Social Sciences

Explore faculty and student work in economics, sociology, political science, anthropology, and other disciplines shaping our understanding of society.

A bronze sculpture of intertwined hands in a park, with a discussion panel in the foreground.

Is the Constitution Broken?

Harvard legal scholars debate the state of our founding national document.

by Lydialyle Gibson

Nonie Lesaux

Harvard Education School Dean Appointed

Nonie K. Lesaux transitions from interim to permanent dean.

by Nina Pasquini

Bel professor of Egyptology Peter Der Manuelian, with his book "Walking Among Pharaohs" (2022)

Five Questions With Professor Peter Der Manuelian

Harvard professor of Egyptology on unsolved mysteries, cats, and the beauty of ancient craftsmanship

by Olivia Farrar

An antique brass plumb level with engraved markings, a curved scale, and a hanging plumb bob against a black background.

Galileo'S Compass and the Art of Branding

How Galileo’s geometric and military compass helped him calculate his own ascent

by Nina Pasquini

Tom Kane smiles in a navy blazer and sits at a table in a modern room with empty chairs and tables behind him.

Harvard'S Tom Kane on Effective School Reforms

Tom Kane deploys data to help improve education.

by Nina Pasquini

Photograph of advertising billboard promoting online gambling on sports

Is Gambling Becoming a Public Health Crisis?

Responding to the explosive growth of online gambling and sports betting, a new report urges governments to regulate with public health in mind.

by Jordan Smith

Comic illustration of hyperactive, pressured teens, many on their screens

Teen "Grind" Culture and Mental Health

Teens need better strategies to cope with lives lived partly online.

by Erin O’Donnell

An image of a "brain" being watered, and an idea "coming out" or growing

Can Memory Be Related to Creative Cognition?

Harvard’s Daniel L. Schacter on how memory is linked to divergent thought

by Olivia Farrar

Reginald Dwayne Betts speaks at Cambridge Public Library

Poet and Lawyer Reginald Dwayne Betts on Martin Luther King Jr.'S Legacy

Poet and lawyer Reginald Dwayne Betts on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy

by Lydialyle Gibson

Illustration of a scale balancing papers labeled "Press Charges" against "Decline," held by a large hand.

Reassessing Punishments for Misdemeanors

In more misdemeanor cases, prosecutors should decline to proceed from the start.

by Max J. Krupnick

Farmer harvesting rice in a flooded paddy field, with others working and observing in the background.

Sustainability and Food Production in Africa

Improved agricultural practices could cut methane emissions to zero.

by Nina Pasquini