Cultural Relations Research Articles

Contextualizing Human Rights in Multicultural Environments

This paper explores the intricate relationship between socio-cultural dynamics and human rights in multicultural societies. It examines how norms, belief systems, and power structures shape the perception and exercise of these universal principles. The study employs a qualitative research design, specifically using the Cultural Relativism Framework, to investigate how cultural norms and values influence the interpretation and application of human rights. Through the analysis of literature and case studies, the paper elucidates the interaction between cultural context and human rights interpretations. It acknowledges that human rights are not uniform but are influenced by diverse cultural contexts. Key findings underscore the significance of multiculturalism in human rights interpretation, the impact of social, cultural, and political contexts, the intersection of values, beliefs, and customs, and the roles of states, civil society, and international organizations in shaping human rights discourse. The paper advocates for educational initiatives, intercultural dialogue, inclusive policymaking, and legal reforms to promote and protect human rights in diverse societies. It recommends enhancing human rights education, facilitating intercultural exchange, empowering civil society, addressing discrimination and inequality, and integrating customary laws with formal legal systems. By fostering mutual respect and understanding, societies can uphold human rights and cultural diversity, enabling peaceful, equitable coexistence. This assertion is based on empirical observations and scientific principles that highlight the importance of mutual understanding in preserving human rights and promoting cultural diversity. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of human rights, advocating for a balance between universal principles and cultural specificities.

Optimizing strategy of bifacial TOPCon solar cells with front-side local passivation contact realized by numerical simulation

The tunnelling oxide passivation contact (TOPCon) solar cells have been impressive in the global photovoltaic (PV) market originating from their high efficiency and stability. However, it exhibits significant recombination losses due to its boron diffusion, laser damage and metal-semiconductor contact on front side. The bifacial TOPCon structure demonstrates massive potential in the improvement of passivation and contact performance with the premise that it can solve the parasitic absorption of polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si). In this study, the localized poly finger structure with excellent optics and passivation performance is designed in the front side of bifacial solar cells to compare with traditional TOPCon and full-area poly passivation devices. The theoretical efficiency and detailed power loss analysis in our simulation reveal that suppressing the recombination of FSF (front surface field) and the contact area is the crucial strategy to improve device performance, with optimized efficiency of 26.62 % and FF of 85.16 %. These results indicate that the route of BJ (back junction) structure containing localized selective contact and full coverage high-quality passivation holds potential in realizing both high Jsc and Voc for FBC (front and back contact) solar cells, featuring great instructive significance for future industrialization of PV production.

Studying Religiosity Beyond (Western) Christianity: an Empirical-Psychological Perspective and its Implications

Abstract Over recent decades, empirical research on religion has increasingly criticized its primary focus on Western Christianity. This paper has two aims: Firstly, it addresses challenges in applying ‘Western’ empirical research on religion to non-Western contexts (samples, measurement, results and discussion). Secondly, it highlights the convergent approach, bridging the gap between the perceived dichotomy of cultural universalism and cultural relativism. This approach acknowledges both religiosity’s universal commonalities across contexts and particularities in a certain cultural-religious context. Studying religiosity beyond Christianity enables to explore a nearly limitless field of basic research but also provides a robust empirical, social-scientific foundation for various practical applications that are gaining increasing social relevance, such as therapy, migration, and counseling for religious institutions. Such are vital for the future of our field, ensuring its continued relevance in times of accelerated secularization.

Universality versus Cultural relativism in International Human Rights: A Case Study of the Anti-Homosexuality Act of Uganda 2023

This research examines the frequent conflict that has emerged between the universal human rights standard and the indigenous cultural practices with special attention paid to the Anti-Homosexuality Act of Uganda of 2023. The Act criminalized same-sex relationships, an act that is in violation of universal human rights principles and showed a probable conflict between international norms and local cultural values. This review unravels how the Anti-Homosexuality Act of Uganda fits with or goes against international human rights commitments and further to determine more general implications of balancing universal principles against cultural relativism. The doctrinal approach adopted in this study includes a review of relevant international treaties, Uganda’s legislation and academic literature. The findings reveal that the Act, to an extent, undermines universal principles of human rights through the violation of rights to privacy, dignity, and equality. Such tug of war will require a lot of inclusive dialogue with the local communities and advocacy for protection of human rights which respects the cultural context. In addition, international organizations should support capacity building and facilitate debates that improve tolerance and respect for human rights. The work will engender a debate in reconciling universal human rights and cultural diversity, as well as emerging lessons for more effective and sensitive strategies in international human rights advocacy. Keywords: Universality, Cultural relativism, Human Rights and Homosexuality

Les jeux panhelléniques dans les rapports entre les cités grecques d'Europe et d'Asie

This article focuses in a first part on the four main games that brought together the Greeks of Europe and those of Asia. These four major contests were the Olympic Games, Isthmian Games, Pythian Games, and Nemean Games. In addition, it highlights the conclusion of the truces which were considered an essential condition for the organization of these games. In a second part, the study shows that Greeks came from all cities to participate in the games. It also mentions the honor both an athlete and a city derived from a victory during these games. Finally, the study addresses the fact that the games were opportunities to strengthen the bonds of cultural kinship between Greek city-states and occasions for diplomatic negotiations.

Ethnocentrism to Cultural Relativism: A Food Journey of Hassan Haji's Family in Richard C. Morais' the Hundred-Foot Journey

This paper examines the conflict faced by select characters in Richard C. Morais' The Hundred-Foot Journey between Indian and French food culture through the lens of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. It probes how Hassan Haji strikes a balance between two food cultures: the French culture and Indian culture meet, interact, compete and experience a collision of cultures related to ethnocentric issues from Madame Gertrude Mallory. Leaving one's cultural territory and migrating to another territory authoritatively represents one's cultural superiority. It takes time to understand the cultural practices of other ethnic groups in terms of their food and cultural contexts, which requires competence in cultural relativism. It examines three aspects of his food culture journey. To begin, it studies how Hassan Haji travels out of his home country and adapts to new food culture. Second, how he experiences blending two food cultures. Third, how well he manages, learns and adjusts to the new food culture and settles in with cultural relativism. The author portrays cross-cultural aspects of food's power through the confrontation between French haute cuisine and an Indian restaurant. Literature has enlightened readers' comprehension of many civilisations all across the world. It takes the readers on a voyage around the world without requiring them to leave their current location. Some literary works, on the other hand, combine two civilisations. These pages reflect how various cultures may reveal various facets of each other, including challenges, dreams, and secret scars shared by those who share space with them. As they learn about new cultures, they strive to maintain a balance between the two. Cross-cultural influences led the Kadam family to abandon their nativity and relocate to a new country after crossing cultural divides.

The Design and Investigation of Hybrid a Microfluidic Micromixer

Today, microfluidics has become a revolutionary interdisciplinary topic with considerable attention in a wide range of biotechnology applications. In this research work, a numerical investigation of a microfluidic micromixer is carried out using a hybrid actuation approach with different micropillar shapes and gaps. For this purpose, COMSOL Multiphysics v.5.2. is used with three different physics, such as thermoviscous acoustic physics to solve acoustic governing equations, laminar physics to solve fluid flow governing equations, and diluted transport species to solve mixing governing equations. The simulations were carried out at different Reynolds numbers such as 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 with an oscillation frequency of 15 kHz. The results were in the form of acoustic characteristics such as acoustic pressure, acoustic velocity, acoustic stream, mixing index, and fluid flow behaviour at various Reynolds numbers. The results revealed that the inclusion of micropillars improved the mixing performance and strength of the acoustic field, resulting in an improvement of the mixing performance compared to the case without micropillars. In addition, the mixing performance is also investigated at different Reynolds numbers, and a higher mixing index is investigated at lower Reynolds numbers. Moreover, it was also investigated that blade-shaped micropillars with 0.150 mm gaps deliver the best results compared to the other cases, and the maximum and minimum values of the mixing index are 0.97 and 0.72, respectively, at Reynolds number 2. The main reason behind this larger mixing index at low Reynolds numbers is due to the inclusion of micropillars that enhance the diffusion rate and contact area, leading to the homogenisation of the heterogeneous fluids in the microchamber. The obtained results can be extremely helpful for the design and modifications of a hybrid microfluidics micromixer.

VICTIMOLOGICAL PREVENTION: EFFECTIVE PRACTICES OF INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Victimological prevention is defined as a system of measures and strategies aimed at preventing and reducing violence, as well as at protecting potential and direct victims. In today’s world, this topic is becoming more and more relevant, as socio-cultural, technological and political changes create new challenges and opportunities in the field of victimology. Current challenges are characterized by low public awareness, lack of funding and resources, and cultural relativism. Politicization of problems, ethnic conflicts and deficiencies in legislation are serious tasks for victimological prevention. The rapid development of technology is giving rise to new forms of violence, such as digital violence and cybercrime. Underestimation of these risks can lead to incorrect use of technologies in the framework of victimology prevention. The article notes the need to strengthen public participation and develop culturally sensitive strategies. Ensuring privacy and safety for those seeking care is essential to the success of this field. Inclusive and gender-balanced strategies are also identified as key elements for further improvement. Analysis of international experience indicates the importance of joint work of various sectors of society and global coordination to solve victimological problems. Victimological prevention requires constant improvement of strategies and methods aimed at adapting to changes in the world. Successful victimization prevention relies on broad partnerships, cultural sensitivity, and the innovative use of technology to achieve the global goals of reducing violence and protecting victims’ rights. Successful victimology prevention requires the joint action of all sectors of society and global coordination. The analysis of international experience shows that the cooperation of various sectors, such as law enforcement agencies, public organizations, government structures, as well as the active participation of international organizations, is a decisive factor in the fight against victimological problems. In addition, the use of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics and information visualization can significantly increase the effectiveness of victimology interventions and help achieve the global goals of reducing violence and protecting victims’ rights.

Communities of Fear: The Politics of ‘Strangering’ and the Ethics of Resistance in Naima El Bezaz’s Vinexvrouwen

ABSTRACT This article analyses the Moroccan-Dutch author Naima El Bezaz’s novel Vinexvrouwen (Suburban Women), which explores the interplay between the representation of migrants’ cultural difference, the politics of ‘strangering’ and the ethics of resistance. By means of gendered practice of storytelling, the autobiographical novel unfolds the native Dutch people’s fear of a loss at the hands of globalizing forces: mass migration, cultural relativism and the hybridization of their national identity. This rhetoric of fear is channelled into deep resentment against migrants represented as ‘fetishised’ strangers, excluded them from the ‘imagined community' of belonging. In my close-reading, I focus on how El Bezaz’s novel engages a dialectical process of estrangement and embodiment, of exclusion and inclusion, of solidarity and resistance in its representation of migrants’ cultural difference. Examining the bond between storytelling and the extra-literary reality/new realism, I delve into the way the text narrates the process of ‘strangering' migrants as communities of fear and instead expresses resistance and solidarity in face of exclusionary mechanism.

Stability Maintenance and the ‘Three Evils’: Framing China’s Role in Central Asia

ABSTRACT This article analyzes 430 security-related press releases from meetings between officials from China and the Central Asian republics between 1991 to January 2023 to examine how its threat perceptions have evolved. First, China’s focus on the Three Evil Forces (terrorism, extremism, separatism) has won its support and cooperation from regimes across the region. Second, China has advanced a number of new security concepts over the years, most recently the Global Security Initiative. Each of these concepts, as well as frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and China + Central Asia, advance China’s vision of a multipolar world order in which universal values are replaced with adherence to state sovereignty and cultural relativism. This article argues that China’s securitized approach to regional foreign policy-making has helped coordinate local responses to disparate challenges while granting them political buy-in and support to mobilize state resources to promote regime stability.

Introduction | Will Work: New Anthropological Perspectives on Human Volition

ABSTRACT This special issue aims to deepen and diversify anthropological explorations of human volition. While volition is a central theme in philosophy and theology, its anthropological dimensions are less explored. This edited collection seeks to reposition human volition as a pivotal element of anthropological inquiry. The investigation extends into the realms of ethics/morality, freedom, and experience, opening new avenues for research. Comprising four anthropological studies, we explore volition across varied ethnographic settings, providing a rich backdrop for examining how volition is differently conceptualised, exercised, and contested. This issue introduces a conceptual framework, which offers a new lens to understand the heterogeneity and dynamics of volition, emphasising the balance between personal interiorities and sociocultural exteriorities, and between universalist humanism and cultural relativism. By offering fresh insights into human volition, we contribute to ongoing dialogues in anthropology about human agency and the complex interplay of cultural and social influences on willing.

Microscopic insights into metal diffusion and ohmic contact formation in delta-doped GaAs/(Al,Ga)As core/shell nanowires

Semiconductor nanowires (NWs) are promising candidates for use in electronic and optoelectronic applications, offering numerous advantages over their thin film counterparts. Their performance relies heavily on the quality of the contacts to the NW, which should exhibit ohmic behavior with low resistance and should be formed in a reproducible manner. In the case of heterostructure NWs for high-mobility applications that host a two-dimensional electron gas, ohmic contacts are particularly challenging to implement since the NW core constituting the conduction channel is away from the NW surface. We investigated contact formation to modulation-doped GaAs/(Al,Ga)As core/shell NWs using scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and electron tomography to correlate microstructure, diffusion profile and chemical composition of the NW contact region with the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of the contacted NWs. Our results illustrate how diffusion, alloying and phase formation processes essential to the effective formation of ohmic contacts are more intricate than in planar layers, leading to reproducibility challenges even when the processing conditions are the same. We demonstrate that the NW geometry plays a crucial role in the creation of good contacts. Both ohmic and rectifying contacts were obtained under nominally identical processing conditions. Furthermore, the presence of Ge in the NW core, in the absence of Au and Ni, was found as the key factor leading to ohmic contacts. The analysis contributes to the current understanding of ohmic contact formation to heterostructure core/shell NWs offering pathways to enhance the reproducibility and further optimization of such NW contacts.

The Nature of Moral Realism vs. Anti-Realism and Its Implications for Moral Discourse and Practice

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to explore the nature of moral realism vs. anti-realism and its implications for moral discourse and practice. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the nature of moral realism vs. anti-realism and its implications for moral discourse and practice. Preliminary empirical review revealed that individuals' beliefs about moral realism vs. anti-realism significantly influenced their moral reasoning and behaviors, with proponents of moral realism exhibiting absolutist moral judgments while those endorsing anti-realism demonstrated greater moral flexibility. Cultural and ideological variations in these beliefs were evident, reflecting diverse societal norms and values. Longitudinal studies revealed the developmental origins of these beliefs, emphasizing the importance of early moral education. Overall, the study highlighted the complex interplay between philosophical perspectives on morality and real-world implications, advocating for informed and culturally sensitive approaches to moral discourse and practice. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development, Social Identity theory and Cultural Relativism may be used to anchor future studies on the nature of moral realism vs. anti-realism. The study provided valuable recommendations for theory, practice, and policy. It contributed to theoretical advancements in moral philosophy by integrating empirical evidence with philosophical insights, thereby refining existing theories and generating new avenues for exploration. The findings had practical implications for educators, policymakers, and practitioners, emphasizing the importance of ethical education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and ethical leadership practices. Policy recommendations highlighted the need for contextually sensitive approaches to addressing ethical issues, while ethical practice emphasized fostering open dialogue and ethical reflexivity in professional settings. The study also identified future research directions, suggesting the importance of longitudinal and interdisciplinary studies to further advance our understanding of morality and ethics. Keywords: Moral Realism, Anti-Realism, Moral Discourse, Beliefs, Philosophy, Ethics, Interdisciplinary, Collaboration, Ethical Leadership, Professional Practice

Defending Autonomy as a Criterion for Epistemic Virtue

ABSTRACT Catherine Elgin has recently offered compatibility with autonomy as a plausible criterion for the epistemic virtues. This approach mixes elements of Kantianism with virtue theory. Sasha Mudd has criticized this combination on the grounds that it weakens the structure of Kantian autonomy and undermines its resources for responding to cultural relativism. Elgin’s more recent defense of the role of autonomy has taken a more Kantian turn. Here, I defend Elgin’s original claim, grounding it in a distinctively virtue theoretic account of the development of virtues. Exploring how individuals develop their epistemic virtues within a social context, I show how these virtues can be grounded in both developmental and constitutive relational autonomy. I further argue that a virtue theoretic conception of autonomy should be substantive, not just procedural, and this limits concerns about relativism.

Why Autocracies Fear LGBTQ+ Rights

Abstract: During the past decades, the rights of sexual minorities have been subject to both expansion and resistance at domestic and international levels. This essay investigates the resistance to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) rights by focusing on the position of autocratic regimes in international organizations. It examines the history and evolution of discussions regarding SOGI within the United Nations (UN) and presents an analysis of the positions taken by countries in all SOGI resolutions adopted by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Democracies and autocracies are clearly divided on the topic of LGBTQ+ rights, with the latter vehemently opposing proposals to expand sexual minorities' rights. This autocratic resistance is rooted in fears of empowered minorities challenging the status quo and the perceived threat of SOGI rights as a gateway to broader liberal values. By leveraging cultural anxieties and joining forces with other nondemocratic regimes, autocracies exploit traditional values to resist the expansion of international liberal norms. The United Nations must adopt policy recommendations aimed at countering opposition to SOGI rights by emphasizing the universality of human rights, combating cultural relativism, and reframing the national sovereignty argument to garner broader support for SOGI rights.

한국어 개념적 은유의 문화상대주의적 특성과 이에 따른 교육 방안

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze the face threat posed by Korean metaphors from a cultural relativist perspective and present educational approaches accordingly.
 Methods To achieve research goal, a survey was conducted with a total of 124 participants, including 48 Koreans, 56 Americans, and 20 Chinese individuals, to compare and analyze their perceptions of face threat in Korean metaphors. According to the theory of the great chain of being, we classified Korean metaphorical expressions with a threat to dignity into categories of human, animal, organic, and inanimate objects. Using SPSS version 27, we analyzed the perceptions of respondents from three countries based on their familiarity, power distance, and sex.
 Results According to the analysis, respondents from the three countries generally felt little discomfort when using person-related metaphors. However, they experienced significant face threat when using metaphors related to inanimate objects and organic substances. On the other hand, Korean and Chinese respondents showed a greater awareness of the interpersonal closeness aspect in metaphor usage, while this tendency was less pronounced among American respondents.
 Conclusions Korean, Chinese, and American respondents demonstrate a simultaneous combination of universality and cultural relativism in their perception of face threat in metaphorical expressions, depending on the relationship between the metaphorical expression and the cultural context.

The Interrelation and Influence of Cultural Identity in the Performing Arts: Archetypes, Reflections, Interpretations

Relevance. In the modern global world, the relationship between cultural identity and the performing arts is becoming increasingly relevant. The academic paper focuses on the role of cultural identity, its search and transformation, based on archetypes, reflection and interpretation in forming the identity of performers. Archetypes, which are universal symbols and images, influence the creative process of performers. They can be manifested in musical compositions, choreography, acting, and other forms of art. Performers’ reflections on their cultural heritage and identity help them enrich their performances and express themselves. Purpose. The present academic paper will help reveal important aspects of the interaction between cultural identity and the performing arts, and it will also consider practical examples from the world of art, in particular, music. The object of the research is the specificity of the cultural identity of certain countries (Ukraine, the USA, Brazil, India, and China) and the possibilities of the performing arts to use cultural specificity/identity in the modern world. The principles of tolerance, awareness of cultural relativism and tolerance, cultural variety, and the aim to preserve cultural heritage by popularizing these notions served as the methodological basis for writing the academic paper. In order to accomplish the research tasks, the works of the following scholars and their methodological approaches were used, namely: the works of C. Jung, T. Adorno, the theories of F. Clackson and F. Strodtbeck, and the development of the study of cultural features of countries by G. Hofstede. In the context of cultural globalization, the issues of cultural identity are gaining particular importance. Musical art is particularly appropriate for demonstrating both timeless and supranational aspects of existence, and vice versa – for shaping and cultivating cultural differences, using both established archetypal images and performing reflections and interpretations of the author's intent, interpreted in accordance with the personal background and historical and cultural context.

Beyond the Veil

This article critically analyzes the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam (CDHRI) and its relationship with the widely recognized Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which guarantees and protects human rights for all regardless of gender, social and economic situations. Adopted by 45 Islamic states in 1990, the CDHRI is often portrayed as complementing the UDHR but is rooted in Sharia Law, leading to tensions between universal and cultural relativist perspectives on human rights. By using Saudi Arabia and Indonesia as case studies to illustrate the various manners the Sharia Law is implemented, this paper illustrates how the law in these countries amplifies social, physical, and structural violence specifically against gender and religious minorities, namely Shia. This highlights the immense disparities between international human rights norms and state-centric patriarchal norms. Additionally, by analyzing the legal frameworks of these states, specifically the Aceh region in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia as a whole, this article emphasizes the complex interplay between universalistic ideals and cultural relativism, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of human rights in diverse cultural contexts.

ПУТЬ С ВОСТОКА: И. А. БУНИН И Н. К. РЕРИХ О ЕДИНСТВЕ ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕСТВА (ЛИТЕРАТУРНО-ИСТОРИОСОФСКИЙ И АНТРОПОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ КОНТЕКСТ)

Ivan Bunin and Nikolay Roerich created the concepts about the Ceylon-Indian way of the European peoples, expressed them in the images of uterine brotherhood, cradle and cultural kinship with the ancient civilization. The analysis of philological and historiosophical sources XIX century allowed us to outline two multidirectional trends in solving the Ceylon-Indian question: one of them found its embodiment in linguistic and cultural constructions and in the works of Bunin and Roerich, the other – in statements about European superiority over “backward Eastern humanity” (Fichte, Hegel, Tylor). Key words: Ivan Bunin, Nikolay Roerich, Ceylon, India, Russia, Europe, anthropic memory of the unity of mankind

Universality of human rights: theoretical dimension

The article is sanctified to theoretical research of the concept of the universality of human rights as a process of establishment of corresponding norms and mechanisms of universal character with the aim of defence and providing of human rights, and also concept of universality - as an achievement of certain perfection in the protection of human rights. This universality shows up as a transcendent aspect. Universal rights are rights everybody has that as personality, regardless of legal space or historical time. Consideration of this aspect is very important for the ground of absoluteness of human rights. The idea of universality of human rights is based on position that human rights have exterritorial character and that their realization and defence are not business only of the separate states, but is the article of general interest. Universality of human rights arises out of universality of human nature. Quality of practical changes in development of the modern states largely depends on ideas about universality of human rights and reasons of optimization of human rights.
 Problem of the general understanding of concept of universality of human rights, causes much violation of human rights and freedoms, and her it costs to decide through the search of ways of understanding of universality of rights and freedoms, through description of basic elements that determine maintenance of the modes of human rights, by finding out of all totality of descriptions each of elements - right and moral, social and other terms that can come forward as a stimulant or vice versa, their realization prevent. The most frequent misunderstanding in relation to understanding of universality of human rights arises up when speech йдеться about countries that develop, that not only feel different difficulties of economic, social and cultural character in realization of that or other convention on human rights but also in relation to different reasons does not welcome omnifying of human rights or, at least up to a point, behave to her with a carefulness. It is in-process carried out research of theoretical analysis of different conceptions of understanding of universality of human rights, discussion and discussion of opinions of supporters of cultural relativism and universalism.
 Today by a reference-point in the difficult and contradictory situations of the modern world, there must be universal human rights, that would express the clear limits of his freedom, place in society, to intercommunication with the state or with other individuals. Must yield to no doubt in the modern world, judgement, that human rights are an inalienable, inalienable achievement of all humanity.