Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction. Social problems : a comparative international perspective / George Ritzer -- Theoretical issues in the study of social problems and deviance / Joel Best -- Methodological issues in the study of social problems / Norman K. Denzin and Yvonna S. Lincoln -- Social problems and public policy / Tim Blackman, Teeside and Roberta Woods -- Social Problems. Population change / Sonalde Desai -- Ecological problems / Steven Yearley -- Global inequality / Salvatore J. Babones and Jonathan H. Turner -- Racism in comparative perspective / Joe R. Feagin and Pinar Batura -- Ethnic conflict as a global social problem / Thomas D. Hall and Lester M. Jones -- Gender inequality / Amy S. Wharton -- Urban problems in global perspective / Chigon Kim and Mark Gottdiener -- Work-related social problems / Teresa A. Sullivan -- The media and social problems / Douglas Kellner -- Consumption as a social problem / Douglas J. Goodman -- Family problems in global perspective / Felix M. Berardo and Constance L. Shehan -- Racial and ethnic educational inequality in global perspective / Caroline Hodges Persell, Richard Arum, and Kathryn Seufert -- Health as a social problem / William C. Cockerham -- How medical care systems become social problems / Andrew Twaddle -- Aids as a social problem : the creation of social pariahs in the management of an epidemic / Bronwen Lichtenstein -- War, militarism and national security / Ian Roxborough -- Sea change : the modern terrorist environment in perspective / Gus Martin -- The geopolitics of mass destruction : how genocide became a global social problem / David Norman Smith -- Globalization / John Boli -- Technology and social problems / Frank Webster and Mark Erickson, Aston -- The internet as a global social problem / Gili S. Drori -- Risk / John Tulloch -- Deviance. Crime / Michael Tonry -- Juvenile delinquency / Mark C. Stafford -- Drug use as a global social problem / Erich Goode -- The sexual spectacle : making a public culture of sexual problems / Ken Plummer -- Modern day folk devils and the problem of children's presence in the global sex trade / Julia O'Connell Davidson -- Mental illness as a social problem / Howard B. Kaplan -- Disability as a global issue / Gary L. Albrecht -- Corruption as a global social problem / Gary LaFree and Nancy Morris.