Sociological Perspective Research Articles

Conservative critique, resisting regulation: Purposeful culture discourse in finance

Abstract Culture is increasingly articulated by financial actors and financial firms as a solution to the dislocations of contemporary capitalism. It therefore matters, not just how actors behave, but how they articulate culture and what importance they accord it. Drawing on pragmatist sociology, the present paper takes this injunction seriously and reports the findings of a field study involving 29 interviews with senior members of financial firms whose understanding of culture and its importance were interrogated directly. The discourse concerning purposeful culture articulated in these interviews simultaneously recognises current arrangements between finance and society as fractured while positing organisational culture initiatives as the most realistic means of repairing said fracture. The paper draws on these findings to argue that, despite masquerading as a call for change, purposeful culture discourse has the effect of protecting against calls to rethink or radically transform the roles and effects of finance in society. The paper thus contributes to sociological perspectives on finance by illustrating how existing cultural discourse in financial markets serves as a kind of conservative critique where shortcomings are conceded in a way which insulates finance from wider structural change.

Straying with the Trouble: Science fiction, utopia and the anti-carceral imagination

Prisons continue to dominate our collective social imagination of the best way to respond to social harm, despite the overwhelming evidence that they do not make society safer or enact justice. To support the urgent work of thinking beyond prisons, this article focuses on the anti-carceral imagination of activists and scholars involved in the movement for prison abolition. I discuss findings from Prison Break: Imagining Alternatives to Prison in the UK (2021–2022), an interdisciplinary research project which used creative writing workshops to support activists and scholars involved in prison abolition and transformative justice in the UK, to write short works of science fiction imagining more just futures. These were published in an open-access book: Abolition Science Fiction. The first part of this article discusses the project’s innovative methodological approach of collaborative fictioning, and its theoretical framework, both of which draw on poststructuralist feminist approaches, abolitionist scholarship, literary and utopian studies. I then discuss some of the project’s findings via an analysis of a sample of the stories which explore utopian temporalities, drawing both on our collective analysis within the workshops, and my own close reading. Through this, I offer insights into how the stories can improve our understanding of abolitionists’ anti-carceral imagination and help enact more just futures, arguing that fiction is an important space where activists reckon with the complexity of their concerns and hopes about the distant future, and hold them close as a distant presence in their daily lives.

Nostalgia and connection in academic imaginaries of digital pedagogies

ABSTRACT Digital pedagogies have become integral to higher education, all the more so since the pandemic-prompted shifts of 2020. Despite this, there continue to be debates about the role of the digital in higher education teaching going forward, including emerging critical concerns about the social imaginaries that may be playing a part in driving the continued development and implementation of digitally based pedagogies. This paper draws on our 2023 interviews with very senior academics to consider what social imaginaries are shaping the development and implementation of digital pedagogies in Australian and United Kingdom universities. We interpret from their accounts three consistent imaginaries of the digital in higher education teaching which in different ways engage with ideas of academic nostalgia and the desire for connection: the pull of the past, a haunted, nostalgic imaginary which associates the digital with the loss or impoverishment of previous forms of connection; the launching pad, a more hopeful, replete imaginary within which the digital is employed as a means of enhancing connective educational practices, places and pedagogies; and the untethered future, which looks beyond the familiar to critique the limitations which arise from academic nostalgia and to imagine new connected educational futures.

Nurturing decisions: impact of children on farmers’ choices in new liquid fertilizer purchase

ABSTRACT Purpose This study explores how family dynamics, particularly the presence and living arrangements of children, influence farmers’ adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies, focusing on bio-concentrated liquid fertilizers (Bio-CLF). Design/Methodology/Approach Using a sample of 249 professional farmers and 297 amateur farmers in Japan, this study employs propensity score matching and logistic regression to analyze differences in adoption intentions. Findings Amateur farmers are more inclined to adopt Bio-CLF, while professional farmers living with children exhibit lower adoption intentions due to perceived financial risks. Conversely, professional farmers without children display higher adoption intentions, reflecting reduced immediate financial burdens. Practical Implication Insights from this research underscore the need for tailored policy interventions, such as financial support and education, to address barriers faced by professional farmers with children. Theoretical Implications By integrating family dynamics into technology adoption frameworks, this study bridges sociological and economic perspectives, offering a nuanced understanding of how family composition shapes adoption behaviors. Originality/Value This study provides a novel perspective on the interplay between family dynamics and sustainable technology adoption, offering actionable guidance for policymakers and advancing the literature on agricultural innovation.

The Reconstruction of the Regulation of the Prosecutor's Authority to File a Review of Criminal Cases Decided Acquitable in the Indonesian Criminal Procedural Law System Based on the Values of Justice

The paradox of prosecutors seeking case reviews in acquittals, which contradicts justice values in Indonesia's criminal law system. The purpose of research are: 1) analyze the regulation of prosecutorial authority to request reviews of acquittals based on justice values; 2) identify weaknesses in current regulation; and 3) analyze a reconstruction of the regulation grounded in justice. The research uses constructivist paradigm, the study applies a sociological juridical approach and descriptive research method. Data sources include primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials to evaluate how legal practices align with justice principles. The results are: 1) The prosecutor's authority to request judicial review of acquittals in Indonesia lacks justice value, as it fails to optimally prioritize prosecutor's proper role; 2) Weaknesses in the prosecutor's authority to seek judicial review include conflicting legal substance, limited structural authority under Article 263(1), and differing public perceptions that lead to inconsistent law enforcement across community groups; 3) Reconstructing the prosecutor's authority to seek judicial review involves norm reconstruction and value reconstruction based on justice within Indonesia’s legal system. Value reconstruction ensures prosecutor’s authority to seek judicial review of acquittals aligns with justice, while norm reconstruction revises Article 30C(h) of Law 11/2021 and Article 263(1) KUHAP.

The Reconstruction of the Prosecutor's Authority Regulation as Dominus Litis in the Enforcement of Corruption Criminal Acts Based on the Values of Justice

Draft Prosecutor's Office as controller investigation that in investigation the controlled and/ or led by the Public Prosecutor. This research aims to: 1) analyze the role of prosecutors as dominus litis in corruption law enforcement not yet based on justice values; 2) identify current regulatory weaknesses in that role; and 3) reconstruct the prosecutorial authority based on justice. Using a constructivist paradigm, it applies a sociological legal approach and descriptive study, relying on secondary data from primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials, collected through literature review and analyzed qualitatively. The research results are: 1) The prosecutor’s authority as dominus litis in corruption law enforcement is not yet based on justice principles, making its role suboptimal; 2) Key weaknesses include: a) Substantive legal limits, such as Article 138(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code; b) Structural issues from functional separation between investigation and prosecution, reducing prosecutorial control; and c) Cultural resistance to restorative justice, with public preference for judicial processes; 3) Reconstruction should align prosecutorial authority with justice values through amendments to Article 139 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Article 30B(d) of Law No. 11/2021 (amending Law No. 16/2004), and Article 2(1)–(2) of Law No. 31/1999 on Corruption Eradication.

TRAVELERS IN TRANSLATION: OF “LIMINAL SPACES” AND “LITERARY CONTACT ZONES”

ABSTRACTDespite the global visibility of the migrant as a key figure in discussions of human rights, the contours of the migrant as a subject of rights still remain unspecified. However, global human rights fictions, which are often rooted in autobiographical and biographical accounts, offer alternative subjectivities by producing narrative forms that contrast with dominant “migration literatures.” Literature emerges as a contact zone where migrant voices engage with host cultures, facilitating dialogues that challenge stereotypes and reshape cultural imaginaries. In these spaces, language becomes the central medium to navigate and negotiate liminality. Processes of translation are the most obvious means of this negotiation, as translation bridges personal experience, political ideologies, and social imaginaries. By translating precarious migrant experiences into narratives, literature reconfigures the migrant as a central figure of human rights while also challenging dominant political discourses. Helon Habila's 2019 novel, Travelers, exemplifies these dynamics by mapping migrancy through a network of interconnected characters whose fates illuminate the complexity of migrant experiences and challenge received notions of migrancy. As individual narratives intersect and transform into a collective story, Travelers reflects the potential of literary contact zones to mediate cultural exchange and envision alternative migrant subjectivities. By moving beyond tropes of cultural clash and identity struggles, such narratives reimagine migration and its connection to human rights.

Ethical Hermeneutics Engaging Individual-based Instrumental Reason: Lessons for Leaders in the Modern Social Imaginary

An ethical hermeneutics is both of practical benefit for institutional leaders and an important response to what Charles Taylor describes as the “modern social imaginary,” or how people imagine their social existence and its underlying assumptions, which he argues is currently grounded in instrumental reason practiced by individuals, but without shared moral and evidentiary frameworks. Using Hans-Georg Gadamer’s hermeneutics, supplemented by ethical philosophers including Charles Taylor, Jeffrey Stout, and Emmanuel Levinas, the article considers the political and social issues raised by the modern social imaginary, especially in the United States, and shows how the consequences of individual-based instrumental reason can be productively engaged by a broadly conceived ethical hermeneutics. This approach provides both (1) a way to think within and engage the historicity of the current moment and (2) practical hermeneutic solutions to problems of communication and understanding faced by leaders, with examples from the author’s experience in academic leadership.

Innovation of Mechanical Practice Teaching Mode Based on Virtual Reality Technology

This study explores the application value of virtual reality technology in mechanical practice teaching. By constructing the VR mechanical teaching platform, problems such as limited equipment resources and insufficient practical opportunities in traditional teaching have been solved. Empirical research shows that this teaching mode improves students' learning efficiency and knowledge retention rate, and promotes skill acquisition. This research analyzes from a sociological perspective how VR technology reshapes the interaction mode between teachers and students, promotes educational equity, and provides a new path for cultivating engineering talents that adapt to digital transformation.

EARLY CHARACTER OF ISLAM IN MEDAN: Challenging the Narrative of Religious Intolerance in an Indonesian City

<p><strong>Abstract</strong>: This study explores the early development of Islam in Medan, challenging claims that the city fosters religious intolerance. Historically, Islam was introduced through peaceful, Sufistic, and adaptive means that encouraged coexistence and cultural integration. Using a qualitative, sociological approach supported by interviews with religious and community leaders and relevant literature, the research highlights Islam’s foundational values in Medan—moderation, tolerance, and inclusivity. Although contemporary religious tensions occasionally arise, often driven by political interests, they do not represent the city’s Islamic roots. The findings affirm that Medan’s interfaith relations remain largely harmonious, and portrayals of the city as intolerant misrepresent its long-standing tradition of pluralism and social harmony.</p><p><br /><strong>Keywords</strong>: Early Islam, Religious Tolerance, Sufism, Religious Pluralism,<br />Indonesian Islam</p>

Health Omnibus Law: Perspective of Legal Sociology

Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health has adopted the use of the omnibus law method. It is necessary to study in depth how the formation process must be in accordance with the law on the formation of laws and regulations. Because it combines almost 9 existing laws, from a sociological perspective, law has a very large influence in the formation process. Strategic issues in the formation of the health law are related to authority, institutions, organizations, professional education issues, competency tests, interventions to the administrative field. For this reason, in the implementation and evaluation stages, the sustainability of the law needs to be carried out so that the purpose of the birth of the omnibuslaw method of forming health laws can be achieved for the benefit of all parties. Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health has adopted the use of the omnibus law method. It is necessary to study in depth how the formation process must be in accordance with the law on the formation of laws and regulations. Because it combines almost 9 existing laws, from a sociological perspective, law has a very large influence in the formation process. Strategic issues in the formation of the health law are related to authority, institutions, organizations, professional education issues, competency tests, interventions to the administrative field. For this reason, in the implementation and evaluation stages, the sustainability of the law needs to be carried out so that the purpose of the birth of the omnibuslaw method of forming health laws can be achieved for the benefit of all parties.

Social Media and Work Family Interface of Mumpreneurs in Eldoret City, Kenya: A Sociological Perspective

Social Media has made it possible for entrepreneurs to connect and interact based on similar interests, and this encourages the establishment of partnerships, which promotes innovations. Continued use of social media has also shown improved performance by various businesses. The expansion and development of the internet have made it simpler for moms to become entrepreneurs than ever before. It gives them access to multiple networks and sales channels without requiring them to leave their homes. The study used Henry Tajfel's Social Identity Theory, which provides insights into how the identities of mumpreneurs shape their entrepreneurial journeys, influencing their motivations, challenges, and support systems. A purposive sampling method was employed to identify a sample of twenty respondents, who were interviewed between April and May 2024. Data analysis was conducted using NVivo software and organised into themes. The findings indicated that social media has benefited mumpreneurs by offering them income and flexibility of work in terms of time and space, thereby enhancing their mental well-being and facilitating family obligations. However, this advantage has also acted as a double-edged sword as social media has disrupted family dynamics, leading mumpreneurs to seek strategies to balance their professional and familial responsibilities. The study identified several strategies employed by these entrepreneurs, including networking with peers, seeking help with household tasks, and massaging their spouses' egos. Recommendations for the study include encouraging mumpreneurs to connect with other women in business, seek guidance from consultants, prioritise family time whenever possible and advocating for government initiatives to provide affordable and accessible internet to support their enterprises.

Land Certification of Government Assets Resulted From Swap-Over (Ruislag) to Ensure Legal Certainty of Land Rights (Case Study: Execution Of Ruislag MAN 2 Kuningan)

This research aims to find out the procedure for land certification as a result of the land swap (ruislag) in the implementation of the ruislag between MAN 2 Kuningan and Ciawigebang Village, a more in-depth analysis of the issues and strategies made by the parties involved in the certification process to achieve legal certainty of land rights. This research employs a qualitative research method, drawing on an empirical legal research approach and a sociological perspective. The results of this study indicate that the process of land certification as a result of ruislag is included in the maintenance service of land registration data by the Regulation of the Head of the National Land Agency of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 2010 concerning service standards and land regulations so that a certificate of use rights and a certificate of business use rights for four plots of land to replace the Ciawigebang MAN 2 Kuningan Village Treasury. The issues faced are related to administrative documents, designation of replacement land rights, and land conditions, because the distance between the ruislag process and land registration is quite long. Strategies made are cooperation between the parties, increasing the intensity of coordination between agencies, and reviewing regulations relating to the issuance of ruislag and registration of land rights. With these strategies, the certification process has become easier, thereby ensuring the legal certainty of land rights for rights holders.

Analysing the Gig Economy

This paper delves into the evolving dynamics of the gig economy and its multifaceted impact on labour markets. Tracing its emergence through technological innovation and shifting labour preferences, the study analyses economic efficiencies, income volatility, and market flexibility offered by gig-based models. The contrast between platform-driven productivity gains and concerns over job security, regulatory problems and erosion of traditional labour protections has also been studied over here. From a sociological perspective, the paper evaluates implications for worker welfare, social equity and long-term economic resilience, proposing solutions to balance innovation with inclusive and secure employment.

Urban transport as a social construct: Reimagining transport’s role in urban studies

This essay seeks to cultivate a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the social dimensions of urban transport. Through a historical account of theoretical developments and an overview of contemporary trends, we propose a framework for conceptualising urban transport as a social construct. This perspective encourages a shift away from seeing transport as physical and spatial entities to emphasising the complex social dynamics that underpin the functional aspects of transport systems. Grounded in social constructivist thinking and critical theoretical traditions, our framework offers an integrative foundation for connecting three key strands of urban transport scholarship: individual-level analyses that link transport to quality of life outcomes such as well-being, opportunity and exclusion; collective-level perspectives that position transport systems as arenas of social meaning, contestation and mobility flows; and systemic-level investigations into the co-evolution of transport infrastructures with broader societal structures and power relations. We argue that, as societal shifts – such as growing socio-economic inequities, post-COVID transformations and the rise of digital transport economies and new mobility options – continue to reshape mobility, a sociological approach becomes increasingly relevant in understanding transport’s evolving role in urban life. By framing urban transport as a social construct, we aim to establish a critical and socially–embedded understanding of urban transport, catalyse new dialogues on how social, cultural and political forces shape and are shaped by urban transport systems, and pave the way for research that not only analyses but also seeks to transform the social dimensions of urban transport.

The Practice of Nusyuz Among Tanjungbalai Tni from the Perspective of the Indonesian Ulama Council of Tanjungbalai (Case Study at Tni Lumba-Lumba Complex Tanjung Balai)

This study aims to examine the forms of behavior and factors that cause nusyuz among the TNI in the review of Islamic law as well as how the TNI Council's settlement mechanism for nusyuz behavior. The urgency of this problem lies in the complexity of TNI household relationships that often face challenges due to heavy military duties and have an impact on family harmony. Based on this background, this research uses a qualitative method with a legal sociology approach, where primary data is obtained through interviews while secondary data comes from Islamic legal literature and previous research results. The results show that the wife's disobedience in the TNI household does not necessarily make the wife immediately blamed, but it is necessary to first investigate the causes, including the possibility of the husband's actions triggering the disobedience. In the legal process, the wife's rights are still protected until the official divorce decision is issued. This research emphasizes that the concept of nusyuz in the context of the TNI requires a fair legal approach and clear procedures.

The influence of civil society’s economic status on environmental protection behaviors from the perspective of environmental sociology

The present study utilises 2,741 data points from the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS) to explore the intrinsic relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), environmental awareness (EA) and environmental protection behaviours (EPB), as well as their heterogeneous characteristics. The investigation employs linear regression and stepwise regression methods to analyse the data.The study’s findings are as follows. Firstly, the study found that SES has a significant positive effect on residents’ environmental protection behaviour, and high SES groups are more likely to implement environmental protection behaviours due to the advantages of resource access and environmental education.Secondly, environmental perceptions have been found to play a mediating role, thereby suggesting that economic status can indirectly drive behavioural change by enhancing environmental perceptions. The investigation also reveals significant generational and regional variations, with the environmental behaviour of the elderly being most influenced by SES due to abundant time resources and intergenerational transmission motives. The central region is identified as having the most prominent role of SES in promoting environmental behaviour, owing to the uneven coverage of policies during the transition period of environmental governance.This study aims to provide a reference for other developing countries as they formulate environmental policies, with a view to advancing global green and sustainable development.

The Health Service System is Less Than Optimal Due to the Absence of Type A Hospitals in West Lampung Regency

This article discusses in depth the problems of the health service system in West Lampung Regency which is still not running optimally. One of the main issues of concern is the absence of a Type A Hospital in the area, which has a significant impact on the limited medical facilities and quality of services available to the community. This study aims to identify factors that cause limited quality of health services, analyze the role of local governments in efforts to improve health services, and examine their impact on the welfare of the local community. The methods used in this study are site surveys and interviews. Site surveys were conducted at various health service facilities in West Lampung Regency to directly observe the condition of infrastructure, the availability of medical personnel, and other supporting facilities. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with health workers, community leaders, and local government officials to obtain further information regarding structural barriers and the role of policy in developing the health system. Through a political sociology approach, this article provides a critical analysis of the inequality of access to health services and its implications for social structure and community welfare. It is expected that the results of this study can provide real contributions in formulating strategic policies to improve and enhance health services in West Lampung Regency in a sustainable manner.

Suspended identity: statelessness, citizenship challenges and the impermanence of identity status faced by Pakistani Bengalis

ABSTRACT Approximately 3 million ethnic Bengalis reside in Pakistan, some of whom have been refused citizenship rights and continue to face social and cultural exclusion despite being in their third and fourth generations. Many came following the creation of Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) in 1971 under challenging circumstances. This paper examines the ongoing citizenship challenges faced by the Pakistani Bengali community in Karachi, Pakistan, with a particular focus on their experiences within the space of the citizenship registration office. Drawing on 85 oral history interviews with both adult and young Pakistani Bengalis, our findings reveal that the treatment of Pakistani Bengalis in this space is shaped by dominant racialised commonsense representations of them as ‘eternal outsiders’ and ‘unworthy of belonging’, rooted in a historical past marked by conflict and a series of exclusionary citizenship and state-security policies. Consequently, many are met with discrimination and challenges around identity acquisition, resulting in lasting intergenerational impacts in their own and their family’s everyday lives, leaving them precarious. Our paper more broadly argues that within the social imagination of nations, particularly post-colonial ones, certain groups are constructed as outsiders, shaping racialised understandings that influence discriminatory citizenship practices in turn creating a state of suspended identity.

Changes in Sports Participation Trends: A Comparative Theoretical Analysis of the Case of the Municipality of Zaragoza

This paper seeks to test the explanatory potential of different sociological perspectives in relation to the development of new sport models that reflect the growth of leisure sport participation in urban outdoor places and the decline in traditional practices in associations and clubs. In this regard, this study employs an analytical framework to examine global trends, with a particular focus on the specific context of the municipality of Zaragoza (Spain). With a multi-method approach, a 10-year-period dataset (2009–2019) incorporating sport participation surveys, observational data, and a focus group study is analysed. Three theories are tested: Maffesoli’s neo-tribes; neo-Bourdieuian ideas about urban subcultures; and Elias’s theory of civilizing processes. The results show a congruence between the three theories regarding identity negotiation, commodification, and community sense. However, disparities were found between the three theories, with one or more of them exhibiting an absence of class consciousness that supports subcultural interpretation and distinct notions of change versus continuity of the analyzed phenomena. This paper concludes that recent sports participation trends are best explained with reference to the quest of excitement and using healthism as a dominant ideology or social imperative.