Ethnocultural Research Articles

Martial races as clubs? The institutional logic of the martial race system of British India

Military institutions can be seen as a solution to a type of principal-agent problem, in which a government principal contracts with a military agent to produce violence on their behalf. Absent extensive monitoring, low effort should be expected from the military agent. This should especially be the case for a mercenary force which cannot rely on patriotism or ideology. Yet the mercenary army of the British-ruled India consistently produced high and dedicated performance. In this paper, I argue that the otherwise curious institution of recruiting predominantly from the so-called ‘martial races’ helps to explain this puzzle. Drawing on Iannaccone’s club goods model, I argue that the martial race recruitment system represented an effective solution to the principal-agent problem by allowing the British to benefit from a repeat business arrangement with a small number of ethno-religious groups whose costly in-group prohibitions and poor outside options helped both to screen out potential shirkers and deter poor performance on the battlefield.

Translation and validation of the East Asian Acculturation Measure (EAAM) among Myanmar migrants in Thailand.

Acculturation provides a framework for exploring the health behaviors of ethnic minority or cultural groups. Research on the acculturation level and patterns of Myanmar migrants is crucial since there is ample evidence that acculturation promotes health-promoting behaviors. However, no Myanmar version has undergone cross-cultural validation. This study aimed to translate the original East Asian Acculturation Measure (EAAM) into the Myanmar version (EAAM-M) and investigate its psychometric properties. The validation study was conducted on a sample of 200 Myanmar migrants in three factories in Bangkok, Thailand, by a multistage random sampling method from August to September 2023. Brislin's back translation technique was applied to convert the original EAAM into its modified version, EAAM-M. The reliability, content validity, and construct validity of the EAAM-M were examined, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to test the appropriateness of the model that underpins the EAAM-M structure. The average age of the participants was 38.39 years (SD = 5.56), and 68% of participants reported they earned less than 9000 baht. In terms of how long they stayed in Thailand, slightly over half (52.5%) did so for 1-5 years. Nearly half of them (46%) cannot communicate at all regarding their proficiency in speaking Thai. The score regarding the comparability of language and similarity of interpretability between the original EAAM and the EAAM-M was satisfactory. The overall alpha reliability of the EAAM-M was 0.76. Based on the CFA, the measurement model was well fit, with acceptable goodness-of-fit values (Chi-square test of model fit (p = 0.05), CMIN/df = 1.70 (χ2 = 624.931, df = 366), RMSEA = 0.02, CFI = 0.98, and SRMR = 0.06). The validity and reliability of the factors were affirmed through appropriate factor loadings and satisfactory levels of composite reliability (0.942) and average variance extracted (0.538). The EAAM-M is a reliable and valid instrument to measure the acculturation patterns of Myanmar migrants. It is beneficial for scholars across various disciplines, including health professionals and nurses, to deliver culturally tailored care for migrants.

Singular Purpose: Calculating the Degree of Ethno-Religious Over-representation in the US No-Fly List

In January 2023, a partially redacted version of the controversial US No-Fly List was retrieved during a hacking event and made available to journalists and academics. With access to this unique dataset, it is possible to confirm or deny longstanding critiques of whether the No-Fly List features a discriminatory over-representation of certain ethno-religious groups, namely those of Islamic faith and Middle Eastern heritage. As the partially redacted list does not contain ethnic or religious data, the author of this article categorised each name by ethno-linguistic and religious origin to create a proxy with which to analyse claims of discrimination. The research outlined in this article finds that individuals of broadly Islamic and Middle Eastern heritage are vastly overrepresented on the List relative to their proportion of the US population, as well as overrepresented relative to their propensity to engage in terrorism. Only in the narrow analysis of lethality of terrorist attacks committed by this group does the No-Fly List demonstrate fair representation.

The Symbolic Meaning In Minangkabau Bukittinggi Traditional Wedding : Semiotics Studies

Minang or Minangkabau is an ethnic cultural group that adheres to a distinctive customary system, namely the family system according to female lineage which is called the matrilineal system. In Minangkabau culture, marriage is one of the important events in the life cycle and is a very significant transitional period in forming a new small family group for offspring. The purpose of this research is to find out the symbolic meaning in Minangkabau traditional marriage. This research uses a qualitative method and uses the Peirce’s theory. The informants of this study are people who understand Minangkabau culture, such as the coconut of the Minangkabau tribe. Data collection techniques through observation and direct interviews to the field and obtain information from several books and websites. the results obtained were: maminang (applying), rapek sumando (consultation of traditional leaders), malam bainai (attaching henna to the bride), Manjapuik marapulai (picking up the groom), basandiang (side by side). Then the researcher compiles, describes, and writes the symbolic meanings that exist in the traditional Minangkabau wedding steps.

Precarious Tolerance: Jews on the Early Modern Habsburg Frontier

Abstract: As the Habsburgs expanded their territories throughout the eighteenth century, they gained control over a wide variety of ethno-religious groups. In an effort to secure the frontier, administrators favored some groups, like German-speaking colonists, while only "tolerating" others, like the Jews. The government had a dilemma when dealing with the Jews. On the one hand, they were seen as an alien population and possible threat to the economic well-being of the Habsburgs' other subjects. On the other hand, the authorities recognized the important economic place occupied by Jews on the frontier (and elsewhere). This led authorities to alternate between policies intended to exclude Jews from society and those intended to integrate them. As the eighteenth century progressed, policies focused on assimilation dominated, though official and unofficial perceptions of the Jews themselves remained largely negative. Thus, while Jews gained more rights and recognition of their important place on the frontier, they nevertheless remained tolerated rather than accepted into that society.

Религиозные практики чувашей: традиции и их трансформация (конец XX – начало XXI века)

The paper examines modern religious practices of two ethno-confessional groups of the Chuvash — Orthodox and unbaptized, shows the traditional forms of worship and their trans-formation at the turn of the century, determines the compliance of existing practices with the "norms" of the declared religious identity. The study showed that changes in religious prac-tices were manifested in the reduction in number of participants, in the reduction of rituals and the disappearance of a number of elements, in the festivization of the festive and ritual culture, the loss of the original meaning of religious rituals, but at the same time in the growth of activity of the Orthodox Chuvash in the formation of the sacred landscape of their villages and the performance of religious cult. For both groups, there is a discrepancy be-tween confessional identity
 and actual religious practices: among the Orthodox — in the form of Orthodox-pagan syncretism and dual faith, among the unbaptized — in the form of elements of Orthodox culture and participation in Orthodox rituals. They are caused by the instability of confessional "borders" due to religious conversion, and the transformation of ritual practices. The study is based on the author's field materials collected in Chuvash vil-lages in the Samara region, the Republics of Bashkortostan and Tatarstan, and the Chuvash Republic.

Philosophical Aspects of Developing Environmental Education in the Continuing Education System

Objectives: The primary objective of this article is to explore the social significance of environmental education and the priority tasks associated with cultivating ecologically conscious behavior. The focus is on understanding the role of ethnogeographical factors and socio-economic influences in contributing to environmental challenges on a global scale. The article aims to highlight the importance of social aspects in shaping the ecological culture of ethnos, shaped by their living conditions in the natural environment.
 
 Methods: The research methodology involves an analysis of the development of environmental education, particularly in the context of improving ecological education. The study examines priority tasks related to the formation of ecologically conscious activities. Ethnogeographical factors and socio-economic reasons are scrutinized as crucial elements contributing to environmental issues during the process of global development. Additionally, the article delves into an analysis of foreign countries' experiences in environmental education, exploring the efficacy of studying and incorporating the practices of developed nations into the national education system.
 
 Results: The article presents findings related to the social aspects of the ecological culture of ethnos, emphasizing the impact of living conditions on its formation. The exploration of foreign countries' experiences provides insights into effective strategies for studying, researching, and implementing environmental education practices. The results underscore the relevance of incorporating successful approaches from developed nations into the national education system to enhance environmental awareness and consciousness.
 
 Conclusion: In conclusion, the article emphasizes the need for prioritizing the social aspects of ecological culture in the context of environmental education. It advocates for leveraging the experiences of developed countries as a valuable resource for enhancing the effectiveness of national education systems. The conclusion may further highlight the potential impact of improved environmental education on addressing global environmental challenges and fostering a more ecologically conscious society.

Risk Management in Cross-Сultural Management

The purpose of the article is to study the features of the risk management in cross–cultural management. To do this, it is necessary to identify and describe the reasons for the development of cross-cultural management, classify risks and develop recommendations for their management. The methodological basis of the research is the system and process approaches. The author analyzes the concepts of foreign researchers and summarizes the information and analytical materials of foreign consulting agencies. The article starts a discussion whether imposing the monocultural system of norms and values in international business can lead to the rights infringement and hinder preserving the cultural identity of particular socio-cultural and ethno-religious groups and communities.

Resumption Of The Kurdish Card In Iranian-Iraqi Relations: Complex Interplay, Pre-Referendum Realities

The Kurds have been pivotal in Iran's domestic and foreign politics throughout history. In post-Saddam Iraq, helming the delicate balance between Iraq's ethno-confessional groups according to its national security interests posed one of the focuses of Iran's regional policy. The article aims to analyze the peculiarities of Iran's Kurdish policy, the essence of the regional transitions of the Kurdish issue, and their impact on Iran's regional policy. The article argues that the Islamic State's threat and the Syrian crisis strengthened Iran's Kurdish policy to control the Kurdish region of Iraq, including the issue of distribution and transition of energy resources. Tehran vigorously defended the principle of the territorial integrity of Iraq and preserved the Shia force's dominance in the 2017 pre-referendum period. This strategy sought to prevent the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) from evolving into potential foothold operations targeting Iranian assets in the region.

СПОСОБИ НОМІНАЦІЇ ДИКИХ ТВАРИН У НІМЕЦЬКИХ ПАРЕМІЯХ

The present article discusses the ways of nomination of wild animals in German paremias. Wild animals are free beings living in the natural environment and representing three parts of the World Tree: upper, middle and lower. The upper part is associated with birds, the middle – with animals, the lower – with insects, fi sh, amphibians, arthropods, reptiles, and molluscs. Indeterminate creatures are also associated with the lower tier. Paremia is defi ned through the prism of a small form of folk poetic creativity – a proverb and a saying that summarizes the history, culture, experience, and wisdom of the Germanic-German ethnos about the animal world. This testifi es to the fact that paremias belong to ancient written records. A feature of Germanic paremias is their use of the so-called initial rhyme, with the help of which alliteration is created. The remains of the initial rhyme are recorded, for example, at the beginning of words with the sound b (Bär bleibt Bar <…>), f (Den Fuchs muss man mit Füchsen fangen) or with the phoneme ʃ (In der schönsten Haut steckt die gefährlichste Schlange), etc. M.D. Stepanovaʼs theory of word formation was chosen to study the ways of naming wild animals in German paremias. This theory makes it possible to diff erentiate the ways of word formation, systematize their means, reconstruct models, outline the paradigm of grammatical suffi xes and infl ections, word forms, trace the word-forming rules or laws of language that regulate the use of methods of forming the names of wild animals. The methodological base of the proposed study combines general scientifi c and special scientifi c methods. It was found that the conceptual and terminological apparatus correlates with the dominant linguistic paradigm, national scientifi c traditions and the subject of the study. It was established that the register of wild animals is more diverse than that of domestic animals, and it was found that the method of nomination of wild animals is infl uenced by non-linguistic and linguistic factors. The role of language factors in the creation of the phenomenon was assessed to a greater extent. According to the type of word-forming form, the names of wild animals in German paremias are conventionally classifi ed into four varieties: 1) root, 2) derived, 3) complex, 4) compound, 5) sentence. The root method of word formation dominates; word formation resonates with syntactic constructions, i.e. it is subject to grammatical laws that generalize from the individual and specific. Key words: wild animals, method of nomination, paremia, root words, derived words, complex words, compound words.

Literature as Worldly Action

Abstract This paper aims to demonstrate how the various declinations of public and private dissent represented in a contemporary work of African literature, The Death of Vivek Oji (2020) by Akwaeke Emezi, can be read as an instance of literature’s world-making capacity. As the novel’s title anticipates, The Death of Vivek Oji reconstructs the life of its eponymous protagonist and the events that led to their death (Vivek is a non-binary, transgender person and both male and female pronouns are used to refer to them). Emezi’s novel is set in Nigeria during the late 1990s and the narrative actively engages in a representation of the socio-political situation of the country back then, covering the impact that the sudden death of the head of state, Sani Abacha, had on the population. Throughout the novel, dissent is depicted on two levels: on the one hand, it appears as an expression of democratic desire through the public protests against the country’s politics, as well as acts of violence against and among ethno-religious groups; on the other hand, there is also a parallel representation of private dissent in terms of the affirmation of one’s own identity. Vivek’s decision to not cut their long hair becomes, therefore, a form of personal opposition against society’s pre-imposed gendered constructs. In this sense, if the social stigma attached to members of the LGBT community is personified by the incapacity of Vivek’s parents to accept and understand their non-binary child, Vivek’s friends represent a communal act of resistance against such an oppressive social system. Ultimately, the opposition between public and private dissent finds its climax in Vivek’s death, in its causes and consequences. Building the critical analysis of the novel upon recent conceptualisations of literature as an active force that provokes dissent (Cheah 2016, Burns 2019), this paper demonstrates how Emezi’s narrative uses representations of public and private dissent to contest the current world in order to engage in the construction of a more equal one.

Semantics of symbols and signs in the ethno culture of Ajara (cross)

Semantics of symbols and signs in the ethno culture of Ajara (cross)

Cost-benefit Assessment of Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Women Reporting Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Uganda: Assessing Women’s Resilience as a Means to Protect their Ethno-religious Group

Drawing from fieldwork carried out in Uganda, this empirical study is an enquiry into women’s resilience in the face of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the country. It asks why, and when, refugee and asylum-seeking women decide to report (or not report) SGBV. It also enquires into the issues that determine when they do so. The article shows that many participants did not report cases of SGBV because of their concerns about protecting their ethno-religious group and avoiding further discrimination and villainisation of their communities. Survivors are also confronted with the ineffectiveness of retributive justice, which is slow to punish perpetrators. This has led to the establishment of a plea-bargaining system in the country, although this also falls short of securing justice for SGBV survivors. Therefore, survivors often turn to their communities to deal with instances of SGBV. However, most of these community-based mechanisms reinforce patriarchal discrimination and violence and often disregard women’s well-being, interests, and fundamental rights. Women also have to deal with patriarchal pressure that places the responsibility for community cohesion on the woman, as part of her traditional role. This inhibits the ability to make a free and personal choice that could benefit women as a social group.

The Role Of Teachers In Implementing Multicultural Education At Taruna Nusantara High School To Enhance Social Resilience

Multicultural education has become a significant focus in enhancing social resilience at Taruna Nusantara High School. This aims to understand the role of teachers in implementing multicultural education in this school and their contribution to strengthening students' social resilience. Teachers at Taruna Nusantara High School also act as mediators in handling conflicts or tensions that may arise due to cultural differences. They play a crucial role in guiding students to understand others' perspectives, building tolerance, and enhancing effective communication skills. Teachers also provide role models in respecting differences and encourage students to become inclusive leaders in a diverse society. In the context of multicultural education, teachers at Taruna Nusantara High School also prepare students to face complex social challenges and changes. They develop a deep understanding of the values of diversity and encourage students to commit to these values. Teachers play an important role in strengthening students' social resilience, fostering multicultural understanding, and creating harmony and cooperation among students from diverse cultural backgrounds. Taruna Nusantara High School has students from various ethnicities and cultures, which bring certain advantages and disadvantages. Language differences, habits, and understandings can affect communication and collaboration among students. Moreover, a profound understanding of each ethnic group's culture and traditions is crucial to prevent stereotypes and prejudice among students. To address these challenges, Taruna Nusantara High School implements various strategies. Teachers have a central role in creating an inclusive and respectful environment. They integrate multicultural elements into the curriculum and teaching, promote open dialogue, and encourage students to understand and appreciate differences. With this rich and multicultural learning environment, Taruna Nusantara High School is able to shape students with a deeper understanding of the ethnic and cultural diversity in Indonesia. This helps strengthen students' social resilience, increase tolerance, and prepare them for living and interacting in an increasingly global and multicultural society. In this environment, students can learn to respect, appreciate, and understand differences. Thus, Taruna Nusantara High School enhances students' social resilience and prepares them to face the challenges of an increasingly multicultural world.

Exploring camouflaging by the Chinese version Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire in Taiwanese autistic and non-autistic adolescents: An initial development.

Camouflaging is a coping strategy used by some autistic and other neurodivergent people to fit in neurotypical social contexts. The self-reported Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire has been validated for use in research with adults in some Western societies, but not in non-Western cultural-ethnic groups. We translated Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire into traditional Chinese and examined the use of this measure in Taiwanese adolescents via both self-report and caregiver-report in 100 autistic and 105 non-autistic adolescents. Both self-reported and caregiver-reported Chinese version Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire were composed of two factors (i.e. a "compensation-masking" subscale and an "assimilation" subscale). Both adolescent self-reported and caregiver-reported Chinese version Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire total score and subscales were reliable in measurement, and they highly correlated with each other. Taiwanese autistic adolescents were more likely to camouflage than non-autistic adolescents, especially on assimilation. Female autistic adolescents showed higher assimilation than male autistic adolescents. Higher camouflaging, especially assimilation, was associated with higher stress in autistic and non-autistic adolescents alike. Both self-reported and caregiver-reported Chinese version Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire were reliable and offered meaningful information to help us understand the social coping experiences of autistic and non-autistic adolescents.

Origins of Ethno-Religious Profiling: The Jewish Question and Police Surveillance in the Russian Empire in the 19th Century

Surveillance scholars have begun to pay increasing attention to the fact that the burden of surveillance is distributed through society unevenly, further deepening social inequality. As an alternative to the popular image of the “panopticon” (universal surveillance over everyone), the new concept of a “banopticon” (surveillance over specific “dangerous” groups) has been proposed. The idea is that this “new” type of surveillance, unlike “traditional” surveillance, targets entire “suspicious” categories of the population rather than specific individuals, and is oriented towards the future, not the past. But is this phenomenon all that new? History shows that the roots of this type of surveillance run as deep as the early modern era. This paper uses a thematic study of surveillance over Jews in the Russian Empire as the basis for an analysis of the emergence and development of one historical form for the monitoring of “dangerous” population groups, along with its causes, intellectual basis, and deployment mechanisms. The results obtained challenge the widespread notion that surveillance over specific racial, ethnic, and ethno-religious groups (racial profiling) is tied exclusively to slavery, racism, and colonialism. This study allows for an expansion of the understanding of this concept and an increase in its complexity.

Cracks and Fault Lines: Foreign Policy Orientations of Western Balkan Capitals in the Context of the Ukrainian Crisis

The Ukrainian crisis has reverberated throughout the troubled region of the Balkans in Southern Europe, exposing deep-seated cracks and fractures that have long characterized this geopolitical area. The crisis has not only highlighted divisions between local states but also between communities and ethno-religious groups. In many cases, these intraregional contradictions are exacerbated by external actors and their demands. This article examines the foreign policy priorities and orientations of Western Balkan capitals within the "five plus one" format states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and the partially recognized "Republic of Kosovo") in light of the crisis in Ukraine, illustrating the interplay between regional dynamics and international crises.Drawing on a wide range of sources, including official documents and opinion polls on foreign policy, this paper identifies regional discrepancies in the perception and assessment of the ongoing Ukrainian conflict. The study employs a historical-systemic approach and neorealism principles to discern potential directions for political institutions in the external context. The analysis reveals that a fragile "balance of threats" persists in the region, heavily influenced by the goals and interests of external actors such as the EU, NATO, the United States, Russia, and to a lesser extent, China and Turkey.The military and political disengagement observed in 2022 mirrors the alignment of local players witnessed in 2014, but with a significant difference: the West now expects all participants in the "five plus one" format to fully adhere to their joint foreign policy, including implementing restrictive measures against the Russian Federation. This presents a challenging dilemma for Belgrade and Banja Luka, as they cannot overlook the widespread support for Russia's actions among the Serbian population. Any anti-Russian steps taken by local authorities may lead to serious internal political conflicts in both Serbia and Republika Srpska, with far-reaching implications for regional stability.

Bullying personal y étnico-cultural en la Amazonía peruana: prevalencia, solapamiento y predictores

Most studies about personal bullying and ethnic-cultural bullying have been carried out in Western countries without analysing if adolescents are involved only in personal bullying, ethnic-cultural bullying, or both. This study is based in Peruvian Amazonia, a multi-cultural context where not much research has been done, with the aim to understand the overlap of personal and ethnic-cultural bullying as well as their predictors. The sample is made up of 607 students (48.3% girls and 51.7% boys) between the ages of 12 and 19 (Mage=14.5, SD=1.69) from a region in Peruvian Amazonia which completed a self-report questionnaire. Ethnic-cultural bullying and personal bullying are prevalent and overlapped phenomena, being the ethnic-cultural group of the Native Americans the most implicated in victimization and/or aggression. Regarding the overlapping roles resulting from personal bullying and ethnic-cultural bullying (mixed roles), personal victimization is predicted by low assertiveness, and it is related to older age. The mixed role of personal and ethnic-cultural victim is related to a high affective empathy, an indigenous ethnic-cultural group and low conflict resolution skills. The role of personal bully-victim and ethnic-cultural victim is related to being older. Personal and ethnic-cultural bully-victims are older males with lower self-esteem and assertiveness. The results are discussed in relation to education programs about prevention and mitigation of bullying and ethnic-cultural bullying.

Personal and ethnic-cultural bullying in the Peruvian Amazon: Prevalence, overlap and predictors

Most studies about personal bullying and ethnic-cultural bullying have been carried out in Western countries without analysing if adolescents are involved only in personal bullying, ethnic-cultural bullying, or both. This study is based in Peruvian Amazonia, a multi-cultural context where not much research has been done, with the aim to understand the overlap of personal and ethnic-cultural bullying as well as their predictors. The sample is made up of 607 students (48.3 girls and 51.7% boys) between the ages of 12 and 19 (Mage=14.5, SD=1.69) from a region in Peruvian Amazonia which completed a self-report questionnaire. Ethnic-cultural bullying and personal bullying are prevalent and overlapped phenomena, being the ethnic-cultural group of the Native Americans the most implicated in victimization and/or aggression. Regarding the overlapping roles resulting from personal bullying and ethnic-cultural bullying (mixed roles), personal victimization is predicted by low assertiveness, and it is related to older age. The mixed role of personal and ethnic-cultural victim is related to a high affective empathy, an indigenous ethnic-cultural group and low conflict resolution skills. The role of personal bully-victim and ethnic-cultural victim is related to being older. Personal and ethnic-cultural bully-victims are older males with lower self-esteem and assertiveness. The results are discussed in relation to education programs about prevention and mitigation of bullying and ethnic-cultural bullying.

Exploring inclusive victimhood narratives: the case of Bosnia-Herzegovina

Narratives are essential tools for communicating thoughts about competitive and inclusive victimhood socially and politically. In reconciliation processes, promoting narratives of inclusive victimhood (an understanding that ‘we all suffered together’) has been suggested as one way to overcome competitive victimhood (the idea that one ethnoreligious group or nation is the sole or primary victim in a conflict or war). However, the notion of inclusive victimhood remains understudied in post-war contexts in which exposure to violence was relatively imbalanced between former adversaries. This article traces the potential narrative variation from competitive to inclusive victimhood in post-war Bosnia-Herzegovina. It draws on (1) the competitive victimhood typology as an analytical tool and (2) a mapping of narrative sites as a methodological tool for tracing collective victimhood. The article scrutinises less competitive and inclusive accounts of victimhood identities in Bosnia-Herzegovina by examining the narratives that recognise outgroup victimhood and acknowledge ingroup responsibility for harmdoing. It suggests that there is potential for peaceful coexistence realised through the narrative of shared suffering, especially in post-war contexts where the exposure to violence was not entirely unidirectional. However, shared responsibility is less likely to be observed when the exposure to violence was highly asymmetrical.