Social Change Research Articles

Solidarity in ethnically diverse contexts: Supportive relations of first generation Roma graduates social mobility in Hungary

<p>The relationship between Roma and non-Roma in Central and Eastern European countries is determined by growing socio-economic inequalities, racism based on structural inequalities and far-right policies of scapegoating. This trend is reinforced by the generally low level of social mobility. However, parallel to the main trend, a less visible process enables the social mobility of people of Roma origin born into marginalised, socio-economically low-status families. In this paper we aim to link issues of solidarity and diversity through exploring the support networks of educational and social mobility trajectories of Roma in Hungary. Based on 102 narrative, life story interviews with first-generation Roma graduates we explore the helping relations - along with hindering ones - and solidarity relations that enabled their social uplift through education.</p><p>The article answers the following questions: What types of supportive relations facilitate upward social mobility? What kind of mobility trajectories do these supportive (and hindering) relations engender? What happens to those who experience dislocation of social class and change of status? How do they navigate attachment to community of origin and the attained middle-class? Through analysing narratives, we aim to highlight personal experiences of (educational) mobility and belonging by identifying different mobility trajectory ideal types and their accompanying supportive relations.</p><p>Scholars of solidarity usually research the helpers. Here we shift perspective and research those lived experiences of solidarity who come from a racialised minority and who received help through their social mobility paths. Our research finding demonstrates that initial solidarity towards the vulnerable can have a spill-over effect: the helped ones can become helpers. In our case, first generation Roma professionals who have firsthand experience with social and economic inequalities, become drivers of social change, partly through building bridges across communities, partly by fulfilling jobs in the mainstream economy, and also, by creating new narratives and advocating for social justice.</p>

On the edge of love and pain: emotional and affective labour in women’s online literature production in China

ABSTRACT In recent decades, online literature has emerged as a significant component of China’s cultural and creative industries, with women playing an increasingly critical role as writers. Despite their substantial contributions, women’s online literature production has received limited scholarly attention. This study adopts a gendered perspective to analyse the emotional and affective labour involved in women’s online literature production in China. By conceptualizing this creative process as ‘writing on the edge of love and pain’, the research highlights how female writers navigate the complex dynamics of capitalist markets, state censorships, and gendered cultural expectations while fostering spaces for bond building and feminist critique. Through semi-structured interviews with female online writers, this study examines the interplay between women’s self-resilience and structural constraints, revealing how their labour simultaneously reinforces and resists systemic inequalities. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of gendered cultural production in the digital era, shedding light on the transformative potential of women’s creative and affective labour in reshaping gender norms and advocating for social change.

Marine Prosperity Areas: a framework for aligning ecological restoration and human well-being using area-based protections

Mechanisms for marine ecological protection and recovery, including area-based conservation tools like ‘Marine Protected Areas’ (MPAs) are necessary tools to reach the Aichi Target or the forthcoming 30x30 target set by the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework. However, full ecosystem recovery takes years to manifest and the idea that MPA protection alone will foster human well-being is frequently contradicted by socio-economic evidence. Therefore, a new framework for marine area-based conservation and ecosystem restoration that reconciles the discrepancies between ecological recovery and socio-economic growth timelines is needed to effectively meet global biodiversity conservation targets. We introduce the concept of ‘Marine Prosperity Areas,’ (MPpA) an area-based conservation tool that prioritizes human prosperity as opposed to passively relying on ecosystem recovery to catalyze social change and economic growth. This concept leverages a suite of tried-and-true community-based intervention and investment strategies to strengthen and expand access to environmental science, social goods and services, and the financial perks of the blue economy. This data-driven framework may be of interest to stakeholders who support traditional area-based conservation models, but also to those who have been historically opposed to MPAs or have been excluded from past conservation processes.

Transformative social performance. A cultural pragmatics of social meaning change

ABSTRACT This article explores the process of social meaning change within the Strong Program in Cultural Sociology, shifting focus from the reproduction of culture to transformative social performance (TSP) in public displays. Social life often generates identifiable narrative patterns, where certain storylines are elevated to dominant or even official interpretations. In response, counternarrative patterns, iterated through a TSP, emerge to challenge and transform these storylines. TSPs refer to social enactments and performative displays of collective representations that shape social life through meaning-making dynamics, including the de-fusion/re-fusion of dramatic or narrative elements, as well as the displacement and condensation of meaning. Conceptually, TSP theory blends narrative genre theory with social performance theory. This paper highlights two ideal types, or categories, of TSP: the heretic/heretical, which challenges dominant narratives by elevating marginalized signifiers; and the apostate/apostatic, which introduces new central signifiers, portraying the past as dark or traumatic. Through these heretical and apostatic performances, TSPs serve as a form of societal catharsis, particularly in contexts of repression or when dominant narratives lose their relevance. Drawing on Susy Díaz’s vindication of Chicha culture in Peru and Mohamed Bouazizi’s immolation in Tunisia as case studies, this article provides methodological criteria for analyzing TSP. Furthermore, it demonstrates cathartic power of TSPs, emphasizing their critical role in driving social and political change by addressing social inertia or repression.

Urban Planning for the Contemporary Age: Navigating Complexities and Shaping Urban Futures

The term “urban planning for the contemporary age” describes the process of creating and overseeing urban areas to meet the many complex issues of the current times, such as social justice, climate change, growing urbanisation, and technological advancement. It places a strong emphasis on flexible, inclusive, and progressive approaches that strike a balance between sustainable development and the changing demands of various urban populations. Urban planning, particularly in the contemporary age, is a multidisciplinary discipline that tackles the complexity of contemporary cities that is influenced by social injustices, fast urbanisation, climate change, and technology breakthroughs. This entry paper examines how planners deal with these issues by using flexible, inclusive, and sustainable approaches that strike a balance between community well-being, environmental conservation, and growth. It looks at important topics including incorporating smart technology, building climate impact resilience, and creating inclusive, accessible, and egalitarian urban environments. The conflict between tradition and modernisation is also highlighted in the chapter, underscoring the necessity of creative solutions that protect cultural legacy while meeting contemporary needs. By examining global trends, this study offers insights into how urban planning is changing to satisfy the demands of a dynamic and connected society. The study used a literature review to identify the main areas that are influencing innovation in urban planning. It then delves into discussions on contemporary issues and complexities in shaping urban futures. The main research methods were a literature review and empirical analysis. In the end, it makes the case for rethinking urban futures with an emphasis on resilience, sustainability, and the welfare and well-being of urban residents.

DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN RELATION TO THE SOCIO-CULTURAL PROGRESS OF SOCIETY SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY: WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO BENGAL

During the 19th and 20th centuries, Bengal emerged as a vibrant center for socio-cultural and religious reform movements, driven by its early exposure to secular and liberal Western education. The establishment of modern institutions of higher learning—initiated by colonial authorities, European missionaries, and forward-thinking social reformers—sparked an intellectual awakening among Bengal's educated classes. This era, often referred to as the Bengal Renaissance, profoundly influenced the evolution of Bengali literature and language.Prominent social reformers of the period took the initiative to establish community libraries in their localities, creating accessible spaces for education and intellectual growth. Many of these historic libraries continue to serve communities today, providing valuable resources to youth, students, industrial workers, and lifelong learners.This paper seeks to explore how the legacy of the Bengal Renaissance shaped the development of public libraries in India during British colonial rule, while also examining the impact of gradual social changes on the public libraries of West Bengal.

Disordered Eating in Emerging Adults: A Narrative Review and Recommendations for Prevention

Emerging adulthood is a critical developmental period during which individual, social, and professional changes occur. Among the psychopathological disorders that can appear during this period, disordered eating is a major risk. This narrative review provides an overview of the risk and protective factors of disordered eating. Recommendations intended to promote an appeased relationship with food and a positive body image within young adults are then proposed. The originality of this prevention approach is the promotion of protective factors, not only risk reduction. This paradigm shift allows young adults to learn positive skills, allowing for awareness of internal needs and external demands in a non-judgmental manner. Coupled with the implementation of self-care behaviors, this permits a balance between their internal system and the environment, gradually reaching flourishing. This is promising for the future implementation of prevention programs targeting the development of protective factors of disordered eating in young adults.

Resource constraints, patient emotions, and therapy: experiences of healthcare providers in the screening and management of gestational diabetes mellitus in northern Ghana

Abstract Background Studies on healthcare providers’ experiences in screening and managing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) are rare in northern Ghana. Understanding the experiences of healthcare providers in the screening and management of GDM has the potential to identify best practices to improve GDM care. Hence, this study sought to explore the experiences of healthcare providers in screening and managing GDM. Materials and methods This was a qualitative study of five key informants involved in the screening and management of GDM, specifically an obstetrician, a dietician/nutritionist, a nurse, and two midwives in the northern region of Ghana. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the aid of an interview guide, and the data were analysed via thematic analysis. We ensured trustworthiness through reflexivity, member checking, peer-debriefing, providing rich text, and keeping an audit trail. Results Two main themes and six subthemes were generated. The first theme was resource-centred experiences, which explored events at the Antenatal Care (ANC) and the challenges in GDM screening and management, with subthemes namely: ANC setups, inadequate resources, and non-compliance. The second theme was care-centred experiences, which explored patient emotions during GDM care, and the care they receive post-GDM diagnosis, with subthemes namely: raw emotions, non-pharmacological therapy, and pharmacotherapy. Conclusion Findings suggest the need for health system strengthening through the training and recruitment of dedicated skilled personnel, as well as government intervention through policy revision to cover the cost of GDM diagnostic tests. Healthcare providers should also consider the psycho-emotional impact of diagnosis when managing GDM. The findings could be relevant for health policy, planning, advocacy, and social and behaviour change communication aimed at effective screening and management of GDM.

In the liminal realm: Qatar's world cup struggle between tradition, modernity, and human rights

This paper examines Qatar's 2022 World Cup through the lens of liminality, presenting the intricate interplay between tradition, modernity, and human rights. By introducing liminality as an analytical tool, the paper explores how Qatar navigates traditional norms amidst global scrutiny, particularly concerning human rights issues such as migrant labour practices and cultural contestations around human rights. Employing liminality as a conceptual framework, this analysis offers a nuanced understanding of Qatar's endeavour to balance cultural authenticity with international expectations. I reveal why Qatar utilised the transient phase to implement reforms to its social and legal systems, aligning with international human rights while ensuring changes were akin with its cultural identity. The paper highlights the transient nature of change during the liminal phase of sport mega-events, emphasising both the opportunities and challenges presented for changes in Qatar. The paper unpacks Qatar continued navigation in the global stage as an extension of the initial liminal phase, demonstrating its engagements with processes of change and adaptation. The World Cup is a prime example that exposes the dual nature of sport mega events, serving as a springboard for social change, while also revealing underlying cultural and structural tensions. I conclude that Qatar utilised this liminal phase as a rite of passage, enabling the nation to traverse the terrain of modernity while testing the permeability of its cultural boundaries.

Portrayal of gender roles in Emirati television dramas: a content analysis

This research investigates the portrayal of gender roles in Emirati television dramas and movies, contextualizing them within the evolving socio-cultural landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study conducts a comprehensive analysis of Emirati dramas and movies, categorizing prevalent gender role trends and their alignment with Emirati culture. Through content analysis, the research identifies four primary patterns: the ratio of male to female characters, gender role diversity and plot-power, themes relating to culture and religion, and the intensity of gender role manifestation with external factors. Findings reveal a predominant focus on male characters in Emirati media, reflecting traditional values where men are depicted as providers and leaders, while women are often relegated to caretaking roles. Implications of the research highlight a gradual shift toward gender equality in the UAE, evidenced by the increasing participation of women in the workforce. However, entrenched cultural values continue to influence societal expectations, perpetuating certain gender stereotypes. The study underscores the importance of media literacy in fostering critical analysis and demands for more nuanced female representation in Emirati media. Recommendations are proposed for media producers and regulators, to collaborate in promoting gender-sensitive content and fostering social change. By embracing evolving gender dynamics while preserving cultural heritage, the UAE has the potential to emerge as a global exemplar of contemporary society, championing diversity and inclusivity on a regional and international scale.

#SeAcabó: how a mass-mediated “social drama” made visible and confronted (subjective and objective) violence in women’s football in Spain

ABSTRACT The victory of the Spanish national women’s football team at the 2023 FIFA World Cup was marred by the mass-mediated non-consensual kiss on midfielder, Jennifer Hermoso, by Luis Rubiales, then President of the Royal Spanish Football National Federation. The kiss sparked general outrage worldwide and led to the prosecution of Rubiales for sexual assault and coercion. Drawing on the concepts of “moral shock” and “social drama,” this article explores how this widely disseminated episode of “subjective violence” resulted in a shock capable of mobilising and politicising different agents. It does so through qualitative analysis of official statements and vernacular online discussions. The article makes the case that the unfolding of this social drama enabled more subtle (objective) violence, long endured by female athletes, to be brought into public discourse debate. In so doing, it boosted demands for social change. But such demands were also contested, in that the structured social drama resulted in an online “reactionary moral shock” characterised by anti-feminist and misogynistic discourses. Significantly, our analysis of these discourses reveals a shift in male victimisation narratives and strategies to disempower women and maintain sexual inequality. These include the denial of gender-based violence and the banalisation of sexual abuse.

A cross-sectional study of essential surgical, obstetric, and anaesthesia care capacity in the public sector in Fiji.

The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery indicator collection highlighted gaps in surgical, obstetric, and anaesthesia (SOA) care in Fiji. Our study is the first comprehensive assessment of essential SOA care capacity in Fiji to guide national surgical planning. In February 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of public hospitals in Fiji using the World Health Organization-Program in Global Surgery and Social Change surgical assessment tool. We surveyed 18 facilities, including three divisional hospitals (DHs) and 15 subdivisional hospitals (SDHs). Twenty-two functional operating rooms (ORs) and 27 post-anaesthesia care beds served 884,887 people. Surgical care was concentrated in DHs and only delivered in select SDHs during outreaches. While SDHs had OR space, they lacked equipment, supplies, and human resources. From 2016 to 2021, surgical volume per 100,000 population increased by approximately 50% from 1,490 to 2,248; however, SOA specialists density per 100,000 population increased marginally from 5.8 to 7.1. There is significant variation across divisions. The Northern division has more ORs (4.55), SOA specialists (9.1), and surgical volume (3,731) per 100,000 population than the Central (2.40, 7.9, 2,367) and Western (1.78, 5.3, 1,519) divisions. This is due to more OR space and functioning, specialist post creation, and outreach services to SDHs. Policy recommendations include upgrading key SDHs with essential SOA care capacity, growing the SOA workforce, strengthening facility maintenance and climate resilience, and strengthening outreach programs. Investment in surgical care capacity must be urgently increased to meet the population's needs.

Maintaining the Demographic Bonus for Increasing Cultural Resilience in Indonesia

Purpose: This study aims to explore strategies for leveraging Indonesia's demographic bonus to strengthen cultural resilience. It seeks to identify how the younger, productive population can be mobilized to preserve, adapt, and innovate traditional cultural practices amidst globalization and societal changes, ensuring cultural sustainability and national identity for future generations. Study Design/Methodology/Approach: This study adopted a qualitative approach, using a literature review and case study analysis. Data was collected from an extensive review of demographic trends and national policies aimed at strengthening cultural resilience. Findings: The findings highlight that Indonesia's demographic bonus can strengthen cultural resilience through local-based education, youth empowerment, and media promotion of cultural values. Equipping youth with knowledge and skills in formal and informal settings is vital, alongside government policies and multi-sector collaboration to sustain these efforts. Originality/Value: This study explores the link between Indonesia's demographic bonus and cultural resilience, highlighting the role of youth in preserving and innovating traditional culture. It offers strategies for policymakers and educators to integrate cultural education, digital tools, and youth empowerment, ensuring cultural sustainability amidst globalization and social change.

Austere life-courses and foreclosed futures: A relational geographical approach to work, housing, and family across austerity Europe

This article seeks to advance geographical understandings of the impact of austerity on young adults in Europe and particularly on their social, relational, and temporal sense of the future. We adopt a life-course perspective to theorise personal, generational, institutional, and social change in relation to one another. Firstly, we progress relational life-course perspectives in human geography to illustrate how place-based experiences of austerity shape lived experiences, temporalities, and normative ideas surrounding life transitions. We introduce the concept of ‘foreclosed futures’ to re-examine conceptualisations of young adults’ eroding material conditions as a postponement of adulthood. We argue that the enduring impact of austerity contests the theorisation of young adults’ experiences of precarity as a transient elongation of youth. Expanding upon non-teleological life-course perspectives, we show that while austere institutions have foreclosed stable futures, the paths to precarity are myriad and rooted in geographically varied forms of austerity. Secondly, in examining how austere institutions shape young people's work, housing, and family biographies, we argue that, rather than leading to de-institutionalisation, austerity marks a process of life-course re-institutionalisation or ‘familialisation of the life-course’. To conclude, this article proposes a series of prompts for future international empirical research on austere life-courses and foreclosed futures.

A Patron to Forget: Giovanni Aurelio Augurello (1441–1524) and Doge Agostino Barbarigo (1419–1501)

The article examines a Latin encomiastic poem by Giovanni Aurelio Augurello (1441–1526), preserved in two published versions that display notable differences. These variations include the poem’s dedication to doge Agostino Barbarigo (1419–1501), the account of events related to Charles VIII’s Italian campaign, and the characterization of the French army. By comparing these versions and analysing key passages, the article hypotesises how and why Augurello revised his text to adapt it to the historical, social and political changes occurring in late 15th and early 16th Venice.

Foundations as policy entrepreneurs in the climate movement: the KR Foundation and the movement to ban fossil fuel advertising

ABSTRACT This paper examines the role of private foundations as policy entrepreneurs within transnational social movements, focusing on the case of the KR Foundation and its funding of campaigns to ban fossil fuel advertising. Drawing on document analysis and interviews with KR Foundation and funded organizations, we analyse how the foundation acts as a policy entrepreneur by framing solutions, building coalitions of aligned groups, and capitalising on windows of opportunity. In contrast to previous studies demonstrating channelling of movement activity by foundations, we find that KR Foundation enables diverse strategies among funded groups: the foundation creates an ecosystem of organizations working towards delegitimizing fossil fuel advertising through different but complementary approaches. This case contributes to understanding how foundations operate as transnational political actors, moving beyond national policy entrepreneurship to foster broader social change across sectors and governance levels. The findings suggest foundations play an important role in social movements by facilitating networks, shared learning, and scaling up of localized advocacy. This study opens up new avenues for research on foundations as movement actors and their impacts on repertoires of contention in an era of polycentric climate governance.

Prof. Balibar’s X-Mutant Transindividuals

Abstract As I have explored elsewhere, the Birmingham Philosophy Guild, which my former students and I re-founded in 2012, is a team of community members who engage in theoretical discussion, support group self-cultivation, and community activism. To further promote the guild as a catalyst for progressive social change, the present article connects it to both the popular cultural phenomenon of the “X-Men” – to make the guild more appealing to students and laypeople – and to the cutting-edge contemporary French philosophy of Étienne Balibar – to make the guild more appealing to professors and culture workers. Moreover, the article connects these low- and high-brow phenomena to each other as well, thereby illustrating the political relevance of the lower, as well as a weakness in the higher, pursuant to social justice activism today.

Utilizing Information Systems to Drive Social Change Through Education

This article explores the role of information systems in driving social change through education in Indonesia. Adopting a qualitative approach and a case study design, this research investigates how information systems, including online learning platforms and technology-based academic management systems, contribute to improving the efficiency, quality, and accessibility of education. Data were collected through interviews with key stakeholders, including educators, administrators, and students, along with document analysis from selected schools and institutions. The findings reveal that the integration of these technologies has led to enhanced learning outcomes, greater administrative efficiency, and increased student engagement. However, challenges such as digital inequality, insufficient infrastructure, and resistance to change were also identified. The study concludes that while information systems hold significant potential for educational transformation, addressing these challenges is crucial for maximizing their impact. The implications of this research suggest that policy makers and educational leaders should prioritize investments in infrastructure, training, and inclusive strategies to ensure the equitable and effective use of technology in education. This study contributes to the broader understanding of how technological innovations can drive positive social change within educational contexts in developing countries.

Political and transformative uses of time

Taking time as a political relation and politics as a temporal one, our focus in this Special Issue is on contemporary case studies from a variety of geographical and political contexts. Using a wide range of methodological and theoretical approaches from across the social sciences, we use a temporal lens to study structures of power and inequality. Attentive to uncertainty, indeterminacy, and contingency, the contributions to this issue are especially attuned to the political salience of collectively produced temporal agency. Based on empirical case studies, the articles in this collection apply, critique, refine, and extend existing temporal concepts to uncover the political and transformative uses of time. Conscious of time's intimate entanglement with power, inequality, social transformation, and social justice, we hope to contribute a politically relevant, empirically and conceptually rich collection of articles to critical time studies and to studies of politics, social change, and social movements.

Empowering Narratives: Destigmatizing Condom Use, Feminist Discourse, and Social Change in Recent Bollywood Cinemas, Janhit Mein Jaari, Chhatriwali, and Helmet

Empowering Narratives: Destigmatizing Condom Use, Feminist Discourse, and Social Change in Recent Bollywood Cinemas, Janhit Mein Jaari, Chhatriwali, and Helmet