Issues: UNDERSTANDING CONTROVERSY AND SOCIETY

Examining current issues – from gender to crime, education to law, justice to international relations – helps students to develop critical thinking skills and, crucially, empowers them to become informed citizens capable of making the decisions that will dictate our future.

ABC-CLIO’s Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society is an invaluable resource that shines a light on the vital issues shaping today’s world, examining the historical background, contemporary status, and global view of each. It presents authoritative context, diverse expert perspectives, and carefully curated primary and secondary sources, helping students to develop a deep understanding of the issues and take informed positions on those engendering controversy.

Please note: Some content contains explicit language on sensitive topics. We invite you to use the free trial to ensure it meets your institution’s guidelines.

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Crime and Justice

  • Capital Punishment
  • Criminal Punishment and Rehabilitation
  • Defendant Rights
  • Drug Trafficking
  • Forensic Evidence
  • Gangs
  • Gun Control
  • Human Trafficking
  • Intellectual Property
  • Judicial Activism
  • Juvenile Justice
  • Organized Crime
  • Police Misconduct
  • Prison Privatization
  • Rape
  • Sentencing
  • Serial Killers
  • Victims’ Rights
  • Wrongful Conviction

Economics and Business

  • Consumer Fraud
  • Corporate Espionage
  • Free Trade
  • Globalization
  • Homelessness
  • Income Inequality
  • Outsourcing
  • Poverty

Education

  • Academic Plagiarism
  • Bilingual Education
  • Education and Gender
  • Education Reform
  • Literacy
  • Religion in Schools
  • Rising College Costs
  • School Violence
  • Sex Education in Schools
  • Student Rights
  • Teaching Evolution vs. Creationism

Energy and Environmental Sustainability

  • Biodiversity
  • Energy Conservation
  • Environmental Activism
  • Forest Conservation
  • Nuclear Power
  • Recycling
  • Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources
  • Sustainable Agriculture
  • Sustainable Development
  • Waste Management
  • Wilderness Preservation

Environmental Conflict and Degradation

  • Air Pollution
  • Climate Change
  • Climate Refugees
  • Endangered Species
  • Environmental Justice
  • Forest Fires
  • Hazardous Waste Disposal
  • Natural Resource Conflicts
  • Ocean Politics and Policy
  • Ocean Pollution
  • Overpopulation
  • Ozone Depletion
  • Poaching
  • Pollution
  • Urban Sprawl
  • Water Issues

Family and Youth

  • Adoption
  • Bullying
  • Child Abuse
  • Child Sexual Abuse
  • Child Welfare
  • Divorce
  • Domestic Violence
  • Parental Rights
  • Polygamy
  • Teen Pregnancy

Gender and Sexuality

  • Abortion
  • Equality in the Workplace
  • Feminism
  • Gay and Lesbian Rights
  • Gender Politics
  • Hate Crimes
  • Same-Sex Marriage
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Transgender Rights

Health and Medicine

  • AIDS Treatment
  • Alcohol Abuse
  • Anti-Vaccination Movement
  • Drug Abuse
  • Drunk Driving
  • Epidemics and Pandemics
  • Mental Health
  • Organic Movement
  • Smoking
  • Stem Cell Research
  • Suicide

Internet and Technology

  • Cyber Bullying
  • Cyber Socializing
  • Cybercrime
  • Genetically Modified Foods
  • Online Censorship
  • Online Privacy

Law and Politics

  • Animal Rights
  • Censorship
  • Civil Liberties
  • Election and Campaign Reform
  • Euthanasia and the Right to Die
  • Government Secrecy
  • Health Care
  • Immigration
  • Lobbying
  • Marijuana Legalization
  • Media and Politics
  • Social Security Reform
  • Tax Reform
  • US as World Power
  • Voting Controversies
  • Welfare Reform
  • Youth and Political Participation

Race and Ethnicity

  • Affirmative Action
  • Civil Rights
  • Native American Issues
  • Racial and Ethnic Diversity
  • Racial Profiling
  • White Supremacy

Religion and Spirituality

  • Anti-Semitism
  • Cults
  • Islam in the West
  • Religion and Politics
  • Religious Extremism

Society and Culture

  • Body Image
  • Consumer Culture
  • Ethics and Journalism
  • Gambling
  • Pornography
  • Sports Ethics
  • Sports Violence
  • Veterans’ Benefits
  • Violence and the Media

War and Conflict

  • Anti-American Sentiment
  • Aviation Security
  • Bioterrorism
  • Border Security
  • Domestic Terrorism
  • Ecoterrorism
  • Ethics of War
  • Military Robots and Drones
  • Military Service
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Weapons and Nonproliferation
  • Refugees
  • Space and the Military
  • Torture
  • War Crimes and International Law
  • Women in Combat

Created explicitly for middle and high school students, each database includes:

  • A comprehensive reference library from more than 230,000 primary sources, including audio, video, photographs, illustrations, maps, and rich media
  • A standards-based curriculum updated every day by a team of subject matter experts and supported by an exhaustive range of instructional material
  • An expansive library of model commentaries from noted scholars to help foster critical thinking by exposing students to multiple points of view
  • An educator support center with helpful, professional development tools plus educational resources like discussion points, activities, and lesson plans

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