Digitalization is a long socio-historic process in which all areas of societys activities are reconfigured. In the first volume of Digitalization of Society and Socio-political Issues, there is an examination of the transformations linked to the development of digital platforms and social media which affect cultural and communicational industries. The book also analyzes the formation of Big Data, their algorithmic processing and the societal changes which result from them (social monitoring and control in particular). Through diverse critical reflections, it equally presents different ways that digital participates in relations of power and domination, and contributes to eventual emancipatory practices. Following on, the second volume examines the transformations that are linked to digital practices that affect the production, circulation and consumption of information, as well as new forms that are taken by social mobilizations. It treats several important issues in the digital era that are more likely to become the subject of public debates, among which one can include the renewed relationship between research and digital. Through diverse critical reflections, it equally presents different ways that digital participates in relations of power and domination, and contributes to eventual emancipatory practices.

Many experts believe that through the utilization of information technology, organizations can better manage social and economic change. This book investigates the challenges involved in the use of information technologies in managing these changes.

The idea of virtual realities has a long and complex historical trajectory, spanning from Plato's concept of the cave and the simulacrum, to artistic styles such as Trompe L'oeil, and more recently developments in 3D film, television and gaming. However, this book will pay particular attention to the time between the 1980s to the 1990s when virtual reality and cyberspace were represented, particularly in fiction, as a wondrous technology that enabled transcendence from the limitations of physical embodiment. The purpose of this critical historical analysis of representations of virtual reality is to examine how they might deny, repress or overlook embodied experience. Specifically, the author will contend that embodiment is a fundamental aspect of immersion in virtual reality, rather than something which is to be transcended. In this way, the book aims to challenge distorted ideas about transcendence and productively contribute to debates about embodiment and technology.

In the 21st century, traditional approaches to societal challenges often fall short. The need for innovative solutions is palpable, grounded in the understanding that progress is contingent upon embracing change. Scholars, policymakers, and institutions grapple with the delicate balance between economic growth and social well-being. The dichotomy between technical and social innovations becomes apparent, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of their interplay. The urgency to bridge this gap, addressing societal needs while fostering economic prosperity forms the crux of the challenge. Social Innovations in Education, Environment, and Healthcare emerge as an illuminating solution. Authored by experts in the field, this book offers a compelling exploration of social innovation as the key to unlocking transformative change. By delving into the intricacies of ideation, collaboration, implementation, and value creation, the book provides a roadmap for scholars, policymakers, non-profit organizations, for-profit firms, and universities. It dismantles the barriers between developed and developing nations, advocating for a global perspective in the pursuit of inclusive and impactful social innovations.

Is it possible to identify the positive and negative effects of globalization on religious tourism or to estimate the transformation of the internal and external constructs of pilgrimage by these effects? In order to address these questions, this book highlights the importance of the search for identity and transformative experience during religious tourism. It also looks at how, recently, globalization has played a part in the changes of the concept of personal and social identity and the transformative experience of pilgrimage. This book will be suitable for researchers and students of religious tourism, pilgrimage, identity tourism, as well as related subjects such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, theology, history and cultural studies.

Technological advances and the drive to digitalize business processes in aviation, tourism, and hospitality have forced the industries to go along with the digital movement. The results are often mixed. This book brings together contributions from leading scholars in the field and explores the digital transformation in these industries in Southeast Asia. The book looks at the impact of digital transformation on the region and the issues and challenges brought about by this transformation. It also addresses trends in the industries from blockchain technology, AI, biometric and mobile technology applications to in-flight catering. It examines the impact of COVID-19 on the industries and how the pandemic has led to businesses adopting new business models. Through the case studies of digital adoptions in the region, readers will gain insights on how the countries have leveraged new technologies and the implementation processes to drive digital transformation. The book aims to help scholars and policy makers understand the digital advances in the industries to better formulate responses in research and policy making and deliver effective digital transformation.

This book features research presented and discussed during the Research & Innovation Forum (Rii Forum) 2023. As such, this book offers a unique insight into emerging topics, issues and developments pertinent to the fields of technology, innovation and education and their social impact. Papers included in this book apply inter- and multi-disciplinary approaches to query such issues as technology-enhanced teaching and learning, smart cities, information systems, cognitive computing and social networking. What brings these threads of the discussion together is the question of how advances in computer science—which are otherwise largely incomprehensible to researchers from other fields—can be effectively translated and capitalized on so as to make them beneficial for society as a whole. In this context, Rii Forum and Rii Forum proceedings offer an essential venue where diverse stakeholders, including academics, the think tank sector and decision-makers, can engage in a meaningful dialogue with a view to improving the applicability of advances in computer science.

This handbook addresses the diversity and complexity of social work practice in the context of disasters. Drawing on international perspectives, with the inclusion of case studies, this handbook provides a resource for students, practitioners, educators, and researchers seeking to prepare the social work profession for contemporary challenges associated with disasters. Divided into five parts, it explores the following subject areas: 1. Conceptual aspects concerning social work’s relationship with disasters 2. Social work’s role in preventing and preparing for disasters, and response and recovery 3. Social work practice with specific populations 4. Social work education and training in disasters 5. Implications for social work organisations and policy Leading ideas, debates, and approaches from international authors will provide Global North and South perspectives. A critical examination of research and theories for practice, including concepts of human vulnerability and community resilience, will provide the foundation for detailing the practical contributions that social workers can make at the micro, meso, and macro levels of practice. Social work’s underpinning value base of social justice and human rights will also be explored in the context of the complex and dynamic nature of socio-cultural, political, and economic dimensions pertaining to disasters. It will therefore be of interest to all social work students, academics, and professionals as well as those working in allied disciplines, policy, and emergency management roles.