Historical Context Research Articles

Digital cultural policy in Japan: decentralised digitalisation initiatives and their associated challenges

ABSTRACT This article examines how diverse public authorities in Japan have committed to digital cultural policiesover the past two decades in response to the emergence of the creative economy, lockdown during the pandemic and political demands for Japan’s soft power. Drawing on the comprehensive review of policy documents and relevant media coverage with supplementary interviews with civil servants, this paper investigates cultural policies related to the digital archiving of culture and promotion of digitalised content, including funding for online streaming, digitalising museum and heritage collections, and amendments of copyright laws. It contributes to the scholarly discourse of digital cultural policy by (1) offering the first comprehensive review of digital cultural policy in Japan, (2) examining how these digital policies are shaped by institutional and historical contexts, and (3) discussing the barriers, inefficiencies, and challenges associated with these policies. By providing the first comprehensive overview of Japan’s digital cultural policy, this paper aims to advance the internationalisation and de-westernisation of the field, serving as a foundation for future scholarly dialogue.

Homophobic media or lesbian memories? Hong Kong queer women’ online debate over The First Girl I Loved

ABSTRACT Hong Kong cinema is known for producing bittersweet teenage lesbian stories, in which young lovers inevitably grow up to be married women leading heteronormative lives. The latest film to follow this tradition divided queer women upon its release. Some denounced The First Girl I Loved (2021) for perpetuating a dangerous and anachronistic stereotype, while others celebrated the film as a positive, faithful portrayal of lesbian memories. This paper challenges the view that LGBTQ+ films must be unilaterally transgressive or hegemonic, rather, I position this binary evaluation as part of queer audience’s own interpretive repertoire. By examining how viewers use terms such as ‘outdated’ and ‘authentic’ to describe the film, this study demonstrates that queer women are in fact debating the directors’ sexual-gender identities (what Foucault calls ‘the author function’) and the temporality of lesbian representations. Images of queer trauma can be read as homophobic to some while resonating with others, and by situating this tension within Hong Kong’s historical and political context, I argue that both readings are crucial strategies that Hong Kong women use to contest mainstream sexology and that the film helps them memorialize their lost gay youth online.

Air quality in the U.S. during the 2023 wildfire season

During the summer of 2023, Canada was devastated by a series of large and uncontrolled wildfires that set the unprecedented record of over 40 million acres burned and over 120,000 people evacuated. The smoke from the Canadian wildfires reached the U.S. and negatively affected the air quality in several states. The goal of this paper is to document the U.S. air quality in 2023 within the historical and regulatory contexts; more specifically, to compare the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and tropospheric ozone (O3), assessed using statistics as close as possible to those recommended for comparison against the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), in 2023 against those in the past 20 years. We report that the year 2023 was an anomaly, meaning that the well-established trend of decreasing concentrations and improving air quality was suddenly reversed in 2023, with national-median PM2.5 and O3 concentrations exceeding 32 µgm-3 and 75 parts per billion (ppb), respectively. These values had not been reached since 2007 and 2012 for PM2.5 and O3, respectively. Out of 50 states (plus the District of Columbia), 42 and 45 experienced summer-average concentrations in 2023 that were higher than those in 2013–2022 for PM2.5 and O3, respectively. For PM2.5, the states that experienced the highest concentrations in 2023 were: California, Oregon, and North Dakota with 148, 135, and 67µgm-3; for O3, they were: California, Utah, Texas, and Illinois with 107, 99, 90, and 86 ppb. In summary, in the year 2023 the air quality in the U.S. was the worst of the past 15 and 10 years in terms of PM2.5 and O3, respectively.

Finland’s New Children’s Hospital and resurgent charity in a Nordic post-welfare state

Finland’s New Children’s Hospital (NCH) opened in 2018 after a high-profile charity campaign. Through an analysis of the campaign, we illustrate how debates about children’s hospitals and charities are simultaneously...

Research on Chinas Green Economic Policies and Sustainable Growth in the Digital Economy

China's rapid economic growth over the past four decades has come at a significant environmental cost, prompting the need for a shift toward sustainable development. This essay explores the integration of China's green economic policies with the digital economy as a pathway to achieving sustainable growth. By examining the historical context of China's environmental policies, the role of digital technologies in enhancing energy efficiency, and the challenges and opportunities in this transition, the essay argues that China's model offers valuable insights fo r other nations seeking to balance economic prosperity with environmental sustainability. Key policies such as carbon trading, renewable energy investments, and circular economy practices are analyzed, alongside the role of digital technologies like AI, IoT, and big data in optimizing resource use and reducing emissions. Despite challenges such as economic disparities, technological barriers, and policy enforcement gaps, China's innovative approach provides a promising blueprint for global sustainable development. The essay concludes that international cooperation, continued innovation, and scaling of green technologies are essential for realizing the full potential of China's green and digital economy.

Missed Nuances in Tuberculosis Research: Reflections from a Tibetan Scholar.

Acknowledging and valuing the lived experiences of scholars from the Global South is crucial for more nuanced, refined, and equitable approaches to and interpretations of research. The sheer lack of Tibetan scholars authoring and leading studies within the Tibetan diaspora is especially concerning. The paucity of Tibetan scholars in tuberculosis (TB) discourse is a marker and product of the colonization of academic global health and of global inequities in opportunity and credibility. The lack of Tibetan voices, advocates and scholars alike, in the TB discourse creates ambiguities and misinterpretations, and a general unwillingness to dig deeper into the social, cultural, economic, and historical contexts under which TB thrives in this community. It also symbolizes the lack of opportunity faced by many scholars based in the Global South. Efforts to decolonize global health must also parallel efforts to address other related injustices.

Europos švietimo erdvės strateginės programos įgyvendinimo ypatumai naujosiose ES šalyse

Almost a quarter of a century has passed since the European Union started to implement the Lisbon strategy (2000) and developed a common education policy for all the member states. The newest strategic document which defines the direction of education policy development is the European Education Area strategic framework (ET2030), which is to be implemented by the year 2030. In order to monitor the attainment of education policy goals, common goals are set for the member states. However, the EU member states have achieved different levels of socio-economic development and operate in different historical and cultural contexts. It is common practice to divide EU countries into old and new member states because the social and economic differences between the groups are most evident. Besides that, there are also differences within each group. Therefore, we may assume that the scope and the mode of achieving educational goals also differ. The study aims to reveal education policy differences of post-socialist EU member states. For this purpose, the most convenient strategy towards the ET2030 strategic framework has been identified for each post-socialist EU country, considering their different social, economic, and cultural situation.

Juan Luna as nationalist painter and hero: examining configurations of public memory in the Philippines

ABSTRACT On 12 June 2023, the Ayala Museum in the Philippines launched an exhibition entitled Splendor: Juan Luna, Painter as Hero for the commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the Philippines’ independence from Spain. It showcased Luna’s long-lost work from 1889, Hymen, oh Hyménée. Equally if not more important, however, was the exhibition’s aim to present Luna himself, his life and achievements, positioning him as a hero and protagonist in the nationalist struggle. The event was preceded by many other activities that commemorated Luna as a national hero. Using concepts derived from public memory studies, this paper examines the formation of public memory and its configurations. It delves into the historical context of the evolution of public memory and the institutions and individuals that contributed to this evolution. The paper argues that the public memory of Juan Luna owed to the nationalist reading of his achievements, promoted first by nationalist writers, then adopted and continued actively by the state. Meanwhile, private museums continue to shape public memory through exhibitions that attach Luna’s name to the national narrative. Moreover, public memory is continually shaped by popular memory that arises through ongoing commemorative activities in Luna’s locality.

The Behavior of Spanish Conquerors and Colonizers in America Is a Root Cause of Political Instability in Argentina

The political stability of Argentina is a striking phenomenon in the scientific realm. This work factually demonstrates that one of the origins of instability is the contempt of the Spanish in America for the authority of the Spanish Crown, a behavior born during the stage of conquest and colonization of America. The validation process consists of a historical analysis that is summarized in propositionally logical statements, which allow the deduction and confirmation of the initial hypothesis. For the demonstration, violations of Royal edicts are analyzed, including the prohibition of slave labor and the obligations to only buy products from Spain, to treat the indigenous people well, and to consider them free men with rights to their territories. In all cases, the violations did not have significant punishments, probably due to the practical impossibility of controlling offenders from a distance, in a historical context where efficient means of communication did not exist. This lack of punishment gave rise to a contempt for authority, a custom that was passed down from generation to generation and is currently manifested as the contempt of all citizens for laws and regulations issued by any authority. This behavior partially explains the current political instability in Argentina.

"It Needs to Become a Norm Again and Not Make It Feel Like It's Something so Foreign": (Re)normalizing and Reclaiming Breastfeeding in African American Families.

To explore the lived experiences and perspectives of 3 generations of African American women regarding breastfeeding within their historical and cultural contexts, and to identify factors influencing their breastfeeding decisions and practices. African American communities have a rich cultural heritage that includes infant nurturing. However, breastfeeding rates among African American mothers are comparatively low due to various societal factors, despite well-established health benefits. This disparity stems from historical trauma, socioeconomic inequities, and systemic barriers that disrupt community breastfeeding norms. This study presents a secondary analysis of data from an original qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 African American women from 15 family dyads/triads across 3 generations. Data were reexamined using deductive thematic analysis, allowing for emergent themes. Six main themes emerged: intergenerational dynamics, tenacity/grit, self-empowerment, Blactivism, overcoming guilt, and a supportive breastfeeding ecosystem. These themes collectively form the framework of "(Re)Normalizing and Reclaiming Breastfeeding in African American Families," highlighting patients' resilience and agency in reclaiming breastfeeding practices. This study provides valuable insights into the complex factors influencing breastfeeding decisions and experiences among African American women. Findings underscore the importance of intergenerational support, self-empowerment, community activism, and a nurturing ecosystem in renormalizing breastfeeding within the African American community. Results can inform the development of culturally relevant interventions, policies, and support systems that promote breastfeeding equity and empowerment. Future research could focus on implementing and evaluating these strategies while addressing historical trauma and ongoing systemic barriers faced by African American women.

Gender Violence Against Indonesian Women in Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie’s <i>Tiga dalam Kayu</i>: A Feminist Literary Analysis

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the representation of violence against women in Indonesia as depicted in the novel Tiga Dalam Kayu by Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie. The study seeks to explore how social constructions often perpetuate violence against women in Indonesia from a feminist perspective. This research is grounded in the pervasive issue of violence against women in Indonesia, encompassing cases of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and even murder. Methodology: The study employs a descriptive qualitative method with a literature review approach to achieve its objectives. Mansour Fakih’s theory of gender-based violence is utilized to analyze the portrayal of violence against women in the novel. Main Findings: The findings reveal five distinct types of violence against women represented in Tiga Dalam Kayu: one instance of pornography, three instances of rape, five instances of physical violence, one instance of prostitution, and one instance of sexual harassment. These depictions of violence are shaped by historical and cultural contexts, alongside the deeply rooted patriarchal values that persist within Indonesian society. Applications: The study highlights how literature serves as a medium to capture and portray the harsh realities of human experiences, particularly the challenges faced by women. Novelty/Originality of This Study: The study underscores the novelist's effort to represent the suffering endured by Indonesian women due to the prevalence of violence in their lives. By examining these portrayals, this research provides a deeper understanding of how literature reflects societal issues and challenges patriarchal norms.

Jogendra’s properties in Noakhali: Displacement and the death of hope

Abstract The partition of India caused an unprecedented exodus of Hindus and Muslims to the new nations designated for each group. Amid the tempestuous Great Calcutta Killings and the corresponding riots in Noakhali in 1946, many Bengali Hindus living in Noakhali left for Calcutta, leaving their properties behind in what was soon to be the new state of Pakistan. Though many of them longed for home, I argue that displaced Bengali Hindus’ hopes of returning died in the mid-1950s. The article begins by examining the condition of the village of Lamchar in Noakhali at the time of the riots, partition, and afterwards. I then consider Noakhali within the larger historical context of laws relating to properties settlement in East Pakistan and the introduction of passports from 1948 to 1956. Finally, I examine a rare family archive of letters exchanged between Jogendra Roy, a Hindu landowner who fled Noakhali, and Oli Mian, his Muslim neighbour who remained behind. Twenty-six letters sent from Jogendra to Oli document his desire to return home to Noakhali and his later disappointment when this hope was never realized. This dying hope coincided with the East Pakistan government’s decision to take possession of the lands left by those displaced through the East Bengal State Acquisitions and Tenancy Act of 1950. This article concentrates on the complex relationship between Hindus and Muslims, exploring issues of nostalgia, identity, property, and hope, revealing the slow acceptance among displaced Bengali Hindus of the (im)possibility of return.

Creole Languages and American Englishes: Multilingualism and Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology.

Multilingualism is the norm, not the exception, with most children speaking more than one language daily. These factors have motivated an increased need to better understand language use in the growing population of children whose cultural and linguistic background evidence language variation by way of Creole languages and dialects of American Englishes. Within speech-language pathology in the United States, however, a cultural and linguistic mismatch exists with only 8% of speech-language pathologists self-identifying as multilingual service providers. A variety of publications have documented speech-language development and disorders in speakers of majority language pairings (such as Spanish-English) to address this mismatch and the potential for misdiagnosis of speech-language function. However, there is a shortage of information on speakers of minority language pairings (such as a Creole language and its lexifier) for supporting culturally responsive practices in speech-language pathology. This clinical seminar considers multilingualism for speech-language pathology with the goal of offering a historical context. In so doing, this clinical seminar aims to address the need for distinguishing between dialect and disorder, and offer practical considerations that reduce the risk of misdiagnosis in children who speak minority languages such as Creoles (e.g., Gullah/Geechee, Jamaican Creole) and dialects of American Englishes (e.g., African American English), as examples in the context of the United States.

The Mongol empire’s expansion and rethinking research trends in Chinese historical climatology

Historical climatology, an emerging interdisciplinary field, seeks to reconstruct reliable climate data to understand the impact of climate change on historical events. This article introduces the underlying reasons for the westward expansion of the Mongol Empire, challenging entrenched assumptions through the lens of climate. It reviews scholarly discourse, focusing in particular on a theory linking Mongol expansion to a global dry period, while juxtaposing this with recent research spearheaded by climatologists. Their findings reveal that Mongol expansion coincided with favorable climatic conditions, casting doubt on the traditional narrative. Additionally, this article probes the use of the Granger Causality Test in Chinese historical climatology, as exemplified by the work of David Zhang. While Zhang’s research underscores correlations between climate fluctuations and historical events, this review initiates conversations regarding the limitations of the test and the necessity of meticulous contextualization. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of verifying historical facts and considering nuanced historical contexts when employing statistical methods such as the Granger Causality Test in historical climatology. Through critical analysis of the history of the Mongol Empire, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between climate change and human history, advocating for prudence in drawing causal inferences.

A Neural Network-Based Recruitment System for Optimizing Human Resources in Business Process Management Applications

Business processes have been formally studied from various perspectives since the onset of the industrial age. Despite this prolonged scrutiny, processes remain poorly understood, unmanaged, and ineffectively executed. Business school curricula are predominantly function-specific and limited, while IT programs concentrate on narrow technical competencies, neglecting the 'process view' and 'integration' aspects, which are often left to individual students or academics. This paper examines the deficiencies in current business and IS/IT education and reviews the historical context of business processes. It asserts the importance of business process management and underscores its potential to bridge gaps in business education. Additionally, it discusses the strategies adopted by business schools and the challenges faced in BPM education and research.

Historical Context of Research in Maputaland, South Africa, and Research in Ndumo Game Reserve to C. 1988

Historical Context of Research in Maputaland, South Africa, and Research in Ndumo Game Reserve to C. 1988

Communication about a book and reading: dynamics of forms in historical and cultural context

The study of interaction of various actors of communication is necessary for understanding its driving force, identifying cause and effect relationships in the field of publication, distribution and perception of various texts. The author examines the role of communication in the book process, the dynamics of its forms in the historical and cultural context, starting from the birth of literature up to the modern era of digital communications. An increase in readers autonomy from traditional cultural mediators and an increase in the role of informal reading leaders in conditions of the Internet space development.

A Systematic Review of Open, Laparoscopic, and Robotic Inguinal Hernia Repair: Management of Inguinal Hernias in the 21st Century

Background: In the 21st century, the management of groin hernias (GHs) has evolved from watchful waiting (WW) to robotic hernia repair (RHR). The present study interrogates the status of robotics in the context of current repairs and provides one author’s perspectives. Methods: A systematic review was undertaken using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for studies comparing open (OHR) to robotic hernia repair (RHR); RHR to laparoscopic hernia repair (LHR); or OHR vs. LHR vs. RHR. The historical context was extracted from previous reviews. Results: Fifty-four studies were included in the analysis. Three techniques have withstood the test of time: OHR (tissue and mesh repairs), laparo-endoscopic (TEP and TAPP), and RHR. The literature indicates that RHR is safe and effective for the management of groin hernias. Operative times and costs remain a concern when using this technique. While the number of overall complications with RHR is similar to OHR, in a minority of cases, complications are more consequential with the robotic platform. Conclusions: RHR has emerged as an unequivocally powerful technique for the management of GHs. OHR remains the technique of choice for local/regional anesthesia, posterior recurrences, and in centers that lack other platforms. In low- and middle-income countries, OHR is the most utilized technique. Centers of excellence should offer all techniques of repair including WW.

An Analytical Study on Political Patronage Corruption in Nepal

This paper delves into Nepal's intricate political patronage and corruption landscape, focusing on its historical context, driving factors, and implications. The study examines the evolution of patronage and corruption, tracing its roots to the Rana and Panchayat regimes and highlighting how these systems nurtured patronage networks. The key results suggest that lack of political stability, poverty, transparency and accountability, and weak institutions are the leading causes of corruption. On the other hand, corruption leads to economic decline and undermines citizens' trust in the political system. Patronage networks only strengthen this process, with politicians trading votes for positions, leading to a culture of corruption and underpinning meritocracy. Despite anti-corruption measures like the Right to Information Act and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), challenges persist due to political interference and enforcement deficiencies. Addressing these deeply entrenched issues is crucial for Nepal's progress and development.

The government structure of the Nguyen dynasty (1802–84): imitations and creations drawn from the institutions of Vietnam and China

ABSTRACT The Nguyen dynasty was the final monarchy in Vietnamese history. This fact prompts researchers to ponder a series of questions: Is the structure of governance under the Nguyen dynasty a distinctive creation of this dynasty, merely an amalgamation of past customs, or perhaps borrowed elements from Vietnamese and Chinese models? Were the Nguyen dynasty’s decisions to restore the centralized institution in the new historical context driven by objective necessity or by the dynasty’s subjective will? Did these decisions usher in a new era of development, or did they mark the beginning of historical calamities for Vietnam? This research aims to elucidate the features of the governmental structure of the Nguyen dynasty (1802–84), highlighting its parallels and distinctions, as well as its inheritances and innovations, in comparison to the state institutions of the Later Le dynasty (1428–1527) in Vietnam and the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties in China. The research utilizes the ‘center and periphery’ theory to explore the strategies and scope by which the Vietnamese monarchy incorporated and mirrored foreign political structures. The study seeks to establish connections and derive insights applicable to contemporary global political challenges overall, with a particular focus on Vietnam.