Socio-cultural Transformations Research Articles

The quest for a partner in the past and today: exploring trends and drivers in partner preferences and selection through new sources and approaches

ABSTRACT Society - and the way it is organized - along with families, shapes who is available and suitable as a partner, who we encounter, what traits we seek in a partner, and who we form relationships with. In turn, our partner choices impact society at large. Given this bidirectional relationship, partner selection is expected to evolve alongside broader societal changes influenced by factors such as economic shifts, wars, migration, and sociocultural transformations like secularization, feminist movements, and sexual revolutions. The central question of this special issue is how societal transformations have influenced long-term trends in partner preferences and choices. This is being explored through new sources - online genealogies, matrimonial and contact advertisements, data from marriage agencies and dating apps – and approaches.

A comparative of theosophical sufism in Syarah al-Hikam by Sholeh Darat and ‘Abdullah Gangohi

This study elaborated on the explanation of theosophical Sufism in the book of al-Hikam by two well-known Islamic academics, Kyai Sholeh Darat (Indonesia) and Shaykh ‘Abdullah Gangohi (India). The data in this study are the text of Syarah al-Hikam, written by Kyai Sholeh Darat and the text of Syarah Al-Hikam in the perspective of Shaykh ‘Abdullah Gangohi. This qualitative research study used a Systemic Functional Linguistic (SFL) approach from M.A.K. Halliday. Data analysis in this research applied the Spradley model, namely: (1) domain analysis, (2) taxonomy analysis, (3) componential analysis and (4) analysis of cultural themes. The domain analysis tried to map the information structure in the explanation of al-Hikam based on the theory of SFL. This information structure is the basis for the genre analysis as a semiotic representation of social society. Meanwhile, the taxonomic analysis tried to elaborate on the Sufism thoughts of both the thinkers based on the Syarah al-Hikam text. Componential analysis synergised the results of the information structure and the theosophical Sufism thought in al-Hikam. Finally, the analysis of cultural themes endeavoured to elaborate on the theosophical Sufism thoughts of the two Sufism thinkers and to draw the relationships and the contributions to the universal Sufism. The conditions of theosophical Sufism can be elaborated based on the information structure. The limitation of this study is the lack of researcher’s efforts to investigate the substance of theosophical Sufism, because this research is only limited to the outer layer of language.Contribution: This article shows that the thought of theosophical Sufism showed that Islam in Southeast Asia is Islam that carries the spirit of Islam Rahmatan lil-alamin. In addition, the thought of theosophical Sufism in Syarah al-Hikam has had an impact on the socio-cultural transformation, especially on the Sufism movement [thariqah] spread across Indonesia and India.

The Phenomenon of Psychological Warfare in the Era of the Sun King

The article examines the main aspects of the design of the psychofield (psychological landscape) of the French monarchy in the Early Modern era in the context of the formation of absolutism (as a geopolitical doctrine) in the context of the «military revolution» in Europe. The author examines the transformations of mass consciousness within the framework of the phenomenon of the «mental revolution», which determined the emergence of new forms of legitimization of social ties in the context of the formation of innovative systems of constructing loyalties that replace, absorb or conflict with alternative identities within the framework of a new state-building, in an imperial situation. The author touches upon the problem of the formation of a new «psychoparadigma», which determines the course of a number of social and political processes that determined the formation of court society as an element of the state mechanism. A direct reflection of this process was a complex of political, psychological and socio-cultural transformations, which, following N. Henschel, we interpret as the «myth of absolutism», which gave rise to a whole complex of innovations in the development of mass consciousness, which was most manifested, first of all, in the development of military affairs. A direct reflection of this phenomenon was, among other things, the active use of the practice of «psychological warfare» in the campaigns of the «Sun King», which is associated with a rethinking of the degat principle characteristic of the Middle Ages – waging a devastating war.

“Just Because I’m Different!”: The Call for Socio-Cultural Transformation of Covert Bullying Practices in Jamaican High Schools

With the growth of technology and social media, many forms of bullying in Jamaican high schools have intensified and remained covert, while promoting a climate of socio-cultural differences and relational aggression. The purpose of this article is to use the insights and implications garnered from a covert bullying study to share recommended transformational approaches and strategies that will reduce bullying practices and negative socio-cultural differences within local school communities, while also engendering a culture of equality and social justice.

The Evolution of Minangkabau Elite: Modernization and Cultural Shifts in Nagari Kurai, 19th-20th Century

The problem addressed in this research focuses on the socio-cultural transformation of the Minangkabau elite during the colonial period, particularly in Nagari Kurai. Using the historical research method, the study traces the evolution of the local elites through archival analysis and ethnographic records. The key finding reveals that the establishment of Bukittinggi as a colonial center and the spread of modernity in the early 20th century prompted the rise of a new urban elite, distinct from traditional authorities. In conclusion, the study suggests that colonial modernity played a pivotal role in reshaping cultural and political hierarchies in Minangkabau society.

Философско-антропологическая проблематика в работе М. Хоркхаймера и Т. Адорно «Диалектика Просвещения»

The article is devoted to the analysis of the work of the Frankfurt school theorists M. Horkheimer and T. Adorno “Dialectics of Enlightenment. Philosophical fragments” from a philosophical and anthropological perspective. These thinkers became famous primarily as representatives of sociological knowledge. The study showed that their heritage also raises philosophical and anthropological issues. The work shows that in “Dialectics of Enlightenment” the authors offer an original concept of the history of European culture, presented from the perspective of the evolution of being and consciousness of the individual. Thinkers are convinced that the entire history of European culture appears as a distinction between man and nature, the removal of the natural from the consciousness of the individual. Modern culture is considered by M. Horkheimer and T. Adorno as the apogee of this sociocultural crisis, after which, according to them, “non-existence” comes. Based on the presented assessment of theorists of the Frankfurt School, a conclusion is made about the validity of understanding the current crisis of European culture (crisis of the 20th century) as a sociocultural transformation, marking the entrance to a new stage in the dynamics of the countries of this region.

On the Question of the Social Origins of Early Cossack Communities: Results, Methodology and Prospects of Research

Introduction. Addressing the complex and controversial problem of domestic Cossack studies – the determination of the stage affiliation of early Slavic Cossack communities – the author sets himself the task of summing up many years of discussions, identifying the most promising directions for further research, and identifying the associated methodological guidelines. Methods and materials. Many studies of the problem of the stage affiliation of early Cossack communities, carried out by pre-revolutionary, Soviet, and modern Russian Cossack researchers, as well as works on male unions and communities of the Slavic, Caucasian, and Turkic worlds, served as materials for the article. The analysis of sources and scientific publications was carried out using comparative historical and structural-functional methods, as well as methods of classification and typologization. Analysis. The available scientific papers on the problem were classified based on the social and political prototypes of early Cossack communities determined by scientists. Three groups of versions about the social nature of early Cossack communities have been identified, which correlate them: 1) with state structures; 2) with paramilitary communities that existed in the South Russian steppes and adjacent territories at the same time as the Cossacks; 3) with archaic structures (the so-called military democracy and male unions). Results. Defining the third direction as the most promising, the author of the article suggests expanding research on the cultural and historical comparison of Cossack organizations with archaic male unions and their later forms known in the Turkic, Caucasian, and Slavic worlds. We should start this case by adhering to a set of crucial methodological principles. These principles indicate that male unions were cultural universals, and their correlation with Cossack organizations may indicate not so much (and not only) genetic connections as typological ones. In contrast to the Caucasian and Central Asian unions, Cossack communities arose outside the metropolis, which, on the one hand, led to the need for them to build their own potestar structures and, on the other hand, determined the strong external impact on them from the Russian state. The development of Cossack communities did not follow the path of evolution but was first carried out in the form of a rollback to the archaic and then was associated with a series of sociocultural transformations.

The Effects of Fire in Human Life and in the Cuisine from the Paleolithic to the Modern Age

Humans existed on earth 2.5 million years ago and took control of fire after their evolutionary transformations. As a result of consuming cooked meat, there was an increase in the size of the human brain, the use of hands and mental skills. With the beginning of the Neolithic period, the increasing bio-cultural and socio-cultural transformation of humans also affected food preparation, storage and kitchen tools. People started to produce to prepare and consume food, hunt animals and facilitate agriculture. In the past, in addition to frying meat, they found different cooking methods using tools such as fire pits, clay balls and earthenware. The food processing and preservation methods developed and widely used from the Paleolithic period to the Neolithic period are cooking, grinding, drying, salting, seasoning, cheese-yoghurt, oil/sugar storage and fermentation processes, which are explained in detail in the article. As a result of the research, it was seen that all of these methods interacted with fire (and heat) to a greater or lesser extent. The (basic) cooking methods of food include (dry heat) frying, roasting, smoking (smoking), (wet heat) boiling, simmering and perhaps steaming. Changes in human eating habits appear to affect body size, digestion and health conditions.

Rural greenways for urban environmental demands: Environmentalised urbanisation in the Pearl River Delta

China’s environmental turn is diversifying the country’s urbanisation trajectories. Previously abstracted and exploited as a vast land reserve for urban expansion, the countryside of China now captures the imagination of a growing crowd of green-loving urbanites with its ecological and cultural resources, propelling a new, environmentalised form of urbanisation. In the Pearl River Delta, the development of rural greenways has driven this urbanisation, in which rural lives and landscapes have evolved in response to their encounters with urban users of the greenways. Based on the late John Friedmann’s multidimensional understanding of China’s urbanisation, this paper unpacks four aspects of changes brought about by greenway-driven urbanisation in the Pearl River Delta’s countryside since the 2010s, namely, economic diversification, institutional adaptation, physical reconfiguration, and sociocultural transformation. These changes underscore the need for research on China’s urban-rural relations to pay more attention to the growing centrality of the environment in the politics and practices of urbanisation.

Building digital resilience in the training of national security professionals and teachers of the «Defence of Ukraine»

The article reveals the peculiarities of forming digital resilience of national security specialists and teachers of the «Defense of Ukraine» as an important factor in countering modern challenges and threats, ensuring stable development of society and protecting its digital future. It is noted that specialists should identify sources of threats to the country's information space and apply mechanisms to discredit them, as well as take into account the focus of the enemy's destructive actions on vulnerable groups through social networks and targeted advertising. It is emphasized that the formation of digital resilience can be quite effective when studying the educational component «Strategic Communications»”, during which future national security specialists and teachers of the «Defense of Ukraine» study such key elements of this type of communication as informing, influencing and persuading; information efficiency; coordination and deconfliction; «communication by action” and reducing the gap in the «say-do» construct. Building digital resilience in national security professionals and teachers of the Defence of Ukraine involves mastering the skills of creating their own and using specialized critical platforms and tools necessary to identify and counter hybrid threats. Attention is focused on the mechanisms of digital resilience formation as a concept of «Society 5.0», which has become a kind of theoretical challenge to the socio-economic and socio-cultural transformations that occur as a result of the total introduction of digital technologies. It is noted that in the context of the problem under study, there is a risk of uneven development of digital media by people, which actualizes the need to introduce mechanisms to intensify adaptive processes at the state level.

Educational Value Priorities of Chinese Parents in a Global City: A Mixed-Methods Study in Hong Kong

This study examines the value priorities of Chinese parents regarding their children’s education in globally competitive context. Although Chinese parents are often viewed as being excessively controlling of their children and preoccupied with their academic performance, research indicates that contemporary Chinese families hold diverse beliefs and values influenced by globalization and socio-cultural transformations. Via a mixed-method study primarily using responses to surveys ( n = 867) and semi-structured interviews ( n = 18) among Chinese parents in Hong Kong schools, the study sheds light on multiple and competing educational priorities among Chinese parents of a new generation. Findings reveal the complex landscape of value orientations as the parents navigated the challenges of supporting their children’s schooling. Parents’ concerns about whole-child development appeared to sometimes conflict with the school system’s academic focus. Implications concerning the difficulties of aligning family-school values for collaboration and intensifying educational competition are discussed.

Unpacking Education as Migration Driver among Young Jordanian Women: A Study on Gender, Agency, and Sociocultural Transformations in Jordan

This paper explores young Jordanian women’s desire to migrate, uncovering often-unacknowledged factors influencing their decision to leave their home country. By delving into their dreams, aspirations, and expectations, this research uncovers why they firmly aspire and creatively plan to migrate, shedding light on the intricate interplay of agency and gender in shaping their migration choices. It theorizes that these women employ a co-optation strategy, whereby they reinterpret and leverage the inner meaning(s) of gendered expectations regarding education, to facilitate their journey abroad and enact more desired life trajectories. This paper argues that young Jordanian women’s desire to migrate stems from shifting sociocultural values and norms, mirroring evolving understandings of femininity, gender roles, and social hierarchies. Within this framework, migration emerges as a consequence of the country’s inability to address its young population’s aspirations for change. By addressing these dynamics, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the underlying drivers behind the migration aspirations of a significant segment of Jordan’s youth—a pressing issue the country is facing. Ultimately, the insights offer a valuable perspective on migration as a lens through which ongoing sociocultural transformations can be comprehended.

The New World Order: Geopolitical Shifts in the Post-Cold War Era

The end of the Cold War marked a pivotal moment in global history, widely seen as the commencement of the "New World Order." The new world order in the post-cold war witnesses the decrease in the powers of classical states and their inter-states matters for restoring international peace, and emerging of other threats like religious militancy, ethnic conflicts, unfair economic competition, north-south conflict, terrorism, etc. This research presents a comprehensive analysis of the challenges, dynamics and potential of the post-Cold War era. This research aims to explore the complexities of “New World Order” in post-Cold War era in international relations through an examination of global political, economic, and socio-cultural transformations, to analyze the geopolitical landscape by focusing on the increasing involvement of non-state players during the post-Cold War era in reshaping economies, society, and conflict dynamics. The study utilizes qualitative research approach to conduct this study.

EXPLORING HABITAT APPROPRIATION IN THE TRADITIONAL FABRIC OF AIT ATTELI VILLAGE, KABYLIE (ALGERIA)

This article examines the appropriation of housing forms within the village fabric of the Kabylian region in northern Algeria. The region has experienced significant architectural, spatial, and socio-cultural transformations, affecting both existing structures and newly produced forms. The study focuses primarily on spatial and architectural elements, utilizing observations, visits, and surveys of various cases. This is complemented by a socio-cultural analysis based on interviews and survey guides to identify existing housing typologies and the villagers' aspirations, as well as the broader social context. Several types of housing were identified, including villas, blocks of flats, and apartments. Residents appropriate these different types by integrating modern elements while retaining traditional aspects. This duality is evident in both architectural features and socio-cultural practices. The mechanisms of appropriation reveal an ambivalence in how villagers occupy their dwellings: while there is a strong desire for modernity to meet needs for comfort, security, and privacy, there remains a deep attachment to traditional structures and the values, practices, and traditions of Kabylian village society.

Empowered but afraid: do Saudi women have the capability to freely decide their university majors?

This study used a capability approach to investigate Saudi women’s empowerment experiences and their capabilities in decision-making regarding choosing their university majors. Further, the study explored what capabilities women required to make decisions regarding their majors at university. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with 26 women, comprising graduates, students, and faculty members. Results revealed that new legislation and regulations in Saudi Arabia have positively influenced sociocultural transformation. However, in small cities and nonurban settings, women may struggle to reject traditional social norms despite their empowerment. The findings indicate that encouraging students’ voluntary work and their membership in groups and organisations, as well as ensuring diverse hiring practices are in place in rural areas and small cities, could support a more general acceptance of women’s empowerment.

Co-teaching in a Jesuit College: a case study in the humanities

Is every teaching innovation proposal within the new technological environment pedagogically legitimate and productive? Certainly, sociocultural transformations have produced a proliferation of methodologies in the last decades. Our project about co-teaching practices was carried out with two concrete goals. First, to measure the efficiency of co-teaching in a workshop with fourth-year students on the topic of the culture of the Baroque. Second, to assess the usefulness of the rich Jesuitical pedagogical framework in current learning environments. We suggest that collaborative and interdisciplinary teaching, by enhancing experiential contact with cultural heritage, using gamification techniques, and placing, front and centre, twenty-first-century debates on social media, virtual reality, and changes in gender issues, allowed the students to foster critical thinking and creativity. These skills, essential for the digital era and the Jesuitical identity, validate the Ignatian pedagogical framework in twenty-first-century university education.

Impact of Ramadan on Halal Food Marketing Strategies in the Chinese Market: A Data Analytics Approach

This study investigates the integration of halal food into Chinese multinational culture amid the Coronavirus epidemic. Applying a thorough data analytics procedure, the research focuses on the evolving e-commerce landscape within China. The adaptation under scrutiny includes a wide range of sociocultural transformations, including linguistic proficiency, social norms, dietary preferences, and e-commerce consumption habits from various cultural domains. A data-driven marketing strategy's analytical structure, supported by an updated Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning (STP) model, carefully examines product differentiation criteria. Furthermore, the investigation includes the implementation of a prediction model that uses complex algorithms to estimate market trends and consumer preferences. The term "halal" comes from Arabic and refers to food that is considered permissible for consumption excluding porcine products, carrion, blood, and alcohol. Halal cuisine, which adheres to Islamic dietary regulations, is critical to Muslims' religious devotion around the globe. Halal dietary habits are integrated into Chinese cuisine through major e-commerce platforms. This study utilizes a data-analytics marketing model to analyze transactional data from Taobao.com and Tmall.com, aiming to understand purchasing patterns of halal food products in China. The analysis highlights significant seasonal fluctuations, particularly during major festivals such as Ramadan, Chinese New Year, and Eid, which heavily influence sales.

Resonating Culture: Ethnomusicological Theories Unveiling Zhuhu Music in Yangxin Tea-picking Opera of China

More than a century ago, the enchanting tea-picking songs enjoyed widespread popularity among the residents of Yangxin in China. These songs served as a source of entertainment within the tea plantation quarters. Folk music artists subsequently reworked these melodies, transforming them into short tunes for collective singing and dancing during the Lantern Festival. The integration of Huangmei tea-picking opera with the "lantern opera" further shaped the musical identity of Yangxin tea-picking opera. This research aims to analyze the features of zhuhu music and its contribution to the musical culture of the Yangxin community, with a particular emphasis on analyzing the music's characteristics and its cultural significance. The study will also delve into the evolving status of zhuhu music within contemporary Yangxin society. Employing an ethnographic research design, I combines participant observation and interviews with her own field experiences to provide a comprehensive account of traditional zhuhu performance practices in Yangxin tea-picking opera. Through a musicological analysis of zhuhu's repertoire, the paper uncovers the uniqueness of zhuhu music and traces changes in its traditional form, style, and function, linking these shifts to broader socio-cultural transformations. In approaching the study of this musical performance, I draw upon theories from the field of ethnomusicology. Building on my preliminary investigation of zhuhu music, I shaped the study by considering theoretical insights from various scholars and incorporating my perspectives. The paper will discuss pertinent theories applied to analyze the music of zhuhu as it accompanies Yangxin tea-picking opera. This research not only contributes to ethnomusicological theory and methodology but also deepens our understanding of the musical culture surrounding Yangxin tea-picking opera in China.

Umu-Ada (Ama’oma-Ada) women institution in Igala and Igbo Nsukka communities: a comparative socio-cultural analysis

ABSTRACT While many studies have been devoted to interrogating the political history of the centralized Igala society and the enormous influence of the Atta and Achadu institutions on the Igbo polity and economy, little scholarly attention has been paid to analyzing, in reverse order, the influence of Igbo culture on the Igala society. Despite the precarious placement of women in traditional Igala-Igbo Nsukka borderland, the Umu-ada (women) institution represents one of the means through which women organize and assert power while promoting collective peace, security, development and socio-cultural transformation. We argue that the diffusion and adaptation of Umuada heritage in this region is traceable to geography, the influence of inter-ethnic marriage, trade, burial and funeral rites. The similarities and differences in organization and impact of this women institution in both Igbo Nsukka and Igala communities are appraised to show the preponderance of cultural dispersals in contemporary Nigeria. This paper relied on the use of both primary and secondary data. Primary data was obtained through oral interviews with aged Umuada (women) members of Igbo Nsukka-Igala communities including men. Oral data were intermeshed with secondary literature, especially published books and journal articles. The collected data were qualitatively analyzed using the cultural diffusion theory.

Socio-cultural transformations in modernity and household patterns: a study on local traditions housing and the impact and evolution of vernacular architecture in Yazd, Iran

The study investigates the impact of vernacular architecture in Yazd, Iran, focusing on traditional housing and its influence on the socio-physical aspects of homes. The central challenge lies in balancing cultural heritage preservation with the need for modern housing that promotes environmental sustainability and social well-being. Employing a qualitative approach, the study compares four historical houses to four modern homes in Yazd city. Its novelty lies in highlighting the importance of incorporating traditional elements into new developments. The research offers practical recommendations for achieving compatibility between house form and lifestyle, designing spaces for communication and social contact, and integrating cultural continuity with change. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of considering architectural elements and environmental conditions during residential unit design and planning. The study reveals the negative effects of modernization on residential transformation, particularly in historical areas where rapid construction neglects cultural heritage. It recommends incorporating traditional architectural elements while adapting to current needs to achieve sustainable urban living. This contribution to the discourse on urban development provides nuanced insights into the complex dynamics shaping residential landscapes in the modern era. The study's findings suggest that traditional houses offer essential benefits often missing in modern homes, such as improved well-being, privacy, stability, and a stronger sense of community. This can lead to feelings of alienation, physical discontinuity, and socio-economic inequality in modern developments. The study concludes by recommending a reevaluation of housing dynamics and emphasizes the need for further research comparing traditional and modern houses.