Society, the sea, and research

Abstract

In this article I reflect on the relationship between society and the sea, drawing on discussions from the Maritime Sociology Research Stream at the 17th European Sociological Association Conference in Warsaw, in which I participated. Much of the research presented was connected to the RethinkBlue COST Action and explored themes including maritime work, gender, coastal communities, climate change, governance, power and blue justice. For Malta, these questions are particularly relevant. As a small island state, the sea is intertwined with our economy, environment, culture, connectivity and everyday life—and provides considerable opportunities for sociological and interdisciplinary research. The sea is not simply an economic resource or natural environment. It is also a social space.