https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/698 Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:58:33 GMT 2026-08-04T13:58:33Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148393 Title: Electricity infrastructure is social Abstract: Electricity infrastructure is far more than cables, substations and engineering. It is also profoundly social. When electricity fails, its impacts are not experienced equally. Housing conditions, health, age, disability, work, caring responsibilities and social inequality all shape who bears the greatest burden. Infrastructure reflects political choices about investment, resilience and whose needs are prioritised. In this article, I argue that debates on electricity should move beyond technical fixes to include the lived experiences of people and communities. Building resilient infrastructure also means building a more socially just society. Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148393 2026-08-02T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148336 Title: Coastal strategy in people's lived experiences Abstract: The article argues that effective coastal policy should place people's lived experiences at its centre, complementing economic and environmental objectives with sociological perspectives. Using the Sliema–Gżira waterfront as an example, it highlights how prosperity, tourism, climate change, inequality, accessibility, and public access to the coast coexist, advocating for approaches such as Walking Sociology and Social Impact Assessment to ensure that coastal governance reflects the realities of all communities, especially less-heard groups. Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148336 2026-07-05T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148334 Title: Malta's Demographic Transformation Abstract: This article explores one of the most significant social changes shaping contemporary Malta. Beyond the statistics on population growth and migration, I argue that we need to better understand people's lived experiences, social rights, identities, inequalities, and everyday realities. Sociology reminds us that complex social change cannot be reduced to simplistic narratives. Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148334 2026-07-19T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148333 Title: Buses, numbers, people Abstract: In this article, I argue that while Malta's bus service has improved significantly—with better connectivity, air-conditioned buses, and free travel for residents—we also need to understand the realities that statistics alone cannot capture: overcrowding, accessibility, comfort, reliability, the experiences of drivers, and the everyday journeys of commuters. As a sociologist and daily bus commuter, I suggest that transport policy should be informed not only by operational data but also by Social Impact Assessment and qualitative research that places people's experiences at the centre of decision-making Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148333 2026-07-26T00:00:00Z