Dominant Culture Research Articles

The Influence of China’s Global Soft Power Strategy on Its Relations with African Nations

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of China’s global soft power strategy on its relations with African nations Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low-cost advantage as compared to field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: China's soft power strategy in Africa, through Confucius Institutes, media outlets, scholarships, and cultural festivals, has enhanced its image as a development partner and fostered diplomatic ties. However, challenges include limited rural reach, perceived cultural dominance, and dependency concerns. Effective engagement requires inclusivity, transparency, and alignment with African cultural and developmental contexts. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Soft Power Theory, Dependency Theory and Constructivist Theory in International Relations maybe used to anchor future studies on the influence of China’s global soft power strategy on its relations with African nations. Prioritize mutual respect, transparency, and local empowerment, ensuring that soft power tools are not perceived as mechanisms for cultural domination as well as adapting its Confucius Institutes and cultural programs to African contexts by integrating local cultural elements.

Hegemonic Masculinity and its Manifestations in Wajdi Al-Ahdal's Novel A Land without Jasmine

The research aims to discuss the concept of hegemonic masculinity and its influence on societies. It tries to explain the origin of hegemonic masculinity's concept, and how the thinkers, and philosophers discussed this term, and what they wrote about it. It discusses many concepts such as masculinity, patriarchal system and tribal society, and as well as the status of women in the Yemeni society. It also explores aspects of hegemonic masculinity through the events of Wajdi Al-Ahdal's novel A Land without Jasmine. This research is divided into introduction and three sections; the first discusses the concept of hegemonic masculinity, the second explains the hegemonic masculinity and Patriarchal culture in the Yemeni society, the third clarifies manifestations of hegemonic masculinity, such as early marriage and depriving women of education and the conclusion. This research reached many results such as Yemeni society is considered a male-dominated society and the system that prevails in it is the patriarchal system. Furthermore, upbringing and social traditions have contributed to reinforcing a culture of male dominance in society.

Relational and cultural continuity for children in foster care; A critical exploration of national policies in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, England, Ireland and Scotland

Based on an analysis of 14 national child welfare policies, the paper explores how relational and cultural continuity are framed in national foster care policies in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, England, Ireland and Scotland, particularly focusing on the implications for children with migrant backgrounds. While most policies tend to recognise the significance of the child’s cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic background, most appear to lack specific guidance of how to ensure relational and cultural continuity of children when placed in foster care. Overall, we find little specific reference to circumstances of children with migrant backgrounds in the policies. The paper critically discusses four patterns. The first is the policies’ emphasis on relational continuity of children’s adult relationships over peer relationships. Secondly, there seems to be a strong emphasis on the significance of parental contact, with much less attention to contact with family members like siblings, grandparents and other relatives. With one exception, we observe no reference to transnational family relationships. Thirdly, with little attention to cultural variations, the policies appear to presuppose that everyone share the norms and values of the Western and dominant culture. The last pattern points to an apparent dilemma or a difficult balance between attending to the child’s immediate care and safety needs simultaneously as cultural and relational continuity are promoted.

On the use of names and example sentences in the linguistics classroom

Abstract In addition to representing a main source of data in linguistic research, example sentences are a core vehicle for linguists in teaching a wide range of phenomena to our students. However, the content of these sentences often reflects the biases of the researchers who construct them: referents are typically given Anglocentric proper names like John and Mary, reflecting (at least implicitly) dominant white culture and conformity to heteronormative gender roles. To support linguists in shifting these practices, we present the Diverse Names Database, a database of 78 names from a variety of languages and cultures, confirmed with native speakers. We outline the goals for the project, introduce our process of developing and adjusting the design, and present some additional issues and reflections for consideration, such as how to use the database as one component of an affirming, anti-racist, and gender-equitable linguistics pedagogy. We aim to generate meta-level discussions about disciplinary conventions and canons, and to challenge the idea that underlying linguistic structures are, or should be, the only things of relevance when constructing example sentences. How we teach linguistics is part of how we practise it, and how we do both matters to the composition and direction of the field.

Decoding Edward Said: A critical review of the genesis of ‘Orient’, ‘Occident’, and ‘Other’.

Purpose: This paper critically examines Edward Said’s seminal concepts of the "Orient," "Occident," and the "Other" within postcolonial discourse, focusing on how these constructs have shaped Western perceptions of Eastern societies. By analyzing Said’s influential ideas, this study explores how Orientalism fostered an intellectual hegemony that underpinned Western dominance over the East. Methodology: The methodology comprises an in-depth literary analysis of Said’s foundational texts, Orientalism (1978) and Culture and Imperialism (1993), alongside a critical review of secondary sources in postcolonial studies, including contributions from Foucault, Gramsci, and Spivak. Findings: Findings reveal that Said’s framework exposes the cultural and political subjugation enforced by the West while uncovering the power-knowledge mechanisms sustaining these inequalities. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The unique contribution of this paper lies in its synthesis of Said’s discourse with contemporary theories of cultural hegemony, providing fresh insights into the enduring impact of Orientalist thought on modern geopolitics and epistemology. This study underscores the ongoing relevance of Said's critique for understanding present-day cultural and intellectual dominance in the postcolonial context.

The revival of radical popular education in Italy as a new form of cultural and class struggle: The case of popular schools in Rome

The aim of this article is to examine the revival of popular schools in Italy, focusing on the ‘network of Roman popular schools’. This is a little researched but highly relevant topic in sociology nowadays, due to the innovative way it links politics and education in an increasingly unequal society. Inspired by research gathered over 4 years of participant observation and 28 in-depth interviews, I describe the way in which popular educators combine social mutualism, typical of Italian Antagonistic Left movements, with critical pedagogical practices: education is considered by activists as a way of doing politics by other means, in line with the origins of popular education enacted by the labor movement in the two past centuries and in particular with the pedagogical experience promoted by Lorenzo Milani, in turn capable of uniting Gramscian and Freirian thought. Popular educators address their educational actions to the social recognition of subaltern students, who are otherwise stigmatized by the dominant culture. In this way, a very interesting counter-hegemonic practice seems to be generated that entails not only the learners’ identity but also that of the educator themselves. This analysis leads to the identification of new popular education as a form of class and cultural struggle aimed at restoring social recognition to the working class.

Various shapes of whiteness: A new look at racism and its institutional operation in Israeli academia

This article explores theoretical concepts that reveal the power structures within Israeli academia. Rather than employing the conventional framework that emphasizes practices of discrimination and underrepresentation to explain the ongoing preference for the dominant Western, white Jewish group and its cultural capital over Jewish and Arab Palestinian minorities, we propose a new theoretical perspective. By integrating whiteness theory, critical race theory, intersectionality and settler colonial paradigms, the article illustrates how this framework can effectively analyse academic epistemology and social dynamics. We then introduce the subsequent articles in this issue as examples of the successful application of these concepts, highlighting how they expose the concealed and sophisticated exercise of organizational power that aligns with the norms of the dominant culture, to the detriment of minority students and faculty.

The Impact Of Organizational Culture On EProcurement Implementation In Public Sector Organizations In Ghana

Purpose – This study aims to assess the impact of organizational culture on e-procurement implementation in public sector organizations in Ghana Design/Methodology/approach- Employing an explanatory design, this study used an in-depth interview guide and case study analysis. Three organizations implementing e-procurement were selected using purposive sampling. Data was collected through structured interviews with six respondents from each organization, which focused on the impact of organizational culture on e-procurement implementation. Findings- The data was analyzed thematically on Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence and Facilitating Conditions. Cultures promoting innovation, inclusivity and excellence boost performance expectations. Emphasizing adaptability, customer-centricity and efficiency eases system use. Inclusivity, open communication and collaborative decision-making improve social acceptance while facilitating conditions like empowerment and accountability ensures long-term sustainability. These traits were evident in Organizations A, B, and E, which aligned with organizational values with e-procurement system requirements. Social implication – The findings from the study could help policy makers know the dominant organizational culture in the public sector and how the public organizations can foster collaboration and excellence through adaptability, user-centric design and comprehensive training, reducing perceived effort in e-procurement systems. Originality/Value – This study is one of the limited empirical qualitative type of research aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of the impact of organizational culture on the implementation of e-procurement within public organizations in Ghana. The findings give insights to policymakers regarding the relationship between organizational culture and the implementation of e-procurement in the public sector

A Tool for Privacy Culture Assessment

This research proposes an organizational culture assessment tool so that institutions can diagnose and develop a privacy culture. For the established objective to be achieved, this research included both a survey and an assessment, along with 100 market professionals, of the requirements considered a survey and an assessment, along with 100 market professionals, of the requirements necessary for developing a privacy culture. In addition, an organizational culture assessment was carried out in 06 organizations utilizing the suggested tool, the OCAI questionnaire, created by Cameron and Quinn (2011). The assessment allows for knowledge about the organization’s cultural levels, including the current perception of the dominant culture and the future status to be achieved. The results indicated the possibility of using the OCAI to assess the culture of privacy and provided 13 requirements that help in the development of this culture in organizations. As In future work, the author recommends the OCAI form’s application of the OCAI form within organizations through a case study, with wide dissemination to employees or servers. Furthermore, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of this research’s identified requirements and verify whether they contribute to the desired state’s achievement according to the intended types of culture.

Mismatched: Intensive Mothering in China's Urban Villages

As the PRC is woven ever more tightly into transnational circuits of culture and capital, Chinese working-class subjectivities—like middle-class ones, but also distinctively—become (re)produced through increasingly transnational processes. This includes the new reach of global discourses like intensive mothering into China’ s migrant-worker population. Intensive mothering has long been learned as the dominant culture of motherhood in North America. Along with other products and ideas, this ideology of intensive mothering is imported to China’ s new generation of mothers, supported by the state’ s emphasis on scientific child-rearing and the social media boom. Euro-American middle-class mothers, depicted as ideal mothers who abide by expert knowledge and cultivate their children’ s talent accordingly, are represented as counterexamples to traditional Chinese mothers in mass media. Migrant mothers in the urban villages of China have learned and internalized this ideology of intensive mothering along with their rural-to-urban migration through reading and interactions with medical and educational experts. Based on eight months of ethnographic research in two urban villages in southern China, this article presents research into how migrant mothers become trapped in the mismatches between the Euro-American, urban middle-class ideology of intensive mothering and their own position in the social class hierarchy. With limited economic and cultural resources, learning and internalizing intensive mothering disempowers migrant mothers and makes them feel even less competent. In response, they find other alternatives to reassert their agency.

Clustering Universities According to Performance Indicators and Determination of Organizational Culture Types in Clusters

This study aims to reveal the organizational culture types of state universities in Kazakhstan, to define the dominant organizational culture type and to interpret the organizational culture types in terms of performance indicators. In order to achieve this goal, statistical data collected from 29 state universities were classified using hierarchical cluster analysis and Ward’s Technique. In this context, firstly, the concept of organizational culture and its effects on organizational performance were explained in the light of literature information, then cluster analysis was conducted on universities in terms of institutional size and performance. In addition, since a data-oriented approach was preferred in this study, universities were classified based on objective data instead of predetermined criteria. Finally, SPSS 22.0 program and Organizational Culture Assessment Tool were used to analyze the validity of the obtained data and the relationships between the variables, and as a result, the organizational culture types of universities were revealed, the dominant organizational culture type among them was determined and suggestions were given based on empirical findings in the study. It is expected that the results of this study will bring different perspectives on the effect of organizational culture on performance indicators in state universities in Kazakhstan.

The Evolution of Advertising in Nigeria: Promoting Local Content for Sustainable Development

The complex relationship between advertising and local content promotion in Nigeria is one of the huge challenges to sustainable development. Cultural oversimplification, misrepresentation, and dominance of the West do significant damage to the representation of Nigerian culture authentically in the practice of advertising. This paper, therefore, reviews this relationship by incorporating historical evolution, and technological, cultural, and regulatory dynamics. The qualitative research design followed in this study generated primary data through the use of in-depth interviews conducted on key players in the Nigerian advertising industry. The primary data collected underwent a thematic analysis, while the historical analysis was supported by multiple sources, including historical records, publications from the industry itself, and scholarly literature. This research shall, therefore, be located within the understanding of the Cultural Imperialism Theory and the Development Media Theory as a lens to critically analyse the complexity of representations of local content in advertising. The results showed that there were positive and negative perceptions toward the integration of local content in Nigerian advertisements, as most consumers appreciate culturally authentic content. It identifies challenges and also shows how to use opportunities: bridging Nigeria's multicultural identity and digital platforms for sustainable development. This research underlines the need for a balance between global advertising practices and the local cultural nuances of impactful, sensitive campaigns that shall help lead the course of sustainable development and preserve the rich cultural heritage of this great nation.

International experiences on active travel planning: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic generated significant impacts on transport policy. Exploring barriers and enablers to active travel through the lens of the practitioners planning for and promoting its uptake can uncover underlying mechanisms that shape travel choices and encourage more effective interventions. This study uses online survey data from practitioners working in the planning and provision of active travel related initiatives (N = 40), to understand international experiences, as influenced by the surge of interest in active travel during the pandemic. We base our investigations and analysis on two policy process theories – the Multiple Streams Framework and Punctuated Equilibrium Theory. Drawing tools and concepts from both, we provide a synthesis of international experiences with planning for active travel, and analyse how professionals perceive existing obstacles and opportunities for active travel provision once the immediate impacts of the pandemic have waned. Our findings reveal a pervasive adherence to the status quo – while certain policies temporarily adapted to accommodate the pandemic’s disruptions, the pandemic failed to trigger substantial actions for our sample. The primary challenge lies in the enduring dominance of car-centric cultures and urban form, suggesting both a lack of community understanding about the issues associated with car usage, and ongoing structural barriers of cities planned around cars. Notwithstanding, the emergence of active travel projects and strategies since the onset of the pandemic, coupled with increasing public awareness of active travel, could be valuable in laying the groundwork for future long-term changes, even if their immediate impact is not yet evident.

Untangling the dominant culture in China’s elite universities

AbstractWestern literature has shown that elite universities are not culturally inclusive, presuming that these institutions predominantly reflect the culture of the affluent middle class. While cultural inclusion of socioeconomically disadvantaged students is a globally relevant issue, the overarching presumption does not necessarily apply to non-Western societies. This article reconsiders this assumption in the Chinese context, addressing the lack of systematic research untangling the dominant culture in elite Chinese universities. A two-phase, mixed-methods case study was conducted at two top-ranked universities in eastern and western China. In the first phase, a content analysis of the stories of the universities’ award-winning seniors was combined with a thematic analysis of the in-depth interviews with 49 graduating seniors to untangle the formal and informal dominant culture in China’s elite universities. The findings led to a three-fold model of dominant culture characterized by an emphasis on individual academic performance, loyalty to Communist Party ideology, and the significant influence of students from advantaged family backgrounds. In the second phase, three hypotheses about the impacts of this dominant culture on students’ socio-cultural integration were tested, largely supporting the three-fold model and highlighting the roles of academic and political performance in facilitating cultural inclusion. This study sheds new light on cultural capital studies in non-Western contexts and emphasizes that cultural (dis)advantages should be cautiously examined considering the historical and ideological context shaping higher education.

The Development of the Confianza Scale–Spanish: A Culturally Responsive Tool for Latine Relationship Building

AbstractLatines are the largest ethnic minority group in the United States, making up nearly one-fifth of the population. Despite experiencing similar rates of mental health issues as the dominant culture, however, Latines are notably less likely to seek treatment. Prior research has linked this reluctance to cultural mistrust, and some scholars have underscored the significance of confianza, a cultural value, in promoting Latine mental health engagement. Using a survey research methodology with a sample of 278 Latines, this study examines the psychometric properties and factor structure of the newly developed Confianza Scale–Spanish (CS-S), an instrument designed to quantitatively assess for confianza between clients and their mental healthcare providers. Study results provided initial evidence for the validity and reliability of the CS-S and indicated that confianza may be a single-factor construct. Clinical and research implications within the counseling field are discussed.

Exploring the Foreign Language Book Borrowing Habits of University Instructors and Prospective Teachers (2012–2022)

Understanding the widespread adoption of foreign language books (FLBs) is imperative for language learners and educators, as it facilitates evaluating the efficacy and caliber of language resources. Using MARC-based bibliography analysis, the researcher uncovers publishing and subject information of popular FLBs and utilizes survival analysis to calculate the FLBs’ survival index. After conducting factor analysis, the researcher applies linear regression prediction and Bayesian estimation to determine the total number of FLB borrowings and borrowers. The borrowing index of FLBs collected in the past five years surpasses that of books collected for more than five years, and staff members demonstrate higher borrowing activity compared to undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and other readers. Acceptance emerges as the most critical factor influencing the total number of FLB borrowings and borrowers, cultural dominance has a relatively minor impact, and personal background is found to be less negatively influential. The estimates of the total number of FLB borrowers indicate that acceptance is constrained by personal background, which is restricted by cultural dominance.

Patient-Centered Healthare as Part of Medical Corporate Culture

Patient-centered medicine is a relatively new model for planning, implementing, and evaluating healthcare services. It is based on mutually beneficial partnerships between healthcare providers, patients, and their families. However, the existing models of patient-centered healthcare have a number of disadvantages. The article introduces patient-centered healthcare as part of corporate culture adopted by various medical organizations. The authors developed a component model for the empirical study of patient-centered healthcare in terms of corporate culture. It involved five components, i.e., corporate culture, attitude to patient, attitude to work / professional image, adherence to ethical principles, and motivation. The model was tested using assessment methods developed by the authors, as well as using the Questionnaire of Professional Motivation by K. Zamfir as modified by A. A. Rean and the Mouton-Blake Corporate Culture Test. The sample involved 267 medical employees of urban medical organizations, Primorye Region. The respondents demonstrated a general understanding of patient-centered approach, which they interpreted as communication skills with patients. The dominant culture was that of task, which allowed medical staff to achieve their goals through collective decisions and mutual assistance. However, this mutual assistance was mandated to them due to the lack of personnel. The model demonstrated a good potential for yielding psychological and organizational technologies for training, support, and correction of patient-centered issues in medical organizations.

Becoming Yoga Bodies of Instagram: Women’s Agency, Platform Negotiations and Everyday Activism

Women’s yoga bodies have been overutilised in mainstream media through their stereotypical representation aligned with the market forces. Previous studies have shown the domination of similar visuals in yoga spaces on Instagram, following the algorithmic platform structures. Avoiding the dichotomy of subject–object bodies, this article brings out women participants’ living experiences of becoming yoga bodies on Instagram and their practices countering the dominant visual culture related to yoga bodies. The article argues that women use ‘everyday activism’ on Instagram to formulate their yoga body experiences. These findings are based on in-depth interviews with 17 women yoga practitioners active on Instagram. The analysis reveals the emergence of three main themes contributing to the ‘becoming of yoga bodies on Instagram’, namely (a) reclaiming the space through increased visibility, (b) training gazes towards women’s yoga bodies and (c) breaking the yoga body stereotype.

A CONSTRUÇÃO DA IDENTIDADE CULTURAL NA ERA DIGITAL

The construction of cultural identity in the digital era is a dynamic and multifaceted phenomenon, driven by technological advancement and globalization. The internet and social networks, as the main contemporary communication vehicles, play a central role in the formation of cultural identities, promoting interaction between people of different cultures and values. In this scenario, cultural identity is no longer static or limited to a geographic space, but becomes fluid, shaped by diverse experiences, including online and offline interactions. The digital age offers unlimited possibilities for cultural expression and recognition, allowing individuals and groups to share their traditions, beliefs and customs with a global audience. At the same time, this constant exposure to different cultures can generate tension between the preservation of local identities and the influence of a dominant global culture. Furthermore, cultural identity in the digital age is often negotiated, where individuals and communities choose which aspects of their culture they want to emphasize or adapt. However, this transformation can also generate challenges, such as cultural homogenization or the risk of cultural appropriation. Therefore, the construction of cultural identity in the digital age is a complex process that involves both the strengthening and transformation of cultural traditions. New digital platforms allow for greater democratization of cultural discourse, but they also pose challenges that need to be recognized and discussed, especially in relation to the preservation of cultural diversity.

School District Discourse Coalitions and Equity-Focused Policy Innovations in Oakland, California 2020–2021

Purpose: To better understand how district leaders at urban school districts innovate and design policies, this study investigated how actors in one district, Oakland Unified School District, discussed ways to improve their education system at school board meetings during 2020 and 2021. Approach: The research used a case study approach to develop a process of inquiry, drawing on theoretical literature on innovation in social fields, empirical work on urban education reforms, and methodological considerations from critical social analysis techniques. It used a variety of qualitative methods to identify critical policy issues and policy innovations, and examined the way actors in two coalitions, each with a different approach to change, used discourse to convey their ideologies about racial equity and justice. Findings: District actors collaboratively designed and passed five innovative policies: school safety, remote learning, climate change, Black reparations, and mental health. While one group, the incumbent discourse coalition, focused attention on fiscal stability and closing underperforming schools, another, the challenger discourse coalition, conveyed strategies on improving schools and surrounding communities through new education policies. Though unexpected crises expedited innovation, the perspectives of the dominant culture were most privileged in the final designs of resolutions. Implications: By using broad theories and generalizable concepts this study shows how discourse in policymaking can be examined in other settings and illustrates ways similar school districts may innovate in their systems.