Reflections on the Malta Sociology Conference 2025

 The Malta Sociological Association (MSA)'s annual conference took place on 8 November 2025 at the Salini Visitors' Centre, featuring a curated array of academic presentations centred on the theme of Sustainability and Society. Building on the legacy of past editions, this year felt different. Initially, many said their work wasn't about the environment, revealing how easily we talk about it as though we stand outside it.

We often frame "the environment" as if it existed separately, outside society. Yet the abstracts presented at this year's conference demonstrated the opposite: environmental and social sustainability are deeply interdependent. The conference was structured around four panels: (1) Infrastructure, Urban Environment and Society; (2) Environmental Sustainability; (3) Sociology of the Body, and (4) Policy, Culture and Community Building.

The panel discussions revealed a tightly woven tapestry of sustainability in Maltese society. Research on the financialisation of Malta's housing system showed how global economic pressures influence affordability and, in turn, community stability. This is closely linked to research on low-income households in Senglea and among Syrian migrants, demonstrating that resilience extends beyond material conditions to include social networks, care structures, and a sense of security. Perceptions of neighbourhood crime likewise shape trust in public spaces and confidence in decision-making. Across the four panels, contributors showed how environmental, social, cultural, and infrastructural issues are intertwined and politically shaped by constant contestation.

Controversies in urban planning, exemplified through local case studies, illustrated how decisions are shaped by social forces and competing interests, underscoring the need for continuous, community-informed impact assessment. Similarly, research on maritime politics showed how NGOs navigate power to protect coastal resources, and studies on island resource management echoed these dynamics, revealing how multiple interests vying over limited resources must be mediated through governance. Concurrently, discourse analysis of sustainability reporting revealed how public narratives shape environmental priorities.    

While the above research evidenced social sustainability, an uncomfortable truth also emerged. If sustainability is about inclusion, why do so many Maltese corporations still hesitate to employ persons with disabilities in meaningful roles?

Separate research considering the human body through a different but complementary lens, that of cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medicine, showed how cultural norms, personal agency, and evolving understandings of wellbeing shape individuals' choices about appearance. Rather than pathologising these practices, research demonstrated how the body has become a meaningful site for negotiating identity and self-expression, prompting timely reflection on how a healthcare system responds to diverse needs while remaining sustainable.

Similarly, work on tattoos approached the body as a site of cultural expression, reminding us that sustainability also involves sustaining the meanings and identities people carry. Research on cinema similarly showed how shared film spaces help preserve cultural memory and continuity.

Meanwhile, research on youth policy highlighted how care and participation shape young people's sense of belonging, while community initiatives showed how everyday acts of involvement can strengthen social ties. Finally, research on early childhood climate anxiety reminded us that sustainability has an emotional undercurrent, where children under eight worry about the world's future.

The official journal of the Department of Sociology, SociologyMT, was also featured during the conference. To conclude, we warmly thank APS Bank for supporting this year's event.

 

Donnah Calleja is a Research Support Officer at the Department of Sociology, UOM, and member of the Malta Sociological Association