Wilke has called upon sociologists, observers as well as victims of the caste system, to describe by use of case studies and to analyze the plight of non-tenured faculty and their efforts to survive in an increasingly hostile environment. These stories reveal the human factor, too often slighted or forgotten in discussions of the precarious place of the university in today's society.

Many changes have happened in sociology around the world in the last few decades. This reference work offers a thorough overview of recent developments in sociology in a wide range of countries. The chapters, written by expert contributors, provide first-hand information on new research trends and significant advances. Chapters generally provide a broad historical context, and then focus on developments in sociology since 1975. Part One contains chapters on sociology in Western and Northern Europe. Part Two, on the Western Hemisphere, includes several chapters on sociology in the United...