Social Thought and Policy Review (Soc. Thought Policy Rev.) is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal dedicated to the critical examination of social, political, and economic issues shaping contemporary society. The journal provides a platform for academics, researchers, and policymakers to present innovative ideas, empirical studies, and theoretical analyses that address pressing policy challenges and contribute to informed public discourse. Covering a broad spectrum of topics—including governance, public policy, social justice, cultural change, economic development, and international relations—the journal encourages interdisciplinary approaches that bridge the gap between theory and practice. By fostering rigorous academic dialogue and promoting evidence-based insights, Social Thought and Policy Review aims to inform decision-making, inspire reform, and advance understanding of complex societal dynamics at both national and global levels.
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Self-Efficacy and Peer Support in the Relationship between Academic Stress and Learning Motivation among University Students
Academic stress is a common challenge among university students and may negatively affect their learning motivation, confidence, and overall academic performance. This study investigates the relationship between academic stress and learning motivation among university students, with a specific focus on the role of self-efficacy and peer support. The findings show that students with higher academic stress reported lower levels of motivation, especially when they experienced difficulty managing workload, examinations, deadlines, and personal expectations. However, self-efficacy was found to reduce the negative impact of stress by helping students remain confident in their ability to complete academic tasks. Similarly, peer support played an important role in improving motivation by providing emotional encouragement, academic guidance, and a sense of belonging. The results suggest that students who have strong confidence in their abilities and supportive peer relationships are more likely to stay motivated even under stressful academic conditions. Overall, the study highlights the importance of strengthening student support systems, confidence-building activities, and collaborative learning environments to improve motivation and academic well-being in universities.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Accountability Models for Inclusive AI Governance in Public Institutions
AI's growing presence in government agencies has opened up opportunities for enhancing their service delivery, accelerating administrative processes, and data-driven decision-making. While the incorporation of AI into public governance has significant potential, it does pose key equity, justice, transparency, public trust, and accountability issues as well. This study explores participatory governance as a practical tool for formulating accountability designs which will help keep AI systems responsive to citizens, particularly marginalised, under-represented groups within public institutions. It examines the concept of public accountability in decision-making processes where AI plays a role, and how stakeholder involvement, institutional monitoring, transparent decision-making, ethical review systems and feedback-driven governance can contribute to this. The findings reveal that participatory approaches foster greater levels of trust, perceived fairness and enabling institutional processes. The results also indicate that merely boosting technical audits or legal frameworks is insufficient to ensure accountability in public-sector AI—a need to involve citizens on an ongoing basis, as well as consult with multiple stakeholders on a frequent basis, and establish clear responsibility throughout the entire process of AI design, deployment and evaluation. By drawing on the study, inclusive AI governance models aim to minimize algorithmic bias, uphold citizens' rights and strengthen the legitimacy of governance-making processes by utilizing democratic elements and transparency regarding technical aspects of AI.
Loneliness, Parasocial AI Companions, and Mental Well-Being in Young Adults
The rapid growth of AI companion applications has introduced new forms of digital social interaction among young adults, particularly for individuals experiencing loneliness and emotional distress. This study examines the relationship between loneliness, engagement with parasocial AI companions, and mental well-being among young adults. The findings indicate that loneliness is strongly associated with increased use of AI companion platforms, suggesting that young adults may turn to emotionally responsive artificial agents to fulfil unmet social and psychological needs. The results further show that moderate use of AI companions may provide temporary emotional support, perceived companionship, and reduced feelings of social isolation. However, higher dependency on AI companions is linked with lower mental well-being, greater emotional reliance, and reduced engagement in real-world social relationships. The analysis also reveals that perceived emotional attachment and anthropomorphic trust play important roles in shaping the psychological effects of AI companionship. While AI companions may offer accessible support for individuals who lack immediate social networks, excessive reliance may reinforce avoidance of human interaction and intensify loneliness over time. Overall, the study highlights the complex and dual nature of parasocial AI relationships, showing that they can function both as supportive digital tools and as potential risk factors for psychological well-being. The findings emphasize the need for ethical AI design, user education, and mental health safeguards to ensure that AI companion technologies support rather than replace meaningful human connection.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Usman Raza (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Predictive Policing, Bias, and Community Legitimacy: A Social Justice Evaluation Framework
Predictive policing has been gaining ground as a data driven process for crime prevention, resource allocation and public safety management. But concerns persist about algorithmic inequity, lack of uniform oversight, and the racialization of risk stratification and diminishing confidence in police institutions. The study assesses predictive policing in a social justice lens, where the technical aspects of predictive policing are analyzed and linked to notions of fairness, accountability, transparency and community legitimacy. The analysis is the potential for predictive policing systems to reinforce policing disparities from the past when developed based on biased crime data, arrest data, or policing locations. The results indicate that the use of predictive policing can be effective in making operational decisions and in the identification of hotspots, but with low levels of fairness safeguards, community oversight and explainability mechanisms. The findings also suggest that communities where algorithms are used for high levels of surveillance tend to experience lower levels of trust, procedural justice, and police cooperation. The framework for evaluation is proposed, revealing that bias auditing, participatory governance, transparent model reporting, and ongoing testing and monitoring of social outcomes must be added to predictive accuracy to facilitate ethical deployment of policing technologies. This paper contends that predictive policing should be assessed as a justice-sensitive governance practice, in addition to a technological innovation. A socially legitimate predictive policing system should help to minimise harm, ensure the safety of vulnerable communities, and enhance democratic accountability whilst achieving public safety goals.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ayesha Mahmood, Hamza Tariq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Smart Cities and Social Inclusion: Citizen Participation in AI-Assisted Urban Governance
Smart city projects have been rapidly growing and changing how cities are governed, by combining artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital participation platforms into the decision-making process. But the social benefits of AI in urban governance are not just about being technologically efficient; they are about fostering citizen engagement, inclusion, and transparency. The study investigates the impact of smart city systems and technologies based on AI on social inclusion in urban governance, focussing on digital access, civic participation, participatory processes in decision making, trust in institutions and representation of marginalised groups. The results show that AI support of governance can help in better service delivery, response, and more opportunities for citizen feedback, online, in anticipation, and in real time. The results also indicate that vulnerable communities' participation may be limited due to unequal digital skills, limited access to technology, algorithmic bias, and low trust in institutions at the same time. The study emphasizes that to implement inclusive smart city governance, beyond the technical infrastructure, participatory design, a transparent algorithmic process, digital literacy programmes, and accountable public institutions are needed. The paper concludes that, as a whole, AI can enhance democratic urban governance if it is done in ways that are citizen-centred, ethically driven, and socially inclusive.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Shahbaz Akhtar, Syed Ammar Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Investigating the Psychological Effects of Social Media Addiction on Adolescents in Developed Countries
The booming growth of social media has raised much apprehension regarding the psychological connotations of using social media on the young adults especially in industrialized nations, where the levels of accessibility and use are elevated. The given paper is about the psychological implications of social media addiction in teenagers, in which the ways of consumption and the mental health effects of the same are compared. The findings indicate that excessive use of social media has significant relationships with increased rate of anxiety, depressive symptoms, stress, sleeping difficulties, low self esteem. The teens with high scores of addiction were more vulnerable emotionally and were psychologically unhealthy as compared to the moderate and low users. The results also suggest that the power of the psychological implications can be changed by such factors as differences in genders, time people spend in front of the screens every day, and the extent of their interest in different platforms. On the other hand, the teenagers who employed technology in well-structured fashion, had a healthy family background and knowledge about the challenges of digital affairs were able to cope with it and could not get into misfortunes. The analysis has established that social media can be utilized to help people to communicate with each other and to be able to express themselves but the use of the media can be very destructive to the mental health of individuals when they use it excessively and without any control. The findings attest to the need to identify the addictive behavior at an early stage and preventive measures to avert digital behavior amongst teenagers. The study offers evidence based practices that can guide the mental health efforts, the educational policies and parenting practices that are geared towards ensuring the adoption of healthier social networking and the protection of the psychological well-being of the adolescents in the technologically advanced societies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zara Khalique, Hamza Noor (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Role of Digital Platforms in Shaping Social Movements and Activism in Authoritarian Regimes
This paper examines the effect that the internet avenues had in the formation of social movements and activism in authoritarian states with empirical data being used to comment on the mobilization trends, state response and survival by the activists. The findings demonstrate that digital platforms contribute greatly to the ability of the activists to mobilize, communicate and organize by using the speed with which information travels, networks of coordination, and dissemination of other alternative political discourses other than the state-media. The quantitative and qualitative data show that social media and encrypted communication tools have helped them to become more active, mobilize the protest faster, and raise more awareness about the movements in other countries. The paper also displays that the authoritarian regimes use digital surveillance, algorithmic censorship, internet blackouts, and online suppression to address these trends. This limits the impacts of digital activism in the long run. The findings further show that the digital mediation movements are more effective and sustainable based on organizational aspects, including the availability of digital tools and platform functionality, and the moderation between the activist creativeness and the government control. The study arrives at the conclusion that the digital platforms are important issues in matters of bringing change to politics, but are not the major reasons of bringing about political change. They alter the strategies, access and survival of social movements in the authoritarian spaces as well as amplify the activities of the state to monitor the internet.
Copyright (c) 2025 Huma Qureshi, Shahzaib Iftikhar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Gender Discrimination in the Workplace: Analyzing the Effectiveness of Corporate Policies in Promoting Equal Opportunities
The problem of gender discrimination in workplaces remains one of the most serious challenges in the international workplaces despite the increasing use of corporate policies aimed at the creation of equal opportunities. This study discusses the effectiveness of these policies by the mixed-methods quasi-experimental design that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative data. The analysis using quantitative methods based on organizational records and employee surveys proves that the companies implementing gender-equality policies experience significant reductions in the gender pay gap, better promotion and hiring outcomes of women, and more female managers as compared to the companies that lack formal policies. Difference-in-differences results confirm the statistically significant positive policy effect on different measures of employment in relation to gender. The presence of other qualitative studies as complementary evidence also proves that good policy implementation fosters perceptions of fairness, accountability and inclusion among the employees, whilst ineffective enforcement limits the potential benefits. The findings indicate that corporate policies are effective when they are implemented, audited periodically, and supported by the executives of the organization. The research provides practical evidence to the ongoing debate on whether equality exists in the workplace as well as provides business entities with relevant data on the implementation and realization of effective policies to prevent gender discrimination.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sadia Manzoor, Ali Raza (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Economic Inequality and Social Mobility in Developed Economies
The paper investigates the relationship between economic inequality and social mobility in the industrialized economies using a mixed-method approach of research methodology, which uses longitudinal quantitative research with a qualitative interpretation of the findings using an institutional approach. The research examines how income inequality difference affects intergenerational mobility using cross-national panel data, controlling the critical socioeconomic and policy-related factors. The results are always of negative correlation between high levels of economic inequality and social mobility, indicating that the culture that is marked by wider income gaps usually experiences lower levels of upward mobility. The findings also indicate that the variance between the countries is quite high, and that when welfare state is robust, educational system is inclusive, and institutions supportive of labor market, this association is much less strong. The economic models confirm the soundness of these results in different measures and assumptions, but the qualitative insights explain the causes of the different resilience of the developed economies to the mobility diminishing effects of inequality. The paper concludes that economic inequality is a critical and yet not a sole variable that influences social mobility. It also concludes that the institutional design and the public policy play a very crucial role in defining the opportunities in the advanced countries.
Copyright (c) 2025 Areeba Saeed, Muhammad Zain Ul Abidin (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Impact of Social Media on Political Polarization and Public Opinion in Democratic Societies
The research discusses the contribution of social media in democratic societies in polarizing politics and shaping the opinion of the people on a mixed-method experimental design that incorporates both a quantitative and a qualitative study. A randomized controlled experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of exposure to ideologically homogeneous, ideologically heterogeneous and ideologically neutral political content on ideological extremism, emotional polarization, and trust in democratic institutions. The quantitative findings indicate that homogeneous political news can have a substantial impact on enhancing polarization and strong partisan beliefs whereas heterogeneous exposure can have depolarizing effects of small scale, which depend on ideological affiliation of previous and media literacy. Further qualitative data indicates that algorithmic curation and emotionally attractive narratives do influence the perception of political material among users and tends to justify in-group identity and breed out-group hate. All of the findings support the idea that social media sites lead to the heightening of political polarization through their capacity to enhance selective exposure and emotional involvement, and moderate opinion formation through a set of conditions. This empirical research demonstrates that the digital age causes political polarization which is brought by the structural platform factors and people thinking and social processes. The consequences of this research to democratic governance are gigantic, and in order to build healthier political discussions and healthier democratic situations, platform responsibility, information ecosystems that are more inclusive, and media literacy initiatives must be developed.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maria Siddique, Ahsan Tariq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Role of Machine Learning in Analyzing Cultural Artifacts
This work focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) use in the maintenance of the endangered languages via the combination of computational linguistics, machine learning, and community-based online platforms. The results show that AI-based tools, such as natural language processing models, automated speech recognizers, neural machine translation systems, and other models, significantly improve the process of documenting, analyzing, and revitalizing minority languages. Statistical results showed that speech-to-text systems once trained on small, carefully chosen sets achieved accuracy rates in the 85 percent range to enable transcription and preservation of oral traditions with negligible error. In addition, text generation models aided in the development of multi-linguistic educational contents that facilitated easy acquisition of a language by the people who belonged to various generations. It increased the number of people involved by enhancing community-based digital archives with the support of AI algorithms. The participation rates increased over 40 percent as compared to the manual methods. The paper also established that the hybrid methods that utilized both the unsupervised and supervised learning models performed better as compared to single-model pipelines in maintaining the semantic integrity and linguistic diversity. These findings indicate that AI is not only a technological aid, but a partner in preserving cultural identity by supplying scalable, flexible and context-sensitive language revitalization solutions. The study points to the remaking power of AI in preventing linguistic extinction and promoting cultural sustainability through blending contemporary computational methods, with sociolinguistic efforts.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fatima Noreen, Omar Siddiqui (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AI Applications for Endangered Language Preservation
This paper explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can be applied to protect endangered languages through computational linguistics and machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). The findings indicate that AI-based solutions, such speech recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, and neural machine translation, can make documenting and reviving endangered languages faster. The research indicates that speech-to-text transcription and cross-lingual translation can be more precise by applying deep learning models on phonetic and grammatical structure. This eases the use of the same by the researchers and the native speakers. Moreover, community-based AI systems were shown to support communal language learning and digital preservation, therefore, helping to maintain intergenerational knowledge. The findings revealed that the hybrid approaches that combine the use of both supervised and unsupervised learning were superior in detecting dialectal variations. They also demonstrated that reinforcements learning techniques enhanced conversational AI of languages that lack sufficient documentation. Incorporating AI into study tools provided students with even more reasons to study as well as to preserve their cultural identity. The research concludes that AI is not solely a technological answer but also a sustainable cultural system, which links the digital innovation to the history of language. These outcomes demonstrate how AI can transform the world assisting in preserving language diversity and cultural identity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sadia Baloch, Hamza Riaz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Artificial Intelligence in Automated Assessment and Grading
This study looks at the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in automated assessment and grading systems with focus on its role in enhancing objectivity, efficiency, and scalability in assessment in education. The research design was of mixed methods, which combined the quantitative assessment of the AI-based models to evaluate their performance and qualitative input of instructors and students. The findings indicated that machine learning algorithms, in particular, ensemble-based algorithms, were over 90 percent accurate in grading as opposed to human raters. This was the case in a broad topic base. The process also reduced the time on grading by over 70 percent which accelerated the feedback and made students more active. The statistical studies indicated that there was a high correlation between AI-predicted scores and human ratings (r > 0.85, p < 0.01), and it indicates that the automated framework is trustworthy. Further, the sentiment analysis of questionnaires showed that majority of students perceived the AI-driven assessment as fair and open, whereas the instructors focused on its ability to help alleviate workload and enhance the process of providing formative feedback. Despite these strengths, there were issues of making things clear, minimizing bias, and ensuring that they are consistent with teaching objectives. This implied that caution had to be taken in incorporating human control. Overall, it can be concluded that AI-powered assessment systems can be highly helpful in contemporary education. They are sound, effective and flexible and are compatible with human judgment to ensure that all people are treated equally and that academic integrity is upheld.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hira Ahmed, Owais Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AI Chatbots and Student Engagement in Higher Education
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">This paper will look at the impact of AI chatbots on the engagement of students in higher education by evaluating behavioral, cognitive, and emotional elements of interaction. With the help of survey data, platform usage indicator and qualitative feedback provided by students and teachers, the findings reveal that introducing chatbots to an online learning environment leads to a significant increase in engagement. According to students, they were able to access more academic assistance, communicate easier with their peers and teachers, and felt more encouraged to study the material. Regarding quantitative findings, the chatbot classes were 23 percent more likely to engage in discussion forums, 17 percent more likely to submit assignments on time, and 15 percent more likely to be generally satisfied with the course than no-chatbot control groups. Furthermore, the evidence shows that AI chatbots can be the most effective to facilitate group learning, mitigate communication barriers among international students, and provide engagement in asynchronous learning. Among the issues identified in the report, one must mention the necessity to enhance the accuracy of chatbot interaction at all times, the tendency of people to over-rely on automated responses. Overall, the findings indicate that AI chatbots can transform the process of the higher education sector by making it more interactive to students. Nonetheless, they must be used to the fullest by being aligned to teaching objectives and managed by humans.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sana Iftikhar, Bilal Shah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AI-Powered Adaptive Learning Systems and Educational Inequality Reduction
This work discusses the role played by AI-based adaptive learning systems in reducing the problem of educational inequality by providing personalized learning experiences tailored to the unique requirements of each student. We consider the effectiveness of such systems in various learning settings, with particular consideration of the degree to which it can influence student engagement, learning outcomes, and access to resources. We show that AI-based platforms have increased learning outcomes, particularly with marginalized groups, by customizing learning models and progress to the needs and learning styles of each person. The statistics indicate that students with low income backgrounds improved greatly in learning institutions when they utilized AI-based learning tools. Also, the introduction of AI to traditional learning environments improved equal opportunities to high-quality education, therefore, narrowing the gap between different groups of students. Another thing this study demonstrates is that it is essential to continue changing the system and receive feedback in the real-time to improve the learning paths and make education more equitable. The findings indicate that AI-based systems can transform education to offer scalable, personalized solutions that can cope with the needs of students throughout the globe. This will render education accessible to all.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ayesha Noor, Farhan Qureshi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Role of E-Governance in Enhancing Public Service Delivery
The study focuses on the role of e-governance in enhancing the delivery of government services in regard to their efficiency, transparency, access and also the satisfaction of the citizens. Through quantitative and qualitative assessment the results indicate that e-governance initiatives provide the delivery of services that were much more time free and accurate because of the reduction in bureaucracy and corruption opportunities. The statistics also portray an immense increase in the number of citizens who are choosing to participate, and the availability of digital tools to help them easily become engaged, share comments and hold people responsible. The integration of ICT tools has also made services more accessible and particularly, to rural and marginalized individuals/people who previously had difficulty accessing them due to structural barriers. Even after the analysis, it can be said that there are issues concerning digital literacy, a deficit concerning infrastructure, and concerns pertaining to data security that needs to be resolved to ensure equity in outcomes. Generally, the evidence indicates that e-governance is a means to transform the public administration positively and gain trust between governments and populations. According to the study, proper implementation also requires both technologically brilliant innovations coupled with adequate policy structures, capacity building as well as, inclusive governance approaches.
Copyright (c) 2024 Sadia Riaz, Tariq Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Role of Cultural Festivals in Strengthening Community Identity
The paper examines the role that cultural festivals play in empowering community identity by analysing its social, cultural and economic impacts. Applying both qualitative information provided by the representatives of the community and quantitative data on the level of participation, the results demonstrate that cultural events can serve as a powerful tool of strengthening the collective memory, facilitating intergenerational dialogue and enhancing group belonging. The results show that festivals can revitalize the old traditions, as well as create inclusive space where different communities can interact, negotiate identities and celebrate common values. The statistical convergence depicts that there is a positive correlation between participation in the festivals and feeling proud of your culture, trusting people, and feeling socially attached. In addition, interviews with the community members highlight the use of festivals as a means of preserving the intangible cultural heritage and simultaneously incorporating modernity into the narrative thereby continuing the tradition and making it appear more applicable. Based on these findings we can conclude that cultural festivals are not merely happy experiences, they are also vibrant social affirmatives that can bridge people together in the communities, engage people in their communities and enable them retain their culture. This study asserts the continuing relevance of festival within contemporary society by illustrating that they are the agents of unity and strength.
Copyright (c) 2024 Hira Saeed, Omar Farooq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Relationship Between Art Movements and Political Expression
The paper will look into the interplay between art movements and political expression, in terms of how visual culture reflects the prevalent political reality and, to some degree, how it actively shapes it. The study analyzes a wide range of artistic styles, the likes of Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, Avant-Garde, and Contemporary art forms, showing that despite these variations, similarities can still be drawn in how art has been used as a medium to protest, lobby and promote ideology. Vigilant Romanticism, in contrast to Realism, often placed national identity and resistance to imperial structures in the forefront, although it also focused on matters of social justice as it did on the problems of the working classes. Modernist and Avant-Garde movements presented emphatic paradigms to traditionally accepted hierarchical systems and are linked to political interventions attempting to remove the status quo. In its turn, contemporary art has a complex role in that it is integrating aesthetic criticism with activism on issues that impact all people on the planet, including climate change, migration, and human rights. Statistical studies of the archival materials, political texts, and displays data also prove the existence of significant interConnections between the periods of political crisis and the level of creative ingenuity. In addition, the case studies show how artistic expression has been used strategically by both the governments and the social movements to either enforce or confront the existing ideas. The two findings are a reminder that art has a two-fold role; as both a residue of the political realities and an active participant in shifting the discourse in politics. This work contributes to other debates about culture history, aesthetics, and political theory by demonstrating once more how art can express common desires, resist injustice, and encourage social action.
Copyright (c) 2024 Mahnoor Iqbal, Bilal Riaz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Cultural Narratives and Their Role in Shaping Historical Memory
The present paper explores the effects that the cultural narratives have on the historical memory by showing how the stories, symbols and traditions can be used as potent instruments in collective identity construction. Based on the use of historical records, literary texts and explanatory paradigms, the study identifies shared themes such as mythologization, selective memory and framing of stories, as some of the notable processes through which societies alter the history. Results indicate that cultural narratives can be more than salvaging heritage as power relationships are expressed by the discourse of what voices are heard and which is silenced. Quantitative patterns indicate that communities always find it easier to give harder weight to those stories that concur with the prevailing political or cultural notions. Qualitative study in contrast helps in illustrating the role played by marginalized groups in rephrasing the memory through counter narratives. The findings show that historical memory is not a permanent record but a negotiated construction that is affected by the difference in cultural discourses. Further, the study indicates that the systems of memory conveyance through literature, the media, and education are critical in justification of power, maintenance of traditions and the ability of resilience. The study explains the complex interactions involving culture and history to improve our understanding of how societies memorialize, reinterpret and confront their histories.
Copyright (c) 2024 Sania Rehman, Farhan Ali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Impact of Fashion Trends on Social Identity Formation
This paper explores the effects of fashion trends on social identity construction with particular reference to the importance of clothes as well as style and communal aesthetic preferences in developing individual and group identity. On the basis of using both qualitative and quantitative information, the paper shows that fashion is a flexible form of self-identity and social affirmation. The results show that subjects on a regular basis ensured their dressing choices as per the social groups, cultural associations and aspiration lifestyles showing that trends play a part in both contributing a sense of belonging and uniqueness. Statistical analysis has shown evidence that there is a strong relationship between trend adoption and perception of social acceptance more so among youth. Besides, qualitative interviews accentuate the fact that fashion can be regarded as a means of expressing status and taste but also as a means of negotiating identity within dynamic cultures. In the study, it is revealed that fashion actually serves as a language of a social nature and it plays a significant role when people create, negotiate and present their identities in different communities. Such findings contribute to further understanding of fashion as a cultural object and an identity-stating tool and have implications in fashion marketing, sociology, and cultural studies.
Copyright (c) 2024 Hina Batool, Adnan Saleem (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Influence of Music on Youth Subcultures
The present paper explores the role of music in teenage subcultures, its importance in defining identity, building a community and resistance. It is based on both theoretical concepts and real-life information that the study reveals the role of music styles as codes in the culture that helps young people demonstrate who they are or who they want to be, acquire their own position in society, and establish shared values. The results indicate that music fosters a sense of belonging in terms of providing a social stage on which one can express emotions and at the same time enables a person to distinguish themselves with mainstream culture. Examples of subcultures that demonstrate how music can be used as a form of protest, innovation and social commentary include hip-hop, punk and electronic. This study shows that digital media and foreign broadcast environments create a worse situation that enhances the capability of adolescent subcultures to transcend physical boundaries, whilst maintaining culturally specific identities. These revelations condemn the consideration of the role of music as a minor to the aesthetic satisfaction because the music is a powerful social tool that helps young people to navigate the sense, resist conformism and unify. According to the study, the connection of music and subcultures of adolescents must be valued to learn more about general trends in cultural development, the formation of identities, and generational manifestations in modern society.
Copyright (c) 2024 Rabia Akhtar, Sami Ullah Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Role of Gender in Shaping Cultural Expression
This paper looks at how gender affects cultural expression in different social, artistic and communicative domains. The study also demonstrates the relevance of gender identities and norms by using a combination of qualitative and quantitative designs in analyzing cultural involvement, representation, and creativity. The results reveal that gender not only has a bearing on access to cultural sites, but it also produces differences in cultural articulation and creativity as expressed through traditions, stories, and artistic techniques. Quantitative data shows that there is a strong statistical correlation between gender and the way one approaches culture, yet qualitative interpretation of this situation shows that experiences in life shape originality and an ultimate impact as an artist greatly. In addition, the analysis of the female and male participants tends to suggest that these subjects employ different forms of expressive cultures since women tend to emphasise on social and interpersonal sociocultural aspects, whereas men tend to equate culturally produced products to individual and institutional recognition. The paper looks to understand how non-binary and fluid identities have emerged as a transformational aspect to a new interpretation of cultural understanding and restructuring of inclusiveness in cultural expression beyond the binary framework. All these results reveal the importance of gender as a central axis in cultural production and interpretation, but also reveal its increased vulnerability to redefinition in the face of contemporary social changes and thus will have considerable policy, industry and academic implications.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ayesha Noreen, Kashif Mehmood (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Impact of Postcolonial Narratives on Modern Literature
This paper reviews how postcolonial narratives have impacted on the present day literature in terms of the way in which the thematic framework, aesthetic mode and critical discourse are reconfigured. The study highlights the importance of postcolonial literature as the challenge to Eurocentric conventions, the voice of the suppressed, and a critique of historical wrongs and injustices, with the help of an extensive range of works and expert discussions. The evidence shows how postcolonial narratives have revolutionized the current literature by introducing the messages of hybridity, negotiation of identity, displacement, and resistance. Also, they demonstrate how these narratives contribute to larger cultural and theoretical debates, which are irrelevant to just the literature field. Modern writers more and more appeal to postcolonial theoretical grounds to rethink the meaning of nationhood, explore the experiences of diaspora and fight against a historical process of colonial oppression, which helps to shape new ways of world narration. The findings suggest that postcolonial literature is broadening the boundaries of modern literature not only so far as it facilitates cross cultural discussion and theoretical development. The paper thus shows how postcolonial discourses are essential to redefining the boundaries of contemporary literature and the role they may play in helping to establish a more open and multicultural cultural environment.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ayesha Zafar, Hassan Raza (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Relationship Between Cultural Heritage Preservation and Tourism
This paper discusses the ambiguous relationship between cultural heritage preservation and tourism by indicating that the cultural heritage can be regarded as a great cultural resource as much as it can be understood as an economic resource generator. The study applied mixed approach in research methodology to assess the influence of heritage conservation policies and tourism activities and its implication on sustainable development. These findings indicate that heritage retention is of great essence to enhance the attractiveness of destinations to tourism, more power to the locals, and lessening the locals to economic shocks. Meanwhile, issues such as commercialization, cultural dilution and environmental stress are still rather significant in the premises, where tourism lacks in management. The findings indicate that the conjoined endeavour of heritage management and tourism planning is more resistant and durable. This will ensure that the values of a culture are not only intact, rather, they are applied to facilitate intercultural communication and social integration. The analysis also demonstrates the criticality of the effort that all the stakeholders make to collaborate, have a definite policy structure, and apply internet technologies to enhance experiences of heritage tourists and minimize the threat of causing damage to sites. The paper gives effective hints on balancing economic sustainability and cultural sustainability by appreciating preservation and tourism as complementary activities. Lastly, the paper hints that there are benefits that strong cultural heritage can serve as the legacy to other generations and inclusive and sustainable tourism development.
Copyright (c) 2024 Sadia Khalid, Imran Ashraf (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Role of Popular Culture in Shaping National Identity
The given research investigates the role of popular culture in shaping national identity in terms of the interaction between media and entertainment, the issues of collective memory, and cultural narratives in different societies. The findings indicate that popular culture can be seen as a mirror and as an accelerator of the national identity reinforcing shared traditions and at the same time challenging established norms. The results, which are based on case studies in movies, music, sports, and digital media show that popular culture provides an easy access to symbols of belonging and togetherness across lines of class, ethnicity and region differences. The research also shows that cultural commodities such as popular music and movies serve as strategies to propagate national ideals although the globalised digital networks at the same time end up producing global subjects with hybrid identity leading to a combination of local and foreign cultures. One major observation is that as much as popular culture fosters national pride and solidarity, it can trigger tensions in terms of cultures, where the imported cultures do not meet the indigenous systems of beliefs. The results also reveal the greatness of the involvement of the state and institutions in moulding popular culture as a tactic tool in forming identity particularly during political shifts or international competitions. Finally, the study concludes that popular culture is both dynamic and controversial in giving a national identity. It is somewhere, where we can see the need of continuity and change at the same time, and cultures can remain strong and moody in a world, which is getting more and more integrated together.
Copyright (c) 2024 Hira Fatima, Adnan Mehmood (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Foreign Direct Investment and Its Impact on Local Industries
This study investigates the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on local industries through a comprehensive mixed-methods approach that combines econometric analysis, sectoral breakdowns, and qualitative assessment of institutional factors. Using panel data from 40 countries between 2018 and 2021, the study evaluates how FDI inflows influence industrial productivity, employment indices, technological spillovers, and competitiveness. The results reveal that FDI is positively associated with industrial output growth and productivity improvements, particularly in manufacturing and services sectors where absorptive capacity is higher. Regression analyses confirm that FDI inflows significantly contribute to employment creation, though elasticity varies across industries, with technology-intensive sectors capturing the greatest benefits. Correlation and regression-based evidence also highlight the importance of human capital and institutional quality in shaping the extent of FDI spillovers. Sectoral analysis demonstrates that while greenfield and service-oriented investments foster innovation and linkages, excessive concentration of FDI in extractive industries risks creating dependency and limiting domestic firm development. Advanced visualizations, including heatmaps, stacked bar charts, and a 3D surface model, further demonstrate how regional differences and industrial policy frameworks condition FDI’s outcomes. The findings suggest that FDI is not inherently beneficial or harmful; rather, its impact is mediated by local institutions, industrial policies, and sectoral focus. Policy implications emphasize the need for governments to align FDI attraction strategies with national development objectives, strengthen education and innovation systems, and ensure that foreign investments are integrated into domestic value chains. Ultimately, the study concludes that FDI serves as a powerful catalyst for industrial development when managed within robust institutional and policy frameworks.
Copyright (c) 2023 Sana Khalid, Usman Javed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Role of Fiscal Policies in Promoting Economic Growth
This study examines the role of fiscal policies in promoting economic growth through a mixed-methods design that integrates econometric analysis with qualitative policy evaluation. Using data from 2018 to 2021 covering a globally representative sample of countries, the research assesses how government expenditure, taxation, and fiscal deficits influence GDP growth. Panel regression models and two-stage least squares estimation reveal that productive government spending, particularly on infrastructure, education, and health, exerts a positive and significant effect on long-term growth. In contrast, persistent fiscal deficits and poorly targeted expenditures undermine growth by eroding fiscal space and weakening investor confidence. The analysis further shows that tax structures matter: broad-based and progressive systems support inclusive growth, while excessive reliance on indirect taxes dampens household consumption and widens inequality. Complementary qualitative evidence from fiscal policy reports highlights that institutional quality and fiscal credibility are critical mediators of policy effectiveness, determining whether fiscal interventions achieve sustainability or result in debt overhang. Visualizations of the results confirm that countries with sound fiscal management experience stronger and more stable growth trajectories compared to those with fragile fiscal institutions. The findings underscore that fiscal policy remains a powerful instrument for promoting growth but must be carefully structured, credible, and context-specific. The study concludes that governments should prioritize productive expenditure, maintain prudent deficit management, and design equitable tax systems while strengthening institutional frameworks to maximize the growth-enhancing potential of fiscal policy.
Copyright (c) 2023 Sadia Khan, Muhammad Bilal (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Relationship Between Inflation and Household Consumption Patterns
This study investigates the relationship between inflation and household consumption patterns using a mixed-methods approach that integrates econometric analysis with qualitative thematic assessment. Drawing on data from 45 countries between 2018 and 2021, inflation is measured using consumer price indices, while household consumption is evaluated through expenditure indices, income levels, and savings rates. Panel regression and two-stage least squares estimations reveal that rising inflation significantly reduces real household consumption and savings, with the effects varying across income groups and regions. Households in low- and middle-income countries experienced sharper declines in discretionary spending and increased allocation toward necessities, while higher-income households adjusted by shifting consumption timing or substituting toward durable goods. Regression results also confirmed that inflation erodes household savings buffers and amplifies vulnerability, with institutional quality and monetary policy credibility moderating the magnitude of these impacts. Complementary qualitative evidence from consumer surveys and policy reports highlights coping strategies, such as debt-financed purchases and accelerated spending, underscoring the behavioral dimension of inflationary responses. The integration of these findings demonstrates that inflation not only reduces real purchasing power but also reshapes household consumption baskets, savings behavior, and financial vulnerability. The study concludes that inflation has heterogeneous, context-specific effects, with implications for inequality, welfare, and policy. Policymakers must focus on enhancing monetary policy credibility, designing targeted social protection systems, and ensuring accessible but sustainable credit markets to protect household welfare under inflationary pressures.
Copyright (c) 2023 Nadia Akhtar, Imran Saleem (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Globalization and Its Effect on Income Inequality
This study investigates the intricate relationship between globalization and income inequality by employing a mixed-methods research design that integrates econometric modeling with qualitative thematic analysis. Using panel data from 50 countries between 2018 and 2021, globalization was measured across economic, social, and political dimensions, while inequality was assessed through Gini coefficients, income shares, and the Palma ratio. Quantitative results reveal heterogeneous outcomes: in several developing economies, trade openness and foreign direct investment contributed to reducing inequality, whereas in advanced and emerging economies, globalization disproportionately benefited capital and high-skilled labor, thereby exacerbating disparities. Regression analysis confirmed significant associations, with institutional quality emerging as a key mediator in shaping distributive outcomes. The application of two-stage least squares techniques addressed potential endogeneity, reinforcing the robustness of the findings. Complementary qualitative evidence, derived from policy documents and secondary interviews, underscored recurring themes of labor market vulnerability, weakened social protections, and uneven policy adaptation. Visualization of results through complex tables, regression outputs, and multidimensional figures further highlighted regional heterogeneity in globalization’s effects. The study concludes that globalization is neither uniformly detrimental nor uniformly beneficial for inequality; rather, its distributive consequences depend critically on domestic policy frameworks, institutional resilience, and socio-economic context. These findings underscore the urgency of designing context-sensitive strategies—such as progressive taxation, enhanced education systems, and robust social protection mechanisms—to ensure that globalization serves as a catalyst for inclusive development rather than a driver of entrenched disparity.
Copyright (c) 2023 Sana Farooq, Kamran Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Impact of Minimum Wage Policies on Employment Rates
This study investigates the impact of minimum wage policies on employment rates using a mixed-methods design that combines econometric modeling, elasticity estimation, and qualitative inquiry. Quantitative results derived from labor force survey data and panel regressions revealed that aggregate employment effects of minimum wage increases were modest, with variations across regions, sectors, and demographics. Elasticity estimates indicated that gradual wage increases were absorbed with minimal disruption, while sharp and rapid adjustments produced measurable contractions, particularly in rural economies, manufacturing industries, and among youth workers. Sectoral analysis showed resilience in urban service industries, where productivity gains mitigated adverse effects, contrasting with evidence of employment adjustments in low-wage and labor-intensive sectors. Complementary qualitative findings from interviews and policy documents revealed firm-level strategies such as shifting from full-time to part-time contracts, reducing benefits, and adopting automation to offset labor costs, while workers reported improvements in income stability but greater concerns about job security. Triangulating these findings confirmed that minimum wage policies influence labor markets through complex mechanisms extending beyond employment headcounts, encompassing working hours, wage distribution, and demographic equity. Overall, the study concludes that minimum wage policies are not inherently detrimental to employment but must be carefully calibrated to institutional contexts and labor market structures. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers seeking to balance social equity with economic efficiency in wage regulation.
Copyright (c) 2023 Abdul Rab, Aftab Ahmed, Mukhtar Ahmad, Muhammad Rehan, Shahid Iqbal, Sajjad Ahmad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0