Journal of Advanced Research in Social Sciences

Invisible Hands, Visible Change: Muslim Women’s Work and the Making of Ottoman Modernity

Yeliz Usta — 2026-07-08

This study examines the social dimensions of Ottoman modernization through changes in Muslim women’s work in the late Ottoman period. Using archival documents and contemporary periodicals, it explores how women’s participation in education, production, and public service developed within a combination of social, economic, and political circumstances. While the hardships of war and economic necessity played a major role in drawing women into the workforce, these factors coincided with broader reforms in education, vocational training, and public administration that gradually opened new spaces for women’s activity. Women’s journals and associations also encouraged participation by linking work to ideas of social service and civic responsibility. As women entered schools, hospitals, workshops, and public offices, their labor began to redefine the boundaries between private and public life. Although often constrained by low wages, limited advancement, and prevailing social norms, women’s growing visibility in the public sphere reflected both adaptation to new conditions and participation in the broader process of social transformation. In this respect, women’s work became one of the means through which Ottoman society negotiated the meanings of modernity.

The Ratification of the 1997 Romanian-Ukrainian Treaty: A Study of Procedural Irregularities and Diplomatic Consequences

Gabriel Axinte — 2026-07-08

After the fall of The Soviet Union in 1991, diplomatic relations between post-Soviet nations remained undefined. Although Romania swiftly recognized Ukraine’s Independence, a formal framework for bilateral relations did not materialize until The Romanian-Ukrainian Treaty of 1997. This paper analyzes irregularities in the ratification procedure in the Romanian context. Drawing upon the texts of The Treaty, archived parliamentary transcripts, official government statements, The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969 and internal Romanian legislation regarding parliamentary procedure, this study makes the case that the ratification process was marred by significant procedural deficiencies. Whilst the case for a complete annulment based on The Vienna Accord Framework is debatable, this analysis underscores the importance of adhering to proper legislative procedures in ratifying international agreements. Furthermore, the paper analyses The Treaty’s provisions, reviewing the criticisms and defenses raised during the ratification procedure in 1997. The analysis concludes that whilst the treaty’s provisions are fundamentally sound, their enforcement over time has weakened due to increased nationalist pressure inside Ukraine and due to an exhibited reluctance from the Romanian state to enforce its provisions. Subsequent diplomatic developments are briefly examined to observe the trajectory of Romanian-Ukrainian relations.

Cultural Leadership and Conflict Resolution: Sultan Hamengku Buwono X in the Lempuyangan Land Dispute

Mohammad Budiono — 2026-07-08

Land disputes in Indonesia frequently involve tensions between formal legality, historical legitimacy, and social justice. While the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) and the Policy Conflict Framework (PCF) provide important analytical tools for understanding policy conflict, limited attention has been given to the role of culturally embedded authority in shaping mediation and conflict de-escalation. This study examines the role of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X in mediating the Lempuyangan land dispute between PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PT KAI) and local residents in Yogyakarta. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this study analyzes media-based data collected from national and regional news sources published between 2020 and 2025, enhanced with articles published in the 2020-2025 period, with particular focus on the peak conflict period from April to July 2025. Data were collected through media scraping and analyzed using thematic coding informed by ACF, PCF, and concepts of cultural leadership. The findings identify two competing advocacy coalitions structured around fundamentally different belief systems regarding legality, fairness, and historical rights. The conflict intensified due to divergence of policy positions, perceived threats, and unwillingness to compromise. However, the intervention of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X as a culturally legitimate policy broker contributed to conflict de-escalation by facilitating dialogue, reframing the dispute through cultural values, and increasing trust between competing actors. This study contributes to policy process literature by integrating cultural leadership into the analysis of policy conflict. The findings suggest that symbolic legitimacy and culturally embedded authority can play significant roles in mediating high-intensity conflicts in governance contexts where traditional institutions remain influential.

Perception of Mainstream Media Representation of Insecurity Issues in South-East Nigeria

Augustine Uchenna Nwodo — 2026-07-08

The challenge of insecurity in South-Eastern Nigeria in recent times has become a significant concern. The mainstream media in Nigeria are awash with numerous reports on the issues of insecurity in the region. This study investigated how residents of South-East Nigeria perceive the mainstream media representation of insecurity issues. A qualitative research design was employed, specifically, Focus Group Discussions. A total of 40 participants were purposively sampled for the FGD, comprising both males and females aged 30 to 50. A total of five FGD sessions were conducted in the five South-Eastern States of Nigeria (one in each State). Each FGD session comprised 8 participants. The participants were those resident in the South-Eastern States of Nigeria with access to mainstream media channels. Framing and social responsibility theories provided the background to this study. The FGD question guide was used as the data collection instrument for this study. The study found a high level of audience exposure to mainstream media reports on insecurity issues in the South-East. The predominant mainstream media channels for sourcing information on issues of insecurity in the region are some media organizations owned by individuals, which are considered more reliable. The study also found perceptions of media exaggeration or underreporting of the insecurity issues in the South-East, ethnic bias, and government use of the media to portray the region in a bad light for political interests, resulting in a public perception of distrust in the media. The findings of this study will be significant for policymakers, media stakeholders and researchers to deepen the conversation around media and insecurity. The study recommends that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) should ensure strict adherence to the principles of social responsibility theory when reporting insecurity issues in the South-East and Nigeria at large.

Examining the Perspectives of Pentecostal Pastors’ Wives on the Right of Children in Ghana

Ebenezer Tetteh Kpalam — 2026-07-08

Child abuse is a common phenomenon in Ghana. It is reported that about ninety percent of children in Ghana experience different forms of abuse of their rights. Promotion and protection of the rights of children are appropriate interventions where child right abuses exist. The Children’s Act of Ghana (Act 560) mandates all persons and institutions to uphold the rights of children. The paper explores the perspectives of Pentecostal pastors’ wives on the rights of children, including their roles in the protection of the right of children. Using a qualitative approach, data was generated from thirty-five participants. The study observed that participants have adequate understanding of child rights and view their roles as pastors’ wives as a vital tool to effect changes in areas of child right abuses. The paper concludes that despite adequate understanding and involvement in child rights promotion and protection among Pentecostal pastors’ wives, intentional institutional collaborations are needed for enduring impacts.

Education Behind Bars: Program Effectiveness and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Two Indian Prisons

Aahana Bhola — 2026-07-08

The present paper aims to dissect the impacts of the correctional educational programs, including learning outcomes, psychological well being, and rehabilitation throughout the Adult Literacy, IGNOU/NIOS, and Library Programs conducted by India Vision Foundation, and to compare the results based on the demographic factors including region and gender. A mixed-method cross-sectional design was employed with 140 respondents, collected from two North Indian prisons – which will be referred to throughout the paper as Prison A and Prison B for confidentiality – being selected through purposive sampling. 128 responses were used in the quantitative analysis, while 127 responses were considered in the qualitative analysis. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s Alpha, and the Mann-Whitney U Test were used to analyze quantitative data whereas thematic analysis methods were used to analyze qualitative responses. The results have shown that the participants reported a great improvement in literacy, access to education, psychological well being, vocational and skills development, and personal development as a whole. There were notable regional differences in some of the learning outcomes of some of the programs: those of Prison B stated higher learning outcomes in Adult Literacy and IGNOU/NIOS Programs and those of Prison A reported higher learning effects in Library Use Programs. Qualitative data also show the themes of emotional recovery, institutional support, and identity transformation, and participants repeatedly recounted experiences of greater self-confidence, resilience, optimism, and future planning. These results suggest that guided educational programs that are structured and supported by adequate material resources are a valuable source of rehabilitation and personal development, and correctional education in prison is paramount.