Richard Sennett

The sociologist Richard Sennett discusses his life and work:

In a recent article in The Nation (not available free online), he proposes that the left should focus less on winning elections and more on doing social good for civil society—non-profit activism, and so forth.

And in this New York Times op-ed piece, he and his wife, Saskia Sessen, theorize as to the underlying political and economic causes of Britain's social unrest.  It's interesting to contrast his interpretation with that of Ned Temko, who apparently thinks the problems are mainly a matter of a bunch of trouble-making hooligans.

Here's a profile from the Guardian from ten years ago.  His forthcoming book is called Together: The Rituals, Pleasures, and Politics of Cooperation.