Preface and Editorial

As Sociologists we develop a keen sociological imagination with which we can think critically and reflexively about the social world around us, helping us to make sense of the momentous changes happening within it. This collection of critical reflections written by students on the BA (Hons) Sociology degree at Leeds Beckett University underlines both the breadth of the subject and its power to shed light on the familiar and the taken for granted. The essays in this volume tackle a wide range of issues, from surveillance and the information society, through environmental degradation and indigenous rights, to neoliberalism and politics in the era of Trump. As such they stand as a record and analysis of some of the most pressing issues of our times. This collection is a testament to both the students and staff of the Sociology degree. For the students, each of the reflections emphasises the skills they have developed individually – in applying the tools of the social sciences to analyse and interpret current trends and developments and, just as importantly, communicating incisive, critical commentary; the end product is also a collective editorial effort. Each essay also underlines the strong commitment the course team have to developing students as active producers of knowledge and the support that they provide as part of this to enable them to develop their intellectual skills and abilities. I hope that readers of these reflections enjoy the perspectives offered, and are themselves further challenged, encouraged or inspired to reflect on the contemporary social world.