Studies of Transition States and Societies
type: channel
description: Studies of Transition States and Societies (STSS) is a fast-growing fully open-access interdisciplinary journal for the study of transition societies. Published since 2009, it is indexed in Scopus, the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), EBSCO, ProQuest, the Central and Eastern European Online Library (CEEOL) and International Political Science Abstracts (IPSA). The journal’s thematic focus lies on education, labour markets, and their intersections with other domains such as family, health, migration and mobility. STSS welcomes studies of regional and national contexts in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, as well as comparative work including the journal’s core region. Keywords: educational attainment, informality, labour market transitions, labour market segmentation, lifelong learning, migration, precarity, skill formation, vulnerable groups, income inequality Published and funded by the School of Governance, Law and Society and Institute of International Social Studies at Tallinn University, STSS is fully open access, does not ask for article processing charges from authors, yet provides free language editing to accepted articles. Our goal is to contribute not only to scholarly debates but also promote good practices in open science, while staying independent, uncompromising and maintaining high academic standards and ethical conduct. The journal is published annually in June. In addition, collections of articles about a common theme or debate may be published as special issues. Individual articles may also be published online between numbered issues and are later formally included in the subsequent issue.
language: en
publication name: Studies of Transition States and Societies
issn: 1736-8758
items: Perspectives of Local Government Amalgamations in a Transition Society: The Case of Estonia
items: The Political Economy of Digital Ecosystems: Scenario Planning for Alternative Futures
items: History Below the Global: On and Beyond the Coloniality of Power in Historical Research
items: East Central Europe Between the Colonial and the Postcolonial in the Twentieth Century
items: The Paradox of Political Imprisonment in Myanmar: Military Entrenchment and Repression During the 2010s
items: Book Review: Urban informality: An introduction
items: Book Review: Uncovering the Hidden Cost of Capitalism: Insights from theImperial Mode of Living
items: Book Review: Moral Economic Transitions in the Mongolian Borderlands
items: Book Review: Post-Communist Transformations in Baltic Countries: A Restorations Approach in Comparative Historical Sociology
items: Why Ethnic Mobilization is Sustained: The Case of the Hungarian Minority in Romania
items: Staying, Leaving, or Returning? Conflict Resolution Preferences and Migration among Ukrainian Women
items: Material Deprivation of Older Persons in Europe: a Multi-level Analysis of the Role of Social Protection Programmes
items: Social Network Characteristics, Disability and Survival among Middle-Aged and Older Adults
items: Do All Mothers Benefit Equally? The Effect of Childcare, Parental Leave Policies and Gender Norms on the Motherhood Wage Penalty by Occupational Group
items: Intersectional Patterns in Higher Education STEMM: The Role of Gender, Ethnicity and Parental Transmission
items: Economic Circumstances of Children Living in Higher and Lower-Educated Families and the Contribution of Household Structure: A Cross-Country Comparison with a Child’s Perspective
items: In Memory of Professor Ellu Saar: Editorial for the Commemorative Issue of STSS
items: In memoriam Professor Ellu Saar (08.10.1955-02.06.2024)
items: Book Review: The Opium Business: A History of Crime and Capitalism in Maritime China
items: Book Review: Recognising the survival of marginal lives nearby Bengal borderlands
items: Book Review: Shopping with Allah: Muslim Pilgrimage, Gender, and Consumption in a Globalized World
items: Book Review: Inhuman Power: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Capitalism
items: Student Housing Choices and Aspirations: Private Renting or Ownership? The Case of Tallinn in Post-socialist Estonia
items: An Empirical View on Local Residents’ Perceptions towards E-Government in Kyrgyzstan
items: Positioning Post-Soviet Sociology in Global Sociology: Between the Global South and the Global North
items: Politics of Corruption in Albanian Higher Education
items: Unpacking the Underpinnings of Collaborative Consumption in Central Asia: Perspectives from Kyrgyzstan
items: Editorial
items: Book Review: Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown
items: Book Review:: Settling for Less

Perspectives of Local Government Amalgamations in a Transition Society: The Case of Estonia
type: item
description: This article analyses the general institutional preconditions and restraints of a successful local government amalgamation policy in Estonia from a Central and Eastern European perspective. We start by re-examining and re-synthesising the dynamics of capacity-scale problems during the post-communist transition. On this basis, we analyse the patterns and models of local governance and amalgamations in the sparsely populated countries with already large municipalities, developing the possibilities and barriers to achieve economy of scale and economy of scope. The article addresses key factors of local governance and amalgamations, first of all their relations vis-à-vis the citizens and the civil society. The vicious circle of a clan pattern of local government and citizen estrangement can be broken when the existing practice of municipality amalgamation will be changed. The mediating role of the central government or citizens’ peak organisations must become central in the amalgamation process, because they can neutralise the traditional corporatist values of local elites at negotiations and promote the new structural profile of a municipality based on the values of democratic governance.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: local autonomy
  topic: keywords
subject: amalgamations of municipalities
  topic: keywords
subject: cooperation of municipalities
  topic: keywords
subject: civil society
  topic: keywords
subject: empowerment
  topic: keywords
creator: Georg Sootla
creator: Leif Kalev
creator: Kersten Kattai
rights: Copyright (c) 2009 Georg Sootla, Leif Kalev, Kersten Kattai (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2009-06-24
publication date: 2009-06-24
doi: 10.58036/stss.v1.673

The Political Economy of Digital Ecosystems: Scenario Planning for Alternative Futures
type: item
description: Book review of The Political Economy of Digital Ecosystems: Scenario Planning for Alternative Futures by Meelis Kitsing, 2022, Routledge.
subject: Book review
  topic: section
creator: Benjamin Cisagara
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Benjamin Cisagara (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-11-28
publication date: 2025-11-28
doi: 10.58036/stss.v.889

History Below the Global: On and Beyond the Coloniality of Power in Historical Research
type: item
description: Book review of History Below the Global: On and Beyond the Coloniality of Power in Historical Research by Lorenzo Kamel, 2024, Taylor & Francis.
subject: Book review
  topic: section
creator: Brenda Kosi Andrias
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Brenda Kosi Andrias (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-11-28
publication date: 2025-11-28
doi: 10.58036/stss.v.888

East Central Europe Between the Colonial and the Postcolonial in the Twentieth Century
type: item
description: Book review of East Central Europe Between the Colonial and the Postcolonial in the Twentieth Century, ed. by Siegfried Huigen, Dorota Kołodziejczyk, 2023, Palgrave Macmillan.
subject: Book review
  topic: section
creator: Karol Dabrowski
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Karol Dabrowski (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-11-28
publication date: 2025-11-28
doi: 10.58036/stss.v.887

The Paradox of Political Imprisonment in Myanmar: Military Entrenchment and Repression During the 2010s
type: item
description: The 2011 political transition in Myanmar, following decades of military rule, heralded prospects for democratic reform, yet political imprisonment persisted, revealing a paradox of liberalisation juxtaposed with repression. This study investigates why the criminalisation of dissent endured under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government (2016–2020). Employing a qualitative methodology that encompasses systematic document analysis and 25 semi-structured interviews, the paper applies a combined framework of political repression and the criminalisation of dissent to analyse this continuity. Findings indicate that the political reforms have reduced overt violence but political imprisonment persists through legal mechanisms. This tension reflects Myanmar's oscillating transition, marked by phases of openness and heightened repression. The entrenched power of the military, enshrined in the 2008 Constitution, coupled with a repressive legal framework, enabled the suppression of dissent, posing a significant barrier to genuine democracy. These findings illuminate the fragility of Myanmar's transition, particularly in light of the 2021 military coup, and offer insights into political transitions in military-dominated regimes.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: military, Myanmar, political imprisonment, repression, transition
  topic: keywords
creator: Tin Hla
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-11-27
publication date: 2025-11-27
doi: 10.58036/stss.v.864

Book Review: Urban informality: An introduction
type: item
description: Urban informality: An introduction by Melanie Lombard and Philipp Horn, 2024, Bristol University Press
subject: Book review
  topic: section
creator: Daniela D’Urso
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 171
ending page: 173
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1388

Book Review: Uncovering the Hidden Cost of Capitalism: Insights from theImperial Mode of Living
type: item
description: Imperial Mode of Living: Everyday Life and Ecological Crisis of Capitalism by Ulrich Brand and Markus Wissen, 2021, Verso.
subject: Book review
  topic: section
subject: sustainability
  topic: keywords
subject: green capitalism
  topic: keywords
subject: imperiality
  topic: keywords
subject: environmental destruction
  topic: keywords
creator: Nilay Barlas
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 168
ending page: 170
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1287

Book Review: Moral Economic Transitions in the Mongolian Borderlands
type: item
description: Moral Economic Transitions in the Mongolian Borderlands: A Proportional Share by Hedwig Amelia Waters, 2023, UCL Press.
subject: Book review
  topic: section
subject: Mongolia
  topic: keywords
creator: Orhon Myadar
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 165
ending page: 167
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1290

Book Review: Post-Communist Transformations in Baltic Countries: A Restorations Approach in Comparative Historical Sociology
type: item
description: Post-Communist Transformations in Baltic Countries: A Restorations Approach in Comparative Historical Sociology by Zenonas Norkus, 2023, Springer.
subject: Book review
  topic: section
subject: post-communist transformations
  topic: keywords
subject: restorations
  topic: keywords
subject: comparative historical sociology
  topic: keywords
subject: the Baltic states
  topic: keywords
creator: Veronika Kalmus
creator: Marju Lauristin
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 162
ending page: 164
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1356

Why Ethnic Mobilization is Sustained: The Case of the Hungarian Minority in Romania
type: item
description: The concept of sustained ethnic mobilization remains under-studied, with a majority of the focus being drawn to the initial factors initiating mobilization. Yet, there are instances globally where ethnic groups have engaged in mobilization, remaining active without fully completing the process of mobilization, or experiencing a decline in mobilization over time. The case of Hungarians in Romania serves as a key example of a minority group that mobilized during the immediate post-communist era while continuing to pursue its stated goals and objectives, maintaining broad support within the community. This article examines two theories of sustained ethnic mobilization, institutional and kin-state, to evaluate which is more effective in analysing the case of the Hungarian minority. Using these theories, the analysis focuses on domestic organizations and institutions, as well as the allowances provided by the Romanian governing system. Additionally, it examines the influence of the Hungarian government through two key forms of support: financial backing for cultural institutions and the provision of citizenship to Hungarians residing in Romania. The article comes to the conclusion that both approaches offer value in understanding why mobilization is sustained but in the case of the Hungarians, the role of institutions is paramount in allowing a group to retain mobilization, offering regional and conceptual implications.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: sustained mobilisation
  topic: keywords
subject: Hungarians
  topic: keywords
subject: Romania
  topic: keywords
subject: ethnicity
  topic: keywords
subject: social movements
  topic: keywords
subject: ethnic mobilization
  topic: keywords
creator: Alexander Richard Mutnansky
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 146
ending page: 161
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1321

Staying, Leaving, or Returning? Conflict Resolution Preferences and Migration among Ukrainian Women
type: item
description: Little is known in the literature about non-economic factors that might shape migrant selectivity. This study examines how preferences for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict relate to the migration patterns and intentions of Ukrainians following the Russian full-scale aggression. Drawing on the concepts of place utility and migration decision-making models, we analyse data from the OneUA survey, which was collected around six months after Russia’s full-scale invasion among almost 25,000 Ukrainian women residing in Ukraine and abroad. Our results, based on a series of logistic regressions, suggest that Ukrainian women favouring a military solution to the conflict are more likely to remain in their pre-war residence in Ukraine rather than being internally displaced (i.e., IDP) or moving abroad (i.e., refugees). Moreover, among women forced to leave the country as refugees, those who favour a military solution exhibit a stronger intention to return. Conversely, among women still in Ukraine, those who favour a military solution less are more likely to consider international migration. Our study advances research on self-selection into migration based on non-economic factors, emphasising the role of political perceptions in displacement and resettlement patterns in conflict-affected regions.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: stayers
  topic: keywords
subject: internal displacement
  topic: keywords
subject: refugees
  topic: keywords
subject: migration intentions
  topic: keywords
subject: migrant selectivity
  topic: keywords
subject: political preferences
  topic: keywords
subject: Ukraine
  topic: keywords
creator: Irena Kogan
creator: Yuliya Kosyakova
creator: Frank van Tubergen
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 117
ending page: 145
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1336

Material Deprivation of Older Persons in Europe: a Multi-level Analysis of the Role of Social Protection Programmes
type: item
description: The focus of this article is on the role of welfare state arrangements on the material deprivation of older persons: we ask to what extent the social protection programmes mitigate the risk of material deprivation in old age. We use cross-sectional data from Wave 5 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe and the Material Deprivation Index to assess the associations between the material deprivation of older persons and a set of macro indicators which characterise the social protection programmes relevant for older persons. The findings show that higher old age and disability pensions, and greater expenditures for healthcare, housing and social exclusion are associated with lower risk of material deprivation of older persons. The study contributes to the still limited literature on the effects of institutional macro drivers, such as social protection expenditures, on the material deprivation of older persons in a cross-national perspective.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: material deprivation
  topic: keywords
subject: social protection
  topic: keywords
subject: older persons
  topic: keywords
subject: multi-level analysis
  topic: keywords
subject: Survey of Health
  topic: keywords
subject: Ageing and Retirement in Europe
  topic: keywords
creator: Allan Puur
creator: Martin Klesment
creator: Luule Sakkeus
creator: Merle Sumil-Laanemaa
creator: Lauri Leppik
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 94
ending page: 116
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1335

Social Network Characteristics, Disability and Survival among Middle-Aged and Older Adults
type: item
description: Social support may affect survival for everyone, or it may buffer the effects of chronic strain. This paper explores whether, how, and which social network characteristics are associated with longer overall survival as well as longer survival when experiencing disability-related stress. The data used is from the SHARE Estonia survey for the population aged 50+ (2010–2020), cross-checked with the timing of death from the population register. The effects of six network characteristics were analysed: network size, frequency of contact with family members, number of children in the network, reporting a partner and friends as network members, and overall emotional closeness with the network. Network characteristics, disability, employment, legal marital status, and practical support were constructed as time-varying variables. Men and women were analysed separately using Cox’s hazard models. The analytical sample includes 2,754 people (1,157 men and 1,597 women) without everyday activity limitations at the onset, of whom 14.5% (19.9% of men and 10.5% of women) died during the observation period. The results show that irrespective of whether they experience stress, larger networks protect women from dying earlier. Frequency of contact with family members was the only significant factor buffering the experience of everyday activity limitations, albeit with high uncertainty and only among men.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: social networks
  topic: keywords
subject: emotional support
  topic: keywords
subject: everyday activity limitations
  topic: keywords
subject: main and buffering effects
  topic: keywords
subject: survival
  topic: keywords
creator: Liili Abuladze
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 69
ending page: 93
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1238

Do All Mothers Benefit Equally? The Effect of Childcare, Parental Leave Policies and Gender Norms on the Motherhood Wage Penalty by Occupational Group
type: item
description: Scholars are increasingly aware of cross-national variations in the motherhood wage penalty, and there is solid evidence of its linkages with policies and the enabling or hindering of gender equality. Evidence of the differentiated effects of policies and norms across institutional contexts, however, is scarce. There are, at the same time, strong arguments that the remedies that are appropriate for lower and higher labour market status women may not only differ, but sometimes even conflict with each other. This paper centres on the effect of childcare policies and gender norms on the motherhood wage penalty moderated by occupational groups. We rely on multilevel modelling and EU-SILC data and explore a pan-European view incorporating 25 European countries. We confirm that long parental leave has the ability to increase the motherhood wage penalty, while the availability of childcare and attitudes that favour maternal employment can reduce it. We demonstrate that these policy effects are not uniform across occupational positions in Europe. While traditional gender norms and generous parental leave tend to universally penalise mothers in terms of their earnings, the availability of childcare benefits more women in high-skilled occupations.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: motherhood penalty
  topic: keywords
subject: childcare policies
  topic: keywords
subject: gender norms
  topic: keywords
subject: occupations
  topic: keywords
subject: multilevel regressions
  topic: keywords
creator: Marge Unt
creator: Triin Lauri
creator: Kadri Täht
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 53
ending page: 68
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1093

Intersectional Patterns in Higher Education STEMM: The Role of Gender, Ethnicity and Parental Transmission
type: item
description: This study examines how gender and ethno-national origin intersect in shaping the likelihood of studying science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) in higher education in Germany. Building on research showing gender and ethnic differences in the selection of STEMM-qualified immigrants who entered Germany in the 1980s, we explore whether similar patterns emerge among their offspring. We further analyse whether the effect of parental STEMM occupation varies by gender and ethno-national origin. Using nationally representative data, we find that students of Turkish or Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent – both men and women – are more likely to enrol in STEMM fields than their German-origin peers. Men of former Soviet Union (FSU) origin also show higher enrolment, contributing to a larger gender gap in that group compared to German-origin students. Significant differences are also found for Central and Eastern European (CEE) students. Additional analyses reveal that these results mostly reflect enrolment in male-dominated STEMM fields – even among ethnic minority women. Parental STEMM occupation is positively associated with enrolment in STEMM fields, particularly for men, but this association does not vary by ethno-national origin.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: STEMM enrolment
  topic: keywords
subject: gender
  topic: keywords
subject: ethnic origin
  topic: keywords
subject: parental transmission
  topic: keywords
subject: Germany
  topic: keywords
creator: Tamara Gutfleisch
creator: Irena Kogan
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 24
ending page: 52
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1371

Economic Circumstances of Children Living in Higher and Lower-Educated Families and the Contribution of Household Structure: A Cross-Country Comparison with a Child’s Perspective
type: item
description: We study the contribution of household structure – such as the number of adults and children in the household – to the income gap between higher and lower-educated families. We extend our perspective and unit of analysis from the adults to the children living in households and study differences in children’s economic circumstances between higher and lower-educated families. More specifically, we ask: 1) To what extent are the differences in the economic circumstances of children living in higher and lower-educated households due to differences in household structure? 2) Does this vary between European countries? We study these questions using cross-nationally comparable data from the Generations and Gender Survey (GGS) and apply the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition technique to show what the income gap would be if all education groups had the same household structure. In each country studied, children living in highly educated households have better economic circumstances. Children living in highly educated households also live more often in two-adult families, have fewer siblings living with them, and their parents are older when entering parenthood compared to others. Overall, our results show that the extent to which household structure explains income disparities varies in relative terms, but is surprisingly similar across countries in absolute terms. Despite the highly heterogeneous country sample, the results suggest that household composition contributes to a relatively limited extent overall to differences in children’s economic circumstances by parental education level. This suggests that family policies have a relatively limited impact in equalising economic disparities among children.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: socioeconomic inequality
  topic: keywords
subject: educational disparities
  topic: keywords
subject: household income
  topic: keywords
subject: household structure
  topic: keywords
subject: cross-country comparison
  topic: keywords
creator: Laura Heiskala
creator: Minna Tuominen
creator: Jani Erola
creator: Elina Kilpi-Jakonen
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 4
ending page: 23
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1375

In Memory of Professor Ellu Saar: Editorial for the Commemorative Issue of STSS
type: item
description: This commemorative issue of Studies of Transition States and Societies honours the memory of Ellu Saar, Professor of Sociology at the Institute of Social Studies (IISS), Tallinn University, who passed away at the age of 68, on 2nd June 2024. Prof. Saar was a foundational figure in the Estonian sociological community, whose scholarly contributions and institutional leadership broke ground in education, social stratification, and inequality discussions in post-socialist and European contexts and made Estonian sociology and society visible internationally. She worked at the IISS since its establishment in 1988 (and which later became part of Tallinn University), contributing 36 years to building and strengthening this research centre. As a long-serving editor, adviser, and supporter of this journal, her intellectual sharpness and commitment left a lasting imprint on STSS. [...]
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-07-07
publication date: 2025-07-07
starting page: 1
ending page: 3
doi: 10.58036/stss.v17i0.1389

In memoriam Professor Ellu Saar (08.10.1955-02.06.2024)
type: item
description: It is with deep sadness that the Institute of International Social Studies (IISS), Tallinn University announces the passing of Professor Ellu Saar, an esteemed academic, sociologist, tutor and founding member of the IISS.
subject: Obituary
  topic: section
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-18
publication date: 2024-06-18
starting page: 95
ending page: 95
doi: 10.58036/stss.v16i0.1273

Book Review: The Opium Business: A History of Crime and Capitalism in Maritime China
type: item
description: The Opium Business: A History of Crime and Capitalism in Maritime China by Peter Thilly, 2022, Stanford University Press.
subject: Book review
  topic: section
creator: Suvi Rautio
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-18
publication date: 2024-06-18
starting page: 93
ending page: 94
doi: 10.58036/stss.v16i0.1180

Book Review: Recognising the survival of marginal lives nearby Bengal borderlands
type: item
description: Land, Life, Emotional Landscapes at the Margins of Bangladesh by Eva Rozalia Holze, 2022, Amsterdam University Press.
subject: Book review
  topic: section
creator: Nasrin Siraj
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-18
publication date: 2024-06-18
starting page: 90
ending page: 92
doi: 10.58036/stss.v16i0.1250

Book Review: Shopping with Allah: Muslim Pilgrimage, Gender, and Consumption in a Globalized World
type: item
description: Shopping with Allah: Muslim Pilgrimage, Gender, and Consumption in a Globalized World by Viola Thimm, 2023, University College London Press.
subject: Book review
  topic: section
creator: Fakhereh Moussavi
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-18
publication date: 2024-06-18
starting page: 88
ending page: 89
doi: 10.58036/stss.v16i0.1243

Book Review: Inhuman Power: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Capitalism
type: item
description: Inhuman Power: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Capitalism by Nick Dyer-Witheford, Atle Mikkola Kjøsen, & James Steinhoff, 2019, Pluto Press.
subject: Book review
  topic: section
creator: Sanja Petkovska
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-18
publication date: 2024-06-18
starting page: 86
ending page: 87
doi: 10.58036/stss.v16i0.1157

Student Housing Choices and Aspirations: Private Renting or Ownership? The Case of Tallinn in Post-socialist Estonia
type: item
description: Gaining housing autonomy in ownership-oriented housing systems has been observed as increasingly difficult for contemporary youth, including university students. This article analyses how students make sense of their experiences in private rentals, which is assumed to shape their dispositions and capacities to act in the housing market in the future. We contribute to the conceptualisation of young people’s housing choices and aspirations by offering evidence from the understudied post-socialist context of Tallinn, Estonia. Inspired by Bourdieu’s theory of practice and combining in-depth interviews with a survey, we show how the student experience in a weakly regulated private rental market supports their selfperception as established ‘players’ in the market, while developing a distinct investmentminded disposition to housing. Furthermore, the high symbolic value of homeownership conveyed by families in a ‘super homeownership’ society has rather strengthened among students, despite restricted opportunities to market entry.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: housing aspirations
  topic: keywords
subject: students
  topic: keywords
subject: private renting
  topic: keywords
subject: homeownership
  topic: keywords
subject: post-socialist
  topic: keywords
creator: Liis Ojamäe
creator: Katrin Paadam
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-18
publication date: 2024-06-18
starting page: 71
ending page: 85
doi: 10.58036/stss.v0i0.1182

An Empirical View on Local Residents’ Perceptions towards E-Government in Kyrgyzstan
type: item
description: Digital transformation in the public sector has been the focus of academic studies for the last two decades. According to the literature, countries' efforts towards digitalization vary both across countries and within regions of each country. Although the starting points may differ, this process has yet to be completed in any country. It is evident that various obstacles and problems are still being encountered. Along with major obstacles such as inadequate infrastructure and limited financial and human resources, the willingness of residents to adopt e-government services is also a significant factor to consider. In this context, the main purpose of this paper is to evaluate residents’ perceptions towards e-government services in Kyrgyzstan. Primary data was collected by administering a structured questionnaire to 325 residents. The results indicate that perceived functional benefits, perceived service response, and availability of resources significantly impact (p<0.05) residents’ adoption of e-government services. Significant differences have been observed in residents’ perceptions towards the dependent and independent variables of the study, based on demographic characteristics such as marital status, income, experience using e-government services, and area of residence. This study can provide valuable insights for public policy related to digital transformation. A deeper understanding of users’ behavior can provide a reliable foundation for making managerial and marketing decisions that can help overcome this problem as a barrier to digital transformation.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: digital transformation
  topic: keywords
subject: e-government services
  topic: keywords
subject: adoption of e-government
  topic: keywords
subject: groups of factors
  topic: keywords
subject: resident’s perceptions
  topic: keywords
creator: Azamat Maksüdünov
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-18
publication date: 2024-06-18
starting page: 58
ending page: 70
doi: 10.58036/stss.v0i0.1102

Positioning Post-Soviet Sociology in Global Sociology: Between the Global South and the Global North
type: item
description: Sociology in today's world often seeks to internationalise research and globalise problem solving. However, the so-called ‘global sociology’ is far away from being actually global as it involves in the discussion only specific regions and communities. The voice of other regions, as a rule, is not heard in the established system of connections and positions, and the regions themselves act as passive objects of (re)positioning, which is determined by the needs of specific research carried out by the nominally ‘global’ sociological community. The goal of the current study is to position one of the excluded sociological communities – post-soviet sociology – in global sociology using the North-South analytical framework that is frequently applied in discussions of global academic inequalities. The findings suggest that post-soviet sociology is positioned closer to the Global South, though significant country-based differences are observed. Post-soviet sociology functions as fragmented and disconnected, and this is facilitated by its orientation towards the ‘northern’ standards of knowledge production, which is professed even to the detriment of originality and independence.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Global South
  topic: keywords
subject: Global North
  topic: keywords
subject: post-soviet sociology
  topic: keywords
subject: global sociology
  topic: keywords
subject: academic inequalities
  topic: keywords
creator: Kseniia Cherniak
creator: Artem Lytovchenko
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-18
publication date: 2024-06-18
starting page: 39
ending page: 57
doi: 10.58036/stss.v0i0.1067

Politics of Corruption in Albanian Higher Education
type: item
description: This paper examines the persistent issue of corruption in Albania, which continues to plague crucial areas of higher education such as learning assessment. Emphasising the significant impact of political influence on student evaluations, the article draws on survey results to address the issue. It suggests that this influence stems from historical factors and current political dynamics. In addition, the paper analyzes the exploitation of anti-corruption rhetoric in higher education as a tool for political control, and discusses the considerable challenges which anti-corruption campaigns face due to political interference and institutional resistance. In conclusion, the paper argues that a holistic approach, considering historical, institutional, and political contexts, is essential for effectively observing corruption in higher education.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: corruption
  topic: keywords
subject: informal networks
  topic: keywords
subject: clientelism
  topic: keywords
subject: corruptive politics
  topic: keywords
subject: Albania
  topic: keywords
creator: Arjan Shahini
creator: Edvin Zhllima
creator: Drini Imami
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-18
publication date: 2024-06-18
starting page: 23
ending page: 38
doi: 10.58036/stss.v16i0.1153

Unpacking the Underpinnings of Collaborative Consumption in Central Asia: Perspectives from Kyrgyzstan
type: item
description: We investigate the motivators behind collaborative consumption in Kyrgyzstan by applying the theory of planned behaviour. Through examining 308 responses gathered from an online survey, we assess the connections between the intention to engage in collaborative consumption and influential factors. Our results reveal that attitude, perceived behavioural control, and subjective norms are the most influential predictors, with their impact ranked in descending order. Consequently, we delve into the theoretical and practical implications of these emerging collaborative practices and business models in Kyrgyzstan.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: collaborative consumption
  topic: keywords
subject: theory of planned behaviour
  topic: keywords
subject: attitudes
  topic: keywords
subject: perceived behavioural control
  topic: keywords
subject: subjective norms
  topic: keywords
subject: behavioural intention
  topic: keywords
subject: Kyrgyzstan
  topic: keywords
creator: Rodica Ianole-Călin
creator: Elena Druică
creator: Aichurok Ybyraimova
creator: Anca Bratu
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-18
publication date: 2024-06-18
starting page: 3
ending page: 22
doi: 10.58036/stss.v16i0.1239

Editorial
type: item
description: The year 2024 has been an intense one at STSS. The most important and shocking news is the passing away of our co-editor in chief, Professor Ellu Saar. Ellu served as a Professor of Sociology at the School of Governance, Law and Society (SOGOLAS) at Tallinn University since 2001 and was Senior Researcher at the IISS. She had been awarded the Estonian Research Prize in Social Sciences, and in 2022, was elected a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Since 2012, she was elected as editor-in-chief of the sociological section of STSS and guided a number of authors to publish with us, importantly stirring sociological debates in Estonia and beyond. From 2015 to 2021, she was the head of the sociology programmes at TLU SOGOLAS, and from 2016 to 2023, she led the Centre of Excellence in Life Course Studies at TLU. It is with great sadness that we received the news on 2 June 2024. An obituary has been included at the end of this issue.
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-06-18
publication date: 2024-06-18
starting page: 1
ending page: 2
doi: 10.58036/stss.v16i0.1271

Book Review: Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown
type: item
description: Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown by Laurie Parsons, 2023, Manchester University Press.
subject: Book review
  topic: section
creator: Ankita Sharma
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-06-14
publication date: 2023-06-14
starting page: 67
ending page: 68
doi: 10.58036/stss.v15i1.1174

Book Review:: Settling for Less
type: item
description: Settling for Less by Lachlan McNamee, 2023, Princeton University Press
subject: Book review
  topic: section
creator: Atifa Amiri
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-06-14
publication date: 2023-06-14
starting page: 65
ending page: 66
doi: 10.58036/stss.v15i1.1164