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From Saying to Showing: Action, the Economy of Silence, and the Limits of Development Discourse
Contemporary discourses on inclusive and just development emphasise ambitions of empowerment and capacity-building without producing genuine socio-economic transformation. This article develops the concept of the Economy of Silence to explain why the smallest and most constrained actors are often those who generate social change most effectively in comparison with institutions that are dominant at the discursive level. Drawing on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s distinction between “saying” and “showing” in the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, the article argues that meaningful language must remain anchored in facts. When discourse becomes detached from material transformation, it generates what this article calls discursive inflation: the circulation of language without corresponding changes in reality. In a context of economic scarcity, material and institutional constraints require a certain discipline on the part of the actors who are most exposed to the consequences and do not have discursive power. Exposing their actions to consequences aligns intention, practice, and outcome. Action therefore functions as a materially intelligible form of communication that remains accountable to consequences. Amartya Sen's capabilities approach suggests that development consists of valuing the expansion of freedoms and opportunities available to individuals to achieve functioning using available resources, and not just by making mere declarative commitments. The article concludes that silence, often understood as exclusion, sidelining from institutional discourse or renunciation, emerges rather as the structural condition in which ethical, economic and political meaning converges in facts rather than in discourse.
From Displacement to Educational Mobility: Maternal Agency, Aid, and the Long Arc of One Afghan Refugee Family’s Transformation in Pakistan
This article examines how displacement, maternal agency, and educational opportunity interacted over time in the life course of one Afghan refugee family that resettled in Pakistan during the 1980s. The study asks how a widowed mother and her children navigated exile, gendered constraints, and uneven aid structures to convert schooling into long-term social and professional mobility. Methodologically, the study is a qualitative single-case study informed by narrative inquiry. The evidentiary base consists of semi-structured interviews with three members of the family, supported by personal documents, scholarship records, photographs, and contextual site observations. Rather than treating aid as a self-executing intervention, the analysis shows that access to educational opportunity depended on persistent household labour, social mediation, and the mother’s willingness to contest community expectations around women’s work and girls’ schooling. The case suggests that educational mobility in refugee settings emerges through the interaction of formal programmes and informal navigation, not from policy design alone. It also shows that refugee women’s agency is best understood relationally: as caregiving, advocacy, negotiation, and institution-building carried out under conditions of loss and uncertainty. Although a single case cannot sustain broad generalization, it offers an analytically rich account of how gender, education, and transnational opportunity structures are lived and reworked in protracted displacement. The study contributes to scholarship on refugee education, gendered resilience, and the limits of humanitarian inclusion in Pakistan.
Pragmatic Identity Construction of Cross-Border E-Commerce Retailers—A Move Analysis of Responses to Negative Reviews in AliExpress
Negative customer online reviews significantly influence potential customers' purchasing behaviors and damage the reputation and profitability of online shops. The process of responding to such reviews involves the strategic construction of pragmatic identity to meet communicative needs in service recovery. However, research on pragmatic identity construction in cross-border e-commerce contexts remains relatively limited. Based on 325 responses to negative online reviews collected from AliExpress, this study employs move analysis and pragmatic identity theory to investigate how Chinese cross-border e-commerce retailers discursively construct their identities in responding to negative reviews. The findings reveal that: (1) Four main moves, Opening, Apology, Solicitation, and Closing—are identified in retailers' responses, with steps such as greeting, appreciation, dismissal, promise, and invitation facilitating the realization of each move; (2) Retailers construct both the default identity of the Seller and deviational identities including the Friend, the Defender, the Servant, the Apologist, and the Problem Solver; (3) The dynamic construction of various pragmatic identities serves to address customer complaints effectively and maintain positive customer relationships. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of identity construction in computer-mediated business discourse, expanding the scope of online review response genre research, and offering practical implications for cross-border e-commerce retailers' service recovery strategies.
Behavioral Dimensions of the Digital Gender Divide: Women’s Access to Information and Communication Technology in Rural and Semi-Urban Bangladesh
The expansion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has transformed access to communication, education, employment, and social participation across developing countries. However, unequal digital access continues to reinforce gender disparities, particularly among women in rural Bangladesh. This study examines the behavioral and structural dimensions of the digital gender divide by comparing women’s ICT access and usage in rural and semi-urban areas of Bangladesh. A mixed-methods exploratory design was employed, combining survey data from 276 respondents with qualitative interviews and thematic analysis. The findings reveal substantial inequalities in smartphone ownership, internet connectivity, digital literacy, and independent ICT usage between rural and semi-urban women. Rural women experience stronger barriers associated with poverty, infrastructural limitations, patriarchal restrictions, and limited technological skills. The study further identifies behavioral constraints such as fear of social criticism, family surveillance, reputational concerns, and perceived online risks as significant factors limiting women’s digital participation. Although ICT access contributes positively to women’s empowerment by improving access to information, communication, and participation in household decision-making, empowerment outcomes remain uneven due to persistent socio-cultural inequalities. The study argues that reducing the digital gender divide requires both technological expansion and behaviorally informed public policies, including community-based digital literacy programs, awareness campaigns, and interventions addressing restrictive gender norms. The research contributes to the literature on behavioral economics, gender, and digital inclusion by demonstrating that women’s digital exclusion is both a structural and behavioral policy challenge.
Bioeconomic Policy Pathways for Structural Transformation in India: An E3 (Economy–Environment–Employment) Framework for 2050
The growing need to reconcile economic growth with environmental sustainability and employment generation has positioned the bioeconomy as a central pathway for long-term structural transformation. However, existing research has largely examined economic, environmental, and labour-market dimensions separately, limiting understanding of their integrated developmental effects in emerging economies. This study develops an integrated ‘Economy–Environment–Employment (E3)’ analytical framework to evaluate the long-term implications of India’s BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) initiative through 2050. The analysis combines environmentally extended input–output modelling, dynamic scenario simulations, and a composite E3 transition index to compare baseline, policy-driven, and accelerated transformation pathways. The framework captures how inter-sectoral economic interactions influence environmental emissions and employment restructuring under alternative policy scenarios. The BioE3 architecture examined includes biomanufacturing clusters, bio-foundries, biotechnology innovation hubs, circular bioresource systems, targeted research and development incentives, and biotechnology-oriented skill-development programmes. Results indicate that the accelerated BioE3 pathway significantly expands bio-based manufacturing and knowledge-intensive services while reducing carbon intensity by approximately 42% relative to the baseline scenario by 2050. Simultaneously, the share of high-skilled employment rises from 18% to nearly 29%, indicating a transition toward innovation-intensive production systems. The findings further demonstrate that early investments in biotechnology infrastructure and innovation ecosystems generate cumulative and mutually reinforcing economic, environmental, and employment benefits. Nevertheless, the scale and spatial distribution of these gains depend on institutional coordination, regionally differentiated implementation, and sustained human-capital development. The study contributes a policy-oriented framework for assessing bioeconomic structural transformation in emerging economies.
Generation Z’s Perceptions of the “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) Phenomenon in Online Shopping and Its Impact on Purchase Decisions
This study adopts a qualitative perspective to deepen understanding of Generation Z’s subjective experiences regarding the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) phenomenon in online shopping. Grounded in behavioral economics concepts such as loss aversion, scarcity effect, and bounded rationality, the study complements predominantly quantitative approaches in the existing literature. This study aims to analyze how Generation Z interprets the FOMO phenomenon, identify the factors that trigger FOMO, and examine its influence on purchasing decisions in the context of e-commerce. The study employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive-exploratory design. Data were collected through an online survey using an open-ended questionnaire involving 103 respondents from diverse backgrounds. The sampling technique employed convenience sampling, while data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis to identify patterns and key themes from the respondents’ answers. The results indicate that FOMO is influenced by social factors such as social media, influencers, and peer pressure, as well as marketing factors like discounts, flash sales, and limited-time promotions that create a sense of urgency. This phenomenon drives impulsive purchasing behavior, which is often not based on rational needs, and impacts emotional states, resulting in temporary satisfaction followed by regret. Additionally, FOMO affects individual financial management, as respondents tend to struggle with controlling their spending. These findings have important implications for the development of digital consumer behavior theory and more responsible marketing practices.
Reframing ‘Scum’ (Çapulcu): A Frame Analysis of the Gezi Park Movement in Türkiye
This article examines the Gezi Park protests in Türkiye by focusing on how the term "scum" (çapulcu), initially used by government representatives as a derogatory label, was reinterpreted and transformed into a collective identity by protesters. The study aims to analyze how competing sociological interpretations of the Gezi Park Movement relate to this process of symbolic reframing. The research adopts a qualitative approach based on thematic classification and document analysis of academic writings and social media content. Drawing on Erving Goffman’s frame analysis and a relational cultural sociology perspective, the study examines how meanings are constructed, contested, and transformed. The analysis identifies three main strands of interpretation—class/political, civil society, and culture/identity-based approaches—and shows that, despite their differences, all converge in recognizing the movement’s transformative impact. The findings demonstrate that the term "çapulcu" was successfully reframed through humor, creativity, and digital communication, becoming a unifying and empowering identity. The study highlights the importance of cultural processes, symbolic interaction, and social media in contemporary social movements, suggesting that meaning-making practices are as significant as structural conditions in shaping collective action. The article argues that contemporary social movements cannot be adequately understood without attending to cultural processes and symbolic interaction alongside structural conditions.
Current Global Trends in Food Safety and Risk Prediction
The study substantiates the shift from traditional reactive control methods to a proactive model of intelligent risk management. Particular emphasis is placed on the "One Health" concept, which integrates human, animal, and ecosystem health within a unified monitoring system; special attention is also given to the destabilizing impact of climate change on food quality and safety—specifically through the spread of mycotoxins and alterations to the planet's microbial landscape. The study provides a detailed analysis of the potential of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the metagenomic profiling of facilities, the role of nanotechnology in developing precision sensors and active packaging, and the application of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas systems for rapid pathogen diagnostics. Digital architectures for ensuring food safety are examined, with artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics presented as key tools for predictive modeling. The data presented address emerging threats such as micro- and nanoplastic contamination, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and the safety of alternative protein sources. The study demonstrates that systemic contaminants necessitate new approaches to toxicological assessment due to their cumulative effects. It highlights that, by 2026, corporate legal liability will be inextricably linked to digital transparency and the ethics of AI algorithm usage. The study concludes that food safety in 2026 will increasingly depend on the integration of advanced technologies, environmental responsibility, and global digital cooperation.
Announcements
Announcement: Change in Publication Frequency
The Editorial Office of Cultural Arts Research and Development (ISSN: 2436-8539) is pleased to announce that, starting from 2026, the journal will change its publication frequency from biannual to quarterly. The journal will be published four times per year, in March, June, September, and December. This change aims to ensure more timely dissemination of research while maintaining the journal’s academic standards and peer-review process. Editorial Office Cultural Arts Research and Development
Announcement: Change in Publication Frequency
The Editorial Office of New Countryside (ISSN: 2758-1403) is pleased to announce that, starting from 2026, the journal will change its publication frequency from biannual to quarterly (January, April, July, October) This adjustment reflects the journal’s steady development and aims to better serve the academic community by ensuring more timely publication while maintaining rigorous peer-review standards. All editorial policies and review procedures will remain unchanged. Editorial Office New Countryside (ISSN: 2758-1403)
Announcement on Change of Publication Frequency
The Editorial Office of Philosophy and Realistic Reflection (ISSN 2759-7172) is pleased to announce that, effective from 2026, the journal will change its publication frequency from biannual to quarterly (March, June, September, December). Beginning in 2026, Philosophy and Realistic Reflection will publish four issues per year, reflecting the journal’s continued development, the steady growth in high-quality submissions, and our commitment to providing a more timely platform for scholarly communication. All editorial policies, peer review procedures, and publication ethics will remain unchanged. The Editorial Team remains committed to upholding the journal’s academic quality and integrity. We sincerely thank our authors, reviewers, editorial board members, and readers for their continued support. Editorial Office Philosophy and Realistic Reflection
Congratulations! Food and Drug Safety Is Now Indexed in CAS
We are pleased to announce that Food and Drug Safety has been officially indexed in the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), one of the world’s most authoritative and comprehensive databases in chemistry and related sciences. CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society (ACS), is widely recognized for its rigorous selection standards and global academic influence. Inclusion in CAS signifies the journal’s scientific quality, editorial rigor, and relevance to the international research community. This milestone marks an important step in the journal’s development and further enhances the visibility, discoverability, and academic impact of published articles in the fields of food science, food safety, toxicology, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and related interdisciplinary areas. We sincerely thank our authors, reviewers, editorial board members, and readers for their continued support and contributions. Food and Drug Safety will remain committed to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research and to advancing scientific exchange in food and drug safety research worldwide. We warmly welcome researchers and scholars to submit their latest work and join us in shaping the future of food and drug safety science.
Congratulations to New Environmentally-Friendly Materials Indexed in CAS!
We are pleased to announce that the academic journal New Environmentally-Friendly Materials has been officially indexed in CAS. This achievement represents a significant milestone in the journal’s development and reflects CAS’s recognition of the journal’s academic quality, editorial standards, peer-review rigor, and scholarly contribution to the field of environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. Since its launch, New Environmentally-Friendly Materials has been committed to: Upholding a rigorous and transparent peer-review process Adhering to high standards of academic ethics and publishing best practices Providing an open-access platform for the dissemination of high-quality research The inclusion in CAS will further enhance the journal’s visibility, accessibility, and academic impact, offering authors a more authoritative platform to disseminate their research to the global scholarly community. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all authors, reviewers, editorial board members, and readers for their continued support and valuable contributions. Building on this achievement, the journal will continue to improve its publishing standards and promote high-quality academic exchange in the field of environmentally friendly materials and sustainable material science. We warmly welcome researchers worldwide to submit their latest work to New Environmentally-Friendly Materials.
Editor-in-Chief Communication Meeting Successfully Held!
We are pleased to announce that the Editor-in-Chief Exchange Meeting for Urban Planning and Construction was successfully concluded via Zoom on September 10. The editorial office and the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Salman Shooshtarian, conducted in-depth discussions on key issues concerning the journal's development. The main highlights of the meeting are as follows: A review of the journal's performance indicators Exploration of emerging research areas to encourage the submission of high-quality manuscripts Planning for themed special issues and academic cooperation with universities Initiatives to improve the journal's impact We sincerely appreciate the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Salman Shooshtarian, for his valuable insights and ongoing support in advancing the mission of Urban Planning and Construction. For more information about the journal or inquiries regarding submission, please contact the editorial office at upc@bilpub.com.