Why the Social Sciences Matter

This thoroughly revised and expanded edition offers a powerful exploration of the major challenges shaping our world today, from economic instability and climate change to inequality, migration, and global conflict.

Featuring contributions from leading scholars, the book shows how the social sciences help us make sense of complex events and emerging global trends. It brings fresh insights into urgent topics like climate justice, populism, productivity, sustainable development, and social wellbeing—highlighting how these issues are deeply interconnected.

Supported by the Academy for Social Sciences, the book demonstrates how disciplines such as economics, education, political science, psychology, and sociology are essential for understanding developments that may seem purely technological or natural. It champions interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure that progress in science, technology, and policy truly benefits society.

Whether you're a curious reader, policymaker, or academic, this volume offers a compelling case for why the social sciences matter now, more than ever. It’s a timely and thought-provoking guide to the threats and opportunities we face—and how a deeper understanding of human behaviour and society can help shape a better future.