Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Henry David Thoreau: The Beginnings Of Fast Capitalism, Charles Lemert

Fast Capitalism

Author Biography

Charles Lemert, Wesley University Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Wesleyan University

Risk, Return To Industry, And The Future Of Democracy, Lukas Szrot

Fast Capitalism

Reflecting on 2020, I consider the possibility of the collapse of the United States, as well as the ways in which it has fallen short of representative and democratic promise. I argue that the spread of conspiratorial reason is symptomatic of the mistrust that has arisen from these failures. Drawing on naturalist, critical theory, and sociology of knowledge accounts of conspiratorial reason, I argue that such thinking is interest-bound, weaponizing mistrust, and is broadly appealing but ultimately disempowering, serving the ends of failed praxis and reification of power. I examine two possible sources of institutionalized mistrust: the "culture wars" thesis …

The Plague Of White Supremacy In The Age Of Fascist Politics, Henry Giroux

Fast Capitalism

The toxic thrust of white supremacy runs through American culture like an electric current. Without apology,Jim Crow is back suffocating American society in a wave of voter suppression laws, ongoing attempts by rightwing politicians to implement a form of apartheid pedagogy, and the resurgence of a right-wing cultural politics organized around the legacy of white nationalism and white supremacy. The emergence of white supremacy to the centers of power is also evident in the reign of police violence against Black people that came into full view with the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer and the ensuring …

Make Women Great Again: Women, Misogyny And Anti-Capitalism On The Right, Catherine Tebaldi

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

A Prelude To Insurrection: How A 4chan Refrain Anticipated The Capitol Riot, Marc Tuters

Fast Capitalism

This paper looks at how vernacular practices associated with fringe web communities seem to have found their way into reactionary American politics in recent years. Combining concepts from political communication (Bennett and Segerberg 2013) and from assemblage theory (Samson 2020), the paper looks at how key elements of the Capitol insurrection narrative initially emerged on 4chan as meme about a second civil war (called "the Boogaloo"), then spreading to social media and amplified by President Trump. In an effort to make sense of this relationship between the fringe the mainstream, the paper offers both original empirical analysis as well as …

Beyond Prepper Culture As Right-Wing Extremism: Selling Preparedness To Everyday Consumers As How To Survive The End Of The World On A Budget, Timothy W. Luke

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Homoterrorism: Definition, Application, Subversion, Angelos Bollas

Fast Capitalism

On Friday, September 21, 2018, news reports on Greek corporate media announced the death of a man who had allegedly attempted to rob a jewellery store. The media announcement was accompanied by video footage in which two civilians were shown violently attacking the alleged thief while the latter was attempting to escape the jewellery store. A little later, the alleged thief was announced dead. This is the case of Zak Kostopoulos who was lynched in his attempt to escape a jewellery shop where he had found shelter from a threat that, to this day, remains unknown. Zak was lynched literally …

The Rise Of The Robots: Technocapitalism And The Policing Of Race, Constantine Gidaris

Fast Capitalism

This article critically engages with the emergence of police robots in the United States, arguing that their inevitable foray into everyday policing will fuel existing issues of racial discrimination. Building on Luis Suarez-Villa's (2009) conceptualization of technocapitalism, I situate police robots within a framework of social domination that thrives not only on its connections to corporatism and militarism, but also on technocapitalist conditions that invariably exacerbate the oppressive dynamics of racist and discriminatory policing. Although police robots will make police work safer for officers (Sharkey 2008), I contend that they will be used by the police as weaponized machines of …

Precarious Labor In Covid Times: The Case Of Musicians, David M. Arditi

Fast Capitalism

The coronavirus pandemic changed the way we think about work, the economy, and our everyday lives as governments shutdown all but the most essential public spaces. Workers who earn a living through precarious employment have faced unique barriers to securing wages. The impact of the pandemic shutdown was especially devastating on musicians' lives and many supporting workers in the entertainment industry. The structural insecurity of gig work became amplified as venues were forced to stop performances for a year or more. In this paper, I argue the current phase of capitalism that depends on precarious labor and unending consumption destroys …

The Academic Precariat Post-Covid-19, Aidan Cornelius-Bell, Piper A. Bell

Fast Capitalism

The nature of work has changed, in accelerated late-capitalism and as a result of the COVID-19 global health crisis. For academics, casualised and precarious, the sweeping institutional changes of contemporary neoliberal universities, the sharp rise in managerialism, and the political power plays of universities have created further untenable spaces for work and study. In this article we explore the relationship between doctoral studies, precarious academic employment, the pandemic, and the disproportionate effects of the changes in higher education on women. Through exploration of personal experience, as precarious academic workers, researchers, and doctoral students, we provide parallels to research literature across …

Margaret Fuller: Feminist Theory Years Ahead Of Its Time, Charles Lemert

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Modularity, Labor, And Ideology In Edtech Platforms, Mario Khreiche

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Learning Management Systems As Anti-Convivial Tools, Edward Maclin

Fast Capitalism

The last two decades have seen an increase in the number of online university classes operating under any of several commercial Learning Management Systems (LMS). Online classes expanded dramatically in the US during 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students, faculty, and administrators frequently assume that LMSs are epistemologically neutral. These LMSs are designed to do exactly what they say on the tin: they are systems for managing learning. At the same time, they function based on implicit understandings of "learning," "management," and "systems" that privilege some knowledges, interactions, and discourses while de-emphasizing others. In this paper I …

Fast "Truths" And Slow Knowledge; Oracular Answers And Wikipedia's Epistemology, Zachary Mcdowell, Matthew Vetter

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Introduction To Special Section: Academic Automation, Machine Un/Learning And Artificial Non/Intelligences, Jeremy Hunsinger

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Fast Capitalism Editorial Team

Fast Capitalism

No abstract provided.

The Claustropolitan Society: A Critical Perspective On The Impact Of Digital Technologies And The Lockdown Imaginary, Tara Brabazon, Stefan Lawrence

Fast Capitalism

The imperative of this article is to develop the trope of the ‘lockdown imaginary.’ To enact this project, a diverse array of theories and theorist are summoned, including the tropes and trajectories from Jean Baudrillard, Benedict Anderson, and Steve Redhead. This – seemingly – odd intellectual combination is both timely and appropriate. It is necessary – as with the Matryoshka Dolls – to commence with a theorization of hyperreality, then we crack open the concept to reveal theories of the imagined and imagining, concluding with the smallest and most brutalizing theoretical Dolls: claustropolitanism and foreclosure. From here, a (post) pandemic …

Fediverse’S Evolution From The Cultural-Historical Activity Theory, José Manuel Meza-Cano, Edith González-Santiago

Fast Capitalism

This paper begins by mentioning some problems we found in social networks belonging to corporations such as Facebook and Twitter, emphasizing the inclusion of algorithmic timelines, the verticality of decisions that respond to market logic, and the privacy of users’ data. This research gives rise to presenting open-source social networks as a democratic and safer alternative for their users. These social networks shape the Fediverse, the result of the union of the words Federation- Universe, and whose history and evolution we describe. We expose the main postulates of the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) for using this theory to conduct the …

Lindenwood Digest, January 21, 2026, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

Primary Figures: Payroll Director Monica Seiter; Elaine Ragland; Staff Council; Lindenwood Learning Academy; the Gender Studies program.

Key Events: Faculty Performance Evaluation sign-offs are due January 22, 2026; nominations for the Sibley and Easton Awards must be submitted by February 20, 2026; paper 2025 W-2 tax forms are scheduled for mailing on January 30, 2025.

Date/Location: The digest covers institutional updates and events occurring between January 21, 2026, and April 29, 2026, at the Saint Charles, Missouri campus and online.

Archival Significance: This document records the Spring 2026 Gender Studies Book Club selection of Ace Voices by Eris Young; the …

Food Security Politics And Economic Diplomacy: Kuningan Regency’S Sweet Potato Paradiplomacy In The Global Network, Diah Apriliani, Tom Finaldin, Salsabila Aulia Emelda

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study analyzes the role of economic diplomacy in strengthening the global sweet potato network in Kuningan Regency from a political economy perspective. As the largest sweet potato producer in West Java with production of 108,496 tons in 2023, Kuningan has enormous potential that has not been optimally utilized for global network development. The research objectives are to analyze political dynamics in economic diplomacy implementation, identify political actors’ role in facilitating international market access, and formulate strategies for strengthening global networks. This research uses a qualitative approach with case study design, where data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews with …

Built On Dignity, Backed By Love: A Mixed Methods Study And Curriculum Grounded In Black Caregivers’ Racial Socialization To Cultivate Youth Agency, Heather Watson

Dissertations

This dissertation explores how low-income Black youth and their caregivers experience, interpret, and respond to racial discrimination, with a focus on the development of youths’ dignity as a culturally grounded resilience process. Using a mixed-methods, community-based participatory research (CBPR) design, the study addresses three central aims: (1) to identify the forms of discrimination youth and caregivers encounter and their relationship to racial stress and resilience; (2) to define dignity from the perspectives of youth and caregivers; and (3) to identify caregiver-youth conversations that cultivate dignity and inform the development of the Dignity Development Curriculum (DDC). Data were collected through semi-structured …

Roots And Routes: Tracing Identity Through The Life Of One Person, Daniel Rivard

Opinion Matters: Student Analyses of World News

This op-ed highlights the differences between ethnic, national, and collective identity through the story of a first-generation Lithuanian Immigrant. It discusses how ethnic identity remains salient even when national identity changes or deteriorates, exploring how one person’s decisions can seriously affect their family's future culture and identities.

Grassroots Governance And Resilience: The Role Of Barangay Disaster Communication Amid Political Uncertainty, Karl Lenin Calaramo Benigno, Elsie Pilar, Yolanda Sabado-Lao

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This study examines the role of barangay-level communication in disaster preparedness and response amid political uncertainty, focusing on Ilocos Norte, Philippines. Specifically, it investigates how comprehension of disaster warnings and COVID-19-related terms affects citizens’ compliance, and how demographic and barangay-related factors moderate this relationship. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving surveys of 44 respondents (household heads, barangay officials, and Sangguniang Kabataan officers) and key informant interviews to document communication practices, sources of information, and community trust. Statistical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.843, p < 0.001) between comprehension and compliance, highlighting the critical role of understanding in disaster response. Findings also show that traditional communication channels, such as barangay announcements and personal networks, remain central, while political uncertainty can indirectly undermine trust and affect message adherence. Youth participation via SK initiatives contributes to information dissemination but requires enhanced resources and training. This study contributes novel insights by integrating statistical evidence, qualitative analysis, and political context to explain the dynamics of grassroots disaster communication. Policy recommendations include capacity-building, hybrid communication strategies, participatory governance, youth engagement, and integration of political risk into preparedness planning, aimed at enhancing resilience and adaptive capacity in local communities.

Indonesia’S Strategy And Policy To Face Global Economic Uncertainty During And After Covid-19, Insan Harapan Harahap

Jurnal Wacana Politik

This article discusses Indonesia’s response to global economic uncertainty characterized by interrelated shocks such as pandemics, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, climate risks, and volatile commodity markets. The study applies a descriptive qualitative approach and uses secondary data derived from official government documents, macroeconomic statistics, international economic agency reports, scientific articles, and relevant literature. The analysis covers the period 2020-2025 to capture the emergency response and recovery phase amid ongoing global instability. These findings show that Indonesia is adopting an adaptive and multidimensional policy mix, incorporating expansionary fiscal measures, flexible monetary management, and long-term structural reforms to maintain …

Film Review Of K-Pop Demon Hunters, Emily Stier Adler, Emily Farmer

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Familism In The Relationship Between Ethnic Identity And Sleep In Hispanic/Latino Adults: Results From The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos (Hchs/Sol), Tetyana Krutsik

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Hispanic/Latino individuals in the U.S. face sleep health disparities, reporting higher rates of short sleep duration and fragmented sleep compared to non-Hispanic white individuals. While Hispanic/Latino immigrants initially report better sleep health than their U.S.-born counterparts, prolonged residence in the U.S. is associated with worsening sleep, possibly due to acculturative stress. Ethnic identity and familism are cultural factors that have been correlated with positive health outcomes, even mitigating the adverse effects of acculturative stress and discrimination. However, little is known about the associations between these cultural factors and sleep health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the effect of ethnic …

Acculturative Stress And Depression In Latinx Youth: Exploring The Roles Of Emotion Reactivity And Maternal Attachment, Melisa Dangles

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Acculturative stress (AS) is a type of stress that emerges from acculturation challenges and is commonly experienced by families of immigrant backgrounds affecting their mental health and well-being. AS is strongly associated with negative emotion and psychological outcomes, including increased depressive symptoms. While previous research has primarily focused on the direct relation between AS and mental health, fewer studies have examined the mechanisms explaining this association or the factors that may buffer its effects. This study utilizes data from 281 Latinx youth (Mage = 11.4; SD = 0.94) to explore the roles of Emotion Reactivity (ER) and Maternal Attachment in …

Fostering Resilience Among Urban Youth: Protective Settings And Processes, Yaneira Pyszniak

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Research has shown that adolescence is a vulnerable period for mental health problems, especially for youth living in high-stress urban environments. Youth can also build resilience in the context of protective processes during this period. Thus, it is critical to recognize which environments and settings help build resilience in youth. Environments such as the youth’s home and school are the most well-established protective settings in the development of mental health problems (Luthar et al., 2000). However, less is known about what other settings can foster resilience in youth as well as the specific processes associated with positive outcomes across each …

The Impact Of Family Relationships And Communication On The Mental Health Of Urban Immigrant Adolescents, Gayatri Vatsavai

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This study examined whether family relationship quality and communication with parents during stressful situations were associated with mental health among urban immigrant adolescents. Guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping, I used secondary data from the Stress and Learning Study, which surveyed 78 immigrant adolescents in Chicago Public Schools (ages 11 to 14) at two time points approximately 7-9 months apart. Family functioning was assessed with the Family Relationship Scale, parent focused communication during stress was assessed with binary items from the Response to Stress Questionnaire, and mental health was assessed with Youth Self Report Total …

Black Educated Women's Experience With Relationship Formation After Intimate Partner Violence, Jeannette Aris Thompson-Beckford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at disproportionately high rates, yet most research has focused on those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, overlooking how educated Black women navigate relationships after IPV. While extensive studies have examined the health consequences of IPV among Black women, less attention has been given to their experiences with intimacy, trust, and partner selection post-IPV. Additionally, existing research on relationship formation after IPV has largely centered on other racial groups, leaving the unique challenges faced by Black educated women underexplored. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how Black, educated women describe their experiences …