The family is the smallest social unit that plays a vital role in enhancing community resilience and well-being. In Islam, the ideal family is defined as one that is harmonious, loving, and compassionate. To support the formation of harmonious families, the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) of Kemuning District, Palembang City, provides family counseling and mediation services oriented towards preventing and resolving domestic conflicts. This study uses a qualitative, descriptive-analytical approach with empirical juridical methods, utilizing in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation studies to understand family mediation practices, the role of mediators, and the factors supporting and inhibiting service success. The results show that counseling and mediation practices at the KUA are implemented systematically, integrating Islamic values ​​and marital law. These services provide a safe and persuasive dialogue space for couples to resolve conflicts, while simultaneously building awareness, responsibility, and commitment in their married lives. The effectiveness of these services is influenced by the couple's openness, the mediator's emotional and spiritual approach, and institutional policy support. Although not all conflicts are successfully resolved through this mechanism, the KUA still plays a strategic role as a preventive instrument in maintaining family resilience. This study emphasizes the importance of strengthening the capacity of mediators and cross-institutional synergy to increase the effectiveness of family counseling and mediation in realizing a harmonious, loving, and compassionate family.

Abstract Purpose Recent literature suggests the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on intimate partner violence (IPV) in the U.S. However, the examination of bidirectional IPV is needed. Bidirectional aggression is the most common form of IPV and is associated with more frequent and serious relationship violence. The current study examined COVID stress and pre-COVID bidirectional IPV as independent and interactive risk factors for IPV during COVID. Method Four hundred and eighty-four racially and ethnically diverse (31% white) women and men living with a romantic partner in the U.S. completed an online survey through the research platform Prolific. Participants completed an adapted version of the Domestic Conflict Inventory and a novel measure of COVID-specific stress. Results Analyses showed that greater COVID stress was consistently associated with greater psychological IPV perpetration and victimization, and bidirectional IPV was significantly associated with greater psychological and physical perpetration than perpetrator-only IPV. A significant interaction between COVID stress and bidirectional IPV revealed that greater COVID stress was associated with greater psychological perpetration during COVID, but only for participants reporting pre-COVID bidirectional, compared to perpetrator-only IPV. Lastly, exploratory analyses revealed specific COVID stressors, i.e., parenting, employment insecurity, and crowding, that related to different forms of IPV during COVID. Conclusion Pandemic-related stress and a history of IPV, particularly relationships in which partners are both victims and perpetrators, were significant risk factors for IPV during the pandemic. These findings suggest that individuals already at risk for IPV are at an increased risk for IPV during times of crisis.

This study was motivated by the suboptimal delivery of reproductive and sexual health material in premarital counseling at the Tanete Riattang Timur District KUA, even though the lack of understanding among prospective brides and grooms often contributes to domestic conflicts and divorce. The main questions of this study are what role the penghulu (religious official) plays in reproductive and sexual health education for prospective brides and grooms and how this role is analyzed from the perspective of Islamic Family Law. This study uses a qualitative method with a field research design through a normative juridical, empirical juridical, normative theological, and legal sociological approach. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, then analyzed descriptively and qualitatively through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results show that the penghulu has carried out an educational function through marriage guidance, counseling, and facilitation of cross-sector cooperation, but the delivery of reproductive and sexual health material is still limited due to constraints in competence, time, and technical support. Analysis using the maqāṣid al-syarī‘ah theory confirms that the role of the penghulu is in line with efforts to protect life, offspring, and religion, so that this education has a strategic role in ensuring the physical and mental readiness of prospective brides and grooms and preventing domestic disharmony.

This study looks at how digital media has changed democracy and human rights advocacy in the Middle East, with a special focus on Turkey between 2010 and 2024. Particularly as traditional media channels grew more constrained, new media platforms like social media, blogs, and digital outlets have offered substitute venues for political expression, activity, and mobilization. Notwithstanding Turkey's democratic system, dissent and free speech were hampered by the emergence of authoritarianism, media censorship, and human rights abuses. Although official surveillance, legal crackdowns, and digital repression pose serious obstacles to new media, which has developed as a crucial advocacy tool, questions have been raised regarding its viability and impact. Habermas's Public Sphere Theory, which highlights the media's function in promoting public discussions that are vital to democracy, serves as the study's compass. According to the study, new media was essential to massive mobilizations like the Gezi Park demonstrations because it revealed violations of human rights and raised awareness of Turkey's domestic conflicts throughout the world. However, the promise of new media to promote long-lasting democratic change was curtailed by repressive policies, internet shutdowns, and government targeting of digital activists. In order to maintain democracy and human rights advocacy, the report suggests bolstering protections for digital rights, stepping up foreign support for media freedom in Turkey, and funding independent media and digital literacy initiatives.

The abuse of power of self-defence by use of force, whether in domestic conflict, armed conflict, or occupation, disproportionately impacts the vulnerable group of women and children. More than 70% of women experience sexual violence in conflict-related environments. Armed conflicts have turned women’s bodies into battlefields and places of control. The gender-based violence is not only a product of war but is often used as a deliberate strategy to terrorise and traumatise the other party. Literature addressing the case studies pertaining to violation of women’s rights by use of force during conflicts in Gaza and Iraq, abuse of power of self-defence, and the post war scenarios about the survivors struggles and state responsibilities system is scant. This paper critically examines the gendered human right violations inflicted upon the women in armed conflicts focussing on Gaza and Iraq. The author has chosen these regions to restrict the scope of study, but these are not the only regions where violations of the human rights of women during conflicts have happened. This research paper is an attempt to rethink about gendered violations of rights of women during conflicts and learn from what has happened in Gaza and Iraq.

This study is motivated by the increasing divorce rate in Indonesia, including in Polewali Mandar Regency, where migration (merantau) has become one of the dominant contributing factors. The merantau tradition, which has long been an integral part of the Mandar community’s social identity, often disrupts family life due to physical distance, limited communication, and economic pressures. This research aims to analyze the influence of migration on family resilience and to examine its implications from the perspective of Islamic Family Law. The study employs a qualitative approach with a socio-legal research design, utilizing interviews, observations, and document analysis interpreted through a descriptive-analytical framework. The findings reveal that migration contributes to the rise of divorce cases within the Mandar community as a result of shifting family roles, physical absence, and weakened emotional communication. Nevertheless, traditional mediation mechanisms and Islamic values continue to play a significant role in resolving domestic conflicts. The implications of this study highlight the necessity of integrating Islamic legal principles with local wisdom to strengthen family resilience among migrant communities. The originality of this research lies in its interdisciplinary analysis that bridges Islamic law and Mandar culture in explaining divorce caused by migration as a complex socio-religious phenomenon.

This study aims to analyze the factors that cause parental divorce from students in Dayah Liqaurrahmah, Tungkop, and examine the negative impact of divorce on the academic, social, and emotional development of students. The background of this research departs from the increasing number of divorce cases in society that also affect the lives of children, including those who study in Islamic boarding schools. The research method used is descriptive qualitative with a sociological-empirical approach. The data was collected through in-depth interviews with three students of Dayah Liqaurrahmah, Tungkop, whose parents have divorced. The analysis was carried out thematically to identify the social and emotional patterns that arise after parental separation. The results of the study show that the main factors causing divorce include protracted domestic conflicts, imbalances in roles and responsibilities, differences in life principles, and weak communication between couples. This condition has a significant impact on children, especially in the form of decreased motivation to learn, changes in social behavior, feelings of loss of emotional support, and tension in family relationships. Parental divorce has a complex negative influence on the psychosocial welfare of students. In addition, there is a need for psychological assistance and continuous counseling in the pesantren environment, increasing the role of supervisors in detecting changes in student behavior, and cooperation between dayah and families to create a stronger emotional support system for children who are victims of divorce.

In 2024, South Korea once again found itself at the center of a political controversy, where a democratically elected president, the military, and the legislature engaged in partisan domestic conflict. This episode culminated in the president’s declaration of martial law and the deployment of troops to neutralize the National Assembly. This study raises the question of why the South Korean military continues to exhibit behavior reminiscent of authoritarian rule within a democratic framework. By employing historical institutional analysis, it meticulously reveals how institutional legacies—such as the institutionalization of patronage networks, legal codes governing obedience, and cultural norms—that were established during the authoritarian era have persisted even after democratization. In the South Korean case, the 2024 martial law incident was a product of these deeply embedded institutional legacies rather than a temporary deviation.

The literature on election violence lacks a consistent set of core predictors for why certain elections are violent and others are not. Between 2010 and 2022, 97 scholars published 65 peer-reviewed journal articles on this topic using quantitative research designs involving over 440 predictor variables. As a distinct research area, therefore, the study of election violence has reached a size and maturity where it is useful to take stock. Through a meta-analysis of 581 models, this article makes three key contributions. First, it finds that 13 of 44 variables consistently predict election violence, which highlights both the field’s fragmentation and most promising avenues for future research. Second, it reveals that election-specific factors like fraud and competitiveness are more reliable predictors than commonly studied structural conditions like democracy or economic development. Third, it shows that many predictors operate differently at national and subnational levels, with only population size and domestic conflict significant at both levels. This article’s findings suggest a greater focus is needed on election-specific triggers, explicit discussions about perpetrators and targets, and measurement issues.

ABSTRACT Despite extant evidence that domestic violence increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in Western developed countries, relatively little attention has been paid to the pandemic’s impact on domestic violence in non-Western contexts. This study aimed to explore the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on domestic violence in South Korea through the lens of professionals’ experiences and perceptions. Applying semi-structured one-on-one in-depth interviews with fifteen professionals who provided support services to domestic violence victims, such as women, children, and older adults, we identified significant changes in domestic violence in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings suggested that while reported domestic violence cases decreased during social distancing, unreported victimization and its severity may have increased. Changes in the dynamics of domestic violence were also highlighted, including reduced exposure to mandated reporters, an increase in online harassment, and the economic impact of the pandemic, which exacerbated domestic conflicts, particularly among women. This study identified how the pandemic affected the trends and features of domestic violence, providing detailed insights into the evolving problem. Based on the findings, we offer recommendations to strengthen support services and develop effective policies to address the needs of domestic violence victims.

The article highlights several factors of economic importance. It analyzes whether the mechanism of leasing investment ensures the effective functioning of a competitive market for goods, works, and services. It demonstrates that leasing modernizes agricultural production and the investment process. It is determined that this form of investment activity allows enterprises to fully utilize modern equipment and new technologies. The article discusses the legal nature of leasing and the specifics of legal regulation of leasing relations according to the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic. Based on the analysis of domestic legislation, conflicts and gaps in the legal regulation of leasing agreements were identified, and ways to resolve and address them were proposed.

This study examines public perceptions of the online gambling phenomenon and its social and economic implications from the perspective of maqashid shariah, with a case study of the community in Jambi City. The research aims to: (1) identify and analyze the perceptions of Jambi City residents regarding online gambling, and (2) analyze the social and economic implications of online gambling practices within the framework of maqashid shariah. This study employs a descriptive method with a qualitative approach. Data were collected through observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation, involving various informants including members of the general public, religious figures, university students, former online gamblers, academics, and law enforcement officers. The data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model. The findings reveal that the people of Jambi City generally hold negative perceptions of online gambling, grounded in religious, social, and moral values. Such practices are viewed as deviant behaviors that contradict Islamic teachings and social norms. However, some younger individuals perceive online gambling as a form of entertainment or a quick means to earn money, influenced by environmental factors and digital access. Online gambling has resulted in social consequences such as family breakdowns, reduced social interaction, and domestic conflicts, as well as economic impacts including financial losses, dependence on interest-based loans, and the risk of bankruptcy. From the perspective of maqashid shariah, online gambling contradicts the five fundamental objectives of Islamic law: the protection of religion (hifz al-din), life (hifz al-nafs), intellect (hifz al-‘aql), lineage (hifz al-nasl), and wealth (hifz al-mal). Therefore, active involvement from the government, religious leaders, educational institutions, and society is essential to comprehensively prevent and address the issue of online gambling in order to safeguard public welfare.

How and why did the European Union (EU) flag, once a banal marker of European integration and institutions in its member states, become such a politically charged symbol outside of the EU? We demonstrate how officials and publics can use such extraterritorial flags to signal aspiration toward, solidarity with, or rejection of the policies, values, and identities that the flags represent, and how this contrasts with banal extraterritorial use. Employing a systematic qualitative media analysis, we trace how the EU flag’s prominence in the 2004–2007 EU enlargements transformed it from a banal to an emotionally charged symbol of European identity, laying the groundwork for its aspirational extraterritorial use by governments, parties, and protestors in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. We argue that flying the EU flag together with national flags represented an affective assertion of national identity in these countries, with the EU flag transformed into a complementary rather than competing symbolic resource for nation-building. Officials and publics in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine used the EU flag to define distinct national identities, to assert common European identities, and as a tool in domestic political conflicts. Most important, the flag became a potent anti-Russian geopolitical symbol as Russia became increasingly authoritarian and aggressive. By flying the EU flag alongside their national ones, Georgians, Moldovans, and Ukrainians not only declared themselves to be fully European but also insisted that their “peripheral” societies would actively contest and construct European boundaries.

Marriage is for life, but reality is not always in line with expectations. Households will always be hit by problems, when a husband and wife are able to face them and find solutions, then the household will last. However, if the opposite happens, then the household will end. One of the causes of disputes in the household is due to violence. Violence in various forms in the household can come from the husband or wife or children, but women are often the victims. Therefore, mediation efforts by a mediator are very necessary as a mediator and peacemaker. Even though the mediator is not the only person who determines the success of mediation, the mediator's role in the mediation process is very determining. Mediators who act as mediators or judges must equip themselves with abilities that include basic skills and the ability to understand the character of the parties being mediated. Apart from ability, you must also have strong determination and sincerity which is manifested in seriousness to reconcile.

Abstract The purpose of this research is to analyze the effectiveness of operational strategies employed by the military and police in managing domestic conflicts. Using a qualitative approach with secondary data analysis, this study examines various case studies to understand the impact of these strategies in different socio-political contexts. The findings indicate that the police are more effective in handling small-scale social conflicts through community-based approaches, while the military is essential in responding to large-scale threats such as terrorism or separatism. However, prolonged military involvement in domestic security often leads to distrust and human rights concerns. The study recommends optimizing the role of the police in preventive security measures, defining clear limitations on military engagement in domestic affairs, and improving coordination between both institutions. Future researchers are encouraged to explore the role of technology and artificial intelligence in enhancing security strategies while ensuring compliance with human rights principles. Keywords: domestic conflict, human rights, military strategy, police operations, security policy

The relevance of the article lies in the fact that in the conditions of the full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the need to strengthen control over arms trafficking, ensure law and order, and the safety of citizens is becoming more acute. The illegal trade in weapons leads to an increased risk to public safety and creates the conditions for a rise in violent crimes. The aim of the article was to establish optimal ways to prevent the illicit trafficking of firearms, explosives, and ammunition during martial law and, based on international experience, to investigate the feasibility of their legalisation. To achieve this goal, a number of methods were applied: comparative, structural, and systemic. A study of international experience showed that in countries where arms control is lax or arms trafficking is legalised, there is an increase in the number of criminal offences involving weapons. In contrast, in countries where strict arms control has been introduced, a lower level of gun crime is registered. It has been established that the decriminalisation of the storage and manufacture of weapons would increase their circulation among the population, could lead to the illegal use of weapons in both domestic and interpersonal conflicts, and would increase the risk to public safety. Thus, replacing criminal liability for the storage and manufacture of weapons with administrative liability does not sufficiently consider the consequences for the law enforcement system and would reduce the effectiveness of the fight against criminal offences. Firm and strict control over the circulation of firearms reduces the risks of violent crimes involving the use of weapons. The practical significance of the study lies in identifying effective approaches to the legislative regulation of firearms, ammunition, and explosives for further implementation into the legislation of Ukraine, as well as possible ways and means of preventing the illicit trafficking of firearms, ammunition, and explosives during martial law in Ukraine

ABSTRACT Democracy can be conceptualized as resilient to domestic conflict, offering peaceful mechanisms for political change. However, the conventional view on internal democratic peace holds that democracy does little to reduce intrastate conflict. Fifty years after the start of the Third Wave of democratization, this systematic literature review revisits the debate by both theorizing the relationship and assessing empirical evidence, specifically from the past decade. The article proposes four explanations for why a strong independent effect may not emerge: the influence of third variables, non-linear and complex dynamics, and variation in both types of democracy and conflict. Analysing 66 cross-national large-N studies, the findings support a modest pacifying effect: durable liberal democracies tend to be peaceful, while hybrid regimes are more prone to conflict. The relationship, however, is conditioned by third variables and types of democracy and conflict. The review demonstrates substantial progress in the debate and identifies five key avenues for future research: addressing empirical gaps; advancing theory on democratic resilience and its mechanisms; developing research designs that capture complexity and causality; enhancing data and measurement; and bridging a fragmented subfield. Overall, the article offers a more optimistic, though nuanced, view of democracy's potential for mitigating internal conflict.

Abstract Large-N statistical studies have found little or no association between domestic conflict and belligerent foreign policies. A strong and persistent intuition that this negative finding is unwarranted has nevertheless encouraged scholars to revisit the topic. Seven recent contributions propose divergent theoretical arguments to explain external bellicosity in terms of internal turmoil. Important implications can be drawn from each explanation, which can be tested against cases from the contemporary Middle East and North Africa. This exercise shows that two lines of argument provide a firmer foundation than the others for further research.

This study aims to analyze the influence of in-laws' intervention in resolving marital conflicts of their children on household harmony in Masbagik Selatan Village. This is based on real-life occurrences within the community of Masbagik Selatan, East Lombok, where several cases involve in-laws intervening or becoming involved in their children's domestic conflicts. This research is a case study employing a qualitative approach to explore the phenomena occurring in the field. The data used in this study consist of primary data obtained through observations and interviews with the people of Masbagik Selatan, as well as secondary data gathered through literature relevant to the research focus. The findings reveal that in-laws’ intervention in resolving their children’s marital conflicts takes various forms. Interventions in the form of providing advice can have a positive impact on household harmony, whereas interventions involving direct control over the conflict tend to have a negative impact on the resolution of the children’s marital disputes

Early marriage remains a significant social phenomenon in Indonesia and has a significant impact on family dynamics. This study aims to analyze in depth the impact of early marriage on family harmony among young couples in Ranto Panjang Village, Muara Batang Gadis District. A qualitative approach using case study methods was used to understand the subjective experiences of couples who married early. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, naturalistic observations, and documentation, then analyzed using the interactive analysis model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The results showed that early marriage was influenced by cultural factors, social pressure, and family economic conditions. The impact of early marriage is seen in emotional, psychological, social, and economic aspects, including stress, income instability, domestic conflict, and limitations in parenting and decision-making. However, family harmony can still be achieved through effective communication, extended family support, religious values, and role adaptation in the household. These findings confirm that family harmony in young couples is greatly influenced by the interaction between individual, social, and structural factors. This study makes an important contribution to efforts to prevent early marriage and strengthen families through educational interventions, counseling, and economic empowerment. Keywords: early marriage, family harmony, household dynamics, qualitative study, young couples.