Social Lens
Journal articles - Social Lens
All articles: 36
Scientific article
This study explores the challenges encountered by students living abroad as they struggle to reconcile their academic responsibilities with maintaining their mental, emotional and physical health. This article emphasizes the significance of implementing a health-oriented and well-structured routine. A practical and easy-to-implement approach was proposed to assist students living abroad in balancing their tiresome academic journey with a healthy and organic lifestyle. The aspects related to corporal and cognitive health, stress and time management, and psychological well-being were considered while developing an optimal everyday schedule for international students combatting cultural, linguistic, educational and social discrepancies beyond borders. The authors experimentally implemented the proposed framework in a case study. As a result, a significant total body weight loss of 16 kg was achieved within four months to get rid of obesity. Other benefits included alleviated levels of anxiety, stress, hypertension, hair loss and visual impairment-related issues. To conclude, this multidisciplinary investigation aims to contribute to the existing literature on social sciences and sustainable cognitive health practices for overseas students.
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Scientific article
This paper critically reviews the “Policy Summit-2026” and “Election Manifesto” of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, focusing on how the party’s proposals align with public aspirations and long-term national development goals. The study explores key policy areas as themes such as, governance reform, economic growth, education, ICT development, and social welfare, assessing their feasibility within Bangladesh’s socio-political and economic context. Using a qualitative thematic analysis from only two official published documents were used in methodology. The study draws on Policy Framing Theory, Human Capital Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory to explore how Jamaat-e-Islami frames its proposals and positions itself in relation to national development. The findings reveal that while the party’s proposals resonate with public aspirations, they might face some implementation challenges due to institutional weaknesses, political resistance, and economic limitations. This paper contributes to the literature by analyzing how political manifestos in emerging economies balance idealistic goals with practical challenges in the pursuit of sustainable development of Bangladesh.
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Analyzing Youth's Purchasing Behaviors: A Study on Smartphone Shopping in Bangladesh
Scientific article
The current research investigates the purchasing behavior of young consumers when they are purchasing smartphones in the Bangladeshi local market. The Consumer Decision-Making Model of Engel, and experimental approach was used to analyze responses gathered from a questionnaire and other secondary data sources. The results indicate possible behavioral factors (economic, psychological, technological, cultural, availability and after sales services) affecting people's tendency to choose their preferred product in first-growing economic practices. Mixed methods statistical analysis uncover key factors influencing youth participation in the escalating smartphone market. The findings indicate the impact of consumer trends on the industry landscape and economic dynamics, offering a broader perspective for future sustainability considerations and decision-making processes. The research indicates the influence of social and cultural factors on youth preferences for smartphone brands and features. Policymakers and businesses can use these results to tailor their strategies to meet the evolving needs and desires of the youth market in Bangladesh.
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Bridging Worlds: The Global Reception and Cultural Impact of Yemeni Novels
Scientific article
The Yemeni cultures surrounding the modern world are revealing themselves through the writings of modern Yemeni authors. Their works have managed to reach the ears of the world triggering both positive and negative conversations revolving around their identity, culture, conflict, as well as the diaspora. This research investigation aims to answer how these Yemeni novels are received outside of Yemen and the cultural significance they have, including their impact on the people and the reason behind their appealing nature. Employing qualitative methods of literary critique and thematic analysis, this study aims to uncover how Arabian literature speaks to global issues. The findings reveal a nuanced fascination a great amount of insight is offered through their sociopolitical mess. This analysis seeks to explain the means through which Yemeni people seek to assert their cultural positions in the global literary marketplace with an emphasis on postcolonial and biotraumatic approaches to challenge Western narratives and promote cross cultural conversation. Additionally, this research brings attention to the need of unyielding focus on the role of translation and international collaboration in heightening the prominence of Yemeni literature. By doing this, this work aims to illuminate the various facets of the world in relation to the extent of his research. Furthermore, it explores the experiences that these novels provide.
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Charismatic Leadership and Followers' Risk-taking Behavior
Scientific article
This study builds on social learning theory to unfold the impact of charismatic leadership on follower risk-taking behavior via followers’ sense of empowerment as the mediator in how these dynamics lead crew members to take risks in Pakistan’s IT sector. Charismatic leadership is fundamental in stimulating followers’ sense of psychological empowerment, which stimulates their risk-taking tendency in their actions, such as taking up challenges and being creative. Followers’ proactive personality is the moderating factor on this path, which reinforces the impact of empowerment on risk-taking behavior. This study used a survey-based approach to obtain data from a sample of 170 employees working in the IT sector. The results show that the level of charismatic leadership significantly fosters followers' risk-taking behavior, and psychological empowerment is established as a full mediator between the aforementioned relationship. Employee proactive personality holds the second stage of moderation for the conceptualized model. The research points to the decisive function of charismatic leadership in increasing the followers' risk-taking behavior by mentally empowering them, which is highly salient for those who possess a high proactive dispositional tendency.
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Closing The Gender Pay Gap in India: An Analysis
Scientific article
The gender pay gap is the difference between what men and women get paid for doing the same work. India's gender wage disparity exists despite significant progress in literacy, economic growth and participation in the labour force by women, and women's rights-based movements. Overall, women in India earn 19–24% less than men, across all sectors. This gap is due to various factors including stereotype ideas about gender, occupational separation, and structural inequalities. The gender pay gap is a widely used measure of gender disparity in the workplace and is used to track progress towards gender equality. In the unorganised economy, women experience more pay disparity. Since they are paid less than males, this wage disparity is particularly common in the industry, IT, and agriculture sectors, highlighting their disparate skill sets. The stigma associated with women is that they are perceived as having less power than males. Gender justice cannot be accomplished, and the wage gap may not narrow, unless the societal stigma against women in the workplace and society is removed. Globally, gender inequality is a serious problem. It acts as a barrier to greater economic equality and improved working conditions.
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Cybersecurity Compliance Frameworks- a pragmatic view with an IT outsourcing company case study
Scientific article
This paper practically deals with the theoretical base drawn from the standards and rules posed by various international bodies in terms of information security. To start with, this paper defines what security framework is applied practically to an IT outsourcing company based in UK named Cyberfox. Hence the relevant laws of the land are analyzed like NIS (The Network and Information Systems Regulations 2018) and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations). By doing so, a framework in cyber security is tried to be fit in for this company called Cyberfox. By careful analysis and critical evaluation ofthe pros and cons of such companies’ framework and whether it is a workable model is discussed in the first half of the paper. The second half of the paper basically details the NIST (National Institute of Standards & Technology) cyber security framework and the Internal Organization of Standardization protocols in respect to 4 specific standards like Information Security Management systems (ISMS) measurement (ISO 27004), Information security risk management (ISO 27005), Requirements of bodies providing audit services (ISO 27006) and Governance of Information Security (ISO 27014). All these four are studied for their merits and demerits for practical purposes.
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Drag Performance: A Space for Gender Expression and Identity Formation
Scientific article
Drag performance is a dynamic form of self-expression that challenges traditional gender expectations and allows individuals to explore identity beyond conventional norms. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this study explored how drag served as a space for gender expression and identity formation among local drag performers in the Philippines. Guided by Judith Butler’s Gender Performativity Theory, it examined how identities were constructed and negotiated through repeated acts of drag performance. The study employed a semi-structured interview guide, conducted virtually with five (5) local drag performers selected through purposeful sampling. The collected data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method of thematic analysis, which revealed five (5) interconnected stages that illustrate how performers navigated their evolving sense of gender and self: (1) using drag as a space for self-discovery; (2) exploring gender through fluid expression; (3) gaining confidence through a drag persona; (4) adapting creatively to social and economic challenges; and (5) building solidarity amid marginalization. These findings showed that drag performance becomes a transformative process that supports fluid gender expression and affirms self-defined identities both on and off stage.
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Economic Governance of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam through Domestic Trade (1945–1954)
Scientific article
This article analyzes the economic governance activities of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam through the field of domestic trade during the period 1945–1954. Based on an examination of the State's guidelines, policies, and practices in organizing and managing the circulation and distribution of goods, the article clarifies the process by which the Democratic Republic of Vietnam gradually established and developed mechanisms for governing domestic trade in accordance with the prevailing economic conditions and the requirements of the resistance war. Domestic trade not only contributed to restoring and maintaining the operation of the domestic market but also served as an important instrument for the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to regulate the circulation of goods, stabilize prices, and mobilize and allocate resources for production, people's livelihoods, and the resistance war. Through the management of domestic trade, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam gradually strengthened its capacity to organize, regulate, and control economic relations, thereby contributing to securing resources for the resistance war, strengthening the autonomy of the economy, and laying the initial foundations for state economic governance capacity under wartime conditions.
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Scientific article
Countries are categorised as federal or unitary based on their level of autonomy in governance. Federalism is a political system in which constituent entities have autonomy to the point that sovereignty is shared by the union and the ‘units’ (commonly referred to as states). So, a state contains states. The term ‘federation’ etymologically refers to a union or league formed by agreement. However, fiscal federalism is not limited to federal nations. It is mainly concerned with the allocation of tasks and resources between two (or more) levels of government (or administrative divisions), regardless of whether the state is nominally federal or not. Inter-governmental resource transfer occurs due to differences in fiscal capability and requirements across governments at various levels. Fiscal federalism principles apply in most countries, including those that are not formally federal. Richard Musgrave, an American economist born in Germany, coined the phrase ‘fiscal federalism" in 1959. In 1999, Wallace E. Oakes described fiscal federalism as “understanding which functions and instruments are best centralised and which are best placed in the sphere of decentralised levels of government. This notion is applicable to all types of government: unitary, federal, and confederal.” A 9-judges panel of the Supreme Court of India has recently promulgated its ruling – pertaining to the case of Mineral Area Development Authority – elucidating the legal framework concerning the prerogatives of the states to levy taxes on minerals and land and buildings, both of which represent distinct taxation authorities of the states. The panel was tasked with evaluating the validity of a 1989 ruling rendered by a 7-judges panel, which had been subsequently revisited in 2004 by a 5-judges panel and subsequently cast in doubt in 2011, necessitating its referral for consideration. Consequently, this 9-judges panel ruling addresses a protracted controversy persisted for decades. The ramifications of this ruling, however, extend significantly beyond the immediate context. It clarifies the prerogatives and constraints of the states regarding their taxing authority over land in general and mineral rights specifically, thereby lifting the limitations imposed by the 1989 ruling and those preceding it chronologically. A range of other constitutionally pertinent propositions emerge from the ruling, which underscore its significance. This research discusses the ‘fiscal federalism’ in the light of the landmark judgement delivered in July 2024, regarding the states’ power to tax the minerals.
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Hadith Illumination: Exploring Nawab Siddique Hasan Khan's Legacy
Scientific article
This research explores the significant contributions of Nawab Ṣiddique Ḥasan Khan (1832-1890), a distinguished scholar from India, to the field of Islamic studies, with a particular focus on Ḥadith. Nawab's profound impact on the Muslim world stems from his dedicated efforts in religious sciences and societal services. As a prolific and gifted author, he extensively covered theology, Quran, Ḥadith, Fiqh, Islamic history, culture, ethics, politics, and economics, showcasing a comprehensive understanding of Islam and its fundamental sciences. Belonging to the Ahl-i-Ḥadith group, Nawab was a strict Sunnite and non-conformist traditionalist, rejecting the authority of medieval Muslim Scholars in favor of individual judgment based on the Quran and the Prophet's sayings. As an eminent Muḥaddith, he vehemently opposed weak and fabricated Ahadith, defending the legislative position of Ḥadith and acknowledging the six canonical books known as al-Ṣihah al-Sittah. His works were recognized for their richness and high research standards. Nawab's valuable contribution as a religious reformer lies in reviving the dynamic and straightforward religion of Islam, particularly as practiced by the early Muslims (Salaf-i-Saliḥin). He emphasized the study of original Islamic sources, challenging the prevalent doctrine of Taqlid in India. As a moderate religious thinker, Nawab opposed fitnah and chaos in religious matters, advocating for the closure of politically motivated controversial issues. His stance against religious innovations, including Bid‘ah and Bid‘ah Hasanah, reflects his commitment to the authenticity of Sunnah. In the realm of Sufism, Nawab, a reformist sufi, endorsed sufism while strictly adhering to the sacred law. He rejected pantheism/unity of being and incarnation, emphasizing adherence to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. The present study used the secondary data for analysing the contribution. This research aims to delve into the nuanced contributions of Nawab Ṣiddique Ḥasan Khan to Quranic and Ḥadith studies, recognizing the challenges posed by the condition and quality of his published works. Emphasizing his grand personality and multifaceted contributions to Islamic learning, the study sheds light on the enduring impact of his scholarship on the global Muslim community.
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Instruments of Hybrid Warfare in Iran-Russian Cooperation: Implications for Georgia
Scientific article
The modern global security architecture in the world is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The order established after the Cold War is being actively confronted by the growing alliance between Iran and the Russian Federation. With its crucial geostrategic and transit location, the South Caucasus has become one of the main epicenters of this global confrontation. Against the backdrop of Russia's military aggression in Ukraine, which disrupted the traditional balance of power, Moscow is forced to deepen its strategic coordination with Tehran to maintain its regional positions. This article deeply explores the strategy of the Russia-Iran partnership and the specifics of the hybrid warfare instruments they employ in Georgia and the South Caucasus as a whole. The research relies on the latest approaches to regional security and analyzes asymmetric tactics, such as: cyber sabotage, psychological and information operations, ideological infiltration (soft power), and economic coercion used by the authoritarian tandem of Russia and Iran. Based on this research, it was revealed that the threats directed against Georgia's democratic institutions and Euro-Atlantic aspirations no longer solely encompass the Kremlin's hard power and occupation. Added to all this is Iran's progressively growing religious, economic, and intelligence penetration, which is in full alignment with the Kremlin's aspirations to completely neutralize Western influence in the region. Additionally, the presented report discusses the threats associated with geopolitical projects such as the "3+3" format and the risks of Georgia's potential use in sanctions evasion schemes.
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Intense management of sinking secondary schools to convert them into moving education institutions
Scientific article
This paper examines what it takes to emerge with a caring and moving education institution from the initially sinking one whose scholar results were deplorably low from the perspectives of teachers serving in the School Governing Body (SGB) and the Representative Council of Learners (RCL). This study has been motivated by a variety of discourses on scholar performance, the majority of which are centred on the perspectives of external education stakeholders other than teachers and learners serving on a secondary school's governing council. The paper is conceptual and empirical in nature while following the qualitative research paradigm. The question guiding this paper is: how long does it take a sinking secondary school to be turned around into a caring and a moving secondary school? Narrative enquiry and interviewing techniques were employed to generate data. Six secondary schools from one of the circuits in Waterberg region, Limpopo Province, South Africa, were conveniently sampled for this study. Only members of the School Governing Body's teacher components and chairpersons of the Representative Council of Learners (RCL) from each of the six sampled secondary schools participated in the study. Findings revealed that firstly, caring and moving schools do not batter trust with stakeholders. Secondly, caring and moving schools experience minimal derelict of teaching duties by educators. Thirdly, caring and moving schools witness less of derelict of learning responsibility by scholars. Fourthly, there is subjugation of the culture of laziness in caring and moving secondary schools. Fifthly, a policy of remedial lessons for struggling scholars, is upheld in caring and moving schools. Lastly, caring and moving schools experience less of gaping leadership void in their ranks. The researcher recommends for sinking secondary schools to share warm disposition and be friendly with everyone to successfully become caring and moving secondary schools.
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Involvement of women in the political life of the country in Georgia
Scientific article
For decades, women in Georgia have been actively involved in the political life of the country. Despite this, society still has a mixed attitude towards the role of women in politics. Some of them consider the main function of women in Georgia to be raising children and taking care of the family and use the terms “Caucasian mentality” and “Georgian mentality” as arguments for this. However, part of society finds such an attitude towards women unacceptable. They believe that the problem of women’s involvement in politics should not be discussed. As for the term, “Georgian mentality”, it should be noted that historically in Georgia, women have always been involved in the political life of the country. We even had female kings. Recently, the role of women in the labor market has increased significantly. Today, more women are employed in various jobs. Accordingly, women are becoming more active in society, especially in politics. Therefore, women work in the workplace and are responsible for the family at the same time. A woman cannot be fully realized if she does not take care of her professional career along with family affairs. Women are more flexible in various critical situations. In addition, they are better diplomats than men. Women can also organize things better. Women are more emotional. Therefore, they take the problems of others closer to their hearts and have a greater desire to help them. There are many talented women in Georgia. The involvement of women in the decision-making process is increasing. This was facilitated by the fact that a lot of work has been done to protect women's rights. However, it should be noted that many challenges remain in terms of protecting women's rights. Here, we will focus on the status of women's rights and their inclusion in Georgian politics. We will focus on the achievements and challenges in this direction. The fact that women's political participation has become important in Georgia is clear from the fact that women's representation in parliament has exceeded 30%. This is evidence that a healthy environment has been created for women involved in politics. In addition, recent history shows that in the parliament, which is mostly staffed by male politicians, many important changes have been implemented to improve the rights of women.
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Scientific article
Farming is one of the primary sources as well as foundation of economic activities of India. A huge part of rural population of India which estimated around 65% depends on agriculture. It guarantees about 58% employment in the country. After 75 years of independence, there is still poverty in rural areas. Removal of poverty and raising the living standard of common man must be a prime concern for a welfare state in a democratic system. After independence, various Indian states initiated the process for land reforms through legislation. The Zamindari Abolition and Land Reform Act, 1950 was enacted to abolish the very exploitative system of Zamindari and introduce land reforms. Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006 was enacted repealing Zamindari Abolition and Land Reform Act, 1950to amalgamate, modify and improve legal framework regarding land occupancies and legal provisions related to land revenue applicable in Sate. Land reform is not a prime concern of this new Code. It does not address the issues related to the productivity of land, technological support to farmers, establishing necessary infrastructure such as construction of tanks, wells, water channels, supply of water for agricultural purposes, the protection of land from floods, levelling or terracing of land, erection of buildings for profitable use of the holding, employment of capital and labor. Three acts governing agricultural issues were passed by Parliament in 2020. First one of them is the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 (FAPAFS Act, 2020). The national legal framework for Contract Farming was created. The law-making body put its sincere efforts to regulate the relations between various stakeholders of contract farming. Apprehending future disputes, comprehensive mechanism for resolution of disputes also evolved under the above legal framework. The second one is the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 (FPTC Act, 2020). FPTC Act, 2020 protects the rights to choice and provided liberty to the farmers to sell their farm produce anywhere in the country without any legal hindrance. The Act aims to stimulate online marketing system for farmers in whole country. To regulate supply of essential agricultural produces and items, the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 was amended to empower Central Government to take appropriate legal recourse in interest of the nation and public during unexpected situations of the country. Unexpected situations were mentioned in the Act such as war, famine, natural calamities or unusual price rises in the market. Thus, the major issue of agricultural reforms was still untouched under these laws. Although, The Farm Laws Repeal Act 2021 has been passed, and all the above three Acts have been repealed. The impact of these agricultural laws on the tenurial rights has also to be analysed.
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Last-Mile Delivery Challenges in Bangladesh's E-Commerce Industry: A systematic Literature Review
Scientific article
In highly digitalizing South Asian markets, last mile delivery (LMD) is the most expensive, complex and customer facing part of the ecommerce supply chain. Current study is a systematic literature review of academic and grey literature covering the challenges of last mile delivery in e-commerce in Bangladesh from 2010-2026. A multi-source search using combinations of the terms “last-mile delivery”, “e-commerce”, “logistics”, “gig economy” and “Bangladesh” was undertaken with the assistance of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) framework. Given the limited number of indexed, peer-reviewed scholarship on the last-mile logistics specifically for the Bangladesh context, the review included a mix of peer-reviewed studies and high-quality institutional reports, regulatory documents and industry analyses – a hybrid approach recommended for systematic reviews of practice-driven and under-theorized topics in emerging markets. Of these, about 125 unique records were included in the thematic synthesis based on topical relevance, language eligibility and date (2010-2026), resulting in the retention of 46 sources. The review identified that there are eight interrelated thematic clusters of challenge: (1) infrastructural and geographic constraints; (2) urban traffic congestion and its economic cost; (3) cash-on-delivery dependency and payment friction; (4) consumer trust and service-quality gaps; (5) precarious gig-economy labor conditions; (6) reverse logistics and product-return burdens; (7) nascent technology-enabled innovation (micro-warehousing, parcel lockers, route optimization); and (8) a persistent rural–urban delivery divide that constrains market expansion beyond Dhaka. This study is an important step towards synthesizing two decades of disjointed academic, industry and labor-based research on the last-mile delivery system in Bangladesh, and is a research blueprint for tackling the most significant empirical challenges facing the sector.
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Metaphorical Expression in Arabic Poetry
Scientific article
Arab poets have put their best to imbue their texts with creativity. One such tool is metaphor or visual structuring, which involves breaking the conventional structure of the poetic text to enhance its potential meanings. This phenomenon is significant in rhetorical studies, as it treats poetic text as a mode of expression that deviates from the norm. Metaphorical expressions in Arabic poetry attempt to replace literal expression with vivid imagery, evident in the frequent use of personification and the fragmentation of poetic verses into multiple rhetorical phrases. Metaphorical expressions in Arabic poetry, particularly Umayyad poetry, have not been thoroughly studied. This may be due to the assumption that its repetition in poetic themes diminishes its value. The true value of Arabic poetry, especially Umayyad poetry—lies not in its volume and frequency but in its depth, originality, and the creativity of the poet. Absence of comprehensive research in rhetorical writing and metaphorical expression in Umayyad poetry justifies this study. Current study has been designed to explore role of metaphorical expression in Arabic poetry in developing the recipient’s rhetorical appreciation. This study adopts an analytical approach based on observation and analysis, with an in-depth and concentrated approach. Current research has been designed to bridge this gap.
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Mixed Proportional Representation in Election System of Bangladesh
Scientific article
This study examines the necessity for electoral reform in Bangladesh and proposes a Mixed Proportional Representation (MPR) system as a feasible alternative to the current First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) model. The existing system, despite its simplistic design, has led to unequal representation, political monopolization, and the insufficient representation of marginalized groups. The suggested MPR model can integrate constituency-based representation with proportional party lists to guarantee local accountability and enhanced political inclusion. The study elucidates the potential of MPR to foster pluralism, mitigate election distortion, and augment democratic involvement by drawing insights from comparative political systems. The research analyses the structural, political, and logistical obstacles that can impede the prompt implementation of this system in Bangladesh, including institutional unpreparedness, legislative limitations, and opposition from prevailing factions. A methodical implementation strategy, encompassing legal reforms, civic education, and international cooperation can help gradual transition to MPR, fostering a more egalitarian and robust democratic process in Bangladesh.
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Scientific article
Every person now alive was gestated inside a body. Artificial womb technology promises to change that, and the feminist tradition has never agreed on what the change would mean. This paper reads Marge Piercy’s Woman on the Edge of Time (1976) as the century’s most searching attempt to hold that disagreement open rather than resolve it. Against readings that take the novel as either a straightforward emancipatory utopia or a cautionary tale, I argue that Piercy stages ectogenesis as an ironic cyborg utopia in Donna Haraway’s precise sense: the technology liberates only under conditions of collective ownership, and the same device, transposed into neoliberal biocapitalism, becomes an instrument of domination. The novel’s brooders do not abolish the mother; they redistribute her, most vividly in the image of men who lactate and wet-nurse. Reading this redistribution alongside Shulamith Firestone’s call to overthrow the “sex class,” Herbert Marcuse’s account of technological rationality, and Melinda Cooper’s analysis of life as biocapital, I show that the question the novel poses is not whether machines can gestate but who controls the machine. Speculative fiction functions here not as prophecy but as method: a mode of feminist fabulation that makes the political condition of a technology visible before the technology arrives. The paper thus intervenes in current debates over ectogenesis by insisting that its emancipatory potential is entirely conditional, and that the condition is a revolution the present forecloses.
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On The Political Philosophy of Poststructuralist Anarchism
Scientific article
This review essay offers a critical evaluation of Todd May’s foundational work, The Political Philosophy of Poststructuralist Anarchism (1994). It examines May’s tripartite taxonomy of political thought – distinguishing between formal, strategic, and tactical political philosophy – and examines his proposition that poststructuralism operates as a tactical framework capable of surmounting the totalizing and representational limits of both liberalism and orthodox Marxism. The essay highlights May’s articulate exposition of French poststructuralism (most notably Foucault, Deleuze and Lyotard), particularly regarding the productive micro-physics of power, micropolitical resistance, anti-representational ethics and the promotion of localized difference. However, the review identifies a major methodological flaw in May’s engagement with anarchist theory. By confining his analysis almost exclusively to Classical Anarchism (Bakunin, Kropotkin, Proudhon) and completely overlooking second-wave and post-WWII developments – such as the Situationist International – May constructs his argument upon a reductive and historically superseded premise. In short, the essay contends that May fails to establish a conceptual synthesis between poststructuralism and anarchism: whereas anarchism demands the complete abolition of hierarchical power relations, poststructuralism relies on the inescapable, creative deployment of power networks. The book thus stands as a compelling contribution to poststructuralist political philosophy rather than a viable theoretical ground for contemporary anarchism.
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