University Press Roundup

Welcome to our weekly roundup of the best articles from the blogs of academic publishers! As always, if you particularly enjoy something or think that we missed an important post, please let us know in the comments. (And look back at our University Press Roundup Manifesto to see why we do this post every Friday.)

This week, the Cambridge University Press blog published an article highlighting the issues surrounding migration in Europe. The article specifically mentions problems along the French and Italian border as an example of Europe’s pressing problems with migration and immigration. It also discusses the limitations of the law with regards to creating real change, but leaves hope for future cooperation between nations.

Johns Hopkins University Press recently featured an article that discusses the future of late-night talk shows. The topic was inspired by the news that Jon Stewart will be leaving the Daily Show after a long and successful run. The author fears that his departure, along with other changes in late-night, will lead to the loss of true political satire, and critiques the Daily Show’s new-hire, Trevor Noah, while imploring for the hiring of more female comedians.

The NYU Press blog has created an ongoing series of posts about the 2016 election. The most recent post discusses the important role that social media plays in the political arena. Social media is increasingly crucial during campaigns because it has become a primary source of news for many people. The post then transitions toward a discussion of comment forums and the discontent of Republican voters toward their own party. Comment forums show that Republicans feel like their party is not producing anything and they are therefore drawn to Donald Trump due to his ‘take charge’ attitude.

The Stanford University Press blog posted an article that discusses the power of symbolism within the context of the Confederate flag controversy. The author suggests that the flag’s distinctly different representations exemplify a broader schism within the American population.

Translated from its original French version, a post by Pierre Birnbaum, a professor at the Sorbonne, gives a brief history of the French Jewish politician, Leon Blum, on the Yale Press blog. Birnbaum explores Blum’s revolutionary implementation of the forty-hour workweek, its repeal due to its effect on the war effort, and its eventual re-implementation and legacy.

A post at the Oxford University Press blog debunked popular myths surrounding the American healthcare system that have grown due to their political divisiveness. The article tackles topics ranging from the connection between Medicaid and welfare programs to comparing the cost of Medicare and the cost of healthcare in the private sector.

Island Press published an article relaying the importance of modernizing America’s infrastructure. In 2013, America’s infrastructure received a grade of D+–a startling fact, especially in the face of climate change. Poor infrastructure disproportionately affects low-income households and has the potential to devastate communities if a natural disaster strikes. Hopefully Congress will continue to support policy focused on funding improvements to America’s infrastructure.

Thanks for reading! As always, we hope that you enjoyed the links. Please let us know what you think in the comments!