Academic Discourse Research Articles

Reimagining smart city collaboration in Colombo, Sri Lanka after Gilbert Simondon

ABSTRACT Most cities across the globe are embarking on various ‘smart’-based initiatives that seek to use technological developments to enhance people’s lives and make society more productive. Within such smart cities, citizens are often expected to become active ‘collaborators’ in producing smartness. Such technocratic forms of collaboration maintain entrenched forms of hierarchical power, with citizens usually figured as passive ‘consumers’ or ‘users’ of smart technologies rather than as real transformative participants. In this paper, I explore how ‘collaboration’ in the smart city might be thought of differently in ways that challenge the more utilitarian senses that dominate much political and academic discussion. I do this through an engagement with Gilbert Simondon’s philosophy of individuation and technology. In particular, I explore the distinction he draws between ‘interindividual’ and ‘transindividual’ modes of relation and how they entail different political senses of what collaboration between humans and technologies might entail. I flesh this out by drawing on interview research with stakeholders and citizens in Colombo, Sri Lanka. I highlight how stakeholders and citizens imagine collaboration and how these imaginaries explore alternate ways of living in and relating to smart urbanism and smart mobilities today.

On singularity and the Stoics: why Stoicism offers a valuable approach to navigating the risks of AI (Artificial Intelligence)

AbstractThe potential benefits and risks of artificial intelligence technologies have sparked a wide-ranging debate in both academic and public circles. On one hand, there is an urgent call to address the immediate and avoidable challenges associated with these tools, such as accountability, privacy, bias, understandability, and transparency; on the other hand, prominent figures like Geoffrey Hinton and Elon Musk have voiced concerns over the potential rise of Super Artificial Intelligence, whose singularity could pose an existential threat to humanity. Coordinating the efforts of thousands of decentralized entities to prevent such a hypothetical event may seem insurmountable in our intricate and multipolar world. Thus, drawing from both perspectives, this work suggests employing the tools and framework of Stoic philosophy, particularly the concept of the dichotomy of control—focusing on what is within our power. This Stoic principle offers a practical and epistemological approach to managing the complexities of AI, and it encourages individuals to organize their efforts around what they can influence while adapting to the constraints of external factors. Within this framework, the essay found that Stoic wisdom is essential for assessing risks, courage is necessary to face contemporary challenges, and temperance and tranquility are indispensable; and these lessons can inform ongoing public and academic discourse, aiding in the development of more effective policy proposals for aligning Narrow AI and General AI with human values.

The “Final Rays” of a Setting Sun: Lenka Reinerová and the Legacy of “Prague German Literature”

Lenka Reinerová is considered a contemporary witness of both the 20th and 21st centuries and the last German writer in Prague. Indeed, she is the last known prose writer from Prague who wrote in German and boasts a long list of famous predecessors, such as Franz Kafka, Max Brod, E. E. Kisch and others. Interestingly, Reinerová did not only earn a place among the Prague German literature writers because of her mother tongue. In her memoirs, she also engages with literary and academic discourse on the German-language literature coming from Prague. The following article aims to describe this continuity in more detail.

Blockchain Projects in Environmental Sector: Theoretical and Practical Analysis

The growing interest in environmental sustainability issues and, at the same time, the advantages offered by blockchain technology have strong connections to each other. This study explores the application of blockchain technology across various environmental domains, such as air quality, climate change impacts, and resource management. The research utilised a dual approach, combining a bibliometric analysis with VOSviewer and a topic analysis using BERT models to assess the discourse within both the scientific literature extracted from Scopus and practical blockchain projects obtained from GitHub. The findings reveal that food security, energy, and sustainable agriculture are predominant topics in academic discussions, with a noticeable increase in focus from 2017 onwards. Practical projects are focused on transparent tracking and decentralised management. The overlap between academic and practical spheres is evident in the shared focus on energy and environmental management, demonstrating blockchain’s growing role in addressing global environmental challenges. This study underscores the importance of integrating theoretical research with practical implementations to harness blockchain’s full potential in promoting sustainable environmental practices.

In and against the platform: Navigating precarity for Instagram and Xiaohongshu (Red) influencers

Existing scholarly discussions of the influencer industry often take a critical stance, marked by a narrow, westernised and homogenised theme of precarity. This raises the need to explore the empirical dynamics of precarity—how it is understood, managed, and ultimately lived for influencers from different social and cultural contexts. Based on in-depth interviews with 15 Instagram influencers and 12 from Xiaohongshu (Red), this article reveals that influencers adopt a positionality I term “in and against the platform.” This approach involves both collaboration with and resistance to platform rules and rituals, ultimately enabling influencers to establish a sustainable way of living amid precarity. I argue that this “in and against” framework as a condition of labour not only highlights the active agency and creativity often overlooked in academic discussions but also complicates our understanding of precarity, opening up new possibilities for coexistence with this condition.

Urban governance and participatory planning in organizing and planning trade fairs. The case of Thessaloniki trade fair

Urban governance and participatory planning have been key concepts in the academic discourse, policy debates and international practice related to spatial planning, urban development and organization of mega-events. However, they are relatively absent in academic debates and international practice pertaining to trade fairs. This paper explores the links of urban governance and participatory planning with trade fair activity. It focuses on the case of Thessaloniki, where trade fair activity has a strong connection with the city and its citizens. Methodologically, this paper utilizes mixed research methods by conducting interviews with key actors, including representatives of TIF-HELEXPO and local institutions in Thessaloniki, and a questionnaire survey to explore the views of Thessaloniki citizens. The results show that a possible adoption of urban governance and participatory planning in trade fair activity can have significant benefits. Urban governance is likely to boost cooperation between stakeholders, while participatory planning can contribute to a greater acceptance of trade fairs by citizens. On these grounds, the paper suggests the adoption of urban governance and participatory planning as a new model of managing, organizing and planning trade fairs that can strengthen their links with the city.

Internationalisation with Chinese characteristics: exploring the paradox in students' experiences at Sino-foreign cooperative universities

ABSTRACT Although previous research has explored the impact of global and local forces on transnational higher education (TNHE) at a macro level, limited attention has been paid to students’ lived experiences navigating the mixed influences. To address the research gap, this study conducted semi-structured interviews with 35 Chinese undergraduates enrolled in two Sino-foreign cooperative universities (SFCUs). From the theoretical lens of paradox, this study revealed the inherent tensions in the dynamic and hybrid educational practices at SFCUs, arising from the internationalisation of higher education with Chinese characteristics. The overlapping values of cosmopolitanism, nationalism, neoliberalism, and authoritarianism have repercussions on the programme structure, academic discourse, and university management. The findings indicate that students negotiated the tensions in various manners, including following the prevailing discourse, challenging the global imagery, and recognising the complexity of situation. The presence of conflicting influences led some students to develop hierarchical binary thinking towards knowledge and elicit ambivalent emotions towards institutions, while others achieved a wholeness of self through self-reflection. This study contributes to a new scholarly perspective on exploring students’ unique experiences in TNHE.

Freecycling Markets as Sustainable Materialist Movements?

This paper seeks to redress the over-emphasis on state-driven circular policies in public and academic discourses by attending to two physical community-based freecycling markets at the emerging frontiers of circular waste/resource management in Singapore. Freecycling markets that close short reuse loops are a counterpoint to policies that close long recycling loops. Drawing primarily on empirical data from ethnographic fieldwork, we argue that freecycling markets exemplify a sustainable materialist movement concerned about the sustainability of material resources vis-à-vis the closing/shortening of material circularity loops. This is achieved through the reconfiguration of (a) material flows and (b) material relations. The redirection of unwanted but reusable household objects away from the incinerator and towards potential reusers animates a shift from a linear to circular material flow. We contend that this redirection of material resources for reuse is augmented by rescue and recirculation, which are relatively neglected within the scholarship on circular R-behaviours. Additionally, freecycling markets seek to transform material relations by encouraging care and stewardship, instead of use and disposal. Crucially, we highlight how freecycling markets may be plagued with material constraints that render them not-so-sustainable-and-scalable, thereby shedding light on the practical limits of sustainable materialist action. Taken together, this paper extends the scholarship on circular economies by bringing work on sustainable materialism into a productive dialogue with that on circular activisms and R-behaviours.

Hedges and boosters in L2 (Czech) Master's theses and published research articles: A contrastive analysis

AbstractThis article studies the use of lexical hedges and boosters in English‐medium Master's theses by L2 (Czech) graduates in English language and literature programmes. Drawing on the metadiscourse framework and adopting a corpus‐based approach, the study analyses the frequency, realisations, and function of hedges and boosters in a corpus of 48 Master's theses in linguistics, literature, and education. The results are also compared to a reference corpus representing L1 English published academic discourse in the same disciplines. The analysis shows that the Master's theses of Czech students use fewer hedges and slightly more boosters than L1 expert writers and thus display a somewhat less cautious stance. The results also indicate that Czech graduates show a strong preference for content‐oriented hedges and emphatics as boosters. This suggests that the rhetorical choices of Czech graduates bear features of learner discourse and may be affected by the merging of L1 and L2 academic conventions and the power relations between the student‐writer and the examiners inherent to the Master's thesis. Based on these findings, the article draws some implications for L2 writing pedagogy.

"Inspired to be a teacher seriously": An autoethnography of student engagement in a Vietnamese TESOL training programme

TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) training programmes in Vietnam often emphasise the significant alignment of academic knowledge with practical classroom methods. However, an intricate yet underexplored topic is understanding the dynamic engagement of student teachers in those programmes to investigate the complexities of such alignment. Therefore, this research examines factors influencing student teachers’ in-class engagement following a 120-hour TESOL training programme at an institution in Vietnam. This autoethnographic study analysed a TESOL teacher trainer’s reflections on student teachers’ engagement in the programme, using artefacts in the form of anonymous and open-ended short-text feedback from 30 students across approximately eight months. The reflection and feedback responses were analysed thematically, anchored in a framework emphasising the three facets of in-class engagement, i.e., cognitive, emotional, and behavioural dimensions. Through the analysis, three themes were constructed: (1) theoretical-practical synthesis: how TESOL-related concepts are blended with concrete teaching examples; (2) pedagogical climate: the teacher educator’s critical role in creating a receptive and engaging learning environment; and (3) professional pathway clarity: the student teachers’ understanding of their future roles and trajectories in the TESOL arena. The research’s findings provide TESOL educators with crucial insights into student teachers’ engagement with teaching methods that synthesise both theoretical and practical components. Moreover, the research enriches the academic discourse, underscoring the potential of using the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural engagement triad as a diagnostic tool to understand students’ learning experiences in TESOL training programmes.

Navigating through pandemics: a bibliometric analysis of research trends in Islamic finance and Islamic banking

Purpose This study aims to provide a bibliometric analysis of 1,104 journal articles to explore the multifaceted research field of Islamic finance and banking, explicitly emphasising the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach Insights into the evolving trends and dynamics within the academic discourse are presented. Findings The research highlights different patterns and collaborative networks through co-authorship, co-occurrence and thematic map analyses. Prior to the pandemic, research focused primarily on customer satisfaction and compliance with Shariah principles. However, the pandemic heralded an increased discourse on sustainability, fintech and the financial crisis. Research limitations/implications This review describes the prevailing academic terrain and identifies potential avenues for future research, particularly those that examine the socio-economic impact of the pandemic within the context of Islamic finance and banking. Originality/value Prominent author such as M. Kabir Hassan, leading institution such as the International Islamic University Malaysia and esteemed journal such as the International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management have been instrumental in shaping academic discussions and creating synergies in research. Moreover, Malaysia’s strong commitment to spatial research, evidenced by its robust global collaborations, underscores its pioneering role in the academic world of Islamic finance and banking.

The place of the academic article as a genre in academic communication. Book Review: I. P. Khutyz. Genres of academic discourse. Traditional and new. Moscow: Publishing House VKN, 2021. 132 p.

The place of the academic article as a genre in academic communication. Book Review: I. P. Khutyz. Genres of academic discourse. Traditional and new. Moscow: Publishing House VKN, 2021. 132 p.

Flight in Transition: Navigating the Skies of Automation and Human Judgement

Integrating automation systems within the aviation sector signifies a critical juncture, presenting significant advancements in operational efficiency and safety protocols. However, this technological evolution mandates a comprehensive reassessment of decision-making processes, particularly as pilots navigate the intricate interaction between human cognition and automated support. This study aims to enhance academic discourse by conducting a thorough analysis of the implications of automation systems on decision-making in aviation, with a specific focus on the tragic incidents involving Lion Air Flight 610 on October 29, 2018, and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10, 2019. The impact of automation systems on decision-making in aviation will be examined in detail to understand their role in these incidents. Employing a rigorous case analysis methodology upon a diverse array of secondary sources, this study seeks to unravel the multifaceted dynamics at play and shed light on the influence of automation on pilot actions and responses. Anticipated outcomes of this study include providing invaluable guidance to aviation stakeholders, encompassing regulatory bodies, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and pilots, concerning the challenges and opportunities inherent in automation integration. By identifying knowledge gaps and delineating avenues for enhancement, this research endeavours to inform evidence-based strategies and optimal practices for enhancing safety and resilience in contemporary air travel. Ultimately, the significance of this scholarly endeavour lies in its potential to advance scholarly understanding and facilitate informed decision-making processes, thereby contributing to the pursuit of safer and more efficient aviation operations on a global scale.

Marginal imprints: Provincial print culture and the politics of Thai literary history during the Cold War

This article considers the significance of provincial print culture in challenging and expanding Thai literary history. Focusing on Siritham Publishing House in Northeast Thailand or Isan as a case study, the article examines how provincial print culture shaped the contested landscape of literary production and reception during the Cold War, when the category of regional literature emerged under the pretext of national integration. Drawing on the framework of publishing studies as well as existing scholarship on print culture in Thailand, it is argued that the literary corpus of Siritham’s publisher, Preecha Phinthong, helps shift scholarly attention away from a conventional literary history that tends to focus on the Bangkok-centric notion of Thainess. Instead, it encourages a more nuanced exploration of the processes of literary standardization and canon formation. Together with a historical examination of Siritham’s establishment, a close analysis of paratextual components of Preecha Phinthong’s publications and unpublished manuscripts challenges the rigid understanding of Isan regional identity in academic discourse and state policy during the Cold War. Specifically, the articulation of regional literary identity in Preecha Phinthong’s archive often involves a transnational relationship between Thailand and Laos that extends beyond the confines of Thai nationalism. Moreover, these paratexts constitute a space through which provincial publishers create their own interpretive frameworks for assessing the historical, linguistic, and aesthetic significance of regional literature, complicating the academic discourse of literary standardization. In addition to this counter-hegemonic vision, provincial print culture offers a more dynamic understanding of regional literature. The emergence of Siritham Publishing House coincided with the rise of Lao nationalism, during which the popularization of Lao literature via print technology traversed the Mekong River. In this context, Isan literary history can be viewed as the result of the interplay between Thai and Lao nationalism, characterized by contestation, negotiation, and mutual construction.

Global resurgence: private asset reconstruction companies as legal catalysts for financial stability in India and beyond

Purpose This study aims to transcend geographical boundaries and provide insights into innovative strategies used by Indian Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) in managing distressed assets. The study examines the origins, evolution, challenges and opportunities faced by ARCs to derive lessons that can be universally applicable and serve as a valuable blueprint for global investors and institutions seeking effective strategies in managing distressed assets. From a legal and compliance angle, this opens up many perspectives that would help plug loopholes and grey zones within the legal ambit for organisations and institutions. Design/methodology/approach The study invokes a critical review of existing literature, news, discussions and publicly available information from reliable sources such as the central bank’s websites to develop the viewpoints and provide recommendations. Findings ARCs face challenges, recovering only 19.15% of distressed assets in 2022. Despite constraints like funding, governance issues and regulatory hurdles, there is a substantial opportunity for investors in the Rs. 9.6 lakh crore non-performing assets. The study suggests strategic assessments by banks, emphasises ARCs’ roles in specific sectors and calls for regulatory adjustments. With diverse investors and favourable regulations, this evolving landscape offers significant global opportunities for policymakers and investors in distressed assets. Practical implications This study serves as a valuable guide for shaping resilient policies, fostering cross-border collaborations and optimising distressed asset management strategies on a global scale. Originality/value This study breaks new ground by examining the private ARCs sector within an emerging economy’s dynamics, presenting insights relevant to global distressed markets. This study serves as a unique resource for those navigating the complexities of distressed markets globally, providing insights that can inform strategies, policies and academic discussions in the broader financial landscape.

Analysis of Strategies to Attract Female Talent in the Software Development Industry

Historically, activities related to software development have been led by men, with weak participation from women. Currently, initiatives have been promoted to increasingly integrate women into this discipline. However, despite the known benefits of gender diversity in innovation and team performance, the visibility of women in this field remains weak. The primary objective of this article is to analyze strategies to attract female talent to the software development industry, aiming to reduce the gender gaps that women face. The methodology used in this work is based on several steps of systematic literature mapping, which seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature on this topic, classify the findings, and offer a framework for future research in this area. The main findings highlight the need for organizational policies and work practices that promote gender equality, as well as the importance of early education and training in retaining female talent in the software industry. This study not only contributes to academic discourse but also suggests practical measures for industry professionals to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment.

Water Effect on the Electronic Properties and Lithium-Ion Conduction in a Defect-Engineered LiFePO4 Electrode

Defect-engineering accelerates the conduction of lithium ions in the cathode materials of lithium-ion batteries. However, the effects of defect-engineering on ion conduction and its mechanisms in humid environments remain unclear in the academic discourse. Here, we report on the effect of vacancy defects on the electronic properties of and Li-ion diffusion in a LiFePO4 material in humid environments. The research findings indicate that vacancy defects reduce the lattice constant and unit cell volume of LiFePO4. Additionally, the water molecules occupy the Li-ion vacancies, leading to an increase in the lattice constant of LiFePO4. The computational results of the electronic properties show that the introduction of water molecules induces a transition in LiFePO4 from a semiconductor to a metallic behavior, with a transfer of 0.38 e of charge from the water molecules to LiFePO4. Additionally, the migration barrier for Li ions in the H2O + LiFePO4 system is found to be 0.50 eV, representing an 11.1% increase compared to the pristine LiFePO4 migration barrier. Our findings suggest that water molecules impede the migration of Li ions and provide important insights into the effect of defect-engineering on electronic properties and ion conduction under humid conditions.

Quantitative assessment of urban sustainability perceptions in Lurin, Peru

In the current context, urban centres in Latin America are facing fundamental challenges in their endeavour for Sustainable Development. The focus of this study is the meticulous assessment of the perception of urban sustainability within the Lurín District of Peru. It introduces a system based on urban sustainability indicators, derived from social surveys and implements this system through linear regression models to discern their interrelations. The objective of the research is to quantify and evaluate essential elements linked to the management of natural resources, air and water quality, the advancement of sustainable mobility, education and the well-being of urban residents. By delineating these mathematical and statistical correlations amongst variables pertinent to urban sustainability, this study provides a robust framework for quantitative decision-making in the urban sphere. A methodology for the development of univariable and multivariable models has been demonstrated. Amongst the most important findings, it has been discovered that the variable Environmental Education System (SEA) is perceived as the least important and even negligible within the multivariable models. However, we believe this effect occurs because the impacts of education are perceived in the long term. This article contributes significantly to the academic discourse by providing a more nuanced understanding of the social perception of urban sustainability and its influence on policy formulation and decision-making processes in Latin America.

Immersive Anthropological Methodology towards Sustainable Ecotourism: A Case Study of Bali, Indonesia

Purpose: This research aims to investigate and implement an anthropological methodology for achieving sustainable eco-tourism in Bali, Indonesia. Research methods: This qualitative method used involves a thorough examination and comparison of diverse scholarly works, case studies, and relevant texts. The qualitative comparative analysis provides a robust framework for interpreting the complex interplay of ideas, perspectives, and contextual factors embedded in the literature building upon and expanding the understanding of the subject matter within the broader academic discourse. Results and discussion: The research underscores the critical issues of water supply, waste management, and infrastructure development in Bali. Sustainable solutions, including cultural inclusion, eco-friendly housing, and natural supplements, are proposed to alleviate these challenges. Implications: The results signify a crucial step towards fostering environmental conservation and responsible tourism practices in this popular destination.

Exploring the Unraveled Naktauri-Geet: A Study on a Ritual Performance in an All-Women Space in a Hindu marriage Ceremony

This research explores the ritual performance action known as Naktauri, which occurs during Hindu marriage ceremonies. In these ceremonies, women from the bridegroom’s family are excluded from the wedding rituals at the bride’s house and are left behind by the men. (In contemporary times, few women have begun to attend the wedding ceremony at the bride’s house. However, this step remains very limited in rural parts of the northern belt of India.) These women then engage in a ritual performance that enacts the entire sequence of the marriage, including the first night of the couple (suhagraat) and the birth of a child. This enactment is complemented by geet (songs), dance, and male impersonation, and it takes place in an all-women space where men are strictly prohibited. Any male attempt to intrude is met with a barrage of abuses. Based in Akbarpur, Uttar Pradesh, a place in northern India, this study underscores the importance of location as this performance holds multiple signifiers depending on its regional context. The performance of Naktauri has received negligible attention in academic discourse. This research aims to illuminate the significance of the geet and dance elements within this ritual performance, highlighting their role in providing a space for women’s cultural expression and agency.