Social Sciences

22 pages, 350 KB

Open AccessArticle

Prison Lethality: Epistemic Harm and Death Connected to Brazilian Carceral Spaces

by Natalia Pires de Vasconcelos, Maíra Rocha Machado, Mariana Morais Zambom, Ana Beatriz Guimarães Passos, Ana Clara Klink de Melo, Andreia Beatriz Silva dos Santos, Camila Prando, Carolina Cutrupi Ferreira, Fabio Mallart, Leticia Faria de Carvalho Nunes, Felippe Costa Bispo, Rafael Godoi, Saylon Alves Pereira and Viviane Balbuglio

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040272 - 21 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1385

Abstract

Deaths caused by or connected to exposure to Brazilian prisons are widely acknowledged as frequent and preventable, yet official data fails to capture their scale, causes, and circumstances. To circumvent what official administrative datasets miss, this article examines an original dataset of 1077 [...] Read more.

Deaths caused by or connected to exposure to Brazilian prisons are widely acknowledged as frequent and preventable, yet official data fails to capture their scale, causes, and circumstances. To circumvent what official administrative datasets miss, this article examines an original dataset of 1077 criminal case files from 27 Brazilian state courts involving individuals who died between 2017 and 2021 after having been incarcerated. Drawing on the systematic document review of these cases, we analyze sociodemographic characteristics, health information, causes of death, and judicial responses, distinguishing between deaths occurring in custody (“internal”) and after release (“external”). Our findings reveal pervasive omissions in basic demographic and medical information, extensive use of ill-defined causes of death, and a striking absence of investigation in most cases, including deaths under direct state custody. We identify instances of obfuscation and judicial inaction that, together with the absence of reliable administrative data, are likely to sustain institutional ignorance and normalize preventable deaths. This study advances debates on incarceration and health, state accountability, and proposes the concept of prison lethality: the capacity of carceral spaces to increase people’s exposure to health risks and harms, combined with the epistemic practices that shed light on or obfuscate this capacity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carceral Death: Failures, Crises, and Punishments)

14 pages, 231 KB

Open AccessArticle

Child Right to Association and Parental Ontological (In)Security Management: A Norwegian Study with Potential Insights for Community Social Work

by Farhat Taj

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040271 - 21 Apr 2026

Viewed by 704

Abstract

In Norway, children are entitled to all individual and collective rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), while parents play an important role in facilitating access to these rights. However, conflicts may arise when a teenager’s right to [...] Read more.

In Norway, children are entitled to all individual and collective rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), while parents play an important role in facilitating access to these rights. However, conflicts may arise when a teenager’s right to freedom of association clashes with their parents’ religious beliefs and identity. This article studies the ontological (in)security challenge faced by Muslim parents in Norway when their teenage children choose to participate in confirmation rites. The article explores how Muslim parents navigate the tension between their responsibility to pass on religious beliefs and identity to their children and their children’s assertion of the right to freedom of association with peer groups. The study is based on a pilot survey of Muslim parents whose children participated in confirmation rites at the Norwegian Humanist Association (NHA). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Work on Community Practice and Child Protection)

14 pages, 725 KB

Open AccessArticle

“Getting on with the Other”: Violence and Everyday School Life in the Metropolitan Region of Buenos Aires

by Silvia Grinberg, Julieta Armella and Marco Bonilla

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040270 - 21 Apr 2026

Viewed by 715

Abstract

The return to in-person classes after the COVID-19 pandemic revealed an increase in physical violence among students of secondary school. This article examines the role of the school as a setting that enables students to learn how to coexist with others. Based on [...] Read more.

The return to in-person classes after the COVID-19 pandemic revealed an increase in physical violence among students of secondary school. This article examines the role of the school as a setting that enables students to learn how to coexist with others. Based on an educational qualitative research study conducted in two state-run schools in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, located in urban poverty contexts, it investigates the effects of COVID-19-induced isolation on school coexistence. The fieldwork involved participant observation, interviews, and analysis of student productions during school workshops. Students and teachers were selected through purposive sampling. The working hypothesis posits that learning to coexist involves not only dealing with conflicting situations but also the need to verbalize them, a practice that schools actively foster. The findings show that, by providing a place where time and space are shared, the school acts as a key mediator, where students’ physical and verbal interactions become essential to reconfiguring relationships among classmates. The study concludes that the school plays a decisive role in transforming conflict into voiced experience, replacing physical aggression with meaningful narratives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Revisiting School Violence: Safety for Children in Schools)

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20 pages, 414 KB

Open AccessArticle

Winning or Losing? Intergroup Competition and Racially Diverse Groups

by Chantrey Joelle Murphy and Jane Sell

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040269 - 20 Apr 2026

Viewed by 393

Abstract

Status characteristics and expectation states theory (SC-EST) describes how general beliefs about capability contribute to disproportionate rates of power, prestige, and resource outcomes between group members. Similarly, endorsements for competition stem from a general belief that it is useful for identifying which people [...] Read more.

Status characteristics and expectation states theory (SC-EST) describes how general beliefs about capability contribute to disproportionate rates of power, prestige, and resource outcomes between group members. Similarly, endorsements for competition stem from a general belief that it is useful for identifying which people are more capable and therefore more deserving of limited or highly valued resources. This paper investigates the relationship between both contexts simultaneously by considering whether introducing intergroup competition into an otherwise collectively oriented task situation essentially promotes inequality between diverse group members. Using a two-condition experiment, we demonstrate how interaction dynamics change in racially diverse task groups when their task involves intergroup competition compared to no competition. The findings support our predictions that intergroup competition promotes inequality by reproducing and exacerbating macro-level inequalities in micro-level interpersonal interactions. Specifically, white group members were significantly less likely to defer (i.e., accept others’ suggestions) when the group task involved intergroup competition. Overall, these results offer insight into the diverging effects of unequal group processes in group settings and the detrimental effects of competition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Group Processes Using Quantitative Research Methods)

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27 pages, 1337 KB

Open AccessArticle

Does Support in Organizations Inhibit Power Harassment? An Analysis Based on Self-Esteem and Types of Narcissism

by Ryoichi Semba

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040268 - 20 Apr 2026

Viewed by 426

Abstract

In contemporary Japanese workplaces, interpersonal relationship problems have become increasingly serious, leading to heightened psychological stress and declining organizational functioning. One major contributing factor is power harassment (workplace bullying). This study surveyed 1621 Japanese workers to examine how support from supervisors and organizations [...] Read more.

In contemporary Japanese workplaces, interpersonal relationship problems have become increasingly serious, leading to heightened psychological stress and declining organizational functioning. One major contributing factor is power harassment (workplace bullying). This study surveyed 1621 Japanese workers to examine how support from supervisors and organizations influences power harassment, with particular attention to differences in self-esteem levels and narcissistic types. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that among individuals with high self-esteem, supervisor support tended to reduce power harassment in those characterized by the Need for Attention and Praise type, whereas organizational support tended to increase it. Additionally, for those classified as the Sense of Superiority and Competence type, the interaction between ego threat and both types of support showed a tendency to exacerbate power harassment. For individuals with low self-esteem, the interaction between ego threat and both types of support similarly tended to intensify power harassment in the Need for Attention and Praise type. These results suggest that the effects of support are not uniform; rather, they may inhibit or facilitate power harassment depending on individual psychological traits. Therefore, tailoring the method, timing, and source of support to workers’ psychological characteristics is essential for both preventing power harassment and promoting psychological adaptation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organizational Strategies to Combat Workplace Bullying and Foster Inclusion)

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27 pages, 368 KB

Open AccessArticle

“It Takes a Village to Raise a Child”: Asset-Based Community Development as a Pathway to Integrated Social Protection for Sustainable Child Protection in Zimbabwe

by Tawanda Masuka, Sipho Sibanda and Olebogeng Tladi-Mapefane

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040267 - 20 Apr 2026

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 847

Abstract

Children are some of the most vulnerable members of society who must be protected at all costs. Zimbabwe has a long history of disjointed formal and indigenous social protection systems, which have resulted in the exclusion of many children, leading to high levels [...] Read more.

Children are some of the most vulnerable members of society who must be protected at all costs. Zimbabwe has a long history of disjointed formal and indigenous social protection systems, which have resulted in the exclusion of many children, leading to high levels of child abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. In policy and practice, there is a strong bias towards the ineffective statist formal system, yet the indigenous social protection system is the mainstay for the protection of most children. The study aimed to explore how asset-based community development can be used as a strategy to integrate the fragmented formal and indigenous social protection systems for sustainable child protection. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods research design was employed, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data from 76 participants. The study findings indicate that asset-based community development by positioning the indigenous social protection system at the centre of the social protection framework provides a blueprint for a community-led and integrated social protection system, which can translate into effective child protection. This system, which utilises a wider network of community and external resources, can counteract the limits of fragmented social protection and sustainably promote child protection among impoverished households in Zimbabwe and similar contexts. The recommendation is that asset-based community development should be promoted as a strategy towards integrated social protection and sustainable child protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Work on Community Practice and Child Protection)

20 pages, 501 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Phenomenological Study of Black Employees’ Experiences with Workplace Training Participation in Canadian Universities

by Shurla Charles-Forbes

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040266 - 20 Apr 2026

Viewed by 440

Abstract

With the recent ban on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, this study seeks to address an under-researched area—the lived experience of workplace training participation (WTP)/non-participation of Black administrative employees at Canadian universities. While research in academia has focused on faculty and students, [...] Read more.

With the recent ban on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, this study seeks to address an under-researched area—the lived experience of workplace training participation (WTP)/non-participation of Black administrative employees at Canadian universities. While research in academia has focused on faculty and students, there is a lack of research on administrative employee participation within university settings in Canada. This gap is especially significant as this group composes a significant ratio of the entire workforce in Canadian universities. It is also important to understand the implications of WTP/non-participation for employees who identify as Black. This study used Stephen Billett’s conceptualization of affordance and access as a starting point to identify gaps in the workplace training (WT) literature, specifically as it pertains to Black employees. Data was collected from 26 Black administrative employees who discussed their lived experience with WTP in these settings. A qualitative approach from a phenomenological perspective was used to better understand the participants’ lived experiences with WTP. The results revealed a lack of transparency in the WT approval process, experiences of time pressure, managers’ discretion and racism as factors that influence WTP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Race and Ethnicity Without Diversity)

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18 pages, 276 KB

Open AccessArticle

From Protection to Policing: The Discursive Construction of the “Person of Concern” in Global Refugee Education Policy

by Adnan Turan

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040265 - 20 Apr 2026

Viewed by 465

Abstract

This study examines how UNHCR’s administrative category of the “person of concern” functions as a governance mechanism in refugee education policy, stripping refugees of political agency and positioning them as subjects of institutional control rather than rights-bearing actors. Employing Fairclough’s three-dimensional Critical Discourse [...] Read more.

This study examines how UNHCR’s administrative category of the “person of concern” functions as a governance mechanism in refugee education policy, stripping refugees of political agency and positioning them as subjects of institutional control rather than rights-bearing actors. Employing Fairclough’s three-dimensional Critical Discourse Analysis alongside Quijano’s coloniality of power, the paper analyzes five key policy documents: four UNHCR education strategies spanning 2010 to 2020 and the World Bank’s INSPIRE Guide to Refugee Inclusion in National Education Systems (2025). The analysis identifies four dominant discursive themes: education as a mechanism of control, dehumanization and the passive subject, the neoliberalization of refugee education, and colonial legacies in knowledge production. The INSPIRE Guide is examined as a paradigmatic text crystallizing the shift from humanitarian parallel systems to developmental inclusion, revealing how the language of inclusion, efficiency, and sustainability reconfigures refugee education as economic governance while leaving the “person of concern” category uninterrogated. The study argues that UNHCR education policies reproduce colonial governance patterns in which education actively produces particular refugee subjects who can be governed, surveilled, and integrated into host-state frameworks on institutional terms. Findings challenge the assumed neutrality of humanitarian education frameworks and call for decolonial approaches centering refugee agency, epistemic sovereignty, and self-determined educational futures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Policying and Policing: The Governance of Refugee/(Im)migrant Education in an Age of Hostility—2nd Edition)

19 pages, 308 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sense of Community and Institutional Embeddedness in the Implementation of Labor Market Integration Programs

by Daniel Holgado, Francisco J. Santolaya and Isidro Maya-Jariego

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040264 - 20 Apr 2026

Viewed by 709

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between institutional embeddedness, community factors, and the outcomes of labor market integration programs in contexts characterized by high social vulnerability and unemployment. The aim is to analyze how the local embeddedness of organizations and the mobilization of community [...] Read more.

This study examines the relationship between institutional embeddedness, community factors, and the outcomes of labor market integration programs in contexts characterized by high social vulnerability and unemployment. The aim is to analyze how the local embeddedness of organizations and the mobilization of community resources influence the effectiveness of interventions designed to enhance employability. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques. Data were collected from 100 participants in a labor market integration program in a southern Spanish city, using standardized scales that measured the sense of community, perceptions of community assets, employability, and perceived impact of the program. Additionally, the program’s implementation team was interviewed, a documentary analysis was conducted, and direct observations of training and job-placement activities were carried out. The findings highlight that the institutional and community embeddedness of organizations facilitates access, sustained participation, and the contextual adaptation of interventions. Connection with local dynamics is crucial for enhancing the impact of labor market integration programs, allowing for more personalized interventions that are sensitive to sociocultural barriers and focused on improving employability and the overall well-being of individuals at risk of exclusion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Networks of Impact: Leveraging Social Capital and Social Networks for the Social Integration and Well-Being of Immigrants)

17 pages, 471 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sending-State Governance and International Student Mobility: The Case of Vietnam and Its Implications for South Korea

by Joonpyo Lee and Jaemyung Park

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040263 - 19 Apr 2026

Viewed by 474

Abstract

This study examines how Vietnam regulates overseas study and how this regulatory structure shapes international student mobility to South Korea. Through a qualitative analysis of key legal and policy instruments, especially Decree No. 86/2021/ND-CP, it finds that Vietnam governs overseas study through a [...] Read more.

This study examines how Vietnam regulates overseas study and how this regulatory structure shapes international student mobility to South Korea. Through a qualitative analysis of key legal and policy instruments, especially Decree No. 86/2021/ND-CP, it finds that Vietnam governs overseas study through a centralized legal-administrative system that structures eligibility, student management, intermediary oversight, and return obligations. It also finds that important implementation gaps persist, particularly in relation to private intermediaries, monitoring capacity, and the gap between formal regulation and students’ actual mobility trajectories. These findings suggest that receiving countries such as South Korea should pay closer attention to the pre-departure institutional conditions that influence student mobility before arrival. The study contributes by providing a legally grounded account of how sending-state regulation operates in the Vietnamese case and why pre-departure institutional conditions matter for receiving-country contexts such as South Korea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section International Migration)

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27 pages, 752 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Call for the Development of Local Ecosocial Policies for Youth in Sweden: Youth Perspectives and Local Practices in Sustainable Development

by Elvi Chang, Komalsingh Rambaree, Päivi Turunen and Stefan Sjöberg

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040262 - 19 Apr 2026

Viewed by 490

Abstract

This study examines how local social policies addressing young people’s well-being and working-life capacities within the framework of sustainable development are understood, and how they might be further developed in a Swedish municipal context. The study draws on three qualitative datasets: professionals from [...] Read more.

This study examines how local social policies addressing young people’s well-being and working-life capacities within the framework of sustainable development are understood, and how they might be further developed in a Swedish municipal context. The study draws on three qualitative datasets: professionals from municipal social services, representatives of municipal units and civil society organisations, and young people aged 15–19. Data were analysed using abductive thematic analysis informed by Doyal and Gough’s theory of Human Need and Helne and Hirvilammi’s Having–Doing–Loving–Being model of relational well-being. Findings indicate that professional participants recognise links between social, economic, and ecological dimensions of sustainability, yet practice is largely oriented towards individual and social concerns, with limited engagement with the natural environment. Youth participants indicated detachment from both nature and societal processes, framed responsibility as habitual, and exhibited intergenerational detachment alongside temporal and geographical distance from sustainability issues. The findings also indicate siloed municipal sustainability policies. The study concludes that current policies may insufficiently integrate the ecological and relational dimensions of human needs and that there is a need to develop ecosocial policies and practices that promote more sustainable well-being and working-life capacities, especially for young people. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Social Policies and Work in the Poly-Crisis: Sustainable Welfare in a Conflicting Ecological Transition)

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18 pages, 346 KB

Open AccessReview

Invisible Labor in Athletic Family Systems: The Role of Wives and Girlfriends (WAGs) in Sport

by Ashley J. Blount, Abby L. Bjornsen, Kayla J. Hundt and Kara M. Schneider

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040261 - 17 Apr 2026

Viewed by 890

Abstract

Elite and high-performance sport is frequently framed as an individual or coach–athlete endeavor, obscuring the broader family systems that sustain athletic careers. Recent scholarship has begun to document the central role of wives and partners within athletic family systems, highlighting the extensive emotional, [...] Read more.

Elite and high-performance sport is frequently framed as an individual or coach–athlete endeavor, obscuring the broader family systems that sustain athletic careers. Recent scholarship has begun to document the central role of wives and partners within athletic family systems, highlighting the extensive emotional, domestic, logistical, and identity-related labor they perform to support athletic participation and success. Despite its centrality, this labor remains largely invisible within sport science research, organizational policy, and athlete support structures. Drawing on feminist theories of care and family system theory, this narrative review synthesizes interdisciplinary literature examining the unpaid and unrecognized labor of women partners, also commonly referred to as the wives and girlfriends (WAGs), across athletic career stages. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Family Studies)

15 pages, 269 KB

Open AccessReview

Safe at Home Responses in Australia: Addressing Homelessness and Economic Insecurity for Women and Children Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence

by Jan Breckenridge, Georgia Lyons and Mailin Suchting

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040260 - 17 Apr 2026

Viewed by 712

Abstract

Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a key driver of women’s homelessness and financial insecurity. In Australia, Safe at Home (SAH) programs have emerged as an innovative, wrap-around service response that increases victim-survivors’ safety by implementing a range of strategies and tools that [...] Read more.

Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a key driver of women’s homelessness and financial insecurity. In Australia, Safe at Home (SAH) programs have emerged as an innovative, wrap-around service response that increases victim-survivors’ safety by implementing a range of strategies and tools that enables them to remain in their home or a home of their choice. SAH responses represent one strategy that effectively prevents homelessness and mitigates the financial, social, and emotional disruption associated with housing relocation after leaving a violent and abusive relationship. This paper examines the implementation of SAH responses in Australia through a critical synthesis of national policy documents and published literature. The paper outlines the four nationally endorsed pillars of SAH (maximising safety, integrated responses, homelessness prevention, and economic security) and examines how these pillars shape service design and outcomes. Evidence from evaluations and outcome studies indicate that SAH can enhance women’s sense of safety, support housing stability, and reduce the financial burden of leaving a violent partner. Access and effectiveness vary depending on the design of the response and location. Challenges include limited affordable housing supply, inconsistent perpetrator accountability, and structural barriers to long-term economic security. Sustained investment in SAH programs, robust data collection mechanisms, and stronger integration of housing and economic supports are ultimately needed to ensure SAH can fulfil its potential as a core component of Australia’s DFV service system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Poverty and Inequality: A Focus on Housing Insecurity, Homelessness and Social Policies)

9 pages, 189 KB

Open AccessArticle

Wanting Beauty, Fearing Beauty: Mate Preference, Intimacy, Deception, and the Femme Fatale

by William Jankowiak

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040259 - 17 Apr 2026

Viewed by 2302

Abstract

This paper examines the cross-cultural prevalence of the femme fatale (dangerous woman) motif using folkloric materials, ethnographic accounts, and consultations with ethnographers across 84 societies. Narratives were coded for depictions in which male protagonists suffer harm following involvement with an unfamiliar but physically [...] Read more.

This paper examines the cross-cultural prevalence of the femme fatale (dangerous woman) motif using folkloric materials, ethnographic accounts, and consultations with ethnographers across 84 societies. Narratives were coded for depictions in which male protagonists suffer harm following involvement with an unfamiliar but physically attractive woman. Results show that 94% of sampled societies contain recognizable femme fatale imagery. When male motivation could be inferred, narratives overwhelmingly emphasized expectations of emotional attachment or long-term partnership rather than short-term sexual encounters. This pattern challenges interpretations that frame male involvement primarily in terms of sexual gratification or predatory intent. Instead, the findings suggest that femme fatale narratives function as culturally mediated responses to recurrent mating dilemmas rooted in asymmetric emotional investment. More broadly, the study demonstrates how universal predispositions toward attraction and attachment are symbolically elaborated within culturally specific moral frameworks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intimate Relationships in Diverse Social and Cultural Contexts)

12 pages, 212 KB

Open AccessArticle

Building a Community of Experts in Health and Migration in the East and Horn of Africa Region to Address Challenges Connected to Forced Migration

by Ursula Trummer, Paul Bukuluki, Girum Hailu Maheteme, Ronald Kalyango, Michela Martini, Davide T. Mosca, Hadijah Mwenyango and Sonja Novak-Zezula

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040258 - 17 Apr 2026

Viewed by 643

Abstract

Building the capacity of health and social care professionals in health and migration is essential for the East and Horn of Africa region, which, according to UNHCR, hosted 23.6 million forcibly displaced people who have fled conflicts and climate change-related floods and droughts [...] Read more.

Building the capacity of health and social care professionals in health and migration is essential for the East and Horn of Africa region, which, according to UNHCR, hosted 23.6 million forcibly displaced people who have fled conflicts and climate change-related floods and droughts by the end of 2024. There is a high demand to build a critical mass of expertise and experts on health and migration that can engage in policy, programme and practice development. To contribute to the building of a community of experts, an online course on health and migration was developed and five courses were implemented from 2021 to 2024 with the participation of international experts in migration and health, universities and international institutions (WHO; UNAIDS, IGAD), in collaboration with the UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Makerere University, Uganda, and the Center for Health and Migration Vienna, Austria (CHM), and with funding from the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior. The courses lasted nine weeks each, offering two three-hour sessions per week, and were complimented by discussion forums and webinars on topics of special interest, e.g., climate change. Participants were working in policy development, programme coordination, research, and service delivery in health and social care in communities affected by migration, cross-border settings, refugee and IDP settlements in the East and Horn of Africa geographic region. The importance of the course for capacity building in the respective countries as well as for personal development is underlined by continuous high numbers of applications from highly qualified people and highly positive evaluations from participants, and the demonstrated impact on the practice of service provision for refugees and IDPs. Future considerations should concentrate on developing sustainable frameworks for courses, including intergovernmental collaboration and community development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Migration Challenges for Forced Migrants)

24 pages, 602 KB

Open AccessReview

Zones of Exception in Extractive Spaces: A Scoping Review of Oilfield Masculinities, Moral Injury, and Gender-Based Violence in the Oilfields

by Braveheart Gillani, Meagan Ray Novak, Terrique Morris and David Crampton

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 257; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040257 - 17 Apr 2026

Viewed by 426

Abstract

Oilfield worksites and the communities shaped by them are increasingly recognized as gendered spaces in which rotational labor, contractor hierarchies, and production imperatives can reshape norms of accountability and consent. This scoping review synthesizes conceptualizations of oilfield masculinities in scholarship on oil and [...] Read more.

Oilfield worksites and the communities shaped by them are increasingly recognized as gendered spaces in which rotational labor, contractor hierarchies, and production imperatives can reshape norms of accountability and consent. This scoping review synthesizes conceptualizations of oilfield masculinities in scholarship on oil and gas extraction and examines their links to gendered harm, moral strain, and institutional accountability. Following PRISMA-ScR guidance, multidisciplinary databases were searched for English-language publications (2000–March 2024); eighteen sources met the inclusion criteria. A supplementary media scan (2000–2025) was conducted to contextualize cultural narratives surrounding oilfield labor. The synthesis identifies recurring themes, including frontier and breadwinner masculinities, emerging safety-oriented masculinities, gendered workplace exclusion, and the relational impacts of rotational absence and reintegration. Across studies, harms are most consistently described as patterned outcomes of work organization and fragmented governance rather than isolated incidents. Media representations frequently amplify heroism and endurance while minimizing institutional responsibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zones of Violence: Mediating Gender, Power, and Place)

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26 pages, 1687 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Stakeholders in Tax Literacy and Tax Education in the European Union: Schools, Communities, and Public Institutions in Relation to Tax Morale and Voluntary Tax Compliance—A Systematic Review

by Narcis Eduard Mitu, George Teodor Mitu and Mihaela Zglavoci

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040256 - 17 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1130

Abstract

The European Union (EU) relies heavily on voluntary tax compliance, yet evidence on how tax literacy (TL) and tax education (TE) relate to tax morale (TM) and voluntary tax compliance or compliance intentions (VTC) remains fragmented across partly disconnected strands of the literature. [...] Read more.

The European Union (EU) relies heavily on voluntary tax compliance, yet evidence on how tax literacy (TL) and tax education (TE) relate to tax morale (TM) and voluntary tax compliance or compliance intentions (VTC) remains fragmented across partly disconnected strands of the literature. This systematic review examined EU-relevant evidence on the stakeholder contexts in which TL/TE are discussed in relation to TM and VTC, with particular attention to schools, communities, and public institutions. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020, searches in Scopus and Web of Science (2000–2025) applied two complementary query streams focused on TL/TE and TM/VTC-related mechanisms. The searches identified 1327 records; after deduplication and screening, 402 studies were included. Based on structured coding of titles, abstracts, and author keywords, the review maps patterns of emphasis and framing rather than causal effects. Public-institutional and education-related contexts were the most frequently signposted stakeholder environments, while digital and outreach-oriented delivery cues were more visible than classroom-based cues. Trust and fairness/justice dominated the explanatory vocabulary. Overall, the review supports an ecosystem-oriented interpretation of stakeholder coordination in EU tax literacy research. Full article

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32 pages, 1560 KB

Open AccessArticle

Examining Narrative Patterns in Disinformation and Trustworthy News: A Comparative Analysis

by Justina Mandravickaitė and Tomas Krilavičius

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040255 - 17 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1626

Abstract

In this study, we examined how disinformation and trustworthy news differ in their narrative construction across nine theoretically motivated dimensions. We address the following research question: how do disinformation and trustworthy news differ in narrative organisation and epistemic grounding? We analysed 610 English-language [...] Read more.

In this study, we examined how disinformation and trustworthy news differ in their narrative construction across nine theoretically motivated dimensions. We address the following research question: how do disinformation and trustworthy news differ in narrative organisation and epistemic grounding? We analysed 610 English-language news articles (308 pro-Kremlin disinformation and 302 trustworthy articles) covering selected international events from 2015 to 2023, using data derived from the EUvsDisinfo dataset. Narrative elements were extracted using a hybrid pipeline combining large language models and knowledge graphs, resulting in article-level representations for comparative analysis. Ordinal scores (1–5) were assigned for emotional intensity, cultural complexity, conspiracist structure, source diversity, crisis intensity, evidence support, media control, solutions orientation and memory work. Non-parametric comparisons showed significant differences in eight of these nine dimensions. Disinformation articles revealed stronger conspiracist structuring and greater meta-media hostility, as well as significantly lower source diversity, evidence support, cultural complexity and weaker memory work. Emotional intensity did not differ reliably across disinformation and trustworthy news. A simple additive NarrativeRisk score, which we designed as a transparent and interpretable summary measure, showed between-group differences in both parametric and non-parametric tests. As a univariate discrimination indicator, NarrativeRisk achieved ROC AUC ≈ 0.84. Cluster analysis identified three recurrent narrative profiles, including one dominated by disinformation, one by trustworthy news and one mixed profile. These findings indicate that disinformation is distinguished not only by factual unreliability but also by different patterns in narrative organisation. Full article

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22 pages, 343 KB

Open AccessArticle

Resource Loss, Slow Violence, and Psychosocial Stress: The 2022 Pearl River Flood in Jackson, Mississippi

by Duane A. Gill, Liesel A. Ritchie, Adam M. Straub, J. Micah Roos, Erin Y. Boyle and Thomas M. Kersen

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 254; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040254 - 15 Apr 2026

Viewed by 628

Abstract

In August 2022, the Pearl River flooded portions of Jackson, Mississippi and temporarily closed the city’s water treatment plant, leaving most citizens without access to safe drinking and potable water for more than a month. This event punctuated an ongoing water crisis that [...] Read more.

In August 2022, the Pearl River flooded portions of Jackson, Mississippi and temporarily closed the city’s water treatment plant, leaving most citizens without access to safe drinking and potable water for more than a month. This event punctuated an ongoing water crisis that had lingered for decades in this predominately African American city. We employ a social production of disaster approach to reveal aspects of slow violence perpetrated against disadvantaged peoples that increased their collective vulnerability to flood risks and limited their access to safe water. Using survey data collected one year after the flood, we examine event-related psychosocial stress as measured by the Impact of Event Scale and associated risk factors related to Conservation of Resources Theory. Multivariate analysis indicates that resource losses from the flood, health concerns about water quality, and trust in government were significantly related to elevated levels of psychosocial stress. Although the 2022 Pearl River flood can be treated as a discrete event, a social production of disaster perspective situates the flood in terms of its cascading effects and cumulative impacts on the city’s water infrastructure and citizens who depend on it. Full article

20 pages, 3555 KB

Open AccessArticle

Policy-Driven Dynamics of Chinese–Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools (1978–2025): A Mixed-Methods Study

by Huirong Chen, Xianchu Huang, Xueliang Zhang and Wenwen Tian

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040253 - 15 Apr 2026

Viewed by 572

Abstract

Since 1978, Chinese–foreign cooperation in running schools (CFCRS) has evolved from fragmented pilot initiatives into a policy-coordinated system of higher education internationalization. This study employs an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design to examine how national policy shifts reshaped the structure of CFCRS collaboration networks [...] Read more.

Since 1978, Chinese–foreign cooperation in running schools (CFCRS) has evolved from fragmented pilot initiatives into a policy-coordinated system of higher education internationalization. This study employs an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design to examine how national policy shifts reshaped the structure of CFCRS collaboration networks between 1978 and 2025. Integrating longitudinal policy analysis with Social Network Analysis (SNA), the research identifies five policy-driven stages: exploratory opening, legal institutionalization, regulated development, quality enhancement, and strategic repositioning. Network analysis shows that increasing density, expanding degree centrality of leading institutions, and greater diversification of international partners reflect growing integration into global transnational higher education networks. At the same time, persistent structural concentration in key institutional hubs and regulated entry into partnerships indicate strong path dependence shaped by state-steered governance. The network also exhibits a disciplinary shift toward engineering and STEM collaborations aligned with national innovation strategies, alongside gradual spatial diffusion from coastal regions toward central and western provinces. Conceptually, the findings demonstrate that state-coordinated internationalization can generate dense and diversified collaboration networks without fully liberalizing governance structures. The CFCRS case thus illustrates a model of hybrid governance, where centralized policy coordination coexists with expanding network-based international partnerships. Full article

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21 pages, 484 KB

Open AccessArticle

Surrogacy in Colombia: Contributions to a Transactional Regulation That Shall Guarantee Human Rights

by Juana Valentina Apolón Urquijo, Dany Alejandra Téllez Archila, Wilkar Simón Mendoza Chacón and Gladys Shirley Ramírez Villamizar

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040252 - 15 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1806

Abstract

This article formulates guidelines for the transactional regulation of surrogacy in Colombia, based on a comparative analysis with the Mexican regulatory model, especially in the states of Tabasco and Sinaloa. To this end, a qualitative methodology was adopted by applying the technique of [...] Read more.

This article formulates guidelines for the transactional regulation of surrogacy in Colombia, based on a comparative analysis with the Mexican regulatory model, especially in the states of Tabasco and Sinaloa. To this end, a qualitative methodology was adopted by applying the technique of comparative law to simultaneously analyze the regulations of the focused Mexican states and the most recent (now shelved) initiative in Colombian law, identifying significant contributions to national progress in surrogacy through the theory of legal transactions, the principle of solidarity, and the right to found a family. The results show that, although Colombia had tried to progress in recognizing procreative will as the basis for filiation and has attempted regulatory adjustments to the civil registry, serious regulatory gaps persisted in the design of post-contractual mechanisms, especially regarding the prevention of human trafficking, the well-being of gestational carriers, institutional monitoring, and the guarantee of breastfeeding. The conclusions show that effective regulation should not focus exclusively on formalizing agreements between adults but should also guarantee the fundamental rights of the child from birth. In contrast, the Mexican model offers valuable tools to enrich the Colombian debate, but it also has some shortcomings that warrant revision. Therefore, this study contributes to the Colombian legislative discussion by calling for comprehensive regulation guided by the dignity of all the involved subjects and based on comparative experiences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Family Studies)

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4 pages, 136 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Technology, Digital Transformation and Society: A Closing Editorial

by Ina Kayser

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040251 - 14 Apr 2026

Viewed by 477

Abstract

The digital transformation of contemporary societies raises fundamental questions for science and policy alike [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technology, Digital Transformation and Society)

17 pages, 266 KB

Open AccessArticle

Parenting Beyond Doing: Care, Normativity, and Inequality in Contemporary Family Life

by Vered Ben David

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040250 - 13 Apr 2026

Viewed by 688

Abstract

Parenting research and policy increasingly emphasize visible practices, measurable outcomes, and parental effort as indicators of competence. Across welfare, education, and family intervention contexts, “good parenting” is often evaluated through intensive doing: monitoring, documenting, optimizing development, and managing risk. While these frameworks foreground [...] Read more.

Parenting research and policy increasingly emphasize visible practices, measurable outcomes, and parental effort as indicators of competence. Across welfare, education, and family intervention contexts, “good parenting” is often evaluated through intensive doing: monitoring, documenting, optimizing development, and managing risk. While these frameworks foreground parental responsibility, they frequently obscure the relational dimensions of care and intensify existing classed, gendered, and racialized inequalities. Building on feminist scholarship that has long conceptualized parenting as relational, ethical, and socially situated, this paper develops a theoretical framework for rethinking parenting by integrating family studies scholarship on intensive parenting, emotional labor, and inequality with Hannah Arendt’s distinctions among labor, work, and action. Parenting is commonly framed as labor, the daily work of sustaining children’s lives, or as work, the longer-term project of producing competent future adults. Drawing on Arendt’s concept of action, the paper reinterprets parenting as a relational practice grounded in presence, responsiveness, and mutual recognition. Using illustrative examples from diverse family contexts, including Indigenous and immigrant communities, the analysis shows how privatized and performance-oriented models of care place strain on families while rendering collective forms of support less visible. The paper concludes by outlining implications for family research and policy, including a shift from outcome-based evaluation toward relational engagement and from individualized responsibility toward strengthened social infrastructures of care, arguing for greater attention to relational care, shared responsibility, and the structural conditions that shape parenting practices and family well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Family Studies)

19 pages, 337 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups in Slovenian Cultural Institutions

by Špela Pučko, Urška Kumar and Katarina Habe

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040249 - 13 Apr 2026

Viewed by 762

Abstract

The inclusion of vulnerable groups in cultural life is a central issue of social justice, equality, and sustainable development. While equality ensures formal access to cultural participation, equity requires differentiated, needs-responsive measures that address structural barriers to meaningful engagement. Vulnerable groups—those at increased [...] Read more.

The inclusion of vulnerable groups in cultural life is a central issue of social justice, equality, and sustainable development. While equality ensures formal access to cultural participation, equity requires differentiated, needs-responsive measures that address structural barriers to meaningful engagement. Vulnerable groups—those at increased risk of social exclusion and inequality—often face such barriers despite the recognized role of the arts in promoting well-being, empowerment, and social cohesion. This study examines how Slovenia’s main cultural institutions conceptualize and implement inclusion, focusing on target groups, accessibility measures, and structural challenges and assessing whether their practices reflect principles of equality or equity. A mixed-methods approach combined an online survey of 26 institutions with semi-structured interviews with six representatives. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic coding. The findings indicate that inclusion is present but fragmented and largely unsystematic. Institutions predominantly adopt equality-based approaches through general programming and standard adaptations, while equity-oriented, structurally embedded measures remain limited. Groups requiring sensory, communicative, or content-related adaptations are less frequently included. Overall, inclusion remains capacity-driven rather than equity-oriented, highlighting the need for coherent, equity-based frameworks to ensure sustainable and meaningful cultural participation. Full article

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19 pages, 294 KB

Open AccessReview

Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector: A Conceptual Synthesis of Contributions to Sustainable Local and Rural Development

by Antonios Kostas, Vasileios Zoumpoulidis, Maria Fragkioudaki and Anastasios Karasavvoglou

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040248 - 13 Apr 2026

Viewed by 890

Abstract

The dominant agri-food system’s well-documented failures—biodiversity loss, deepening rural inequalities, and the erosion of small-scale farming livelihoods—have elevated SSE initiatives and social innovation in the agri-food sector and bioeconomy from a niche policy concern to a structural priority. This paper examines how SSE [...] Read more.

The dominant agri-food system’s well-documented failures—biodiversity loss, deepening rural inequalities, and the erosion of small-scale farming livelihoods—have elevated SSE initiatives and social innovation in the agri-food sector and bioeconomy from a niche policy concern to a structural priority. This paper examines how SSE arrangements drive meaningful transformation in agri-food chains while advancing sustainable development at local and regional scales. Through a narrative review of interdisciplinary peer-reviewed literature and key institutional sources, the paper synthesizes evidence that SSE initiatives generate transformation through three interconnected mechanisms: (a) the reconfiguration of governance structures; (b) the deepening of producer–consumer relationships through spatial proximity and relational transparency; and (c) the more equitable redistribution of value across agri-food territories. These findings suggest that place-based SSE models occupy a central—rather than peripheral—role in sustainability transitions and local development. The paper presents a structured analytical framework linking SSE practices to agri-food chain transformation and develops nine concrete policy implications for scaling and sustaining SSE innovations through coordinated collaboration among public, private, and social economy stakeholders. The findings contribute to a sharper understanding of the conditions under which SSE-driven models can foster sustainable, socially inclusive, and community-oriented agri-food systems and of why the solidarity dimension, rather than organisational form alone, is the decisive criterion for identifying genuinely transformative initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Innovation: Local Solutions to Global Challenges)

21 pages, 4306 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Artificial Intelligence and Disinformation: A State-of-the-Art Review Through a Systematized Literature Review

by José Casás García, Alba Silva Rodríguez and Ana-Isabel Rodríguez-Vázquez

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 247; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040247 - 13 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1626

Abstract

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) extends across virtually all sectors of society, including communication. One of the areas in which its influence is expected to be most significant is disinformation, arguably one of the greatest challenges faced by networked societies over the [...] Read more.

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) extends across virtually all sectors of society, including communication. One of the areas in which its influence is expected to be most significant is disinformation, arguably one of the greatest challenges faced by networked societies over the past decade. Through a systematized literature review with a scoping orientation, this study examines how research on artificial intelligence and disinformation has evolved over the last five years and identifies the main thematic strands structuring this field. The analysis of 62 articles reveals a predominance of qualitative approaches (53.3%) and a technocentric perspective structured around five main research lines: (1) AI as a source of disinformation, (2) AI as a tool to combat it, (3) regulatory frameworks, (4) deepfakes, and (5) algorithmic literacy. These findings highlight both the consolidation of the field and the need to advance toward more interdisciplinary and transfer-oriented research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disinformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence)

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20 pages, 556 KB

Open AccessArticle

Using Law to Gut Law: Executive Aggrandizement and Quality of Government Decline in Chávez’s Venezuela

by Jeremy Ko, Arturo Garcia Franco and Yihan Gao

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040246 - 11 Apr 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 838

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between executive aggrandizement and Quality of Government (QoG) deterioration in Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela. Drawing on the framework of autocratic legalism—whereby legal forms are used to hollow out legal protections—we theorize how constitutional reforms that concentrate executive power through [...] Read more.

This study examines the relationship between executive aggrandizement and Quality of Government (QoG) deterioration in Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela. Drawing on the framework of autocratic legalism—whereby legal forms are used to hollow out legal protections—we theorize how constitutional reforms that concentrate executive power through autocratic legalism may systematically undermine the institutional foundations of impartial governance. We employ a synthetic control method to construct a counterfactual governance trajectory for Venezuela, comparing observed outcomes following the 1999 constitutional reforms to what comparable Latin American countries would predict. Our quasi-experimental analysis provides evidence that the institutionalization of executive aggrandizement was associated with modest yet sustained QoG deterioration from 2000 to 2012. This decline manifested primarily through a collapse in the rule of law and rising systemic corruption, patterns consistent with the theoretical mechanisms of autocratic legalism linking constitutional reforms to governance erosion through institutional capture. The findings suggest that constitutional changes concentrating power in the executive, while appearing procedurally legitimate, may potentially compromise the impartial exercise of state authority. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Democracy, Politics and Innovation, Social Integration and Global Politics in the Contemporary World)

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19 pages, 264 KB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Stay Sedentarism: The Local Battle over Migrant Workers’ Housing in The Netherlands

by Tesseltje de Lange and Masja van Meeteren

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040245 - 10 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1010

Abstract

This article investigates the housing precarity of EU migrant workers in the Dutch–German border region, focusing on the Venlo Greenport area. Drawing on documentary analysis, 28 interviews, field observations, and stakeholder engagement, it explores how local governance, market dynamics, and framing practices shape [...] Read more.

This article investigates the housing precarity of EU migrant workers in the Dutch–German border region, focusing on the Venlo Greenport area. Drawing on documentary analysis, 28 interviews, field observations, and stakeholder engagement, it explores how local governance, market dynamics, and framing practices shape housing outcomes. While EU law guarantees free movement, housing remains excluded from the EU rights frameworks, leaving workers dependent on employer-linked or agency-controlled short-stay facilities. These arrangements—often overcrowded, surveilled, and formally temporary—become long-term solutions, producing what we term short-stay sedentarism: prolonged residence in housing designed to deny permanence. The study conceptualises the local “battleground” where municipalities, employers, housing providers, NGOs, and residents negotiate competing interests. Seven interpretive frames—nuisance/disorder, cowboys, human rights, NIMBY, shadow power, integration, and unwanted accumulation—structure these debates, legitimising certain strategies while obscuring structural deficiencies. Findings reveal that certification and enforcement, while intended to improve standards, often entrench precariousness by sustaining the short-stay model. Emerging integration-oriented policies signal a shift but remain fragile amid economic imperatives and spatial constraints. The paper argues that addressing housing precarity requires structural reforms: expanding access to regular housing, reducing employer dependency, and recognising migrant workers as long-term residents rather than temporary labour inputs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Migration and Housing)

21 pages, 579 KB

Open AccessArticle

Do Gratitude Expression, Acts of Kindness, Positive Reframing, and Applying Character Strengths Improve Subjective Well-Being? Evidence from University Students

by Angela U. Ekwonye, Sophi M. Cahalan and Leila Hoeschen Ehrbright

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040244 - 9 Apr 2026

Viewed by 914

Abstract

The well-being of university students is deteriorating, highlighting the need for accessible, non-stigmatizing supports beyond clinical care. Positive psychology (PP) interventions have shown strong potential for improving mental well-being, yet they remain largely underutilized in Nigerian universities. This pilot study evaluated the impact [...] Read more.

The well-being of university students is deteriorating, highlighting the need for accessible, non-stigmatizing supports beyond clinical care. Positive psychology (PP) interventions have shown strong potential for improving mental well-being, yet they remain largely underutilized in Nigerian universities. This pilot study evaluated the impact of an eight-week education and intervention incorporating acts of kindness, gratitude, positive reframing, and character strengths in improving subjective well-being among university students in Nigeria. Students were assigned randomly to an education + PP group or an education-only control group and assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Independent-samples t-tests were used to examine group differences in outcomes, while mixed-design ANOVA models assessed the effects of group and time. Compared with controls, the intervention group showed significantly higher mental well-being, positive affect, and resilience, with moderate to large effects. While significant main effects emerged across outcomes, time-by-group interactions were observed only for positive affect and resilience. Given rising psychological distress among Nigerian university students, these preliminary results showed that brief, strengths-based PP exercises can meaningfully improve students’ subjective well-being. They can serve as low-cost, non-stigmatizing additions to university mental health services and a scalable complement to traditional care in low-resource settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Childhood and Youth Studies)

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21 pages, 296 KB

Open AccessArticle

Migration as Democratic Boundary-Making: Far-Right Normalization in Europe

by Damjan Mandelc

Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(4), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci15040243 - 9 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1447

Abstract

Over the past decade, far-right parties have moved from the political margins into the mainstream of several European democracies. This article examines how migration functions not primarily as a demographic driver of electoral change, but as a discursive resource through which democratic boundaries [...] Read more.

Over the past decade, far-right parties have moved from the political margins into the mainstream of several European democracies. This article examines how migration functions not primarily as a demographic driver of electoral change, but as a discursive resource through which democratic boundaries are redefined. Drawing on a qualitative comparative analysis of political speeches, party manifestos, and public debates in selected European countries between 2014 and 2022, the study investigates how migration is constructed as a threat to welfare systems, national cohesion, and liberal-democratic order. The analysis integrates three complementary frameworks of ethno-pluralism, welfare chauvinism, and civic nationalism to demonstrate how exclusion is legitimized through moralized appeals to culture, fairness, and liberal values. Rather than rejecting democracy outright, far-right actors reinterpret concepts such as citizenship, solidarity, and equality in conditional and culturally bounded terms. Migration thus operates as a symbolic condensation of broader anxieties related to globalization, economic insecurity, and political distrust. The findings show how democratic language itself can normalize exclusionary interpretations of membership, contributing to gradual forms of democratic erosion across Europe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Challenges to Democracy, Citizenship and Political Participation)

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