Advanced Journal of Social Science

Third Generation Warfare in Post-9/11 Cinema

Aila Sajid Bhangoo, Xuanlin Jin, Asma Hamid Awan — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Although a considerable body of literature examines military strategies and their portrayal in films, the way in which post-9/11 films mediate the principles of third-generation warfare remains under-examined in the literature. By analyzing the major themes and narrative structures of selected films, this study investigates this unexplored dimension and offers insight into their socio-political and cultural implications. It analyzes how third-generation warfare is represented in post-9/11 war films through a qualitative approach, conceptualizing these films as cultural markers that influence public understanding of modern warfare. The study focuses on three popular films, Black Hawk Down, The Hurt Locker, and 13 Hours, selected for their visibility, narrative focus on U.S. military operations, and engagement with third-generation warfare tactics. These are examined using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase method. Five major themes are identified: heroism, moral ambiguity, media influence, political impact, and cultural representation. The analysis draws on ideology critique, cultural discourse theory, and media framing theory to explore how cinematic narratives construct dominant meanings around war and identity. This study contributes to media studies, sociology, and political science by connecting cinematic narratives to broader socio-political discourse.

Journalistic Self-Censorship in Jordan

Franziska Döring — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines the widespread self-censorship among journalists in Jordan and analyses the interplay of key influencing factors involved in news production and whether they can be determined as private or public origin through qualitative interviews with media professionals. The research also uncovers how Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and media policies influence journalistic content and practices. The conducted on-site interviews reveal that journalists often change or withhold content publish – influenced by fear of legal consequences and economic dependence towards different entities in Jordan. The findings highlight that self-censorship is both a response to external threats and the result of internal ethical dilemmas, leading to protocol journalism where reporting is uncritical and aligns with official narratives. The study confirms that SLAPPs are used to suppress freedom of expression and highlights the urgent need for legal reforms to protect journalists and strengthen media independence in Jordan.

The Gendered Impact of Agricultural Market Reforms on Financial Bene-fits in Uganda’s Smallholder Farming Households

Denis TUSHABOMWE, David MUGAMBE Mpiima — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Although studies have reported a positive correlation between agricultural market-liberalization reforms, smallholder commercialization and rural household income, the effect of this shift on gender income relations remains less understood. This study aimed to examine the gendered effect of market reforms and the resulting accelerated commercialization on income in smallholder farming households in Uganda, focusing on Irish Potato farming households in Rubanda district, South-western Uganda. We employed a sequential mixed-methods design involving quantitative and qualitative data strands. Quantitative data were obtained through a survey of 201 potato farmers while qualitative data were obtained through 15 key informants interviews, 27 in-depth interviews and 9 FGDs. STATA 17 for descriptive and inferential statistics –Chi Square and ‘t-test’– were used to analyse quantitative data while deductive thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. Results revealed that market reforms and commercialization led to the emergence of dichotomous income streams for male and female members of households. Positive change in women’s income significantly improved their position in a number of income management and decision aspects including allocation in crop production, custody and other household affairs, mainly children’s education. However, commercialization situated potato production in the monetary domain increasing men’s interest in the crop, previously women’s domain, as a major source of income. This heightened patriarchal power and authority over women’s attained positions and agency, perpetuating unequal gender income relations. Results suggest that increasing women’s income from independently managed plots produces positive and significant bargaining outcomes. The study underlines the need for government and other development actors to provide targeted training to women and building their capacities to manage income from independently farmed plots, and changing men’s negative attitudes and norms towards women’s ownership of and control over income.

Policy Implementation Lag in Workplace Mental Health: An Analysis of Awareness-Action Disparity

Nosarieme O Abey, Iroghama I Asoro, Precious Etinosa Ikpo — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Mental health in the workplace has gained significant recognition, yet a substantial gap persists between acknowledging its importance and implementing comprehensive support systems across various industries. This manuscript aims to elucidate the factors contributing to this discrepancy and propose strategies for bridging the gap. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of professionals (n=50) across multiple sectors, including healthcare, finance, and technology, to assess workplace mental health prioritisation. Our findings reveal that while 90.9% of respondents consider workplace mental health prioritisation very important, only 39.4% report having mental health policies in their workplaces. Key barriers identified include stigma (39.4%), fear of job loss (33.3%), and privacy concerns (33.3%). Specific challenges were noted, with healthcare professionals reporting high stress levels despite good mental health knowledge. We propose a framework for transitioning from acknowledgement to action, emphasizing organizational culture change, leadership commitment, and tailored interventions. Recommendations include implementing regular mental health discussions, as 51.5% of respondents reported only occasional or rare workplace mental health promotion. This research contributes to the literature on workplace mental health and provides actionable strategies for organizations to enhance employee well-being and organizational success across diverse industries.