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The use of the concept of “agency,” in the sense of action that is to some extent free of “structural” constraints, has enjoyed enormous and growing popularity in the sociological literature over the past several decades. In a previous paper, we examined the range of theoretical rationales offered by sociologists for the inclusion of the notion of “agency” in sociological explanations. Having found these rationales seriously wanting, in this paper we attempt to determine empirically what role “agency” actually plays in the recent sociological literature. We examine a random sample of 147 articles in sociology journals that use the concept of “agency” with the aim of identifying the ways in which the term is used and what function the concept serves in the sociological explanations offered. We identify four principal (often overlapping) uses of “agency”: (1) purely descriptive; (2) as a synonym for “power”; (3) as a way to identify resistance to “structural” pressures; and (4) as a way to describe intelligible human actions. We find that in none of these cases the notion of “agency” adds anything of analytical or explanatory value. These different uses have one thing in common, however: they all tend to use the term “agency” in a strongly normative sense to mark the actions the authors approve of. We conclude that “agency” seems to serve the purpose of registering the authors' moral or political preferences under the guise of a seemingly analytical concept.

The case study aims to facilitate a deep understanding of the strategic decisions in the context of asset-light model, its competitive advantage and industry dynamics within the context of the Indian hospitality sector. Suggested teaching objectives for the case study are as follows:▪ Analyze the strategic decisions made by Lemon Tree Hotels in the context of the Indian hospitality industry.▪ Evaluate the challenges and opportunities associated with the transition from an ownership-centric model to an asset-light strategy.▪ Discuss the competitive advantage built by Lemon Tree Hotels and the implications of its unique market offering.▪ Explore the impact of the post-pandemic era on the hospitality sector and the strategic adjustments made by the company.▪ Encourage critical thinking about the future trajectory of Lemon Tree Hotels, considering the ownership dilemma and evolving market dynamics.

The case study explores the strategic decisions made by Lemon Tree Hotels, a mid-market hotel chain in India, at the intersection of ownership and asset-light strategies. The founder, Patanjali Keswani, faced a dilemma of whether to persist with the ownership-centric model that propelled the company’s success or to pivot toward an asset-light approach, acknowledging the capital-intensive nature inherent in the industry. The case delves into the complexities of expansion, the adoption of an asset-light model and the challenges and opportunities encountered. Keswani’s calculated decisions and the company’s unique offering established its competitive edge. However, the shift to an asset-light model raised questions about the sustainability of this advantage in the more competitive mid-segment hospitality sector. The case discusses the challenges in the mid-market hotel industry in India, the transformative changes in consumer expectations and the strategic significance of the company’s transition to an asset-light model. The narrative unfolds through a lens that considers the competitive advantage built on a positive brand image, operational efficiency and a unique market offering. The case concludes at a strategic juncture, leaving Keswani and Lemon Tree Hotels grappling with the dilemma of ownership versus asset-light strategies, with implications for the company’s future trajectory.

The case study is designed for postgraduate students studying management, business administration and strategic management.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS11: Strategy.

This chapter reimagines Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus through posthumanist theory, using the method of diffractive analysis. It explores how both human and nonhuman things (con)figure habitus by decentering humans as the main point of reference. First, an introduction is given to Bourdieu's theoretical concept of the habitus and its relevance for higher education research. This is then diffracted through the posthumanist ideas of (con)figuration, becoming with and nonhuman entities such as matter, companion species and technology. Finally, the resulting posthumanist concept of habitus(con)figuration is characterized by an attention to the agency of nonhuman matter and the processuality of the emergence of habitus. Applying this concept to students' experiences of social class shifts the way these are approached theoretically in higher education research, placing greater emphasis on non-linear entanglements. The chapter concludes with a set of questions that can be applied to empirical work when considering working with the concept of habitus(con)figuration.

Ethnoracial categories and classifications can change over time, sometimes leading to increased social mobility for marginalized groups or nonelites. These ethnoracial changes are often attributed to emulation, where nonelites adopt the elite's social, cultural, and political characteristics and values. In some cases, however, nonelites experience ethnoracial shifts and upward mobility without emulating elites, which events can help explain. I argue that the type of event, whether endogenous or exogenous, affects the ability of elites to enforce their preferred ethnoracial hierarchy because it will determine the strategy – either insulation or absorption – they can pursue to maintain their power. I examine this phenomenon by comparing the cases of Irish social mobility in 17th-century Barbados and Montserrat. Findings suggest that endogenous events allow elites to reinforce their preferred ethnoracial hierarchy through insulation, whereas exogenous events constrain elites to employ absorption, which maintains their power but results in hierarchical shifts. Events are thus critical factors in ethnoracial shifts.

This chapter explores the pioneering integration of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) into teaching and assessment within a module at a UK university. This initiative represents a significant step in advancing AI literacy in higher education, aiming to equip students with essential employability skills. The innovative approach empowered students to use GenAI tools effectively, critically, ethically, and responsibly. The collaborative effort with students provided valuable insights into GenAI’s potential to enhance student learning and future career prospects. Key recommendations for educators include dispelling the notion that GenAI use equates to cheating and that its ethical and critical application should be promoted. Encouraging transparency in GenAI usage can mitigate student engagement issues, while continuous feedback from students ensures the module remains responsive to their needs and experiences. By making GenAI use explicit and teaching effective prompt engineering, the module fostered a transition from covert use to responsible application. Hands-on experiential learning sessions were pivotal in developing students’ GenAI proficiency, enhancing their engagement and skill development.

The nineties of the 20th century were marked by wars at the breakup of Yugoslavia, by a generation of children whose lives turned overnight. Many had to leave their homes and become refugees. What was a reality for many children is also reflected in literature whose protagonists are coming-of-age children. The novels Ukulele Jam by Alen Mešković and Hotel Zagorje by Ivana Simić Bodrožić as a primary motive take European tragedy whose consequences still resonate today. There are two ways in which youth literature represents war – as the scenery or as the central theme of a story. War is a political and social event whose effects are transmitted to everyone regardless of gender, age, or social status. As the portrayal of literary heroes strives to be as believable and authentic as possible, the lives of literary characters trapped in the vortex of war reflect the same characteristics. Life routines change; there is often a school dropout, lack of food, children’s play changes, and children, in addition to the general poverty and chaos, also face the loss of friends, family members, violence, and home. The environment often begins to reject them. In the formerly known world, they appear as aliens who need to be removed or adapted to the new society. The transition from the socialist to the capitalist socio-economic system was based on repeated repatriarchalization, in particular in strengthening the old public and private dichotomies and reviving conservative ideologies on the family and gender.

This paper critically examines the empirical literature on the human resource (HR) function during organizational change, identifying the competence required for HR practitioners and pinpointing gaps in previous research.

The paper is based on an integrative literature review of empirical research. The review utilizes a competence model comprising three key elements: skills, motivation and the opportunities created by organizational conditions.

The review shows that while there is an ongoing discussion about the competence required by HR practitioners in organizational change, significant gaps remain in our understanding of how this competence translates into HR change agency. The typical normative descriptions of the role can be viewed as unrealistic as they fail to consider crucial contextual factors and the routine, rather mundane nature of HR change agency.

It is necessary to develop an understanding of the context and avoid wishful thinking when initiating change efforts. Furthermore, HR practitioners require enhanced training in crucial areas such as interpersonal skills, including communication, coaching and managing emotions.

The paper presents a new conceptual framework and research propositions, advocating a dynamic approach to understanding HR’s role in change. It explores how HR’s change competence, in terms of their skills and motivation to manage change, is linked to their opportunities to participate in change initiatives.

In this chapter, we review the historical development of elite theory, and then we propose a way forward beyond it. Elite theory emerged as a critique of democracy in the late 19th century. Although it used historical materials illustratively, it tended to be ahistorical theoretically because its primary aim was to demonstrate the perdurance of elites even in conditions of mass suffrage. Lachmann was the first scholar to develop elite theory as a truly historical and explanatory framework by combining it with elements of Marxism. Even Lachmann's theory, however, remained inadequate because it did not rest on a fully articulated theory of power. In this introduction, we suggest a “relational power theory” as a remedy to this situation, and we use it to formulate a general heuristic for the study of elites, nonelites, and their interrelationships. To illustrate its utility, we show how it can illuminate the chapters in this volume (though they were not necessarily written for these purposes).

Measuring and understanding the dynamics of democracy as well as democratic attitudes of people have become a big challenge for every democratic state. The study proposes the investigation of middle-class peoples’ attitudes towards democracy in Pakistan.

The study employs a deductive approach based on cross-sectional data from Pakistan’s middle-class people. The researchers use a survey questionnaire through a convenience sampling technique. Finally, the study utilizes 1854 samples to conclude the findings.

The evidence confirms that trust in public institutions and political engagement positively and significantly impact peoples’ democratic attitudes. In addition, the investigation witnessed the preference for democracy also supports understanding middle-class peoples’ democratic attitudes.

The study would provide an endorsement for politicians of Pakistan to perceive the inclination of middle-class people towards democracy. The study would guide the researchers and policymakers and intellectualize the middle-class peoples’ opinions and attitudes. Moreover the study would support reflecting the public confidence in decision making and ability to deliver. Finally the study findings would contribute to the literature of political science and democracy to understand democratic attitudes mainly focusing on middle-class populations.

This study empirically confirms the Pakistani middle-class peoples’ attitudes towards democracy.