Defensive Stance Research Articles

Beyond victimhood and perpetration: Reconstruction of the ingroup's historical role in eight Eastern and Western European countries under Nazi occupation

AbstractThe Nazi regime's aggressive expansion across Europe during WWII created a landscape of suffering, resistance, and collaboration. How do lay Europeans today reconstruct their ingroup's roles during Nazi occupation, and how do different role representations relate to defensive responses aimed at protecting the ingroup from threat? We tested two theoretical predictions: Following the identity threat prediction, we expected that denying culpability but endorsing morally favorable group representations (e.g., victim‐heroism) would represent an ingroup‐defensive strategy, correlating with other defensive responses, such as victim‐directed negativity or victim‐blaming. Following the identity management prediction, we expected that precisely accepting culpability and acknowledging threatening representations (e.g., willing collaboration with Germans) would form the basis for a defensive stance and thus correlate with defensive intergroup reactions. Analyzing data from nine European samples spanning eight countries (N = 5474), we found support for the identity management prediction in six contexts: Lay representations as willing collaborators were associated with negative collective emotions and correlated with victim‐directed negativity, whereas victim‐hero representations showed no such connections. The remaining three countries revealed a mixture of the two identity accounts. We discuss implications for understanding historical representations and identity protection in groups that were both victims and perpetrators of massive intergroup atrocities.

South African Responses to New Soviet Air Defence Systems in Angola in the 1980s

Because of its air superiority during the counter-insurgency conflict against the South West Africa People’s Organisation, the South African Air Force had neglected to build up modern air and counter-air defences. When Soviet air defence systems were therefore deployed in Angola in the 1980s, they were forced to reconsider their tactics and responses to the war. The Soviet systems included early warning networks, surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft guns to cover troops advancing in the field, and fighter aircraft. While this build-up was also observed in the neighbouring Southern African countries and had the appearance of a purely defensive stance, given Soviet air defence doctrine, South Africa viewed this as the first steps to offensive actions in Angola and possibly Namibia (then South West Africa) and the start of a dangerous escalation in the military situation. In response, the SADF adopted a strong defensive stance and improved its own air defence capabilities to ensure that it was not outclassed. The South African Air Force also introduced new tactics. These included the introduction of toss-bombing, making greater use of precision-guided missiles and bombs, and investing more in research in terms of missiles and new technology for their aircraft.

KHAZAR-BYZANTINE-SLAV COALITION AGAINST ABBASID CALIPHATE AND THE CAUCASUS IN THE 850s

The rebellion of 852 in Armīniya (Abbasid province in the Caucasus) resulted in the assassination of the governor of the Abbasid Caliphate. Caliph al-Mutawwakil (r. 847-861) dispatched a punitive expedition with intention of conquering and subduing the areas that were out of Abbasid control. Bughā al-Kabir was appointed in command of the Abbasid army and was sent to the Caucasus in the same year. Bughā's Caucasian military campaign was of large scale, arguably the largest Caucasian military expedition organized by the Caliphate in the 9th century. The Abbasid army attacked, imprisoned, and killed the population of Armīniya involved in the assassination of the Abbasid governor; Muslim usurpers who were unwilling to yield the orders of the Caliphate got punished; the governor of Tbilisi Isḥāq b. Ismāʿīl was captured and beheaded while his residence and the center of Muslim position in Kartli, Tbilisi, was submitted. A large number of Christian Armenian and Arranian (Albanian) rulers were imprisoned. The Georgian rulers, who ruled the northern outskirts of the Caliphate, were divided. They mostly opposed the Abbasids, while some of them supported the Caliph. The 853- 854 campaigns were successful for Bughā and his Georgian allies, but other Georgian rulers asked for support from the Byzantines and the Khazars. According to al-Yaʿqūbī (the 9th c.), the Caucasian rulers who had escaped captivity called for the help of Khazars, Byzantines, and Slavs in the fight against the Abbasids. They received a positive response. A large force under Khazar leadership was sent against the Caliphate while the Byzantines launched an attack on the Eastern Mediterranean domains of the Caliphate. In 855, in the course of Khazar-Byzantine-Slav involvement in the Caucasian affairs, the Abbasids adopted a defensive stance. Derbent was successfully protected. The Khazars and their allies were unable to penetrate in the direction of Arran. In the direction of Kartli, the Khazars were more successful, probably with the support of local rulers.

Controversy and Voluntarism Among the Elite: An Ethnographic Study of the Sufi Community in Cibingbin, Indonesia

This article explores the intricate dynamics among Sufi elites in Cibingbin, highlighting the significant tensions within this distinctive group. The Sufi community is deeply divided, engaging in intense debates and frequent confrontations with each other. Central to these disputes are issues surrounding the Nasab dialectics, an ideology associated with the habaib that stresses the concept of voluntarism among the Sufi elite. These internal debates are most intense between the habaib faction, known as Kanzus Sholawat Cibingbin, and the local religious authorities, referred to as Kyai Kampung. As each group digs in and solidifies their doctrinal positions, the struggle for dominance in the public sphere becomes more pronounced. This phenomenon, which aligns with Habermas's theories regarding the legitimacy of power in public spaces, has unexpectedly fueled the momentum of the Laskar Walisongo movement. Despite the apparent weakening of the habaib's defensive stance, both the habaib and the Kyai Kampung have maintained considerable local influence. The ongoing power struggle highlights the complex interplay between belief, influence and control within this segment of the Sufi community. Ultimately, they have made public spaces an arena not just for collective imagery, but also the most vital part of the organisation’s sustainability or spirit.

Stepping on Toes? Role Dynamics between Journalists and Lobbyists Regarding Big Tech’s Accountability Agenda

The expanding political role of Big Tech(nology) corporations has triggered concerns about the role of the media in holding corporate power to account. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of role dynamics between journalists and lobbyists toward the agenda for Big Tech’s responsibilities. Based on semi-structured interviews with European journalists ( n = 15) and lobbyists representing large technology corporations ( n = 15), we use professional role perceptions as a heuristic for examining the relationship of both actor groups in tandem. Journalists, who report an overlap of audience-focused with passive watchdog role ideals geared toward legislative accountability, interact with lobbyists, who assert a more concrete and active role perception. Journalists cautiously appropriate their normative watchdog role in accordance with the ideals of detachment and balance to maintain their own media legitimacy and access to an oligopolistic information environment. Remaining strategically sovereign over information, lobbyists perceive a strong mandate to establish Big Tech as a relevant stakeholder in the agenda on their regulatory accountability, but in mid of a perceived techlash, the majority of corporations avoid public attention. Both actor groups’ limited and off-the-record interaction reflects a defensive corporate stance, keeping their negotiation of Big Tech’s accountability off-stage. The technological and regulatory complexity of the information environment might render these corporations unfit for soft regulation by news media. We discuss implications for their co-dependence in the context of fast technological advancement and disruption of (corporate) mediatization processes.

Social Media as a Strategic Advantage during Cyberwarfare: A Systematic Literature Review

In recent years, cyberspace has been shaped by a rapid and transformative technological evolution, which ushered in an era characterised by unparalleled connectivity and innovation. However, this remarkable progress has brought a concerning surge in cyberattacks that have fundamentally altered cyberspace dynamics and refined the nature of contemporary warfare. This refinement was vividly illustrated in the recent Russia-Ukraine conflict, where cyberspace played a pivotal role, blurring the traditional boundaries of conflict in the cyber age. As a result, this study used secondary data to examine how various social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Telegram were used as a strategic advantage during the conflict. The findings disclosed that Russia employed offensive propaganda against Ukraine, while Ukraine adopted a defensive stance, effectively countering the narrative through an active online presence. Moreover, this study underscored the substantial role of social media in warfare and its continued significance in future conflicts. Furthermore, this study provided recommendations for nations to better prepare for such conflicts. The recommendations provide valuable insights to assist decision-makers and policymakers in enhancing cybersecurity awareness and practices within their respective countries.

Peculiarities of teaching the players of the student mini-football team basic individual actions when picking up the ball

Mini-football is a unique, universal team game that requires every player to be as efficient as possible in both attack and defense. Among the many factors that affect the result of matches in mini-football, and, accordingly, the result of sports activities, there is no doubt the level of technical training of each team player. From our point of view, the issue of teaching the basic individual actions of the players of the student mini-soccer team when selecting the ball is extremely important and insufficiently studie. In the article, an attempt is made to reveal the peculiarities of training the players of the student mini-football team in such basic individual actions when picking up the ball as: defensive stance, walking, running, dashing, jumping, stopping.
 The purpose of the research is to reveal the peculiarities of teaching players of the student mini-football team basic individual actions when picking up the ball. The methodological basis of the research is a systematic and person-oriented approach with the aim of analyzing scientific publications and methodical sources, as well as analyzing basic individual defensive game actions and identifying important features of training players of the student mini-soccer team to individual actions when selecting the ball. The work uses a multi-level systematic analysis of scientific sources based on philosophical, general-scientific, partial-scientific and specific-scientific levels of knowledge.
 Scientific novelty. With the help of the conducted research, important features of teaching the players of the student mini- soccer team basic individual actions when picking up the ball were revealed. Conclusions. The question of the basic individual actions of players when selecting the ball in mini-football is important and insufficiently studied. During the study, the peculiarities of learning the following basic individual actions of the players of the student team when picking up the ball in mini-football were revealed: defensive stance, walking, running, dashing, jumping, stopping.

Research in the digital age: Adopting digital methods in humanities and social sciences research in Sri Lankan universities

There has been phenomenal growth in the demand for digital technology for research in recent years. Versatile digital methods and the availability of large volumes of data are enabling different approaches to research. There is also a challenge in order to ensure researchers are aware and are equipped to use digital methods to support their particular research. During the recent period, the field of Humanities and Social Sciences has shifted away from its traditional defensive stance when the issue of impact is addressed. Globally, these fields utilize digital technology in facilitating computer-driven research for studying society, politics, culture, psychology, and economics in addition to humanities and fine arts. This paper presents the outcome of the research carried out in relation to the use of digital research methods among Humanities and Social Sciences academics at Sri Lankan universities. The significant findings of the study are: half of the academics are not familiar with digital research methods; therefore, more attention is needed to promote digital methods in Humanities and Social Sciences research; the adoption of digital methods is conditioned due to computer and digital literacy, infrastructure facilities, institutional and library support, positive attitudes, motivators, and academic discipline.

비트코인 내러티브

This article critically examines the development process of the “Bitcoin Narrative” course, designed within the Industry-Coupled Project/Problem-Based Learning (IC-PBL) framework. It explores how humanities respond to the technological advancements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. By shifting the perspective from a defensive stance to proactive engagement and practical application, the article highlights IC-PBL’s role in connecting humanities with the evolving technological landscape. The narrative of Bitcoin is used as a case study to investigate this intersection, delving into its philosophical, economic, and cultural origins. This approach also analyzes how Bitcoin’s development reflects broader trends in technology and society. The article addresses how Bitcoin’s initial anti-establishment ethos is gradually transforming towards institutionalization and regulatory acceptance. This shift underscores the evolving social context of technological innovations and the unpredictable nature of their impact on society. The “Bitcoin Narrative” course, as outlined in this article, aims to provide students with a critical understanding of Bitcoin’s influence on the humanities. It explores the ethical, social, and cultural dimensions of this digital currency. The course structure facilitates a comprehensive exploration of Bitcoin’s multifaceted implications, encouraging students to think critically about the intersection of technology and humanities.

LGBT+ mainstreaming on strictly come dancing: Queering the norms of ballroom dancing

This paper proposes that LGBT+ mainstreaming on reality television programme Strictly Come Dancing creates space for audience demand for radical, authentic representations of same-sex desire and intimacy, both of which challenges normative representations of ballroom dancing. Integrating concepts of normativity and authenticity explored in existing scholarship, I argue against the encountering through a defensive stance, of reality TV’s normalization of queer narratives to promote authentic, inclusive representation. Focusing on dance-themed British reality TV programme for family entertainment, I draw on a queer reading of 285 newspaper articles on Strictly Come Dancing’s same-sex dance partnerships and 35 interviews with LGBT+ equality dancers in the United Kingdom, to conclude that active engagement with mechanisms of normalization can open up spaces for a reclamation of queer representation in its authenticity. The article makes a contribution to media and cultural studies and queer television scholarship through a troubling of anti-normativity, proposing a working with normativity to achieve queer inclusivity.

Investigating the Antimicrobial Efficiency of Staple Food Against Enteric Pathogens

Background: The advent of antibiotics has significantly decreased human death rates. However, the problem of antibiotic overuse and the number of individuals who maintain a suspicious and defensive stance towards medicines remain unresolved concerns. Hence, it is important to investigate the antibacterial efficacy of commonly consumed dietary items. Results and Discussion: This research examined the antibacterial activity of thirteen different daily vegetables and fruits. Among them, the extract from Citrus limon (Eureka) had the highest efficacy as an antibacterial agent against Gram-positive bacteria. The study involved quantifying the antibacterial efficacy of Citrus limon (Eureka) extract by measuring the diameter of the antibacterial zone and determining the cell concentration in the sample using an Ultraviolet Spectrometer. The results revealed a positive correlation between the antibacterial ability of the extract and its quantity, as well as a negative correlation between the inhibition degree of S. aureus and the quantity of Citrus limon (Eureka) extract. Conclusion: The study revealed that the extract derived from Citrus limon (Eureka) has robust antibacterial properties against gram-positive bacteria while demonstrating no discernible effect on gram-negative bacteria.

The Design Space of the Auditory Representation of Objects and Their Behaviours in Virtual Reality for Blind People.

As virtual reality (VR) is typically designed in terms of visual experience, it poses major challenges for blind people to understand and interact with the environment. To address this, we propose a design space to explore how to augment objects and their behaviours in VR with a nonvisual audio representation. It intends to support designers in creating accessible experiences by explicitly considering alternative representations to visual feedback. To demonstrate its potential, we recruited 16 blind users and explored the design space under two scenarios in the context of boxing: understanding the location of objects (the opponent's defensive stance) and their movement (opponent's punches). We found that the design space enables the exploration of multiple engaging approaches for the auditory representation of virtual objects. Our fndings depicted shared preferences but no one-size-fts-all solution, suggesting the need to understand the consequences of each design choice and their impact on the individual user experience.

The Evolving Taxonomy of Progressive Creation

This essay is a critique of a version of progressive creation developed by Michael Chaberek, O. P. He holds that there are exceptions to evolutionary descent due to the supernatural production of “natural species,” taxa that allegedly do not have biological ancestry, are theologically identified with biblical kinds, and are metaphysically characterized by distinct substantial forms. Chaberek’s assertion that these natural species correspond “roughly” to the Linnaean taxa of biological families contradicts modern scientific conclusions regarding the continuity of evolutionary descent. To illustrate this conflict, I examine some of the extensive evidence for the evolutionary origins of families within the Feliformia sub-order. I conclude that Chaberek’s assertion of supernatural progressive creation is a God-of-the-gaps theology burdened by a defensive stance with respect to scientific progress.

Influence of shoe torsional stiffness on foot and ankle biomechanics during tennis forehand strokes

ABSTRACT Tennis shoe characteristics need to minimise the risk of athletes suffering ankle injuries and improve players’ feet performance. This study aims to evaluate the influence of shoe torsional stiffness on running velocity, stance duration, ground reaction forces and ankle biomechanics during two different tennis forehand runs and strokes. Ten right-handed advanced male tennis players performed two specific tennis forehand runs and strokes at maximal effort (a shuttle run with a defensive open stance forehand – SRDF and a lateral jab run with an offensive open stance forehand - JROF) with four different pairs of tennis shoes with different torsional stiffness. A force platform measured ground reaction forces (GRF). A motion capture system recorded the 3D trajectories of markers located on players’ anatomical landmarks. The minimum, maximum angle value, and range of motion were computed using inverse kinematics for each rotation axis of the right ankle. Normalised maximal ankle torques were also computed using inverse dynamics. Shoe torsional stiffness had no effect on running velocity, on stance duration and maximal values of GRF. Shoe torsional stiffness influenced forefoot inversion which was significantly higher for the most flexible shoes. For SRDF, the maximal ankle inversion angle was significantly and largely increased for the stiffest shoe. The stiffest shoe may put the ankle at a higher risk of lateral sprains during SRDF while it was not the case during JROF.

The student's drawing of teacher's pictorial Value as a predictor of the student-teacher relationship and school adjustment.

This study employs the scale of Value from Pictorial Assessment of Interpersonal Relationships (PAIR) to investigate the links between the importance attributed by primary students to their teachers and two independent measures of scholastic wellbeing, provided by teachers and parents. During middle childhood, the teacher is one of the most significant adults with whom children interact daily; a student-teacher relationship warm and free from excessive dependency and conflict is very important for children wellbeing; however, children's recognition of teacher importance as an authority figure has been seldom studied. Children aged 7-11 years were individually asked to draw themselves and one of their teachers in two situations (relational Wellbeing and relational Distress); the scale of Value from PAIR was used as a proxy of the importance attributed to teachers in each situation. Teachers completed the Student-Teacher Relationship Scale for Closeness, Conflict, and Dependency of each child; parents answered two items about their children's School Adjustment. All the study variables were firstly analyzed to check gender and age differences. Boys valorized more than girls the teacher's figure; however, teachers perceived more Closeness and less Conflict with girls. Dependency and Conflict decreased with age, as well as (albeit slightly) School Adjustment. To assess the links between pictorial valorization of the teacher in Wellbeing and Distress and teachers' and parents' evaluations, four separate hierarchical regressions were performed, namely, Closeness, Dependency, Conflict, and School Adjustment, controlling children's sex and age. The teacher's pictorial Value in Wellbeing appeared to be related to Closeness and School Adjustment, while a negative relationship emerged between Value and Dependency in Distress. In sum, the recognition of the teacher's role as an authority figure does not hinder a warm student-teacher relationship and impacts positively on school adjustment. In situations of Distress, dependent pupils showed a diminished appreciation of the teacher's importance, possibly as a result of a defensive stance.

The inversion of majority/minority at the de/reterritorialised urban higher education enclave: Xiamen University Malaysia

This article examines the inversion of majority/minority at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), the offshore campus of a mainland Chinese public university and the catalyst development of a satellite township in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia. Using the framing of the de/reterritorialised urban higher education enclave, it examines how, within the campus gates, the interests, needs and priorities of the ‘migrant majority’ (mainland Chinese users) take precedence over other user groups that have, in turn, become the ‘minorities’. Given the Malaysian state’s longstanding defensive stance towards ‘Chinese’ education, the existence of XMUM is unprecedented. This article shows how this de/reterritorialised international branch campus has been made possible by the broader Sino-Malaysian geopolitical and urban capitalist relations. The inversion of majority/minority on campus challenges and complicates Malaysia’s state-sanctioned multi-ethnic co-existence, which prioritises the Muslim Malay majority over other groups. Nevertheless, students’ views complicate the neat categorisations of majority/minority and inclusion/exclusion. Such perspectives highlight the need to examine the de/reterritorialised branch campus as a space in-the-making.

Crisis Communication on Yayasan Dunia Mega Bintang’s Cyber Public Relations

This study examines crisis communication at Yayasan Dunia Mega Bintang in terms of cyber public relations activities. The foundation underwent cyberbullying to Aurra Kharisma in the form of hate comments on its social media account. Therefore, crisis communication is required to maintain the foundation’s image. The theories used are crisis communication, situational crisis communication theory, public relations, dan cyber public relations. With a qualitative approach and case study research type, this study uses in-depth interviews, documentation, and qualitative content analysis method. The results indicate that the foundation used the four stages in public relations strategies in crisis communication. Fact finding strategy helped to figure the cause of crisis which is negative comments on social media and the foundation took a defensive stance. As communication facilitators, the team planned dynamic programs supported by social media planning in line with the Situational Crisis Communication Theory. Communication strategy is divided into two types by implementing deny, diminish and bolstering strategies. Evaluation strategy, both internal and external is rarely conducted formally although it is important to maintain the continuity of crisis communication strategy. Based on the results, the researcher suggests the foundation should construct a specific social media team and establish a stronger boundary with pageant lovers as these factors may cause a crisis. The usage of open, dialogical, and participatory social media can serve as a model for crisis communication. The message’s speed and accuracy are crucial factors to consider and is necessary to have a consistent approach to presenting positive information. Evaluation is also important to maintain reputation.

Labour–management relations and employee involvement in lean production systems in different national contexts: A comparison of French and Swedish aerospace companies

Existing research has found heterogeneity in the implementation of Lean and its outcomes in terms of employee involvement across countries. This article explores the potential role of labour–management relations. It relies on in-depth company case studies carried out in the aerospace industry in France and Sweden. The study finds significant variations in employee involvement – higher in the Swedish than in the French cases. Managerial orientations did play a role, as the ‘technocratic’ form of Lean in France echoed a more unilateral top-down conception of management, while Swedish managers appeared more receptive to the ‘involvement-enhancing’ paradigm. But the attitudes and behaviours of unions were also a crucial factor, as Swedish unions were very effective in impinging on the implementation of Lean at workplace level, while their French counterparts, often divided, adopted a more defensive stance, lacking expertise and implication in the promotion of high-involvement work organisations.

Three-agent Time-constrained Cooperative Pursuit-Evasion

This paper considers a pursuit-evasion scenario among three agents– an evader, a pursuer, and a defender. We design cooperative guidance laws for the evader and the defender team to safeguard the evader from an attacking pursuer. Unlike differential games, optimal control formulations, and other heuristic methods, we propose a novel perspective on designing effective nonlinear feedback control laws for the evader-defender team using a time-constrained guidance approach. The evader lures the pursuer on the collision course by offering itself as bait. At the same time, the defender protects the evader from the pursuer by exercising control over the engagement duration. Depending on the nature of the mission, the defender may choose to take an aggressive or defensive stance. Such consideration widens the applicability of the proposed methods in various three-agent motion planning scenarios such as aircraft defense, asset guarding, search and rescue, surveillance, and secure transportation. We use a fixed-time sliding mode control strategy to design the control laws for the evader-defender team and a nonlinear finite-time disturbance observer to estimate the pursuer’s maneuver. Finally, we present simulations to demonstrate favorable performance under various engagement geometries, thus vindicating the efficacy of the proposed designs.

Investigating the identification-prejudice link through the lens of national narcissism: The role of defensive group beliefs

The identification-prejudice link describes the defensive stance toward immigrants held by strong national identifiers. Recent research refined this relationship by suggesting that defensive national identification (operationalized through national narcissism), but not secure national identification, was associated with prejudice. While previous research found intergroup threat and conspiracy beliefs to mediate the identification-prejudice link, the need to comprehensively and experimentally test the role of these defensive group beliefs remains in the context of the narcissistic identification-prejudice link. Furthermore, following the group-based control model, we proposed that these defensive group beliefs might be more pronounced among national narcissists compensating for a low personal control. In Study 1 (N = 1104, nationally representative sample), national narcissism, but not secure national identification, was related to prejudice against immigrants, and a serial model composed of perceived intergroup threat and conspiracy beliefs mediated this relationship. These relationships held when controlling for conspiracy mentality, supporting the notion that these conspiracy beliefs were motivated at the intergroup level. In Study 2 (N = 474, pre-registered), we experimentally induced intergroup threat and exposure to conspiracy theories about immigrants. Induced threat increased conspiracy beliefs, and both increased prejudice, corroborating their causal relationship. In Study 3 (N = 350, pre-registered), we induced low personal control and made national narcissism salient to test the group-based control hypothesis. The relationship between measured (but not manipulated) national narcissism and conspiracy beliefs was more pronounced under low personal control. We discuss the role of defensive group beliefs on group-based control and prejudice against immigrants.