Dominant Actors Research Articles

Unraveling Community Potential Interactions by Environmental DNA in the Hong Kong Coastal Waters

ABSTRACTTraditional approaches for studying potential interactions in marine ecosystems often struggle to fully capture all taxa in a community, especially rare species. This issue is particularly challenging in coastal waters with high biodiversity and spatiotemporal dynamics. In this study, we employed environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, utilizing multiple marker genes, to comprehensively investigate interspecific interactions across various domains in the subtropical coastal waters of Hong Kong. The southern and eastern regions of Hong Kong waters exhibit distinct environmental seasonality, and our investigation focused on comparing the potential interaction networks and the keystone taxa between these two regions. The putative species interaction networks across various groups (i.e., bacteria, protists, and metazoans) were revealed by using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). Our results showed that primary consumers, mainly dinoflagellates and ciliates, were the dominant actors within the interaction networks, although their distributions varied between the two regions. Bacterial taxa from the Pseudomonadota groups primarily constituted saprobes in the southern region, while exhibiting an even distribution in the eastern region. The interaction network in the southern region was larger but less stable compared to the eastern region. This could be attributed to the stronger responses of keystone taxa to environmental variations and the relatively higher number of connectors (e.g., Akashiwo and Protoperidinium within Dinophyceae) in the eastern region. Our findings highlight the versatility of eDNA metabarcoding for studying potential species interactions, providing critical insights into ecosystem structure and stability, and offering suggestions for marine biodiversity conservation.

A ‘translation’ perspective on socio-ecological displacement: insights from the 2014 Tokwe-Mukorsi flood in Zimbabwe

With socio-ecological displacement increasingly becoming an existential threat to many communities worldwide, there is a need for deepened understanding of salient socio-political dynamics that complicate displacement processes. Such understanding is crucial for reducing the risks associated with relocation as well as enhancing relocation management and building resilience among victims. This article utilises the concept of ‘translation’ in Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to examine the socio-political dynamics that characterised the 2014 Tokwe-Mukorsi forced displacement of over 3000 rural households in Southern Zimbabwe. Drawing on the narrations of victims in focus group discussions and of government officials (key-informants), as well as on relevant secondary data, the article engages the shifts in position by the dominant actor in the displacement and relocation processes, not to mention the imposition of new interpretations of reality, including the redefinition and distribution of roles, with a view to highlighting the ultimate determinants of resettlement outcomes. The paper found, in the main, that the power struggles between protagonists and the impact of those struggles on the relocation process, as well as the state’s dominance, ultimately exacerbated the victims’ distress.

Africapitalist foundations: the political economy of philanthropy of the super-rich in neoliberal Africa

ABSTRACT “Africapitalist foundations,” founded by iconic African billionaires who profess to integrate profit motive with pan-African identity and also position indigenous businesses as lead-agents in national and regional economic development (“Africapitalism”), emblematize movements to decolonize aid and development in Africa. A content analysis of the market-based and solidaristic philanthropic activities of five such foundations underline recent mutations of neoliberal capitalism that created enormous wealth and large-scale philanthropy for a few but also unleashed profound economic crisis for many Africans. By combining profit and emotion, Africapitalist philanthropy is disrupting several aspects of aid-giving in Africa. Africapitalists are, however, too weak to displace dominant actors in Africa’s aid and development industry; they entrench hegemonic capitalism by not addressing systemic injustices and maldistribution of power and resources that necessitate charity.

Comparative analysis of production and marketing aspects of deficit and surplus paddy production areas in Bangladesh

The study aimed to compare production and marketing aspects in deficit and surplus paddy production areas in Bangladesh. For this study, a face-to-face interview was conducted with a semi-structured questionnaire. The survey was carried out in two districts from February to March 2022. Data were collected from a total of 113 paddy farmers from Brahmanbaria, a deficit district, and 128 farmers from Habiganj, a surplus district. According to this study, farmers in surplus districts have excellent geographic characteristics such as medium-high land and a triple crop area, while farmers in deficit districts suffer unfavorable conditions such as low land and flooding. The study also discovered that there are differences between the districts in terms of land availability, paddy cultivation area, and cropping intensity. In production aspects, the size of the farmland and the productivity differ significantly at the 1% level between the districts. Deficit farmers produce less paddy per acre compared to farmers with surplus districts. In the paddy marketing channel, local paddy assemblers (LPA) are the dominant actors in the deficit and LPB/local paddy brokers in the surplus area. Farmers in surplus areas have more marketing facilities and get higher paddy revenue and profits compared to deficit districts. However, farmers in both districts are mostly dependent on traders to sell their produce. In that case, paddy marketing facilities can accumulate through farmers’ community investment and the organization of cooperative societies. It will help improve farmers’ negotiation power at the village level in both districts. Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. Vol. 11, No. 2, August 2024: 173-183

The promises and pitfalls of cryptocurrencies and blockchain for marginalized communities

ABSTRACT Cryptocurrencies, and the blockchain technology that underlies them, have attracted much attention over the last decade from scholars, tech communities, financial institutions, states and more. The extreme volatility of the cryptocurrency market has made some people very rich and cost others almost everything. Importantly, there are many indications that marginalized communities are especially attracted to this new technology while being more vulnerable to issues such as fraud and exploitation in this field. This paper reviews academic research – predominantly social scientific – on cryptocurrencies and financial blockchain to determine the extent to which they engage with the experiences, agencies, and knowledges of marginalized communities. Overall, the findings show that, bar a few important exceptions that take seriously marginalized communities, academic research has largely focused on traditionally dominant actors such as crypto evangelists, fintech developers, states, and banks. Furthermore, the knowledges of marginalized communities are almost entirely absent while research privileges already dominant theories and research methodologies. Such trends in academic research on cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology reproduce existing knowledge hierarchies and lead to the further material marginalization of already vulnerable communities. In light of these findings, we conclude with some recommendations for further research that can challenge these problematic dynamics.

Sojourners, Not Settlers: Temporary Labor Migration Since the Nineteenth Century

Systems of labor mobility across borders in which states assign a fixed duration to workers’ sojourn—temporary labor migration schemes (TLMSs)—have enabled employers to recruit workers while claiming to avoid the presumed negative consequences of settlement and integration. While existing explanations of TLMSs focus primarily on structural determinants, this article introduces a cumulative contextual model. It begins with a political-economic analysis of labor migration and addresses its gaps by adding an analysis of the ideological legitimations of TLMSs, as well as a consideration of the complex of rules and organizations that implement and regulate state-managed temporary migration. Building on this approach, I propose a typology of TLMSs according to dominant actors, rules that govern the labor relationship, and the gap between discourse about the goals of TLMSs and outcomes. The analysis has implications for immigration and citizenship regimes, for their assumptions of permanence, and for the nature of work.

Leveraging normative power in co‐production to redress power imbalances

AbstractIn this article, we explore how less dominant actors, service users in our case, utilize different types of power to influence more dominant professional groups during processes of co‐production. Drawing on semi‐structured interviews with 48 service users involved in healthcare improvement research, we illuminate the crucial role of normative power during processes of co‐production. In contrast to extant co‐production literature, which largely focuses on structural or resource power, we show how normative power is created by service users to leverage influence over more dominant actors. We highlight the relationship between structural, resource, and normative power during processes of co‐production, extending understandings of the dynamic nature of co‐production and generating implications for public involvement policy and practice.

Fake News Makes the News: Definitions and Framing of Fake News in Mainstream Media

ABSTRACT This paper explores how news media define and frame fake news, thus orienting public perceptions of fake news in terms of problem, causality, responsibilities, and solutions. It first maps the news discourse on fake news through semantic network analysis of 1,646 articles published in 2017–2018 (when the term reached its peak) and 2021–2022. It then analyzes the definitions and frames of fake news in a sample of 122 articles representative of the clusters identified in the previous step of our analysis. The semantic networks in both periods reveal similar dominant actors - political actors, social media platforms and professional journalists – that shape the “fake news” narrative. Fake news is either defined as disinformation and political propaganda or, more often, as false accusations that Donald Trump and his supporters make against mainstream media for their negative reporting. Political and social media actors are mostly held responsible for undermining public trust in mainstream media through fake news dissemination and/or false accusations. In this polarized conception of the public sphere, the public is positioned as a victim rather than an active contributor to the fake news problem and solution.

Proximate Composition and Consumers’ Perceptions on Grasshopper (Zonocerus variegatus) Consumption in Kano State Metropolis, Nigeria

Entomophagy is the term used to describe eating or utilization of insects for food or feed. A study was conducted to evaluate the proximate composition and consumers’ perception on grasshopper consumption as nutrient source. Structured questionnaires were administered in some selected Markets in Kano Municipal and Nassarawa local Government areas of Kano State. Sixty (60) Grasshopper consumers were randomly selected and the proximate composition and nutritional potential of edible grasshopper was collected. Data were collected and analyzed using descriptive analysis and results were presented in percentages and frequency distribution. Grasshopper has 6.0% crude protein and 58% carbohydrates. Majority of the people (66.6%) eats grasshopper among which are females (56%), married (60%) and youths (38.3%) are the dominant consumers of grasshopper. Hot water (36.7%) and salt water (18.3%) were the prominent pre-treatment methods used by the processors. On metal toxicity knowledge, about 56% of the respondents were aware of its effects and 50% have experienced some ailments while 50% reported vomiting as the common ailment. Conclusively, a lot of Hausa people residing in Kano Metropolis among other tribes accepted grasshopper as food, while females and youths are the dominant actors. It is therefore recommended that people should be sensitized on the modern rearing methods of grasshopper and the risks in wild harvested grasshopper especially pesticides contamination. More so, there is need to explore on the sources of the grasshopper sold in the markets.

Rhetorical Construct of the Self: An Exploration of Writings of Teacher Education Students with Delayed College Enrollment

Understanding people’s thinking and actions through exploring their word choice in written discourse can provide an objective analysis of their behavioural patterns in responding to life adversities. This study utilising quantitative and qualitative approaches is an attempt to investigate the coping mechanisms as response to the challenges of pursuing a bachelor’s degree of teacher education students who had postponed their college enrollment after graduating from high school. This investigation revolved around analysing students’ written essays for personality type profiling using M. A. K. Halliday’s Transitivity Theory and exploiting their aspired professional identity employing Lakoff and Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The analysis of students’ written essays dealing with life challenges revealed their dominant actor, carrier and senser-personality types that reinforced their self consciousness enabling them to be reflective and strategic in addressing life challenges. Moreover, the conceptual metaphor “Teachers are Heroes”, as disclosed by the metaphorical constructs of their aspired professional identity, helped them develop motivation, as they realised the significant role which professional teachers play in the society. This self-identification derived from their projected personality types and the motivation they gained from realising their aspired professional identity served as a coping mechanism by stimulating their confidence in dealing with the challenges associated with continuing their college education. To enhance self-awareness and promote self-reflection among teacher education students, this study advocates the integration of the theories of transitivity and metaphor into teacher education curricula for professional identity development.

Challenging agricultural norms and diversifying actors: Building transformative public policy for equitable food systems

Food systems governance regimes have long been spaces of “thick legitimacy” (Montenegro de Wit & Iles, 2016), where embedded norms benefit pro­duc­tivist agricultural practices. Within governance regimes, the science-policy interface and the scien­tists who occupy this space are integral in today’s public policy processes. Often treated as objective science, technical disciplines have become a power­ful source of legitimatizing in decision making. Without the contextualization of lived experience or diverse ways of knowing, these siloed spaces can lead policymakers towards an action bias (e.g., a rush to short-term solutions) that neglects the underlying causes and concerns of our current crises. Current governance arrangements in the science-policy interface demonstrate the bias toward technical science (e.g. economics) and short-term solutions. However, by challenging productivist agriculture norms reformed public policy processes may shift from a space of repres­sion to one of possibility. This reform can happen through investigatiing dominant actor coalitions and identifying tools to reconfigure these power arrangements. Public policy theory, such as the advocacy coalition framework (ACF), helps organ­ize relations within current agricultural policy arenas. The work of practitioners and other disci­plines offer tools that can support transformative action by food systems advocates in the pursuit of changing the way public policy is made. In part, understanding how power is organized and who may influence policy processes is critical to change. This reflective essay ends with tools and strategies for those wishing to engage governments in this shift. The proposed tools and strategies focus on how people (e.g. policy champions), processes (e.g. policy leverage points), and partnerships (e.g. ally­ship) generate ways in which advocates can, and do, engage governments in transformative change.

Talking about security in the era of high-tech and green-tech: China’s empathy with Russia and the rare earths trade with the West

ABSTRACT As high technology and green transition gain momentum in modern life, global supply chains of resources like rare earths become vital. China is the dominant actor in this market, Russia already holds a strategic niche albeit as an emerging actor, whereas the West is a “latecomer”, lagging considerably behind. Against the backdrop of ever deepening geopolitical fault lines, the article views the China/Russia – West rare earths trade through the lenses of weaponized interdependence. In particular, it employs this theoretical account for the first time from a non-Western angle and proves that in the recent wave of globalization not all the most central nodes are territorially concentrated in the advanced economies of the West. Moreover, it demonstrates that the West’s domination of relevant innovation cycles is not as absolute and autonomous as propounded by the theory. The conclusions summarize China’s (and Russia’s) panopticon effects on the rare earths trade with the West, and show that should their security concerns be overlooked, they are likely to escalate to chokepoint effects to the detriment of the global economy.

Türkiye in International Energy Trade: Implementation of Social Network Analysis

Energy resources are fundamental inputs in almost every sector and play a crucial role in development and economic stability. This situation has increased the importance of keeping energy costs low, becoming a significant factor in attaining global superiority. In the contemporary era, where states represent the highest level of the organization, the strategic importance of these resources has been further exposed. The strategic value of energy resources, predominantly encompassing fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal, has precipitated intense global competition. The dynamics of energy resource trade have transcended mere profit-driven motives, transforming into a tool wielded by governments for various political objectives. This paradigm shifts underscores the vitality of energy supply security, prompting the formulation of energy trade networks guided by policies and national strategies. Within these networks, participating actors exhibit diverse traits shaped by distinct circumstances, assuming varied roles through pre-existing relationships. The purpose of the research is to examine the energy trade network of Türkiye, implementing the social network analysis method that integrates empirical data and mathematical approaches. The study aims to unveil pivotal aspects of the network, including its size within the global energy trade landscape, density, relational ties among actors, centrality, and brokerage degrees. The research aims to contribute valuable insights to understanding Türkiye's positioning in the global energy trade through these analyses. The results indicate that the volume of Türkiye's energy trade network accounts for around 1/3 of the global energy trade. While no single dominant actor exists in the network, specific entities demonstrate significant brokerage power. The analysis highlights the impact of global energy players, including Russia, the United States, and some European countries. Finally, the study involves recommendations for future research, anticipating a continued exploration of the complicated dynamics shaping energy trade networks on a global scale.

Relative Power and Costly Signals of Civilian Loyalty: Protest Behavior Against Armed Actors in the Colombian Civil War, 1990–2004

ABSTRACT The paper examines one of many actions that civilians employ to resists peacefully armed actors during civil wars: protests. I argue that the costs for mobilizing against armed actors depend on the level of control that armed actors exert in the territory. By examining the civil war in Colombia between 1990 and 2004, I find that civilians protest against the weaker actor to reveal their loyalty to the dominant actor and to prevent the strong side from conducting future violent actions against the population. Protesting works as a costly signal of loyalty. I reveal that non-combatants protest against the stronger actor when both civilians and combatants share the same political ideology. In that circumstance, punishment by the strong combatants is improbable as protesting against them is likely to be interpreted as a renegotiation of the contract or a reminder of its terms. Finally, I show that civilians in contested zones declare themselves neutral and protest against both sides. Non-combatants take advantage of the power contestation to improve their current situation. Any punishment by combatants in contested zones would lead to defection, and citizens protest against both actors knowing that armed actors cannot afford to punish non-combatants for their hostile attitude.

The framed and contested meanings of sport mega-event ‘legacies’: A case study of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

This article examines the ways in which envisioned sport mega-event legacies are publicly framed, communicated and contested. By employing Bourdieusian field theory, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) as a case, and drawing upon documentary and media analysis, this article questions how CWG 2022 legacies were framed in a pre-event context. The article makes two key arguments. First, dominant actors within the mega-event field framed a considerable part of their pre-event legacies in terms of intangible inclusivity legacies relating to the host city's local communities, workforce and volunteering practices. Second, alongside these framed legacies, counterclaims emerged from actors on a civil society level, illustrative of a wider scepticism toward mega-events’ effects in the present day. Whilst limited scholarship has examined CWG 2022 to date, this paper also advances scholarship on sport mega-events’ socio-political legacies whilst it, theoretically, unpacks Bourdieu's tools of ‘field’ and ‘doxa’ in a new context.

Large-scale land development of landed housing and apartment based on developers networking in Jabodetabek

The immense development of residential land in Jabodetabek and unreasonable property prices indicate an uncompetitive housing market. It argues that the phenomenon of oligopolistic market condition, either in the property or land market, is bridled by a minority of developers. It is reinforced by the emergence of a network formed among the development firms. In order to deliberate developer’s network, we incorporated institutional land development study approach, market structure and business competition theory. Subsequently, social networks analysis among large-scale housing developers will be explained. This study revealed out that the development of residential land was found to lead into a more competitive climate with monopolistic competitive market type. Four investigations: multiple positions; stock ownership; consortium; and kinship, were selected to divulge a large-scale housing developer network that are formed either directly or indirectly. The network created a semi-oligopolistic type of land domination. A few well-known developers became the dominant actors through landed housing and apartment developers network. The emergence of this network phenomenon is indicated by poor regulations and its institutions. Moreover, policies regarding spatial planning and business competition have not been integrated yet.

THE DYNAMICS OF POLICY CHANGE AND AGILE GOVERNANCE: HOW INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Indonesia and other countries must deal with the COVID-19 pandemic with limited information control amid uncertainty. Handling a pandemic that has become a crisis places great demands on the government to provide agile and dynamic policies. Variations of policies that the Indonesian government has issued raise doubts in the public sphere. The government changed several policies quickly and easily, giving the impression that they did not go through a thorough formulating process. It shows that the handling of COVID-19 requires a policy system that is quite complex due to the many interactions of various sectors. By using qualitative methods, this study attempts to discuss the dynamics of changing public policies by using the concept of incremental policy amid demands for agile governance implementation by looking at the cases of policies issued by the Indonesian government in response to COVID-19. The dynamic of the policy network will be explored further to dismantle the discussion of policies for handling COVID-19 in Indonesia. Therefore, the results of this research show the challenges in implementing agile principles simply by changing and adapting policies to empirical conditions. In its application, agile governance shows several dominant actors who gather resources and support, shape policy outcomes, and advance their interests.

Muslims Acceptance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Indonesia

This article aims to explore netizen criticism of the existence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Indonesia. LGBT activists have utilised social media to convey messages of equality, leading to pros and cons in Indonesian society. The urgency of this research is to understand how Muslims accept LGBT issues in Indonesia. This research uses a qualitative method with a media analysis approach. The data collected by the author were 10,000 Twitter tweets of netizens regarding LGBT issues in Indonesia, and then this data was re-analysed by drawing actor networks on Gephi software. The results show that the Qur'an gives a description of the people of Prophet Luth who committed homosexual acts and were labelled as people who behaved stupidly. Then, in another verse, LGBT can damage conventional marriage bonds to harm social morals. Then, MUI firmly rejects LGBT through Fatwa No. 57 Year 2014, which generally aims to maintain moral values prevailing in society. Through analysis using Netlytic, there are several dominant actors—the focus of actor discussions is political and social discussions. LGBT is still not recognised by society and the state because this kind of deviant behaviour is not a freedom that can be openly accepted.

Agentic misrecognition in the global monetary system

This article employs the framework of agentic misrecognition to explore the institutional dynamics and distinct forms of agency operative in the global monetary system. The analysis is framed by the concept of “political recognition,” exploring the relationship between the dominant actor and subordinate actors, and showing the complex ways by which misrecognition is performed through, as well as shaped by, the sociopolitical logics of the monetary system. It shows how with the employment of formalist methodologies, the dominant actor protects its status by misrecognizing and resisting pleas for greater concern and more coordination, seeing subordinates not as creative agents but as challenges to its dominance. The analysis also explores how and why subordinate members come to support the misrecognition scheme even though it perpetuates instability and systemic inequalities. Similar to most studies on recognition theory, this article pays close attention to the plight of the misrecognized, but the analysis is also concerned with understanding the underlying cause of the misrecognition scheme and how the dominant actor as misrecognizer contributes to dysfunctions in the monetary system. In demonstrating the underlying features of the misrecognition scheme, this critique challenges established theories and methodologies in the monetary sphere.

Speaking the Right Language: Transnational Rule and Symbolic Power in Dialogue Forums

ABSTRACT This article argues that the opening up of international organisations (IOs) to the participation of civil society organisations (CSOs) has not only failed to dismantle structures of rule. Rather, it should be understood as a perpetuation of rule, re-enacted in and through the everyday practices of IO-CSO interactions in dialogue forums. To make this argument, I build on Bourdieu's notion of symbolic power to conceptualise rule as a hierarchical relationship of mutual recognition, characterised by compliance and actualised through (discursive) practices. In dialogue forums, rule is enacted through the ability of dominant actors to impose meanings (classifications, categories, normative standards) as legitimate. By analysing the Civil Society Policy Forum, I show how the institutions have managed the criticism emanating from CSOs through discursive assimilation, i.e. by both opening up space for dialogue and delimiting the boundaries of political discourse, leading CSOs to accept the conditions for reproducing the institutional discourse.