WILMINGTON — Michael and Neil Snarr’s book, Introducing Global Issues, continues to generate national and international interest as more and more colleges and universities incorporate into their curriculum an appreciation for world cultures, globalization and international affairs.

Wilmington College’s Dr. Michael Snarr, professor of social and political studies, and Dr. Neil Snarr, emeritus professor of sociology, again served as editors for Introducing Global Issues, the sixth edition of which was published this summer.

It updates the fifth edition, which, published in 2012, along with previous issues, has been used at nearly 100 colleges and universities. This time, the Snarrs divided the book into two sections: “Dimensions of Conflict and Security” and “Dimensions of the Global Political Economy.”

Institutions such as James Madison, St. John’s, Old Dominion, Dayton, Clemson and Temple universities have used previous editions in courses and the volume is featured among the resources at hundreds of academic libraries. Copies have been sold in Europe, Japan, Australia and the Middle East. It was even translated into Korean.

Michael Snarr said that each chapter of this latest edition has been updated

and new chapters reflect recent developments on the world scene. In fact, he authored the chapter on lethal autonomous weapons while another of the new chapters deals with cyber security.

The book uses a number of Wilmington College resources, including Dr. Corey Cockerill, associate professor of communication arts and agriculture, who wrote a chapter on agriculture. 2016 graduate Nina Veite and Michael Newman, M.D., who teaches as an adjunct faculty member at WC, co-authored an updated chapter on health, while journalist Audrey Ingram, Class of ’13, is co-author on two chapters.

Also, Dr. Jennifer Dye, Class of 2003, with the University of Cincinnati’s Political Science Dept., revised the chapter on women and Dr. Mary Ellen Batiuk, emeritus professor of sociology, co-authored a chapter on the global political

economy. Michael Snarr and WC senior Megan Canfield revised the book’s conclusion.

Michael hearkened the late 1990s, when he was teaching at Wheeling Jesuit University and Neil was still on the faculty at WC. They realized there was only a single textbook available on global issues. They decided to fill the void by editing a book designed for introductory global issues courses.

Michael Snarr said the dynamic nature of the topic warrants a periodic addition of topics and chapter revisions.

“There are so many new things that have happened in just four years,” he said. “Food issues have really caught people’s attention since, in 30 years, we will have to double the world’s food output. Corey’s chapter addresses food waste, crops as fuel, GMOs and conventional versus small farms.

“Also, since last year was the hottest on record, climate change data is always changing.”

He said this summer’s Zika epidemic and the so-called “Brexit” vote by England to leave the European Union will have to wait for the seventh edition.

Michael Snarr, who will use the new book in his honors section of the freshman global issues course, noted that the book not only looks at global challenges but also highlights success stories.

“Though the news headlines today are often negative and the problems of the world often seem overwhelming, progress is being made on many global issues,” he said, noting that important strides have been made in the areas of education, war and health.

“In short, there is hope and, through the work of states, nongovernmental organizations and individuals, more improvements can be made,” he said. “However, the challenges are staggering and there is much work to be done.”