Why the Social Sciences Matter

“This book demonstrates the key role of the social sciences in understanding the challenges we face as a country and as a society.” 
—Dame Julia Black, President of the British Academy, UK

“It is often said the world will in future be shaped by technology and the natural sciences. But technology is only a tool; it is how we as humans use it that will shape societies. That underscores the importance of the social sciences in shaping our future.” 
—Andy Haldane, Chief Executive of the RSA, UK

“The world’s crises can seem overwhelming. Why the Social Sciences Matter delivers clear, insightful and compelling answers to today's most pressing questions.” 
—Robert Pollin, author of Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal

“This book brilliantly highlights the importance of the social sciences in analysing societal and economic developments systematically, helping shape effective policy responses.” 
—Danny Dorling, author of Inequality and the 1%

From climate change and inequality to migration and global conflict, this book explores the defining challenges of our time. Revised and featuring nine new chapters, it brings together top scholars to demonstrate how the social sciences help us make sense of complex events and global trends. With fresh insights into climate justice, populism, productivity, sustainable development, and social wellbeing, it reveals how these issues are deeply interconnected.

Supported by the Academy of Social Sciences, the book shows 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 science, technology, and policy serve the public good. Whether you're a curious reader, policymaker, or academic, this book makes a compelling case for why the social sciences matter now more than ever—and how understanding human behaviour and society can help shape a better future.

With contributions by: Howard Newby, Jonathan Michie, Cary L. Cooper, Jayati Ghosh, Joshua Lincoln, Oz Hassan, Robin Cohen, Iyiola Solanke, Bart van Ark, Mary O’Mahony, Dirk Pilat, James Campbell Quick, Robert J. Gatchel, Camilla Toulmin, Dave Cowan, Sally Wheeler, Mike Hough, Andreas J. Stylianides, Gabriel J. Stylianides, Marya Besharov, Catherine Hasted and Will Hutton.

Jonathan Michie OBE FAcSS is Professor of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Oxford, UK.
Sir Cary L. Cooper CBE FAcSS is Professor of Organizational Psychology at the University of Manchester, UK.