Our Books - Ideas That Shape Scholarship

'Social Resilience: Critical Responses to Change and Challenges' is an edited volume intended for researchers and post-graduate students interested in studying social resilience from a multi-disciplinary, social scientific perspective. The volume consists of eight chapters that explore the concept from diverse disciplinary angles employing different theoretical and methodological approaches. Representing the fields of psychology, anthropology, social work, sociology of law, and legal studies, the authors discuss how social resilience manifests in different circumstances and contexts and what it means both in theory and practice. Thematically, these discussions concern migration, sexual minority experiences, environmental and economic crises, and the relationality and processuality of the concept as both an analytical tool and a unit of analysis in and of itself. Most research on social resilience follows the socio-ecological systems paradigm that defines (social) resilience as an ‘adaptive capacity’ to cope with and overcome adversities. While some chapters in this book adhere to this, others advocate for a more process-oriented and dynamic approach, focusing not so much on how people build resilience but rather how people act across time and space and in relation to others when facing disruptions to normalcy or outstanding crises. Here, the volume offers a tacit critique of the neoliberal model of conceptualizing resilience as a normative concept; an ideal way to be, and explains what research on resilience might look like if it instead centers on our continuous being.

This book explores gender-based violence in Southern Africa, specifically focusing on male violence against women, children, and the LGBTQ+ community. It examines how women in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, particularly in South Africa, utilize media technologies to mobilize, organize, raise political awareness, and amplify protests. Key to this discussion are hashtags such as #MenAreTrash, #AmINext, and #SayHerName, which shed light on various forms of violence, including intimate partner violence, community violence, and state violence. The book situates these practices within the historical contexts of colonialism and apartheid, framing violence as a communicative act that shapes everyday life in the region. It further links the practices of digital activism to broader traditions of social movements and feminist struggles. In agreement with African feminists, it posits that feminism on the continent is an action-oriented practice that arises from women’s collective efforts toward liberation. This viewpoint lays the groundwork for understanding digital Black feminism in Southern Africa as part of a larger trajectory of cyberfeminism and Black feminist theory. By utilizing the term Africana, the book stresses the connections between Africa and the African diaspora, emphasizing the significance of transnational linkages in ongoing struggles for liberation. The book explores the persistence of male violence and proposes practical solutions aimed at guiding policy development and promoting societal reform. As such, it represents a significant contribution to feminist scholarship and enriches the body of feminist literature from the SADC region by incorporating the advancements in media technologies in the pursuit of social justice.

'Men and Masculinities in the Global South: A Southern Perspective' is a pioneering collection that places Southern voices, practices, and contexts at the centre of global masculinities research. For too long, the field of Men and Masculinities Studies (MMS) has been shaped by theories generated in the Global North. This volume responds by foregrounding scholarship rooted in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and other Southern regions, showing that the Global South is not a periphery but a vibrant source of theoretical innovation and critical practice. Organised in two parts, the book moves from thematic analyses to regionally grounded case studies. Part I examines key issues such as the history of MMS in the North and South, male healthcare, violence, activism, music, and literature. Part II highlights the lived realities of masculinities (geography of masculinities) across Chile, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, among other locations, illustrating how local histories and political economies shape gendered experiences in diverse ways. Contributors engage both with established frameworks – such as Raewyn Connell’s Southern Theory, among others – and with fresh conceptual tools that expand comparative and transnational research. Equally distinctive is the book’s collaborative method. Emerging from an open call for chapters, it fosters an “invisible college” of scholars, activists, and practitioner-researchers working across disciplines, languages, and borders. This approach not only diversifies the field but also strengthens South–South and South–North exchanges in MMS. Accessible and rigorous, this collection will serve undergraduate and postgraduate students in Gender Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Development, and Public Health. It is equally relevant for NGOs, educators, policymakers, and professionals engaged in gender justice, health, and violence prevention. As a reference text, teaching aid, and catalyst for new scholarship, 'Men and Masculinities in the Global South' affirms the South as an indispensable site of knowledge production and a driver of global debates on gender and social change.

In times of increased East-West confrontation and various global crises, it becomes increasingly clear that, for most people, the neoliberal restructuring of society has not resulted in greater freedom or a more self-determined lifestyle. Instead, we are experiencing a precarization of working and living conditions, rising isolation, and a widespread sense of political powerlessness linked to the rise of right-wing governments, nationalist, and far-right forces in recent years. In light of these developments, it is especially important to take an unbiased look at concepts and practical models for alternative social and political change and to reflect on what lessons can be learned from historical events for today’s politics. The Soviet example appears particularly instructive, as the October Revolution of 1917 marked the start of a period of profound change in which a fundamentally different culture and education system emerged in just a few months and years. As this volume’s contributions demonstrate, the complex transformation process in the early years of the Soviet Union involved both the creation of new elements and the preservation of old ones. As the interview with Kristen R. Ghodsee shows, figures like Alexandra Kollontai, through their progressive socialist theory and practice, brought about sweeping changes that extended beyond the sphere of production. They fundamentally transformed social life as a whole, especially gender relations, leading to significant improvements in living conditions – particularly for female workers – and achievements such as public childcare. The contributions and the interview with Dietmar Dath also explore the development of a new education system and the restructuring of art and culture, as well as their significance beyond the historical contexts in which they originated, continuing to influence today. Through this, the volume aims to open new perspectives on the legacy of Soviet education, gender, and cultural policies and to provide insightful analyses and materials for researchers in disciplines such as educational sciences, history, art and cultural studies, literature, social and political science, anthropology, philosophy, and gender studies.

Navigating the intricate landscape of U.S. higher education can be profoundly challenging for international students. This groundbreaking work offers a vital, dual perspective, interweaving deeply personal lived experiences with rigorous academic research to illuminate the multifaceted journey of cultural and academic adaptation. Beyond the author’s compelling narrative in the preface, the book shares personal stories, making complex challenges tangible and relatable. From dissecting the nuances of U.S. grading systems and academic culture to exploring complex social integration, language proficiency hurdles, and the pervasive challenges of “othering” and discrimination, this book provides an honest and comprehensive account. A unique focus is placed on the distinct barriers faced by female students from conservative cultural backgrounds, offering empathetic insight into their unique struggles with participation, social norms, and mental well-being. Distinguished by its blend of personal narrative and evidence-based solutions, this book transcends mere description. It critically examines the role of institutional support, advocating for culturally sensitive mentorship, inclusive classroom practices, tailored mental health services, and essential cultural competency training for faculty and staff. 'Cultural Influences and International Students' is an indispensable resource for current and prospective international students seeking to understand and prepare for their journey. It is also an essential guide for higher education professionals, including faculty, advisors, administrators, and policymakers, providing actionable strategies to foster truly inclusive environments. This work stands as a powerful call to action for transforming U.S. campuses into spaces where every international student can thrive academically and personally.

This collection of essays provides a multidimensional, interdisciplinary, creative, and colorful view on the meanings and possibilities of thinking football—'the beautiful game'—and its paramount event: the World Cup. It is intended to appeal to academics as well as to everyday experts, those for whom football is more than a sport. But it also wants to be a source that stirs the interest of those who see football just as a curious experience; those who may have heard, in passing, that a new World Cup will be played in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in 2026. This book has, like a football team, eleven chapters. The approaches, styles, and perspectives differ considerably: From how football is a center piece in politics to its representations in poetry, from gender issues to nationalism, from fictitious wars to real ones provoked by a football match, and from exile to the neo-liberalization of the sport, the authors provide us a multicolor and global fresco of football and the World Cup. Likewise, the selection provides a global perspective on football and the World Cup: views from powerhouses such as England or Argentina, as well as from countries with a very incipient football tradition, such as India and Israel. 'World Cup! History, Politics, and Art of the Beautiful Game' is an invitation to continue to understand and think about one of the most important cultural manifestations of our times; a book that, particularly in the context of the next World Cup in 2026, will appeal to a broad readership, all around the world.

How are the senses and memory linked? What do sensory approaches to research reveal about the functions of memory? This edited volume encompasses various interdisciplinary projects that showcase the value of viewing the world through all of the senses and the ways that memory is multisensorial. From smell’s “Proust effect” to music’s ability to improve memory and mood, we remember and memorize the world through sensory input. This book expands research on multimodal work, the senses and materiality, the senses and methodology, sensing memories of the past, and technology’s impact on sensory lives. The chapters included cover all the senses, as well as the cross-modal experience of synesthesia. Each chapter further covers concepts related to memory studies, ranging from nostalgia, traumatic memories, and memorials to remembering the past (history), archives, and questions of identity. This edited volume is divided into five sections, each containing two to three chapters. The five sections, “Sensing Place and Space,” “Art as a Medium of Memory,” “In the Mind of Synesthesia,” “Making Sense of Materiality,” and “Technology and the Sensorium,” describe different groupings of interest. From questions of spatiality to digital life, each section invites the reader to explore new developments in the fields of memory studies and sensory studies and new insights on established topics. In these intimate, critical, and penetrating chapters, the authors of this book share new visions of what it means to write at the crossroads of the senses and memory and present new methodologies, frameworks, and pedagogies for examining this interconnection. A resource for both research and teaching, this volume represents a valuable guide for scholars working in sensory studies and memory studies. The hope is that "The Senses and Memory " will inspire future research and thinking in these evolving and expanding fields of study.

This work, written for the Anglo-Burmese community, adopts an interpretive paradigm and delves into the complex markers of the Anglo-Burmese culture, a blend of British and Burmese influences during the colonial period. The community is primarily composed of individuals of mixed European and Asian ancestry who held privileged positions akin to those of the Anglo-Indians in India during the British colonial era. The community's development was influenced by British laws, values, and norms. It uses social science theories and methods in developing Anglo-Burmese culture and does not intend to be a book on unpacking British history. The work explores belonging as a fundamental human need that is crucial in shaping one's personal identity as an Anglo-Burman. The book utilises various sources, including autoethnographic recollections, survey responses, open-source social media narratives, historical documents, and secondary accounts, to comprehensively understand Anglo-Burmese culture. Various groups, such as British colonialists, anthropologists, theologians, novelists, politicians, and historians, have contributed their perspectives, impacting the representation and documentation of mixed-race individuals in India and Burma during that time. The portrayal of mixed-race persons as half-caste and the intrigue surrounding interracial relationships were prevailing themes among those depicting the Anglo-Burmese and Anglo-Indian communities during the 19th century. The process of Anglo-Burmese assimilation into British societal norms can be observed through the analysis of historical and political power dynamics, particularly with regard to education and religion in British Burma. This book constructs Anglo-Burmese culture from within the community. With a rich blend of Asian and European heritage infused with the values of British colonialism, the Anglo-Burmese culture has evolved into a truly unique and intriguing cultural phenomenon. The book offers an extensive study of this culture, shedding light on its customs, traditions, and way of life from their lived experience. The Anglo-Burmese community inhabited a distinctive liminal zone between the coloniser and the colonised. These details offer a wealth of insights into Burma's complex tapestry and the intricacies of race and colonial hegemony. The Anglo-Burmese community's displacement to Western nations as a result of Burma’s independence, World War II and the Ne Win military regime had a significant influence on their cultural heritage and identity. With the gradual passing of the older generation of Anglo-Burmese in the diaspora, we will see their knowledge, practices, and customs that constitute the distinctive Anglo-Burmese culture being lost over time.

NHS Scotland appears to be in crisis. Today the British media is full of headlines such as “89-year-old great-grandmother waits 5 hours for an ambulance.” These are a talking point for a day or two and then another headline of a similar ilk takes over. This book examines the traumatic experiences of the elderly people whose stories make up these headlines. The authors have carried out research into the effects of long waiting times for ambulances and the problems that NHS Scotland is facing through chronic staff shortages. The waits and the limitations to patient care have long term implications for the patients, the relatives and the staff. Throughout the book we discuss iatrogenic disease/harm that is occurring daily for patients, visitors and staff. The book concentrates on the new Glasgow hospital, The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which opened its doors in 2015. This is one of the largest hospitals in Europe and replaces 5 older Glasgow hospitals and has been beset by major problems since its opening. By interviewing relatives and staff, the authors have examined their experiences both during and following a traumatic event. Themes found throughout the book include poor communication, trauma, low staff morale, suicide and the problems caused by the size and design of the hospital. The authors have also analysed statistics from NHS Scotland and Scottish Ambulance Service regarding waiting times and the use of agency staff. The overarching goal of this book was to give a voice to those behind the statistics.