S. Salman, The Shaming State: How the US Treats Citizens in Need, reviewed by Cydney Sheridan
by Cydney Sheridan
The Shaming State: How the US Treats Citizens in Need embodies a poignant and insightful exploration of the role of the welfare state and the extent to which states have begun to neglect their obligations towards their citizens in times of crisis. By conducting a critical ethnographic analysis of two seemingly divergent groups within US society, namely resettled Iraqi refugees in Wayne County Michigan and New Yorkers impacted by Hurricane Sandy, the author has created a compassionate and astute narrative that portrays the lived experiences and harsh realities of individuals seeking state assistance. Personal accounts of trauma, humiliation and shame are seamlessly interwoven with conceptual critiques of the “American Dream”, and the emergence of market fundamentalism, culminating in a compelling and engaging reader experience…(read more).
