Social Thought and Policy Review
type: channel
description: 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.
publisher: THE ACADEMIC CONFLUENCE (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED
language: en
publication name: Social Thought and Policy Review
issn: 3105-7357
items: Investigating the Psychological Effects of Social Media Addiction on Adolescents in Developed Countries
items: The Role of Digital Platforms in Shaping Social Movements and Activism in Authoritarian Regimes
items: Gender Discrimination in the Workplace: Analyzing the Effectiveness of Corporate Policies in Promoting Equal Opportunities
items: Economic Inequality and Social Mobility in Developed Economies
items: The Impact of Social Media on Political Polarization and Public Opinion in Democratic Societies
items: The Role of Machine Learning in Analyzing Cultural Artifacts
items: AI Applications for Endangered Language Preservation
items: Artificial Intelligence in Automated Assessment and Grading
items: AI Chatbots and Student Engagement in Higher Education
items: AI-Powered Adaptive Learning Systems and Educational Inequality Reduction
items: The Role of E-Governance in Enhancing Public Service Delivery
items: The Role of Cultural Festivals in Strengthening Community Identity
items: The Relationship Between Art Movements and Political Expression
items: Cultural Narratives and Their Role in Shaping Historical Memory
items: The Impact of Fashion Trends on Social Identity Formation
items: The Influence of Music on Youth Subcultures
items: The Role of Gender in Shaping Cultural Expression
items: The Impact of Postcolonial Narratives on Modern Literature
items: The Relationship Between Cultural Heritage Preservation and Tourism
items: The Role of Popular Culture in Shaping National Identity
items: Foreign Direct Investment and Its Impact on Local Industries
items: The Role of Fiscal Policies in Promoting Economic Growth
items: The Relationship Between Inflation and Household Consumption Patterns
items: Globalization and Its Effect on Income Inequality
items: The Impact of Minimum Wage Policies on Employment Rates
items: The Impact of Social Protests on Government Policy Change
items: The Political Economy of Resource-Rich Nations
items: The Effect of Federalism on Minority Rights Protection
items: The Role of International Sanctions in Shaping Domestic Policy
items: The Relationship Between Media Freedom and Government Accountability

Investigating the Psychological Effects of Social Media Addiction on Adolescents in Developed Countries
type: item
description: 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…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Social media addiction
  topic: keywords
subject: adolescent mental health
  topic: keywords
subject: psychological well-being
  topic: keywords
subject: digital behavior
  topic: keywords
subject: anxiety and depression
  topic: keywords
subject: developed countries
  topic: keywords
creator: Zara Khalique
creator: Hamza Noor
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Zara Khalique, Hamza Noor (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-12-31
publication date: 2025-12-31
starting page: 93
ending page: 116

The Role of Digital Platforms in Shaping Social Movements and Activism in Authoritarian Regimes
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Digital activism
  topic: keywords
subject: social movements
  topic: keywords
subject: Authoritarian regimes
  topic: keywords
subject: Online mobilization
  topic: keywords
subject: Political repression
  topic: keywords
subject: social media
  topic: keywords
creator: Huma Qureshi
creator: Shahzaib Iftikhar
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Huma Qureshi, Shahzaib Iftikhar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-12-31
publication date: 2025-12-31
starting page: 69
ending page: 92

Gender Discrimination in the Workplace: Analyzing the Effectiveness of Corporate Policies in Promoting Equal Opportunities
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Gender discrimination
  topic: keywords
subject: workplace equality
  topic: keywords
subject: corporate policies
  topic: keywords
subject: equal opportunities
  topic: keywords
subject: organizational culture
  topic: keywords
subject: mixed-methods research
  topic: keywords
creator: Sadia Manzoor
creator: Ali Raza
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Sadia Manzoor, Ali Raza (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-12-31
publication date: 2025-12-31
starting page: 46
ending page: 68

Economic Inequality and Social Mobility in Developed Economies
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Economic inequality
  topic: keywords
subject: social mobility
  topic: keywords
subject: intergenerational mobility
  topic: keywords
subject: income distribution
  topic: keywords
subject: welfare state
  topic: keywords
subject: developed economies
  topic: keywords
creator: Areeba Saeed
creator: Muhammad Zain Ul Abidin
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Areeba Saeed, Muhammad Zain Ul Abidin (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-12-31
publication date: 2025-12-31
starting page: 24
ending page: 45

The Impact of Social Media on Political Polarization and Public Opinion in Democratic Societies
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: social media
  topic: keywords
subject: political polarization
  topic: keywords
subject: public opinion
  topic: keywords
subject: democratic societies
  topic: keywords
subject: algorithmic curation
  topic: keywords
subject: media literacy
  topic: keywords
creator: Maria Siddique
creator: Ahsan Tariq
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Maria Siddique, Ahsan Tariq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-12-31
publication date: 2025-12-31
starting page: 1
ending page: 23

The Role of Machine Learning in Analyzing Cultural Artifacts
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: Endangered Languages
  topic: keywords
subject: Natural Language Processing
  topic: keywords
subject: Language Preservation
  topic: keywords
subject: Speech Recognition
  topic: keywords
subject: Cultural Sustainability
  topic: keywords
creator: Fatima Noreen
creator: Omar Siddiqui
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Fatima Noreen, Omar Siddiqui (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-06-30
publication date: 2025-06-30
starting page: 83
ending page: 104

AI Applications for Endangered Language Preservation
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: Endangered Languages
  topic: keywords
subject: Natural Language Processing
  topic: keywords
subject: Machine Learning
  topic: keywords
subject: Speech Recognition
  topic: keywords
subject: Language Preservation
  topic: keywords
creator: Sadia Baloch
creator: Hamza Riaz
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Sadia Baloch, Hamza Riaz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-06-30
publication date: 2025-06-30
starting page: 61
ending page: 82

Artificial Intelligence in Automated Assessment and Grading
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Artificial Intelligence
  topic: keywords
subject: Automated Grading
  topic: keywords
subject: Machine Learning
  topic: keywords
subject: Education Technology
  topic: keywords
subject: Assessment Systems
  topic: keywords
subject: Fairness
  topic: keywords
creator: Hira Ahmed
creator: Owais Khan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Hira Ahmed, Owais Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-06-30
publication date: 2025-06-30
starting page: 41
ending page: 60

AI Chatbots and Student Engagement in Higher Education
type: item
description: <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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: AI Chatbots
  topic: keywords
subject: Student Engagement
  topic: keywords
subject: Higher Education
  topic: keywords
subject: Digital Learning
  topic: keywords
subject: Academic Support
  topic: keywords
subject: Collaborative Learning
  topic: keywords
creator: Sana Iftikhar
creator: Bilal Shah
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Sana Iftikhar, Bilal Shah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-06-30
publication date: 2025-06-30
starting page: 22
ending page: 40

AI-Powered Adaptive Learning Systems and Educational Inequality Reduction
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: AI-Powered Learning
  topic: keywords
subject: Adaptive Systems
  topic: keywords
subject: Educational Inequality
  topic: keywords
subject: Personalized Learning
  topic: keywords
subject: Student Engagement
  topic: keywords
subject: Educational Equity
  topic: keywords
creator: Ayesha Noor
creator: Farhan Qureshi
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Ayesha Noor, Farhan Qureshi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-06-30
publication date: 2025-06-30
starting page: 1
ending page: 21

The Role of E-Governance in Enhancing Public Service Delivery
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: E-Governance
  topic: keywords
subject: Public Service Delivery
  topic: keywords
subject: Transparency
  topic: keywords
subject: Citizen Participation
  topic: keywords
subject: Digital Inclusion
  topic: keywords
subject: Efficiency
  topic: keywords
creator: Sadia Riaz
creator: Tariq Hussain
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Sadia Riaz, Tariq Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31
starting page: 90
ending page: 111

The Role of Cultural Festivals in Strengthening Community Identity
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Cultural Festivals
  topic: keywords
subject: Community Identity
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Cohesion
  topic: keywords
subject: Cultural Heritage
  topic: keywords
subject: Collective Belonging
  topic: keywords
subject: Civic Participation
  topic: keywords
creator: Hira Saeed
creator: Omar Farooq
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Hira Saeed, Omar Farooq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31
starting page: 68
ending page: 89

The Relationship Between Art Movements and Political Expression
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Art Movements
  topic: keywords
subject: Political Expression
  topic: keywords
subject: Cultural Identity
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Protest
  topic: keywords
subject: Aesthetic Activism
  topic: keywords
subject: Ideology
  topic: keywords
creator: Mahnoor Iqbal
creator: Bilal Riaz
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Mahnoor Iqbal, Bilal Riaz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31
starting page: 47
ending page: 67

Cultural Narratives and Their Role in Shaping Historical Memory
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Cultural Narratives
  topic: keywords
subject: Historical Memory
  topic: keywords
subject: Collective Identity
  topic: keywords
subject: Narrative Framing
  topic: keywords
subject: Counter-Narratives
  topic: keywords
subject: Heritage
  topic: keywords
creator: Sania Rehman
creator: Farhan Ali
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Sania Rehman, Farhan Ali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31
starting page: 24
ending page: 46

The Impact of Fashion Trends on Social Identity Formation
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Fashion Trends
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Identity
  topic: keywords
subject: Cultural Expression
  topic: keywords
subject: Self-Representation
  topic: keywords
subject: Youth Culture
  topic: keywords
subject: Consumer Behavior
  topic: keywords
creator: Hina Batool
creator: Adnan Saleem
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Hina Batool, Adnan Saleem (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31
starting page: 1
ending page: 23

The Influence of Music on Youth Subcultures
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Music
  topic: keywords
subject: Youth Subcultures
  topic: keywords
subject: Identity
  topic: keywords
subject: Cultural Resistance
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Belonging
  topic: keywords
subject: Globalization
  topic: keywords
creator: Rabia Akhtar
creator: Sami Ullah Khan
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Rabia Akhtar, Sami Ullah Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-30
publication date: 2024-06-30
starting page: 91
ending page: 111

The Role of Gender in Shaping Cultural Expression
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Gender
  topic: keywords
subject: Cultural Expression
  topic: keywords
subject: Identity
  topic: keywords
subject: Inclusivity
  topic: keywords
subject: Creativity
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Norms
  topic: keywords
creator: Ayesha Noreen
creator: Kashif Mehmood
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Ayesha Noreen, Kashif Mehmood (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-30
publication date: 2024-06-30
starting page: 69
ending page: 90

The Impact of Postcolonial Narratives on Modern Literature
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Postcolonial Narratives
  topic: keywords
subject: Modern Literature
  topic: keywords
subject: Hybridity
  topic: keywords
subject: Cultural Identity
  topic: keywords
subject: Resistance
  topic: keywords
subject: Globalization
  topic: keywords
creator: Ayesha Zafar
creator: Hassan Raza
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Ayesha Zafar, Hassan Raza (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-30
publication date: 2024-06-30
starting page: 46
ending page: 68

The Relationship Between Cultural Heritage Preservation and Tourism
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Cultural Heritage
  topic: keywords
subject: Preservation
  topic: keywords
subject: Tourism
  topic: keywords
subject: Sustainability
  topic: keywords
subject: Authenticity
  topic: keywords
subject: Community Development
  topic: keywords
creator: Sadia Khalid
creator: Imran Ashraf
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Sadia Khalid, Imran Ashraf (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-30
publication date: 2024-06-30
starting page: 22
ending page: 45

The Role of Popular Culture in Shaping National Identity
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Popular Culture
  topic: keywords
subject: National Identity
  topic: keywords
subject: Cultural Narratives
  topic: keywords
subject: Globalization
  topic: keywords
subject: Media
  topic: keywords
subject: Collective Memory
  topic: keywords
creator: Hira Fatima
creator: Adnan Mehmood
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Hira Fatima, Adnan Mehmood (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-30
publication date: 2024-06-30
starting page: 1
ending page: 21

Foreign Direct Investment and Its Impact on Local Industries
type: item
description: 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 …
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Foreign Direct Investment
  topic: keywords
subject: Local Industries
  topic: keywords
subject: Productivity Spillovers
  topic: keywords
subject: Employment Effects
  topic: keywords
subject: Institutional Quality
  topic: keywords
subject: Industrial Policy
  topic: keywords
creator: Sana Khalid
creator: Usman Javed
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Sana Khalid, Usman Javed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-12-31
publication date: 2023-12-31
starting page: 75
ending page: 94

The Role of Fiscal Policies in Promoting Economic Growth
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Fiscal Policy
  topic: keywords
subject: Economic Growth
  topic: keywords
subject: Government Expenditure
  topic: keywords
subject: Taxation
  topic: keywords
subject: Fiscal Deficit
  topic: keywords
subject: Institutions
  topic: keywords
creator: Sadia Khan
creator: Muhammad Bilal
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Sadia Khan, Muhammad Bilal (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-12-31
publication date: 2023-12-31
starting page: 58
ending page: 74

The Relationship Between Inflation and Household Consumption Patterns
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Inflation
  topic: keywords
subject: Household Consumption
  topic: keywords
subject: Savings Behavior
  topic: keywords
subject: Monetary Policy
  topic: keywords
subject: Inequality
  topic: keywords
subject: Mixed-Methods
  topic: keywords
creator: Nadia Akhtar
creator: Imran Saleem
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Nadia Akhtar, Imran Saleem (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-12-31
publication date: 2023-12-31
starting page: 39
ending page: 57

Globalization and Its Effect on Income Inequality
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Globalization
  topic: keywords
subject: Income Inequality
  topic: keywords
subject: Foreign Direct Investment
  topic: keywords
subject: Institutional Quality
  topic: keywords
subject: Mixed-Methods
  topic: keywords
subject: Economic Development
  topic: keywords
creator: Sana Farooq
creator: Kamran Hussain
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Sana Farooq, Kamran Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-12-31
publication date: 2023-12-31
starting page: 20
ending page: 38

The Impact of Minimum Wage Policies on Employment Rates
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Minimum Wage
  topic: keywords
subject: Employment Rates
  topic: keywords
subject: Labor Market Policy
  topic: keywords
subject: Elasticity
  topic: keywords
subject: Wage Distribution
  topic: keywords
subject: Mixed Methods
  topic: keywords
creator: Abdul Rab
creator: Aftab Ahmed
creator: Mukhtar Ahmad
creator: Muhammad Rehan
creator: Shahid Iqbal
creator: Sajjad Ahmad
rights: 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
date: 2023-12-31
publication date: 2023-12-31
starting page: 1
ending page: 19

The Impact of Social Protests on Government Policy Change
type: item
description: This study examines the impact of social protests on government policy change by employing a mixed-methods design that integrates quantitative econometric analysis with qualitative case studies. Using panel data from 30 countries between 2000 and 2020, the research tested whether protest intensity—measured through frequency, scale, and duration—significantly correlates with policy responsiveness. The quantitative results demonstrate that social protests substantially increase the likelihood of policy concessions, particularly in democratic contexts and during electoral cycles where governments are more sensitive to public pressure. Tables further revealed that protests influenced diverse policy domains, including welfare allocation, labor reforms, judicial amendments, and in some cases, constitutional revisions. Figures illustrated key dynamics such as correlations between protest intensity and concessions, patterns of repression versus negotiation, and budgetary reallocations following large-scale mobilizations. Complementing these results, qualitative case studies of Chile, the United States, and India highlighted the conditions under which protests produce meaningful reforms versus symbolic or partial concessions. For example, Chilean protests catalyzed education reforms, U.S. racial justice movements influenced policing debates, and Indian farmers’ protests secured limited but visible concessions. Overall, the study concludes that social protests act as critical catalysts for government responsiveness and institutional adaptation, but their outcomes are shaped by regime type, institutional openness, and the ability of movements to sustain momentum and build coalitions.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Social Protests
  topic: keywords
subject: Government Responsiveness
  topic: keywords
subject: Policy Change
  topic: keywords
subject: Concessions
  topic: keywords
subject: Repression
  topic: keywords
subject: Democracy
  topic: keywords
creator: Nusrat Jahan
creator: Omer Rauf
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Nusrat Jahan, Omer Rauf (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-06-30
publication date: 2023-06-30
starting page: 76
ending page: 95

The Political Economy of Resource-Rich Nations
type: item
description: This study investigates the political economy of resource-rich nations, exploring whether natural resource wealth constitutes a blessing or a curse for economic development, governance, and social equity. Employing a mixed-methods design, the research integrates panel econometric analysis of 25 countries from 2000 to 2020 with qualitative case studies of Nigeria, Chile, and Norway. Quantitative results demonstrate that higher resource rent dependence is strongly associated with volatility in GDP growth, inequality, and governance performance, although the magnitude of effects varies across institutional contexts. Tables further highlight disparities in fiscal stability, sovereign wealth fund effectiveness, and welfare allocation, while figures illustrate volatility patterns, diversification outcomes, and correlations between governance and development. The qualitative analysis enriches these findings, showing that while Nigeria exemplifies elite capture and volatility, Chile and Norway demonstrate how strong fiscal rules, diversification strategies, and sovereign wealth management can transform rents into long-term prosperity. The integrated results emphasize that natural resource wealth is neither inherently beneficial nor harmful; its outcomes depend on institutional strength, transparency, and inclusivity. In contexts of democratic accountability and robust fiscal oversight, resource rents foster welfare, education, and long-term sustainability. Conversely, in rentier states with weak governance, resources exacerbate inequality, corruption, and volatility. These findings reaffirm the importance of institutional safeguards, diversification, and civic accountability in ensuring that resource abundance becomes a pathway to sustainable development rather than a trap of instability.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Resource Curse
  topic: keywords
subject: Governance
  topic: keywords
subject: Economic Volatility
  topic: keywords
subject: Fiscal Institutions
  topic: keywords
subject: Inequality
  topic: keywords
subject: Diversification
  topic: keywords
creator: Faisal Nadeem
creator: Rabia Sohail
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Faisal Nadeem, Rabia Sohail (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-06-30
publication date: 2023-06-30
starting page: 58
ending page: 75

The Effect of Federalism on Minority Rights Protection
type: item
description: This study investigates the complex relationship between federalism and the protection of minority rights through a mixed-methods approach that integrates quantitative analysis and qualitative case studies. Drawing on panel data from twenty federated states between 2000 and 2020, the research develops a Minority Rights Protection Index (MRPI) to evaluate the impact of decentralization, fiscal autonomy, and judicial independence on minority outcomes. The quantitative results demonstrate that federalism is positively correlated with improvements in minority political representation, language rights enforcement, and welfare allocation, though significant variation exists depending on the design of institutions and intergovernmental cooperation. Tables further highlight disparities across different dimensions of federal structures, such as fiscal decentralization and judicial protections, while figures reveal trends in education access, welfare distribution, and regional disparities. Complementing this, qualitative findings from case studies of Canada, India, and Ethiopia reveal that while federalism can empower minorities by offering autonomy and cultural recognition, it can also entrench inequalities where local elites exploit decentralization to suppress minority voices. The integrated analysis thus reveals federalism as a dual-edged instrument: in inclusive and democratic settings, it fosters protection and representation, but in fragmented or authoritarian contexts, it can exacerbate exclusion. Overall, the study underscores the importance of institutional safeguards, judicial oversight, and strong civil society in ensuring that federalism fulfills its potential as a mechanism for protecting minority rights.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Federalism
  topic: keywords
subject: Minority Rights
  topic: keywords
subject: Decentralization
  topic: keywords
subject: Political Representation
  topic: keywords
subject: Judicial Protections
  topic: keywords
subject: Institutional Design
  topic: keywords
creator: Khalid Hussain
creator: Sadia Anwar
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Khalid Hussain, Sadia Anwar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-06-30
publication date: 2023-06-30
starting page: 39
ending page: 57

The Role of International Sanctions in Shaping Domestic Policy
type: item
description: This study investigates the multifaceted impact of international sanctions on domestic policy by adopting a mixed-methods approach that integrates econometric modeling with qualitative analysis of case studies. Using panel data from sanctioned states between 2000 and 2020, the quantitative findings demonstrate that sanctions significantly depress GDP growth, elevate inflation, widen fiscal deficits, and contribute to trade contractions. Tables and figures highlight further effects on welfare expenditure, labor market participation, and industrial output, underscoring the breadth of sanctions’ economic repercussions. Qualitative analysis of policy documents, debates, and expert interviews reveals that sanctions also reconfigure political behavior, reinforcing authoritarian resilience, stimulating import substitution strategies, and prompting shifts in social welfare allocations. The integration of quantitative and qualitative findings underscores the dual nature of sanctions as both coercive and adaptive mechanisms, shaping not only economic performance but also institutional and political trajectories within targeted states. While sanctions are often justified as instruments of international justice and coercion, the results demonstrate their unintended consequences, including heightened repression and societal hardship. The study concludes that sanctions are double-edged tools: they disrupt and discipline domestic policies, yet simultaneously foster adaptation, resilience, and policy innovation. These findings contribute to the broader literature on economic statecraft and highlight the importance of contextual, regime-specific analysis in evaluating the efficacy of sanctions as a foreign policy instrument.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sanctions
  topic: keywords
subject: Domestic Policy
  topic: keywords
subject: Authoritarian Resilience
  topic: keywords
subject: Economic Statecraft
  topic: keywords
subject: Political Adaptation
  topic: keywords
subject: International Relations
  topic: keywords
creator: Shahid Mehmood
creator: Hina Waqar
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Shahid Mehmood, Hina Waqar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-06-30
publication date: 2023-06-30
starting page: 20
ending page: 38

The Relationship Between Media Freedom and Government Accountability
type: item
description: This study investigates the complex relationship between media freedom and government accountability using a mixed-methods approach that integrates quantitative panel data analysis with qualitative case studies. The quantitative findings demonstrate a strong positive association between media independence and accountability outcomes, including higher transparency, stronger corruption control, and greater institutional responsiveness. Regression models confirmed that media freedom significantly predicts accountability, while mediation analysis revealed corruption control as a key channel linking press freedom to governance performance. Subgroup analyses indicated that women, urban residents, and marginalized communities benefit disproportionately from freer media systems, highlighting the equity dimension of press freedom. Longitudinal evidence further showed that restrictions on media coincide with declining accountability and increased corruption, while reforms that safeguard journalistic independence lead to measurable improvements in governance. Complementing these results, qualitative case studies illustrated the mechanisms through which investigative journalism, community reporting, and digital platforms enhance government responsiveness, but also underscored the risks of misinformation and state capture. Collectively, the study concludes that media freedom is not only correlated with but also causally linked to government accountability. However, its effectiveness is conditioned by institutional safeguards, media diversity, and protection against censorship and disinformation. Safeguarding press freedom, therefore, is essential to reinforcing democratic resilience, empowering citizens, and sustaining transparent governance.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Media Freedom
  topic: keywords
subject: Government Accountability
  topic: keywords
subject: Corruption Control
  topic: keywords
subject: Transparency
  topic: keywords
subject: Democracy
  topic: keywords
subject: Press Independence
  topic: keywords
creator: Aqsa Jamil
creator: Noman Akhtar
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Aqsa Jamil, Noman Akhtar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-06-30
publication date: 2023-06-30
starting page: 1
ending page: 19