Biography:

After more than a decade and a half in the Sociology program, he made the move to Urban Studies. Dr. Prew continues to teach Indigeneity and Environment for the American Indigenous Studies program and added the course, Sustainable Communities, to his focus on environment, sustainability, and indigenous studies. He thoroughly enjoys the change and the opportunity to apply his areas of expertise in a new context. Moving to Urban Studies has given him a renewed energy and interest in developing new courses and research possibilities. Locally, Dr. Prew applies his expertise working with the non-profits, Living Earth Center and Mankato Fair Trade. At Minnesota State University Mankato, he has received the Global Citizen, Diversity Champion, and the Kessel Peacemaker Awards.

Education

• 2005     Ph.D.     Sociology, University of Oregon
• 1995     M.A.       Sociology, Minnesota State University, Mankato
• 1989     B.A.        Sociology, University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse

Research Interest

Dr. Paul Prew’s research and personal interests all revolve around the growing concerns regarding the destruction of our environment. One of his latest publications appears in the Oxford Handbook of Marx. “Sociopoiesis: Understanding Crisis in the Capitalist World-System through Complexity Sciences” applies new understandings in social and physical sciences to comprehend the source of our looming ecological crisis. He has also recently published an intellectual biography of Karl Marx for a text called, Great Economic Thinkers. At the MNSU, Mankato, Professor Prew has been able to collaborate on research projects. More recently, he has been able to contribute to ongoing work in our Geography program. focusing on hate crime.

Courses Taught

• AIS 360 - Indigeneity and the Environment: Indigenous Peoples and Environmental Struggles
• URBS 100 - Introduction to the City
• URBS 150 - Sustainable Communities
• URBS 4/512 - Public Information and Involvement 

Recent publications:

Lopez, Jose Javier, Woo Jang, Paul A. Prew, Luis Lepe & Richard Mataitis. 2023. “The Geography of Hate: Spatial Patterns of Bias-Motivated Crimes in Minnesota, 2015–18.” American Journal of Criminal Justice. First Published October 9, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-021-09647-4

Sethuraju, Raj, Jason Sole, Brian E. Oliver, and Paul Prew. 2019. “Perceptions of Police Misconduct Among University Students: Do Race and Academic Major Matter” Race and Justice 9(2):99-122. First Published 1/25/2017 https://doi.org/10.1177/2153368716689709 

Prew, Paul. 2019. “ Karl Marx’s Communism and Critique of Capital ” in Economic Theory and Globalization. Hoerber, Thomas and Alain Anquetil, eds. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Prew, Paul. 2019. “ Sociopoiesis: Understanding Crisis in the Capitalist World-System through Complexity Sciences ” in The Oxford Handbook of Karl Marx. Vidal, Matt. Tony Smith, Tomás Rotta, and Paul Prew, eds. New York: Oxford University Press.

Prew, Paul. 2018. “ Karl Marx.” in Great Economic Thinkers: An Introduction – From Adam Smith to Amartya Sen. Jonathan Conlin ed. London: Reaktion.