Political Characteristics Research Articles

Reckoning with Responsibility: The Mesopotamia Commission into British Military Failings during a Moment of Imperial Transformation, 1916–19

Abstract In August 1916, in the aftermath of significant defeats in the Middle Eastern theatre of the First World War, the British government faced a crisis of confidence in its military power. In Mesopotamia, it was under significant pressure to reckon with its perceived poor strategic decision-making and its treatment and resourcing of British troops. The Mesopotamia Commission was established to investigate and reassure the wider public that the same mistakes would not be made again. Scholarly explorations of the commission have focused on the commission’s report published in July 1917. But this neglects what came before: the construction, performance, and repercussions of the commission as it unfolded. This article undertakes a forensic archival analysis of the commission ‘in process’, revealing the political character of the commission—how it presented itself, the commissioner’s decision-making, and the intra-imperial conflicts it aggravated during the war itself—all while operating under (and benefitting from) an expert, impartial guise. This granular approach to inquiry analysis not only contributes to new understandings of British imperial politics during the First World War but also demonstrates that, as a selective process of knowledge production, the commission’s outcomes and impact went well beyond just a published report.

Synergistic control potential of flue gas pollutants under Ultra-Low emission standards in waste incineration plants

As the dominant waste disposal process, incineration is regarded as the main incentive for the “not-in-my-backyard” syndrome, and faces an inescapable pressures of ultra-low emissions (ULE). Establishing precise response relationships between emission factors (EFs) and full-process influencing factors can provide guidance for the synergistic mitigation of flue gas pollutants (FGPs). In this work, the multi-dimensional EFs of FGPs were identified by initially integrating FGPs concentration monitoring data of existing 1,226 processing lines in China, technologies applied and operational experience (OE), local economic and political characteristics. Significant regional imbalance performance was observed, which EFs in the coastal regions were 3.55–92.39 % lower than those of the inland areas. NOx, SO2, HCl were identified as critical components requiring further reduction under the ULE standards, with exceedance rates recorded at 73.07 %, 38.90 %, and 56.69 %, respectively. An indicative value of 20 mg/m3 for PM is recommended for the control of heavy metals of Cd + Tl and Sb + As + Pb + Cr + Co + Cu + Mn + Ni based on the correlation coefficients of r = 0.28 (p < 0.001) and r = 0.20 (p = 0.002), respectively. Waste composition and OE were quantified as the main contributors of EFs’ disparities by the tree-branching controlled variable approach established in this study. Predictive models for FGPs control process and corresponding EFs were constructed. EFs of nine FGPs in 2030 would decrease by 0.97–65.42 %, due to more complex purification processes employed to meet ULE’s limitations, such as the application of five-stage processes growing from 45.60 % to 58.28 %. While regional imbalance in EFs-SO2 and EFs-HCl were extended with increases from 25.83 % to 33.07 % and 9.91 % to 32.32 %, respectively, due to the consistent disparities of OE and growing heterogeneity of control policies. Enhancing interregional empirical exchanges, reducing the regional market monopolies, and formulating technical guidelines would be beneficial to synergize the reduction of FGPs emissions and alleviate regional imbalance.

Norm of election law of Ukraine: separate characters and content

Author determines to a certain stage of social development there is a need to streamline existing relationships in it. It is impossible to imagine human society without regulation of behavior by certain samples, models, scale. They also made as a result of frequent repetition, the rules to which future oriented society.&#x0D; The rules of electoral law as a component of the constitutional right of Ukraine reflect in their entirety the nature and content of this area of law. For this reason they are sometimes compared to the cells as the fundamental principle of any living organism, the biological system.&#x0D; Given the undoubted primacy norm of electoral law for other structural elements of the electoral law of Ukraine, namely the study of the nature, content and legal characteristics and features of the construction is a kind of "key" to the knowledge institutes and other components of the electoral law in general.&#x0D; Identifying the nature and content of the rules of electoral law as a primary constituent elements of the same sub-system of law involves a determination of the legal category. This is not only a definition of the rules of electoral law, but also about filling it with the proper legal meaning, as well as identifying the main aggravating circumstances studied component of electoral law Ukraine.&#x0D; Thus, the rules of the common signs of electoral law Ukraine include the following: 1) priority in the national legal system, and2) the nature of the installation, and 3) public-political content, and 4) the system of rule-making entities and norm, and 5) immediacy, 6) the highest legal force; 7) special source base 8) specificity patterns, 9)guaranteed.&#x0D; The rules of electoral law, as a kind of constitutional law and having their general properties, characteristic only differ in their original features, including: 1) specificity, due to the content of the subject of legal regulation, and 2) the rules of electoral law have a pronounced political character, and 3) Specify the range mailing provisions of electoral law, and 4) the rules of electoral law form a complex subsector law that combines state-legal, administrative, legal, financial, legal, criminal law and the rules of a number of other sectors of the national law of Ukraine, 5) the identity outside legalization provisions in the election law.

Secularization, De-secularization and Re-secularization in Bangladesh: Does the ‘Third Image’ Matter?

This article analyses the trajectories of secularization, de-secularization and re-secularization in Bangladesh. It is about mapping broad historical developments with reference to basic understanding of secularization and its progress in Bangladesh. The central question in the article is: How have the trajectories of secularization, de-secularization and re-secularization in Bangladesh been influenced by the nexus of internal–external dynamics of political and social forces developed in the 1980s? The article argues that a decisive attempt to rediscover liberal and secular character of politics is currently evident in Bangladesh. The attempt to reestablish secularism in the society also faces a host of challenges, stemming from national, regional and global contexts that echo the 1980s. Methodologically, it is based on policy outlook and trend analysis.

‘Bastion of Italian-ness’: the nationalization of welfare and the changing meaning of rehabilitation in post-war Italy (1945–59)

ABSTRACT The article analyses social welfare programmes set up by the Italian state to manage and provide assistance to refugees coming first from Dalmatia, then from Istria and finally by the territories near Trieste, between the immediate post-war period and the late 1950s. It connects the literature on these refugee flows and the historiography of the Italian welfare state by providing new insights into how the recognition of minority rights deeply affected the organization of the social welfare system throughout the 1940s and the 1950s. The article focuses on the shifting meaning of the term ‘rehabilitation’, an outcome of post-war transnational circulations of ideas about the renewal of welfare. It identifies three chronological sections: the aftermath of the war, when social assistance to refugees was organized in Italy in the context of a project to renew the state and its relations with the individual and society; the period after the signing of the Luxembourg Peace Treaty, when in response to the emergency but also out of purely political considerations public authorities significantly changed the guidelines of the entire social welfare system’s development; and finally, the policies set up in the 1950s, which aimed not only at providing stable accommodation for refugees but also at other geopolitical, socio-cultural, social engineering and electoral objectives. Thus, this contribution not only explains how the construction of the welfare state in Italy has been shaped by the problem of refugees, but also shows another side of the same issue: the role of welfare provision in constructing social groups, which in this case took on a strong ethnic and political character.

“Dark” positivity: Do candidates with a more aversive personality use positive campaigning more often?

Although positive campaigning is a widely used communication strategy in election campaigns, determinants aside from political characteristics and gender are largely unknown. However, the personality traits of candidates could affect campaigning strategies beyond these factors. Recent research shows that people with an aversive (“dark”) personality tend to self-promote and are attracted to leadership positions. Transferring these findings to self-promotion in election campaigns, I ask if candidates with a more aversive personality use positive campaigning more often. 2,133 candidates who ran for 10 state parliaments in Germany in 2021, 2022, and 2023 self-reported how often they used positive campaigning. Analyses via structural equation modeling show that the candidates’ aversive personality is positively and significantly related to their use of positive campaigning and that this relationship holds when controlling for political and sociodemographic characteristics. The implications of the findings and potential pathways for further research are discussed.

Political Professionalization Beyond National Borders: An Analysis of Italian MPs in Overseas Constituencies

Among European countries, Italy is one of the relatively few cases to provide a quota of reserved parliamentary seats for non-resident citizens. Despite an increased scientific interest in the topic, the group of MPs elected in Overseas Constituencies remains overlooked in the available literature. The gap relates to factors such as their socio-biographical profile, precedent careers, parliamentary activity, the role played in their recruitment by the party abroad or at a national level, and their style of representation. In this vein, the article investigates the career profiles of Italian MPs elected in Overseas Constituencies from 2006 (the first elections with the introduction of citizen representatives living abroad) to 2022. Based on an original data set and through an analysis of their biographical and political characteristics, the article builds a typology of elected MPs abroad by cross-referencing two dimensions derived from the literature: the linkage with the host country and the presence of previous political and associational experiences. The analysis shows that different types of MPs have different career lengths and a different capacity to collect preference votes.

Regime Type of Foreign Supporters of Resistance Movements and its Impact on State Repression

ABSTRACT Does the regime type of a foreign state supporter of a resistance movement influence violent repression by domestic states facing resistance? Studies on resistance movements have recently begun to explore the effects of third-party support on the behaviors and successes of the movements themselves and the governments they oppose. While this literature has unearthed important findings on the impact of external interventions on behalf of resistance groups, one area of research that remains unexplored is how the political features of third-party actors shape the behavior of governments that face resistance movements. This study investigates how the domestic political characteristics of foreign supporters of resistance movements affect the repressive behaviors of domestic states facing resistance. Looking specifically at the regime type of foreign state supporters of opposition groups, we argue that resistance movements that receive assistance from democratic foreign states deter domestic governments facing resistance from using violent repression. Such governments recognize the selection effects associated with democratic intervention and the reputational costs associated with human rights practices and thus, they are less likely to commit physical violence against dissidents. Our findings for resistance campaigns during the period of 1981–2013 support our expectations that external support from democratic states for resistance movements reduces the likelihood of domestic governments facing resistance using violent repression against dissident groups.

The Impact of Liquidity and Corporate Efficiency on Profitability

This study aims to investigate and determine the trend and extent of the impact of a company's liquidity and efficiency on profitability. Research data is collected on the audited financial statements of Vietnam's top 100 listed companies. Regression models (pooled OLS, FEM, and REM) and necessary tests are used to select the appropriate analysis model. Model defects are overcome by GLS regression. The research results confirm the strong, positive impact of liquidity, company efficiency, and company growth rate on profitability. In addition, the research results also demonstrate a significant negative impact between financial leverage and profitability. This article is the first study to simultaneously address the effects of liquidity and corporate efficiency on profitability. Furthermore, it is the first empirical study applying GLS regression to analyze the impact of liquidity and corporate efficiency on the top 100 listed companies in the Vietnamese market. This market provides an ideal analytical framework because of its heterogeneity in terms of its history of origin and development and its political, cultural, social, and governance characteristics. To make the research results more general, future studies can expand the scope of the survey to all companies listed on the stock market. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-01-013 Full Text: PDF

Governmental responses and firm resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of culture and politics

Using data from 180 countries and 24,833 publicly traded firms worldwide, this study examines how cultural and political factors influence the stringency of a government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and, in turn, the stock prices of firms and industries operating in a given country. Existing research demonstrates that government behavior during a pandemic can directly or indirectly affect stock prices. This study explores twelve political and cultural characteristics that might influence government policies. Interestingly, our results indicate that democratic and less long-term-oriented countries employ stricter responses to the pandemic. Furthermore, countries with higher individualism, coalition governments, and governments not battling for re-election appear to employ a smoothing strategy: although they implement stringent responses early on, they tend to react less aggressively when the number of COVID-19 cases increases. This study finds that increased stringency has a negative impact on corporate abnormal returns, especially during the early stages of the pandemic. Our study has important policy implications and offers valuable insights to investors: stock price reactions depend on political and cultural factors, industry, and firm characteristics. Most importantly, larger firms with more cash operating in collectivist and politically stable countries are more resilient.

Senegal’s Political Character and its Connections with the Middle East

Abstract Senegal is a country that values diplomacy. It is a predominantly-Muslim populated, constitutionally secular, nonaligned state having relations with most countries in the world. Senegal has maintained a stable political system with peaceful transfers of power despite being located in a region of Africa witnessing unstable conditions in recent years. Its leadership is well regarded by countries with different political systems and through that reputation has been able to receive needed technical and economic assistance while maintaining an independent foreign policy. Senegal has exercised influence on the continent, and even beyond, greater than a number of African countries larger in size, since its independence from France in June 1960. Therefore, it has attracted the attention of outside powers, including those in the Middle East of middle size. Those countries, namely Saudi Arabia (together with Morocco and its allies in the Gulf), Türkiye, Iran and Israel, have regarded Senegal as a “gateway” to West Africa and the Sahel region. Yet while Senegal’s ties especially with France and its neighbors in Africa have received much scholarly attention, academics have only recently begun to investigate Senegal’s connections with the Middle East; it is indeed one important aspect for anyone wishing to study Senegal’s foreign relations in a more comprehensive fashion and to have a better understanding of how this country is quite successful in balancing those ties.

Dakwah Islam dalam Dunia Pendidikan Bahasa Arab untuk Membentuk Generasi Muslim yang Sadar

This research aims to investigate the positive impact of using Arabic in an educational context on understanding the Islamic values contained in it. The target of this research is students from the Faculty of Da'wah and Communication Sciences at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. This research applies a qualitative approach using case study and questionnaire techniques as the main method of data collection. From the survei results, it can be concluded that the majority of respondents (90%) consider it important to include Arabic in the university curriculum. The reason for implementing the use of Arabic is because it involves moral development, cross-cultural communication, and understanding Islamic teachings. Respondents also saw the benefits of learning Arabic in the context of deepening understanding of the Koran, improving the quality of worship, and forming polite character. Overall, the survei supports the success of Arabic in making a positive contribution to the moral and spiritual formation of students. Some respondents had different points of view because they found it difficult to learn Arabic, but they provided several different solutions for learning it. The next reason for differences of opinion is the status of Arabic as an international language because not all universities have muslim students.

Dual polity, dual careers? The dynamic interaction of political careers and territorial order in the devolved United Kingdom

ABSTRACT A lack of inter-governmental relations has been seen as a serious challenge to the integrity of the UK after devolution. This article asks whether newly evolving multilevel political career patterns can make up for this deficit by providing new and meaningful institutional linkages between centre and periphery or whether they cement and expand the existent institutional schism? The empirical career analysis reveals patterns of alternative careers facilitating the emergence of distinct political classes at the centre and the peripheries. Career patterns and institutional structures are depicted as mutually reinforcing the dualistic character of British territorial politics and thus projecting the image of a divided rather than a united kingdom.

The tone of the president's immigration rhetoric

AbstractWe examine the tone of the president's immigration policy speeches as a function of the political context, policy characteristics, and individual presidents in two ways. First, we describe the tone of the president's immigration rhetoric using DICTION software and its five global categories of tone. Second, we hypothesize that commonality and optimism, two categories of tone expressive of immigration policy, will co‐vary by political context, policy characteristics of immigration, and a president's approach to rhetoric. To test our expectations, we collected presidential mentions of immigration since 1953 from the Public Papers of the Presidents. Key variables, like the president's honeymoon and the post‐9/11 era, increase a president's commonality tone, and the president's approval ratings encourage greater optimism. Individual presidents also shape presidential rhetoric, indicating the importance of presidential style to immigration tone, especially for optimism. We conclude with implications of our work for the systematic study of presidential tone and the prospects for comprehensive immigration reform.

A critical review of the significance of elitism and pluralism to disaster risk management

AbstractDisasters and disaster risks are social phenomena that take place in a political space shaped by different political ideologies. Despite this connection, the field of disaster risk management has been developed without a deliberate incorporation of political theories. Using a narrative literature review methodology, this paper sought to elucidate the significance of political theory in shaping both the policy and practice of disaster risk management. The review reveals notable intersections between political theories, such as elitism and pluralism, and established disaster risk management paradigms, specifically objectivism and constructivism. Notably, elitism and objectivism tend to promote expertise, marginalize citizen participation, and emphasize centralized disaster management, whereas pluralism and constructivism advocate for diversity, tolerance, and competition, aligning with the concept of disaster risk management. The paper argues that ignoring political theories in disaster risk management can conceal a deeper understanding of the power relations between different stakeholders, as well as the historical, economic, social, and political characteristics of a society. It advocates for future studies to examine the contributions of political theories explicitly and critically to disaster risk policies and practices. This call highlights the need for a deeper understanding of how political theories impact the effectiveness and equity of disaster risk management.

The Political Dimensions in Discourses of Youth Organizations Operating in Poland: Scope and Dynamics of Changes in the Context of the Russo-Ukrainian War

In this article, the research aim was to reconstruct the political characteristics of the discourses of four youth organizations operating in Poland in three intertwined dimensions: content, structure and time. In the content dimension, by using the analysis of the discursive strategies, the focus was on political goals and political features of collective identities. In the structure dimension, by using the analytical tool provided by discursive institutionalism, the internal dynamics of discourses were explored. In the dimensions of structure and time, an attempt was made to capture the discursive change as a reaction to the war in Ukraine. Over 700 texts posted by the organizations’ websites or Facebook pages were analysed. Three types of discourses were identified, which show various ways of representing political objectives and collective identities. Furthermore, all of the discourses reacted to the war in Ukraine. The results show the scope and dynamics of such changes.

A Brief Analysis of the Historical Change Process and Characteristics of Hu Yaobang's Political Character

The development of character profoundly influences an individual's life, and in the realm of politics, it shapes a person's political trajectory, encompassing a series of decisions and choices. Hu Yaobang, as a prominent political figure within the Chinese Communist Party, was influenced by the cultural milieu of Hunan Province during his formative years, the era he lived in, and the people and events around him. Through a series of challenges and experiences, he evolved into a paramount figure within the CCP, with his political character maturing over time. Hu Yaobang's political character is multifaceted, marked by his dedication to public service, unwavering courage, and steadfast beliefs. These traits not only earned him acclaim as an exemplary Communist Party member but also bestowed enduring contributions upon China's reform and opening-up endeavors. This study aims to explore Hu Yaobang's political character, offering insights into China's unique historical development through individual analysis, holding positive implications for furthering China's reform and opening-up and its contemporary populace.

Beyond the Dark Sides of the Web: For an Ethical Model of Digital Solidarity

ABSTRACT In this article, I intend to propose an ethical model for digital solidarity. On the one hand, it emphasises the importance of adopting a solidarity model to escape the logic of surveillance capitalism and the race for profits typical of the digital giants’ business model. On the other, it is intended to point out that a model of solidarity embodied in the digital network may instead offer a more universalistic alternative to the types of solidarity that have often imposed themselves in our contemporary political landscape, namely solidarity limited to groups in opposition to others. In order to show what economic and political characteristics this model should respect, two case studies will be examined, namely Wikipedia and Occupy Wall Street.

Separation of Powers Principle tn the States of XXI Century: Constitutional Approach

The relevance of the topic of this study comes from the constant search by legal theorists for the formula of an ideal state and the determination of the scope of power and functions of a particular branch of government. That is because the different balance and strengthening of one of the three branches of government leads to the formation of one or another political system within the state, and also determines the dynamism of the country’s development. In different states, this balance and system of checks and balances are formed differently, which gives rise to their political characteristics, thus creating political challenges. The subject of this work is the principle of separation of powers, according to which democracy is realized in the modern world. The purpose of the work is to explore the theory of separation of powers, its current position in countries with Presidential and Parliamentary forms of government and how compliance with certain criteria can help maintain the effectiveness of government in the modern era. The topic of this study is relatively up-to-date due to the small number of legal works devoted to the issues which are taken into consideration. Most researchers focus on the topic of the classical theory of separation of powers, rightfully positioning it as the dominant and generally accepted principle of organization of power in a state. Thus, based on a certain distribution of power, they give their preferences to one or another form of government. At the same time, the smaller number of works are devoted to alternative positions associated with the branches of government. This article, in its essence, is a study that starts discussion on the topic of the constitutional branch of government. The research methods used in this work are typical for a legal research (analysis, synthesis, etc.). Through a comparative analysis of the separation of powers in the countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the United States and Indonesia, this study attempts to shed light on the need to establish a balance between the three branches of government. This study outlines the position of why the principle of separation of powers is so important for modern states of the world. And how does this principle ensure stability, security and democracy in a state. Based on the analyzed theoretical and real provisions in countries, the author proposes the position of adding a new branch of government to the existing one - the classical system of checks and balances. The constitutional branch of power is a guarantee of stability and balance of a certain state. The findings of this study contribute to the debate on the distribution of power and responsibilities between branches of government and compliance with checks and balances. This reflects the eternal search for balance between branches of power in the theory of law. This study also proposes to supplement three branches of government with a fourth component - the Constitutional branch of government. The author suggests that the inclusion of a new branch of government will help make government systems and their forms of governance more democratic, efficient, and capable of meeting the requirements of modern time.

ПОЛИТИКА ПАМЯТИ В ЛЕГИТИМАЦИИ ВЛАСТИ ПОСТСОВЕТСКИХ ГОСУДАРСТВ В КОНТЕКСТЕ ОСНОВНЫХ НАУЧНЫХ ТЕОРИЙ

The formation of political regimes in the republics of the former USSR is helped by the implementation of an active symbolic policy, which contributes to the legitimation of power in the majority of states formed after 1991. The presented article reflects scientific theories and approaches to the phenomenology of symbolic politics considered in the interaction of the political power of new polities and social strata and population groups of these states. The relevance of the chosen topic of the article lies in the study of the algorithm for the implementation of symbolic politics in new conditions that influence the legitimation and strengthening of political power in new states. Field research: political institutions, processes and technologies. The purpose of the article is to present and justify the author’s definition and phenomenology of the symbolic politics of post-Soviet states in line with scientific theories and approaches to understanding the role of states and public policy. The subject of the study is the essential characteristics of symbolic politics in the processes of legitimation of political regimes in the republics of the former USSR. As a result of the research conducted by the author, on the basis of scientific theories and approaches to public policy, the essence of the symbolic policy pursued in the states of the post-Soviet space is substantiated. Problem statement: the constructed collective historical memory and political mythology in the post-Soviet space, implemented by state institutions and non-state actors, provides a solution to the following problems. In particular, the legitimation of political power, the success of the formation of civil identity and the construction of a political nation. The study of successful examples of symbolic policies of new states has a chance of practical application in the Russian Federation.