Paul Starr Livres

Considered the definitive history of the American healthcare system, The Social Transformation of American Medicine examines how the roles of doctors, hospitals, health plans, and government programs have evolved over the last two and a half centuries. How did the financially insecure medical profession of the nineteenth century become a most prosperous one in the twentieth century? Why was national health insurance blocked? And why are corporate institutions taking over our medical care system today? Beginning in 1760 and coming up to the present day, renowned sociologist Paul Starr traces the decline of professional sovereignty in medicine, the political struggles over healthcare, and the rise of a corporate system. Updated with a new preface and an epilogue analyzing developments since the early 1980s, this new edition of The Social Transformation of American Medicine is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of our fraught healthcare system.

America's prominent role in the information revolution reflects its status as a dominant economy and powerful state. However, by the early nineteenth century, when the U.S. was not yet a world power or a center for scientific discovery, it was already a leader in communications, excelling in postal services and newspaper publishing, and later in telegraph and telephone networks. This social history of American media, from the first printing press to early radio, illustrates that modern communications emerged from political choices as much as from technological advancements. The analysis reveals how decisions regarding a state-run post office and private monopolies on telegraph and telephone systems shaped society. It also addresses contemporary issues surrounding freedom of information by examining key topics like freedom of the press, intellectual property, privacy, public access to information, and the development of specific technologies and institutions. Starr argues that America's choices in these areas have significant long-term effects on societal development, with broad social, economic, and military implications. This work not only recounts media history in a novel way but also offers a fresh perspective on America’s global influence.

Liberalism in America is under siege. Conservatives now treat it as an epithet and even some progressives spurn it. But according to Paul Starr, liberalism is a sturdy public philosophy, deeply rooted in our traditions, capable of making America and the world more free and secure.“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” remains as good and concise a definition of liberalism's aims today as it was when Thomas Jefferson borrowed the language of John Locke for the Declaration of Independence. What distinguishes liberalism, however, is not just high aspirations but strikingly effective principles for the creation and control of power. From its origins as constitutional liberalism in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the liberal project has provided the basis of the most prosperous and powerful states in the world. Modern democratic liberalism has carried forward the constitutional liberal tradition by favoring a more inclusive and egalitarian conception of liberty and opportunity. It has responded to threats to freedom and the public good from excessive concentrations of private power, while maintaining a dynamic market economy. And it has shown how government can respond to economic crisis and injustice—yet keep arbitrary power in check—by providing stronger guarantees of civil liberties and equal rights. At a time when conservative policies are weakening America's long-term fiscal, economic, and international strength as well as its liberties, liberalism is more urgent than ever. Freedom's Power shows why liberalism works—and how it can work for America again.

Spanning two decades, this narrative weaves a tale of growth, resilience, and transformation. It captures the journey of characters as they navigate life's challenges and milestones, reflecting on the passage of time and the impact of experiences. The book's rich storytelling and deep emotional resonance offer readers a profound exploration of human relationships and personal evolution, promising a compelling read that resonates with the intricacies of life.

In Defining the Age, Paul Starr and Julian E. Zelizer bring together a group of distinguished contributors to consider how Daniel Bell's ideas captured their historical moment and continue to provide profound insights into today's world.