Masyarakat, Kebudayaan dan Politik

From tradition to innovation: Examining Ifugao’s local weave products as One Town One Product – Next generation

Client William M. Malinao — 2025-06-17

The traditional weaving industry in Lagawe, Ifugao, Philippines, is a vital cultural and economic asset rooted in indigenous knowledge and craftsmanship. However, the sustainability of these enterprises in the modern market context remains a pressing concern. This study aims to determine the current condition of traditional weaving businesses in Lagawe, Ifugao, using the One Town One Product—Next Generation criteria. Owners of traditional weaving businesses that were purposively selected in Lagawe, Ifugao, were interviewed in 2023. Using thematic and inductive analysis, findings revealed that handwoven products are valued for their cultural authenticity, craftsmanship, and durability. Weavers from Kiangan and Hingyon provide quality materials, ensuring the integrity of the weave. Consumers appreciate the uniqueness, symbolism, and artisanal quality, which enhance personal identity and cultural pride. However, the sector faces challenges in branding, product innovation, and packaging. Traditional designs are mostly limited to garments, restricting broader market appeal, while non-traditional items like bags show minimal design evolution, reducing competitiveness. Packaging lacks labeling, including care instructions and cultural context, weakening branding and customer education. Quality control depends largely on raw materials and weaving techniques, but durability also relies on customer handling. Participants highlighted variability in longevity, suggesting the need for consumer education. Innovation that balances modernization with cultural preservation is essential for market sustainability. Overall, the traditional weaving industry in Ifugao showcases admirable product quality rooted in heritage. However, it must address gaps in market-oriented practices and product development to ensure long-term sustainability and relevance in a competitive and evolving global market.

The creativity of farmers participating in contract farming to drive the economic activities of rural area

Rustinsyah Rustinsyah — 2025-07-18

This study elaborates on the creativity of melon farmers to overcome problems and gain benefits in this inherently high-risk farming. The research was conducted in the villages of Plumpang District, an area in East Java known for its quality melon produce. Data were collected from 100 respondents from these villages. Respondents were selected purposively by considering demographic and farming characteristics. The relationship between contract farming and farmer creativity was examined using Spearman Rank analysis. Statistical test confirms the relationship between contract farming practices and melon farmers’ creativity. The low correlation is due to the determining factor, namely, extreme climatic conditions, which have a damaging impact on crops. Furthermore, an increase in investment ranks first among the nine indicators of farmer creativity. This implies that contract farming practice is highly correlated with increased investment. Moreover, the majority (75%) of farmers’ profit from contract farming increases investment. This study concludes that these creative farmers empowered by contract farming promote economic activity in rural areas. These findings will be useful as a starting point for future research on the effects of contract farming as a driver of economic activity and its subsequent contribution to the sustainability of rural development.

Voting behavior in Asian democracies: A comprehensive synthesis of contemporary research

Suryanagara Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman — 2025-07-09

This article aims to systematically review the literature on voting behavior in Asian democracies, particularly in the post-Cold War era, to consolidate fragmented insights and to gain a strong understanding about existing scholarships and political development after the third wave of democratization in the region. Around 41 noteworthy publications from the Scopus database, published from 1990 to 2023, were analyzed by highlighting the diversity and limitations of conceptualizations, theoretical lens, and also methodological approaches to understand complexities and irregularities especially in the factors that influence voting behavior in Asian democracies. This study finds that voting behaviors in Asian democracies are shaped by a complex interplay of sociological, psychological, and rational, as well as institutional and structural factors. As political landscapes change, innovative electoral trends keep arise, and the region is politically and culturally heterogeneous, and maintaining an accurate and contextually based approach to reviewing voter behavior in Asia will remain fundamental for developing both academic discourse and also sensible democratic governance in the region.

Social movements in the digital age: A bibliometric analysis of strategies and structures in achieving social change

Elzania Asmiyono — 2025-08-18

The digital era has significantly transformed how societies engage in social movements by introducing innovative tools and platforms. This study analyzes the role of non-social media digital technologies, such as blockchain, online petition platforms, and crowdfunding systems, in fostering inclusive and sustainable social movements. Using qualitative methods with bibliometric analysis, this research investigates the strategic and structural transformation of social movements in the digital age. The findings highlight that while blockchain offers transparency in fundraising and decision-making processes, platforms like Avaaz and Change.org enhance public participation and legitimacy in advocacy. Crowdfunding platforms provide financial solutions for overlooked social projects, and applications like Open311 strengthen citizen-government relationships. Despite these benefits, challenges such as slacktivism, misinformation, and algorithmic biases remain significant barriers. The study concludes by proposing a blended approach, integrating digital and traditional offline strategies, to achieve impactful and sustainable social change. This research contributes to the literature by exploring underexamined digital tools beyond social media, providing actionable recommendations for activists, policymakers, and technologists.

Unveiling the power behind the curtain: The influence of political wives of local chief executives in the Philippines

Angel Pamposa — 2025-08-18

For centuries, the role of political spouses has been a crucial, though often overlooked, facet of political life. While scholarly and public attention predominantly fixates on the politician, the contributions of their partners have played a significant role in shaping and influencing the political landscape, a dynamic frequently underexplored in political discourse. To explicate the phenomenon, the study was conducted to explore the role of political spouses in the political landscape of the country, particularly the power of wives of local chief executives (LCEs) in local governance. The study is qualitative research that employed case study design to examine the scope of influence and extent of control of the first ladies of municipal and city mayors in Mindanao during the 2022-2025 term of office—an area of public leadership that remains largely understudied within mainstream political analysis. The study revealed both shared and diverse views and insights among political wives in balancing their roles as mothers and spouses of local chief executives. Across participants, they regarded their roles as demanding yet rewarding, requiring adaptability, strong support networks, and effective time management. They consistently acted as informal advisors, influencing policy and advocacy efforts through their proximity to power. Their accounts highlighted active engagement in community development and navigating public and private responsibilities. While their perspectives were broadly similar, individual journeys differed based on strategies employed to manage these dual demands.

Liberal or lost? How political education and social media shape the ideological maze of students

Luthfi Hasanal Bolqiah — 2025-08-18

The ideological orientation and political attitudes of students are influenced by formal political education and exposure to social media; however, the interaction between these two factors in shaping ideological coherence, flexibility, and complexity remains underexplored. This study employs Patrick H. O’Neil’s theoretical framework to analyze the spectrum of political ideologies beyond the traditional left-right dichotomy. Using a descriptive comparative quantitative method, a survey involving 200 political science and non-political science students. The research reveals that political education does not always foster ideological consistency but rather enhances ideological diversity and flexibility. Political science students exhibit moderate ideological diversity, demonstrating openness to a broad spectrum of ideologies, including fascism and communism, particularly in discussions about corruption, the military, and political parties. However, this diversity does not correlate with a stronger inclination toward liberalism. In contrast, non-political science students display slightly higher ideological consistency, with a predominant leaning toward social democracy. While social media facilitates incidental exposure to political discourse, its role in driving ideological transformation appears limited. Furthermore, this study challenges the classic assumption that structured political education inherently promotes liberal attitudes, underscoring the need for an adaptive educational framework that accounts for the complexities of political engagement in the digital era.

Tracing the strategic roots of Confucianism in China’s contemporary foreign policy

Probo Darono Yakti — 2025-08-18

As China asserts its global role, principles such as harmony (hé), benevolence (rén), and the doctrine of the mean (zhōng yōng) increasingly influence its diplomatic behavior. These values form the basis of what this study calls a “Defensive-Moderate Confucian Approach,” integrating strategic culture, constructivism, defensive realism, and soft power. This article examines how Confucian strategic values shape China’s foreign policy, particularly under Xi Jinping’s leadership. Through case studies of China’s relations with the United States and India, the paper highlights how Confucian ethics guide both cooperative projects like the Belt and Road Initiative and calibrated responses in territorial disputes. While contradictions between moral ideals and strategic interests occasionally emerge, Confucianism remains a key reference in shaping China’s pursuit of order and stability. The article argues that China’s international conduct cannot be fully explained by materialist frameworks alone. Instead, Confucian thought offers a culturally grounded lens for interpreting its foreign policy choices. By doing so, the study contributes to broader discussions in International Relations and Chinese Studies on the enduring impact of historical values in contemporary global politics.