Global Aspirations Research Articles

Paths well travelled: Imaginative contours of the juridical ummah

ABSTRACT This article explores how the subaltern Muslim animated the imaginative politics and juridical contours of the Ottoman nation between 1876-1913. I discuss how the members of the ummah, the global 'Muslim nation', were called to settle and work the lands of the Ottoman Empire. In the late 19th century, the ports and provincial capitals of the empire welcomed immigrants from across the Balkans-to-Bengal axis. However, not all who landed in the Levantine shores enjoyed the entitlements of property and protection promised by the Ottoman immigration state. The provenance of immigrants, the legality of their arrival, and the racial fault lines running through the ummah each set the terms of their inclusion in or their exclusion from the Ottoman nation. Building on the 1902 Resolution to the Ottoman Immigration Law of 1857, this article further explains how the Ottoman nation was delineated by a juridical identity—Ottoman nationality—that was categorically majoritarian and contractually exclusionary because of, and not despite, its global aspirations. I argue that Ottoman sovereignty conceived in the image of a juridical ummah found its terrestrial expression in the Ottoman nation: to the categorical exclusion of non-Muslims, predominantly Armenians; the conditional inclusion of subaltern Muslims; and the tacit rejection of Black Africans. This article thus explores imaginative entanglements of law, race, and religion in the age of empires.

Other Effective Conservation Measures in the Marine Environment: The Policy-Makers' Silver Bullet for Meeting Global Conservation Ambitions?

Other Effective Conservation Measures in the Marine Environment: The Policy-Makers' Silver Bullet for Meeting Global Conservation Ambitions?

Race for critical minerals: China’s ambitions and challenges

The global push toward carbon net-neutrality has made certain minerals strategic for a variety of reasons. These critical minerals are crucial in the automotive, electronics industry and in clean energy technologies in addition to having applications in advanced defense systems. The competition surrounding the supply and access to critical minerals is shaping global geopolitics. China, which has long dominated the rare earth market, is working to extend its domination over new critical minerals supply chains. The West is trying to counter China’s dominance through a coordinated strategy of forging new supply chains and alliances. This has resulted in a competition over acquisition of mines across the globe between the West and China. China’s dependence on critical mineral imports is a vulnerability for its global ambitions, which it is looking to overcome despite several challenges.

RES.Trade: An Open-Access Simulator to Assess the Impact of Different Designs on Balancing Electricity Markets

The 2050 global ambition for a carbon-neutral society is increasing the penetration of the most competitive variable renewable technologies, onshore wind and solar PV. These technologies are known for their near-zero marginal costs but highly variable time-dependent generation. Power systems with major penetrations of variable generation need high balancing flexibility to guarantee their stability by maintaining the equilibrium between demand and supply. This work presents the open-access Multi-agent Trading of Renewable Energy Sources (RES.Trade) system, which includes different market designs of the imbalance settlement and the secondary and tertiary reserves. A new imbalance settlement is also proposed in this work. The main features of RES.Trade are demonstrated using two case studies and projected 2030 scenarios: the first analysed four imbalance settlement mechanisms in Portugal, achieving a 43% reduction in penalties using the new method; the second case study assesses the impact of five procurement mechanisms of secondary power reserves in the Spanish power system, resulting in a cost reduction by 34% in the case of dynamic reserves.

Quantifying food security and mitigation risks consequential to climate change impacts on crop yields

Abstract Climate change is expected to impact crop yields globally, with some regions benefiting from favorable conditions and CO2 fertilization, while others face adverse effects from altered precipitation and higher temperatures. Changes in crop yields can destabilize the global food system and pose challenges to food security. Moreover, crop production is crucial, as biofuels are becoming increasingly important contributors to climate change mitigation measures aimed at limiting global warming. This study uses the IMAGE integrated assessment model framework to analyze different indicators related to food security and climate change mitigation under varying climate change impacts on crop yields. Twelve spatially explicit crop productivity projections were taken from the full archive of the Global Gridded Crop Model Intercomparison (GGCMI) of 120 climate-crop model combinations, forced by CMIP6-based climate scenarios. The selection includes two average-performing climate-crop model combinations, two pessimistic combinations that perform one standard deviation below the mean, and two optimistic model combinations that perform one standard deviation above the mean. To single out the effect of climate change on productivity changes, we drew samples from two representative concentration pathways (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5). These productivity projections were applied within an otherwise uniform scenario (SSP2) and analyzed for their effect on total calorie demand, crop prices, and number of people at risk of undernourishment to quantify food security. Risks to climate change mitigation targets were explored by modeling the total bioenergy supply, emissions, and global mean temperature. The results revealed significant differences in the risk of food security and mitigation potential between different regions and climate change scenarios. Across scenarios, the crop area extent can vary up to 2 million km2 due to changing crop yields. The projected change in global hunger ranges from 60 to 160 million undernourished people, indicating uncertainty between climate and crop model combinations. Low-income regions are especially impacted because of their high sensitivity to changes in food prices. Global climate change mitigation ambitions can also deviate by the latter part of the 21st century, as changes in yields will impact biofuel production as well as Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) emissions. The quantitative insights generated by this study highlight the need for global policy efforts to make the agricultural system more adaptive to climate change to handle potential negative impacts.

Determinants Generating General Purpose Technologies in Economic Systems: A New Method of Analysis and Economic Implications

This research proposes using the fishbone diagram, a visualization tool for constructing a comprehensive theoretical framework to analyze the sources of innovation. Traditionally employed to identify causes of specific events, the fishbone diagram is applied innovatively to explore the root causes driving the emergence and evolution of General Purpose Technologies (GPTs). The study identifies critical driving forces such as increased democratization, population growth, demographic shifts, significant investments in research and development (R&D), global leadership aspirations among major powers, competitive socioeconomic environments, and potential threats from adversarial actors. By visually representing these drivers, the fishbone diagram offers insights crucial for technological analysis and foresight, illuminating groundbreaking innovations that drive technological and economic progress. Illustrated through examples from historical GPTs like the steam engine and contemporary technologies such as Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), this study establishes a foundational framework for developing precise hypotheses about the specific causes and socio-economic impacts of GPTs. The fishbone diagram emerges as a versatile tool adept at systematically analyzing the complex root causes associated with GPTs, facilitating foresight and strategic management of these transformative innovations within society.

Assessing the impact of emission trading scheme and carbon tax in the building sector: An embodied carbon perspective

With the further strengthening of global climate ambitions, promoting the coordinated implementation of emissions trading scheme (ETS) and carbon tax (CT) has become increasingly important. The building sector contributes significantly to carbon emissions and encompasses various energy-intensive industries. Hence, clarifying the effects of ETS and CT in this sector is vital for achieving carbon reduction targets. Based on the embodied carbon perspective, a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model is constructed to assess the impacts of the ETS with varying free-quota ratios, the CT with different tax rates, and hybrid policies on building and its related energy-intensive industries (BREI) across three dimensions: economy, energy, and environment. The results indicate that the hybrid scenarios enable BREI to offset the loss of GDP while achieving better emission reductions. Specifically, the combination of a high CT rate (60 CNY/t) and low auction of allowances (10 %) scenario shows minimal negative impact on GDP and employment. Carbon prices in ETS play the role of price ‘anchoring’ for the rate of CT. Building upon research in the building sector, it is proposed to introduce the paid quota in national ETS and set the CT rate similar to the carbon trading price.

State capitalism in a changing global order: Brazil and China’s strategies for greater global influence

This article analyzes the shifts in the global order that occurred in relation to governments' actions and their search for an increased global status within the capitalist global system. Examining the deliberate application of governmental economic interventions, the article examines how Brazil and China leverage state capitalism to enhance their global standing. The comparative analysis of the state capitalist strategy’s implementation in Brazil and China illuminates the various forms of global status seeking and state activism in an evolving global order. By interlinking domestic and international dimensions, the article identifies the elements —preferences, geopolitics, temporality, and state capacity— that have enabled Brazil and China to pursue their global ambitions and augment their global status. The article concludes that Brazil and China adopted the state capitalist strategy; however, the Brazilian strategy was extemporaneous and centralized, whereas the Chinese strategy was planned and multilevel. The primary contribution of the article is to present a framework of analysis that delineates the relevant causes, mechanisms, and contexts for countries in the Global South to influence global politics and economics. Furthermore, the article demonstrates the challenges governments confront in implementing developmental strategies and the importance of rethinking how state activism and international dynamics might benefit Global South countries.

Local traditions, global ambitions: influence of organizational culture on innovative capability and international growth orientation in Brazilian wineries

PurposeThis study examines the influence of organizational culture types, specifically clan, adhocracy, hierarchy and market culture, on innovative capability and a firm’s international growth orientation within Brazil’s wine industry.Design/methodology/approachThe paper builds on empirical evidence gathered from responses of managers from 230 Brazilian winemaking organizations based on a self-administered survey. The hypotheses in the conceptual model are tested using Smart-PLS (partial least square).FindingsThe types of culture that showed a positive relationship with dynamic innovation capability were clan, adhocracy, and market. Regarding the orientation for international growth, the market culture is the most conducive. Clan culture is not ideal for internationalization, and both adhocracy and hierarchical cultures showed no relationship. It was found that dynamic innovation capability has a positive relationship with the orientation for international growth.Practical implicationsThe study broadens the research perspectives for analyzing resources from the Brazilian wine industry, further examining their linkage with the orientation for the international growth of the segment. The findings provide managers with insights about which types of culture should be fostered when aiming to innovate and internationalize.Social implicationsThe advancements are related to the Sustainable Development Goals advocated by the United Nations.Originality/valueThe study is motivated by the lack of integrated methodologies that relate organizational culture, dynamic innovation capability and orientation for international growth. International business research has neglected to specify which particular resources a company needs to have a propensity for international growth orientation.

Development of Greener Electrode Coatings for Next-Generation Supercapacitors

The demand for improved energy storage technologies will increase significantly in coming years, as global ambitions move towards a net-zero future and intermittent renewable energy sources make up a larger proportion of the total energy mix. To meet this demand, worldwide storage technologies must be diversified to include modern electrochemical energy storage, such as batteries and supercapacitors, at handheld-, household- and grid-scale capacities.Supercapacitors represent a promising alternative and complementary electrochemical storage method to traditional batteries. They possess cycle lifetimes and power densities far superior to batteries, allowing much faster charging and discharging, but currently lag behind in energy density. Additionally, they are more environmentally friendly than batteries through having no reliance on toxic metals such as lithium. However, the most common formulations for supercapacitor electrode coatings in the literature continue to use hazardous solvents. One of the most common polymer/solvent combinations is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). NMP is very hazardous to human health and has recently been classified as a “Substance of Very High Concern” by the European Chemicals Agency, leading to use restrictions within the EU. As such, there is an urgent requirement for greener alternatives.This work explores a variety of alternative, greener solvents for PVDF dissolution, examining their effects on the properties and performance of electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) electrodes, in comparison to NMP. The research aims to find a green solvent with comparable electrochemical performance and physical properties, alongside a much lower health and environmental impact. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), γ-valerolactone (GVL), triethyl phosphate (TEP) and Cyrene (dihydrolevoglucosenone) have been investigated; chosen based on their Hansen Solubility parameters and position within the Hansen solubility sphere for PVDF. The electrodes have been analysed morphologically using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis (BET), to identify any differences in coating performance and pore structure. A particular focus has been placed on electrochemical testing of EDLC electrodes fabricated using these coatings. Three-electrode testing in aqueous electrolyte has comprised cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrode cycling over 2000 charge-discharge cycles. In this work we show that electrodes produced using Cyrene outperformed the specific capacitance and capacitance retention of all tested solvents, including control NMP samples, across the whole range of current densities from 0 to 200 Ag-1.Electrodes have also been produced for each solvent using either activated carbon or graphene nanoplatelets as the active material, to confirm that the results are comparable for different carbon structures. This has allowed comparison of the electrochemical properties between the two carbon materials. In addition, each solvent has been assessed for suitability for carbon-incorporated polymer nanowires production for supercapacitor electrode application. This could open the doors to developing environmentally friendly, freestanding electrodes for fast-charging electrical energy storage devices. Figure 1

Economic and environmental implications of India's industry transition to net zero

In line with global mitigation ambition and the domestic target of achieving net zero emissions by 2070, India's industrial sector is expected to undergo a major transition. This transition is not trivial given the rapid growth of industrial output, dependence on fossil fuels, high emission intensity, and complicated emission abatement processes. In this paper, we provide a whole systems analysis of the manufacturing industries- iron & steel, aluminium, cement, chemical and petrochemical, textile, residual- for achieving net zero by 2070. The methodology combines the qualitative inputs from stakeholders with the energy-economy modelling using IMACLIM-IND and AIM/Enduse models. We develop four scenarios: Business-As-Usual (BAU), Development First (DFS), Carbon Neutral (CNT) and Synchronous (SYNCH). For each of these scenarios, we assess impacts of the structural transformation on sustainable development mainly through impacts on economy (gross value added and material imports), environment (material resource savings), and investment needs. The SYNCH scenario achieves 63 % emission reduction and requires an investment of 1.7 trillion USD by 2050 compared to BAU. The key policy insight is that new investments should go towards decarbonizing electricity, recycling infrastructure, and Carbon Capture and Storage. Clear standards and regulations for emission reporting by the production firms should be stipulated by the government.

Urban cultural insurgencies: the fight for the Brazilian city

Based on the study of 24 urban insurgencies, in seven Brazilian metropolises, we discuss their principles, contextualization and results. Following a historical review of Brazilian urban practices and policies highlighting alternate hopes and deep disenchantments, we describe the methodology and present the case study. The conclusions are: there are still no signs of the replication of such experiences in more extensive practices; they suggest a preference for working detached from official governmental structures; they follow global commitments and aspirations in virtual and very informal consortiums but rather act locally and independently; they are most commonly found on the periphery and in abandoned downtown areas; they avoid hierarchical structures, advocate for minority causes, propose affirmative actions and rely on social media for their organization. In general, their impacts are restricted but suggest a pragmatism with feasible emergency solutions. The article's tone, also shaped by the authors' personal experiences, is quite positive and even suggests a possible urban utopia.

Beyond intentions: Problematising policy-practice challenges for inclusive education and social justice in South Africa

This analysis critically examines inclusive education (IE) policies in South Africa within global frameworks. Drawing on Nancy Fraser's (2008) theory of social justice, which includes recognition, redistribution, and representation, the study explores the thinking and assumptions behind policymaking and how these affect the complexities of implementing IE-particularly regarding diverse student needs and identities. Furthermore, it analyses how the policies aspired to equitable resource allocation and democratic participation (representation) within schools. The study employs Bacchi's (2009) "What's the problem represented to be?" (WPR) approach to trace the evolution of policies for IE from Education White Paper 6 (Department of Education, 2001) to a recent assessment, the Department of Basic Education's progress report on inclusive education (Parliamentary Monitoring Group, 2023). By analysing underlying assumptions in these policies, the WPR approach helps expose the intended goals and their practical implications for schools. This work enriches the discourse on educational equity and social justice by illuminating the challenges of operationalising IE in diverse contexts. It further examines how policy assumptions, as framed by the WPR approach, can hinder or facilitate achieving genuine inclusion. By exploring these complexities, the study offers valuable insights for fostering inclusive educational environments that align with global aspirations while acknowledging unique South Africa realities.

Sustainable Development Goals and the Geosciences: A Review

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) collectively represent the global population’s ambition to improve the wellbeing of Earth and its inhabitants by 2030. The ambitious goals require that a dedicated, focused, and integrated effort is taken—now. The geoscientific community is well positioned to positively directly influence many of the SDGs, notably SDGs 7 (Affordable Energy), 11 (Sustainable Cities) and 13 (Climate Action), and may also directly or indirectly contribute to all other SDGs. In this contribution, I systematically review the SDGs in the framework of the broader geosciences. Firstly, I outline the concept of the SDGs and their indicators, before linking them to specific geoscientific disciplines illustrated with case studies. Finally, I present some of the ongoing developments in the geosciences that need to be clearly tied to the global SDG ambitions.

Assessing the Diffusion of Military Power Capacity of Middle Powers: The Case of Turkey

ABSTRACT Great powers’ military power diffusion (MPD) is superior to Middle Powers (M.P.) in technology acquisition, military innovation, and state & financial capacity. However, M.P.s have started to enhance their MPD thanks to their growing impact on international politics. In this vein, this paper aims to offer an alternative explanation of MPD by introducing a novel theoretical framework, Military Power Diffusion Capacity (hereafter MPDC), to assess how M.P.s’ MPD influences the balance of power and warfare at both regional and international levels. In doing so, this article is structured into three sections. First, we investigate the existing theoretical frameworks on military power diffusion and the spread of military power by middle-ranking states. Second, we examine the historical evolution of Turkey’s defence industry. Third, we introduce our MPDC framework and test it to the Turkey’s case. Here, we propose a five-layered MPDC framework based on the following determining factors: 1) Sustainable Financial & State Capacity, 2) Geopolitical and strategic rivalries, 3) Domestic conditions, 4) Civil-Military bargaining levels, and 5) regional and global power status-driven aspirations. Then, we scrutinize Turkey’s MPDC since the 1990s within our five-layered framework to assess the implications of its MPD on the changing international security environment.

Simulation and validation of a Francis turbine load rejection procedure using OpenFOAM CFD code

Abstract The effect of off-design operation on the health of hydraulic turbines is known to be adverse, with substantial compromise in efficiency, due to evolvement of flow instability in the draft tube and consequent pressure fluctuation. The worst-case scenario may entail resonance between developed pressure fluctuation and system natural frequencies and therefore lead to power swings, possible mechanical vibrations and machine wear and tear. Present global energy ambition, however, necessitates frequent off-design operation and as such development of accurate numerical methods to determine the anomalous flow field in the turbomachine is mandated. To this end, a load rejecting transient operation of a model high head Francis turbine from design operating point to part load condition is simulated using a hybrid turbulence modelling approach. A detailed analysis of the draft tube velocity field is carried out after validation of the test case with experimental investigations that have discerned similar results. Spatio-temporal features, such as central flow stagnation, flow separation, central flow recirculation and development of a precessing vortex core, which are embodiments of the vortex breakdown phenomenon are thoroughly analysed and discussed. Finally, the draft tube flow is visualized using streamlines on the meridional plane and tracked as the turbine transitions from design to part load operating conditions.

Global aspirations of Chinese universities: towards a world-centred tianxia (all under heaven) imaginary of global higher education?

AbstractThis article explores the global aspirations of Chinese universities by examining the Chinese scholarly conceptualisation of guoji yingxiangli (literally meaning international influence) and its connection to the world-centred idea of tianxia. We interviewed 22 Chinese experts in education and conducted a documentary analysis of relevant Chinese academic publications. Findings show that there is no English equivalence of the Chinese term guoji yingxiangli of universities, which encompasses two aspects: the intrinsic capacity of universities and their external reputation and relations. Chinese universities’ agential pursuit of guoji yingxiangli embodies their commitment to both national ambitions and global common good. The study then argues that the world-centred tianxia imaginary, characterised by interdependency, reciprocity, and diversity, is more effective in explaining the higher education practices and relations in China and globally than methodological globalism or nationalism. It also highlights the need for further research and critical reflections on the tianxia imaginary while calling for reciprocal collaboration, diverse and mutual development, and the production of global common goods among worldwide universities.

Understanding China’s infrastructure activities in Africa through artistic practice and exhibition

The infrastructure-led development model initiated by China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has faced domestic and international challenges. By focusing on a national travelling art exhibition featuring Chinese railway construction in Africa in 2023, this paper examines the role that curatorial and exhibition practices can play in (re)shaping public geopolitical understandings of China-Africa relations. Exhibiting over 200 artworks collected from both China and Africa, this art programme not only forms a nuanced, personal and storied narrative of China’s overseas development work in Africa but also tactically responds to current internal and external criticism of the Chinese government’s global ambitions channelled through the BRI. This work extends the ongoing interest geographers have at the intersection of the visual arts and critical geopolitics.

Comprehensive Regional Economic Partnership as a Mechanism of China's Integration into World Economic Processes

In this article, the author analyzes the impact of RCEP on the process of China's integration into world economic processes. The regional multilateral format of economic relations is a relatively new experience for China, therefore, the author considers China's participation in the RCEP as a possible beginning of a new stage in the implementation of not only regional, but also global ambitions of China. Recently, China has begun to integrate more actively into world economic processes, while putting forward its own initiatives for interaction in a multilateral order, for example, the Belt and Road Initiative. In addition, China is beginning to assert itself in already existing economic associations, for example, within the framework of the RCEP. However, in this case, China faces a number of problems, one of which is the presence of two competitive powers in the Asia-Pacific region: the US and Japan. Due to economic competition with China, both powers benefit from the policy of curbing the growth of China's influence in the region. In addition, today China has a very modest experience of participating in regional multilateral formats, largely due to the priority of the bilateral format of cooperation in China's foreign policy. The author comes to the conclusion that, claiming today to realize their global ambitions, the Chinese leadership is aware of the importance and necessity of the country's more active participation in regional integration processes.

Tools for the Portuguese contemporary art market

In the past two decades, the art market has seen significant growth, with scholars and academics across the globe showing newfound interest in its potential as an interdisciplinary field. This has led to a prolific number of publications, particularly through the lens of globalization. However, a dearth of studies from regions outside the main axes remains, despite the potential for such studies to challenge globalization. This article investigates the primary art market of Portugal, located in southwestern Europe, which borrows ideas from the Global South due to similarities with regions from outside Europe and North America. We apply this concept to the features from a country, namely Portugal that is considered semi-peripheral and marginalized within dominant narratives. We emphasize the permanent tension between the local actuation and the global aspirations of the players in this market. Using literature published on the subject, reports, and interviews, we systematize the mechanisms of activation of the primary market; the launch of art fairs; the emergence of contemporary art galleries, museums, and collectors; and the discourse surrounding the recognition of the global art scene. Despite being a small-scale, semi-peripheral market, a willingness exists to internationalize. Furthermore, in addition to its rich cultural history and substantial investments, mainly from the private sector, the market has attracted international audiences from the artistic milieu and thereby contributed to the heterogeneity observed in the Global South.