Studies of Transition States and Societies
Studies of Transition States and Societies (STSS) is a fast-growing open-access interdisciplinary journal for the study of transition societies. Published since 2009, it is already 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). 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. STSS emphasises life course research with a specific focus on the intersection between the labour market and education studies. We prioritise research that dissects life course transitions, providing insights into the complex processes shaping individual trajectories in education, employment, and their interrelations with other domains such as family, health, migration and mobility. Our interest in the labour market extends to precarious work, the vulnerable conditions of individuals, informality theory and the informal practices and relations that encompass various aspects of labour markets and labour relations. The educational dimension emphasises inequalities in skill formation, education attainment and lifelong learning. We welcome different methodological perspectives. We especially value international comparative research and research on social changes and transformations. One of our aims is to examine how transitions in technology, demography and environmental policy influence educational and labour market outcomes, contributing to theoretical and methodological debates in sociology, anthropology, human geography, public policy, and related disciplines. We encourage unorthodox and unconventional interdisciplinary research, prioritising studies that integrate analytical theory with rigorous empirical analysis to foster a cumulative and generalisable understanding of the social world. We particularly welcome studies that explore regional and national contexts within the geographical area extending from Central and Eastern Europe to Central Asia (i.e., approximately overlapping with the former state socialist world), and that contribute to theoretical and empirical debates on this region. Studies focusing on other parts of the world may be considered if they offer relevant comparisons with our core region. In addition, we highly value research addressing comparative, transnational, and cross-border dynamics in education and employment. The journal is published annually in June. In addition, collections of articles about a common theme or debate may be published as special issues.
The Political Economy of Digital Ecosystems: Scenario Planning for Alternative Futures
Book review of The Political Economy of Digital Ecosystems: Scenario Planning for Alternative Futures by Meelis Kitsing, 2022, Routledge.
Copyright (c) 2025 Benjamin Cisagara (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
History Below the Global: On and Beyond the Coloniality of Power in Historical Research
Book review of History Below the Global: On and Beyond the Coloniality of Power in Historical Research by Lorenzo Kamel, 2024, Taylor & Francis.
Copyright (c) 2025 Brenda Kosi Andrias (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
East Central Europe Between the Colonial and the Postcolonial in the Twentieth Century
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.
Copyright (c) 2025 Karol Dabrowski (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Paradox of Political Imprisonment in Myanmar: Military Entrenchment and Repression During the 2010s
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.
military, Myanmar, political imprisonment, repression, transition
Copyright (c) 2025 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Book Review: Urban informality: An introduction
Urban informality: An introduction by Melanie Lombard and Philipp Horn, 2024, Bristol University Press
Book Review: Uncovering the Hidden Cost of Capitalism: Insights from theImperial Mode of Living
Imperial Mode of Living: Everyday Life and Ecological Crisis of Capitalism by Ulrich Brand and Markus Wissen, 2021, Verso.
Book Review: Moral Economic Transitions in the Mongolian Borderlands
Moral Economic Transitions in the Mongolian Borderlands: A Proportional Share by Hedwig Amelia Waters, 2023, UCL Press.
Book Review: Post-Communist Transformations in Baltic Countries: A Restorations Approach in Comparative Historical Sociology
Post-Communist Transformations in Baltic Countries: A Restorations Approach in Comparative Historical Sociology by Zenonas Norkus, 2023, Springer.
Why Ethnic Mobilization is Sustained: The Case of the Hungarian Minority in Romania
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.
Staying, Leaving, or Returning? Conflict Resolution Preferences and Migration among Ukrainian Women
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.
Material Deprivation of Older Persons in Europe: a Multi-level Analysis of the Role of Social Protection Programmes
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.
Social Network Characteristics, Disability and Survival among Middle-Aged and Older Adults
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.
Do All Mothers Benefit Equally? The Effect of Childcare, Parental Leave Policies and Gender Norms on the Motherhood Wage Penalty by Occupational Group
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.
Intersectional Patterns in Higher Education STEMM: The Role of Gender, Ethnicity and Parental Transmission
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.
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
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.
In Memory of Professor Ellu Saar: Editorial for the Commemorative Issue of STSS
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. [...]
In memoriam Professor Ellu Saar (08.10.1955-02.06.2024)
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.
Copyright (c) 2024 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Book Review: The Opium Business: A History of Crime and Capitalism in Maritime China
The Opium Business: A History of Crime and Capitalism in Maritime China by Peter Thilly, 2022, Stanford University Press.
Book Review: Recognising the survival of marginal lives nearby Bengal borderlands
Land, Life, Emotional Landscapes at the Margins of Bangladesh by Eva Rozalia Holze, 2022, Amsterdam University Press.
Book Review: Shopping with Allah: Muslim Pilgrimage, Gender, and Consumption in a Globalized World
Shopping with Allah: Muslim Pilgrimage, Gender, and Consumption in a Globalized World by Viola Thimm, 2023, University College London Press.
Book Review: Inhuman Power: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Capitalism
Inhuman Power: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Capitalism by Nick Dyer-Witheford, Atle Mikkola Kjøsen, & James Steinhoff, 2019, Pluto Press.
Student Housing Choices and Aspirations: Private Renting or Ownership? The Case of Tallinn in Post-socialist Estonia
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.
An Empirical View on Local Residents’ Perceptions towards E-Government in Kyrgyzstan
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.
Positioning Post-Soviet Sociology in Global Sociology: Between the Global South and the Global North
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.
Politics of Corruption in Albanian Higher Education
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.
Unpacking the Underpinnings of Collaborative Consumption in Central Asia: Perspectives from Kyrgyzstan
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.
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.
Book Review: Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown
Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown by Laurie Parsons, 2023, Manchester University Press.
Copyright (c) 2023 Studies of Transition States and Societies https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Settling for Less by Lachlan McNamee, 2023, Princeton University Press
Governmentality in the Context of a Japanese-funded Farm-to- Market Road (FMR) in Agdangan, Quezon Province, Philippines
Recent studies have focused on the role of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in financing infrastructural projects and rural development programmes. This study contributes to this literature by demonstrating how Japanese and Filipino aid authorities facilitate a Japanese-ODA-funded Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) subproject as a solution aiming to achieve overall poverty reduction and rural economic growth in the Philippines. Drawing on Foucault’s governmentality, the paper analyses processes and interactions within the management stages of the FMR subproject. It examines the impact of the completed FMR among agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). It argues that while the FMR fostered mutual understanding and beneficial relationships among aid authorities, more significant advantages were accrued by the non-poor sector. Consequently, ARBs clamour for further support to maximize FMR benefits.
Ma. Josephine Therese Emily Galicinao Teves