Historical Context Research Articles

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.

Menopause on the market: navigating the dualities of care and empowerment

ABSTRACT The menopause market includes biomedical treatments, alternative remedies, and commercial offerings that address various menopause symptoms and experiences. Since the late 2010s, it has expanded alongside a growing social recognition and redefinition of menopause. The current paper examines this market's complexities beyond commercial growth, considering socio-cultural, historical, and economic influences. The 2001 Women’s Health Initiative Study disrupted traditional medical approaches, leading to rise of hybrid solutions combining medical and holistic approaches. Our media content analysis reveals the ambiguous and often conflicting narratives shaping this evolving market. These narratives drive diverse products and services catering to menopausal women's physical and emotional needs. Brands leverage dual narratives of empowerment and care, positioning themselves as supportive allies while encouraging women to take charge of their health. This study contributes to marketing research by highlighting the role of socio-cultural narratives and historical contexts in market formation under ambiguity.

Visualising anthropomorphism as a creative communicative mode in Samit Basu and Ashish Padlekar’s The Tall Tales of Vishnu Sharma: Panchatantra

In today’s ocular-centric era, vision and visuality play a significant role in representing ideas. This article analyses anthropomorphism as a communicative mode that helps readers comprehend a story’s underlying meaning, using a socio-semiotics metafunction as a lens. The study focuses on Samit Basu and Ashish Padlekar’s adaptation of the famous Panchatantra collection, The Tall Tales of Vishnu Sharma: Panchatantra (published in 2015), where creatures with the ability to speak are the central characters. This story emphasises a diverse group of characters from the world of Panchatantra who communicate their problems to Vishnu Sharma, their chosen guardian, through the transformation of animals into humans. Through the use of animated letters, mascots, and anthropomorphic parameters, barriers can be eliminated in a creative approach. The paper underscores the significance of studying signs and interpreting visually represented social phenomena in order to articulate culture, society, and historical context. The research is divided into two sections: the first section explores the function of images by analysing image artefacts that question the presence of anthropomorphism. In contrast, the second section introduces the four degrees of anthropomorphism and their characteristics. The hypothesis posits that anthropomorphism can effectively convey meaning, especially in stories aimed at children. This study seeks to contribute to a greater comprehension of the use of anthropomorphism as a creative mode of communication in contemporary literature.

“An inner core feeling”?: Nationalism, Western capitalism, and Bengali women's class‐based mothering ideologies

AbstractObjectiveWe analyze motherhood identities among middle‐ and working‐class women in urban Bengal.BackgroundWesternized societies encourage women to pursue careers and childrearing. Researchers examine this tension in diverse Western contexts and the Indian middle class. We add to existing work by comparing Indian women's motherhood ideologies across social class.MethodsWe use in‐depth qualitative interviews with mothers in structured (i.e., middle‐class) and unstructured (i.e., working‐class) economic sectors.ResultsEconomically privileged mothers diminished the importance of paid work and emphasized Western mothering strategies. Mothers in unstructured sectors drew on nation‐building rhetoric to construct socially valued mothering identities.ConclusionsMainstream mothering approaches (i.e., popular images of childrearing by upper‐class women) benefit patriarchal capitalist social structures by encouraging women to work for pay and take primary responsibility for home and family. Mothers' social class and status positions in historical and societal context(s) influence the tools (i.e., forms of capital) they have available to parent their children and construct valued mothering identities.ImplicationsStrategies marginalized mothers use to construct mothering identities when faced with dominant exclusionary narratives of a “good mother” can be understood and used strategically. Embracing ideologies that allow women to maintain integrity in the face of stigmatization has transformative potential for policymaking and service provision.

Winning the War and Losing the Peace: An Analysis of Counter Boko Haram Terrorism in Northeast Nigeria

Abstract This paper examines the multifaceted challenges and complexities surrounding the Nigerian government's counter-terrorism efforts. The study delves into the paradoxical situation of "winning the war but losing the peace," wherein the Nigerian military has achieved significant successes in degrading the operational capacity of Boko Haram, yet has struggled to establish a sustainable peace. It draws on various primary and secondary sources to analyze the historical context, socio-political dynamics, and strategic aspects of the counter-terrorism campaign. It evaluates both the military's kinetic operations and non-kinetic initiatives implemented to address the root causes of Boko Haram's rise, focusing on their effectiveness and limitations. It highlights the unintended consequences of military-centric strategies, including alleged human rights issues, displacement of populations, and exacerbation of grievances. It underscores the importance of a holistic approach that integrates military efforts with long-term socio-economic development, community engagement, and judiciary and security sector reforms to prevent the resurgence of extremism. In analyzing the complex interplay between security, development, and governance, the study contributes to the understanding of the intricate challenges that emerge when addressing terrorism issues in a fragile state context. It emphasizes the need for a nuanced, context-specific approach that goes beyond short-term military gains to ensure sustainable peace and stability. The findings of this study hold implications not only for Nigeria but also for other nations facing similar challenges, providing insights into the delicate balance between winning the war against terrorism and securing a lasting peace. Keywords: Terrorism, Counterterrorism, Sustainable Peace, Kinetic Operations, Human rights abuse, Displacement.

Unveiling the colonial violence of space in the Gaza genocide

This article addresses the ongoing genocidal war and extended blockade of Gaza that has been in effect since 2007, framing it as a manifestation of colonial violence against space and a collective punishment. I reflect on my positionality as a Palestinian UK-based scholar whose work focuses on captivity and resistance in Israeli prisons and the impact of colonization on my life and my family who are living under this genocidal war. Drawing from personal experience, I recount the forced displacement of my family from space, the destruction of our family home and the subsequent struggles of sheltering in the harsh conditions of tents amid the cold, lacking the essential necessities of dignified life, such as food and warmth. The narrative extends the broader dehumanization and dehistoricization of the Palestinian people enacted by the international colonial discourse embraced by Western liberal media, which works to justify the current genocide and mass killing of Palestinian civilians. This highlights the media’s blindness to the historical context, exposing the current war of Gaza as a continuation of the Zionist colonizer’s relentless effort since Nakba 1948 to eliminate Palestinian existence and erase them from the space. By shedding light on these critical issues, the article seeks to challenge prevailing narratives and reflect a more nuanced understanding of the Palestinian struggle for existence within the space they call homeland.

Learning Modern Greek in nineteenth-century Paris: K. B. Hase's student notes on Amiras’ translation of Costin, History of the Kingdoms and Princes of Moldavia

This article offers the first detailed study of a manuscript preserving notes from the Modern Greek course held in 1801-2 by Jean-Baptiste-Gaspard d'Ansse de Villoison in Paris. The notebook was kept by Karl Benedikt Hase, later Professor of Modern Greek at the French École de langues orientales vivantes, during his attendance of Villoison's course as a student. The article sketches first the historical context of the notebook, before an analysis of its contents, and finally a comparison with Hase's later published work on the primary text at its core, Amiras’ Greek translation of Costin's History of Moldavia.

The first rodent behavioral study (1822) and the diffusion of human-bred albino rats and mice in the 19th century

Rodents, in particular rats and mice, are currently the most widely employed animal models in psychology and behavioral neuroscience. Nevertheless, an interesting historical question is: when was the first rodent behavioral study performed and by whom? The current article presents the first rodent behavioral study in the history of science: a case of interspecies social bonding between a rat and a dog, observed in 1822 by the British chemist Samuel Moss (1794–1868) and subsequently described by the same in a scientific article in 1836. In the present article, after a biographical sketch of Samuel Moss, I examine in detail the notable case of interspecies bonding observed by Moss. This case is notable under several points of view. First, Moss’s rat was an albino, a variety which at that time was extremely rare. Moreover, at that time, in the Western world rats were mostly seen as pest animals or baits for rat-catching sports, and were not kept as pets. The color of the rat played a key role in its fate, being the reason for which it was originally brought to Moss and for which Moss decided to keep it under his care. Third, the relationship that arose between the rat and the dog is even more surprising if we consider that the dog was a trained rat-catcher. Importantly, this rat-dog bonding case, which showcased the tameness of Moss’s albino rat in both lay and scientific publications, represented the first popularization of the docility of albino rats. After having outlined Moss’s case, considering the importance of albino rats in our current society, both in scientific research (where the albino rat has become the prototype of the laboratory rat) and as pets, I provide an historical contextualization regarding albino rodents, starting from the 17th century, and I then trace the history of the post-Moss diffusion of human-bred albino rats and mice in the 19th century.

Hydrological Dynamics and Climate Variability in the Sava River Basin: Streamflow Reconstructions Using Tree-Ring-Based Paleo Proxies

This study reconstructs historical streamflow in the Sava River Basin (SRB), focusing on hydrological variability over extended timescales. Using a combination of Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) models, streamflow patterns were reconstructed from self-calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI) proxies. The analysis included nine ML models and two DL architectures, with a post-prediction bias correction applied uniformly using the RQUANT method. Results indicate that ensemble methods, such as Random Forest and Gradient Boosted Tree, along with a six-layer DL model, effectively captured streamflow dynamics. Bias correction improved predictive consistency, particularly for models exhibiting greater initial variability, aligning predictions more closely with observed data. The findings reveal that the 2000–2022 period ranks as the lowest 23-year flow interval in the observed record and one of the driest over the past ~500 years, offering historical context for prolonged low-flow events in the region. This study demonstrates the value of integrating advanced computational methods with bias correction techniques to extend hydrological records and enhance the reliability of reconstructions. By addressing data limitations, this approach provides a foundation for supporting evidence-based water resource management in Southeastern Europe under changing climatic conditions.

Educational Perspectives on the Literacy of Chinese Folk Music Recomposed for Saxophone

Chinese folk music, rich in cultural and historical significance, represents a vital element of the nation’s intangible heritage. This study investigates the educational perspectives on the literacy of Chinese folk music recomposed for saxophone. Recomposing such music involves adapting traditional melodies for modern instruments like the saxophone, blending cultural authenticity with contemporary techniques. Through a qualitative research approach, the study explores how recomposed Chinese folk music fosters technical proficiency, cultural literacy, and creative expression in students. Data were collected through interviews with three key informants, document analysis, and performance observations. Thematic analysis revealed four key findings: recomposed music enhances cultural literacy, supports technical and artistic development, fosters pedagogical innovation, and balances tradition with modernity. Despite these benefits, challenges persist in preserving the core identity of traditional music while innovating for modern audiences. The study highlights the role of educators in designing curricula that integrate historical context and cultural narratives alongside technical skills. Recommendations for future research include exploring the use of recomposed music with other instruments, examining student perceptions, and leveraging digital tools to enhance accessibility. This research contributes to cultural preservation and the evolution of music education practices by addressing these areas and offering insights for educators, composers, and performers.

Abortion in the Nineteenth Century Through the Lens of Ann Lohman.

Ann Lohman, a midwife in the 1800s also known as Madame Restell, deserves our attention following the US Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization in June 2022. As abortion regulations change, it is important that health care communities learn from past experiences. This article examines the historical context in which Lohman practiced and draws out key lessons to be applied today.

Rewriting the Quantum "Revolution".

This paper is a critical analysis of the structure of the quantum revolution. I consider the factual question of how, historically and theoretically, the classical gave way to the quantum, and I argue for an answer that shows, contra Thomas Kuhn's influential philosophy of science, that it is the logic, and not the sociology and psychology, of research that correctly explains the classical-to-the-quantum paradigm shift. My approach is based not on archival studies but on a careful reading, in their original historical context, of Max Planck's and Albert Einstein's well-known papers; the burden of my argument, which at points will be outspoken, consists, then, in identifying and removing the impediments that prevent us from reading these papers in themselves. For this task I critically consider both the main, and mutually antagonistic, accounts of the origin of the quantum theory currently available in the literature-namely, the orthodox story, according to which Planck inaugurated the quantum theory in 1900, and that proposed by Thomas Kuhn in Black-Body Theory and Quantum Discontinuity-and I show that both of them are essentially incorrect. Both overlook the scientific status of the probabilistic kinetic theory of heat as of 1900, of which both Planck and Einstein were acutely aware. The orthodox story will be refuted by showing that Planck did not postulate energy discreteness to derive his black-body radiation law in 1900; and Kuhn, though he argued, as I do here, against the orthodoxy, did so on different grounds, and his own alternative is refuted by showing that Planck's black-body radiation formula did not trigger a Kuhnian "crisis" in classical physics. This conceptual housekeeping will serve its purpose by removing the obstacles that make it impossible to analyze Planck's and Einstein's papers in themselves; once this is done, my conclusions follow.

Street Patterns, Visual Permeability, and Spatial Accessibility of Downtown: The Case of Baghdad

Urban forms and configurations are very influential in building up urban life; they affect street configuration, visual permeability, and spatial accessibility. However, the importance of this in impacting the performance and vibrancy of urban spaces has not been comprehended so far. Thus, the following paper takes a closer look at the key areas within downtown Baghdad, namely Alshorja and Bab AlSharqi, to analyze their urban characteristics. A comprehensive methodology was developed for this research that combined qualitative and quantitative methods, including field survey, GIS digitization, and space syntax analysis, which enabled an in-depth investigation into the street pattern, visual permeability, and spatial accessibility of the chosen case studies. The findings show sharp differences between the organic, random street pattern of AlShorja—which tries to make pedestrians move and socialize more easily—compared to Bab AlSharqi’s grid system, which tries to promote an extensive flow of vehicles and businesses. AlShorja, therefore, has higher local connectivity and street vitality in its condensed layout than Bab AlSharqi, which comes with higher visual permeability and spatial accessibility and presents the image of a CBD. The study concluded that the blending of historical context with contemporary needs should be considered to develop livable urban environments. Pedestrian-friendly features to integrate in AlShorja combined with the principles of accessibility and navigability in Bab AlSharqi will, in turn, enhance urban vitality and connectivity. More diversified methods in future research will enrich urban planning and design for cities like Baghdad, including wider metropolitan areas.

A Comparative Analysis of the Energy Policies of China and Russia in Kazakhstan

The objective of this study is to analyze the energy policies of China and Russia in Kazakhstan. Firstly, the historical context of energy cooperation between Kazakhstan, China, and Russia will be examined. Secondly, the distinctive approaches taken by each country will be evaluated. Finally, the impact of these two regional powers on Kazakhstan’s energy policy will be assessed. Kazakhstan holds a prominent position in the global energy sector owing to its considerable reserves of oil and natural gas. China and Russia acknowledge Kazakhstan’s crucial role as an energy source and invest significantly in its energy industry. Though both countries use Kazakhstan’s energy resources, they have distinct approaches. China adopts a proactive and assertive stance towards Kazakhstan, entering into advantageous agreements and investing in infrastructure initiatives. On the contrary, Russia maintains a passive stance by concentrating on preserving its current energy infrastructure and strengthening its hold over Kazakhstan’s energy reserves. To summarize, the energy strategies pursued by China and Russia in Kazakhstan carry substantial ramifications for the creation and transaction of energy resources within the region.

Algorithmic policing: Tech startups, venture capital and law enforcement in America (Part 2)

Building on Part 1, Part 2 of this article extends the analysis of algorithmic policing to include acoustic gunshot detection systems and explores the broader political economy of policing in America. It examines the development and deployment of ShotSpotter technology, its effectiveness, and the controversies surrounding its use. The article then synthesizes insights from the various algorithmic policing tools discussed across both parts to analyze how the imperatives of Silicon Valley venture capital and startup culture are reshaping law enforcement. It explores the historical context of American policing and how new technologies are altering police‐community relations. The article concludes by discussing the global spread of algorithmic policing, potential future developments in AI‐enabled law enforcement, and the role anthropology can play in critically examining and shaping the future of policing in the age of algorithms.

In the Name of the Lord or My Passage to India: missionary travelogues as a gendered site of diverse ideas and expectations

ABSTRACT This paper undertakes a comparative textual analysis of travelogues written by two Yugoslav missionaries, the Jesuit priest Stanko Poderžaj and the IBMV Sister Miriam Zalaznik, who made almost identical journeys to colonial India in the 1930s. Drawing on insights from gender and postcolonial studies, it compares the differences in both content and style between the ostensibly similar narratives, considering varying positionality and the role of women missionaries vis-à-vis male actors in the wider historical context. The complexity of Zalaznik's self-representation mirrors the difficulties women faced in manoeuvring between public and private spheres in the age of empire. Anticipating modernist approaches, her narrative contrasts sharply with Poderžaj's realist voice, which claims an unproblematic truthfulness while dramatising the missionary-traveller figure. The paper expands our understanding of the missionary travelogue – a subgenre deserving greater scholarly attention – and advances a more nuanced approach to understanding the diversity of female travel narratives.

“Symbols of embodied agency”: The Reception of William Blake’s Engravings for John Gabriel Stedman’s Narrative (1796) in Contemporary Art and Visual Culture

In this article, I argue that … contemporary artists have responded to the Blake-Stedman engravings in ways that simultaneously keep in view the designs’ historical context and circumstances of production and seek to dislocate them creatively from their original conception by reappropriating, remediating, and recontextualizing the images to model possibilities for ongoing emancipation and social change. In the process, they raise crucial questions about the politics of visual representation and especially the reproduction of or creative response to historical artworks representing slavery and colonial violence. I close with a discussion of these broader concepts.

Industrial Policy in Post-Apartheid South Africa: An Outlook on Technology and Industrial Policy in the cases of Brazil and South Korea

South Africa is a country that has experienced premature deindustrialisation due to its inability to move out of middle-income status. The role of industrial policy in South Africa is pivotal to taking the country to greater economic heights and a higher-income status. South Africa’s historical context indicates that the country experienced its highest GDP growth rates during the apartheid economy.Since the demise of apartheid, the post-apartheid economy has experienced poverty and economic inequality that the South African government cannot eradicate. This research addresses the failure of South Africa to overcome premature deindustrialisation, and it discusses the state of the political economy and economic growth in a pre-apartheid and post-apartheid context. The thesis also addressed the significance of industrial policy through the establishment of the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP). The shortcomings and successes of IPAP form a critical part of the research and present an analysis of different economic sectors. This research also assesses the state of industrial policy using two countries as case studies: Brazil and South Korea.

Confrontational Diplomacy: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Zimbabwe–EU Relationship

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the complex and often confrontational relationship between Zimbabwe and the European Union (EU). It aims to contribute to the understanding of how confrontational diplomacy impacts international relations and offers insights into potential avenues for reconciliation. It focuses on key issues such as sanctions and the challenging visa regime between the two entities. By examining the historical context, the implementation of sanctions, and the visa regime, this article provides a comprehensive perspective on the Zimbabwe–EU relationship. This qualitative study applied content analysis to official documents, statements, and speeches from Zimbabwean and EU officials, as well as scholarly works, reports, and news articles to shed light on the intricate dynamics at play in their diplomatic interactions. This study is hinged on the realism theoretical framework. The study found that sanctions and visa restrictions imposed by the EU on Zimbabwe have exacerbated confrontation in their diplomatic relations. The study recommends that Zimbabwe and the EU should consider engaging in sincere diplomatic dialogue to address the underlying issues and concerns, including a more pragmatic approach to underlying sources of tension which include human rights issues and the easing of visa restrictions.

The Role of Advanced Materials in the Optimization of Wind Energy Systems: A Physics Based Approach

The transition towards renewable energy sources is essential for addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, positioning wind energy as a vital component of sustainable power generation. This paper investigates the pivotal role of advanced materials in optimizing the efficiency and reliability of wind energy systems through a physics-based approach. Recent advancements in material science including carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs), glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRPs), and nanomaterials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes are evaluated for their potential to significantly enhance mechanical properties, reduce weight, and improve energy conversion efficiencies of wind turbines. A comprehensive review of the literature reveals the historical context of wind turbine materials and emphasizes the transition from traditional construction methods using steel and wood to innovative composite materials. The study introduces a novel methodology for the integration of advanced materials into turbine design, supported by numerical simulations and experimental validations. The impact of these materials on key operational performance metrics, including power output, structural integrity, and aerodynamic efficiency, is quantified. Moreover, the application of smart materials for real time structural health monitoring is explored, highlighting the potential for predictive maintenance that can prolong the lifespan of wind turbines. The findings suggest that although the initial costs of advanced materials may be higher, their superior performance characteristics offer significant long-term economic benefits and sustainability advantages. The discussion concludes with recommendations for future research directions, including the optimization of hybrid material systems, advancements in manufacturing techniques, and comprehensive long-term durability assessments. This study underscores the critical necessity for continued innovation in materials science to enhance the resilience and environmental efficiency of wind energy systems, thereby contributing positively to the global transition towards sustainable energy solutions.