HS Special Desk 
Introduction In the digital age, memes have emerged as one of the most ubiquitous forms of communication. What began as humorous images shared on early internet forums has now evolved into a complex sociocultural phenomenon that influences public discourse, political engagement, identity formation, and everyday interactions. Memes are no longer limited to jokes; they are … Read more
Introduction Oceania—covering Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and thousands of Pacific Island nations—represents one of the most culturally diverse and historically layered regions in the world. Its societies embody complex interactions between Indigenous traditions, colonial histories, environmental challenges, migration patterns, and global cultural flows. From the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia … Read more
Introduction Cultural globalization—the movement, hybridization, and diffusion of cultural practices, symbols, and identities across borders—has reshaped societies around the world. In East Asia, this process has unfolded with unique characteristics due to the region’s long civilizational history, strong state structures, rapid economic development, and increasingly influential cultural industries. Countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, … Read more
The LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States represents one of the most significant and transformative social movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. Rooted in struggles for equality, dignity, and social justice, it has reshaped cultural norms, legal frameworks, institutional practices, and the broader understanding of identity in American society. From early homophile activism … Read more
Social movements have long been central forces shaping American society, functioning as collective responses to inequality, exclusion, and contested power structures. From the mid-twentieth-century Civil Rights Movement to the contemporary Black Lives Matter Movement, the struggle for racial justice in the United States reveals how oppressed groups mobilize resources, challenge hegemonic institutions, and reshape cultural … Read more
Urban poverty and segregation have long been defining features of American cities, shaping socioeconomic experiences and life chances for millions of people. From the early industrial period to the contemporary era of globalization, American urban spaces have reflected deep inequalities rooted in class, race, housing markets, labor structures, and public policy. Sociologists approach urban poverty … Read more
Introduction on Immigration and the American Dream Immigration has long been central to the identity of the United States. From its earliest days, the nation has been shaped by waves of newcomers seeking economic opportunity, political freedom, cultural acceptance, and the promise of upward social mobility—an idea commonly summed up as the American Dream. Yet … Read more
Youth protest movements have emerged as one of the most defining socio-political phenomena in Hong Kong over the past decade. From the 2014 Umbrella Movement to the 2019 Anti-Extradition Bill protests, young people have consistently been at the forefront of collective action, mobilizing in large numbers and shaping global conversations about democracy, identity, and state-society … Read more
Native American communities represent some of the most culturally rich, historically significant, yet structurally marginalized populations in North America. Their socio-political experiences cannot be understood solely through the lens of history; they must be interpreted sociologically—as the result of centuries of colonialism, racialization, state policies, economic dispossession, and cultural resistance. Contemporary Native American life is … Read more
China’s rapid economic transformation over the past four decades has reshaped global discussions on development, urbanization, and social change. Yet beneath the impressive growth lies a deeply rooted institutional mechanism that continues to shape life chances, identity, and social mobility for millions of Chinese citizens—the hukou system. Originally introduced in the 1950s as a household … Read more