Historical Legacy Research Articles

Reimagining the Legislative Framework: A Historical Analysis of Decolonization and Public Voice in India’s Law-Making

This scholarly inquiry delves into the historical trajectory of the legislative process in India, delving into its historical antecedents, the enduring influence of colonial governance, and the subsequent developments in the post-independence era. Employing a nuanced approach that integrates historical analysis and legislative case studies, the study illuminates the persistent impact of colonial rule on India’s legal framework, characterized by laws that primarily served the interests of the imperial administration rather than addressing indigenous societal needs. Through a focused examination of the Sonthal Parganas Act of 1855, this research underscores the enduring reverberations of colonial legacies within contemporary legislation and the ongoing endeavors to rectify historical injustices. Furthermore, the study scrutinizes legislative activities spanning from 2010 to 2020, offering a comprehensive portrayal of the dynamic nature of law-making in response to evolving societal challenges and aspirations. By discerning the intricate interplay between historical legacies, socio-political dynamics, and democratic participation, this investigation provides valuable insights into the formulation, amendment, and repeal of laws to address contemporary issues while upholding democratic principles in India. Ultimately, this scholarly exploration contributes to a nuanced understanding of the complexities inherent in India’s legislative landscape and underscores the persistent pursuit of equitable and just governance through legislative reforms.

When Trans met Discipline: scenes from an arranged marriage

Transdisciplinarity is all the rage! This spirited statement, or announcement even, rings true of the contemporary intellectual landscape. The amalgamated term/concept proposes a means to breakdown traditional boundaries, encourage collaboration outside of staid academic spaces and in doing so become a key driver for innovation. Many have bought into this promise. However, amidst the fervour for the promise of fluidity of knowledge and interdisciplinary exchange lies a productive tension between the principles of transness and the inherent fixity of traditional disciplinary structures. Etymologically, they sit on opposites ends of a spectrum indicating flux and fixity. What kind of union does this term portend? What is liminal, or overlooked in the composition these opposing forces? Our provocation aims to take on a playful troubling in what observe as a limitation of the scope of transdisciplinary work. Drawing on critical perspectives from trans and queer studies, discipline-making and un-disciplining and the energies that heralded the birth of transdisciplinarity, our provocation plays with the tacit ways in which power structures, historical legacies, and implicit biases continue to operate spaces that claim transdisciplinarity. We aim to argue for a more thorough understanding of the interplay between fixity and fluidity, highlighting how acknowledging these dynamics can lead to an expanded palette of work that can leap beyond the current practices of engaged scholarship towards the speculative and outrageous. Through a series of conversations with texts, theorists and activists, our contribution will work to make productive mischief from the periphery.

Gullimair travels east: drivers of party system institutionalization in Asia in comparative perspective

ABSTRACT In this article, we apply Mair’s concept of ‘party system closure’ to Asian party systems, with particular comparison with his native continent, Europe. Building on Mair’s (2001) conceptualization and Casal Bértoa and Enyedi’s (2021) operationalization of party system institutionalization (PSI), which demonstrates the importance of looking at the supply-side of PSI and the superiority of closure over electoral volatility as a measure of PSI, this article is the first to examine the determinants of party system closure in Asia. Introducing and analyzing a new dataset covering 136 elections and 235 cases of government formation in 23 Asian democratic party systems, and using Casal Bértoa and Enyedi’s (2022) original dataset for Europe, we find that (1) the negative effect of direct presidential elections is significantly higher in Asia than in Europe, (2) in contrast to Asia, where historical legacies have a detrimental impact, they are not statistically significant in Europe, and (3) parliamentary fragmentation hinders systemic closure to a similar extent in both continents. Our analysis has important implications for the future stability of party systems in both Asia and Europe where the number of (new) parties has exponentially increased in recent years.

Edge Computing Architecture for the Management of Underwater Cultural Heritage

Underwater cultural heritage (UCH) is a valuable resource that preserves humanity’s historical legacy, offering insights into traditions and civilisations. Despite its significance, UCH faces threats from inadequate regulatory frameworks, insufficient conservation technologies, and climate-induced environmental changes. This paper proposes an innovative platform combining the internet of underwater things and edge computing technologies to enhance UCH’s real-time monitoring, localisation, and management. The platform processes data through a central unit installed on a buoy near heritage sites, enabling efficient data analysis and decision making without relying on cloud connectivity. Integrating acoustic communication systems, LoRa technology, and nonterrestrial networks supports a robust multilayered communication infrastructure for continuous operation, even in remote maritime areas. The platform’s edge node deploys artificial intelligence models for real-time risk assessment, focusing on key environmental parameters to predict and mitigate corrosion rates and climate-related threats. A case study illustrates the system’s capabilities in underwater localisation, demonstrating how edge computing and acoustic triangulation techniques enable precise tracking.

Conservation architectural heritage in Algeria: case of the rehabilitation of El Medersa El Khaldounia

Tlemcen is one of the most remarkable cities in the Muslim world, notably for its historical significance and architectural legacy. It also features some of the important significant historical architectural of Islamic civilization found in Algeria. However, accelerated urban shifts have made these buildings appear unsuited to today’s urban life. The Medersa El Khaldounia, one of Tlemcen's most significant historical monuments, showcases an architectural richness that reflects the remarkable artistic and technical achievements of the various dynasties that ruled Tlemcen over the years. Several rehabilitation attempts were made, which led to its restoration but failed to enable its rehabilitation or incorporation into the socio-economic life of the local community. In fact, rehabilitating historical monuments can constitute as an effective and sustainable means to preserve and perpetuate our cultural patrimony while addressing society's economic needs. This work aims to examine the conservation process of heritage buildings in Algeria by focusing on their rehabilitation and incorporation into daily life, as well as on the strategies and procedures put in place to orchestrate these actions.

ABSENT MOTHERS AND GHOSTLY DOUBLES IN DIANE SETTERFIELD’S THE THIRTEENTH TALE

Neo-Victorian literature recontextualises popular Victorian tropes and re-examines fictional and historical Victoriana’s place within today’s larger culture. Contemporary neo-Victorian narratives often repurpose Gothic motifs, whose unsettling nature illustrates our own ambivalent attitudes towards the Victorians and the cultural heritage they left behind. This paper analyses Diane Setterfield’s debut novel The Thirteenth Tale (2006), positing it as a neo-Victorian Gothic text and paying special attention to the motifs of doubles and motherlessness, so as to examine the ideas of identity, origin and belonging that permeate this novel on the thematic and narrative level. Particular emphasis is also placed on intertextual relationships The Thirteenth Tale fosters with codifying Victorian Gothic texts, especially Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights and Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. The rich intertextuality of The Thirteenth Tale demonstrates that the novel is ultimately a story about stories and storytelling, a quintessential neo-Victorian text which re-evaluates the Victorian era’s cultural, historical and literary legacy.

Introduction: A Country of Historical Legacies, Innovation and Transformation

Introduction: A Country of Historical Legacies, Innovation and Transformation

ELECTION DISPUTES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE JUDICIAL REVIEW PROCESS IN MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA

This paper uses Zweigert and Kötz’ classical functional approach in comparative law to compare judicial reviews relating to election disputes in Malaysia and Indonesia. It is seen here that even though Malaysia and Indonesia have similarities in their intent to settle election disputes and apply the method of judicial review to act as a means of check-and-balance, the judiciary in both systems has shown themselves rather unwilling in directly addressing the legality of these election petitions. There are variations in court structure and legal regulations governing the systems in Malaysia and Indonesia. Malaysia’s Election Court often dismisses cases based on technicalities, while Indonesia’s Constitutional Court adopts a wider approach, incorporating cultural norms and indigenous rules. Additionally, Malaysia’s judicial system benefits from a more mature application of judicial review, grounded in its common law practice and a robust body of case law. By employing a micro-comparison method, this paper enhances understanding of the socio-political and legal contexts that influence the handling of election disputes in both countries. It also demonstrates the importance of considering the distinct legal structures, political influences, and historical legacies that define the electoral systems in Malaysia and Indonesia. The classical functional approach involving micro-comparison is best suited for the current study due to the particular problem of election disputes forming its focus. This paper aims at enhancing the understanding and knowledge regarding the social, cultural, historical, and other factors that influence the legal systems in both countries.

The Mental Health of Sexual Minority Individuals: Five Explanatory Theories and Their Implications for Intervention and Future Research

Research on the disparity in common mental health problems borne by sexual minority individuals has entered a stage of increasing theoretical complexity. Indeed, such a substantial disparity is likely not determined by a singular cause and therefore warrants diverse etiological perspectives tested with increasingly rigorous methodologies. The research landscape is made even more complex by the constant and rapid shift in the ways in which sexual minority people understand and characterize their own identities and experiences. This review introduces readers to this complexity by summarizing the historical legacy of research on the sexual orientation disparity in mental health, describing five contemporary theoretical explanations for this disparity and their supporting evidence, and suggesting theoretically informed interventions for reducing this disparity. Last, we offer an agenda for future research to accurately model the complexity of the pathways and solutions to the disproportionately poorer mental health of sexual minority populations.

Seen, of Light and Legacy: Abstraction, Archive, and Representation

Frederick Douglass was a strong advocate for photographic self-representation. He eloquently used photography, not long after its invention, to shape how African Americans see ourselves and likewise how we are seen by others. This intentional use of photography afforded him the title of the most photographed person of the nineteenth century. What does it take to be the most photographed person of the twenty first century, and how can portraiture continue to shift understandings of Black identity within established, often monolithic, historical narratives? These questions motivate Black Alchemy, a series through which I consider Black identity, history, and representation. I turn to light, alongside geometric abstraction, to construct photographs that investigate and recontextualize Douglass’s historical legacy with contemporary concerns around Black identity.

Climate Change and Healthscapes: Toward a Postcolonial Critique for Planetary Well-being

ABSTRACT Climate change poses an unprecedented challenge to human development. Despite recent efforts by organizations like the IPCC to integrate social perspectives, the article contends that a more substantial contribution from social scientists is essential. This article argues for the integration of social scientific perspectives, particularly within the realm of health, to comprehend climate change as both a consequence and a driver of social change and human behavior. It highlights the necessity of acknowledging the interplay between socioeconomic systems, capitalist expansion, and environmental degradation, particularly emphasizing the impact of climate change on health. By reframing climate change as contingent on social phenomena, new avenues for understanding and addressing the issue emerge. The article proposes a shift from a narrow focus on direct health impacts of extreme weather events to a broader consideration of subtler yet equally detrimental effects on health, such as reduced food and water availability, increased infections, mental health concerns, displacement, and migration. Furthermore, it advocates for embracing an expanded conception of health, integrating planetary health principles that underscore the interconnectedness of ecosystems and human well-being. In addition, the article contends that existing frameworks still lack adequate incorporation of postcolonial perspectives, necessitating a deeper examination of historical legacies of conquest and exploitation. By adopting an assemblage model that acknowledges the complex interplay of historical continuums and global inequalities, this article offers a critical appraisal of current interpretations of climate change and health. It emphasizes the imperative of rehabilitating planetary health as a prerequisite for human well-being while acknowledging and addressing the enduring impacts of colonialism and colonial logics of conquest on land, bodies, and histories.

Exploring dynamic duality between formal and non-formal accountability processes in a public services context

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamic relationship between formal and non-formal processes of accountability in a public services context.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a case study of the impact of the Health and Social Care Act (2012) on the practices of Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) members. It draws upon multiple data sources, including in-depth interviews with the members, comprehensive archival data published by the HWB (2011–2019), and observations of HWB public meetings. We utilise the concept of dynamic duality (Li, 2008) to further theorise the relationship between formal and non-formal processes of accountability and how they mutually transform one another.FindingsThe case illustrates the role of formal and non-formal processes of accountability at a HWB in England. Moreover, the case study reveals the relationship and interaction between the formal and non-formal accountability processes and how they change and transform each other over time. We find that whilst non-formal accountability processes were strengthened by a historical legacy of partnership working, over time the dynamics at play led to the development of formal accountability processes through more sophisticated performance systems, which in turn transformed non-formal accountability processes.Originality/valueThe paper presents a more holistic conceptualisation than articulated in prior accountability literature, dynamic duality, on the relationship between formal and non-formal accountability processes. Through application of this conceptualisation to a HWB in England, the paper spotlights the inter-relationship between formal and non-formal processes of accountability, and how they have the potential to transform each over an extended time-period.

Regional integration in Latin America: critical perspectives in the time of populism

This introduction explores the paradox of Latin America’s weak regional integration despite its shared linguistic, historical, and cultural ties, alongside strong public support for cooperation. It situates this regional challenge within broader global trends, contrasting Latin America’s fluctuating and fragile integration efforts with the more institutionalised and sustained regionalism observed in other regions around the world. The discussion focuses on the role of populism, examining how it influences integration by fostering collective action but, at times, prioritising national sovereignty over supranational commitments. The introduction also considers the historical legacies of colonialism, socio-economic inequalities, and competing ideologies – such as Pan-Americanism and Latin Americanism – that shape these dynamics. By addressing key questions regarding the influence of populism on integration processes and examining case studies across different contexts, this special issue provides a timely intervention into debates about the relationship between populism and regional integration. It offers new perspectives on how ideologies, power structures, social forces, and historical legacies have shaped integration processes in Latin America while connecting these developments to global patterns of regional cooperation.

PENERAPAN FENG SHUI BA ZHAI PADA TATA RUANG WARISAN ARSITEKTUR TIONGHOA RUMAH TJONG A FIE

The Industrial Revolution not only facilitated extensive natural resource exploitation but also introduced concepts like “harmonization of nature,” ethnic development, and global migration. Among the groups affected was the Tionghoa ethnic community, which migrated from Asia to the West, including Indonesia (Nusantara), while carrying their cultural heritage. The Tjong A Fie Mansion in Medan, Indonesia, serves as a significant architectural artifact, reflecting the principles of Traditional Chinese Architecture Philosophy. This study explores how the mansion embodies these principles, conveying messages and meanings within its architectural patterns. Employing an interdisciplinary approach rooted in cultural studies, this research incorporates the Feng Shui Ba Zhai framework. The methodology includes: 1) collection and classification of data related to the mansion’s cultural and architectural context; 2) analysis and interpretation of its structural elements; and 3) conclusions regarding the messages and meanings conveyed by the architecture. The findings reveal that the Tjong A Fie Mansion utilizes key elements—such as dividing walls, jian (rooms), axis alignment, space orientation, and courtyards—aligned with Feng Shui Ba Zhai principles. Ultimately, this study highlights how cultural messages are preserved through architecture, emphasizing the mansion’s significance as a historical and cultural legacy.

The human health risks and corresponding body thresholds of OCPs and PCBs in the Tibetan Plateau

Although organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been banned or restricted for years, they remain significant contaminants posing health risks in some places where are favorable for their enrichment, such as areas with high latitude or altitudes. However, the elucidation of environmental risks and the establishment of a clear relationship between these risks and human health are areas that remain significantly underdeveloped. Literatures on the concentrations of OCPs and PCBs in soil of the Tibetan Plateau were reviewed to calculate local health risk indexes and create risk maps. A food chain model (ACC-Human) was applied to predict human body concentrations of these chemicals. Higher risk areas are located in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, suggesting influences from potential emissions in adjacent regions and long-range transport. Based on the concentration-risk relationships, the most toxic chemicals identified were PCBs, with a body concentration threshold as low as 13 ng/g lipid. Given the ongoing emissions from industrial production or historical legacy, it is hightime to lay a particular focus on PCBs in mountainous areas like the Tibetan Plateau.

Optimizing Available International Remedies for the Return of Cultural Artifacts: The Case of Eritrea

The identity of the artifacts taken from the origin states belongs to the state, as identity cannot be altered or modified. Besides, these cultural assets in their states of origin enjoy the living spirit, value, and respect of the people they belong to and provide the essence of historical legacy to their future generations. Eritrea, a small country in the east of Africa, had been under subjective colonizers for more than 100 years, where colonizers, primarily Italy and Ethiopia, confiscated many of the cultural artifacts of this country. Ethiopia started to seize historical objects in the early 12th and 13th centuries from the Adulis archaeological site and Debrebizen, a monastery near Eritrea’s capital city, later around 55 objects including sarcophagi, tombs, pottery, and coins, were taken to Ethiopia and remained in the Museums of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. This research paper attempts to find a possible way to regain Eritrean artifacts. Further, using the method of case study analysis, this research has managed to provide solutions for Eritrea despite the absence of international legal suits. The case studies entail that in the absence of legal remedies, states still cooperate to return historically taken cultural properties. Also, the return of historical cultural properties has become central to diplomatic dialogue among states. The beneficial outcomes of peace treaties signed between Italy and Libya, Italy and Ethiopia, unilateral declaration of the French Government, enactment of laws by the federal laws of the USA, and the laws enacted by the French government for the return of historically taken cultural properties to Spain and Japan, the negotiations between Italy and the US, the mediation between France and Nigeria, the successful arbitration case of Maria Altmann and the Republic of Austria are the selected and discussed cases during this study. Furthermore, cases are selected based on their successful nature and their impact and influence on international cultural heritage law. Moreover, the paper has also pointed out the underlying and potential challenges that Eritrea may face in claiming the historically taken artifacts. Finally, the paper recommends, on the side of Eritrea, the use of the peace agreement signed with Ethiopia as a legal base to initiate bilateral negotiations and all forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to claim the return of historically taken cultural properties from Italy and Ethiopia. Suggestively, Italy and Ethiopia must realize the importance of those looted properties to the state of Eritrea and must unilaterally declare their return through legislation, administrative measures, political declaration, or peace agreements

Japan's Security Restoration: Evolution, Challenges, and Future Directions

ObjectivesThis study examines Japan's security policy evolution from post-World War II pacifism to its current assertive stance, analyzing historical context, key drivers, and challenges. It focuses on shifts under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, exploring implications for regional stability and international relations, including the U.S.-Japan alliance and emerging security threats.MethodsThe research employs a qualitative approach, combining comprehensive literature review with multiple theoretical frameworks (neorealism, constructivism, securitization theory, alliance theory). It incorporates historical and comparative analyses to contextualize Japan's security posture within regional dynamics.ResultsJapan's security policy has transformed significantly, driven by China's military modernization, North Korea's nuclear program, changing regional dynamics, and evolving U.S.-Japan alliance expectations. Key reforms include constitutional reinterpretation allowing limited collective self-defense, establishing the National Security Council, increased defense spending, and enhanced multi-domain military capabilities. Challenges persist in balancing security needs with constitutional constraints and managing regional relationships.ConclusionsJapan's security restoration marks a profound shift, balancing proactive defense with pacifist principles. This evolution impacts regional stability and the U.S.-Japan alliance, positioning Japan as a key player in maintaining peace while raising some neighbors' concerns. Japan's path forward requires a delicate equilibrium between enhancing military capabilities and prioritizing diplomacy and economic cooperation. Success depends on navigating historical legacies, fostering domestic consensus, and adeptly maneuvering through complex international imperatives in an increasingly challenging security environment.

The tale of two nations: modernization narratives of the pro-state Iranian and Turkish newspapers in the 1920s–1940s

ABSTRACT This article explores the narratives of modernization in Iran and Turkey from the 1920s to the 1940s by examining the pro-state Iranian Ettelaat and Koushesh newspapers and the Turkish Cumhuriyet and Ulus papers. The article covers approximately a total of 1000 issues of these newspapers and conducts novel archival research and thematic analyses to investigate the economic, sociocultural, and political/legal aspects of modernization and how these were spearheaded by the political elites of the time. The article is informed by Modernization and Selectorate theories and assesses the relevance and contribution of the Iranian and Turkish cases to these theories. To this end, the article underlines the importance of historical legacies in both countries and how these can create path-dependent stories of modernization and democratization in the respective nations as of today.

TRAJECTORIES AND CHALLENGES OF BLACK WOMEN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE IMPOSTER PHENOMENON: META-SYNTHESIS OF BRAZILIAN ACADEMIC PRODUCTION

This is a meta-synthesis study that aims to understand, through the trajectories of black women, the characterization of the impostor phenomenon in scientific publications, based on the intersectionality between race and gender. The study was developed based on five phases, namely, Exploration, Refinement, Cross-referencing, Description and Analysis. The results indicate that most of the documents discuss issues related to black women in the job market, without discussing the specificities of the impostor phenomenon. The analysis of the documents indicates that: despite the achievements, the fight for spaces and rights continues to be constant and daily; racial and gender oppression is historical and structural, which is why it falls on specific groups. This demonstrates the importance of looking at social determinants. It is understood that it is impossible to look at the characteristics of the impostor phenomenon in black women, considering it only an individualized mental health issue, but, above all, as a historical legacy.

Long-Term Cumulative Effect of Management Decisions on Forest Structure and Biodiversity in Hemiboreal Forests

We evaluated the long-term impacts of various forest management practices on the structure and biodiversity of Estonian hemiboreal forests, a unique ecological transition zone between temperate and boreal forests, found primarily in regions with cold winters and moderately warm summers, such as the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. The study examined 150 plots across stands of different ages (65–177 years), including commercial forests and Natura 2000 habitat 9010* “Western Taiga”. These plots varied in stand origin—multi-aged (trees of varying ages) versus even-aged (uniform tree ages), management history—historical (practices before the 1990s) and recent (post-1990s practices), and conservation status—protected forests (e.g., Natura 2000 areas) and commercial forests focused on timber production. Data on forest structure, including canopy tree diameters, deadwood volumes, and species richness, were collected alongside detailed field surveys of vascular plants and bryophytes. Management histories were assessed using historical maps and records. Statistical analyses, including General Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs), Multi-Response Permutation Procedures (MRPP), and Indicator Species Analysis (ISA), were used to evaluate the effects of origin, management history, and conservation status on forest structure and species composition. Results indicated that multi-aged origin forests had significantly higher canopy tree diameters and deadwood volumes compared to even-aged origin stands, highlighting the benefits of varied-age management for structural diversity. Historically managed forests showed increased tree species richness, but lower deadwood volumes, suggesting a biodiversity–structure trade-off. Recent management, however, negatively impacted both deadwood volume and understory diversity, reflecting short-term forestry consequences. Protected areas exhibited higher deadwood volumes and bryophyte richness compared to commercial forests, indicating a small yet persistent effect of conservation strategies in sustaining forest complexity and biodiversity. Indicator species analysis identified specific vascular plants and bryophytes as markers of long-term management impacts. These findings highlight the ecological significance of integrating historical legacies and conservation priorities into modern management to support forest resilience and biodiversity.