Historical Lens Research Articles

Durkheim’s Empire: The Concept of Solidarity and Its Colonial Dimension

This article challenges prevailing national interpretations of solidarity by examining its colonial dimensions. Employing the Durkheimian school as a historical lens, I demonstrate how the colonial context during the Third Republic shaped the emergence and application of solidarity as a scientific concept. Informed by colonial ethnographies, solidarity was not merely a sociological self-description within European nations; it also formed part of political agendas beyond Europe. I illustrate how Durkheim’s concept was utilized to enhance scientific understanding of colonized societies, aiding French colonial administrators in promoting developmentalist reforms. As national models extended internationally, solidarity evolved from social cohesion to economic integration within the international legal order. This progression toward modern solidarity—and the injustices it entailed—appeared inevitable, masking political struggles for self-determination. By critically recontextualizing solidarity, this analysis contributes to contemporary political theory debates, demonstrating its application in supporting an inclusive legal-economic agenda while failing to systematically confront colonial injustices.

Brilla boy!: Educated masculinity, hope and future-making in a Ghanaian senior high school

ABSTRACT This paper examines the significance of Ghana’s National Science and Maths Quiz (the NSMQ) drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in a secondary school in Ghana (known as Brilliant Academy) conducted between 2021–2022. Using the concepts of hope and aspiration this paper seeks to explore how the NSMQ serves as a vehicle for hope. It begins with a historical lens, examining how the pedagogical practices laid down by missionaries now in place at Brilliant Academy serve to cultivate the type of educated person promoted by the quiz show, that of the ‘brilla boy’. This figure is widely respected within the school and as such students eagerly aspire to take part in the quiz. I also suggest that the celebration of maths and science in the quiz makes the NSMQ bridge together ‘old’ and ‘new’ hopes attached to education, and science and maths in particular, evident in Kwame Nkrumah’s vision for postcolonial Ghana.

Exploration of Artificial Intelligence-Related Crimes through Western Legal Philosophical and Historical Lenses

尽管孟德斯鸠和伏尔泰通过对罪犯的关注，为我们理解犯罪与刑罚的理论基础提供了深刻的洞见，但他们对犯罪与刑罚本质的探讨并不完全适用于人工智能领域的制裁讨论。首先，本文从经院主义的视角出发，探讨了融合主义认识论的争论，分析了犯罪与刑罚的心理模型与外在行为之间的联系。由于与人工智能相关的犯罪案例较少，确定人工智能是否拥有心智这一问题变得尤为复杂，这是判断人工智能犯罪与惩罚本质的重要考量点。本研究基于经院主义的教义，特别是圣安瑟伦关于救赎的看法，在西方法律框架体系的框架下，深入探讨了融合主义观点及其对犯罪与刑罚合理性的影响，得出至善至人受难的象征意义在于证实了其对人类的原谅。此外，通过对特定案例的分析，本文指出，即使人工智能具备自我意识，它们也缺乏人类所特有的类人感官意识，这是心智的重要组成部分。因此，根据西方法律科学思想的理解，人工智能程序不应享有基本权利，并且没有必要对它们追究刑事责任或实施惩罚。

Hemp for health: a historical perspective on the marketing of cannabis-based foods in Sweden

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide the first comprehensive examination of the early cannabis-based food products industry, using Sweden as a case study. Drawing upon historical newspaper articles and advertisements from the Swedish Historical Newspaper Archive, the authors trace the short-lived development of the industry, from the initial exploitation of fears of tuberculosis in the late 19th century, followed by the “boom” in hempseed extract products and the widening of its claimed effects and, finally, increased skepticism and critiques of such products across the popular press in the early 20th century. Design/methodology/approach A rigorous search of the Swedish Historical Newspaper Archive was conducted to gather newspaper articles and advertisements on cannabis-based foods. The collected resources were scrutinized using critical discourse analysis to tease out key discourses at work, particularly around the concepts of health, nutrition and science. Findings The authors find that central to the marketization of cannabis-based foods was the construction of disease based on scientific and medical discourse, fearmongering to create a strong consumer base and individualization to place responsibility on consumers to take action to protect their family’s health. This demonstrates not only the long historical relationship between science and food marketing but also how brands’ health claims could often be fraudulent or overstated. Originality/value It is important to cast a historical lens on the commercialization of cannabis-based food products because demand for similar types of products has rapidly grown over the past decade. Now, just as before, manufacturers tap into consumers’ insecurities about health, and many of the same questions continue to be mooted about products’ safety. Paying greater attention to the broader and problematic history of commercial cannabis can, thus, serve as a reminder for both consumers and policymakers to think twice about whether hemp really is for health and if the claims it espouses are a mirage rather than a miracle.

Historical Foundations of Green Developmental Policies: Divergent Trajectories in United States and France

ABSTRACTIn recent years, many countries have adopted biodiversity offset policies to internalize the ecological impacts of land developments. Although national policies share the general principle of equalizing ecological harm with gain, there is substantial variation across programs regarding the institutional forms governing offsetting. In this paper, we compare biodiversity governance in the United States and France to reflect more broadly on the factors shaping divergent trajectories of green developmental policies. Both countries have some form of biodiversity offsetting in place, but the major fault line of difference is the more extensive use of market‐based instruments (MBI) in the United States. Using a historical lens, we argue that one important reason for this variation lies in the different legal‐institutional definitions of biodiversity. A narrower definition in the United States focused on individual species, versus a broader definition in France focused on ecosystems, has facilitated a more standardized biodiversity governance arrangement in the United States. Leveraging this standardization, biodiversity markets have expanded in the United States while similar efforts to institutionalize market mechanisms have struggled in France. The comparison allows us to draw insights into the challenges in greening economic development, particularly in showing how historical scientific, legal, and institutional structures condition policy outcomes.

Speed of sound for understanding metals in extreme environments

Knowing material behavior is crucial for successful design, especially given the growing number of next-generation energy, defense, and manufacturing systems operating in extreme environments. Specific applications for materials in extreme environments include fusion energy, semiconductor manufacturing, metal additive manufacturing, and aerospace. With increased applications, awareness of foundational science for materials in extreme environments is imperative. The speed of sound provides insights into phase boundaries, like shock-induced melting. Thermodynamic integration of the speed of sound enables the deduction of other desirable properties that are difficult to measure accurately, like density, heat capacity, and expansivity. Metrology advancements enable the speed of sound to be measured at extreme conditions up to 15 000 K and 600 GPa. This comprehensive review presents state-of-the-art sound speed metrology while contextualizing it through a historical lens. Detailed discussions on new standards and metrology best practices, including uncertainty reporting, are included. Data availability for condensed matter speed of sound is presented, highlighting significant gaps in the literature. A theoretical section covers empirically based theoretical models like equations of state and CALPHAD models, the growing practice of using molecular dynamics and density functional theory simulations to fill gaps in measured data, and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning prediction tools. Concluding, we review how a lack of measurement methods leads to gaps in data availability, which leads to data-driven theoretical models having higher uncertainty, thus limiting confidence in optimizing designs via numerical simulation for critical emerging technologies in extreme environments.

Print Media and the Propagation of Christianity in Africa: A Historical View

This paper examines the role of the print media in communicating the gospel to indigenous Africans. Through a historical lens, the study identifies several factors that contributed to the effective use of the print media in the propagation of Christianity across Africa. These factors include the development of orthography for various African languages, the establishment of Western education, the rise of African missionaries, the translation of the Bible into local languages, and the emergence of modern journalism, with a particular focus on Nigeria. The findings reveal that the print media significantly promoted the spread of the gospel by facilitating the contextualisation of Christian teachings, fostering a spirit of ecumenism, advancing Western education, and reinforcing the commitment to fulfilling the Christian mission in Africa. The paper concludes by suggesting that the continued production and distribution of Christian literature such as tracts, magazines, handbills, posters, and further Bible translations into African languages would greatly enhance the ongoing propagation of Christianity throughout the continent.

<b>Democracy</b><b> </b><b>and</b><b> </b><b>Prosper</b><b>ity:</b><b> </b><b>Analyzing</b><b> </b><b>Political</b><b> </b><b>Systems</b><b> </b><b>and Economic Results Through History</b>

Examining how democratic governance has impacted economic outcomes in various temporal and regional contexts, this article uses a historical lens to analyze the relationship between political democracy and economic progress. In order to investigate the fundamental mechanisms by which democracy influences economic policies and growth trajectories, this study uses a comparative historical analysis to focus on three key cases: post-war Japan, modern India, and the British Iron Revolution. By promoting improved governance, stimulating investment, and aiding in the creation of social capital, democratic institutions frequently promote economic development, according to the data. Nonetheless, the research also emphasizes how certain historical, cultural, and socioeconomic elements play a major mediating role in how well democracy fosters economic progress.

The beast that never forgot? Baboon conservation and the role of multispecies history

History and culture were long seen as definitionally human. As other distinctive traits that once defined our species as unique disappeared, at least we still had those two. But are we really the only species shaped by our pasts and who have cultures that change over time? This article explores animal cultures, the significance of history (and individual and group memory) in the survival of social animals and the role the discipline of History can play in conserving them. Haraway contends that people are “becoming with” other species and that these shared histories matter ethically. I argue that it is not only a matter of ethics but one of coexisting better with each other. By considering animals’ culture with a historical lens, we understand them better and adjust interactions with them. Human-wildlife connections can be fundamental to ecological assemblages rather than ancillary. Second, I show how human-animal history can push back into Deep History, also challenging static representations of human-animal relations in indigenous cultures or the pre-colonial past. Most importantly, I argue that other animals (especially social ones) have cultures themselves (neither static nor uniform) and that these can be reconstructed and used in conservation.

Fellows of the American Medical Informatics Association (FAMIA): Looking Back and Looking Ahead.

Over the past 30 years, the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) has played a pivotal role in fostering a collaborative community for professionals in biomedical and health informatics. As an interdisciplinary association, AMIA brings together individuals with clinical, research, and computer expertise and emphasizes the use of data to enhance biomedical research and clinical work. The need for a recognition program within AMIA, acknowledging applied informatics skills by members, led to the establishment of the Fellows of AMIA (FAMIA) Recognition Program in 2018. To outline the evolution of the FAMIA program and shed light on its origins, development, and impact. This report explores factors that led to the establishment of FAMIA, considerations affecting its development, and the objectives FAMIA seeks to achieve within the broader context of AMIA. The development of FAMIA is examined through a historical lens, encompassing key milestones, discussions, and decisions that shaped the program. Insights into the formation of FAMIA were gathered through discussions within AMIA membership and leadership, including proposals, board-level discussions, and the involvement of key stakeholders. Additionally, the report outlines criteria for FAMIA eligibility and the pathways available for recognition, namely the Certification Pathway and the Long-Term Experience Pathway. The FAMIA program has inducted five classes, totaling 602 fellows. An overview of disciplines, roles, and application pathways for FAMIA members is provided. A comparative analysis with other fellow recognition programs in related fields showcases the unique features and contributions of FAMIA in acknowledging applied informatics. Now in its sixth year, FAMIA acknowledges the growing influence of applied informatics within health information professionals, recognizing individuals with experience, training, and a commitment to the highest level of applied informatics and the science associated with it.

Key themes in periodontal treatment: Lessons learned from 40-year experiences.

Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent oral diseases with significant implications for systemic health. This study aims to explore themes influencing successful long-term outcomes in periodontal treatment through a historical lens, focusing on various factors influencing the longevity of periodontal health and dentition stability. Utilizing an inductive qualitative thematic analysis approach, this study utilized a retrospective chart review of 19 patient records spanning, on average, 40 years. Four major themes contributing to periodontal stability were identified: (1) adequate patient plaque control; (2) regular periodontal maintenance; (3) collaboration between hygienists and periodontists; and (4) the application of various periodontist/dentist-performed procedures. Current findings underscore the importance of these factors in preserving patients' periodontal health by emphasizing conservative treatment approaches in the maintenance and retention of the natural dentition. Adequate patient plaque control is essential for maintaining a patient's periodontal health and dentition long-term. A regular periodontal maintenance schedule should be assigned and modified as necessary for each individual patient's care. Collaborative care with hygienist colleagues and ensuring there are flexible treatment options for patients can lead to successful treatment outcomes when hygiene alone is not sufficient. Periodontitis is a widespread oral disease with significant systemic health implications. This study examined patient records to identify factors contributing to long-term periodontal stability and maintenance of teeth. By analyzing 19 patient charts over an average of 40 years using a qualitative approach, four key themes were identified in successful patient treatments: effective patient plaque control, regular periodontal maintenance, collaboration between dental hygienists and periodontists, and the addition of other approaches by periodontists and dentists when necessary. The study underscores the importance of these factors in preserving periodontal health and retaining natural teeth with conservative treatment approaches. This research highlights the critical role of sustained, multifaceted dental care and professional collaboration in achieving successful long-term oral and systemic health outcomes.

Social Systems of Flexible Production: Organizational Conditions for the Resurgence of Craft

Abstract Against the background of a growing interest in the resurgence of craft work, this article examines the organizational conditions that characterize craft-based production in contemporary society and how they help to facilitate craft resurgence. The paper identifies three organizational conditions of contemporary craft-based production, relating to the mass market, producing by means of flexible specialization, and using infrastructures. By applying a historical lens, I argue that these organizational conditions have formed into a particular way of organizing craft-based production which is attuned to local and temporal specificities. Therefore, this study builds on a complementary, symbiotic notion of craft which considers industrial manufacture, serial production and digital technologies to be constitutive of craft making. By offering an alternative conceptual framework to grasp the resurgence of craft, this article contributes to the understanding of organizational resilience.

Critical Engaged Pedagogy to Confront Racism and Colonialism in (Geo) Science Education Through a Historical Lens

The geosciences continue to grapple with the exclusion of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other students of Color. These patterns can be understood in the discipline’s roots in colonialism and extractivism. Furthermore, training of the scientific process as objective and race-neutral results in scientists who do not recognize how science can perpetuate inequities in society. Using a U.S. university biogeography course as a case study, we describe an innovative framework for teaching equity through a critical historical lens that interrogates: 1) biases in the processes and forms of knowledge production, legitimization, and exclusion; 2) the source of inequities in representation in the discipline; and 3) how societal benefits and harms of scientific practices are felt disproportionately demographically and geographically. Students were encouraged to critically analyze the historical context of scientific theories and their proponents and challenge assumptions about the representativeness of data supporting those theories into the present day. Engaging with these questions broadened students’ understanding of changing paradigms in the field and of links between colonialism and modern science. We provide recommendations for instructors seeking to use similar approaches to enhance student learning.

KATHA KEERTHAN, AS AN ART AND BEYOND…

Katha Keerthan is a popular performing art that is widely recognized among people. This art form, known as Katha Keerthan, is actively promoting religious thoughts and striving to unite people throughout India. This is especially true in the southern part of India. Medieval India used this art, initially a medium for the praise of God and later for the propagation of religious ideas, to revive religion. It is used in modern India to promote government schemes and raise public awareness about various issues. The use of art as a vehicle for various ideas other than religious premises has faced strong opposition. There has been a significant amount of serious thought towards the revival of art. The present article tries to examine all these aspects through a historical lens.

A Commentary on the BBNJ Agreement Using the History of the Making of UNCLOS and Its Implementation Agreements

Abstract In the wake of the recent adoption of the BBNJ Agreement, the commentary has focused on the final agreed text of the Agreement. This commentary takes a different approach and considers the BBNJ Agreement within the broader context of UNCLOS and its implementation agreements, namely, the Part XI Agreement and the UN Fish Stocks Agreement, given that when the BBNJ Agreement enters into force, it will take its place as the third implementation agreement under UNCLOS. As the point of departure, this commentary uses the work and words of one of the key architects of the UNCLOS regime, the late Ambassador Satya Nandan, as a historical lens through which to comment on the BBNJ Agreement. This commentary considers how the BBNJ Agreement was influenced by the history of the making of UNCLOS and its implementation agreements, how that history may inform the BBNJ Agreement’s entry into force, and how the BBNJ Agreement may further develop the UNCLOS regime. This commentary concludes that the making of the BBNJ Agreement is not only a continuation of that shared history—but that the BBNJ Agreement “rhymes” with that history in such a way that progresses the law of the sea.

Education during colonialism in India and Norway: A comparative study

This research compares and contrasts how colonialism affected the educational systems in Norway and India. It looks at how British colonial control affected education in India via a historical lens, highlighting how it helped spread colonial ideals and maintain social inequalities. On the other hand, the study explores Norway's history under Swedish and Danish control, emphasizing initiatives to maintain cultural identity through patriotic movements and education. The research clarifies the disparate paths of educational development by contrasting these environments and exposing different colonial control and resistance tactics. It examines how colonial education continues to influence modern educational practices, governmental regulations, and public attitudes in both nations. The research provides insights into the intricacies of colonial education systems and their lasting effects on post-colonial countries through the use of a comparative methodology.

Dance of the Diaspora: Afro-Brazilian Movements in Salvador

This paper explores the vibrant cultural landscape of Afro-Brazilian dance forms in Salvador, Brazil, emphasizing their role as both a reflection and a reinforcement of community identity. Through a historical lens, we examine how these dances have served as mediums of resistance against cultural assimilation and oppression, while also fostering social cohesion and affirming cultural heritage. We delve into the evolution of these dance forms, from their origins blending African, indigenous, and European influences, to their modern-day manifestations and their impact on global Afro-diasporic communities. The study highlights how contemporary dance groups in Salvador innovate and preserve these traditions, ensuring their relevance and vitality both locally and internationally. Through this analysis, we showcase the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation and the profound role of dance in cultural preservation and social transformation within Afro-Brazilian communities.

Regina Jonas: a life of aspiration and inspiration

PurposeLeadership educators have the responsibility to help students hear the stories of those who may otherwise be forgotten. There is great value to unearthing the stories of those who have been cast aside due to neglect or malice, both historically and in contemporary society. Given the interdisciplinary nature of leadership education, we benefit from a historical lens which helps us to understand who we are and where we come from. One transformative leader whose story impacts us immensely and whose story we believe would benefit leadership educators to learn about is the story of Rabbi Regina Jonas, the first woman to be ordained as a Rabbi.Design/methodology/approachThe article offers a rich narrative account of experiences, people and lessons learned when considering an impactful leader.FindingsThe often untold story of the first known woman rabbi shifts the male dominated narrative of leadership, particularly leadership in religious communities.Originality/valueThough we have never met Regina Jonas, her story has shaped our study and practice of leadership and her triumphs live on in the spirits of women who lead with resilience, tenacity and fortitude today.

Analysis of the British National Characters From a Historical Perspective

This essay discusses the intricate formation of the British national character through a historical lens, and put forwards a view that it is combined by two contradictory elementsconservatism and radicalism on the basis of adequate historical facts and personal reflection. By illustrating with historical facts, the essay reveals the lasting traits of British conservatism, which is evident in steadfast attachments to monarchy and deep-seated respect for legal traditions. Despite periods of upheaval, such as the Glorious Revolution, the British have showed a resilience in preserving established norms and structures, which reflect a pragmatic approach to social evolution. On a contrary, the essay also demonstrates radical impulses that have propelled transformative movements for political and social equality in British history, from the Peasants' Revolt to the suffragette campaigns. Through this dialectic, British national character emerges as a dynamic synthesis of tradition and transformation, conservatism and radicalism, where ruling elites navigate change with pragmatic conservatism while social masses champion radical progress.

The history of the development of French Savat boxing

This article highlights the history of the development of French Savat boxing. It is indicated that French boxing savat is a spectacular form of martial arts that is gaining popularity in Ukraine, and therefore the question of studying the history of its development is relevant. The purpose of the article is to get acquainted with the history of the development of French Savat boxing. The final recognition of the respectability of sawat came in 1924, when it was included as a demonstration sport at the Olympic Games in Paris. In 2008, Savat was recognized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) - this recognition allows the World Federation to hold official university world championships; the first was held in Nantes, France in 2010. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the International Savat Federation in March 2010 was marked by a visit to Lausanne to meet the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge. FISav President Gilles Le Dugot received a souvenir with the image of the Olympic rings. In April 2010, the International Sawat Federation was accepted as a member of SportAccord (formerly known as AGFIS) - a major step forward towards Olympic inclusion. However, the history of the development of French Savat boxing was not conducted by Ukrainian scientists. Studying the specifics of this sport will allow a deeper understanding of not only the sport itself, but also the peculiarities of the worldview and aesthetic preferences of the French people. An in-depth study of the cultural history of Savat through a historical lens will help to more vividly present the uniqueness and value of this tradition. This can interest and encourage young people to engage in French boxing, not only young men, but also girls, and it will inspire young athletes to reach the heights of sportsmanship. Conclusion. If the Europeans discovered the French boxing savat a long time ago and are developing it at a high professional and technical level, this sport is relatively young in Ukraine. Therefore, the scope for research in this area is large. French boxing sawat is an interesting and spectacular sport, which owes its technical elements. Therefore, it is worth paying great attention to the study of various aspects of this type of martial arts.