UNDERSTANDING SEPTEMBER 11: Social Science, Knowledge and a New Vision of Things to Come Book

When terrorists flew jets into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, the social effects were as dramatic as the visual images. Individual lives, families, friendship networks, corporations, global financial flows, and politics were all transformed. Moving behind headlines, first impressions, political speeches, and soundbites, knowledge from the social sciences is a basic resource for understanding these changes—and also what has not changed. The social sciences fill in necessary background, provide contexts for interpretation, and offer vital analytic perspectives. They help us see deep roots to some parts of the current crisis and also the influence of social change. They show how religious and cultural factors intertwine with economic and security concerns. They help us make sense of the role of Islam, the impact on international relations, and the challenges for democratic societies. Understanding September 11 is written by many of today's foremost anthropologists, economists, historians, political scientists, and sociologists; by specialists on Islam, war, terrorism, and Central Asia. It offers the most complete account available, not just of terror and tragedy but of the challenges we face now and the issues we must understand to make informed choices about our future.Read More