The Collected
Notes.
An evolving repository of our deep-dive explorations. From hidden architectural marvels to the profound nuances of global society.
A Small Country with a Large Diaspora
According to the 2021 census, Croatia has approximately 3.9 million residents; however, the number of Croatians residing abroad is expected to be several million more, scattered across Europe, the …
Tourism and the Moroccan Diaspora: Visitors as “Returning Citizens”
Morocco's recent tourism statistics reveal an intriguing fact: over half of all reported visitors are Moroccans resident abroad (MREs), not just international tourists. In 2024, the country will welcome around 17.4 million …
Catholicism and the Social Role of the Church in Poland
Catholicism has played a significant role in establishing Polish identity, politics, and everyday life, especially since the partitions of the late 18th century, when the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth vanished from the …
Medicare and the Canadian Idea of Universal Health Care
Canada's publicly funded healthcare system, known as "medicare," is a crucial part of national identity and social policy. To be eligible for full federal support, provincial and territorial insurance programs must …
How Croatians Travel: Half the Population on the Move
Croatia is well-known as a destination for foreign tourists, but Croatians are also frequent travelers. According to a 2024 statistics report on tourist activities in the population, around 54% of citizens …
A Young, Urbanising Society between Arab and Amazigh Identities
Morocco's population is projected to reach 36.8 million by 2024, with the majority living in the lush north-western coastal and inland plains with higher rainfall. Moroccans are predominantly of Arab, Amazigh …
The Solidarity Movement and Workers’ Heritage in Gdańsk
The Solidarity (Solidarność) movement, founded in the Gdańsk Shipyard in 1980, was one of the most prominent social movements in late 20th century Europe. Solidarity began as a labor union demanding …
Multiculturalism and Immigration in Urban Canada
Canada is sometimes referred to as a "country of immigration," with foreign-born individuals accounting for over 23% of the population, making it one of the most diverse global economies. Federal immigration …
Catholic Rituals in Everyday Life: Beyond Churches and Pilgrimages
While statistics show that about 79% of Croatia's population identifies as Catholic, the social significance of this affiliation becomes obvious when observed in everyday life. In many towns and …
Religion in Public Space: Islam and Everyday Practices
Islam is the major religion in Morocco, and mosques, minarets, and the five daily calls to prayer all contribute to its visible and audible presence in public life. The vast majority of Moroccans are Sunni Muslims who …
Youth Unemployment Challenges in Tanzania
Youth unemployment is one of Tanzania's most urgent socioeconomic issues, reflecting a larger crisis that affects the entire African continent. With the world's youngest population—nearly 60% of its 1.3 billion …
The Harakah Café Culture: Social Life in a North African Coffee Republic
Tunisians place a high value on the traditional Arab coffeehouse, or maqha, where men and women gather for hours to drink Turkish coffee and mint tea, smoke shisha, discuss politics, and engage in harakah—a …
Immigration, Integration, and Debates about Crime
For most of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, Sweden was known as a humanitarian country that welcomed refugees and migrants fleeing conflicts in the Balkans, the Middle East, Africa, and …
Education Inequality and the Legacy of Market Reforms
Chile's education system has gained international interest as a model for market-oriented changes and a case study of continuing social disparity. Chile implemented a nationwide school voucher system …
Tunisian Women and the Arab World's Most Progressive Gender Laws
When Tunisia obtained independence from France in 1956, its first president, Habib Bourguiba, promptly implemented the Code of Personal Status, a set of family laws that distinguished the country from …
Sweden’s Welfare State and Gender Equality
Sweden is well-known for its comprehensive welfare state and strong dedication to gender equality, which influence both daily living and worldwide impressions of the country. Sweden's policies prioritize both high …
Urban Parks and Social Life in Santiago: The Case of Cerro San Cristóbal
Cerro San Cristóbal, located in the center of Santiago, rises approximately 300 meters above the surrounding city and is part of the Parque Metropolitano, one of the largest urban parks in Latin America. This natural …
Swahili Language and Cultural Identity
Kiswahili, often known as Swahili, is one of Africa's most important languages, serving as both a useful tool for communication throughout East Africa and a potent symbol of cultural unity and identity. Originating in …
Women's Education and Gender Equality Progress
Tanzania has made great progress in women's education and gender equality during the last decade, accomplishing important milestones while facing serious hurdles. The country's commitment to …
The Jasmine Revolution: How Tunisia Sparked the Arab Spring
On January 14, 2011, an astonishing event occurred on Habib Bourguiba Boulevard in Tunis: President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, who had ruled Tunisia for 23 years with a tight grip on surveillance, corruption, and brutality, …
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