Ideological Commitment Research Articles

Promises betrayed? Ideological commitments and revolutionary outcomes

An enduring puzzle in the study of revolutions is why some produce dictatorship and others democracy. Selectorate theory offers a parsimonious answer arguing that the incentives leaders face in the struggle for political survival shape the decisions they make on postrevolutionary institutional forms. The theory contends that only the scale of victory and its attribution help us understand revolutionary outcomes. However, we argue that ideology, specified as a consistent and explicit vision for a future polity, has been improperly discounted. Ideological commitments by revolutionary challengers made prior to the onset of a revolutionary situation influence the formation of challenger coalitions, increase the odds of victory, and subsequently constrain the range of choices available to winners by limiting plausible coalition partners, informing allocation decisions, and defining the acceptable scale and attribution of victory. We use historical case studies for theory building, allowing us to illustrate mechanisms and assess the theory's internal validity. The cases demonstrate why ideological commitments have been crucial factors not only affecting the political survival of political leaders, but also the institutions that developed out of revolutions.

Post-homophobic imaginaries amongst the far-right in Germany and Switzerland

ABSTRACT Alongside violently opposing gender and sexual equalities, far-right parties in Western Europe have increasingly denied their political positions as homophobic. This article explores how far-right party actors in Germany and Switzerland actively use liberal discourses to advance reactionary gender and sexual politics beyond outright opposition. It queries how party actors consolidate hetero-patriarchal ideological commitments with a desire to include homosexual subjects within the parties’ respective ideologies. This study argues that reactionary actors in Germany and Switzerland are highly adaptive to the ‘post-homophobic’ discursive terrain they navigate. In doing so, openly gay and lesbian actors within far-right parties and their allies are not operating in a vacuum. They can draw on an expansive archive of mainstream political discourses, including normative ideas about the neoliberal family, a gendered economy of reproduction and the potent construction of homophobic immigrants. Our analysis thus demonstrates that liberal ideas around sexuality are not always overtly opposed to but also actively invested in for reactionary gains.

Reinstating Impartiality over Taking a Stance: Repairing Journalism Amid Right-Wing Attacks

ABSTRACT Two incidents of disputed reporting rocked the US news media in January 2019, one on the Trump-Russia investigation and the other on a confrontation involving a group of Covington High School students. This study explored how the center-left and the right-wing media spheres contested with each other in establishing a meta-journalistic discourse. We found that a center-left media sphere, debating on a paradigm shift for morally-engaged journalism, was up against a belligerent right-wing media sphere with an explicit ideological commitment to undermining the legitimacy of mainstream journalism. The discourse of paradigm repair dominated the center-left media response while the discourse for moral principles to support social justice was marginalized. Despite journalists’ well-intentioned efforts to repair professional norms around objectivity, such discourse in fact fueled more right-wing vitriol and hardened the narrative of media bias.

Enhancing Ungrading

Abstract While ungrading is gaining traction within higher education, many teachers still struggle with applying ungrading systems successfully in their classrooms. This article is designed to bridge the gap between an ideological commitment to ungrading and pedagogical praxis by focusing on the ideologies that are embedded in ungrading systems. This represents an important shift from the focus on tools or methods to a focus on the habits of mind necessary to adapt ungrading to individual classrooms. This article claims that one of the key challenges to implementing ungrading stems from attempting to tack alternative assessment onto existing pedagogical frameworks. By utilizing a disability justice approach, the author offers a praxis-based primer to support educators in shifting their habits of mind to facilitate ungrading. First, the article asks readers to examine their ideological assumptions surrounding classrooms and demonstrates how these ideologies influence and interact with ungrading principles. Next, the article explores how a disability justice framework provides important contextualizing guidance to enacting ungrading ideologies. Finally, it synthesizes key lessons from disability justice theory and localizes them in examples of classroom praxis, demonstrating how a reorientation away from a “best practices” approach to ungrading facilitates successful implementation in the classroom.

More Red but Still Expert: Party-Army Relations Under Xi Jinping

ABSTRACT Xi Jinping has encouraged the People’s Liberation Army to be able to ‘fight and win wars’ while remaining ‘absolutely loyal’ to the Chinese Communist Party. This latter focus was the result of problems of excessive autonomy invested in the PLA under Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s, which manifested in military secrecy, corruption, and questions of ideological commitment. Xi has attempted to enhance party control (and his own authority as the ‘core’ of the party) through a multifaceted political strategy that includes centralization of power under his control, renewed ideological campaigns, and improved internal control mechanisms. Nevertheless, Xi is unlikely to meet this standard because the military remains fundamentally a self-policing organization with almost no genuine civilian party oversight. This means that the prospects for party-army tensions and even crises remain and could grow in the post-Xi era.

We need to talk about AL: has academic literacies designed the pedagogy out of Learning Development?

Academic literacies (AL) research has made significant contributions to understandings of student writing and literacy across higher education and particularly learning development. However, researchers and practitioners both within and external to the AL movement have struggled to clarify the relationship between AL and pedagogy. English for Academic Purposes researchers have highlighted the lack of a workable AL pedagogy, whilst AL researchers maintain that the model represents a design space or heuristic for thinking about practice in context, rather than a source of pedagogic prescriptions. This theoretical discussion elaborates concerns with the structural coherence of the AL model, its broadly social constructivist underpinnings and evidence base, and the impact of its ideological orientation on the pedagogy we derive from it. Underpinning these critiques is a suspicion that the interpretation of social constructivist epistemology on which AL relies to pinpoint weaknesses in the models of literacy/writing which it subsumes cannot generate a practical pedagogy. We argue that these structural and ideological tensions in the AL model help to explain confusion over its interpretation and implementation. We speculate that this singular focus on social constructivist-derived theory, though well-intentioned, does more to reinforce a particular ideological commitment than to enhance student learning.

Leader ideology and state commitment to multilateral treaties

AbstractThe existing literature argues that the left is generally more supportive of multilateralism in foreign policy than the right. However, the impact of ideology on state commitment to multilateral cooperation have not yet been empirically tested adequately. We assess the presence of such a left–right divide on state commitment to multilateral treaties employing an original dataset, containing all the available information about the ratification of the multilateral treaties deposited with the UN Secretary General since 1945. Our results indicate that indeed countries led by left-wing leaders are generally faster at ratifying treaties than those led by right-wing leaders. However, the association between leader ideology and commitment to multilateral treaties is substantially conditioned by regime type and the international context. In fact, we find robust evidence of a significant gap in ratification duration between states led by left-wing and right-wing leaders in democracies but not in other regime types, and during the Cold War but not after. Through such findings, this article provides a contribution to the debate on the impact of ideology on international relations and the drivers of global support for multilateralism.

Against Instantiation

ABSTRACT According to traditional universalism, properties are instantiated by objects, where instantiation is a ‘tie’ that binds objects and properties into facts. I offer two arguments against this view. I then develop an alternative higher-order account which holds that properties are primitively predicated of objects yet, unlike traditional nominalism, are nevertheless genuinely real. When it is a fact that Fo , it is not because object o instantiates F -ness, but just that Fo —where F still exists. Against orthodox higher-order approaches, however, my arguments against instantiation also serve to support a sparse conception of properties. In developing the view, I introduce an extension of ontological and ideological commitment in the form of syntactic commitment.

Can Jihadis’ Strategic Interests Trump Their Ideology? Foreign Support and Insurgent Survival in Syria

The role of ideology in civil wars is particularly contentious, especially when it comes to Jihadi insurgents. Ideology is one of these groups’ defining characteristic, which questions what happens when Jihadis’ ideological commitments contradicts their strategic interests. This article explores these tensions with a particular focus on the issue of foreign support for the Syrian insurgency after 2011. The article argues that ideology matters and has contributed to division and infighting between Syrian insurgents for most of the conflict. But this research also contends that armed groups – including Jihadis – can adapt their ideological positions in line with their strategic interests as long as they manage to implement such changes without jeopardizing their internal cohesion. This careful balance explains the operational strategies of numerous armed groups in competitive environments such as Syria’s. The article draws on extensive interviews with Syrian insurgents over the past few years, including leaders and commanders of Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra as it transformed into HTS.

Is it a matter of design?

Rural and urban areas in China have traditionally represented contrasting realms, largely due to the country’s dual social structure. However, efforts to reduce inequalities and encourage harmonious planning are reshaping both urban and rural landscapes, leading to new hybridized forms of living. These transformations emphasize the importance of design disciplines in experimenting with innovative settlement models and architectural projects. Recognizing the interconnectedness and mutual dependence of urban and rural areas is a fertile perspective to frame the countryside as a significant frontier in China’s cutting-edge architectural movements. China’s rural revitalization strategy represents the latest initiative aimed at improving conditions in the Chinese countryside and enhancing the well-being of its residents. Aligned with the principles of ecological civilization, this policy calls for the development of new esthetic dimensions that reflect technological advancements, cultural diversity, socioeconomic values, and political narratives, echoing similar sustainable agendas worldwide. The contributions selected for this special issue showcase how various design attitudes have embodied the countryside development mandate in far-sighted proposals of transformation that addresses several crucial challenges of contemporary living, such as wealth distribution, economic stimulation, cultural heritage preservation, and the relationship with nature. These examples suggest that by challenging the ideological commitments supporting their feasibility, design practice, and research can be fundamental tools for reorienting policy formulation beyond solving specific issues through targeted design approaches.

Does global integration foster environmental mobilization? The effect of global norms on environmental movement participation

ABSTRACT How does global integration affect environmental activism? I develop a theoretical argument which highlights that global integration’s effect is conditional on political ideology. Countries’ integration in the world society leads to diffusion of environmental attitudes. However, people’s political ideology restrains this positive effect. The assumed incompatibility between economic prosperity and environmental reform exerts a strong influence on attitudes of right-leaning individuals, who end up acting less for promoting environmental protection. I test this argument using multilevel model techniques on data from 35 European countries from 1980 to 2020. The results support my argument and show that global integration has an effect only on left-leaning individuals. In light of these results, the paper offers insights on the expansion of the environmental divide – ‘action gap’ – among individuals with different ideologies. The study also highlights how concerns about environmental consequences are still linked to an ideological commitment to laissez-faire economics.

The political (a)symmetry of metacognitive insight into detecting misinformation.

Political misinformation poses a major threat to democracies worldwide, often inciting intense disputes between opposing political groups. Despite its central role for informed electorates and political decision making, little is known about how aware people are of whether they are right or wrong when distinguishing accurate political information from falsehood. Here, we investigate people's metacognitive insight into their own ability to detect political misinformation. We use data from a unique longitudinal study spanning 12 waves over 6 months that surveyed a representative U.S. sample (N = 1,191) on the most widely circulating political (mis)information online. Harnessing signal detection theory methods to model metacognition, we found that people from both the political left and the political right were aware of how well they distinguished accurate political information from falsehood across all news. However, this metacognitive insight was considerably lower for Republicans and conservatives-than for Democrats and liberals-when the information in question challenged their ideological commitments. That is, given their level of knowledge, Republicans' and conservatives' confidence was less likely to reflect the correctness of their truth judgments for true and false political statements that were at odds with their political views. These results reveal the intricate and systematic ways in which political preferences are linked to the accuracy with which people assess their own truth discernment. More broadly, by identifying a specific political asymmetry-for discordant relative to concordant news-our findings highlight the role of metacognition in perpetuating and exacerbating ideological divides. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Managing Jealousy within Non-Monogamous Romantic Relationships: A Critical Discursive Psychological Approach

ABSTRACT This article uses a critical discursive psychological approach to examine how consensual non-monogamous couples actively manage jealousy in casual unscripted conversations. The analyses examine how consensual non-monogamous couples navigated jealousy by drawing upon culturally available interpretative repertoires of jealousy to manage accountability within their local interactions. Three interpretative repertoires were identified: 1) jealousy as a challenge to be embraced/integrated, 2) jealousy as a challenge to overcome, and 3) jealousy as a challenge to be reconceptualized. These interpretative repertoires allow the couples to position jealousy as a contextual (not dispositional) issue that they are able to neutralize while simultaneously accounting for certain delicate aspects of their own identity, their partner’s well-being, and an ideological commitment to the discourse of non-monogamy.

Benazir Bhutto, Negotiating Politics amidst Misogyny: A Study of Daughter of the East

The present research paper analyzes the struggles of Benazir Bhutto as detailed in her autobiography, Daughter of the East (1987), highlighting her confrontations with political challenges, a dictatorial regime, and numerous hardships in her quest to restore and strengthen democracy in Pakistan. Bhutto navigated adverse circumstances, including male chauvinistic politics, orthodox religious ulamas, entrenched military dictatorship, and bureaucratic elitism. The paper delves into her political challenges, patriarchal social obligations, and Islamic ideological commitments, which she managed as the first woman Prime Minister of Pakistan during her tenures from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996. This era is critical to understanding her efforts to extract Pakistan from military dictatorship's grip, vividly portrayed in her autobiography Her eloquent narrative not only chronicles her ascent as the first female Prime Minister of a Muslim-majority country but also encapsulates the relentless adversities she faced as a woman in a deeply patriarchal society. Bhutto's poignant reflections on her political odyssey inspired me to delve deeper into her life, illuminating her as a warrior in real sense and a paragon of female fortitude amidst a turbulent political landscape.

Messenger vs. Message: The Curious Case of Where’d My Giggle Go?

In 2022, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) awarded pastor Max Lucado’s social-emotional learning picturebook Where’d My Giggle Go? its highest award. The win occurred against the backdrop of conservative, evangelical groups advocating for banning similar secular titles. This study investigates how discourse from two reviewing sites constructs the social identities of readers to understand how they perform relationships with Max Lucado and the evangelical community. Findings reveal how the community’s ideological, social, political, and cultural commitments are (re)produced and (re)circulated through consumer reviews and highlight the mainstreaming of evangelical content in picturebooks.

The Union's Culture Industry

Abstract: The cultural history of the Civil War North has flourished since the turn of the twenty-first century. Scholars have impeccably analyzed wartime texts and images to clarify Northern citizens' and soldiers' shared ideological and emotional commitments. Yet, these historians have not fully reckoned with the interconnected nature of culture production in genres such as blackface minstrelsy, lithography, illustrated newspapers, photography, and theater through which Northerners made, circulated, used, and experienced culture commodities. This economic system of culture production often created or illuminated social conflict and ambiguous cultural meaning. The culture industry, a concept that has animated debate among historians of popular culture for decades, holds great potential for Civil War historians to open new perspectives on the experiences of Union soldiers and citizens and the ways they did cultural work to make the meanings of class and self-making, race and emancipation, gender and the household, and the war itself.

Theoretical Debate Over the Relationship Between Ideology and Practical Politics

Political ideology is based on beliefs, values, and principles guiding the preferred form of government and societal organization. While providing coherence and direction for political parties, ideologies often clash with the pragmatic realities of governance. Practical politics prioritizes pragmatic considerations over ideological principles, focusing on achieving realistic goals through compromise and negotiation. This tension underscores the dynamic nature of political theory and practice, where ideological ideals must adapt to real-world complexities. The clash between ideological ideals and pragmatic necessities in governance underscores the dynamic nature of political theory and practice. Scholarly research explores this interplay, highlighting debates on the relationship between ideology and practical politics. The study highlights the complexity of navigating the interplay between ideological frameworks and practical considerations in political decision-making. It acknowledges the challenges inherent in reconciling abstract principles with the exigencies of governance. It analyses political ideology theories imperative for policymakers to balance ideological commitments and pragmatic policies. This research comprehensively explores theoretical approaches to the relationship between ideology and practical politics, shedding light on the ongoing discourse within political theory and its implications for effective governance.

Law, Peace and Status: Brazil’s Call for Sovereign Equality During the Second Hague Peace Conference of 1907

This article reevaluates Brazil’s role in the Second Hague Peace Conference of 1907, challenging prevailing narratives about Brazil’s call for sovereign equality. By combining theoretical insights on international status with an extensive examination of primary sources, such as diplomatic communications and conference proceedings, I show that Brazil’s call for sovereign equality was a strategic response to status struggles rather than an ideological commitment. The call enabled Brazil’s leading delegate, Rui Barbosa, to gain leadership over a Latin American multilateral coalition against a Great Power proposition to create a hierarchical international court. The leadership not only bolstered Brazil’s position as a regional power, but paradoxically, also strengthened the relations with its main opponent during the conference, the US. As such, this study both contributes to our understanding of Latin American historical diplomacy and underscores the nuanced dynamics of non-Great Powers in international politics.

Позиция администрации Д. Байдена в реализации стратегии развития американо-китайских отношений

The Biden administration’s concepts and perceptions of China policy, as well as its future attitude and stance toward the development of Sino-US relations, will have a direct impact on the dynamics and development process of Sino-US relations. This article aims to discover the main provisions of the D. Biden administration’s strategy implemented in the relations between Washington and Beijing. The sentiments in the American society characterizing the peculiarities of interaction between the two countries are considered; the discussion of strategic priorities of American politicians of different ideological commitment is noted. From the perspective of the current domestic political environment, China’s strategic positioning, the strategic construction of Sino-US relations, and the prediction of the future of Sino-US relations are the subject of endless debates in political, academic, and strategic circles. The Biden administration’s understanding and perception of China is in a state of flux, and its attitude and position on some issues of Sino-US relations also give the impression of uncertainty. The extent to which these issues affect Sino-US relations, as well as how China and the US should rationally understand and deal with these issues, require strategic reflection and study.

Un soin psychique sans Psyché ? Idéologies identitaires, psychophobie généralisée et pratiques en santé mentale

Psychiatric care practices have long been inspired by humanist conceptions of psychic life, which attribute an anthropological depth to the human being, and an intentionality to symptoms. However, in recent decades, there has been a shift towards a reeducational approach. We propose to link this evolution with the emergence in society of ideological identity movements, characterized by their psychophobia and distrust of unconscious psychic life. Drawing on psychoanalytical concepts, we examine the extent to which these ideologies are rooted in a two-dimensional anthropological conception: a human being without psychic depth or internal conflictuality, perfectly identified with his or her discourse. The unconscious is denounced as the source of discrimination. It must therefore be condemned and neutralized, in favor of an ideal of transparency, purity, and homogeneity. Secondly, we argue that this generalized psychophobia has inspired normative and reeducational practices in mental health over the past half-century. In particular, we look at psychoeducation for psychotic patients, the recovery approach to schizophrenia, and activist clinical practices whose political and ideological commitments are detrimental to neutrality and an unconditional acceptance of subjectivity. Finally, we recall how psychoanalysis provides mental health professionals with ethical benchmarks for thinking about their practices, against the temptation to totalize.