/library/oar/handle/123456789/698 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:31:10 GMT 2025-11-05T16:31:10Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/139155 Title: Tourism, real estate, and urban pressures : the case of Marsascala, Malta Authors: Agius, Karl; Briguglio, Michael; Bermúdez Pérez, Jorge Luis Abstract: This paper examines the urban transformation of Marsascala, a coastal town in Malta, through the lens of tourism development and its social repercussions. Engaging with Young’s (1983) model of touristization and landscape change, and drawing from qualitative interviews, field observations, orthophoto analysis, and secondary data, the study traces the town’s evolution from a fishing village to a site of intensive tourism consolidation. Findings reveal how population growth—driven by tourism and foreign labour—has led to overdevelopment, infrastructural strain, and a declining quality of life. Building on empirical insights, the authors propose a novel seventh stage in Young’s model: real estateisation, wherein real estate speculation and short-term rentals reconfigure coastal localities beyond tourism. Marsascala thus becomes a case study in understanding the entanglements between tourism, migration, housing, and urban change. The paper contributes to debates on sustainable tourism, the Blue Economy, and the need for integrated social impact assessments in coastal governance. This paper is linked to the EU Cost Action CA221222 Rethinking the Blue Economy: Socio-Ecological Impacts and Opportunities (RethinkBlue), in relation to the themes covered by Working Group 3 - Port cities & coastal communities. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/139155 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/139117 Title: Islands, archipelagos and water : insights from New Guinea Authors: Baldacchino, Godfrey Abstract: New Guinea is the world’s second largest island (land area: 785,753 km²), divided politically between the easternmost provinces of Indonesia and the sovereign state of Papua New Guinea. It affords a unique case study of how the alignment of statehood and territory is particularly nuanced by islandness, archipelagicity and the fluid indeterminacy of water. Based on a global review of relevant but niche ‘island studies’ literature, this paper argues that different protocols and practices treat islands, singly or collectively, in different ways, either pulling them closer or pushing them further away from the territorialisation regime that was catapulted by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in the late twentieth century. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/139117 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/138527 Title: Referendums in small states and territories : a policy brief Authors: Clegg, Peter; Baldacchino, Godfrey; Morris, Caroline Abstract: The text offers a series of 42 specific reflections and recommendations dealing with the conception, execution and consequences of referendums in small states and territories. The publication is one outcome of the lively conversations held over a 2-day symposium in London, UK, with the participation of academics, policy makers, diplomats and political commentators. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/138527 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/137518 Title: Summer heatwaves : a wake-up call for sustainability and justice Abstract: In this opinion article I discuss some policy implications of the current summer heatwaves, especially in relation to sustainability and social justice. Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/137518 2025-07-16T00:00:00Z