The Governance of Our Coast

In today's Malta Independent I write about a scholarly article that discusses holistic policy process when it comes to coastal infrastructure.

You can read the article here. 

Manoel Island: Towards a victory for unity, activism, and democracy

In today's Malta Independent I write about the progress so far in the campaign to reclaim Manoel Island as a public park. 

You can read the article here. 

#Ħsibijiet 120: An Environmental Pact for Manoel Island

 I am so happy to see that an environmental pact can and is being formed between parties, organisations, voices, and various interests.  This is democracy in action.

It is very positive that the Manoel Island: Post Għalina  campaign is inclusive and constructive, rather than sectarian or based on any sense of superiority or the cancelling of others. 

News article

 

Musk and Quickfix Politics

Musk and Quickfix Politics - my opinion article in today's The Malta Independent

Read here

#Ħsibijiet 119: Patt Ambjentali għal Manoel Island

Naqbel ħafna ma' dan il-kumment ta' Robert Louis Fenech, wieħed mill-attivisti ewlenin fil-kampanja Manoel Island: Post Għalina. Din hija kwistjoni fejn jista' jkun hemm patt ambjentali bejn partiti, għaqdiet, vuċijiet u interessi varji. Tajjeb ħafna li l-kampanja hija waħda pożittiva u inklussiva, u mhux waħda settarja jew ibbażata fuq xi sens ta' superjorita' jew  it-tkissir ta' ħaddieħor. Kulħadd jista jħossu komdu jitkellem favur  #ManoelIsland bħala Park Pubbliku. 

Il-kumment ta' Robert jinstab hawn. 

Inflation hits the basics

Inflation hits the basics - my opinion article in today's The Malta Independent

Read here

#Ħsibijiet 118

Social media seduces us to shout, to throw quickfix verdicts, to visualise in the most sensationalist and snackable way possible, to reduce the world to black and white, to dogma. It sells us the illusion that the whole world is watching us. The real challenge is restraint and measure: the journey of listening, deliberating and learning in a social and political process with no pre-established destination.

Open Access Publication about Protests in the Second Year of Covid-19 - the case of Malta

My latest peer-reviewed publication Protests in the Second Year of covid-19 – the Case of Malta has been published in the academic journal 'Protest' (Brill).

The paper is available here. 

This study analyses protests in Malta during 2021 (N = 94) and compares them to those in 2020 (N = 74). Malta’s protest dynamics are analysed within the theoretical frameworks of political opportunity structures and small-state studies, while also drawing on scholarship on protest and social movements during the covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, the environment was the most prominent issue, followed by Daphne Caruana Galizia and covid-scepticism, respectively. During 2021 there was a spike in protests (mostly sceptical) dealing directly with the Pandemic and its policy ramifications. The most prominent organizers of protest events were Repubblika and their affiliates, especially in relation to Daphne Caruana Galizia, and Moviment Graffitti, primarily on the environment. The demonstration was the most popular type of protest repertoire, but other repertoires were also used. Valletta was the most popular venue for protest events.

Citation: Briguglio, M. (2025). Protests in the Second Year of covid-19 – the Case of Malta. Protest, 5(1), 27-55. https://doi.org/10.1163/2667372X-bja10076

Image: The Malta Independent

One To One - Season 4 - Updated Weekly

 

One To One covers social, political, environmental, and cultural topics, and guests are experts in their respective fields. 

One to One is hosted by Prof Michael Briguglio and is broadcast on Campus 103.7.  The programmes are also available in on-demand format and are uploaded on the Open Access Repository, University of Malta .

Topics and guests for Season 4 (April - June 2025)

1. Inizjattivi ambjentali u Manoel Island - Astrid Vella

2. Il-lingwa Maltija kemm hi relevanti? - Adrian Grima

3. Il-każ tal-El Hiblu 3 u lil hinn minnu - Daniela DeBono

4. Il-kolonjaliżmu f'Malta: Kollox negattiv? - Charles Xuereb

5. X'inhuma l-esperjenzi tal-vittimi tat-thalidomide? Anatole Baldacchino

6. Iż-Żgħażagħ kif sejrin fl-edukazzjoni terzjarja? - Carmen Mangion

7. It-trasport marittimu nużawh biżżejjed? - Therese Bajada

8. L-Edukazzjoni kemm hi relevanti għad-dinja tax-xogħol? - Joseph Gravina

9. Kemm hi relevanti l-politika DemoKristjana llum? - Andre P. Debattista

10. Kemm aħna konxi tal-psikoloġija? - Yaser Teebi

11. Integrazzjoni soċjali xi tkun? - Omar Rababah

12. Xi tfisser li tkun Mediterranju? - Norbert Bugeja

13. Aphroconfuso - X'inhu? - Omar NShea

(This list is updated every week)

Topics and guests for Season 1 (July-September 2024) - Click here

Topics and guests for Season 2 (October - December 2024) - Click here

Topics and guests for Season 3 (January - March 2025) - Click here

Committee role in the Malta Sociological Association

After almost ten years serving as Public Relations Officer of the Malta Sociological Association, I am happy to step down from this role and to make space for Daniel Gafa'.  

I am sure that Daniel will bring fresh energy and new perspectives, and I have promised that I will be assisting him in every way possible in my new role as committee member.

As a co-founding member of the MSA, I am proud of our achievements. Good luck to all other committee members for the current year, and looking forward to another year of public sociology!