Complex Societies Research Articles

PHYSICAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL DYNAMICS: A SOCIOPHYSICS PERSPECTIVE

Sociophysics is an interdisciplinary field that uses methods from the physical sciences to study human behavior and interactions. It includes mathematical and computational techniques such as big data analysis, statistical modeling, network theory, and simulations. It analyzes complex systems to understand the dynamics of society. Historically, sociophysics emerged from applying statistical mechanics and thermodynamics to social phenomena. Foundational work has modeled opinion dynamics, crowd behavior, and information diffusion in social networks, and provided insights into consensus, polarization, and social stability. The basic concepts are based on treating individuals as agents, using network theory, and applying statistical mechanics and dynamical systems. Methods include big data analysis, statistical modeling, simulations, and network analysis. Future research will aim to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, utilize real-time data, and apply findings to public policy. Sociophysics aims to improve our understanding of social systems and solve today's society's complex problems. In this study, the field of sociophysics, its historical development, studies in the literature, and methods were generally discussed.

The function of education in comprehending India's social diversity

Since education is the foundation of social achievement, political stability, and economic wealth, it is widely acknowledged that it is the cornerstone upon which society is constructed. It is an essential component of the process by which all modern civilizations evolve and the most important indicator of overall growth in any area. In complex societies when families and other core groups are ill-equipped to prepare the young for maturity as the broader society expects, the role of the educational system in preserving society and culture is especially crucial. The school system's contribution to the preservation of society and culture is less important in simple societies. Everybody cares about education, which is seen as a basic social necessity in every community. By taking use of educational opportunities, one can broaden their knowledge and support their personal empowerment process. In addition to not being standardized, India's previous educational system was not accessible to everybody. "It was based on religious principles rather than reason, and it had an elitist attitude, both of which exacerbated social inequality. Education is essential to the process of maintaining, changing, and shifting identities in any society.

Tinjauan Hasil Evaluasi Pendidikan Karakter Anak dalam Pembelajaran PAI

Islamic Religious Education (PAI) has an important role in shaping the character of students, as a moral and ethical foundation in the education system. PAI not only teaches religious knowledge, but also focuses on developing students' attitudes and behavior in accordance with Islamic teachings. Thus, character education through PAI aims to create an intellectually intelligent generation, with high moral integrity, ready to contribute positively in a complex and dynamic society. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of children's character education in PAI learning by examining the teaching approaches used by educators, the methods applied, and the results achieved. The research method uses a qualitative approach. Data was collected through literature studies and in-depth interviews with PAI educators from various schools in Indonesia. Research findings show that the integration of character values ​​in PAI significantly improves students' morals and ethics. Students not only understand religious concepts cognitively but are also able to apply these values ​​in everyday life.

MINORITY JURISPRUDENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF HALAL FOOD EVALUATION IN SINGAPORE

The study focuses on minority jurisprudential perspectives regarding the evaluation of Halal food in Singapore. It observes an increasing demand for Halal-certified food within the Muslim community in Singapore, prompting concerns about Halal extremism, defensive eating, and potential contamination between Halal and non-Halal food items. Minority jurisprudence offers a legal framework that is both contextual and adaptable, making it particularly relevant for addressing the challenges encountered by Muslim minorities within non-Muslim societies. To address these issues, a qualitative research approach centered on document analysis was employed. This involved examining Fiqh texts, fatwas, academic studies, and related documents. The findings of the study present the views and opinions of minority jurisprudence regarding potential solutions to the identified challenges. Additionally, the concept of at-takhayyur was discussed as a minority jurisprudential approach to addressing the problem of Halal food evaluation in Singapore. Studying Halal food evaluation through the lens of minority jurisprudence offers a more comprehensive understanding of contemporary Halal food-related issues. Consequently, this research has the potential to contribute to the integration of residents from diverse backgrounds within Singapore's complex and multicultural society.

The Agricultural Economy of the Sanxingdui Culture (3700–3100 BP): Archaeological and Historical Evidence from the Chengdu Plain

Agriculture is a critical foundation for the development of large-scale complex and urban societies. Sanxingdui, located on the Chengdu Plain in western Sichuan and linked with the ancient Chinese Shu Kingdom, is one of the most distinctive archaeological sites in the world. However, despite its importance, the agricultural economy of the Sanxingdui culture and the Chengdu Plain remains poorly understood and heavily debated. This study synthesizes recent archaeological and historical evidence concerning the agricultural economy underpinning the increasing scale and social complexity at Sanxingdui and the greater Chengdu Plain prior to 2200 BP. Our analysis finds a mixed rice and dry-land millet farming economy, in conjunction with pig and chicken husbandry, during the Sanxingdui culture (3700–3100 BP). This integrated agricultural system likely began with the Baodun culture (4500–3700 BP), passing to the Sanxingdui culture (3700–3100 BP), Shierqiao culture (3100–2600 BP) and later, the Shu culture (2600–2300 BP). In addition, although gathering, hunting, and fishing accounted for relatively low proportions of the overall subsistence, the ancient peoples at Sanxingdui and across the Chengdu Plain continued these practices, supporting a diverse agricultural and food system. Understanding the subsistence at Sanxingdui offers key insights into the development of complex societies in southwest China, the contributions to Chinese culture, and the role of agriculture worldwide.

Membangun Fondasi Iman Anak Melalui Katekese Keluarga

This article emphasizes the importance of family catechesis in cultivating faith among children. The utilization of family catechesis can be an effective means of guiding and educating children in religious matters in a complex society that is increasingly influenced by adherence to secular values. Parental involvement is very important in this process. This article discusses the role of family catechesis and the importance of parents in educating children about faith. Use strategies to apply family catechesis to daily life, such as family prayer, reading and discussing scripture, celebrating religious holidays together, leading by example, providing space to ask questions and explore, and using technology and online resources. This article also discusses the challenges that may arise in the implementation of family catechesis, as well as solutions to overcome these challenges. Finally, the conclusion of this article highlights the importance of building a religious foundation for children in an increasingly complex world. Parents have an important role in guiding their children in religious affairs, in spiritual relationships, instilling religious teachings and introducing them to the world.

The concept of identity: movement from the abstract to the concrete

The subject of the article is an overview of identitarian research results in Russia reflected in the cycle of the 2010-2023 fundamental scientific publications. The main result is the formation of an original Russian scientific school of identity studies and the establishment of this scientific area as an autonomous subdiscipline of political science. Two substantive dimensions of identitarian studies are identified - analytical-conceptual and substantive-political. Within the framework of the first one, the author analysesthe key theoretical parameters of identity studies, including the substantive evolution of the identity concept, theoretical and methodological context and semantic explications of identity studies. A number of identity theoretical articulations are considered: identity modus operandi (positive, negative), identity crises, development, complex society, political space and political time, social justice, social solidarity, civilisational and geopolitical identity, memory and culture wars, cancellation culture, cultural security and cultural sovereignty, and others. An overview of prospective identity studies is presented, including the synthesis of micro- and macro-level identity analyses; the development of the middle-level theories as the way to bridge the gap between empirical analysis and “big theory” in understanding the changes taking place in different regions of the world, taking into account the historical past, political culture, emotional structure and worldview; the relationship between macro-political identities and ideologies; the correlation between civic and ethnic identities; and the relationship between identity and ideology. The political significance of identity research reflects the need to reorient the contemporary way of thinking as predominantly consumerist to the responsible development imperatives, which is supported by a positive identity.

Tinjauan Kritis Terhadap Misi Penginjilan Paulus Terhadap Dinamika Kontemporer Dan Tantangan Dalam Masyarakat Modern

This research uses a mixed approach to investigate the dynamics of Evangelical Missions in the context of modern society. By combining qualitative interviews, quantitative surveys, social media analysis, and focus groups, this research aims to understand how shifting social values and technology influence approaches to evangelism. Findings will provide a holistic view of the challenges and opportunities in conveying the Gospel message in the contemporary era. Literature studies support the theoretical foundation, while interviews and surveys involve active participation from various community groups. Social media content analysis reveals patterns in messaging, and focuses on providing groups with a platform to hear people's voices. It is hoped that the results of this research can provide a significant contribution to the practical and theoretical understanding of Evangelical Missions in an increasingly complex modern society.

Intrincada construcción de identidad profesional y relaciones de poder: percepciones en docentes universitarios de Educación Física (Intricate construction of professional identity and power relations: perceptions in university Physical Education teachers)

Physical Education (PE) teachers, faced with the demands of a complex and changing society, warn that they are being placed before the educational system, as one of the main responsible for the crisis that university education is going through, events that disrupt the sense of professional identity forged during years of initial and in-service training. Aim. Understand the construction of representations of professional identity in a context of intersubjective positions of power based on interactive/reflective discourses among university PE teachers. Method. Qualitative, inductive, open coding, dynamic and interactive with support in Atlas.ti 8, for data analysis. Results. It is not possible to identify constructs-perceptions of professional identity, detached from a network, a field of very subtle arrangements and dissents that define positions, alliances, oppositions and intersubjective power relations among university PE teachers; Teachers go through tortuous experiences that prevent them from building their own identity; what exists is an attributed and pre-established identity; They associate their identity with “should be”, regulated-supervised by institutional-normative management and with ways of responding to the expectations and interests of others. Conclusion. In the current university management model, the teacher, in addition to assuming an attributed identity, linked to structural positions of dominance-subordination, experiences certain external pressures to abdicate his vocation and professional training in favor of the idea of ​​becoming a scientific and bureaucratic being. out of obligation. Institutional programs are needed to build university identity processes. Keywords: professional identity, university identity, university teaching, professional training, power relations, physical education teacher.

Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan Pada Generasi Alpha Sebagai Upaya Membangun Kesadaran Kewarganegaraan Yang Berkualitas

Civic education in the Alpha generation is important as an effort to build quality civic awareness. Generation Alpha, born at the beginning of the 21st century, grew up in a globally connected digital era. This abstract explores the role of citizenship education in shaping their understanding of democratic values, political participation, human rights, and cultural pluralism. By strengthening their awareness of their responsibilities as citizens, citizenship education can help them become agents of positive change in society. An innovative and technology-based educational approach is needed to reach the Alpha generation effectively. An emphasis on intergenerational collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving will help create an Alpha generation that is skilled, educated, and caring about a complex global society

홍산문화 우하량 유적을 통해 본 『삼국유사』 「고조선조」의 神市

The Hongshan culture is a Neolithic culture which developed in the Liaoxi region (the west part of Liaoning province) from 4700 BCE to 3000 BCE. It has been studied as the source of Korean history from an early age as it is a distinct civilization, independent from the Yellow River civilization. Chinese scholars consider the social stage at the time of the Niuheliang's site to be ‘already a complex society and entering the stage of early State’ and consider it a core culture that formed the Chinese culture alongside the Yellow River Civilization. Despite the geographical location and nature of the artifacts that distinguish the Hongshan culture from traditional historical perceptions centered on China's Yellow River, the majority of Korean scholars are skeptical of its relevance to Korean history. The Niuheliang's site group, where birds, bears, and goddess statues were simultaneously revealed in the Hongshan culture, is an archaeological evidence that proves the records about Hwanung and Ungnyeo found in the section about Gojoseon (ancient Joseon) in Samguk yusa. The story of Hwanung handed down by the Gojoseon Dynasty and the ruins and relics of Hongshan culture clearly fit together, we must study Hwanung's founding of Shinsi more seriously.

The Impact of Educational Environment and Educational Strategies on Adolescents' Interpersonal Relationships

In modern society, interpersonal relationships at the adolescent stage not only have a profound impact on the development of an individual's social skills but also play a key role in his or her future career, family and social life. With the increasing research in education and psychology, adolescents' interpersonal relationship development has become a focus of attention in the fields of education and mental health. The impact of teaching and learning environments and educational strategies on adolescents' social skills and emotional development has become more pronounced, especially in an increasingly complex and diverse society. Therefore, an in-depth exploration of this topic is important for developing more effective educational policies and fostering good interpersonal relationships among adolescents. This paper analyzes in depth the influence of educational environment and educational strategies on the interpersonal development of adolescents, and through a comparative analysis of previous studies, the author finds that the creation of an open and positive educational environment has a positive influence on the promotion of the development of adolescent interpersonal relationships. Educational strategies of cooperation, communication, and content diversity play an important role in adolescents' maintenance of interpersonal relationships. The paper also points out that while existing research provides valuable insights, further research is needed on other factors that may influence adolescents' interpersonal development. The paper concludes with some recommendations for educators and policymakers aimed at creating more effective teaching and learning environments and strategies to promote healthy interpersonal relationship development among adolescents.

Beyond the Hype: Towards a Critical Debate About AI Chatbots in Swedish Higher Education

Interested in emerging technologies in higher education, we look at AI chatbots through the lens of human– technology mediations. We argue for shifting the focus from what higher education can do with AI chatbots to why AI chatbots are compelling for higher education’s raison-’être. We call for a critical debate examining the power of AI chatbots in configuring students as civic actors in an increasingly complex and digitalized society. We welcome a continuous and rigorous examination of generative AI chatbots and their impact on teaching practices and student learning in higher education.

Chorematic modeling to represent dynamics in the quinoa agroecosystems in Peru.

Our research occurred in the Andean region, one of the eight global centers of domestication of plant species grown for agriculture. The shores of Lake Titicaca (located between Peru and Bolivia), at 3800 meters above sea level, are recognized as the center of origin of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.). In this region, complex societies have emerged, thanks to the development of water and soil management technologies. They have managed to overcome high mountain territories' extreme and variable climatic conditions. These societies have traditionally protected and preserved quinoa as food for present and future generations through their long-standing knowledge and cultivation practices. The fieldwork occurred in the context of Andean family farming, and our study analyzes nature-society dynamics with a chorematic approach and interviews with local communities. The interest of this work is the transformation of the landscape at the scale of the mountain agroecosystem to understand better the impacts of rural development policies. Chorematic modeling was applied to two periods, before and after 1970, a pivotal year in Peru for agriculture, to show how socio-spatial dynamics in the Andean environment are changing, particularly concerning the evolution of quinoa cultivation. The results show that wild quinoa relatives' distribution is strongly linked to the socio-spatial organization of the agroecosystem. Different species of wild quinoa relatives are maintained by villagers for their multiple foods, medicinal and cultural uses in natural areas, grazed areas, on edge, and also within cultivated fields. However, this management is changing under the pressure of global issues related to the international quinoa market, whose requirements imply reducing the presence of wild relatives in cultivated fields.

Bone-artefact production in late Neolithic central China: evidence from Pingliangtai

As an important component of prehistoric subsistence, an understanding of bone-working is essential for interpreting the evolution of early complex societies, yet worked bones are rarely systematically collected in China. Here, the authors apply multiple analytical methods to worked bones from the Longshan site of Pingliangtai, in central China, showing that Neolithic bone-working in this area, with cervid as the main raw material, was mature but localised, household-based and self-sufficient. The introduction of cattle in the Late Neolithic precipitated a shift in bone-working traditions but it was only later, in the Bronze Age, that cattle bones were utilised in a specialised fashion and dedicated bone-working industries emerged in urban centres.

“So Lonely”: Comparative Law and the Quest for Interdisciplinary Legal Education

For various reasons, that will be recalled and analysed throughout this paper, interdisciplinarity has become the keyword for any debate on legal education reform. However, what is meant by interdisciplinarity and how it should be achieved is open for discussion. Paradigms of “scientificity” of the law vary dramatically among legal cultures. Whereas in the US the advent of a more ‘substantial’ legal thought after the New Deal went hand in hand with the rise of the interdisciplinary paradigm, in Europe the traditional assumption of law’s autonomy has repeatedly been challenged, eroded and adapted, but it still represents the bulwark of the orthodox approach to law and legal scholarship. In the Continent, mainstream legal scholarship does not take as its object the social reality, but only the gamut of rules recognized as binding norms. Coherent with this approach is a model of legal education built around certain axioms, such as the statist and nationalist attitude, the extreme compartmentalization among the various branches of law, and the blindness to its surroundings. Comparative law is one of the few disciplines that provide a different role model for a legal scholar who is apt to confront the challenges of complex societies. Keeping at a reasonable distance the authority paradigm, embodying the spirit of enquiry and cherishing the values of pluralism (both in terms of legal pluralism and cognitive openness), comparativists may give specific content to the paradigm of the jurist as a social engineer. Comparative law may therefore offer an invaluable contribution to the debate on legal education reform.

A typology of polished stone axes in the middle Yellow River and their impact on early complex societies

Polished stone axes have long been recognized as essential tools directly related to logging and wood processing in sedentary societies, playing a crucial role in prehistoric people's survival and social production. Their evolution as production tools has been a driving force behind the advancement of society's productive capacities. In this article, information and data on stone axes from the middle Yellow River region are systematically compiled, presenting a typology based on 640 stone axes from 153 sites spanning the Middle Neolithic to the Bronze Age. The main conclusions derived from the study are as follows: (1) Typological study reveals that stone axes can be classified into 7 types. By examining the evolution of these types and their combinations, four distinct phases in the development of stone axes are identified, reaching its peak during the middle stage of Phase 4. (2) The flourishing of the stone axe types originated in the Yangshao period in the Guanzhong Plain. With the development of social complexity and the establishment of the Xia and Shang dynasties after the Longshan period, the center of gravity of stone axe types and assemblages gradually shifted to the Central Plains and the Fen River Valley. Finally, the genealogy spread to the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains and declined. (3) The types of stone axes from the late Yangshao period and the middle and late Longshan periods exhibit a clear shift, highlighting their functional differentiation during these periods. (4) The production of stone axes can be categorized into two modes based on the raw stone material used: (a) and (b). The metallization of tools, even during the so-called Bronze Age, experienced significant delays, and it was only during the Yinxu era that bronze axes began to replace some of the stone axes produced in mode (b). (5) The functional differentiation of axes and the transformation of the mode of production have played a role in inducing the emergence of social complexity and expediting its development to some extent.

AS RELAÇÕES DE PODER E A LIBERDADE DE MANIFESTAÇÃO FRENTE À CRISE DE LEGITIMIDADE DO ESTADO-NAÇÃO

The objective of the study is to analyze the relations of power and authority from the perspective of the phenomenon of legitimation, in the search for obtaining consensus and producing voluntary obedience in Society. The perspective of the use of force is also addressed, given its direct correlation with the very notion of State and as an attribute of power aimed at maintaining sovereignty, although its recurrent use may represent a kind of systemic anomaly. The premises point to an exhaustion of the model of symbiosis between legitimacy and legality as a sufficient factor to support current state structures in the face of the perplexity of those in power in the face of a complex, unequal and digital society. In another aspect, the structures of social domination are analyzed based on the interaction between economy and power, given their essentially patrimonial content and a determining historical factor in establishing the social position of individuals in the process of social stratification. Finally, the exercise of freedom of expression is addressed in the face of the multiplicity of contemporary social demands in the face of questioning the authority and legitimacy of state institutions.

Soviet Federal Project and the Collisions of Nation Building in the 1920-1930s

The author examines the collisions of the Soviet nation-building which are actively debated in modern historiography. The source base for the research is the published materials, as well as the archival documents of the Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History and the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. There are analyzed some specific historical subjects and the contribution of modern historiography to the understanding of the current problems and the formulation of new ideas and approaches to the analysis of the designated set of issues including the tools of Soviet socio-political engineering, the role and significance of ethnopolitical elites in the creation of the USSR as a complex hierarchical structure. It is concluded that the contradictions in the implementation of ethnonational policy were directly related to the formation of the Soviet federation, which became a concession to the ethnopolitical movements of the early XX century; and managing diversity was the central task of the state as an alternative to previous political systems for culturally complex societies.

Recipes for Happiness: Conversations on Happiness and Well-being in the School Environment

Background: Since ancient times, the debate around happiness has been present in philosophical reflections. In the face of an increasingly complex society, impacted by several crisis, the need and urgency to debate conceptualizations of happiness and well-being is evident, and educational institutions may play a relevant role in this process. Objective: Considering philosophical and current psychological perspectives on well-being, this paper seeks to analyze children’s perceptions of happiness through the analysis of an anthology of recipes for happiness created by elementary school children in a public school in Brazil. Methodology: A qualitative analysis was carried out based on the content of 15 recipes for happiness, produced by 6th grade students at a federal public school in Brazil. Content analysis was conducted associating the thematic categories of the article “children’s conceptualizations of happiness” with the ingredients of the recipes for happiness. Results: Among the corpus of recipes analyzed in the study, positive feelings were present in 86.7% of the recipes, followed by positive self (66.7%), then friendship (46.7%), and leisure (33.3%). Conclusion: The results demonstrate writing recipes for happiness can be considered an effective intervention to articulate the debate about well-being in the school environment. Furthermore, understanding children's perceptions of happiness can be important data for developing well-being policies in schools.