Foreign Perceptions Research Articles

The Narrative Power of Russian Foreign Intelligence

This study examines the narratives created and exploited by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) in its official history. It views the official history as part of a broader campaign to influence domestic and foreign perceptions of the SVR, starting in the 1990s. The narratives are examined in terms of narrative power; namely, the ability to cause intended effects by creating a certain understanding of events. The study finds that the SVR substantiates a “derzhavniki master narrative” in which Russia is a great power that must continuously balance the power of other states and prevent these states from achieving relative gains. The SVR’s narratives integrate the history of foreign intelligence into the history of Russia. This integration has narrative power because a strong foreign intelligence service is both natural and legitimate in the derzhavniki narrative. The study moreover finds that the SVR deals with the KGB’s history of repression by portraying itself as a victim.

대중매체를 통한 외국인 접촉이 다문화 인식에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구

In Korea, the perception of foreigners is dualistic with acceptance and exclusivity where a multicultural society has emerged. Indirect contact with foreigners through mass media can have a significant impact on everyday multicultural awareness. Accordingly, it is time to support the functions of mass media and policies that can cause negative conflicts in multicultural awareness. Based on this awareness of the problem, the results of a survey and analysis on the effect of contact with foreigners through mass media on multicultural awareness are as follows. There were differences in multicultural awareness depending on gender, age, education, marital status, and occupational status among sociodemographic characteristics, Gender, age, and experience and awareness factors corresponding to the sub-variables of contact with foreigners through mass media were found to have a significant impact on multicultural awareness. Therefore, such as community change, exclusivity, and risk, a policy is needed to minimize negative issues and exposure of foreigners through the mass media because contact with foreigners through the mass media affects negative perceptions of multiculturalism

다문화 수용성이 수학 학업성취도에 미치는 영향에 대한 자아개념 조절 효과

The acceleration of societal transformation towards a multicultural society emphasizes the necessity for education in school settings to incorporate cultural diversity. In this study, hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to explore the moderating effects of self-concept on the relationship between multicultural acceptance and mathematical academic achievement.
 First, the analysis examined the moderating effect of familial self-concept on the relationship between relationships with multicultural friends and mathematical academic achievement. As familial self-concept increased, the extent to which the relationship with multicultural friends negatively influenced mathematical academic achievement diminished.
 Secondly, the analysis explored the moderating effect of academic self-concept on the relationship between perceptions of foreigners and mathematical academic achievement. As academic self-concept increased, the extent to which perceptions of foreigners positively influenced mathematical academic achievement became stronger.
 Thirdly, the analysis examined the moderating effect of academic self-concept on the relationship between relationships with multicultural friends and mathematical academic achievement. As academic self-concept increased, the extent to which relationships with multicultural friends negatively influenced mathematical academic achievement became stronger.
 This study provides foundational insights into the moderating effect of self-concept on the relationship between multicultural acceptance and mathematical academic achievement, with a focus on exploring strategies for practical application in educational settings.

Study of Public Space Use and Design based on Japanese and Foreign Perceptions

Public space will be studied regarding history, use, and the evolution of urban space. Through culture, architecture, and behavior, this paper investigates how Japanese and foreigners use public space. Foreigners use open spaces such as neighborhood parks more frequently than Japanese people, who consider space sacred and private. Because of this study, urban space will be analyzed from the perspective of Japanese culture and customs as well as foreign culture to qualify the precise meaning of space, urban space, and cultural space, within the context of diverse conditions and ethnicities. Residents who frequently use neighborhood parks recognize that foreigners are more welcome and that spatial accessibility contributes to the creation of a unifying space in their neighborhoods. Understanding cultural views and ethnic behavior is critical to the design and implementation of effective and creative urban spaces.

Report on the 23rd Fukushima Dialogue “Thinking together about issues of Fukushima Daiichi treated water”

On 27 November 2021, the non-profit organization (NPO) Fukushima Dialogue held the 23rd Fukushima Dialogue meeting in Naraha Machi, Fukushima Prefecture. The theme was “Sharing the situation surrounding Fukushima Daiichi treated water”. It was the 23rd meeting since the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) launched the ICRP Dialogue in Fukushima Prefecture in 2011, which the NPO Fukushima Dialogue took over in 2019. Held in a hybrid form, it was open to the public and has gathered up to 120 participants. The first part was devoted to presentations related to the theme of the meeting: technical aspects, testimonies about local (institutional or not) and foreign (Korea) perception, experiences from abroad of stakeholder involvement in the nuclear field. The second part was devoted to a structured dialogue between a panel of local citizens. The audience was participatory. This article summarizes the fruitful exchanges during these two days.

Status and Brazil’s role as a peace mediator - lessons of the foreign perceptions of the failed Tehran deal

Status and Brazil’s role as a peace mediator - lessons of the foreign perceptions of the failed Tehran deal

A battle for foreign perceptions: Ukraine’s country image in the 2022 war with Russia

This paper examines the 2022 War in Ukraine through the conceptual lens of country image within a broader framework of public diplomacy, soft power, and nation branding. It applies integrative and longitudinal perspectives to examine Ukraine’s country image and country image cultivation strategies over a period of three decades from its independence in 1991 to the 2022 Russo-Ukraine War. To understand Ukraine’s country image, or perceptions of Ukraine held by international stakeholders, a case study examined a convergence of multiple sources of evidence and methods. One method focuses on sentiment analysis through Leximancer, a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software, to evaluate and compare Ukraine’s country image in international news media discourse across three periods of analysis separated by three major events: Ukraine’s independence in 1991, the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, and the 2022 Russo-Ukraine War. The findings suggest that Ukraine’s country image has strengthened over time, and has been effective in delegitimizing the 2022 Russian invasion and securing strong support from the international community.

Framing the Digital Silk Road's (De)Securitisation

China’s Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) is sending the offer of a technological upgrade around the world. Foreign perceptions of the DBAR pave the way to success through a cooperative attitude or to failure through resistance and confrontation. The United States of America (USA), in particular, plays a prominent role. The power rivalry between Washington and Beijing also affects foreign initiatives such as the DBAR. However, it remains underresearched, how the DBAR is perceived in the USA. The article fills this gap by analysing documents issued by US state bodies as well as three non-partisan think tanks between 2016 and mid-2021. Since no previous study has examined both securitised and desecuritised DBAR frames, we present a new research framework. The results show that negative perceptions of the DBAR prevail among think tanks and political elites. This suggests hardened fronts in the heated technological competition due to confrontational attitudes.

Upside-down diplomacy – foreign perceptions about Bolsonaro’s intentions and initial transformations of Brazil’s foreign policy and status

The election of Jair Bolsonaro for president in 2018 turned Brazil onto a conservative extreme right political path. Beyond the domestic impacts on institutions and democracy, the rise of the far right also transformed the country’s foreign policy as well as affecting its global prestige. The country’s reputation abroad has deteriorated, and both Brazil and the president have been heavily criticised in foreign media. This paper moves beyond the views of the press and the public. It analyses changes in the country’s international status after the election of Bolsonaro from the point of view of elite stakeholders. It draws from a reflexive thematic analysis of primary data collected in 94 semi-structured interviews with experts from the foreign policy community of great powers at the end of 2018 and in the first months of 2019. This article argues that the new president was seen as changing everything, creating a feeling of uncertainty regarding other nations’ relations with Brazil and hindering the chances of Brazil improving its international standing.

외국인 밀집지역에서 범죄피해 두려움에 관한 연구

Our society has entered a multicultural society due to the residence of foreign workers, married immigrant women, and foreign students, and is moving toward the maturity stage of a multicultural society. When entering a multicultural society, foreigners form their densely populated areas, maintain or develop cultural characteristics, and provide a role to revitalize the local economy. However, in areas densely populated by foreigners, the influx of foreigners has a problem of lowering housing satisfaction and forming anxiety about safety. In this study, we tried to figure out the factors affecting the fear of crime victims experienced by Koreans in areas densely populated by foreigners. In particular, the purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of the local community experienced in areas densely populated by foreigners and how it affects the fear of crime victims according to the perceptions of foreigners, such as conflict, prejudice, and acceptance of foreigners. To achieve the research purpose, secondary data from the ‘Safety Status and Policy Tasks in Areas Concentrated by Foreigners’ conducted by the Korea Institute for Criminal and Justice Policy were used. As a result of the study, it was investigated that ties with neighbors and physical disorder had an effect on fear of crime in the characteristics of the local community in densely populated areas of foreigners. Also, as a result of comparing these influencing factors, it was found that foreigner prejudice, physical disorder, and ties to neighbors affected the fear of crime victims in the order of preference. Based on these research results, policy recommendations were presented to minimize the fear of crime victims as well as the perception of foreigners.

From Ambivalence to Resurgence: India’s Journey as a Nuclear Power

This article aims to understand India’s remarkable nuclear journey in the last 75 years. It categorises India’s atomic trajectory into four distinct periods: Ambivalent (1948–1988), Reserved (1989–1998), Responsible (1998–2008) and Resurgent (2009 onwards). In doing so, the article provides an account of how the changing nature of India’s nuclear programme has impacted the scope and depth of its nuclear deterrence. However, the programme’s status is also consequential for India’s foreign policy practice and its approach to using force in international politics. The article shows how India’s nuclear capability, its foreign policy practice, and its approach to the use of force have seen dramatic shifts in the last thirty years. A resurgent India aims to become a world-class nuclear power, undisturbed by foreign perceptions of its atomic programme and increasingly resolute to use force even under the threat of escalation by its nuclear adversaries.

Emotional Dominance as a Structural Factor of the Translation

The article discusses the role of some factors that regulate the perception and understanding of the text. Extralinguistic factors are considered less-studied which makes the analysis presented in the article quite relevant. Modern science actualizes the interconnection of affective and cognitive processes of a person. Emotions play an important role in all types of man’s activity. Translation is one of the types of speech activity and is influenced by the general rules of psychic activity. Besides, translation is regulated by emotions. The level of a foreign text perception depends on the nearness of the emotional and the conceptual systems of the original and the translation text authors. Emotions are presented in the text by language units. They also actualize its meanings. The emotions of the fiction text author are of the paramount importance. The leading emotion builds its emotional dominance while the dependent emotions represent the emotional dominance modification.

Conducting counseling sessions competently

Counseling in the sense of a helpful and reflective conversation is a challenging form of action and at the same time an expression of pedagogical professionalism. Taking on counseling tasks in everyday school life and teaching is part of the professional role and the educational mission. In order to fulfil the counseling-related requirements, teachers need counseling knowledge and methods as well as a strong self-awareness and foreign perception such as a highly developed ability to reflect. However, there is still a lack in vocational teacher training, concerning the systematic and comprehensive teaching of these counseling-related skills. The article provides insight into the development and evaluation of a holistic seminar concept to strengthen just these competences. It is part of a design-based research study in vocational and business education to strengthen job-related self-awareness and self-reflection within the first phase of teacher training. The course “Conducting counseling sessions competently” can be understood as a prototype that is used to examine how counseling can be promoted on a microdidactic level. First evaluation results demonstrate how the students perceived and experienced the seminar.

Visualizing the Knowledge Domain of Motor Speech Disorders: A Scientific Review (2000-2019)

Abstract This review visualizes the knowledge domain of motor speech disorders (MSDs) in linguistics between 2000 and 2019 by means of scientometric methods. With topic searches, the study collected 869 bibliographic records and 20, 411 references from Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) of Thomson Reuter. The clustered and visualized document co-citation network of the MSDs knowledge domain in CiteSpace identifies 15 research foci in different periods, including apraxia of speech, acoustics, children, technology, aphemia, childhood apraxia of speech, primary progressive aphasia, speech motor delay, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, rhythm, foreign accent syndrome, phonation, phonological awareness, dose and speech perception. Revolving around linguistics, these foci could be divided into studies on speech characteristics of MSDs in terms of phonology and phonetics, remedies for MSDs in terms of neurolinguistics and acoustic phonetics, dysarthria secondary to neurological diseases based on pathological linguistics, subtypes of apraxia of speech, methods of MSDs based on auditory phonetics and a newly recognized subtype of MSDs. Meanwhile, the emerging trends of MSDs in linguistics are detected by the analysis of reference citation bursts, suggesting growing research in remedies for MSDs with the focus on assessments and effectiveness of treatments, speech characteristics and indexes of dysarthria secondary to neurological diseases and assistance to diagnose apraxia of speech. To sum up, the review has indicated that the acoustic measures to assess MSDs and acoustic remedies for dysarthria may not only be the past foci but also be future trends.

COVID-19: Access to Information, Health Service, Daily Life Facility and Risk Perception of Foreigners during Coronavirus pandemic in South Korea

IntroductionCoronavirus disease outbreak has become a top global challenge. Critical issues have emerged regarding access to information, health services, and daily necessities. Effective access to such components is expected to promote public safety and survival as well as to help combat social fear and risk perception. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring public perceptions of access, risk, and government response during the COVID-19 outbreak.Material and methodsA quantitative field survey using a structured mailed questionnaire was conducted to collect primary data from 100 foreigners living in various cities in South Korea. Access to information, health and daily necessities, and overall risk perception were examined based on individual reports regarding sources, availability, credibility, and overall satisfaction.ResultsOur finding suggest that foreigners are receiving reliable information from public and private sources. Although access to health services, daily necessities, and protection measures were perceived as limited due to government protection measures, survey respondents tended to perceive an overall satisfactory government response in terms of providing resources and reducing risks related to COVID-19.ConclusionsModel analysis indicates that gender, home location, and duration of stay are significantly related to lower levels of risk perception. This study provides a new lens for policymakers, administrators, and academicians by which they can ensure smooth public access to information, health, and daily necessities regarding the protection and containment of coronavirus.

Liberal Ideology and Foreign Opinion on China

Abstract Why do autocratic powers like China evoke negative attitudes from the citizens of some countries but not from others? Factors like economic and security threat are of course part of the answer, but this study finds that ideational factors exert a distinct effect. Drawing from social theories of the democratic peace and international relations more broadly, it observes that governments and their citizens form communities along ideological lines, which most prominently includes differences in liberal democracy. This argument implies that people within the liberal community tend to view authoritarian powers like China as having a harmful influence on the world. Furthermore, democratic citizens will evaluate China from the standpoint of liberal democratic norms. Because liberal norms are not just about having multiparty, electoral institutions, people's opinions on China could vary even if its single-party political system does not change. Three empirical studies drawing from cross-national observational data, two original survey experiment, and a difference-in-differences analysis of historical polls confirm that liberal democracy affects foreign perceptions about China. The findings advance debates about soft power, democracy and public opinion, and the role of ideology in international society.

The Politics of Rammstein’s Sound

Germany’s premier rock music export Rammstein has been controversial since its formation in 1994. This article analyzes Rammstein’s sonic signature from the perspective of the “art of record production.” It decodes the politics of Rammstein’s sound, which is inextricably linked to the exaggeration of German attributes and the associations attached to them. The findings suggest that although Rammstein productions emphasize some specific German stereotypes in their sound, their overall aesthetic is international. This carefully crafted fine line between exotic otherness and conformity to pop standards has made Rammstein successful on the global pop music market for more than two decades. The production aesthetic must be understood against the background of the band’s experience of German reunification. Rammstein were founded as a means for the band members to come to terms with their new “German” identity. Initially, the band dealt with the shock of reunification and the realities of Western capitalist societies. Later the band pursued two further goals: to improve the history of their country in foreign perception and to help the Germans make peace with their nation’s past. These goals are achieved by adopting strategies of industrial music for their course, such as provocation, ambiguity, contrast, recontextualization, and humor.

The image of the Sakhalin penal servitude of the late XIX – early XX centuries in perception of the foreigners

The goal of this article is to examine the images of the Sakhalin penal servitude captured in the works of foreigners who visited the island in the late XIX – early XX centuries. The perception of foreigners draw interests due to the fact that not only the Sakhalin penal servitude, but the island itself were the embodiment of the image of “Other”, which found reflection in the narrative sources left by foreign travelers and scholars. The comparative analysis indicates that foreigners had two polar opinions about the Sakhalin penitentiary facilities, a well as the future of the island: optimistic and pessimistic. In many aspects, they neither contradicted nor complemented each other; the polemic that unfolded around the development of Sakhalin Island of that time divided the Russian society into two opposing sides. Some, relying to the positive forecasts of geologists and agronomists, as well as military necessity, offered bright prospects of the Island. Others pointed at mismatch of the official data and the reality, and doubted the positive outcome. The question of detaining criminals on Sakhalin, including state prisoners, aggravated the situation and intensified disputes. The article aims to explain the reason why one or another foreign author took the side of the “optimists” or “pessimists” in the polemics.

Audible minorities and discrimination: an overview

This article deals with research into the importance of native or near native pronunciation of a person’s L2 or L3 and the prejudices faced by those who may speak an accented form of a majority language. In order to reach its conclusions, the article analyses research focused on the learning of English as an L2 or L3 undertaken over the last 50 years. It concentrated on the impact of accented speech and the biases for and against accented speakers of a majority language and identifies where these findings converge and diverge. These results also indicate that the concerns of researchers have shifted as the perceptions of foreigners within English-speaking societies have changed over time. Ingroups are identified as important in determining the relative values of accents and that accented speakers constitute an audible minority and exert pressure on its members to maintain the “accentedness” of their speech. In defining the nature of an audible minority, the article indicates that this can be as powerful a factor as that of skin colour in some societies. In the end, it questions whether meticulous uniformity in spoken language is important or even desirable. The article concludes by suggesting that the problem of the audible minority is more that of the listener than the speaker since many of the myths surrounding accentedness and intelligibility have been proven false.

Методы педагогического сопровождения иностранных студентов: социальное становление обучающихся и формирование толерантности

The article examines some aspects of the socialization of foreign students in the Russian education. In particular, the transformation of foreign students' perception of the culture of Russia from a state of culture shock to “entering” the Russian-speaking society is seen not so much as a process, but as a significant result of using a set of methods of pedagogical support of social formation. The methods of pedagogical support in the social formation of foreign students are understood as a set of pedagogical practices based on the joint activities of the teacher and students. In the process of these avtivities they identify and content the key points of the individual trajectory of the social formation of students in relation to the study and perception of the Russian culture. The article highlights the following methods of pedagogical support of social development: cultural immersion, empathy, building an individual trajectory. The concept of "the key point of the individual trajectory of social formation" is interpreted as a situation of choice, awareness of the significance and value of this or that knowledge, skill, action on their basis. It is noted that pedagogical support from a teacher involves subject-subject interaction, understanding, motivation and support of students in the educational process, the ability of a more experienced person to correlate his opinion with another and to respect the opinion of a less experienced student.