Guel Music and Dance as Agents of Social Change: Strengthening Social Cohesion and Cultural Sustainability in Central Aceh

This study examines the contradiction between the role of university students as role models in defending freedom of expression and the reality of Indonesia’s higher education system, which remains entrenched in hierarchical structures and a culture of conformity. Using a qualitative research method through literature review and descriptive analysis, this study reveals how Indonesian students face a dilemma: on one hand, they are expected to be agents of social change; on the other, they must operate within a system that restricts their freedom of expression. The findings indicate that this contradiction creates structural tensions that weaken the effectiveness of students as role models for freedom of expression. This study recommends the need for reforms toward a more democratic and participatory higher education system to support the role of students as agents of social change. Background: Historically, university students have played a crucial role as agents of social and political change in Indonesia. From the independence movement to the Reformasi era in 1998, students have consistently been at the forefront of advocating for various social issues, including the right to freedom of expression. This role has positioned them as role models within society in promoting democratic values and human rights. However, the current reality within Indonesian higher education institutions reveals a fundamental contradiction. The system, which still upholds hierarchical authority and emphasizes conformity, often restricts students’ space for expression. The top-down academic structure, strong seniority culture, and institutional control mechanisms create a paradoxical environment for students who are expected to be champions of freedom of expression. Objective: To examine the contradiction between the role of university students as role model s in advocating for freedom of expression and the hierarchical and conformist structure of Indonesia’s higher education system. Methods: This research employs a qualitative method by integrating a conceptual approach, a statute-based (legal) approach, and a case-based approach. Results: Normatively, students are positioned as agents of change and role models in upholding freedom of expression—in their thoughts, attitudes, and actions. However, in practice, Indonesia’s higher education system, dominated by hierarchical values and a culture of conformity, becomes a structural barrier that limits such freedom. This contradiction leads to a range of multidimensional impacts. Conclusion: The contradiction between the ideal role of students as role models of freedom of expression and the hierarchical nature of the higher education system has generated psychological, social, and intellectual consequences that hinder the development of their critical thinking. Therefore, structural and cultural reforms within university environments are essential to creating an inclusive, democratic, and dialogic academic space.

Can universities be agents of progressive social change? How would we know if a university was acting as an agent of social change? Drawing on four case studies, I raise a number of questions to problematize our understanding of the university as an agent of social change. I outline a number of contributing factors that appear to explain successful cases. I conclude by arguing the relevancy of these cases for larger, and more traditional, sociological projects.

The purpose of this study was to explore how girls in Eastern Uganda experienced a corporate-funded sport, gender and development (SGD) martial arts program. This study used 19 semi-structured in-depth interviews, participant observation and document analysis. Results revealed that while the martial arts program increased the young women's confidence, challenged gender norms, augmented their social networks, improved their physical fitness and was useful for providing them with employment opportunities, the program also attempted to ‘govern’ their sexuality and sexual relations with boys and men by promoting individual avoidance and encouraging the use of self-defense strategies against potential abusers. To conclude, I argue that girl-focused SGD programs such as the one studied here impel young women to be the agents of social change and to cope with the potential resistance (e.g., from some of their family and community members) to their participation in SGD programs by building their self-esteem, confidence and self-responsibility. Despite this – and as the ‘new agents of social change’ – these young women still must navigate the structural inequalities that tend to marginalize their lives in the first place.

Sustainability entails meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It has become a major norm of behaviour of various societal groups in recent years and it is an increasingly prominent topic of academic research, public policy making and marketing practice. The core idea of sustainability is based on the rethinking of consumption. Numerous researchers emphasize that consumption patterns are seen as a major contributor to the current environmental and social problems. On the one hand, companies recognize stakeholders’ expectations and respond to them by committing to more sustainable activities, while on the other hand, consumers are also expected to behave sustainably and in doing so contribute to sustainable development. This expectation has led to seeing consumers as “agents of social change”.

Stresses the value of intangible cultural heritage as it embodies the identities of people. On that point, the author expresses that heritage is to nations what the soul is to human beings. This exceptional and fragile cultural diversity deserves to be protected against the dangers of globalization. The new international, standardized instrument, using the 1972 Convention as a model, was intended to ensure that intangible heritage retains its vitality and flexibility, somewhere between tradition and innovation. In that spirit, the 2003 Convention was created. Its founding basis is deemed realistic and capable of reconciling contradictory demands. Furthermore, the safeguarding of intangible heritage will contribute to 'cultural sustainability', which is an essential element for the sustainable development of humanity and therefore an indication of responsibility towards its preservation for future generations.

From “snowflake generation” to “agents of social change”: Recognizing the voice of Spanish young people in the post-pandemic era

Events become meaningful through the symbolism and affective outcomes associated with participation. They can become mediators of social change, inspiring thought and critique through participation, and changing society and social structures. Challenges to the norm are often characterized by the violence of wresting power, but other forms of peaceful change making are also achievable through planned events. This case study examines the myriad ways in which a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community event challenges Singaporean society's conceptualization of identity, extending the bounds of comfort and acceptance to enact social change. Pink Dot—a 1-day gathering in support of the LGBT community—grew out of the community's pursuit for openness and inclusivity. It champions social exchange and network building while asserting the LGBT community's legal right to equality. The case study made use of secondary data as a basis for examining Pink Dot's impact as a critical event in the realm of social change. It found that while Pink Dot was strong in enabling general acknowledgment of the LGBT community and broad social acceptance, the event was limited in its ability to influence the eradication of discriminatory laws, impeding progress toward equality. The findings contribute to the literature on social cause engagement, while extending understanding of critical events as agents of change. This article also develops a conceptual framework to evaluate the efficacy of using events as agents of social change and encourage further debates and modification of the framework in other contexts.

Book Review| February 01 2022 Review: Museums as Agents for Social Change: Collaborative Programmes at the Mutare Museum, by Njabulo Chipangura and Jesmael Matago Museums as Agents for Social Change: Collaborative Programmes at the Mutare Museum by Njabulo Chipangura and Jesmael Matago. Routledge Museums in Focus series. New York: Routledge, 2021. xii + 138 pp.; illustrations, notes, bibliography, index; clothbound, $59.95; eBook, $20.65. Julia Wells Julia Wells Rhodes University in Makhanda Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar The Public Historian (2022) 44 (1): 116–118. https://doi.org/10.1525/tph.2022.44.1.116 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Julia Wells; Review: Museums as Agents for Social Change: Collaborative Programmes at the Mutare Museum, by Njabulo Chipangura and Jesmael Matago. The Public Historian 1 February 2022; 44 (1): 116–118. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/tph.2022.44.1.116 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentThe Public Historian Search This is a feisty book which tackles the heavy legacy of colonial museums in Africa today. The authors carefully explain just how awkward a museum, as an institution founded to support race-based colonial assumptions, can be. Throughout Africa, colonizers built museums both to celebrate their own claims to technological superiority and to hold the indigenous people in place as curious others. This book demonstrates how such apparent handicaps can be turned inside out and put to good use. It includes a series of case studies of initiatives successfully undertaken at the Mutare Museum in Mutare, Zimbabwe. As a guide not only to what is wrong with museums, but to a host of remedial actions, it is a book that should be of interest to anyone interested in museum management throughout Africa. In fact, it should be required reading for all decisionmakers and funders within the sector. The lessons can easily... You do not currently have access to this content.

The “new student activism,” as it is often called, is a hot topic in higher education as well as in the popular press and social media. As a college student in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, a long-time student affairs professional, a scholar and practitioner of service-learning, and an academic teaching a course on social change, the author contemplates what educators have learned through their work with service-learning and civic engagement that enables them to create a campus environment that supports student activists as agents of positive social change. She shares a set of questions for educators to grapple with as they navigate the complexities of today’s student activism.

<span>We presume that models and theory in instructional design inform professional practice, but theory has not been consistently built from the professional experiences of instructional designers. This study draws on the observations of five instructional designers who discuss their professional identities, their communities of practice and their roles as agents of social and institutional change. This study is embedded in two theoretical positions: instructional design as a social construct that is expressed in professional communities of practice, and critical pedagogy, in which designers act as agents of social change.</span>

In Chapter 7, the author focuses on the role of non-human animals as agents of social and political change. This role is not usually acknowledged in theory or in animal activism, because non-human animals are not seen as political actors or as agents of social change, even though they act politically and influence human political institutions and practices. This is problematic because it does not recognize non-human animal agency, and reinforces viewing them as mute, in contrast to human actors, which reaffirms anthropocentrism and unequal power relations. We therefore need to explore non-human animal activism and possibilities for interspecies political change. In this chapter, the author first discusses non-human animal acts of resistance, and investigates whether these acts can be seen as civil disobedience. She then turns to the relation between non-human animal oppression and the oppression of human groups via a discussion of intersectionality. This is followed by a discussion of the question of speaking for others, and options for assisting other animals as activists. The final section discusses how stray dog agency can function as a starting point for change.

This research explores the transformation of Kyai Langgar's role in spreading religious values ​​amidst ever-developing social dynamics. Using a qualitative approach, this research reveals how Kyai Langgar, as a spiritual leader, not only plays a role as a religious teacher, but also as an agent of significant social change. Kyai Langgar is active in various religious activities such as congregational prayers, regular recitations, and reciting the Koran, and plays an important role in developing the younger generation and maintaining social harmony. This research also identifies the challenges faced by Kyai Langgar, including the influence of modernization, social and cultural diversity, and the use of technology and social media. Despite facing these various challenges, Kyai Langgar remains consistent in spreading the values ​​of religiosity with an inclusive approach that focuses on social welfare. This research emphasizes the important role of Kyai Langgar in maintaining morality and social stability amidst the modernization process. In addition, this research recommends increasing the involvement of Kyai Langgar in social and educational development programs at the village level to improve the quality of life of the community. These findings provide new insight into how Kyai Langgar adapts to social change, reflecting the combination of tradition and modernity in the context of Indonesian society's religiosity. Highlights: Kyai Langgar serves as a spiritual leader and agent of social change in Ngepoh Village. Adaptation to modern challenges includes the use of technology and engagement in community-based initiatives. The role of Kyai Langgar extends beyond religious duties to encompass education, social welfare, and political involvement. Keywords: Transformation of Kyai Langgar, Religious Values, Social Dynamics

Teachers carry out a number of roles in the educational system. Their primary role is to help all students develop knowledge and skills, but, most of the time, they take on the role of gatekeepers: They evaluate students and exercise selection on the basis of performance. We analyze the roles of teachers through the lens of the literature on social influence and put forward the proposal that teaching is a form of social influence. We review existing research on the mechanisms that explain the differential effects teachers may have on students’ learning, students’ prospects, and, therefore, educational justice. We conclude that if teachers endorse the role of mentors—instead of that of gatekeepers—focusing on the development of their students’ knowledge, they can promote deep study, long‐term learning, and equality of treatment. Such an approach could help design teacher training and school reform so as to maximize the learning potential of all students and empower teachers to become active agents of profound individual and social change.

Should the church become an active agent of social protest and change, or confine itself to its central and historic function of ministering to the soul? If the church should be an agent of social change, should the business corporation be a primary target of its efforts? These profound issues are dealt with in depth in this article.

The article discusses the functioning of lawyers in a Central European, post-transformational society. It presents both the narrative created and spread by legal milieu concerning their social role, as well as how legal professions function and are perceived within society. Lawyers often describe themselves as agents of social change and as being actively involved defenders of individual rights. Meanwhile, they are more often perceived as guardians of the status quo, who serve the interests of the hegemonic class. This is illustrated by the situation in Poland after 1989, where such a narrative has prevailed since the very beginning of the transformation, and where problems connected with the actual functioning of legal professions have been accumulating. The gradually growing discrepancy between the narrative of the legal milieu and the social evaluation of their activities made lawyers an easy target for attack from politicians described as populist. The author suggests perceiving lawyers as agents of social change, who follow social expectations, rather than as guardians of post-transformational status quo.