Narrative Conventions Research Articles

Wellbeing, infrastructures, and energy insecurity in informal settlements

IntroductionUnderstanding the intricate relationship between energy and wellbeing in informal urban settlements is essential for developing effective interventions that address the diverse needs of residents. This paper explores this nexus through a multi-dimensional lens, examining the complexities and dynamics involved in off-grid renewable energy interventions, focusing on solar microgrids in an informal settlement in Cape Town, South Africa.MethodsThe paper is based on empirical research analysed through a theoretical framework articulating the pathways through which energy insecurity influences various dimensions of wellbeing, encompassing economic, physical, social, and environmental aspects. By applying this framework to our empirical research, the paper reveals the intricate interplay between neighbourhood factors, housing conditions, social processes, and economic insecurities, shedding light on both the challenges and opportunities associated with off-grid energy interventions.ResultsThe understanding of wellbeing presented in the paper is based on what we term the energy-wellbeing-informality nexus. Understanding the nexus necessitates: (a) moving past universalist and technocratic understandings of wellbeing, and towards a relational and networked basis for wellbeing analysis; (b) moving beyond conventional narratives of off-grid electrification as mere technical fixes, emphasizing the importance of recognizing informal settlements as sites of innovation and experimentation; (c) understanding the multi-sectoral nature of energy-related wellbeing impacts, extending beyond energy provision to encompass broader dimensions such as education, health, and social cohesion.DiscussionThe paper not only advances theoretical understanding but also offers practical insights for policymakers and practitioners. It emphasizes the need for context-sensitive policymaking that acknowledges the complexities of informal settlements and fosters innovative approaches to energy service provision. By integrating energy interventions into broader development strategies and adopting a multi-sectoral perspective, stakeholders can work towards more equitable and resilient solutions that enhance the overall wellbeing of residents in informal urban contexts.

Challenging conventional narratives on trade unions’ attitudes towards decarbonisation – a case-based analysis

Challenging conventional narratives on trade unions’ attitudes towards decarbonisation – a case-based analysis

The digital afterlife between hypersecularization and postsecularity in contemporary speculative TV seriality: Devs, Upload and Black Mirror’s ‘San Junipero’

This article explores representations of the digital afterlife in contemporary speculative TV seriality within the broader context of their attitudes towards the fate of religions and religiosity in contemporary society. Specifically, it examines the miniseries Devs, the Black Mirror episode ‘San Junipero’ and the dramedy series Upload. Set in a near future, these series present distinctive and contrasting views on the future of religion in the public sphere, as well as in private life, and on the development of secularization processes, along with the entanglements between secular, religious and moral concerns. The article highlights how texts such as those considered exemplify the current transitional phase western societies are experiencing, wherein conventional narratives of secularization and more complex deconstructions of the secular–religious divide coexist. Through the various ways in which a futuristic yet imaginable setting like the digital afterlife is envisioned and represented, these texts articulate postsecular and hypersecularized accounts of near-future societies. The digital afterlife thus emerges as a tool for exploring different world-views, forms of morality and conceptions of everyday life and the meaning of human existence.

Colonial Landscape Navigation: Postcolonial Ecocriticism in Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh

This article examines how colonialism, ecology, and postcolonial viewpoints interact in Amitav Ghosh’s novel. The main themes and theoretical frameworks used to analyse the novel’s representation of a colonial environment and its ecological repercussions are highlighted in this study. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh brings readers to a 19th-century India firmly enmeshed in British colonialism. This work explores the intricate interactions between people and the environment, exploring the massive ecological changes brought on by imperial conquest via a postcolonial eco-critical perspective. This study reveals the novel’s ecological roots by looking at how Ghosh questions conventional narratives and presents a criticism of the effects of colonial rule on both human and non-human beings. The research emphasises the function of landscape as a place of contestation and resistance, illuminating how nature is exploited and perverted within the colonial setting by drawing on postcolonial theory and eco-critical frameworks. Important problems about power dynamics, environmental justice, and the connections between capitalism and ecological degradation are brought up by Ghosh’s depictions of the opium trade, the transatlantic slave trade, and the privatisation of nature.

Subversion of Conventional Narratives in South Asian English Fiction: A Postmodern Analysis of Language Games and Metanarratives

This study investigates that South Asian English fiction subverts conventional narratives through the use of Jean-François Lyotard’s concept of language games. The study examines the constantly changing and context-dependent storytelling techniques employed in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, Michael Ondaatje's The English Patient, Amitav Ghosh's Sea of Poppies and Kamila Shamsie's Burnt Shadows. These techniques challenge established cultural, social, or moral norms. These novels utilize language techniques such as code-switching, ironic symbolism, and idiomatic phrases to highlight the ethnic backgrounds and complex identities of the protagonists. Authors demonstrate the evolution of meanings across time, as well as the varying ways justice is given to various individuals at different periods. They also emphasize the perpetual openness of truth, in accordance with Lyotard’s belief that knowledge is generated through conflicting narratives about reality. The findings clearly demonstrate that individual experiences and the socio-political environment continually influence and reshape our concept of morality.

Executive gender and capital structure: New evidence from rebalancing events

Existing literature shows that female-led companies exhibit lower leverage compared to their male-led counterparts, a trend frequently attributed to the traditional view of higher risk aversion among women. We explore firms with female CFOs at or close to their optimal leverage and find that their capital structure is no different than that of firms with male CFOs. We argue that female CFOs reveal their true preferences and risk appetite during significant capital structure adjustments and find that their tolerance for risk aligns closely with that of their male counterparts. Our study challenges the conventional narrative by demonstrating that the financing decisions of top executives are likely not influenced by gender-based psychological differences.

Fuzzy Hybrid Approach to Shatter Religious Tolerance and Fundamentalism Stereotypes across Diverse Nations

Abstract The study transcends borders to challenge conventional narratives about religious tolerance and fundamentalism. Leveraging a Fuzzy-Hybrid Approach, we delve into the multifaceted realities of eight diverse nations: Germany, Cyprus, the United States, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Turkey, and Kenya. Our innovative analysis unveils surprising complexities, shattering stereotypes and painting a nuanced picture of religious beliefs. Germany emerges as a beacon of tolerance, boasting the highest tolerance levels with the lowest fundamentalism. However, the stark reality for citizens of Lebanon, Kenya, and Palestine reveals a landscape of lower tolerance and higher fundamentalism. This study delves deeper, using quantile regression models to expose the intricate interplay between religious tolerance, individual socioeconomic factors like education and religious discrimination, and even views on the death penalty. Our findings challenge simplistic assumptions, revealing intricate relationships between tolerance and fundamentalism across diverse contexts.

Desacralizing The Past: The Liberal Approach to Islamic History

This research examines the approach of liberal thinkers towards the history of Islam, focusing on the articles published on the online platform Islamlib.com. The research problem is formulated as follows: How do the historical articles on Islam, particularly in terms of content and thematic choices, manifest themselves on Islamlib.com. Additionally, what criticisms regarding the history of Islam are developed by Islamlib.com, encompassing sources, methodology, and approaches. The research employs the historiographical method, analyzing themes, methods, data sources, and approaches through content analysis techniques. The findings indicate that the historical articles on Islamlib.com are crafted within the framework of Islamic history as part of world history and total history. This research argues that the historiography of liberal thinkers has reached a sophisticated level. The articles explore a variety of themes related to Islam, embracing a comprehensive view that goes beyond conventional narratives. The historiographical critiques offered by Islamlib.com extend to source reliability, methodological choices, and the adopted approaches. The methodology used in this study, content analysis, facilitates a thorough examination of the themes, methods, sources, and approaches present in the historical articles. The liberal historiography demonstrated on Islamlib.com reveals a nuanced and advanced understanding of Islamic history. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on liberal perspectives in historiography, shedding light on the diverse themes and critical methodologies employed by liberal thinkers in shaping the narrative of Islamic history.

Deconstructing the Laissez-Faire Legend: A Critical Analysis of the 1834 Poor Law Reform and Its Legacy

This research paper critically examines the 1834 Poor Law Reform in Britain, a seminal event that is often heralded as a triumph of laissez-faire economics. The study delves into the historical context of the Old Poor Law system, established in 1601, which mandated legal support for individuals unable to sustain themselves. The paper scrutinizes the perceived problems of the Old Poor Law and the subsequent radical reforms introduced by the New Poor Law. It challenges the conventional narrative that the Poor Law Reform was a necessary corrective to an inefficient and market-distorting welfare system. Through a detailed analysis of the Poor Law Commission Report of 1834 and its criticisms, the paper reveals significant gaps in the arguments presented. The study also considers the impact of the Industrial Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and the gold standard restoration on the Old Poor Law system, arguing that these external factors played a crucial role in shaping the economic and social landscape of the time. This study offers insights into the complexities of policy marking and the interplay of economic theories and social needs. It underscores the enduring impact of historical decisions on contemporary economic and political dynamics and challenges the notion of post-WWII liberal order as a perpetuation of the laissez-faire myth.

Диалектическое движение философской мысли: генезис Системы Знания в философии Александра Кожева. Статья вторая: синтез дискурсов

The article delves into the historical-philosophical framework developed by Alexandre Kojève, a French Neo-Hegelian thinker, known as The Knowledge System. This project is rooted in Hegelian inspiration and seeks to comprehensively elucidate the historical trajectory of philosophical discourse. The subsequent segment of the article serves to encapsulate and evaluate Kojève’s scheme of philosophical evolution. Central to this analysis is the examination of the interconnectedness and fusion of theological, scientific, and moral discourses within Kojève’s historical-philosophical milieu. This exploration sheds light on Kojève’s conception of Hegelian anthropotheism. Kojève’s methodological approach to the history of philosophy stands out for its departure from the conventional narrative of uninterrupted intellectual lineage from ancient Greece. Instead, he highlights a pivotal shift catalyzed by the advent of Christianity, which amalgamates elements from Hellenic pagan philosophy and Jewish monotheism. To underscore the divergence between Kojève’s perspectives on ancient philosophy (as well as subsequent periods) and those of established scholars, we draw upon Richard Rorty’s framework of the four genres of historiography in contemporary philosophy. According to Rorty, Kojève’s historical-philosophical framework aligns with Geistesgeschichte, or the «history of the human spirit».

Beyond a sense of obliviousness: elite education and national identity among Palestinian students in Israel

ABSTRACT Through interviews with Palestinian students in elite schools in Israel, we delve into the intersection between experiences of elite identities and national identities. Contrary to the conventional narrative of hegemonic elite education promoting apolitical attitudes, our findings reveal that Palestinian students, belonging to a stigmatized minority group, prioritize academic excellence alongside a strong emphasis on Palestinian patriotism and national identity. Furthermore, we uncover a heightened political awareness among these students, which they attribute to distinct practices and rituals within the school setting. This paper contributes to understanding how elite education intersects with the construction of national identity among minority elites. It offers insights into the experiences of minority elite students facing discrimination while also highlighting the emergence of a self-defined elite within this specific sub-group.

Breaking the Narrative Pattern: Motherhood Tropes in Norwegian Migrant Literature

Abstract This article focuses on three motherhood tropes, which became narrative convention in Norwegian migration literature in the period 1986–2010. I categorize these motherhood tropes as: (1) the cultured mother; (2) the creative mother; and (3) the appropriation of Henrik Ibsen’s infamous character Nora Helmer. Illustrating these tropes shows a critique of motherhood found in some of Norway’s migration literature. However, Mala Naveen’s novel, Desiland (Desi Land), published in 2010, incorporates and challenges these three motherhood tropes by breaking with convention. I argue that Naveen performs disidentification, or an identity in difference, and calls for a renegotiation or remapping of the current paradigm of Norwegian migration literature, which limits minority women’s artistic representation.

Landscapes of boom and ruination: politics of seeing in China’s “tin capital” Gejiu, 1912-1949

This article argues that landscapes of ruination and wasted labour are not an unfortunate finale in the history of mineral-rich cities under the “resource curse” but an always ongoing reality from the start of their involvement in the capitalist world market and pursuit of industrial modernity. Focusing on narratives about the “tin capital” Gejiu in southwestern China during the first half of the 20th century, I conduct a historical analysis and examine how geological and sociological experts introduced new politics of seeing and exploiting land and labour. Boasting the landscape of the industrial boom, Chinese intellectuals and technobureaucrats alike considered geological discoveries and resource extraction as a sign of a nation’s civilizational status and modernization achievements. Their fascination with this outlying small town also exemplified a nationalist claim to the new Republican State’s southwestern borderlands in an era of imperialist territorial divisions. Nonetheless, they had to constantly explain (away) appalling sights of environmental ruination and social polarization, often through promises of mechanization or labour welfare. Offering a close reading of travelogues, social surveys and scientific reports, I challenge the conventional narrative from prosperity to decline and reveal landscapes of ruination at the heart of modernization and nationalist discourse of conquering and utilizing natural resources.

“Parties Are the Supreme Mentors of the Nation”: Appreciations for Parties and Partisanship in China, 1895–1920

Conventional narratives hold that parties are “the orphans of political philosophy” and that systematic normative justifications of parties and partisanship have emerged only in recent years in the West. This article aims to show that when antiparty sentiments were prevalent in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Western societies, a systematic justification of party politics existed in China. Western antipartyism in that time shifted from an older accusation that parties were divisive and subversive to a “progressive antipartyism” that portrayed parties as elitist and antidemocratic “machines.” In China, however, although proparty intellectuals faced the first type of antipartyism, the “progressive” type was relatively absent, as there weren’t any mature party machines in the first place. Far from being a hindrance to democracy, parties comprised of public-spirited elites were justified as an instrument for political founding: transforming passive subjects under an imperial despotism into modern active citizens in a constitutional democracy.

Alicia Moreau's socialist feminism on war: transcending western narratives?

Abstract According to conventional narratives of International Relations (IR), the vast majority—if not all—of the twentieth-century proposals to overcome war came from men, such as Norman Angell, Vladimir Lenin and Woodrow Wilson. Recent efforts show that women also contributed significantly to the topic; nevertheless, they have focused almost exclusively on women from the United States or Great Britain. Despite Argentinian Alicia Moreau's significant writings on war, her international thought remains unknown in Latin America, and in the histories of international thought and IR. Through a textual analysis of Moreau's writings and speeches, as well as a comparative approach with other socialist and feminist perspectives, this article has a double objective. First, to lay the foundations for demonstrating that women from the global South also contributed to explaining and providing practical solutions to war during the early twentieth century; and second, to draw lessons from Moreau's writings for today's policy-makers. The article shows that although Moreau's international thought does not transcend Eurocentrism, her blend of socialist democratic feminism, informed by her work as an activist and politician, offers a moderate non-violent alternative to other well-known socialist and feminist approaches, and provides insights for policy-makers on the importance of women, education and democracy to achieve a more peaceful and egalitarian world.

Mimetic designs in Helon Habila’s Oil on Water

The stark condition of the Niger Delta region is a factual reality, and Helon Habila’s Oil on Water has been read by several critics as a plausible reflection of this reality, glossing over the novel’s fictive nature and the aesthetic choices of its configuration. This paper argues that what is perceived as plausibility in the representation of reality in Oil on Water is instead a simulated appearance of reality suggested by Habila’s aesthetic choices. It demonstrates this with insights from the principle of mimesis and by accounting for three aesthetic choices in Oil on Water such as metafictionality, the animist worldview, and metaphors. These aesthetic choices not only attempt to imitate reality, but they also challenge conventional narrative, problematize the relation between fiction and fact in its simulation of reality, and imbue the novel with mimetic paradoxes.

Embracing Asexual and Aromanticism in Elsa and Merida: A Critical Analysis of Disney’s Frozen and Brave

In a world where the spectrum of human identity is as vast as the colours of the rainbow, it becomes imperative to unravel and celebrate the myriad ways individuals experience attraction, love, and connection. Aromantic individuals may not experience the same pull toward romantic relationships as society often expects. Asexual individuals may not experience sexual attraction, and their identities are recognized as distinct from other sexual orientations. Queer studies provide a platform for understanding and validating diverse experiences, identities, and orientations that fall outside the heteronormative and cisnormative frameworks.This article delves into the exploration of aromanticism and asexuality within the characters of Elsa of Disney’s Frozen and Merida of Disney’s Brave.These beloved and iconic characters challenge the conventional narratives of romance and desire in the realm of animated storytelling. Elsa’s journey in Frozen and Merida’s adventure in Brave are dissected to uncover subtle hints and nuances that suggest potential representations of aromanticism and asexuality. By navigating the intricacies of these characters’ narratives, this article aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on inclusive representation in mainstream media, shedding light on the importance of acknowledging diverse romantic and sexual identities.

Can political ecology be decolonised? A dialogue with Paul Robbins

AbstractIn the intricate tapestry of environmental discourse, the field of political ecology emerges as a powerful lens through which we scrutinise the interplay of power, nature and society. This paper stages a dialogue with Paul Robbins to examine environmental justice, the decolonisation of political ecology, colonialism, sovereignty, climate change and capitalism. The dialogue challenges the conventional narratives of sovereignty and underscores the imperative of genuine decolonisation—beyond metaphorical interpretations—calling for the restitution of land and authority to Indigenous Peoples and other historically marginalised communities. The dialogue highlights the importance of moving away from capitalist systems that exacerbate environmental degradation. The dialogue calls for decolonising political ecology by including diverse perspectives, methodologies and ontologies and underlines the importance of control over productive resources. It emphasises that addressing the impacts of colonialism requires recognising and honouring the sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples and suggests that political ecology can contribute to decolonisation by focusing on sovereignty and supporting legal and institutional frameworks that empower marginalised communities. The paper discusses the way forward and the future trajectory of political ecology by suggesting that future research in political ecology should focus on diverse economies, embrace emerging technologies and rework academic institutions to value knowledge co‐production.

The New History of the Canadian Rebellion, 1837-38: New Directions, New Interpretations, New Framework

In Canada, the Canadian Rebellion of 1837-38 is often still treated as a local, ethnolinguistic conflict pitting French-speakers against English-speakers. However, new research, and publications have challenged conventional narratives and have pushed historiography into exciting new directions. This article proposes an analysis of the new history of the Canadian Rebellion. It will analyse some of the most interesting and cutting-edge new directions, interpretations, and methods of this historiographical framework. It will, amongst other things, demonstrate that this new history of the Rebellion challenged the conventional white-settler narrative, bringing to light new perspectives, those of marginalized and racialized populations. It will also demonstrate that by taking the Rebellion beyond the constraints of provincial and national borders, this new history of the Rebellion has demonstrated that it had significant transnational implications, particularly in the United States.

Security, Society, and the Perennial Struggles over the Sacred: Revising the Wars of Religion in International Relations Theory

AbstractInternational relations theory tends to build on the conventional narrative of the Wars of Religion (WoR), which holds it was the irrationality of religious violence that generated the modern international system of pragmatic secular states—resulting in the presumed secularized, rational, and unemotive nature of politics. In contrast, this article reorients our focus to Durkheim's more social view of religion as a community of believers and to the continued role of the sacred and shared emotion/affect in social and political life. Specifically, it examines how modern communities (such as nations) remain constituted by a shared faith in conceptions of the sacred and how the corresponding sense of moral order is central to the enduring pursuit of ontological security. Therefore, it argues that international relations should focus on the perennial struggles over what communities hold sacred and that we can better understand the propensity for (“religious” or “secular”) violence by examining the continual interplay between the sacred, ontological security, and the hermeneutics of morality—with the so-called WoR being the locus classicus of this argument. Historical studies exploring how participants in the WoR navigated such struggles over the sacred thus allow us to explore these dynamics and further conceptualize our understanding of the sacred within modern “secular” politics. The article concludes by examining how the prospect for violence is interrelated with the perennial struggles over the sacred within, and between, political orders—a sentiment that brings into relief some of the hazards accompanying growing intrastate moral polarization and interstate ideological rivalry.