Political Science Research Articles

The state of contemporary intergroup conflict in the Papua New Guinea Highlands

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the scholarship over the past 30 years on what used to be called Melanesian warfare or “tribal fighting” and is termed in this paper “intergroup conflict” in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The paper categorises the drivers of intergroup conflict that make up the landscape for conflict in the Highlands. It starts with cultural factors and the understandings about conflict that have long been used to explain such violence, then adds newer factors. It argues that while the individual existence of each driver is important, far more important is the way in which they interact with each other in reinforcing feedback loops that propel the actors involved towards violence. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a thorough review of the scholarly and grey literature on the topic, drawing from the fields of anthropology, criminology, political science, law, justice and peacebuilding. Findings The overall finding of the paper is that the nature of intergroup conflict, its scale and dynamics, has changed considerably over the past 30 years, most prominently in the entanglement of the state with local-level conflicts. This has significantly affected the nature of intergroup conflict today, deepening the attractors towards violence and conflict, while weakening the ability of existing state and non-state systems to prevent it. The picture that emerges is one in which the interconnectivity of factors promoting violence has intensified, the rate of change is accelerating and levels of violence are amplified. Originality/value This paper is an original work.

Can informal lobbying be responsible? Evidence from Brussels

PurposeThis study links the notion of responsible strategic communication to the field of lobbying at the European (EU) level. It provides empirical findings on the relevance of informal interaction and communication in EU public affairs (PA). Focusing on functional expectations and uses tied to informality from an actors’ perspective, this study not only includes lobbyists and their attempts to gain influence on political actors but also attempts of lobbyists to control journalistic output through informal relationships and exchange mechanisms. The results are discussed with a view to further inform the concept of “responsible lobbying.”Design/methodology/approachBuilding on a theoretical background from strategic communication, informal politics and interest group research, findings from a qualitative content analysis of 43 semi-structured interviews with actors from PA (n = 27) and journalism (n = 16) at the EU level are reported, focusing on one policy case.FindingsThe study shows motives for establishing and using informality for both actor types. Functional expectations relate to a range of tasks at the core of the respective actors’ day-to-day activities: monitoring political developments, pre-negotiating policy options in protected, confidential spaces with political decision-makers, receiving relevant sectoral background information and “technical coaching” on legislative dossiers directed to journalists.Originality/valueStudies on lobbying have rarely been conducted from a strategic communications perspective, especially focusing the EU level. Albeit widely accepted, the understanding of lobbying and PA as an informal activity has not been scrutinized by academic research.

See, Touch, Feel: Theorizing Twitter/X Images for Diplomacy

Social media images are central to the practice of digital diplomacy. Some of the most contentious political engagements involve digital images designed to challenge or reaffirm the national identity of key political players. Yet the role of touch in conditioning how social media images are seen is curiously absent from International Relations analyses of the visual politics of digital diplomacy. We know far too little about this phenomenon. This article seeks to contribute to the study of images in global politics by developing a tripartite theorization of how the visual, tactile, and emotional intersect to mediate how Twitter images are seen within the practice of digital diplomacy. The article pays attention to the tactile experience of using Twitter, bridging the gap between seeing social media images as visual objects, and the affective resonance these images have as a marker of political power. I argue that touch acts as a conduit between the embodied, material, and visual to produce an affective encounter that contributes to how users feel about Twitter images. The intertextuality of the visual, tactile, and emotional dynamics of Twitter images are important elements of visual social media practices sustaining the strategic representation of identity. This framework allows me to build a theoretically grounded skilful speculation as to how digital diplomacy crisis events such as the China-Australia Twitter spat unfold and resonate beyond the digital.

A local convergent ecological inference algorithm for RxC tables

ABSTRACT Over the years, a number of methods have been proposed to forecast the unknown inner-cell values of a set of related RxC contingency tables when only their margins are known. This is a classical problem that emerges in many areas, from economics to quantitative history, being particularly ubiquitous when dealing with electoral data in sociology and political science. However, the two current major algorithms to solve this problem, based on Bayesian statistics and iterative linear programming depend on adjustable (hyper-)parameters and do not yield a unique solution: their estimates tend to fluctuate (when convergence is reached) around a stationary distribution. Within the linear programming framework, this paper proposes a new algorithm (lclphom) that always converges to a unique solution, having no adjustable parameters. This characteristic makes it easy to use and robust to claims of hacking. Furthermore, after assessing lclphom with real and simulated data, lclphom is found to yield estimates of (almost) similar accuracy to the current major solutions, being more preferable to the other lphom-family algorithms the more heterogeneous the row-fraction distributions of the tables are. Interested practitioners can easily use this new algorithm as it has been programmed in the R-package lphom.

Paradigms of leadership: A study of doctoral dissertations in two Mexican universities

Latin America is increasingly contributing to scientific research on leadership, although less than other regions. What are the predominant paradigms on leadership within the scientific community in Mexico? The article reviews doctoral dissertations on leadership from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the Anahuac University of Mexico (UA) defended before 2021. The findings highlight that 1) the number of doctoral dissertations has grown from 2016 onwards, especially in educational leadership. 2) In both universities a “functionalist” paradigm prevails, based on the transformational leadership model. 3) Two other leadership paradigms are present, referred to in this article as ‘political’ and ‘humanistic’. 4) These three paradigms have their characteristics and preferences in terms of research methodology, language, and reference authors. 5) The use of a paradigm is associated with the type of faculty rather than the type of university (public or private): in business faculties the functionalist paradigm predominates, in education faculties the humanist paradigm, and in political science or communication faculties the political paradigm. In conclusion, it is recommended to confirm the exploratory result obtained and to promote the dialogue between leadership paradigms.

Democratic Stability and Backsliding <!--EndFragment-->

In light of mounting concerns about democratic backsliding, Rawls’s work – which has an unusual focus on considerations of stability – is now being mined for insights about democratic fragility. This paper begins by arguing that the key mechanism underlying Rawls’s account of stability cannot, consistent with a proper recognition of the burdens of judgment, explain what makes democratic stability possible. It is, therefore, not well-positioned to help us to think productively about how to mitigate the risk of backsliding. Building on an influential literature in political science, I describe an alternative way of thinking about what enables democratic stability that focuses on the importance of giving key actors self-interested reasons for compliance. This account provides a more productive framework for understanding the causes, and thinking about how to mitigate the risk, of backsliding. It should, therefore, contribute to how we evaluate political institutions and proposed reforms.

Actors and structures in politics

This manuscript reports, with minor variations, the opening Key Lecture of the Italian Political Science Association Conference held in Trieste on September 12, 2024. This text consists of tentative but hopefully not random thoughts on the topic of the relationship between ‘actors’ and ‘structures’ in politics. It defends some lines of research that the author regards as definitely needed in the current state of the discipline. It covers a great number of complex topics that is compelled to treat succinctly and for this owes apologies to the audience. The title includes three terms; actors, structures and politics. The first two terms do not require special clarification, except for two points. First, they are used as synonymous of the terms ‘micro’ (referring to actors) and ‘macro’ (referring to structures). Second, the text avoids to enter in the extensive theoretical literature that discuss the terms ‘structure’ and ‘structuralism’. The term ‘structure’ is used for the ‘constellation of political actors’, as discussed later in the text. In this context, the term ‘politics’ means simply that the relationship between actors and structures will be seen from the specific point of view of political science. This is a vantage point of view with respect to how the problem is usually framed in sociology and economics.

Finland: Political Developments and Data in 2023

AbstractParliamentary elections in 2023 brought in a discourse on debt. Power was passed from the Marin I to the Orpo I government. This was historically the most right‐wing government to date in Finland, whose formation also took historically long but finally united both the populist‐nativist right with the liberal right in the same coalition. The ministerial appointments raised questions among the opposition, and the issue of racism was discussed in connection to the coalition partners. The government's austerity policies sought to limit the power of trade unions, which in turn generated strong reactions. Proposals to limit strike action were faced with opposition. As the three largest parties shifted around, the political centre chose to remain in the opposition and also took issue with the underfunding of social services. The parliamentary polarisation formed a stark contrast to the consensual way in which Finland had approached North Atlantic Treaty Organisation membership, for which a compatible institutional setting was built.

„Ich küsse deine Augen, Oma!“ – Wertschätzung im Alter. Ein didaktischer Streifzug aus interkultureller Perspektive

Understanding social reality as well as political developments and contexts is not only an important part of our participatory life, but also one of the main tasks of teachers in language integration work. This fundamentally involves juxtaposing the familiar and the target culture, which often becomes a topic in the classroom. These confrontations are closely accompanied by ideas and feelings of belonging and attachment as well as perceived foreignness and otherness. The relationships between the generations and the connections to one's own family play an important role here, especially as they are characterised by emotionality. The article will therefore analyse how the position of older members of the family and society is presented in the textbooks for integration courses, with respect to both the linguistic and intercultural embedding. Based on the existing offer, ideas for supplementary materials will be developed and presented as examples. Particular attention is paid here to a constructive approach, which primarily looks for connecting. The emphasis is deliberately not placed on the differences, as is the case with the prevailing conception, but a narration of the points of contact is sought.

Historicizing Latin American urban politics and governments

ABSTRACT Existing studies about the politics of southern cities, particularly Latin American cities, need to pay more attention to the political institutions behind urban governance. These institutions, additionally, were not created by design but are a product of intertwined historical processes. This article analyzes the main features and transformations of Latin American local governments, their politics, and governance, looked at from the angle of their historical formation. Mobilizing arguments from urban studies and political science usually developed apart, I start with the legacies of two intertwined historical processes—urbanization(s) and state formation(s)—to later observe their recent transformations since the recent return(s) to democracy. The reconstruction of these intertwined historical trajectories and of the effects of the present democratic period help to jointly explain the most important features of the politics of local governments in Latin America that influence their governance and actions—capacities, political grammars, actors, and coalitions—as well as their recent transformations.

‘The Patriarchy Is Finished’: Broadcasting Women’s Emancipation on RIAS Berlin

Abstract This article examines a sudden shift in women’s radio programming in the late 1950s at RIAS Berlin (Radio in the American Sector Berlin). The American-led propaganda radio station had been established in 1946 to support democracy in West Berlin and then also to combat Communism in East Germany. From its initial broadcast day, RIAS targeted female audiences with a mix of household tips and political analysis that highlighted the ways the Communist regime worked against women. However, in 1957 the women’s division began to critique conservative gender norms in arguing for female equality in West Germany. RIAS introduced a new program, the soap opera Gaby and Franz, that modelled a more companionate form of marriage. At the same time, its established women’s programs, including Can You Spare 5 Minutes?, highlighted obstacles to the full realization of legal reforms such as the Law for the Protection of Mothers of 1952 and the Equal Rights Law of 1957. To promote women’s rights in the Federal Republic, the women’s division adapted the presentation style designed to fight East German Communism. Drawing upon scripts held by Deutschlandfunk Kultur, the successor station to RIAS, the article argues that radio offered an ideal medium for women to press for gender equality at the micro level of the home and the macro level of policy well before the women’s rights movement of the late 1960s.

Understanding the concept of the nation by Georgian Marxists and their influence on the process of Georgian nation-building in the Years 1893–1917

ABSTRACT During the period from 1893 to 1917, Georgia was part of the Russian Tsarist Empire. The process of shaping the modern Georgian nation was far more complex than a mere shift from feudalism to industrialism. While the ideas of the Marxist proletarian revolution captivated the Georgian people, they also remained deeply committed to the pursuit of national independence. This era, spanning from 1893 to 1917, can be regarded as the political phase of Georgian nation-building. Significant political developments took place during this time, with the emergence of various parties in Georgia, including the “Third Generation,” the first Social-Democratic group in Georgia, and Transcaucasia, established in 1893. Despite the prominence of national concerns, the notion of societal division into classes remained relevant in Georgian society. This study primarily relies on the analysis of secondary sources and examines how the Georgian nation navigated the process of modernization while coexisting with two distinct and contrasting ideologies and political perspectives from 1893 to 1917 and how the popular Marxist ideology at the turn of the twentieth century was reflected on Georgian thinkers, as well as the impact it had on Georgian political reality.

Best practices: CER with vulnerable populations in contentious political environments

ABSTRACT This article outlines best practices for political scientists to consider when conducting civically engaged research (CER) with vulnerable populations during politically contentious times. Best practices are drawn from several studies or the authors’ experiences with student-led CER, and these best practices are demonstrated in a case illustrating an author’s own CER project with individuals who are incarcerated. However, all of the practices encompass the core tenets of CER (Dobbs, Kirstie Lynn, Douglas R. Hess, Graham Bullock, and Adriano Udani. [2021. “Introduction to the Symposium: Civically Engaged Research and Political Science.” PS: Political Science & Politics 54 (4): 711–715].), underscoring the importance of utilizing this approach so researchers can adapt to and deal with ethical and administrative issues as these are compounded in contentious political environments. We ultimately recommend that researchers who are interested in CER and working with vulnerable populations during these times need to develop strategies to educate collaborators about stereotypes of historically marginalized groups, provide opportunities for and document written consent from research participants, utilize convenience samples but expand recruitment techniques to prevent research fatigue, and adjust institutional practices to adapt to the political environments in which the researcher and research participants are embedded.

From Apocalypse to Empowerment: Reframing Climate Action

Abstract This article proposes empowerment as a new frame for analyzing, communicating, and practicing climate action. I first discuss the role of collective action frames in social movements and the limitations of the predominant apocalyptic climate narratives. I then elaborate the concept of empowerment, which has received little attention from political scientists, who have emphasized “power-over” rather than “power-to.” Empowerment has long been a focus of attention within critical social work, feminist theory, community psychology, and social movement theory. Drawing on these literatures and others, I identify three dimensions of empowerment—critical awareness, resources and opportunities, and autonomy—and consider practical steps that climate leaders can take to empower others to simultaneously pursue personal development and social transformation.

Deep Waters: Flooding and the Climate of Suffering in Nigeria

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the everyday emotions of the populations impacted by the 2022 flood in Nigeria by exploring the affectivities embodied in flooding and the unfurlings of political emotions and agency in these dire circumstances. By foregrounding the everyday emotions of flooding, I address a subject that too often is overlooked in political science, too often shunted to the margins of politics. I advance knowledge of the disparate impacts of flooding on the vulnerable and how these survivors are improvising affective ways of negotiating a complex emergency that spared their lives but left them in a state of injury.

SISTEMA ELEITORAL PROPORCIONAL DE LISTA ABERTA: CRÍTICAS DA CIÊNCIA POLÍTICA AO SISTEMA ELEITORAL DO BRASIL

The open-list proportional electoral system is used in democracies such as Brazil for the election of its legislative representatives. This system, however, has been subject to criticism in political science, both in Brazil and internationally, due to its effects on party structure, voter behavior, and the political process in general. This article examines the main theoretical criticisms of the open-list proportional system, discussing issues such as party fragmentation, campaign personalization, distortion of the popular will, intraparty competition, difficulty in electoral accountability, and the tendency toward personalist voting.

Analyzing the Circumstances under Which Art Was Born from Italian Neorealism - The Suffering of the Times and the Rise of Art

Abstract: This essay is a unified study of the formation and development of Italian Neorealist cinema in Italy from the pre-World War I period to the post-World War II period as the time of study. Taking Italian Neorealism as an example, it explores the relationship between the suffering of the times and the rise of art. In addition to how Italian Neorealism was born against the backdrop of war and social upheaval, it influenced the subsequent French New Wave cinema and global cinema, and in particular generated far-reaching references in Third World cinema. By analyzing the gradual decline of Italian cinema from its peak in the early twentieth century, which relied on its historical and cultural heritage, through the impact of Hollywood globalization and the economic hardships of World War I, all the way to the suffering of Italian society and the collapse of the economic market during and after World War II, the study demonstrates how Italian Neorealism, through its use of long shot filming, non-professional actors, live-action productions, and documentary narratives, redefined the mission of cinematic art beyond its traditional entertainment function to give voice to the underclass. The article delves further into the influence of Italian Neorealism on the French New Wave and Third World cinema, particularly regarding its influence on social realism and political critique. It is expected to continue inspiring future filmmakers, especially those working in independent and developing country cinema.

Can Autocracy Handle Climate Change?

ABSTRACT Existing literature on climate politics predominantly concentrates on democracies. However, there is a pressing need to examine how authoritarian regimes respond to climate change, given their growing impact on global carbon emissions and their populations’ acute climate vulnerability. Extant research often assumes that authoritarian regimes have inherent advantages in addressing climate change, leading to overly optimistic perspectives on their capabilities. This study highlights the necessity of qualifying those assumptions and evaluates the comparative advantages and disadvantages of autocracies relative to democracies throughout the policy process: policy formulation (or outputs), implementation, and outcomes. I argue that whereas climate-conscious autocracies may efficiently produce policy outputs based on scientific evidence, they often face more challenges related to information about local enforcement during implementation. This may result in greater hurdles than democracies, even with adequate state capacity and monitoring infrastructure. Furthermore, this analysis contends that a country’s developmental stage, rather than its regime type, is related more directly to the effectiveness of translating implementation efforts into tangible policy outcomes. Therefore, this article posits that the political science discourse, which often juxtaposes democracies with autocracies, should expand its scope to better understand how a country’s developmental level influences the success of its climate strategies.

Using civically engaged research to understand the strategic dynamics of social media outreach

ABSTRACT Racial justice organizations often operate in contentious and volatile environments with intense resource demands. This reality was especially apparent in 2020, when a global pandemic, social uprisings, and a relatively provocative presidential election drastically altered racial justice organizations' capacity to engage with their constituents. This paper details how we, a team of political science researchers, applied civically engaged research (CER) principles in collaboration with two local racial justice organizations to understand the strategic dynamics of social media outreach, particularly during hostile and challenging times. This paper advances collective and practical understandings of how CER can proceed, particularly as researchers navigate complexities such as defining reciprocity and developing partnerships. Further, we present five main lessons learned throughout our CER process. Overall, we highlight how CER can improve collaborations with vulnerable communities navigating challenging political environments and how CER can better inform academic research on the strategic dynamics of social media outreach.

Mapping the post-18th Amendment federalism in Pakistan: hegemony, centralization or cooperation?

ABSTRACT The 1973 Constitution accelerated the development of federalism in Pakistan. Federalizing institutions such as the Senate and the Council of Common Interests (CCI) were introduced. The 18th Amendment passed in 2010 marked a critical juncture in the constitutional history of Pakistan, moving the country from de jure to de facto federalism. Considering the path-dependent evolution of the federal architecture in the country, there is a need to investigate the political developments that led to this amendment, the key changes introduced in the constitution and the contentious process of its implementation. We situate these issues within the broader debate on federalism, with a focus on various dimensions of the federal system after 2010. This includes the discussion of intergovernmental relations, opening the space for provincial autonomy in administrative and fiscal domains, mobilization for new provinces by ethnic minorities and the struggle of a peripheral region to seek membership of the federation.