Zero Enforcement - Michael Briguglio

My op-ed article in today's Malta Independent deals with what I am defining as the 'Micro Politics of Everyday Life', in relation to lack of enforcement in Malta.

You can read the article here:

Zero Enforcement - The Malta Independent

Pavements are policy Cinderellas - Michael Briguglio

My op-ed article in today's Malta Independent discusses why pavements are our policy Cinderellas. Link to article:

Pavements are policy Cinderellas - The Malta Independent 

The Work-Life Balance - Michael Briguglio

My op-ed in today's Malta Independent discusses the work-life balance. You can read the article from this link:

The work-life balance - The Malta Independent

New Publication: The Daphne Protests at the end of 2019. A Chronology - Michael Briguglio

My latest peer-reviewed article, 'The Daphne Protests at the end of 2019 - A Chronology' has just been published in the Social Conflict Yearbook 2019, by the Observatory of Social Conflict, University of Barcelona.

The article (in English) may be accessed and downloaded from this link:

Las protestas por el asesinato de Daphne Caruana. Una cronología | Briguglio | Anuario del Conflicto Social (ub.edu)

Abstract: This article deals with the escalation of protests in Malta concerning the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia at the end of 2019. The well attended protests continued the trend of civil society activism since the murder of the journalist in 2017. They were characterised by the creation of a broad coalition of social movement organisations, and the eventual resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. 

Keywords: Malta, Daphne Caruana Galizia, Civil Society, Joseph Muscat, Social Movements, Protest

Reference: Briguglio, Michael (2020): The Daphne Protests at the end of 2019 - A Chronology. In: Social Conflict Year Book. Observatory of Social Conflict: Barcelona DOI: 10.1344/ACS2020.10.11

My full list of academic publications can be accessed here:

Michael Briguglio's Blog: My sociological publications (mikes-beat.blogspot.com)

Call for papers RN25 Social movements at the 15th conference of the European Sociological Association

The following call for papers refers. I am a board member of RN25.

Michael Briguglio

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 Call for papers RN25 Social movements at the 15^th conference of ESA

DEADLINE  FOR ABSTRACTS EXTENDED TO 1 MARCH 2021

 

The 15th conference of the European Sociological Association (ESA) will be held on August 31 to September 3 in Barcelona. The conference will most likely be a hybrid conference in which it will be possible to participate both on site and online (updates on this will come on the conference website). The Research Network on Social Movements (RN25) calls for papers providing theoretical and empirical contributions to current debates on social movements, including but not limited to: 

Ø  spatial and temporal dynamics of collective action

Ø  the interplay between movements and their political/discursive/legal context

Ø  the connections between non-violent action and political violence  

Ø  the connections between contentious and electoral politics  

Ø  the strategic use of protest tactics

Ø  dynamics within and between social movements organisations  

Ø  the role of discourse, framing and narratives in social movements

Ø  populist and radical right movements

Ø  political repression in authoritarian and non-authoritarian states

Ø  online dimensions of mobilization

Ø  the impact of collective action

Ø  urban uprisings and popular revolts

Ø  youth and minority activism.

Comparative works that connect theory and empirical analysis, as well as innovative methodological approaches are particularly encouraged. The section aims to stimulate the debate on the accumulated knowledge and evidence produced in the last years on social movements. We welcome submissions coming from different disciplinary fields. The evaluation criteria of abstracts are: quality and clarity of the research question; clarity of the theoretical argument; the description of the main methodology and data; theoretically original contribution and discussion of available knowledge; relevance and pertinence to central themes within social movement research. 

 

At the conference RN25 Social movements also organizes a joint session with the Environmental Sociology group:

Climate movements: Contemporary Developments and Challenges

Mitigating, or adapting to, global warming is probably the most consequential political issue of the 21^st century. While the world as we know it is increasingly threatened, political action to deal with climate change has been slow and, as yet, far from sufficient. The climate movement continues to struggle and but is faced with numerous challenges, recently including the Covid-19 pandemic. This joint session welcomes research on climate mobilizations not only in Europe and the Global North, but also in the Global South. Priority is given to contributions that address broader issues of relevance to the climate movement as a whole, including conditions affecting mobilization and movement outcomes, movement strategizing as well as fundamental challenges common to climate mobilizations over the world.

 

To submit Abstract: https://www.europeansociology.org/conftool-0/abstract-submission 

Stoic ‘21 - Michael Briguglio

My op-ed in today's The Malta Independent discusses how we can apply Stoicism in 2021.

You can read the article here:

Stoic ‘21 - The Malta Independent

Caring society, care of the self - Michael Briguglio

Best wishes for 2021, dear reader.

'Caring society, care of the self' is my first op-ed in the Malta Independent for 2021. You can read it from the following link:

 Caring society, care of the self - The Malta Independent

Op-eds in the Malta Independent

Dear Friends, 

Once again in 2021 I am committed to write my fortnightly Thursday op-ed sociological focus in The Malta Independent print and online editions. Thanks to all readers and staff at The Malta Independent. Best wishes for 2021 🎉

Getting together when it matters - Michael Briguglio

Happy Christmas dear readers. My op-ed in today's Malta Independent discusses the opportunity to get together when it matters: 

Link:

Getting together when it matters - The Malta Independent

Photo by Gail Debono

#Ħsibijiet (75) Kuraġġ

Kuraġġ!

Kuraġġ lil kull min qiegħed jiġġieled il-battalji tiegħu, fis-silenzju.

Battalji li jistgħu jinħassu iktar waqt żmien il-festi. 

Hemm affarijiet li ma nistgħux inbiddlu. Fl-istess ħin ħadd ma jista' jiddettalna  l-atitudni tagħna lejn dawn l-affarijiet. Fortunatament jeżistu persuni li jistgħu jgħinuna inqumu fuq saqajna. U kultant trid tirkeb il-mewġa minflok ma titkisser ġo fiha.

Iżda hemm affarijiet li jistgħu jinbiddlu. Biex ikun hemm xaqq ta' tama, kultant jeħtieġ li nkunu kuraġġużi u nagħżlu dak li hu ġust, dak li jeħtieġ li jsir. 

Mhux faċli. Iżda forsi l-providenza tagħżel lil dawk l-iktar qalbiena għall-ikbar sfidi.

Dal-Milied, nixtieq ngħid kuraġġ lil min qiegħed jiġġieled il-battalji tiegħu.