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Agentic AI as a Strategic Capability in Service Economies: Evidence From Banking and Tourism
Author: Issa Hassan Affiliation: ISB Academy Dubai Abstract Agentic artificial intelligence—systems that can perceive context, reason with memory, call external tools, and act toward goals with varying degrees of autonomy—has rapidly moved from experimental demos to production roadmaps in service economies. This article reframes agentic AI not merely as a technological capability but as a field of power that redistributes capital (economic, social, cultural, and symbolic),
11 min read
From Unicorn to Underdog—and Back Again? A Critical Sociology of Tumblr’s $1.1B-to-$3M Valuation Swing and the Political Economy of Platforms
Author: Habib Ali Affiliation: Independent researcher Abstract This article offers a critical-sociological analysis of Tumblr’s dramatic valuation shift—from a $1.1 billion acquisition in 2013 to a resale reportedly around $3 million in 2019—and asks what this episode reveals about platform strategy, cultural governance, and value creation in the digital economy. Integrating Bourdieu’s concepts of economic, cultural, social, and symbolic capital with institutional isomorphi
10 min read
From Inns to Institutions: A Century of Hotel Management Education and Its Academicization
Author: Hans Zimmer Affiliation: Independent Researcher Abstract Over the past hundred years, hotel management has moved from an apprenticeship-based craft to a research-informed academic field spanning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels across leading universities. This article provides a critical, sociological account of that transformation. It traces the shift from experiential learning to formal curricula; explains how hospitality education became embedded in uni
11 min read
Orange Is the New Neutral? The iPhone 17, “Cosmic Orange,” and the Sociology of Flagship Technology
Author: Nancy Khouri Affiliation: Independent Researcher Abstract The global release of Apple’s iPhone 17 in late 2025 reignited debates on innovation, consumption, and cultural symbolism in a mature technology market. This article examines the iPhone 17 as both a technological object and a social text, with a specific focus on its headline aesthetic— Cosmic Orange . Moving beyond the product’s technical enhancements, this paper situates Apple’s design and marketing choic
9 min read
Membership Without the Ballot? Economic and Institutional Implications of the EU’s Emerging Non-Voting Entry Model
Author: Issa Ismail Affiliation: Independent Researcher Abstract A growing debate in European policy circles explores whether the European Union (EU) might admit new member states on a temporary non-voting basis—granting market and funding access while deferring full decision-making rights until internal reforms are completed. This article offers a critical, theory-driven analysis of that proposal’s potential economic and institutional effects on candidate states and on th
12 min read
The Unraveling and Possible Renewal of Germany’s Automotive Core: A Critical Sociological Assessment of Workforce Contraction, Global Value Chains, and Institutional Adaptation
Author: Alex Martin Affiliation: Independent Researcher Executive Summary Over the past year, Germany’s automotive sector has experienced one of the most acute contractions in its modern history, reportedly shedding roughly 51,500 jobs as the broader industrial base continues to tighten amid faltering exports, rising costs, and an uneven transition to electrification. Beyond cyclical softness, the evidence points to a structural shock : the collision of an incumbent indust
12 min read
Eternal Gold, Fragile Heritage: A Critical Sociology of the Melted 3,000-Year-Old Egyptian Bracelet
Author: Daniel Lee Affiliation: Independent Researcher Abstract In September 2025, a 3,000-year-old royal bracelet from ancient Egypt was stolen from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and, after passing through several hands, was melted down. The incident triggered public anger and renewed debates about cultural heritage protection, museum governance, the illicit art market, and the enduring power of gold as a material and symbol. This article offers a critical-sociological anal
10 min read
Autonomous AI Agents and the Reorganization of Power: A Critical Sociology of Management, Tourism, and Technology in 2025
Author: Miguel López Affiliation: Independent researcher Abstract Autonomous AI agents—software systems able to plan, decide, and act...
12 min read
World Academic Gateways and Nobel Trajectories: A Sociological Analysis of How Studying in the USA, UK, or Switzerland Shapes the Probability of Laureate-Level Achievement
Author: Rashid Ibrahim Affiliation: Independent Researcher Abstract Every October, the Nobel announcements renew a perennial question:...
11 min read
From Visa-Free to Conditional Mobility: How the EU’s 2025 Visa Suspension Reform Reconfigures Tourism Demand and Hotel Strategy
Author: Maria Chen Affiliation: Independent researcher Abstract In early October 2025, the European Parliament approved reforms to the...
10 min read
Agentic AI and the New Frontier of Autonomous Digital Workflows: A Critical Sociology of Power, Institutions, and Global Inequality (2025)
Author: Zarina Akhmetova Affiliation: Independent Researcher Abstract Agentic artificial intelligence—AI that can plan, act, and adapt...
13 min read
NGOs, Capital, and the Architecture of Partnership: How Civil Society Strengthens Sustainable Higher Education — The Case of the European Council of Leading Business Schools (ECLBS)
Author: Anastasija Ivanova Affiliation: Independent Researcher Abstract The accelerating interdependence of higher education...
11 min read
Platform Competition at the Gulf’s Doorstep: Keeta’s Entry into the GCC and the Reconfiguration of Food-Delivery Power
Authors: Walid Ahmad, Hassan Aref Affiliation: Independent Researcher Abstract This article examines a fast-moving development in the...
11 min read
Branding Premiumity in 18-Karat Gold: How a Luxury Maison’s “Love Unlimited” Collection Reframes the Value of Stamped Gold
By: Zhanyl Asanova Affiliation: Independent Researcher Abstract This article investigates how brand stamping transforms the market...
8 min read
Switzerland’s Return to Number One: A Sociological Analysis of the 2025 Competitiveness Ranking
Author: Sholpan Rakhimova Affiliation: Independent Researcher Abstract Switzerland has been named the world’s most competitive economy...
8 min read
Generative Agentic AI and the Social Order: Capital, Cores, and Convergence in 2025
Author: Maria Fernandez Affiliation: Independent researcher Abstract Agentic artificial intelligence—software agents that can perceive,...
10 min read
From Atolls to Icons: Sociological Pathways of the Maldives’ Rise as a World Tourism Destination
Author: Mohamed Hassan Affiliation: Independent researcher Abstract The Maldives has evolved from a remote archipelago into one of the...
11 min read
Crypto Assets and Illicit Finance after a Landmark Bitcoin Seizure: A Critical Sociological Analysis of How Cryptocurrencies Enable and Constrain Money Laundering
Author: Daniel Ibrahim Affiliation: Independent Researcher Abstract This article examines how cryptocurrencies are used in money...
10 min read
Agentic AI in 2025: A Sociological Political-Economy of Autonomous Systems, Organizational Imitation, and the Uneven Geography of Computation
Author: Sholpan Rakhimova Affiliation: Independent researcher Abstract Agentic artificial intelligence—autonomous or semi-autonomous...
9 min read
Escalating Tuition Fees and Educational Equity in 2025: A Global, Sociological Reading of the $43,350 Benchmark
Author: Maria Chen Affiliation: Independent researcher Abstract The 2024–2025 academic year crystallized a symbolic and material...
9 min read
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