Introduces students to several influential theoretical approaches to the contemporary problems of racism, capitalist exploitation, inequality, and climate change.  Readings include the works of Critical Race pioneer Derrick Bell, influential social theorist Pierre Bourdieu, intersectional scholar bell hooks, World-Systems theorist Immanuel Wallerstein, British sociologist Andrew Sayer, and maverick anthropologist David Graeber.  These six contemporary examples of theorists whose work helps explain our current world have reaches well beyond the field of sociology, into fields as disparate as law, education, literature, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, and public policy