Social conditions literature examines the structures, inequalities, and movements that shape society. Emerging from late 19th-century reformist impulses, this genre blends sociology, economics, and moral philosophy to diagnose and critique systemic problems, offering both analysis and calls to action.
About Our Editorial Process
This guide is prepared using historical bibliographic research,
literary references, and structured analysis of recognized works.
Our editorial team reviews book selection based on historical
importance, cultural influence, and literary significance.
About This Literary Category
The genre of social conditions literature emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period of rapid industrialization, urbanization, and social upheaval. Writers like Thorstein Veblen, Jane Addams, and W.E.B. Du Bois sought to apply scientific methods to social problems, blending empirical observation with moral critique. The Progressive Era in the United States and similar reform movements in Britain fueled a demand for works that exposed poverty, inequality, and institutional failures. Common characteristics include a focus on systemic analysis, the use of case studies and statistics, and a reformist or activist stance. Internationally, this genre influenced social policy and labor movements, with works like H.G. Wells's 'Mankind in the Making' and Patrick Geddes's 'Civics: as Applied Sociology' advocating for planned social change. Today, social conditions literature remains relevant as a foundation for understanding ongoing debates about inequality, race, gender, and economic justice, providing historical context for contemporary social movements.
Publication Chronology & Historical Span of Social Conditions
Our Social Conditions digital archive encompasses 52 cataloged masterworks, spanning a chronological range from 1997 (The Theory of the Leisure Class — Story, Setting & Ideas by Veblen, Thorstein, 1857-1929) to 2024 (Social devices for impelling women to bear and rear children — Context and Discussion by Hollingworth, Leta Stetter, 1886-1939). The following verified timeline details the sequential release of core literary milestones within this domain:
- 1997: The Theory of the Leisure Class — Story, Setting & Ideas — Veblen, Thorstein, 1857-1929
- 1999: The People of the Abyss — Edition Insights — London, Jack, 1876-1916
- 2002: The Man-Made World; Or, Our Androcentric Culture — Story, Setting & Ideas — Gilman, Charlotte Perkins, 1860-1935
- 2004: The Conservation of Races — Reading Companion — Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963
- 2004: Sociology and Modern Social Problems — Key Ideas to Explore — Ellwood, Charles A. (Charles Abram), 1873-1946
- 2004: Mankind in the Making — Edition Insights — Wells, H. G. (Herbert George), 1866-1946
- 2004: Darkest India A Supplement to General Booth's "In Darkest England, and the Way Out" — Background and Themes — Booth-Tucker, Frederick St. George De Lautour, 1853-1929
- 2004: What eight million women want — Key Ideas to Explore — Dorr, Rheta Childe, 1866-1948
- 2004: Civics: as Applied Sociology — Key Ideas to Explore — Geddes, Patrick, Sir, 1854-1932
- 2004: Regeneration Being an Account of the Social Work of The Salvation Army in Great Britain — A Closer Reading — Haggard, H. Rider (Henry Rider), 1856-1925
- 2005: Democracy and Social Ethics — Reading Notes — Addams, Jane, 1860-1935
- 2005: Black and White: Land, Labor, and Politics in the South — Key Ideas to Explore — Fortune, Timothy Thomas, 1856-1928
- 2007: The New Society — Inside the Classic — Rathenau, Walther, 1867-1922, Windham, Arthur [Translator]
- 2008: Working With the Working Woman — Themes and Context — Parker, Cornelia Stratton, 1885-1972
- 2009: The Evolution of the Country Community A Study in Religious Sociology — Key Ideas to Explore — Wilson, Warren H. (Warren Hugh), 1867-1937
- 2009: Introduction to the Science of Sociology — Context and Discussion — Burgess, E. W. (Ernest Watson), 1886-1966, Park, Robert Ezra, 1864-1944
- 2010: The Conservation of Races The American Negro Academy. Occasional Papers No. 2 — Key Ideas to Explore — Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963
- 2010: Augusta Triumphans Or, the Way to Make London the Most Flourishing City in the Universe — Text and Context — Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731
- 2010: Japanese Girls and Women Revised and Enlarged Edition — Reading Notes — Bacon, Alice Mabel, 1858-1918
- 2010: The Dangerous Classes of New York, and Twenty Years' Work Among Them — Text and Context — Brace, Charles Loring, 1826-1890
Author Bibliographical Footprint
A breakdown of primary literary contributors and their recorded volume within this collection:
| Author Name | Cataloged Works | Representative Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Mayhew, Henry, 1812-1887 | 4 | London Labour and the London Poor, Vol. 1 — Background and Themes, London Labour and the London Poor, Vol. 3 — Context and Discussion |
| Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963 | 2 | The Conservation of Races — Reading Companion, The Conservation of Races The American Negro Academy. Occasional Papers No. 2 — Key Ideas to Explore |
| Wells, H. G. (Herbert George), 1866-1946 | 2 | Mankind in the Making — Edition Insights, Social Forces in England and America — Key Ideas to Explore |
| Addams, Jane, 1860-1935 | 2 | Democracy and Social Ethics — Reading Notes, The long road of woman's memory — A Closer Reading |
| Various | 2 | Charities and the Commons: The Pittsburgh Survey, Part II. The Place and Its Social Forces — Inside the Classic, Charities and the Commons: The Pittsburgh Survey, Part I. The People — Story, Setting & Ideas |
| Gilman, Charlotte Perkins, 1860-1935 | 1 | The Man-Made World; Or, Our Androcentric Culture — Story, Setting & Ideas |
| Veblen, Thorstein, 1857-1929 | 1 | The Theory of the Leisure Class — Story, Setting & Ideas |
| London, Jack, 1876-1916 | 1 | The People of the Abyss — Edition Insights |
| Ellwood, Charles A. (Charles Abram), 1873-1946 | 1 | Sociology and Modern Social Problems — Key Ideas to Explore |
| Booth-Tucker, Frederick St. George De Lautour, 1853-1929 | 1 | Darkest India A Supplement to General Booth's "In Darkest England, and the Way Out" — Background and Themes |
| Dorr, Rheta Childe, 1866-1948 | 1 | What eight million women want — Key Ideas to Explore |
| Geddes, Patrick, Sir, 1854-1932 | 1 | Civics: as Applied Sociology — Key Ideas to Explore |
Century Distribution of Social Conditions Literature
Distribution of published texts categorized by historical centuries:
| Century Span | Volume of Masterpieces |
|---|---|
| 1901 - 2000 | 2 books |
| 2001 - 2100 | 50 books |
- Oldest publication: 1997
- Newest publication: 2024
- Average publication year: 2013
- Most represented author: Mayhew, Henry, 1812-1887 (4 books)
Critical Analysis of Core Masterpieces
The Theory of the Leisure Class — Story, Setting & Ideas
by Veblen, Thorstein, 1857-1929
Historical Significance
A foundational text in sociology and economics, introducing concepts like conspicuous consumption and pecuniary emulation that remain central to analyses of consumer culture and class inequality.
Historical Context
Published in 1899 during the Gilded Age, a period of extreme wealth concentration and conspicuous display by the industrial elite in the United States.
Literary Style
Analytical and systematic, with dense prose that blends economic theory with anthropological observation.
Writing Style
Precise and academic, employing a detached, evolutionary perspective to critique social institutions.
Major Themes
Conspicuous consumption, pecuniary emulation, the leisure class, institutional conservatism, and the evolutionary critique of social institutions.
Critical Reception
Initially controversial for its satirical tone, it later became a classic of economic and sociological thought, influencing generations of scholars.
Legacy
Coined the term 'conspicuous consumption,' now a staple in economics, sociology, and cultural studies.
Adaptations
No major film or television adaptations; primarily studied in academic contexts.
Recommended Audience
Students of sociology, economics, and cultural studies; readers interested in class analysis and consumer society.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate to difficult due to dense theoretical prose and 19th-century academic style.
Main Characters
No fictional characters; the 'leisure class' is the central subject.
Setting
Late 19th-century United States and Europe, with references to feudal Japan and medieval Europe.
Literary Movement
American Pragmatism and early institutional economics.
Similar Books
['The Theory of the Leisure Class', 'The Affluent Society', 'The Power Elite']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
The People of the Abyss — Edition Insights
by London, Jack, 1876-1916
Historical Significance
A pioneering work of investigative journalism that exposed the brutal poverty of London's East End, influencing later muckrakers and social reformers.
Historical Context
Written in 1903 after Jack London spent several months living in the slums of London's East End, during a period of high unemployment and social unrest in Edwardian England.
Literary Style
A blend of reportage, moral polemic, and literary sketch, using vivid imagery and first-person narrative.
Writing Style
Visceral and angry, with stark contrasts between natural beauty and human degradation.
Major Themes
Poverty, exploitation, social Darwinism, the dehumanization of the poor, and the failure of capitalism.
Critical Reception
Praised for its raw honesty but criticized for its sensationalism and lack of objectivity.
Legacy
Influenced the development of investigative journalism and social documentary writing.
Adaptations
No major adaptations; excerpts are often included in anthologies of social commentary.
Recommended Audience
Readers interested in social history, investigative journalism, and early 20th-century poverty.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; accessible prose but emotionally challenging content.
Main Characters
Jack London (narrator), various unnamed poor and working-class individuals.
Setting
London's East End, 1902.
Literary Movement
Naturalism and muckraking journalism.
Similar Books
['In Darkest England and the Way Out', 'How the Other Half Lives', 'The Jungle']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
The Man-Made World; Or, Our Androcentric Culture — Story, Setting & Ideas
by Gilman, Charlotte Perkins, 1860-1935
Historical Significance
A key feminist text that systematically analyzes how male dominance has shaped every aspect of culture, from education to politics.
Historical Context
Published in 1911, at the height of the first-wave feminist movement in the United States, focusing on women's suffrage and legal rights.
Literary Style
Polemical and ironic, using logical argument and rhetorical questions to dismantle gender assumptions.
Writing Style
Cool, precise, and occasionally sardonic, with a conversational tone that belies its radical critique.
Major Themes
Androcentrism, gender roles, the social construction of masculinity and femininity, and the need for a human-centered culture.
Critical Reception
Well-received among feminists and progressive thinkers; later recognized as a classic of feminist theory.
Legacy
Influenced second-wave feminism and gender studies, particularly the concept of androcentrism.
Adaptations
No major adaptations; studied in women's studies and literary courses.
Recommended Audience
Students of feminist theory, gender studies, and American literature; readers interested in early feminist thought.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; accessible prose with some theoretical passages.
Main Characters
No fictional characters; the 'androcentric culture' is the subject.
Setting
Early 20th-century United States and Europe.
Literary Movement
First-wave feminism and progressive social critique.
Similar Books
['The Subjection of Women', 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman', 'The Second Sex']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
The Conservation of Races — Reading Companion
by Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963
Historical Significance
A foundational text in African American intellectual history, arguing for the preservation of racial identity while advocating for self-reform and collective action.
Historical Context
Delivered as an address to the American Negro Academy in 1897, during the post-Reconstruction era of Jim Crow segregation and racial violence.
Literary Style
A hybrid of scholarly address and moral sermon, blending analytical detachment with prophetic urgency.
Writing Style
Oscillates between cool analysis and fiery exhortation, using rhetorical questions and biblical cadences.
Major Themes
Race consciousness, self-reformation, the role of institutions, and the need for practical action over protest.
Critical Reception
Influential within African American intellectual circles; later critiqued for its emphasis on racial purity.
Legacy
Established Du Bois as a leading voice on race and laid groundwork for his later works like 'The Souls of Black Folk'.
Adaptations
No adaptations; widely anthologized in African American studies.
Recommended Audience
Students of African American studies, sociology, and political thought; readers interested in race and identity.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; accessible but dense with rhetorical flourishes.
Main Characters
W.E.B. Du Bois (speaker), the American Negro Academy (audience).
Setting
Washington, D.C., 1897.
Literary Movement
African American intellectual tradition and early sociology.
Similar Books
['The Souls of Black Folk', 'Up from Slavery', 'The Negro']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Sociology and Modern Social Problems — Key Ideas to Explore
by Ellwood, Charles A. (Charles Abram), 1873-1946
Historical Significance
An early sociology textbook that applied evolutionary theory to social problems, reflecting the Progressive Era's faith in empirical data and reform.
Historical Context
Published in 1913, during a peak of immigration to the United States and debates over assimilation and social welfare.
Literary Style
Textbook-like, with statistical tables and inductive reasoning from concrete examples.
Writing Style
Clear and didactic, aimed at students and general readers, with a focus on empirical evidence.
Major Themes
Immigration, the family as a social institution, evolutionary theory, and the application of sociology to social reform.
Critical Reception
Well-received as a teaching text; later seen as dated due to its evolutionary framework and ethnic assumptions.
Legacy
Representative of early 20th-century American sociology and its reformist ambitions.
Adaptations
No adaptations; used in historical sociology courses.
Recommended Audience
Students of sociology history, Progressive Era reform, and immigration studies.
Reading Difficulty
Easy to moderate; straightforward prose with statistical data.
Main Characters
No fictional characters; the 'social problems' are the subject.
Setting
United States, early 20th century.
Literary Movement
Early American sociology and Progressive Era reform.
Similar Books
['The Theory of the Leisure Class', 'The Philadelphia Negro', 'Poverty: A Study of Town Life']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Mankind in the Making — Edition Insights
by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George), 1866-1946
Historical Significance
A speculative work on social evolution and education, reflecting H.G. Wells's transition from science fiction to social commentary.
Historical Context
Published in 1903, during the Edwardian period of social reform and debates about education and eugenics.
Literary Style
Conversational and self-deprecating, with a structure of exploratory essays rather than a unified treatise.
Writing Style
Shifts from humble, qualifying prose to sharp, polemical critique, especially in educational sections.
Major Themes
Social evolution, education reform, the role of the state in human development, and the reconciliation of specialist knowledge.
Critical Reception
Mixed; some praised its breadth, others criticized its lack of rigor.
Legacy
Influenced later educational reformers and social planners.
Adaptations
No major adaptations; studied in Wells scholarship.
Recommended Audience
Readers interested in H.G. Wells, educational theory, and early 20th-century social thought.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; accessible prose but varied in density.
Main Characters
H.G. Wells (narrator).
Setting
Early 20th-century Britain, with global references.
Literary Movement
Edwardian social commentary and speculative nonfiction.
Similar Books
['Anticipations', 'A Modern Utopia', 'The Outline of History']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Darkest India A Supplement to General Booth's "In Darkest England, and the Way Out" — Background and Themes
by Booth-Tucker, Frederick St. George De Lautour, 1853-1929
Historical Significance
An attempt to apply the Salvation Army's social reform model to colonial India, highlighting the intersection of religion, empire, and social work.
Historical Context
Published in the early 20th century, during the British Raj and a period of Christian missionary activity and social reform in India.
Literary Style
A mix of rhetorical appeal, case studies, and institutional description, with a tone of urgent necessity.
Writing Style
Confident and persuasive, oscillating between claims of universal applicability and acknowledgment of local challenges.
Major Themes
Social salvation, adaptation of reform models, poverty in India, and the role of the Salvation Army.
Critical Reception
Limited; primarily of interest to historians of missions and colonial social work.
Legacy
Illustrates the global reach of the Salvation Army and the challenges of cross-cultural reform.
Adaptations
No adaptations.
Recommended Audience
Scholars of colonial history, mission studies, and comparative social reform.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; accessible but with period-specific references.
Main Characters
Commissioner Booth-Tucker (author), various reformed criminals (narratives).
Setting
India, Ceylon, and Australia, early 20th century.
Literary Movement
Missionary literature and social reform writing.
Similar Books
['In Darkest England and the Way Out', 'The People of the Abyss', 'Regeneration']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
What eight million women want — Key Ideas to Explore
by Dorr, Rheta Childe, 1866-1948
Historical Significance
A key document of first-wave feminism, documenting women's collective activism in labor, law, and social reform.
Historical Context
Published in 1910, during the height of the women's suffrage movement and the Progressive Era in the United States.
Literary Style
A series of case studies linked by a central argument, blending narrative scenes with analytical passages.
Writing Style
Confident and occasionally sardonic, with a focus on concrete events and voices.
Major Themes
Women's collective action, labor rights, legal reform, and the shift from self-culture to social intervention.
Critical Reception
Well-received among feminists and progressive reformers; later recognized as a classic of women's history.
Legacy
Influenced the study of women's activism and labor history.
Adaptations
No major adaptations; used in women's studies courses.
Recommended Audience
Students of women's history, labor history, and Progressive Era reform.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; accessible prose with some legal and economic terminology.
Main Characters
Rheta Childe Dorr (author), Mrs. Glendower Evans, various workers and reformers.
Setting
United States and New Zealand, early 20th century.
Literary Movement
First-wave feminism and muckraking journalism.
Similar Books
['The Man-Made World', 'Women and Economics', 'The History of Woman Suffrage']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Civics: as Applied Sociology — Key Ideas to Explore
by Geddes, Patrick, Sir, 1854-1932
Historical Significance
A foundational text in urban sociology and planning, introducing the concept of the regional survey and the application of sociology to civic improvement.
Historical Context
Delivered as a lecture in 1904 to the Sociological Society in London, during a period of urban reform and the rise of town planning.
Literary Style
Spoken address style, with layered examples and direct engagement with the audience.
Writing Style
Accessible and persuasive, using analogies from natural sciences to argue for a scientific approach to cities.
Major Themes
Regional survey, civic observation, the relationship between geography and society, and the need for a practical sociology.
Critical Reception
Influential among early town planners and sociologists; later seen as a precursor to urban studies.
Legacy
Inspired the regional survey movement and influenced Patrick Geddes's later work in urban planning.
Adaptations
No adaptations; studied in planning and sociology history.
Recommended Audience
Students of urban sociology, planning history, and the history of social science.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; accessible but with some theoretical passages.
Main Characters
Patrick Geddes (speaker).
Setting
London, 1904, with references to various cities.
Literary Movement
Early sociology and the regional survey movement.
Similar Books
['Cities in Evolution', 'The City', 'The Culture of Cities']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Regeneration Being an Account of the Social Work of The Salvation Army in Great Britain — A Closer Reading
by Haggard, H. Rider (Henry Rider), 1856-1925
Historical Significance
A detailed documentary of the Salvation Army's social operations, providing a firsthand account of late Victorian and Edwardian charitable work.
Historical Context
Published in 1910, during a period of intense debate about poverty, charity, and the role of the state in social welfare.
Literary Style
Investigative journalism, with a structure of case studies and statistical summaries.
Writing Style
Direct and observational, with a skeptical tone that gradually yields to measured endorsement.
Major Themes
Practical charity, the effectiveness of the Salvation Army, urban poverty, and the limits of reform.
Critical Reception
Praised for its thoroughness and honesty; helped improve the Salvation Army's public image.
Legacy
A key source for historians of social work and the Salvation Army.
Adaptations
No adaptations.
Recommended Audience
Historians of social welfare, the Salvation Army, and Edwardian Britain.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; accessible prose with some statistical data.
Main Characters
H. Rider Haggard (narrator), various Salvation Army officers and beneficiaries.
Setting
London and provincial England, early 20th century.
Literary Movement
Social documentary and investigative journalism.
Similar Books
['In Darkest England and the Way Out', 'The People of the Abyss', 'Darkest India']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Democracy and Social Ethics — Reading Notes
by Addams, Jane, 1860-1935
Historical Significance
A key text in American pragmatist ethics, arguing that democracy requires a social morality that goes beyond individual virtues.
Historical Context
Published in 1902, during the aftermath of the Pullman Strike (1894) and the rise of the settlement house movement.
Literary Style
Philosophical case study, using a single industrial conflict to test moral principles.
Writing Style
Measured and clinical, with a focus on observable behavior and structural critique.
Major Themes
Individual vs. social virtues, the ethics of labor conflict, the limitations of philanthropy, and the need for democratic solidarity.
Critical Reception
Influential in pragmatist philosophy and social ethics; praised for its concrete approach.
Legacy
A foundational text in American social philosophy and the ethics of democracy.
Adaptations
No adaptations; studied in philosophy and sociology courses.
Recommended Audience
Students of philosophy, ethics, sociology, and labor history.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; clear prose but conceptually dense.
Main Characters
Jane Addams (author), the 'company president' (based on George Pullman), striking workers.
Setting
Pullman, Illinois, 1894.
Literary Movement
American Pragmatism and social ethics.
Similar Books
['The Theory of the Leisure Class', 'The Philosophy of the Present', 'The Public and Its Problems']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Black and White: Land, Labor, and Politics in the South — Key Ideas to Explore
by Fortune, Timothy Thomas, 1856-1928
Historical Significance
An early argument that class conflict, not race, is the fundamental issue in the American South, anticipating later Marxist analyses.
Historical Context
Published in 1884, during the post-Reconstruction era of Jim Crow laws and economic exploitation of Black sharecroppers.
Literary Style
Analytical and polemical, combining personal observation with data from other writers.
Writing Style
Confident and direct, using concrete examples to support a universal claim about class conflict.
Major Themes
Land monopoly, class conflict, Black economic progress, and the prediction that race conflict will be replaced by class struggle.
Critical Reception
Influential among African American intellectuals; later recognized as a precursor to intersectional analysis.
Legacy
A key text in African American economic thought and the study of race and class.
Adaptations
No adaptations.
Recommended Audience
Students of African American studies, economic history, and Southern history.
Reading Difficulty
Moderate; accessible prose with some economic terminology.
Main Characters
Timothy Thomas Fortune (author), William E. Mathews, Joseph H. Rainey, B.K. Bruce, Richard T. Greener.
Setting
The American South and Washington, D.C., 1880s.
Literary Movement
African American intellectual tradition and early class analysis.
Similar Books
['The Souls of Black Folk', 'The Philadelphia Negro', 'The Condition of the Working Class in England']
Key Literary Concepts
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the concept of 'conspicuous consumption' evolve from Veblen's original formulation to modern usage?
Veblen coined 'conspicuous consumption' in 1899 to describe how the leisure class displays wealth through wasteful spending to signal status. Today, the term is used broadly in sociology and marketing to analyze consumer behavior, from luxury goods to social media displays, though Veblen's original focus on class hierarchy and institutional conservatism is often simplified.
Why did Jack London choose to live in the East End slums for his investigation?
London wanted to experience poverty firsthand, believing that only direct observation could reveal the truth about the 'abyss.' He adopted the persona of an explorer descending into a foreign land, a method that gave his account visceral immediacy but also invited criticism for sensationalism.
What does Charlotte Perkins Gilman mean by 'androcentric culture'?
Gilman argues that society is organized around male experiences and values, treating masculine traits as the human norm. This androcentrism distorts institutions like education, law, and politics, which prioritize male attributes (e.g., combativeness) over human qualities (e.g., cooperation). Her solution is a 'human-centered' culture that values traits shared by both sexes.
How does Du Bois's 'The Conservation of Races' differ from later civil rights arguments?
Du Bois emphasizes racial self-consciousness and self-reformation over legal protest. He argues that African Americans must build strong institutions and moral character before demanding rights, a stance that contrasts with later movements focused on legislative change. However, his call for practical action and racial solidarity influenced later Black nationalist thought.
What was the significance of the 'regional survey' method proposed by Patrick Geddes?
Geddes advocated for a systematic, observational approach to studying cities, combining geography, history, and sociology. The regional survey was meant to inform practical planning and social service, influencing the development of urban sociology and town planning. His method emphasized local context and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Conclusion & Scholarly Summary
The social conditions literature of the late 19th and early 20th centuries represents a crucial moment when writers turned a critical eye on the structures of inequality, using empirical observation and moral argument to demand reform. From Veblen's dissection of class display to Du Bois's call for racial conservation, these works laid the groundwork for modern sociology and social criticism, reminding us that the 'social question' remains as urgent today as it was a century ago.
