Category Archives: Social policy

After the Iran War: A New World Order, but Not a New System

The Iran War has accelerated the emergence of a new world order, but the world system remains the same. This distinction is crucial.

This entry was posted in China, Coffee Break, Middle East, Politics, Russia, Social policy on April 9, 2026 by Curro Jimenez.

Zero-Waste Community Kitchens Turn Scraps into Flavor-Packed Dishes

On community restaurants that practice and teach food sustainability through optimal cooking to reduce waste and improve health.

This entry was posted in Environment, Guest Post, Permaculture, Social policy, Social values on April 6, 2026 by Yves Smith.

Standing Witness to University Complicity in Criminal Wars of Aggression

Military-related research at universities helps the imperialist state find ways to more effectively kill people around the world who resist US domination.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Middle East, Privatization, Social policy, Social values, Surveillance state on April 6, 2026 by Conor Gallagher.

Prediction Markets Make a Bet Against Public Health

Online prediction markets evade safeguards against gambling and risk normalizing addictive behaviors.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Health care, Regulations and regulators, Ridiculously obvious scams, Social policy, Social values on April 4, 2026 by Yves Smith.

How the Iran War Could Reshape the Global Cultural Order

The Iran War and the Hormuz struggle could end U.S. oil and financial unilateralism, ultimately dismantling Western cultural dominance

This entry was posted in Coffee Break, Energy markets, Media appearances, Politics, Social policy on April 2, 2026 by Curro Jimenez.

Satyajit Das: The Wages of War

War is not only bad for living things, but is also not-so-hot for economies and of course, societies.

This entry was posted in Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Guest Post, Politics, Social policy, Social values on April 2, 2026 by Yves Smith.

Coffee Break: East Asia and the War in West Asia, RIP Metaverse, Cetacean Doulas, and Social Sycophancy

Part the First: The War in West Asia Viewed from East Asia. The daily updates compiled here have been essential for cutting through the fog of war associated with the current War in West Asia. Many people have marveled at the sheer stupidity of another unnecessary (to be redundant) war of choice in the Middle […]

This entry was posted in Coffee Break, Doomsday scenarios, Energy markets, Social policy, Social values, The destruction of the middle class on March 27, 2026 by KLG.

Clearing the Air: Fifty Answers to Our Climate Questions

We discussed Here Comes the Sun by Bill McKibben earlier this year. His message is that climate catastrophe is not foreordained, even if the current “weather” is odd and suggests that something in seriously amiss. I grew up in the American South, where “hot” is the normal state of being from April through October. One […]

This entry was posted in Global warming, Macroeconomic policy, Social policy, Social values, Species loss, Technology and innovation on March 25, 2026 by KLG.

Concentration Camps, US Style: Dehumanization for Fun and Profit

Rebecca Gordon describes US concentration camps, um, detention centers, as money-driven vehicles for authoritarianism and abuse.

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Legal, Politics, Social policy, Surveillance state on March 25, 2026 by Yves Smith.

Economic Questions: The Robert Nozick Question

On the simplistic reasoning Robert Nozick used to justify inequality and a minimal state

This entry was posted in Guest Post, Politics, Social policy, Social values, The dismal science on March 24, 2026 by Yves Smith.

Claims About Genetic Superiority Ignore the Real Drivers of Human Inequality

People should be more concerned with the effects of the policies imposed by the Trumps and Musks of the world than the DNA passed on by their parents.

This entry was posted in Income disparity, Social policy, Social values on March 23, 2026 by Conor Gallagher.

Boomerangs of Empire: Latin America as Colonial Laboratory

A Latin America case study on how the pursuit of empire has come to haunt the US.

This entry was posted in Globalization, Guest Post, Income disparity, Politics, Social policy, Surveillance state on March 23, 2026 by Yves Smith.

Coffee Break: Breaking American Science, COVID Undercount, Food Politics, St. Patrick, and a Brief Diversion

Part the First: The Slow Death of Biomedical Research Continues in the United States. We have covered this before, but the entire unfolding situation gets more surreal by the week. STAT News has been a go-to source, as in NIH will spend its full budget this year, agency director promises House appropriators. The first shot […]

This entry was posted in Coffee Break, Garrulous insolence, Health care, Science and the scientific method, Social policy, Social values on March 20, 2026 by KLG.