversations about the emerging field; to foster a community of students, scholars, teachers, explorers, and builders of cyberculture; and to showcase various models, works-in-progress, and online projects.

Net Culture at About.com

http://netculture.about.com/internet/netculture/mbody.htm

This site is a great starting point for learning more about contemporary Internet culture. It contains essays on current topics, as well as links to resources related to hot issues, such as intellectual property, privacy, and cyber theory. Social aspects of the Internet, such as gender and identity, are also touched upon in this site.

Internet Sociology: Subculture and Counterculture

Conduct a net search with an engine of your choice using the terms "subculture" and "counterculture."

1. Are you able to locate trustworthy and authoritative sites on these topics? If you were a sociologist investigating these issues, how would you use the sites you find?

   The Yahoo Web site below provides full coverage on the topic of school violence.

   Yahoo: School Violence

   http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/US/School_Violence/

2. How is the concept of "subculture" at play in sites available through this resource? What kind of subculture did the perpetrators of the Columbine shootings belong to? Describe information you can find on the net about these and similar teen subcultures.
3. Using Columbine and other examples, describe how subcultures are at play in the issue of school violence. Are they creating the problem, or are they being used as scapegoats? What factors are at play?

Return to Top

II: Socialization

Socialization is a series of processes whereby people acquire values and norms. These processes affect our emotions and perceptions on an individual level and influence our actions as a group as well. The agents of socialization are so powerful that they influence us over our entire life span. The Web sites below offer information on socialization, as well as on the broader theme of social psychology.

Socialization: From Infancy to Old Age

http://www.usi.edu/libarts/socio/chapter/socialization/socialization.html

Written by Cliff Rogers as a finals project, this online article gives a very handy overview of key thinkers in the topic area of socialization. Agents of socialization, as well as indications of socialization over the life span, are also discussed. Each section provides links to many other useful sites directly related to socialization. Gender socialization is also discussed in this essay, and links for further investigation are provided. This site gets an A+. Check it out.

Sociological Tour through Cyberspace: Social Psychology

http://www.trinity.edu/~mkearl/socpsy.html

This virtual stopover on the Sociological Tour through Cyberspace is a great starting point for getting information on the bigger picture. The site includes text that briefly describes important concepts and players in each subject area. It also provides links to sites with information and tools for further learning.

Social Psychology Network

http://www.socialpsychology.org/

Maintained by Scott Plous, this searchable Web index offers multi-disciplinary links to organizations, individuals, and Web tools related to the field. The site also provides discussion forums for academics, students, and professionals in the field.

Social Psychology.Net

http://www.usi.edu/libarts/socio/socpsy/SOCPSY.HTM

Social Psychology net offers meta-links to specific resources in social psychology, organized thematically. Resources on general and specific theories (such as affect theory and theory of influence) can be accessed through this site. The site also includes links to important theorists such as Mead, Goffman, and many others.

Sociobiology, by C. George Boeree

http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/sociobiology.html

This site offers a distinct and incisive description of the field of sociobiology.

The George Herbert Mead Page

http://spartan.ac.brocku.ca/~lward/

A useful online repository for Mead's documents, as well as scholarship on his work and research using his approach. The site also includes a time line denoting the intellectual history of his work.

Erving Goffman, Dramaturgy, and Online Social Relationships, by Nikki Sannicolas

http://www.socio.demon.co.uk/magazine/1/is1nikki.html

An interesting online essay that describes the basic theories of Goffman and applies them to relationships in the online world.

Internet Sociology: Home Schooling

Schools are seen as some of the most influential agents of socialization, because of their tremendous impact on the intellectual and emotional development of individuals. The potential power of public education as a tool of political or religious socialization is so strong that it requires institutional constraints. Individuals in the public education system must also deal with peer influences from different ethnic backgrounds and economic classes, which may be at odds with their own. The potential negative impact of "peer groups" on the educational process is cited as a primary motivation for parents to seek "home schooling."

1. Use the Internet to find three Web sites that address the issue of home schooling; one academic site, one grassroots site, and one governmental site.
2. Using these sites, describe the arguments in favor of and against home schooling.
3. Give specific examples of how concepts related to socialization are at play.

Return to Top

III: Social Interaction and Social Structure

Social interaction and social structure are wide-ranging concepts that affect the way in which we understand individuals as they relate to each other and institutions. The Web sites selected below provide opportunities to see how these concepts are at play in social analysis. Web sites that describe ways to show the potential positive and negative benefits of electronic culture on social interaction and social structure are also provided.

The Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction

http://sun.soci.niu.edu/~sssi/

The SSSI is a social science professional organization of scholars interested in qualitative, especially interactionist, research.

Networks, Groups, and Social Interaction

http://www.pscw.uva.nl/sociosite/TOPICS/Interaction.html

If you are interested in exploring the connections being made between social networks and the Internet, this is a great starting point. This site provides links to the sociology of groups and other social psychology sites. It also provides a wide variety of links related to the sociology of the Internet and the psychology of cyberspace. Topics include Internet addiction, communities in cyberspace, cybersex, Internet culture, and much more.

The Caste System

http://internet.roadrunner.com/~rotto/caste.html

A description of how the caste system in Nepal came to exist over a period of thousands of years is presented here. It provides a good source for applying concepts regarding role and status used in understanding social interaction and social structure.

Affect Control Theory

http://www.indiana.edu/~socpsy/ACT/Index.html

Affect control theory proposes that people conduct themselves so that their feelings are appropriate to the situation, and if their actions can't do this, then they change their views of the situation. People's emotions signal how well events are maintaining their definitions of situations. This site provides an overview of ACT, as well as a computer program called Interact, which lets the user simulate social interactions. This site also contains readings on related subjects, including strategies for simulating symbolic interactionism.

Howard Rheingold's Virtual Community

http://www.rheingold.com/vc/book/index.html

This important and influential online and printed text studies the advent of the "virtual community." It describes how electronic pioneers from the counterculture and world of grassroots activism converged on the net with technology visionaries to explore the potential of a new medium. In the process, new potential modalities for social networks were created that form the basis for much of the discussion and thinking in the area today.

Simulation and Postmodern Society

http://www.transparencynow.com/Overview/viewtable.htm

A casebook approach to the positive and negative effects of simulation on society using easy-to-understand postmodern analysis is provided at this site.

Examples from the popular media and virtual entertainment world are used to show how electronic diversions bind us together symbolically, while serving to alienate and disenfranchise in reality.

Internet Sociology: The Stanford Prison Experiment

Examine the Web site below, which provides a detailed discussion of the Stanford Prison Experiment. Go through the Web site, and answer the questions provided there.

Stanford Prison Experiment Web site

http://www.prisonexp.org/

The Stanford Prison Experiment Web site features an extensive slide show and information about this classic psychology experiment.

1. How are the concepts of status, roles, social institutions, and groups described in this chapter at play in this experiment?
2. Read Zimbardo's essay, Transforming People into Perpetrators of Evil, provided in the links section of the Web site. When institutional abuse of individuals or mass atrocities are committed, how do we decide who is responsible?
3. Through an examination of the additional links provided at this site, can you find evidence that correctional institutions are taking steps to avoid abuse or inhumane treatment? What can be done to make sure prisoners are treated appropriately, in light of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Return to Top

IV. Groups and Organizations

A wide number of influences in the twentieth century require a much larger degree of sophistication from citizens of all walks of life where organizational culture and structure are concerned. These new influences include a dynamic and ethnically diverse workforce, which faces new competition from a multitude of external forces. Transnational capital and the development of multinational agencies, industries, and even governments are rising up to address issues of trade, weapons proliferation, and the regulation of human rights and the environment. The impact of technology on the way we work as well as the way we communicate is leading to new opportunities for primary and secondary groups to form new relationships. Technology is also a potentially new force for social control by institutions and coalitions of all kinds. The Web sites below offer a glimpse into the wide range of topics that relate to groups and organizations.

This Nation: Institutions

http://thisnation.com

If you are in need of a good online overview of basic U.S. governmental institutions, this is the place to go. The site also includes a discussion of the bureaucracy, with emphasis on the challenges of reform. Links to Web resources you can use to access government Web sites are also provided.

Virtual Academy of Local Government Studies

http://www.uta.fi/valogos/main1.html

A great introduction to the concepts of local government organizations is provided at this site. The site also provides a global view of local government, which includes links to local government resources throughout the world.

Internet Survival Guide to Organizational and Industrial Psychology

http://allserv.rug.ac.be/~flievens/guide.htm

This guide provides a plethora of Internet sites valuable to both practitioners and researchers in the field of industrial and organizational psychology. The contents of the survival guide are regularly updated.

Organizational Studies Weblinks

http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/4648/org.html

A meta-list with links to organizational studies resources on the net.

The Cato Institute

http://www.cato.org/

The Cato Institute is a nonpartisan public policy research foundation headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Cato Institute seeks to broaden the parameters of public policy debate concerning principles of limited government, individual liberty, and peace. Toward that goal, the institute strives to achieve greater involvement of the intelligent, concerned lay public in questions of policy and the proper role of government.

Center for Work, Technology and Organization

http://www.stanford.edu/group/WTO/

The Center for Work, Technology and Organization (WTO) is a research center located within the Department of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University. WTO sponsors research projects, colloquies, workshops, and conferences on issues relating to work, technology, and organizations. WTO brings together social scientists, engineers, designers, and managers to address crucial social, organizational, and technical problems in an interdisciplinary manner.

About.Com: Telecommuting

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/telecommuting/index.htm?terms=telecommuting

This site addresses all the practical aspects of telecommuting, offering links to telework centers and tele-employment sites. Practical aspects of running a home office, tax tips for small-business owners, and other interesting tidbits are also provided. Access to resources that address some of the more theoretic and policy-oriented aspects of this issue is available from this site as well.

Center for Democracy and Technology

http://www.cdt.org/

The Center for Democracy and Technology works to promote democratic values and constitutional liberties in the digital age. With expertise in law, technology, and policy, CDT seeks practical solutions to enhance free expression and privacy in global communications technologies. CDT is dedicated to building consensus among all parties interested in the future of the Internet and other new communications media.

Yahoo: Full Coverage: WTO and International Trade

http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/Business/Trade/

The controversy and protest surrounding the WTO meeting in Seattle in 1999 illustrates the power of economic and social issues surrounding regulation of transnational capital. If you want to know more about the influence of multinational and nongovernmental organizations, check out this site. It provides information on the WTO and related organizations that can help you gain insight on the impact regulation of trade has on human and environmental health, as well as on your personal future.

Electronic Frontier Foundation

http://www.eff.org/

EFF is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working in the public interest to protect fundamental civil liberties, including privacy and freedom of expression in the arena of computers and the Internet.

Electronic Privacy Information Center

http://www.epic.org/

EPIC is a public interest research center in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, the First Amendment, and constitutional values. EPIC examines the ways in which public and private bureaucracies use and misuse their technologies and influence in areas that concern individual privacy and freedom of speech.

Internet Sociology: Sexual Harassment

The pervasiveness of sexual harassment issues in government reflects changing attitudes toward the way we relate to one another. Sensitivity and maturity where sexual harassment is concerned, as well as racial tolerance and tolerance of differing sexual orientations, are now necessary skills individuals must apply to the workplace. Sexual harassment is an issue that requires not only an increased personal awareness of the causes but also institutional regulation and sanctions. Where do you stand on the issue of sexual harassment, and what do you feel can be done to address the problem? The Web sites below will help you answer these questions.

Yahoo:Full Coverage: Sexual Harassment

http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/US/Sexual_Harassment/

1. Describe some instances of personal sexual harassment that are discussed at these Web sites. Describe instances of sexual harassment that are sanctioned in one way or another by institutions. What are the roots of this harassment? Are they exclusively personal, or are instances of sexual harassment supported by the organizational culture of institutions?
2. What steps can be taken to avoid the instances of personal harassment described at these sites?
3. What steps are being taken to address the issue of sexual harassment in the government and armed services? Are they sufficient means of addressing the issues of sexual harassment and intolerance?
4. How can the resources linked to this site help people address sexual intolerance and sexual harassment?

Return to Top

V. Deviance and Social Control

Deviance and conformity are forms of response individuals and groups make to real or imagined pressures. Norms and laws are key elements of social control used to maintain order and conformity. Groups, such as homosexuals, are often inappropriately labeled as "deviant" when their behavior is not at all abnormal. Likewise, as the recent cases of police corruption and brutality in New York City and Los Angeles illustrate, deviant behavior by authority figures often goes unnoticed or is ignored by society. The Web sites below were selected to provide more insight into interpretation of crime, sexual behavior, obedience, and authority.

Organized Crime, by Regina Schekall

http://www.crime.org/

This valuable online tutorial will teach you everything you need to know about crime statistics!! It helps you understand the basics about crime rates, as well as the challenges associated with interpreting them. The site offers links to many repositories of information at local, national, and international agencies and institutions dealing with crime and criminals.

Sociology of Deviant Behavior Lecture Notes

http://www.umsl.edu/~rkeel/200/200lec.html

Professor Robert Keel's lecture notes on deviant behavior present to-the-point annotations of each topic in the field. Theories of deviance are presented in a social context, and a balanced discussion of sexual deviance is also provided.

Sociosite: Sex, Gender, and Queer Studies

http://www.pscw.uva.nl/sociosite/TOPICS/Gender.html

An inclusive set of meta-links to resources related to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender studies. Links to the topics of cybersex and sexuality in general are also provided, along with links to general issues concerning men, women, children, and families.

Stanley Milgram

http://muskingum.edu/~psychology/psycweb/history/milgram.htm

A brief biography and overview of the theories advanced by this important theorist is provided at this site.

People with a History: Online Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and TransHistory

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/index.html

An annotated online text on the world history of homosexuality, organized culturally and chronologically. The site, maintained by Paul Halsall, contains an annotated chapter by chapter discussion, along with links to other sites and online articles. Additionally, this excellent site includes an outstanding online bibliography.

The Center for Sex Research

http://www.csun.edu/~sr2022/

The Center for Sex Research is composed of faculty, staff, and professional educators, researchers, and therapists with an interest and background in the field of sexuality. The CSR is dedicated to the concept that knowledge provides freedom from ignorance. Located at CSU Northridge, the center provides a program in sexuality, as well as seminars and conferences on topics of interest, research, and publications.

The Kinsey Institute

http://www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/

The Kinsey Institute supports interdisciplinary research and the study of human sexuality. The institute was founded by Dr. Alfred Kinsey (1894-1956) in 1947. Today it offers graduate studies and clinics, and also continues to conduct research projects.

The Society for Human Sexuality

http://www.sexuality.org/

A Web site devoted to sexual awareness and alternative sexuality. Links to resources on tantric yoga, BDSM, and erotica can be found here. You can also find links to clubs and other organizations that support interests in alternative sexuality and sexual activities. A must see.

Cecil Greek's Criminal Justice Links

http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/cj.html

One of the most popular and comprehensive set of links on the Web for criminal justice related topics. You can navigate access to links on investigative, legal, and correctional aspects of criminal justice through a "criminal justice process chart." The site also provides access to themes peripheral to the criminal justice system itself, such as theory, the media, and criminal justice ethics/education.

FBI Uniform Crime Reports

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm

The UCR Web sites is one of the most effective and reputable electronic depositories of crime statistics in the world. Information from agencies responsible for monitoring crime at the local, state, and national levels is compiled into UCRs, covering many types of incidents, which can be accessed at this site. Additionally, the site includes the annual Crime in the United States Report. Links to the FBI's Most Wanted list and other resources are also provided.

United Nations Crime and Justice Information Center

http://www.uncjin.org/

The UNCJIC is a project of the U.N. Center for International Crime Prevention. It is an electronic clearinghouse for reports and statistical studies on crime commissioned by the United Nations or conducted by U.N. agencies. It is also a resource center for statistics compiled by national agencies, such as the FBI, throughout the world. A good starting point into learning more about transnational organized crime, drug smuggling, prison conditions worldwide, and many other issues.

Urban Ethnography of Latino Street Gangs

http://www.csun.edu/~hcchs006/gang.html

The site originally focused on Latino street gangs in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. It has expanded to include studies of street gangs in Albuquerque and Phoenix. The goal of this site is to find solutions, to share an ever expanding body of data and literature on Latino street gangs, and to locate successful strategies for prevention and intervention with at-risk youths.

Street Gangs.com

http://www.streetgangs.com/

This is another site focusing on Los Angeles street gangs. It also includes information on the LAPD corruption scandal that involves police in the street gang task force, as well as links to prisons and prison gangs. A database on gang-related articles and a comprehensive gallery on gang graffiti are also included.

Internet Sociology: Police Corruption

Use the Web sites below to answer the following questions.

Stanford Prison Experiment Web Site

http://www.prisonexp.org/

Los Angeles Police Corruption Scandal

Los Angeles Times: The Rampart Scandal

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/lapd/scandal/

CNN Site

http://cnn.com/2000/US/02/09/lapd.effects/

1. What specific allegations of corruption are facing the LAPD?
2. How would you classify these allegations, using theories of deviant behavior from your textbook?
3. How do the allegations compare with the kinds of activities conducted by street gangs?
4. What kinds of similarities can you draw between the behavior of authorities accused of wrongdoing and the behavior of authority figures in the Stanford Prison Experiment http://www.prisonexp.org/?

Return to Top

VI. Stratification in the United States and Worldwide

The advent of the global economy--with its emphasis on transnational capital, multinational trade, and new technology--is seen as the hallmark of progress in a new world order. Open trade agreements and the entrepreneurial spirit infecting Europe, Asia, and the United States can certainly foster new opportunities that can be beneficial. Many of these opportunities can also be exploitative to a nation, society, group or individual, or the environment. The fast pace of deregulation and change ensures the creation of new classifications of labor, as well as the creation of a new globally elite set of economic and social classes. Where is the accelerated economy taking us, and who will we be five years from now as a result? The Web sites below on stratification were selected to help shed light on the issues, including welfare reform worldwide.

Explorations in Social Inequality

http://www.trinity.edu/~mkearl/strat.html

One of the best stops on the award-winning Web site Sociological Tour through Cyberspace. It provides an annotated discussion with links to the major issues in inequality, including theory and measurement of social class/mobility. Stratification and inequality issues are also explored using the themes of race, gender, ethnicity, and education.

Center for Working Class Studies

http://www.as.ysu.edu/~cwcs/

The CWCS creates social spaces for civic and academic conversations on working-class life and serves as a clearinghouse for information on working-class culture, issues, and pedagogy. The web site includes information about working-class studies as a field of study; information on courses, research, and programs at YSU; a bibliography on working-class studies; plus links to other related web sites.

Institute of Commonwealth Studies

http://www.sas.ac.uk/commonwealthstudies/

The Institute of Commonwealth Studies is the only postgraduate academic institution in the United Kingdom devoted to the study of the Commonwealth. Its purpose is to promote interdisciplinary and interregional research on the Commonwealth and its member nations in the fields of history, politics, economics and other social sciences, and subjects like development, environment, health, migration, class, race, and literature.

The Official Mahatma Gandhi Web Site

http://www.mahatma.org.in/

Online biography with links on a key figure in the historic struggle to free India from English colonial rule.

Theories of Colonialism and Postcolonialism

http://www.postcolonialweb.org/

Information on articles and theorists concerned with colonial theory can be found here. The site provides some background on terms and history, but is mostly devoted to new interpretations of colonialism. Issues related to gender and identity are also explored.

BBC NEWS: Macau Handover

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_564000/564984.stm

BBC News Online looks at what the handover means for Macau and the region as five centuries of European colonialism in Asia come to an end.

Anti-Imperialism in the United States

http://www.boondocksnet.com/ail98-35.html

A very insightful online look at the anti-imperialist movement in the United States is presented here. Issues addressed include the Spanish-U.S. conquest, the Philippine war, and the recognition of Panama. Links to other sites on the subject are also included.

International Council on Social Welfare

http://www.icsw.org/

The International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) is a global nongovernmental organization that represents a wide range of national and international member organizations that seek to advance social welfare, social justice, and social development.

Welfare Reform on the Web

http://www.bl.uk/collections/social/sswelfare.html

Background on welfare reform in the United Kingdom, along with resources on current issues in the subject, is provided here. Topics at the site include social security, child care, housing, education, and community redevelopment.

Welfare Reform

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/welfare/index.htm

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides this page of links on the issue. Access to policies and programs that address and are affected by welfare reform initiatives can be found here. Additionally, the site provides links to evaluation research on local and national welfare reform programs and efforts.

Stateline: Welfare Reform

http://www.stateline.org

Many objectives of welfare reform are played out on the state and local level. The Stateline.com Web site is devoted to political news on a statewide level. It includes links to political news briefs in each of the 50 states. The welfare reform section at this site provides up-to-date information on the status of hot issues in welfare reform on a statewide level.

Multinational Monitor

http://www.essential.org/monitor/

An online magazine devoted to taking a critical look at the roles, functions, and impact of multinational corporations in the national and global economy, as well as society at large. The site contains a featured article, as well as a special section called Focus on the Corporation, which highlights the way in which companies exploit labor, hijack the competition, and receive corporate welfare.

Global Trade Watch

http://www.tradewatch.org/

Global Trade Watch fights for international trade and investment policies promoting government and corporate accountability, consumer health and safety, and environmental protection through research, lobbying, public education, and the media. It is a division of Public Citizen, a national consumer and environmental organization founded by Ralph Nader in 1971. The site includes resources for activists and volunteers, as well as an online article, Citizen's Guide to the WTO.

Return to Top

VII. Racial and Ethnic Inequality

There are many symptoms of racial and ethnic inequality in the United States and abroad. In the United States, affirmative action policies and immigration reform issues can become divisive "wedge issues" that illustrate the challenges to eliminating discrimination against minorities and facilitating assimilation of new ethnic groups. Neo-nationalist movements and economic segregation represent threats to the rights of immigrants and refugees in many European countries. Prejudice and fear refuse to wane; and yet the economic and social patterns that lead to racial and ethnic inequality continue. The Web sites below can help you gain further insight into these patterns, as well as what can be done about them.

Ethnic Studies Resource List (USC)

http://www.usc.edu/isd/archives/ethnicstudies/

A list of meta-links to resources on ethnic history, race relations and discrimination issues, and other issues of importance to the social context of inequality.

Antiracism/Anti-Fascism

http://burn.ucsd.edu/%7Eresist/antifa.html

A Web site devoted primarily to political wedge issues that concern race relations, immigration, and inequality. Links to activist sites on the contract with America, Prop 187, and other "wedge issues" affecting race relations in the United States are provided. Access to sites addressing similar issues across the globe are also included.

Wilkins Center on Human Relations and Social Justice

http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/wilkins/

The Wilkins Forum provides opportunities for a broad cross section of intellectuals, researchers, public opinion leaders, and community activists to debate and challenge one another about specific problems related to the resolution of inequality. The Web site includes information on past, present, and future forums held by the center at national policy conferences.

Centre for Refugee Studies

http://www.yorku.ca/crs/

The Centre for Refugee Studies (CRS) is an organized research unit of York University. Founded in 1988, the Centre for Refugee Studies is successor to the Refugee Documentation Project created in 1981 for the conservation and analysis of research documents and data collected by Operation Lifeline during the Indochinese Boat People crisis.

Center for Migration Studies

http://www.cmsny.org/index.htm

The Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) studies the sociodemographic, historical, economic, political, legislative, and pastoral aspects of human migration and refugee movements. The site includes a link to the CMS documentation center that offers resources on migration issues throughout the world.

European Centre on Migration and Ethnic Relations

http://www.ercomer.org/

ERCOMER is a European research centre with a strong interest in comparative research in the fields of international migration and ethnic relations within the European context. ERCOMER's core activities are all related to the furthering and dissemination of comparative research in the fields of international migration and ethnic relations.

FAIR

http://www.fairus.org/

The Federation for American Immigration Reform is a national, nonprofit, public interest organization of concerned citizens who share a common belief that the unforeseen mass immigration that has occurred over the last 30 years should not continue. The Web site contains information on the current political and research activities of FAIR, as well as links to other organizations that are critical of U.S. immigration policies and U.S. immigration reform activists.

U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform

http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/uscir/

The bipartisan U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform was authorized by Section Immigration Act of 1990. The mandate of the commission was to review and evaluate the implementation and impact of U.S. immigration policy and to transmit to the Congress reports of its findings and recommendations. This Web site provides links to the activities of this commission, as well as reports on their research findings concerning immigration reform.

Immigration History Research Center

http://www1.umn.edu/ihrc/

The Immigration History Research Center (IHRC) at the University of Minnesota is an international resource on American immigration and ethnic history. The IHRC collects, preserves, and makes available archival and published resources documenting immigration and ethnicity on a national scope. These materials are particularly rich for ethnic groups that originated in eastern, central, and southern Europe and the Near East -- those who came to this country during the great wave of migration that gained momentum in the 1880s and peaked in the first decades of this century.

Immigration and Ethnic History Society

http://www.balchinstitute.org/iehs/

The Immigration and Ethnic History Society was founded to study the history of immigration to the United States and Canada from all parts of the world, including studies of the background of emigration in the countries of origin. It also promotes the study of ethnic groups in the United States, including regional groups, native Americans, and forced immigrants.

United Nations International Human Rights Instruments

http://www.unhchr.ch/html/intlinst.htm

Textual documents on key U.N. declarations concerning human rights and human welfare are provided here. Subject areas addressed concern human rights and criminal justice; the rights of children, women, and families; and war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Anti-Defamation League

http://www.adl.org/

The ADL is one of the largest and most influential organizations devoted to fighting bigotry and anti-Semitism today. The league collects and assesses a vast amount of information on anti-Semites, racists, and extremists. The league also monitors hate groups in cyberspace. The Web site is a great resource for information relating to race relations, religious tolerance, and other important issues.

ICARE

http://www.icare.to/

ICARE is a partnership Web site that leverages the online resources of antiracism advocacy groups in Europe. This fantastic resource includes a united database of 3,000 sites addressing migration, discrimination, racial prejudice, and bigotry in Europe. The site also includes news updates and information on antiracism events and pro-diversity activities throughout the world.

Simon Wiesenthal Center

http://www.wiesenthal.com/

One of the most important organizations devoted to remembrance of the Holocaust and the elimination of crimes against humanity. The SWC Web site is a high-quality, interactive resource, with information on the history of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The site also includes information on current human rights issues, genocide issues and terrorism, as well as up-to-date information on hate groups throughout the world.

Hate Watch

http://www.hatewatch.org/

HateWatch monitors the growing and evolving threat of hate groups on the Internet. The organization offers assistance to academicians, activists, and victims of hate crimes. Many resources on hate group activity on the Internet are provided, including links to hate group and militia organizations, as well as the activist organizations that oppose and expose them.

Anti-Slavery International

http://www.antislavery.org/

Anti Slavery International is an organization devoted to contemporary world issues surrounding servitude and exploitation. Issues addressed include debt bondage and other traditions that force people into low-status work, forced labor, forced prostitution, abusive forms of child labor, and early or forced marriage and other forms of servile marriage. The Web site provides information on current activities of the organization, as well as other antislavery activist links.

Internet Sociology: Global Immigration

Use the Web site resources above to answer the following questions:

1. Briefly describe the issues addressed by the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform. What were their findings and recommendations?
2. Examine organizations, such as FAIR, that you find through the Web sites above that advocate more closed and moderate policies of immigration in the United States. Can you also find organizations that advocate open and more unrestricted approaches to immigration? Briefly assess the political and economic views in the differing Web sites you find.
3. What are the underlying differences between advocates of immigration reform? To what extent do they share common economic, political, or humanitarian interests concerning immigration?
4. Now examine similar organizations and research institutions available through the Web sites above addressing immigration issues in Europe. How are the concerns there different from the ones faced in the United States? Is the treatment of immigrants and refugees in Europe more or less of a concern there than here? Explain the possible reasons for this.

Return to Top

VIII. Stratification by Gender and Age

GeroWeb

http://www.iog.wayne.edu/GeroWebSearch.html

Geroweb is a searchable database of Web sites and gophers with information on gerontology and aging issues. Sites may also be viewed using thematic categories of issues, ranging from "lifestyles" to "Medicare." A very helpful starting point.

AARP

http://www.aarp.org/

AARP is the nation's leading organization for people age 50 and older. It serves their needs and interests through information and education, advocacy, and community services that are provided by a network of local chapters and experienced volunteers throughout the country. The Web site includes health and lifestyle information, along with information on current political activities of the organization.

National Institute on Aging

http://www.nih.gov/nia/

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), one of the 25 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. The Web site provides access to NIA research and publications, information on funding and training opportunities, and much more.

Novartis Foundation for Gerontology

http://www.healthandage.com/

A high-impact, visually appealing site that emphasizes geriatrics and gerontology research. The section for medical practitioners includes access to a "virtual university" that allows you to test yourself on topics in the subject area. In addition to topics such as incontinence and Alzheimer's disease, subjects such as sexuality and marijuana use are also touched upon at the site.

Administration on Aging (AoA)

http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/

AoA's Web site provides information on the policies and activities of the agency. Information on budget requests, research proposals and existing projects, as well as media advisory sheet, is provided. Additionally, access to resource material for family caregivers, practitioners, and students can be found at the site.

National Aging Information Center

http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/naic/

A Web-based information center provided by the Administration on Aging. Access to research databases and government publications on the issue of aging can be found here. Clients can also respond with specific questions to the Administration on Aging through the Web site.

Affirmative Action and Diversity Project

http://aad.english.ucsb.edu/

This site presents diverse opinions regarding affirmative action topics; rather than taking a singular pro or con position, it is designed to help lend many different voices to the debates surrounding the issues of affirmative action. It also provides on-site articles and theoretical analyses, policy documents, current legislative updates, and an annotated bibliography of research and teaching materials.

Gender Inn: Women and Gender Studies Database

http://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/englisch/datenbank/e_index.htm

Gender Inn is a searchable database providing access to over 6000 records pertaining to feminist theory, feminist literary criticism, and gender studies focusing on English and American literature. All records are carefully indexed using a feminist thesaurus. This very comprehensive site also includes links to other meta-sites and searchable Web databases on the subject.

Women Watch

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/

Women Watch is the U.N. Internet Gateway on the Advancement and Empowerment of Women. The Web site provides access to agencies and documents within the United Nations devoted to women's issues and ending discrimination of women throughout the world. Additionally, information on U.N. global conferences on women's issues, as well as national action plans based on U.N. policies, is provided. The site also includes access to nongovernmental organizations concerned with women's issues.

Screening Gender

http://www.yle.fi/gender/

Screening Gender is an innovative Web site providing tools to sensitize viewers and producers of televised and visual material to the ways in which women are portrayed in the media. The project, cosponsored by the European Commission's Fourth Community Action Program on Equal Opportunities as well as several European broadcast organizations, includes the results of a study on female portrayal and participation in television programs. Suggestions for changing the spectrum of portrayal based on the recommendation are provided through the site as well.

The ADA Project

http://www.cs.yale.edu/~tap/tap.html

The ADA Project (TAP) is a WWW site designed to serve as a clearinghouse for information and resources relating to women in computing. TAP includes information on conferences, projects, discussion groups and organizations, fellowships and grants, notable women in computer science, and other electronically accessible information sites.

American Women's History: A Research Guide

http://frank.mtsu.edu/~kmiddlet/history/women/wh-intro.html

American Women's History provides citations to print and Internet reference sources, as well as to selected large primary source collections. The guide also provides information about the tools researchers can use to find additional books, articles, dissertations, and primary sources.

National Women's History Project

http://www.nwhp.org/

This Web site provides information on the goals and accomplishments of the organization, as well as links to women's history Web sites and other related organizations.

Diotima: Materials for the Study of Women and Gender in the Ancient World

http://www.uky.edu/ArtsSciences/Classics/gender.html

Diotima serves as an interdisciplinary resource for anyone studying gender around the ancient Mediterranean and as a forum for collaboration among instructors who teach courses about women and gender in the ancient world. Diotima includes course materials, the beginnings of a systematic and searchable database, and links to many online articles, book reviews, databases, and images.

Feminist Majority Online

http://www.feminist.org/

A premier Web site for feminist issues, sponsored by the Feminist Majority Foundation. The Web site includes late-breaking press release information on causes important to feminists and the foundation itself. It additionally includes access to resources of concern to grassroots activists, as well as researchers and students in the field. Also included is a handy "Feminist Information Gateway," with selected links to other sites.

Working to Halt Online Abuse

http://www.haltabuse.org/

The mission of W.H.O.A. is to educate the Internet community about online harassment, empower victims of harassment, and formulate voluntary policies that systems can adopt in order to create harassment-free environments. In addition to information about the organization, the site includes fact sheets on ways to counter online abuse, as well as a lawyer list and many other online resources.

Return to Top

IX. The Family

Parenting and Families at About.com

http://home.about.com/parenting/index.htm

This About.com Web site provides links to some of the most informative commercial and noncommercial sites on parenting and family issues. Family lifestyle and leisure topics are emphasized, but the site also includes information on family health and child safety as well. Links are provided to About.com chat groups on various issues related to the family and parenting.

Marriage and Family Processes

http://www.trinity.edu/~mkearl/family.html

Another fantastic stop on the Sociological Tour through Cyberspace. The site provides an annotated factual discussion of all the topical areas and theories in marriage and the family, along with links to databases, research studies, and other Web site resources of use or importance. A very good first stop for learning more about scholarly approaches to the subject.

The Administration for Children and Families

http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is responsible for federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. Programs related to welfare and temporary assistance for families, foster care, adoption, family preservation, and Head Start are just some of the areas addressed by the ACF. A listing of the many agencies and offices affiliated with the organization can be found here.

Family Relations

http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/n/x/nxd10/family3.htm#top

A thoughtfully organized series of hyperlinks to aspects of marriage and family relations can be found here.

Children's Defense Fund (CDF)

http://www.childrensdefense.org/

The CDF is a policy research and advocacy organization devoted to ensuring the economic, social, and moral development of children in the United States. The organization provides advocacy and information on issues such as children and guns, Head Start, child care, moral consciousness, and other issues.

Children's Rights Council

http://www.vix.com/crc/

Formed in 1985, the Children's Rights Council (CRC) is a national nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that works to ensure children of meaningful and continuing contact with both their parents and extended family regardless of the parents' marital status. The Web site provides information on affiliates and activities, as well as fact sheets concerning research related to their views on the topic.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

http://www.ncadv.org/

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is dedicated to the empowerment of battered women and their children and to the elimination of personal and societal violence in the lives of women and their children. The site discusses the current activities of the organization as they relate to preventing domestic violence. A discussion of family violence issues and suggested means of solving the problem is presented at the site.

U.S. Department of Justice: Violence Against Women Office

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/

The Violence Against Women Office works with U.S. attorneys to ensure enforcement of the federal criminal statutes contained in the 1994 act. It assists the attorney general in formulating policy related to civil and criminal justice for women and administers more than $270 million a year in grants to transform the way in which criminal justice systems respond to violent crimes against women. The site offers public information on the current activities of the office. A special section on model practices for state and local agencies is included, as well as links to related research and organizations at the DOJ.

Return to Top

X. Religion and Education

Religion and education are two very powerful influences on individuals, groups, and societies. They have impacted our thought, history, and institutions, and are institutions in themselves. The Web sites below will help you in your efforts to learn more about these cultural universals.

Ask Eric Database

http://www.eric.ed.gov/

ERIC is the world's largest source of education information, with more than 1 million abstracts of documents and journal articles on education research and practice. This site is an important first stop for anyone seeking information on teaching and teaching resources.

Gateway to Educational Materials

http://www.thegateway.org/

The Gateway is an ERIC- related educational materials project with a searchable database and listing for hot topics in areas of interest to teachers and researchers.

Virtual Reference Desk

http://www.vrd.org/

This Web site, designed for primary and secondary education instructors, allows the user to query information desk administrators and assistants at major museums, libraries, and other important institutions. In addition to providing a preliminary "digital reference desk" tool, the site includes information on research and professional activities that address "digital referencing."

U.S. Network for Education Information (USNEI)

http://www.ed.gov/NLE/USNEI/

USNEI is a national information and referral service to assist American educators, students, and parents with access to reliable information about international education and to provide basic information and referral contacts to resources within U.S. education. The Web site provides an overview of the American system of education, as well as information of interest to U.S. students and educators wishing to study or work abroad.

U.S. Department of Education

http://www.ed.gov/

An informative site on the priorities of the Department of Education. Links to projects and education-related sites sponsored by the department can be accessed here. Access to Internet and computer-related educational projects is also available.

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

http://nces.ed.gov/

The NCES is the government agency responsible for collection and analysis of data on education systems in the United States. This easy-to-use and well-organized Web site contains some handy presentations from "The Nation's Report Card," as well as analytical tools to help users of all kinds become better consumers of educational information. Elementary/secondary school data, as well as postsecondary school data, are provided at this site.

Education Virtual Library

http://www.csu.edu.au/education/library.html

A very well organized and comprehensive searchable database of Web resources in education. The site provides links to major national and international sources of data and resources, including government agencies, research institutions, as well as educational programs and facilities. Access to related libraries and newsgroups is also provided.

Voice of the Shuttle Religious Studies Page

http://vos.ucsb.edu/browse.asp?id=2730

Voice of the Shuttle is a premier Web site for Web-based research on issues in humanities and literature. The religious studies page provides access to sources in world religions, as well as to departments of religious study and much more. A very good first stop in seeking objective information and primary sources.

Virtual Religion Index

http://virtualreligion.net/vri/

A very well organized and useful Web resource, designed and updated by the Department of Religion at Rutgers University. Links to reliable academic resources on many facets of religious studies are provided here.

Religious Movements Home Page at the University of Virginia

http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~jkh8x/soc257/home.html

A fantastic Web resource emphasizing modern religion and new religious movements. The site takes a topical and historical approach to the subject. Information on the latest controversies surrounding cult groups is included, along with profiles of many new and alternative religious groups.

Psychology of Religion Pages

http://www.psywww.com/psyrelig/

Edited by Dr. Michael Nielsen, this Web site provides an online introduction to the psychology of religion, along with links to organizations and other sources in the field.

Matrix: Resources for the Study of Women's Religious Communities

http://matrix.bc.edu/MatrixWebData/matrix.html

The Matrix Web site focuses on religious women and communities in medieval history. The site provides research and documentation on the participation of Christian women in the religion and society of medieval Europe. Access to primary and secondary resources and unpublished archival evidence is provided through the site.

Internet Sociology: Cults and New Religious Movements

The Heaven's Gate incident, as well as the continuing controversy surrounding the FBI and the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco, Texas, illustrates the profound impact cults can have on groups and individuals. It also illustrates the fear and mistrust the larger society has of new religious movements. How do we draw the line between protecting the rights of the individual and ensuring that tragedies like the Jonestown massacre don't transpire? Use the Web sites below to answer the following questions.

Yahoo: Full Coverage: WACO Investigation

http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/US/Waco/

Full coverage of the FBI handling of Waco and the Branch Davidians is provided here.

Academic Info on Religious Movements and Alternative Spirituality

http://www.academicinfo.net/nrms.html

A great resource for information on the study of major cults and alternative religions. Site provides links to Web resources on cults of historic interest or controversy. Links to popular media coverage, academic study, and watchdog sites are also included.

Religious Movements Home Page at the University of Virginia

http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~jkh8x/soc257/home.html

A fantastic Web resource emphasizing modern religion and new religious movements. The site takes a topical and historical approach to the subject. Information on the latest controversies surrounding cult groups is included, along with profiles of many new and alternative religious groups.

1. Examine the groups presented in the Religious Movements Web site above. As you can see, many groups characterized as cults belong to a legitimate "family" of modern religions presented at this Web site. What kinds of controversies described at the Web site can lead to a religious group being seen as a cult?
2. Use the Web sites above to describe the dispute that led to the Waco incident. Why did the FBI feel justified in the approach they used? In your opinion, was the FBI's behavior out of bounds?
3. Has the reenactment described at the YAHOO:Full Coverage site above changed anybody's mind? How can the FBI behave differently in similar situations?

Return to Top

XI. Government and the Economy

http://www.nttc.edu/resources/government/govresources.asp

Economic and political systems have a symbiotic relationship. Social and cultural factors have helped shape this relationship, as well as intellectual history and study. Educational and other research institutions are helpful in providing a better understanding of these two systems. However, the ways in which we understand political and economic influences are shaped by many subjective and speculative factors that are often based on ideologies. For this reason, the state of the economy and world affairs are the daily subject of hot debate. Misconception based on inadequate facts as well as myth, prejudice, and self-interest often clouds interpretations. The Web sites below can be a helpful starting point in getting a factual, commonsense view of the functions of the government and the economy.

U.S. Government

Fed World

http://www.fedworld.gov/

FedWorld is the online locator service for information disseminated by the federal government. This is a necessary stop for anyone researching information relevant to the U.S. government.

Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet

http://thomas.loc.gov/

A very useful, searchable database of information on the activities of the House and Senate, including status of bills and laws, as well as committee reports. Links to judiciary and local government sites, the executive branch, as well as historic documents can be found here.

U.S. Government Information Services

http://www.nttc.edu/gov_res.html

A searchable database of government Web sites maintained by the National Technology Transfer Center.

U.S. Government Frequently Used Sites

http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/central/staff/fdtf.html

A listing of frequently used sites for each branch of government is provided here.

U.S. Department of Commerce

http://204.193.246.62/public.nsf

Information on the latest economic indicators and other hot topics related to trade and commerce can be found here. Additionally, instant access to bureaus and agencies within the Department of Commerce related to export, statistics, economic development, minority businesses, technology and telecommunications, as well as patenting and trademarking, is provided at this site.

U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs

http://www.state.gov/www/issues/economic/index.html

The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB) formulates and carries out U.S. foreign economic policy. The bureau negotiates agreements with foreign governments and advances U.S. positions in such organizations as the International Monetary Fund or World Trade Organization. At this site, information can be found on current policy and EB activities, in addition to reports on EB activities in countries around the world.

U.S. Government Electronic Commerce Policy

http://www.technology.gov/digeconomy/governme.htm

An electronic briefing center providing information on U.S. government electronic commerce policy. In addition to resources on the emerging global framework for electronic commerce, this site provides links to other e-commerce concerned governmental and nongovernmental organizations throughout the world. Models and examples of electronic commerce are also provided.

World Governments and Selected Nongovernmental Organizations

World Trade Organization

http://www.wto.org/

A very helpful Web-based description of the goals and activities of the WTO can be found here. The introduction to the WTO provides a concise overview of the organization, with easy access to more detailed accounts of policies, agreements, and trade in general. Information on current topics relating to trade, such as the environment, electronic commerce, and intellectual topics, is also provided at the site. Additionally, users can access reports, statistics, and other resource material relevant to the WTO directly from the launch page.

United Nations Information Service

http://www.unis.unvienna.org/index.html

Information on current U.N. activities around the world can be found here. Updates on hot points of concern to the United Nations are also provided at this site. You can access the United Nations Web site locator directly from this site as well. The site also includes an online introduction to the organization.

EUROPA: Official Web Site of the European Union

http://europa.eu.int/

Multilingual one-stop shop to information on government bodies, bureaus, and regulatory agencies associated with the European Union.

European Free Trade Association

http://www.efta.int/

The Member States of the European Free Trade Association are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The EFTA Secretariat assists the Member States in activities under the Stockholm Convention (the legal basis for EFTA), in the day-to-day management of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA), and the coordination and development of trade agreements with third countries. Access to the three branches of the EFTA, Secretariat, Surveillance Authority, and the Court is provided at this site.

International Chamber of Commerce

http://www.iccwbo.org/

ICC represents enterprises from all sectors in every part of the world and makes voluntary rules for commerce that are observed worldwide. ICC promotes an open international trade and investment system and the market economy. ICC also provides essential services, foremost among them the ICC International Court of Arbitration, the world's leading arbitration institution. Information on the many activities of the organization in subjects related to banking, trade, arbitration, and business ethics is provided here.

International Monetary Fund

http://www.imf.org/

The IMF is an international organization of 182 member countries, established to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; to foster economic growth and high levels of employment; and to provide temporary financial assistance to countries under adequate safeguards to help ease balance of payments adjustment. The Web site provides information on lending and surveillance practices of the organization and much more.

Politics/International Relations

Hieros Gamos: The Comprehensive Law and Government Portal

A truly amazing Web site related to world governments, including the U.S. government. Amongst the many legal and governmental resources available at the site is a comprehensive listing of Web sites for governments around the world. Information on legal practice and study throughout the world is also provided, along with online essays and resources for 200 legal and governmental topics. WOW!!!

Virtual Library: International Affairs Resources

http://www.etown.edu/vl/

A helpful meta-site that offers thematic links to resources concerning the field. The information is organized according to media sources, organizations, regions and countries, and topical areas. The site also includes links to tips on using the Internet for research in international relations and politics.

Voice of the Shuttle: Politics

http://vos.ucsb.edu/browse.asp?id=2726

The Voice of the Shuttle Politics page is an authoritative source for academically oriented Web sites on politics throughout the world. In addition to providing links addressing the political climate of the United States, Europe, and other countries, the Web site provides links to political theory and philosophy, as well as the politics of cyberculture.

Nonwestern Sources on Contemporary Political Issues

http://library.lib.binghamton.edu/subjects/polsci/home.html

A very helpful set of links to online sources from nonwestern institutions and organizations addressing political issues. The sites are organized according to the themes of conflict resolution, environment, gender, and human rights.

Economics

Virtual Library: Economics

http://www.helsinki.fi/WebEc/WebEc.html

A handy, thematically organized set of Web links covering many topics in the field of economics.

About.com: Economics

http://economics.miningco.com/finance/economics/

About.com: Economics provides access to education-related Web sites in the field, as well as to governmental organizations and nonprofits active in economic policy areas. Topical items of interest to consumers, including stock information and recent economic issues, are provided at the site as well. Links to a glossary of related terms in economics are also provided.

Resources for Economists on the Internet

http://altaplana.com/gate.html

A very comprehensive, searchable database of Web resources, covering theories and research, domestic as well as international aspects of the field. Endorsed by the American Economics Association.

Economic Departments, Institutes, and Research Centers

http://ideas.uqam.ca/EDIRC/index.html

The University of Montreal supports this comprehensive searchable listing of Web sites from around the world. Links to a new Web site on working papers in economics, called Ideas, are also provided here.

Internet Sociology: The Gun Control Debate

Examine the Web sites below for their content on gun control issues, and answer the questions below.

National Rifle Association

http://www.nra.org/

The NRA Web site provides information on the educational and political activities of the organization. Fact sheets, publications, and press releases discussing their positions on national, regional, and local gun control issues are provided at the site.

Handguncontrol.org

http://www.handguncontrol.org/

Information on gun control advocacy, legislation, and other legal action, as well as enforcement, can be found here. Additional research on guns and gun violence can also be found at the site.

Election 2000 at Politics.com

http://www.politics.com/

The Election 2000 Web site at Politics.com provides daily news updates on the state of the year 2000 election. Links to the candidates, election funding, polls, and all the hot issues can be found through this site. You may also access related political and media Web sites with text and video content relating to the election directly from here.

1. What legal and constitutional guarantees are there to the right to bear arms, according to the NRA? Do you think the NRA and similar groups you can find on the net feel the right to bear arms is healthy for the political system? Explain.
2. What arguments in favor of gun control are employed by the Handguncontrol.com Web site above? What arguments do they use against the unregulated right to bear arms?
3. Using the Election 2000 Web site above, access position sheets on gun control at Web sites for parties. What are the differences? Describe the candidates' views. How is the issue being used in the election by each candidate?
4. Can you find evidence that interest groups in favor of, or against, gun control have an influence on political parties active in the debate? How are they exercising that influence? Provide concrete evidence using the Web sites above, or others you can find on your own.

Return to Top

XII. Population and Health

What issues and challenges to human health and well-being will we face as the human population exceeds the 6 billion mark? Can our wealth and technological resources sustain a healthier, more equitable future for the children of the world, while at the same time ensuring the welfare of the elderly? What can we do to minimize the effects of pollution and catastrophic illness on the population at large? You can gain insight into these and many other questions through use of the Web sites below.

PopNet

http://www.popnet.org/

An incredibly comprehensive meta-source for population and health issues. Links to all the most important governmental and nongovernmental organizations along with educational and research institutions addressing population problems, can be found here. Worldwide and country-based demographic resources are comprehensively listed at the site. Users can access all levels of the Web resource database using a clickable map of the world. If it's out there at all, you can probably find it here.

U.S. Census Bureau

http://www.census.gov/

The latest information on U.S. population trends, the census, as well as statistical data, research findings, publications, fact sheets, graphic interfaces for viewing data, and much more can be found here. International data on economic and demographic issues can also be accessed through this site.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

http://www.hhs.gov/

Links to many of the most important national agencies addressing health and population can be found here, including the Administration on Aging, Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institute of Health. Access to Healthfinder, the U.S. government Web resource for consumer information on health-related issues, is also provided.

National Center for Health Statistics

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/default.htm

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is a cooperative service of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Data are provided at the site on key medical and health care issues as well as on health status, lifestyle and exposure to unhealthy influences, the onset and diagnosis of illness and disability, and the use of health care.

Combined Health Information Data Base (CHID)

http://chid.nih.gov/

CHID is produced by health-related agencies at the U.S. government. CHID lists a wealth of health promotion and education materials and program descriptions that are not indexed elsewhere at government Web sites. Some 17 topics are addressed at the site, including AIDS/HIV, Alzheimer's disease, cancer prevention, and other disease prevention and health promotion themes.

Roper Center for Public Opinion Research

http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/

The Roper Center is a premier public opinion research organization, whose primary goal is to promote the informed use of survey research and public opinion information. The Web site provides an archive of public opinion studies that include international as well as domestic findings. Links to other key organizations and institutions active in public opinion research can also be accessed through the site.

World Health Organization (WHO)

http://www.who.int/

WHO is an international organization devoted to ensuring the complete physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of all people in the world. It organizes and directs international health work efforts throughout the world, providing assistance to governments in addressing health and nutrition issues, and implementing immunization and disease eradication programs in cooperation with other agencies and groups. The Web site describes the organizational structure, policy orientation, and activities.

CARE

http://www.care.org/

CARE is one of the world's largest private international relief and development organizations. Since its establishment at the end of World War II, CARE has become a leader in sustainable development and emergency aid. This high-quality, interactive Web site provides an introduction to the policies and worldwide activities of the organization. Late-breaking information and special reports from the field are also provided.

International Planned Parenthood Federation

http://www.ippf.org/index.htm

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is the largest voluntary organization in the world concerned with family planning and sexual and reproductive health. The organization links national autonomous Family Planning Associations (FPAs) in over 150 countries worldwide, promoting the reproductive health, well-being, and rights of women, men, and children.

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

http://www.undp.org/

UNDP's mission is to help countries in their efforts to achieve sustainable human development by assisting them in design and implementation of development programs. The objective of UNDP's assistance is poverty eradication, employment creation, and sustainable livelihoods, as well as the empowerment of women and the protection and regeneration of the environment. The Web site provides information and updates on focus areas and projects of the UNDP throughout the world. Links to offices throughout the world and many other resources are also provided at the site.

UNICEF

http://www.unicef.org/

The United Nations Children's Fund is the branch of the United Nations that addresses the health, welfare, and social well-being of children. The Web site includes information on the latest activities of UNICEF throughout the world, as well as links to resources on their programs, policies, and research.

Return to Top

XIII. Population and the Environment

Environment

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

http://www.epa.gov/

The EPA is a comprehensive center of information about EPA regulations, departments, and related activities. In addition to governmental resources on the national, regional, and local levels, the Web site provides resources for concerned citizens, the environment and children's health issues, and small businesses and industry. The Databases and Software resource page provides links to the Envirofacts Web site, a national information system that provides a single point of access to data extracted from seven major EPA databases. Additionally, links to the Environmental Data Agency, and media-related Web sites that address the EPA and environmental issues, can be found here.

The European Environment Agency (EEA)

http://www.eea.eu.int/

The EEA Web site provides research and other information concerning the environment and the EEA. Links to policy approaches, studies, and solutions that address European environmental issues, such as acid rain, air quality, chemicals, and other pollutants, as well as their impact on the climate and biodiversity are provided at the site. Additionally, the site provides links to major European databases, research centers, and other agencies concerned with environmental issues.

Earthwatch

http://www.unep.ch/earthw.html

Earthwatch is an online service of the United Nations Environment Programme. Two outstanding resources at this site include the State of the Planet and Environmental Assessment links. State of the Planet provides near real time reports on two important factors in global warming-fires worldwide and oceanic activity, like El Nino. Environmental Assessment provides access to many Web-based reports on the environment produced by the United Nations, including the annual Global Environment Outlook Report. A variety of U.N.-related agencies, policies, and research can also be accessed through the site.

A very large list of links for organizations addressing the environment. Major thematic links include a sizable list on sustainable development issues.

Greenpeace

http://www.greenpeace.org/

Greenpeace is one of the world's most important and influential environmental activist organizations. The Web site contains information on the status of their latest activities. Subjects addressed at the site include climate change, toxic waste, nuclear activism, oceanic pollution and conservation, and genetic engineering.

Return to Top

XIV. Communities

Ecological, economic, and political issues all converge around problems associated with communities and the urban environment. In the United States, suburban expansion helped eat up the rural landscape and changed the economy of cities. In other countries, urbanization is causing potentially cataclysmic problems with the environment and is also adversely affecting the quality of life for individuals in urban and rural communities alike. Can the social factors leading to these changes be harnessed in ways that minimize the ecological impact of the human need for habitat and increase economic opportunity at the same time? The Web sites below will help you answer these and other questions.

United Nations Center for Human Settlement (Habitat)

http://www.unchs.org/unchs/english/whdbro.htm

Habitat's focus is promoting housing for all, improving urban governance, reducing urban poverty, improving the living environment, and managing disaster mitigation and postconflict rehabilitation. Their programs and policies are oriented toward economic equity, sustainability, and social justice. The Web site lists information on their policies, agenda, and activities throughout the world.

Best Practices for Human Settlements

http://www.bestpractices.org/

A searchable database offering existing solutions to the common social, economic, and environmental problems of an urbanizing world. The resources are intended to awaken communities, governments, and the private sector to new approaches in social welfare, shelter, and other sustainable development issues. Operated in conjunction with the United Nations Center for Human Settlement.

World Business Council for Sustainable Development

http://www.ulb.ac.be/ceese/meta/sustvl.html

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a coalition of 125 international companies that share a commitment to the environment and sustainable development. The Web site provides links to a Virtual University for Sustainable Development, as well as links to scenarios and case studies available online that illustrate potential problems and solutions in the topic area.

World Bank Group: Urban Development

http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/urban/

The Urban Development Unit of the World Bank Group is devoted to sustainable funding for urban development projects throughout the world. They bring together financial resources, urban planning, and economic development expertise to improve programs for sustainable development in cities, as well as to establish new programs whose goals are to increase the quality of urban life and reduce poverty. The Web site provides an online introduction to their strategic goals, policies, and projects.

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI)

http://www.habitat.org/

HFHI is a unique organization that works with individuals and communities in need from around the world to build affordable housing. The Web site provides information on the history of the organization, information for volunteers, as well as descriptions of their current activities throughout the world.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

http://www.hud.gov/

HUD is the governmental organization responsible for a wide range of issues, including housing, homelessness, and urban development. The HUD Web site is a very practical, easy-to-use site, with easy access to many resources related to their policies and programs. Links to information on how to get a "leg up" on homeownership and rentals for moderate- and low-income individuals are emphasized, along with issues concerning homelessness. However, links for students and researchers are provided as well.

Sustainable Communities Network (SCN)

http://www.sustainable.org/

This Web site is devoted to the sustainable communities issues, primarily in the United States. It provides a wide variety of resources on the development of sustainable rural and urban communities. Resources are provided on topics that include economic development, environmental protection, community health and livelihood, as well as many other issues. Links to community education, health, and training in sustainable community issues are also provided at the site.

The Enterprise Development Web Site (ENTERWEB)

http://www.enterweb.org/communty.htm

This page lists and rates electronic resources related to community economic development.

WWW Virtual Library: Sustainable Development

http://www.ulb.ac.be/ceese/meta/sustvl.html

A very large list providing links to organizations, educational institutions, and individuals concerned with issues relating to sustainable development.

Internet Sociology: Sustainable Futures

The term "enterprise zone" is being used as a new catchphrase for governmental attempts to revitalize low-income and impoverished communities. How far has the government come in implementing "enterprise zones"? Is there evidence that this approach is working?

Use the Web site to answer the questions on these issues below.

Rural Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Program

http://www.ezec.gov/

1. What is the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC) Initiative? Why is it necessary?
2. Who sponsored it, and which agencies are involved with it? How far has the project come in achieving its objectives?
3. What kind of information can you find through localized searches at HUD http://www.hud.gov/ and the Department of Commerce http://204.193.246.62/public.nsf on "enterprise zones"? Is there any research available on the effectiveness of this approach?
4. What kinds of sociological principles are at play in the strategy outlined in this initiative? Do you think this project reflects appropriate thinking on the urban ecology? What else can, or should, be done?

Return to Top

XV: Social Movements, Social Change

Social Movements

Social movements bring about historic changes in the society. They have also produced some of the most inspiring and influential political actors in history--Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, and Mahatma Gandhi, to name a few. What is the legacy of historic movements supporting organized labor and civil rights? The Web sites below can help answer this and other questions.

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Other Social Movements

http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/parties.htm

A very useful list of parties, interest groups, and other organizations involved in social movements around the world.

Resources on Alternative and Utopian Communities

http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/richard.robbins/legacy/utopia_www_resources.html

Primary and secondary Web sources on utopian and alternative communities are listed here. General resources on alternative communities are also available from this site. Additionally, the Web sites of a number of intentional communities are included.

American Social Movement Cultures

http://www.wsu.edu:8001/~amerstu/smc/smcframe.html

The goal of this Web site is to emphasize net resources related to the culture of American social movements. It provides a very useful link to Web sites related to social movements in the United States, as well as to a glossary of terms relating to the subject.

The Making of America

http://moa.umdl.umich.edu/index.html

An online resource for American social history, providing access to primary source material from the antebellum period through Reconstruction. A variety of sources from education, psychology, American history, sociology, religion, and science and technology are included.

Latin American Social Movements on the WWW

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/guides/lasmig.html

A listing of Web-related resources on Latin American social movements.

Social Change

Good Works

http://goodworksfirst.org

A national directory of social change organizations and the employment opportunities they provide. This directory lists the aims and projects of over 1000 organizations as well as relevant employment information. It also profiles individuals who are building public interest careers.

Webactive

http://www.webactive.com/

An online source for audio broadcasts of Pacifica News Network programs on political issues, including Democracy Now, Radio Nation, and Counter Spin (radio broadcast of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting). The Webactive directory also provides extensive links to the Web sites of grassroots activist and other political organizations.

Internet Sociology: Racial Profiling

Familiarize yourself with the racial profiling issue through the Yahoo:Full Coverage site, then answer the questions below.

Yahoo: Full Coverage: Racial Profiling

http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/US/Racial_Profiling/

1. Go to Webactive.com. Can you find Real Audio coverage of this issue in the archives? What is the perspective portrayed on the issue?
2. Use Good Workshttp://www.essential.org/goodworks/ to locate the American Civil Liberties Union and Amnesty International Web site. How and why are they addressing the issue?
3. Is the culture of social movements an influence on the debate surrounding this issue? If so, how?
4. Use the Web site resources listed in this chapter to find examples of racial profiling or other unacceptable police practices. Which organizations are calling attention to this behavior in other countries? Is anything being done to stop the problem as a result?

Return to Top

XVI. Technology

The Web sites below were selected because they highlight sociological issues that relate to the Internet. These issues range from discussions of the Internet and censorship, to issues relating to self-identity and social interaction. The future of Internet culture depends on the advancement of technology. Therefore, resource sites on advances that affect consumer use of the Internet have also been included.

Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies

www.com.washington.edu/rccs

The Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies is an online, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to research, study, teach, support, and create diverse and dynamic elements of cyberculture. RCCS seeks to establish and support ongoing conversations about the emerging field; to foster a community of students, scholars, teachers, explorers, and builders of cyberculture; and to showcase various models, works-in-progress, and online projects.

Net Culture at About.com

http://netculture.about.com/internet/netculture/mbody.htm

This site is a great starting point for learning more about contemporary Internet culture. It contains essays on current topics, as well as links to resources related to hot issues, such as intellectual property, privacy, and cyber theory. Social aspects of the Internet, such as gender and identity, are also touched upon in this site.

Howard Rheingold's Virtual Community

http://www.rheingold.com/vc/book/index.html

This important and influential online and printed text studies the advent of the "virtual community." It describes how electronic pioneers from the counterculture and world of grassroots activism converged on the net with technology visionaries to explore the potential of a new medium. In the process, new potential modalities for social networks were created, that form the basis for much of the discussion and thinking in the area today.

Electronic Frontier Foundation

http://www.eff.org/

EFF is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working in the public interest to protect fundamental civil liberties, including privacy and freedom of expression in the arena of computers and the Internet.

Electronic Privacy Information Center

http://www.epic.org/

EPIC is a public interest research center in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, the First Amendment, and constitutional values. EPIC examines the ways in which public and private bureaucracies use and misuse their technologies and influence in areas that concern individual privacy and freedom of speech.

Cybersociology

http://www.angelfire.com/ma/Socialworld/Cyberspace.html

The cybersociology Web site is a list providing links to Web sites addressing virtual reality from a sociological perspective. Themes explored at the site include identity, censorship, social interaction, and cyberculture. Links to access reliable academic information on cybersexuality and the impact of the Internet on social change are also provided.

C/Net

http://www.cnet.com/

A good online source for information concerning the day-to-day business of technology. The site provides daily news of concern to computer and Internet users, as well as tools and tips for technology buyers of all types.

Computer Mediated Communication Information Sources

http://www.december.com/cmc/info/index.html

This Web site is a well-organized resource relating to computer mediated communication issues. An ample amount of training resources are provided, along with tools and applications. The site also provides links to businesses, governmental Web sites, and other institutions concerned with the issue.

Hotwired

http://hotwired.lycos.com/

Hotwired is the online version of Wired magazine. In addition to providing thematic content related to the magazine, it also provides access to its own tools, such as Hotbot, the search engine, and Webmonkey, which provides access to Web authoring training and tips.

Internet Sociology: Gender and Identity

The first issue of Cybersociology Magazine offers a number of interesting articles relating to sex, gender, identity, and the Internet at Cybersex and Cyberromance http://members.aol.com/Cybersoc/issue1.html

Use the articles at this site to answer the questions below:

1. Using the Web sites above and others you find on your own, describe the kinds of issues surrounding gender and identity that are of interest to social scientists.
2. What would your strategy or approach be if you were going to do an investigation of relationships on the Internet?
3. How does the Internet provide opportunities for new "stages" and "scripts" people can use to explore self-identity? What kinds of deviant behavior is this encouraging? What kinds of healthy behavior is this nurturing?
4. Why is the prospect of flirting, dating, or having sexual encounters on the Internet so exiting to people? Is this ever a good substitute for the real thing? Explain your answer.

Return to Top