International Journal of Social Science Research and Review

Roots Torn: The Rohingya's Struggle Between Land, Identity, and Survival

Subata Zannat Riya — 2025-11-24

The Rohingya community of Myanmar is considered the most persecuted community in the entire world, which is not only denied citizenship and Indigenous rights but also exiled from their ancestral home by their own government and military. One of the main reasons behind this is the religious minority of the Rohingya community. However, the geopolitical conditions of the Rakhine State and the Myanmar government’s constant greed to take over the natural resources of that state so that they can continue state-led development in their ancestral lands are another important mechanism that is responsible for conducting inhuman violence against the Rohingya people. As a result, Rohingya persecution, which has been viewed as an issue of Political or human rights violation, is also an issue of ecofeminism and environmental justice, and it has remained unnoticed in academia for a long period. Against this backdrop, this paper wishes to explore how the Myanmar government, with its patriarchal, reductionist, and colonial mindset, has exploited both the ecosystem and the Rohingya community’s marginalized identity so that it can diminish the social, political, cultural, and spiritual identity of the Rohingya community while extracting their land, livelihood, and identity. Using theories from Discard studies, ecofeminism, and environmental justice, this paper argues that the Myanmar government has historically set a narrative against the Rohingya community as waste, unwanted, or inhuman, so that they can grab and control their lands and identity. At the same time, this paper will critically examine how the Myanmar government has commodified land for state-led development agendas.

Cost Implications of Violent Student Protests on Students in Higher Education Institutions – A Case Study of the University of Free State (UFS), South Africa

Teboho Khiba — 2025-11-24

The study is set against the backdrop of an upsurge in violent student protests across universities in South Africa, with adverse consequences for both students and institutions. This provides the impetus for this paper, which provides insight into the consequences of violent student protests from a socio-economic perspective. Within this context, this study adopted an interpretive paradigm to understand the lived experiences of students who have participated in violent student protests. Theoretically, it drew on Waters, Hyder, Rajkotia, Basu, and Butchart’s (2005) understanding of the consequences of interpersonal violence, which looks at the effects of violence beyond personal harm. The study employed a qualitative design, and the sample comprised students from various political parties and student organisations at the University of the Free State (UFS). The findings were presented in accordance with the research objectives, which focused on identifying the cost implications of violent protests on students. The study reveals that restricted access to campus resources, loss of study time, and suspensions of student activists were notable consequences encountered after demonstrations. Furthermore, the study found that transport and legal fees were among the financial costs incurred by students due to violent protests on campus. Overall, the study recommends conflict resolution mechanisms, the promotion of non-violent advocacy training and improved communication channels to mitigate violent student protests at higher learning institutions. This paper presents a significant contribution by providing a localised perspective on the socio-economic impacts of student protests in South Africa, rooted in comprehensive qualitative research. The use of established theoretical frameworks offers a robust scaffold for analysing protest dynamics. The findings of this paper aim to improve knowledge and understanding of the nature of violent student protests. As such, this study contributes to the knowledge base on violent student protests, with a particular focus on cost implications that are often overlooked by students. The study highlights the cost implications frequently encountered by students since much focus is on the deeds students are engaged in during protests.

A Comparative Study of Narrations in Kāfī of Kulaynī and Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī Regarding Temporary Marriage (Mut'ah)

Maedeh Ja’fari — 2025-11-24

One of the points of disagreement between Shi'a and Sunni is the issue of temporary marriage or Mut'ah. The Shi'a have presented evidence to prove the permissibility (lawfulness) of Mut'ah, while the Ahl al-Sunnah (Sunnis) have presented evidence for its abrogation and prohibition. Some of the intellectual roots of each group trace back to early Ḥadīth collections, including Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and al-Kāfī of Kulaynī. The present article employs a descriptive-analytical method to provide a scholarly examination and comparative perspective on the two ancient Shi'a and Sunni Ḥadīth compilations, Kāfī of Kulaynī and Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, concerning the subject of temporary marriage or Mut'ah. In this research, the narrations about temporary marriage in the two aforementioned books were first examined in terms of the number of Ḥadīths, the number and titles of chapters, and the quality of the chain of transmission (Sanad) connected to the Infallible (Ma'ṣūm). Subsequently, the content of the Ḥadīths and their elaboration were presented, revealing that the fundamental legitimacy of this marriage in Islam is agreed upon by all Muslims, both Shi'a and Sunni, and has been established by Qur'anic verses and definitive Sunnah, remaining in its legitimate status and not having been abrogated. Furthermore, Kāfī of Kulaynī addresses the discussion of temporary marriage much more comprehensively and completely, whereas Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī includes a total of 8 Ḥadīths on this matter.

Evolution of Reservation System in India: Contemporary Discourse and Debates

Tushita Gupta — 2025-11-28

The reservation system in India has undergone significant transformations since its inception, evolving through various socio-political landscapes. This paper delves into the historical context, tracing the origins of the reservation policy from the pre-independence era to its present form. It examines the constitutional provisions, legislative measures, and judicial interpretations that have shaped the system. The contemporary discourse surrounding reservations is analysed, highlighting the debates on its efficacy, equity, and impact on social justice. The paper also explores the challenges and criticisms faced by the reservation policy, including issues of meritocracy, reverse discrimination, and the need for economically based reservations. Through a comprehensive review of literature and empirical data, this study aims to dispense a nuanced understanding of the reservation system's role in addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusive growth in India.

Integrating Innovative Marketing with Digital Platforms in Physical Retail

Bakhtiyor Safarov — 2025-11-28

In the wake of digital transformation in retail, it is increasingly debated whether innovative marketing approaches can achieve sustainable consumer engagement through digital platforms in the same manner as traditional online commerce did. Based on these facts, the aim of this paper is to measure, compare, and evaluate the impact of digital marketing integration on physical retail performance and its potential impact in the field of omnichannel business models. The authors construct a propensity score matching framework using the parametric survival model estimation for describing the relationship between the Customer Retention Index and digital adoption factors. With allowance for the time-dependent effects of platform usage, models with fixed and random effects were built. In our study, we identified determinants related to consumer preferences, purchase frequency, retention duration, and sales conversion. Evidence suggests that digital platform adoption is likely to affect long-term survival of physical stores, but it is questionable whether rapid diffusion of subsequent technological innovation movements (e.g. towards AI-driven personalization) will equally benefit from integrated marketing tools. The paper finishes with managerial implications and policy recommendations for retail enterprises. Digital platforms as well as innovative marketing mechanisms change the rules of competition and the requirements of adaptation, resilience, and sustainability of retail markets. Future studies can empirically test the proposed linkages to reveal industry-, region-, and firm-specific interactions between processes of digital transformation and physical retail evolution.

An Analysis of New Diplomatic Opportunities and Challenges in India-Afghanistan Relations

Abdul salaam Acxir — 2025-11-29

The relationship between India and Afghanistan has long been founded on cultural, economic, and security cooperation. However, following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, a new phase emerged in bilateral relations, bringing forth numerous challenges as well as opportunities. The political transformation in Afghanistan has prompted India to reassess its diplomatic approach, particularly in identifying new avenues for enhancing cooperation across various sectors. This paper analyzes the emerging diplomatic opportunities in India–Afghanistan relations in the post-Taliban era. These opportunities include India’s participation in Afghanistan’s peace and reconstruction processes, strengthening economic relations through infrastructure investment, promoting bilateral trade, and expanding security and intelligence cooperation. Moreover, India can contribute to Afghanistan’s social and educational improvement by fostering cultural and academic collaboration. In this regard, India must adopt a strategic and multilateral diplomatic approach that takes into account Afghanistan’s complex security and political conditions. Collaboration with other countries and international organizations—especially in combating terrorism, addressing humanitarian crises, and strengthening Afghan state institutions—will be essential. The paper also addresses key challenges, such as India’s non-recognition of the Taliban, regional rivalries, and security threats stemming from terrorist groups. It concludes with recommendations for addressing these challenges and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. Ultimately, India–Afghanistan relations in the new era can serve as a model for positive regional and international cooperation, provided that both sides effectively utilize their existing capacities.

Legal Protection for Digital Illustrators’ Data and Copyright to Train Artificial Intelligence-Generated Images

Alfido Fiqri Arsy Adhiem — 2025-11-29

Technological advancements have disrupted the creative industry with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, particularly in the field of visual art. A legal issue stemming from this development is that Artificial Intelligence companies utilize illustrators’ data shared on the internet to train the technology without consent. Furthermore, Artificial Intelligence companies are quick to release their innovations to the public without proper legal consideration. This article aims to analyze the legal protection of digital illustrators’ data and copyrights that are used to train image-generating Artificial Intelligence. The research employs a normative legal method, utilizing statutory and comparative approach. The findings indicate that the current law in Indonesia is still inadequate in addressing the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence companies that scrape illustrators’ data to train their products. There is also a lack of compensation in the form of royalties for digital illustrators, which can have a significant impact on their economic well-being. The article suggests that legal protection should be pursued for digital illustrators whose data is used without consent to train Artificial Intelligence, and a system of royalties should be established. This would require Artificial Intelligence companies that train their machines to create visual artworks to first obtain a license from the illustrators, and every time their data is used to generate a work of art, a royalty must be paid to the illustrators to preserve their copyright.