Historians Research Articles

Constitutional and legal foundations of territorial integrity in federal states: historical and legal analysis

The article explores the constitutional and legal foundations of the territorial integrity of the federal states, focusing on historical and contemporary examples. The authors examine cases of successful and unsuccessful secession, as well as legal mechanisms used to prevent separatism. We take Spain, the USA, Canada, India, and Germany, as the examples to analyze the role of constitutional provisions in maintaining state unity. A key aspect of the study is the distribution of competencies between federal structures and federation subjects, which ensures a balance of interests and prevents internal conflicts. A great attention is paid to the principle of subsidiarity and the role of federation subjects in governance, contributing to the preservation of territorial integrity. The authors emphasize the importance of integration mechanisms and constitutional guarantees in maintaining the stability of the federal states. The article establishes that the territorial integrity of federal states is ensured through a set of constitutional and legal norms that regulate the relations between federal authorities and the subjects of the federation. These norms include a clear distribution of competencies, where federal authorities are responsible for national issues such as defense and foreign relations, while the subjects of the federation have powers in local governance. The principle of subsidiarity involves the participation of the federation’s subjects in state governance, ensuring a balance of interests and preventing internal conflicts. Additionally, the supreme legal authority of the federal constitution, mechanisms of federal intervention in case of threats to integrity, and the unity of the economic space all contribute to the stability and unity of the federal state, effectively countering separatist movements. It is determined that the participation of federation subjects in the process of constitutional amendments guarantees their representation and protection of interests, preventing unilateral changes in the state structure. The state language plays an important role, promoting national unity and preventing ethnic conflicts, which is critical for multinational federations. Furthermore, the representation of federation subjects in the national parliament ensures their influence on key decision-making, promoting more balanced policies and strengthening ties between the central government and the regions.

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IN THE DIGITAL AGE: THE CASE FOR REFORM TO KAZAKHSTAN’S COPYRIGHT LAWS

Background: The rapid digitalisation of copyrighted materials and the creation of new digital products pose significant challenges to copyright law in the era of globalisation. Digitisation has revolutionised access to information by converting it into a digital format, thus making it easier for anyone who surfs the internet to reproduce and share data. However, new technologies have also resulted in illegal activities such as online copyright infringement. That being the case, the development of digital technologies requires new relevant approaches and provisions from the national copyright law of Kazakhstan to handle copyright infringement on the internet. It could be argued that the current legislation cannot handle legal issues related to copyright, especially the responsibility of internet service providers (ISPs) for the violation of the copyright. This article aims to identify shortcomings in the legal regulation of ISPs in the Republic of Kazakhstan and to offer recommendations for improving legislation in this area. The novelty of the paper lies in Kazakhstan’s legislation, lacking regulation on the legal status of ISPs and their role in protecting copyright on the internet. By comparing Kazakh legislative developments with practices in the US, UK, and Ukraine, the paper provides insights into potential reforms for better handling digital copyright infringement. Methods: This paper applies several research methods, including systemic, comparative legal, and historical legal analysis. The primary focus is on examining the legislation and case law of the US, UK and Ukraine regarding copyright issues to enhance Kazakhstan’s existing legislative framework. Results and conclusions: This article argues that national acts of Kazakhstan on copyright were obsolete before the advancement of digital technologies and therefore, need to be updated to keep pace with modern technologies.

Counterinsurgency, forest governance, and the dynamics of change in the forests of South Asia: Transition in Bangladesh's forests

Since the end of the Cold War, attention has increasingly focused globally on the nexus of conflict, natural resources, and governance, particularly in forested regions. This paper presents a comprehensive historical and comparative analysis of forest and biodiversity loss in Bangladesh over the last 50 years, attending to the impacts of counterinsurgency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and governance changes in the plains. Drawing on Peter Vandergeest and Nancy Peluso's seminal concept of “political forests,” the study critically analyzes how counterinsurgency, state-led development, and green militarization in the CHT, alongside neoliberal development, commercialization, and land grabbing in the plains, have reshaped forest governance and territorial control in the country. The analysis reveals that counterinsurgencies in the CHT, driven by domestic priorities and strategic interests, expanded colonial-style territorial control over forests, thereby exacerbating biodiversity loss. In the plains, neoliberal governance has promoted forest degradation through commercial exploitation and state-sanctioned land grabbing, with economic growth being pursued at the cost of environmental sustainability. This paper presents a critique of both militarized and neoliberal approaches to conservation, demonstrating how these models prioritize political and economic agendas over ecological integrity and local community needs. In conclusion, the study advocates a paradigmatic shift toward inclusive, community-centered forest governance that empowers local populations and emphasizes environmental stewardship, challenging dominant state-centric and market-driven approaches to forest management.

The institution of popular veto: experience of selected foreign countries

This article examines the legislation of foreign countries regarding mechanisms of direct democracy, particularly the institution of popular veto. A historical analysis of the development of this instrument in European law has been conducted. The methodological basis of the publication consists of scientific methods based on the requirements of objective and comprehensive analysis of socio-political and legal phenomena, which include direct democracy in foreign countries. The research methodology is founded on general theoretical principles and approaches to determining the initial parameters of the formation and development of popular veto as a form of direct democracy. To achieve scientific objectivity in the results, the author used a full range of general scientific and special research methods widely applied in the modern science of constitutional law. It has been established that although modern forms of direct democracy emerged relatively recently, the concept of popular veto has roots in ancient civilizations as a means of limiting the abuse of power. Initially, the right of veto was exercised not directly by citizens, but by authorized persons on behalf of the people, who could reject laws that contradicted fundamental norms. It is argued that although popular veto was first enshrined in French constitutional law, Switzerland is considered its birthplace, where this institution received genuine development and was first implemented in practice in 1831. The evolution of popular veto is closely linked to the development of Swiss statehood; however, the immediate impetus for its implementation was granting citizens direct voting rights and the right to participate in referendums. Initially, popular veto was applied at the level of individual cantons, and in 1874 it was enshrined in the Swiss Constitution at the national level. According to the constitutional procedure, a specified number of voters can officially express disagreement with an adopted law within a set period, after which it must be submitted to a nationwide referendum for approval or repeal.

Towards a Study of the Architectural Decoration of Public Buildings in Parion During the Early Roman Empire

Parion was one of the principal centers of the Roman province of Asia, and the remains of several public buildings adorned with intricate architectural decorations have been uncovered and partially explored. Among these structures are a theater, an odeon, and thermae, all dating to the Roman Empire. In addition to these edifices, other public buildings in the central part of Roman-era Parion remain undiscovered, raising im-portant questions about the organization of public space and the architectural character of the city’s core during the Early Empire. One of the most promising areas for further exploration is the “Agora” sector, bordered to the south by the odeon and to the north by the theater and thermae. This article offers an architectural and histori-cal analysis of the Corinthian order details found in this sector. The architectural elements discussed were un-covered during archaeological excavations conducted between 2015 and 2022 (Figs. 1-6). Although the availa-ble materials are insufficient to definitively identify the specific structures to which these decorative elements belonged, their forms, ornamentation, dimensions, and modules exhibit notable similarities to the architectural details of the southern façade of Hadrian’s Gate in Ephesus. This resemblance suggests a commonality in their architectural compositions and, by extension, the types of structures they adorned. Consequently, it is plausible to infer that these architectural elements were part of a portico associated with a building complex in the Agora. The design of this complex (or at least part of it) likely reflects Hadrian’s extensive building program in the Ro-man province of Asia.

Long Term Historical Precipitation and Temperature Trend Analysis for Selected Stations in Bale and East Bale Zones of Southeastern Ethiopia

Trend analysis for the long-term average temperature and precipitation of Bale and East Bale Zones during 1901 to 2016 has been performed for selected 5 stations to understand the pattern of these important meteorological features under climate change. The precipitation characterizations viz. standardized Precipitation Index has been considered for Sinana, Goro, Ginnir, Dallo menna and Agarfa stations. This study was aimed to analysis ‘’long term historical climate analysis selected stations in Bale and East Bale zones’’. The study considered station nearby kebeles was selected purposively from highland, midland and lowland districts. Standardized Precipitation Index drought index method was used to classify drought condition of the area. The findings showed that, the average temperature of the district showed an increased in the past three decades whereas the annual precipitation of the districts showed a decreasing trend with some variation from the mean in the period 1901- 2016 which was validated with 1984 – 2016 observed data. In line with this, representative respondents were considered from lowland, highland and midland agro-ecologies. Long term annual mean temperature showed increase trends by 0.17°C per decade at Sinana, Goro, Ginnir and Agarfa stations. Additionally, it was revealed more increment by 0.19°C per decade at Dallo menna station. From long term climate data analysis, it was indicated that extremely wet recorded in 1903, 1914, 1917, 1926, 1977 and 2013, while extremely dry conditions were recorded in 1919, 1938 and 1943 annual precipitation recorded for the whole period has been calculated and interpreted.

Transmisogyny, Ableism and Compulsory Cisness: Case Studies from Byzantium

Abstract This article uses case studies from Byzantium to demonstrate a new trans framework for gendered historical analysis that recognizes identity as both fluid and painful. Instead of placing the emphasis on whether or not we can call an individual trans, it explores the forces that produced cisness, and the cis and trans lives people carved out amidst them. We find ableism and transmisogyny at the heart of three important pieces of trans history from the middle Byzantine period: a description by Michael Psellos of a child whose femininity is framed in terms of disability, Nikephoros Basilakes’ Confirmation and Refutation of the story of Atalanta, and Psellos’ own expressions of gendered identity in their epistolography. Focusing on the collusion of cisness and able-bodiedness produces a complex image of how some Byzantines could incorporate gender transgression into a cis life, while others negotiated life outside the boundaries of acceptability. More broadly, this framework reveals the entanglements of transness and cisness, which demand that historical analysis does not stop at the borders of inner states.

Makna Frasa “ὁ ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ” dalam Yohanes 1:29

One of the theological titles addressed to Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. This title can be found in John 1:29 and 1:36 which is the title of John the Baptist to Jesus,and is not found in the Synoptic Gospels. A number of scholars have attempted to interpret the phrase Lamb of God both in a literal and figurative sense and there are a number of different meanings. In this paper, the author seeks the meaning of the phrase Lamb of God in John 1:29 using the exegetical method. The exegetical method used three analyses: contextual analysis, historical, and grammatical and literal analysis. From the analysis carried out, it was found that the meaning of the phrase Lamb of God which is directed at Jesus explains the work of Jesus' salvation through His death on the cross which brought redemption and remission of sins for humans by taking Jewish background: the Passover lamb, and the divine qualities possessed by Christ as the Lamb of God.

Treaty-Making Projects and the Rise of the Everyday Treaty

Abstract States today are typically enmeshed in dense networks of numerous treaties that define their obligations toward one another, but this was not always the case. This originated in the nineteenth century, when the frequency of treaty-making increased dramatically. I call this the rise of the “everyday” treaty, and present a new empirical historical analysis of how it came about. Rather than a general “turn to treaties,” during the middle decades of the nineteenth century (from 1820 to 1860), the intensification of treaty-making was largely due to the activities of a small group of five or six actors, who pursued “treaty-making projects” to control international relations on a particular issue or in a geographical region. The essay suggests that this shows the importance of treaties as a flexible and instrumental tool for statecraft, and identifies some key areas for further research on the topic.

Investigating Hydrological Drought Characteristics in Northeastern Thailand in CMIP5 Climate Change Scenarios

In this study, we analyzed the predictions of hydrological droughts in the Lam Chiang Kri Watershed (LCKW) by using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and streamflow data for 2010–2021. The objective was to assess the streamflow drought index (SDI) for 5-, 10-, 25-, and 50-year return periods (RPs) in 2029 and 2039 in two representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios: the moderate climate change scenario (RCP 4.5) and the high-emission scenario (RCP 8.5). The SWAT model showed high accuracy (R2 = 0.82, NSE = 0.78). In RCP4.5, streamflow is projected to increase by 34.74% for 2029 and 18.74% for 2039, while in RCP8.5, a 37.06% decrease is expected for 2029 and 55.84% for 2039. A historical analysis indicated that there were frequent short-term droughts according to SDI-3 (3-month-period index), particularly from 2014 to 2015 and 2020 to 2021, and severe droughts according to SDI-6 (6-month-period index) in 2015 and 2020. The RCP8.5 projections indicate worsening drought conditions, with critical periods from April to June. A wavelet analysis showed that there is a significant risk of severe hydrological drought in the LCKW. Drought characteristic analysis indicated that high-intensity events occur with low frequency in the 50-year RP. Conversely, high-frequency droughts with lower intensity are observed in RPs of less than 50 years. The results of this study highlight an increase in severe drought risk in high emission scenarios, emphasizing the need for water management.

Social Role of the Tradition of Protest Song Tradition of Popular Music mid-20th century in the United States

Introduction. The article considers the integrating social role of the tradition of protest songs in the period 1950–1970 on the example of the United States of America. This period was characterized by a series of military conflicts against the background of geopolitical confrontation between the USSR and the USA, which was reflected in creative and sociocultural movements for peace and contributed to social and political changes in the USA. Protest music not only contributed to a positive influence on political decision-making, but also became a powerful means of expressing public opinion and feelings.Methodology and sources. The methodology and theory is based on comparative historical analysis of socio-cultural, political and historical events and facts related to the period covered. The material for the study was also made up of biographies, descriptions of events by eyewitnesses and documents of secondary analysis, telling about the social and musical impact of the phenomenon of protest songs of folk music and rock'n'roll counterculture on American society, as a reaction to the political decisions of the U.S. government to create hotbeds of military conflicts in the world.Results and discussion. The period from the late 1940s to the 1950s in the United States was marked by an acute confrontation between communism and capitalism, which was reflected in the culture and music of the time. The emergence and proliferation of protest songs, as well as other forms in the arts, occurs because of important crisis events on a global scale, or when people begin to see these events as such. Because of the impact the conflict between the two superpowers and their allies had on the world, people began to react to it in their own way. Music reacted to the events instantly and vividly. Although most protest songs were not a national success and their message was mostly appreciated by radicals, the songs united people and helped them express their discontent with what was happening.Conclusion. Folk and rock music became an integral part of life during the Cold War within the United States. Musicians and poets protested against the administration's policies, against unnecessary military conflicts, and warned against the possible destruction of the world. As a result, these genres became a powerful means of expressing public feelings, opinions, and influenced the formation of public consciousness right up to our time.

Defending Indian Philosophy from the Criticisms of Stace

In his, A Critical History of Greek Philosophy, W. T. Stace denies to give Indian schools of thought a philosophical status. He gives three reasons for that—(1) Indian thoughts have practical motivation, (2) instead of rational explanation, it is content with symbolism, and (3) India lies outside the mainstream human civilization. In the defense of Indian philosophy, these three arguments have been countered in this paper from different perspectives. It has been shown that these arguments are rooted in scientism, extreme idealism, and ethnocentrism respectively. Stace has also argued that philosophy has four leading traits—(1) discussing the universe as a whole, (2) generalizing sciences, (3) idealism, and (4) non-practical motivation. For a proper defense, it has been shown that Indian systems share those traits. At the end, a conclusive remark has been given. It has been remarked that Stace’s case is an example of ethnocentric bias and racism. It has also been suggested that the interaction of the philosophies of different civilizations is necessary for the very sake of philosophy. Though this is not the first endeavor to defend Indian philosophy, the literature review (conducted by the author) suggests that Stace’s arguments haven’t been criticized separately. Philosophy and Progress, Vol#73-74; No#1-2; Jan-Dec 2023 P 281-314

A VIRTUE ETHICS FOR HISTORIANS: PROSPECTS AND LIMITATIONS

ABSTRACTHow feasible would it be to develop a virtue ethics for historians that is analogous or similar to virtue‐ethical approaches to research integrity that have been proposed for other areas of academic inquiry? The field of history is an interesting one, as few disciplines have an equally well‐documented history of thinking, talking, and writing about virtues. This history merits ethicists’ attention, as it offers a unique opportunity for grounding ethical reflection in the lived realities of historical research and teaching. In the spirit of a “history and philosophy of history,” this article contributes to such a project by staging a conversation between virtue ethics and the history of historiography. Drawing on a range of nineteenth‐ and twentieth‐century examples, it argues that much of what applied virtue ethicists are recommending scholars to do has a long pedigree in the history of historiography. Critical virtue ethics, too, is a project to which historians can easily relate, especially insofar as they are committed to virtues of truthfulness in an age of post‐truth. If this suggests that there is room, or perhaps even a need, for a virtue ethics for historians, the cases examined in this article also prompt critical questions, especially ones regarding the teachability of virtue, the potential of virtue talk to be misused for polemical and exclusionary purposes, and the sort of tasks that a virtue ethics is capable of addressing. In light of these considerations, the article calls for reflection on the “affordances” of virtue. It claims that the case for a virtue ethics will be strongest if it is grounded in a realistic understanding not only of the beneficial uses to which categories of virtue can be put but also of unintended uses to which virtue talk is susceptible and of tasks for which virtue thinking is less prepared.

Examining Government Preference for Enhancing Islamic Education Through Regulatory Review

Government regulations on Islamic education in Indonesia have provided significant clarity and fulfilled educational needs within a developing society. These regulations demonstrate democratic, cultural, and adaptable qualities in the legal framework of Islamic education. However, challenges remain in achieving parity between Islamic and general education policies. This research employed a literature review approach, analyzing data from books, scientific articles, and research reports. A comparative and historical analysis was conducted to assess the impact of government policies on Islamic education. The findings reveal three key outcomes: (1) Government policies have shaped Islamic education to help students understand and practice their religious teachings across various levels of general education; (2) The Ministry of Religion has been granted autonomy to determine Islamic education curriculum policies; and (3) Political efforts to equalize the status of Islamic education with general education have encountered significant challenges, hindering policy development. The research highlights the ongoing struggle to integrate Islamic education within the broader educational system, which continues to present obstacles for policymakers. Despite these challenges, the autonomy granted to the Ministry of Religion marks progress in shaping the curriculum according to Islamic values. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders, offering guidance on improving Islamic education policies in Indonesia. Further efforts are necessary to address the political challenges that affect the development and implementation of Islamic education laws.

Color Symbolism in Medieval and Safavid Manuscripts and in Islamic Aesthetics: A Historical and Comparative Analysis

The inquisitive nature of mankind is always looking for ways to explore things of its interest. It is interesting to write about art, architecture and artefacts but without consulting about color; the study remains incomplete. Color symbolism in manuscripts has always been a rich source of studying diverse cultural and religious history. In the art of manuscripts, colors were not solely used to create an ideal reality but also gave meaning to the illustrations. Color symbolism is an essential part in every religious as well as secular art but the meaning and symbology may not be similar. The aim of this research paper is to draw attention to the color symbolism of Christian Medieval period and ‘Safavid’ Period manuscripts. The study provides that the metaphorical use of colors, their similarities, comparisons and expressionist style having different impacts in two diverse art works belong to mystical, religious and emerging time periods. Moreover, the paper is based on hermeneutic exploratory and descriptive research using the technique of innate expressionism.

Expressions of biblical origin in learners’ dictionaries of proverbs and phraseological units

The need to improve the lexicographic description of the phraseological units and proverbs of biblical ori[1]gin which are not always fully parameterised in learners’ dictionaries, determines the relevance of the research presented in this article. The study aims to justify the methods for expanding the historical and etymological parametric zone of dictionary entries representing proverbs and phraseological units traced back to the Bible. Moreover, another goal is to develop new models for describing this linguistically and culturally valuable material in learners’ dictionaries intended, first and foremost, for primary school learners. Parametric analysis of modern lexicographic publications enabled us to identify the specific features of presenting the cultural and historical background of phraseological units and proverbs of biblical origin to schoolchildren, as well as to outline ways of improving their historical and etymological commentary. We developed our own materials using the method of lexicographic modeling and the author techniques of etymological paraphrasing. Through historical and etymological analysis, the origin of phraseological units and proverbs selected for lexicographic description was specified. The results of the study supplemented the theoretical and methodological basis of learner’s lexicography, as well as substantiated the use of models for describing proverbs and phraseological units dating back to biblical texts in a discursive dictionary. For instance, to represent expressions that are culturally significant but rare in modern speech, we suggest using a model of a comprehensive linguo-cultural text written by the author-compiler. In addition, a model of a narrative text on the issues relevant to children is proposed for actively functioning proverbs and phraseological units. The paper concludes that the developed lexicographic description models foreground the spiritual and moral potential of proverbs and phraseological units of biblical origin. Moreover, working with dictionary materials enables the accomplishment of educational objectives. It is emphasised that the practical va[1]lue of the developed models for describing proverbs and phraseological units lies in the possibility of their use by teachers when preparing informative teaching materials on phraseology and paremiology for a Russian language lesson or an extracurricular event. As a research outlook, we plan to develop the concept of a learner’s phraseological dictionary for secondary school students with extensive use of the biblical text and various research assignments.

Requirements for the Development and Operation of a Freeze-Up Ice-Jam Flood Forecasting System

This article provides a comprehensive overview of ice-jam flood forecasting methodologies applicable to rivers during freezing. It emphasizes the importance of understanding river ice processes and fluvial geomorphology for developing a freeze-up ice-jam flood forecasting system. The article showcases a stochastic modelling approach, which involves simulating a deterministic river ice model multiple times with varying parameters and boundary conditions. This approach has been applied to the Exploits River at Badger in Newfoundland, Canada, a river that has experienced several freeze-up ice-jam floods. The forecasting involves two approaches: predicting the extent of the ice cover during river freezing and using an ensemble method to determine backwater flood level elevations. Other examples of current ice-jam flood forecasting systems for the Kokemäenjoki River (Pori, Finland), Saint John River (Edmundston, NB, Canada), and Churchill River (Mud Lake, NL, Canada) that are operational are also presented. The text provides a detailed explanation of the processes involved in river freeze-up and ice-jam formation, as well as the methodologies used for freeze-up ice-jam flood forecasting. Ice-jam flood forecasting systems used for freeze-up were compared to those employed for spring breakup. Spring breakup and freeze-up ice-jam flood forecasting systems differ in their driving factors and methodologies. Spring breakup, driven by snowmelt runoff, typically relies on deterministic and probabilistic approaches to predict peak flows. Freeze-up, driven by cold temperatures, focuses on the complex interactions between atmospheric conditions, river flow, and ice dynamics. Both systems require air temperature forecasts, but snowpack data are more crucial for spring breakup forecasting. To account for uncertainty, both approaches may employ ensemble forecasting techniques, generating multiple forecasts using slightly different initial conditions or model parameters. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art in ice-jam flood forecasting systems and to identify gaps and areas for improvement in existing ice-jam flood forecasting approaches, with a focus on enhancing their accuracy, reliability, and decision-making potential. In conclusion, an effective freeze-up ice-jam flood forecasting system requires real-time data collection and analysis, historical data analysis, ice jam modeling, user interface design, alert systems, and integration with other relevant systems. This combination allows operators to better understand ice jam behavior and make informed decisions about potential risks or mitigation measures to protect people and property along rivers. The key findings of this review are as follows: (i) Ice-jam flood forecasting systems are often based on simple, empirical models that rely heavily on historical data and limited real-time monitoring information. (ii) There is a need for more sophisticated modeling techniques that can better capture the complex interactions between ice cover, water levels, and channel geometry. (iii) Combining data from multiple sources such as satellite imagery, ground-based sensors, numerical models, and machine learning algorithms can significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of ice-jam flood forecasts. (iv) Effective decision-support tools are crucial for integrating ice-jam flood forecasts into emergency response and mitigation strategies.

From local issue to global challenge: a brief overview of antibiotic shortages since the 1970s

Antibiotic shortages have become a global issue, affecting countries worldwide. These shortages often lead to the overuse of specialized or emergency-reserve antibiotics, which impacts the treatment and increases the risk of drug resistance, making infections harder to treat over time. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the severity of these shortages, showing they are neither rare nor isolated but rather common and widespread. This short commentary explores two main questions: firstly, how has antibiotic shortage developed into a serious concern for countries like the United States and Europe, once leaders in antibiotic production; and secondly, how has antibiotic shortage grown from localized and isolated issues into the global concern, affecting countries around the world? By employing historical analysis, this commentary aims to underscore the growing but overlooked issue, pointing to a broad and deeply rooted problem of the pharmaceutical production landscape.

Looking forward through the rear-view mirror: A socio-technical imaginaries perspective for envisioning the Metaverse beyond the hype

We build upon the theoretical underpinnings of federated networks and adopt a socio-technical imaginaries perspective to envision the future of the Metaverse, informed by an understanding of the past and an assessment of the present. In doing so, we employ a two-step methodological approach that includes interviews with experts on Metaverse development, complemented by a historical analysis of archival data on the development of existing federated networks. Our combined data analysis unearthed four characteristics essential for the development of the Metaverse, which often operate in conjunction. By analyzing the relationship among the identified core characteristics, we further unpack two key insights for the future development of the Metaverse. Our first insight is that the fundamental attribute of federated networks is dynamism. Our second insight is that by acknowledging this dynamism, we can better understand that the development of the Metaverse will not follow a linear progression, as the development of a core characteristic may affect the advancement of others. We discuss the implications of our work for theory as well as practice and delineate an agenda for future research on the topic.

The Evolution of Global Cleavages: A Historical Analysis of Territorial and Functional World Alignments Based on Automated Text Analysis, 1843–2020

This paper examines the global cleavages that structure world politics from the mid-19th century to the present. It develops the concept of cleavage applied at the global level and measures empirically how territorial divisions give way to the politicization of various types of inequality along functional lines cutting across world regions. Covering over 300,000 articles from The Economist between 1843 and 2020, the analysis applies semi-supervised computational text analysis based on word embeddings to capture the territoriality−functionality continuum in global discourse. This method allows testing the theoretical expectation that the territoriality in the politicization of global divisions has diminished historically. Results reveal a trend toward the de-territorialization since World War II, primarily for cleavages about social and economic inequality. Although spikes of territoriality re-appear during interstate wars throughout the entire period, surges of territoriality are temporary and do not reverse the historical trend towards prevailing cross-territorial divisions.