This text investigates the core question of how macrolevel perspectives and cross-cultural comparisons can be utilized to identify and analyze social problems within the United States and on a global scale. Michael P. Soroka provides a structured academic framework designed for undergraduate study, utilizing a tripartite organizational model. By examining social issues through the lenses of the individual, the broader society, and the international community, the author argues that a systematic, comparative approach is essential for understanding the complexities of modern social risk.

The text functions as a foundational academic resource, prioritizing structural analysis and comparative methodology over anecdotal evidence. Its systematic approach suggests a focus on providing students with the analytical tools necessary to evaluate social phenomena within a globalized context.