Independent Party Research Articles

Sociocultural narratives and the anthropomorphic power of agency in a semiotic landscape

We take the conflation of space, time and the sociopolitical ideology in the newly independent Zambia as a transformative semiotic capacity predicated on notions of resemiotisation and metamorphosis of artefacts that are seen through the naming and names of hostels at the University of Zambia (UNZA). Borrowing from theories of semiotic assemblages and multilingual memory, the article seeks to show how Kaunda’s United Independence Party and the government’s ideologies permeated the linguistic landscape of the University of Zambia, in which the university becomes a copy of copies in order to engender a notion of home, school, nationhood and Pan-Africanism. By using names which represent the pride of Zambia, we show how Kaunda creatively emplaced on an institution a sense of nationhood which transcends ethnic enclaves and traditional affiliation and membership. We conclude by pointing out how, in hindsight, hostel names successfully reject fixity within a historical party ideological entrapment, and note rather, with the passage of time and admission of new actors to the space, the semiotic landscape of UNZA has continued to evolve to meet the current semiotic situation.

STUDENT MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS (A CASE STUDY AT MAN INSAN CENDEKIA SERPONG)

This article aims to explain the planning, development, and evaluation of students in effective schools at MAN Insan Cendekia Serpong Tangerang Banten. Student management has a strategic position in developing the quality of education. Better student management will increase the achievement of students. The author acts as a key instrument in data collection, because this research used a qualitative approach with a type of case study. The author explores data based on the archive system and the effectiveness of decision making, then collects, explains, and analyzes it. This article concludes that the student planning at MAN Insan Cendekia starts with an online new student registration system. Selection is carried out in a transparent and accountable manner by involving independent parties from outside. The selection stages include administrative, scholastic talent, academic, and medical examination selection. The development of students at MAN Insan Cendekia is carried out by involving the active role of schools, mosques and dormitories. These three development centers work together and holistically to achieve the school's vision. The development of students there includes disciplinary, academic and non-academic aspects. Meanwhile, the evaluation of students at MAN Insan Cendekia is implemented in a transparent, accountable, continuous, and comprehensive manner with high standards. In summary, the evaluations carried out are daily tests, midterm exams, final semester exams, and national exams. However, evaluation focuses more on the process, assuming that if the process is good, then the results will also be of high quality.

Data collection, quality and evidence formation for human use experience of traditional Chinese medicine

Collecting and summarizing human use experience(HUE) data, forming high-quality data and evidences that can be used for evaluation are the key links of HUE research on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). The collection, collation and summary of human experience data were discussed in this paper. It is pointed out that the collection of HUE should be focus on the source of prescription of new traditional Chinese medicines, and be summarized based on dialectical thinking, experience in medication, characte-ristics of prescription and clinical application. The collected contents include prescription, process, clinical location and applicable population, efficacy data and safety data, etc. The methods include interview, clinical data summary and data mining. When the data formed based on HUE information is used as drug registration information, it is necessary to ensure that the data source is legal and compliant, and the ownership of intellectual property is clear.Data sources should meet the requirements of medical ethics. To avoid conflict of interest, data analysis should be conducted by an independent third party. It is necessary to develop the quality control measures of HUE data to ensure the data traceability, integrity, consistency and accuracy, and avoid data bias.The data of HUE should include the key data such as accurate clinical location and applicable population, recognized clinical efficacy and safety.After the formation of HUE, the statistical analysis plan of empirical data of human use should be formulated. Through strict data processing, statistical analysis and clinical interpretation, HUE can be produced for evaluation.

PENGARUH ROTASI KANTOR AKUNTAN PUBLIK (KAP), TENURE AUDIT DAN UKURAN KAP TERHADAP KUALITAS AUDIT

Accounting is a form of accountability and conveying financial information of a company or organization to parties concerned. However, the accounting report could potentially be affected by private interests, while the users of financial reports are very concerned to receive reliable financial reports. Therefore there is a need for an independent third party to mediate the two parties (agent and principal) with different interests. The independent party is an auditor who is responsible to provide assessment and opinion statement on the fairness of the financial report presented. DeAngelo (1981) defines audit quality as "the probability of an auditor is able to find and report irregularity in client's accounting system”.This study aimed to empirically examine the effect of rotation of the public accounting firms, audit tenure, and the size of the public accounting firms on audit quality. The population of the data is the entire manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the period 2011 to 2016.This study used purposive sampling method to select sample from the population. Based on this method, sample of 51 manufacturing firms were obtained from the period 2011-2016. The multiple linear regression was used to analysis data. Proxy measurements for audit quality is using discretionary accrual Kazsnik model (1999).The results of multiple regression analysis show that the size of public accounting firm positivly affecting on audit quality while the rotation of the public accounting firms and audit tenure has no effect on audit quality.

Exotic pet trading and keeping: Proposing a model government consultation and advisory protocol

Exotic pet trading and keeping raises many concerns regarding animal welfare, species conservation, ecological alteration, invasive species, public health and safety, and other issues. Despite these concerns, the UK Government assigns greater consultation importance to exotic pet trading and keeping stakeholders than to parties that seek to remedy relevant problems, or to independent experts. To help ameliorate the current situation, we propose a model government advisory protocol in which consultation weight is assigned first to independent scientific parties; secondly to animal welfare parties; and thirdly to exotic pet trading and keeping parties. Relatedly, we present two case studies as illustrative examples, that: A. examine UK government and other national approaches to stakeholder consultations; and B. compare differences in scale between stakeholders for the exotic pet trade and hobby, animal welfare, and independent expert sectors based on respective numbers of employees, registered supporters, and social media followers. We conclude that current UK and some other protocols are wrongly skewed towards exotic pet trading and keeping practices, and may be causally-related to the long-standing and growing concerns regarding problematic issues, and that relevant animal welfare parties greatly outweigh exotic pet trading and keeping parties, which further suggests that consultation bias towards the exotic pet trading and keeping sector is disproportionate.

The Role of Family Business in Selecting Audit Quality

This study concerns with a descriptive analysis of the differences between family business and non-family business as seen from audit fees and audit quality. Audit quality is measured from the size of KAP and industry specialization. In addition, this study analyses the impact between family ownership on audit quality (KAP size and industry specialization). This study examines the influence of audit committee effectiveness on the audit quality. 
 This study used logistic regression analysis. The unit of analysis in this study is the financial statements, while the population is all manufacturing companies listed on the IDX, while the sample in this study is manufacturing companies from 2014 to 2016. 
 The results of this study states that there is no difference between family and non-family business in selecting quality. Second, there is a difference in audit fees between family and non-family business. Third, there is an influence between family ownership and audit fees. This can be interpreted that business in Indonesia which are mostly owned by families, have a very important influence on how much the audit fees incurred for independent parties. Fourth, there is an influence between family ownership and audit quality (based on KAP size). Fifth, there is an influence between family ownership and audit quality (based on industry specialization). Sixth, there is an influence between the effectiveness of the audit committee and audit quality (based on the KAP size). Seventh, there is an influence between the effectiveness of the audit committee and audit quality (based on industry specialization).

Mobile Health Crowdsensing (MHCS) Intervention on Chronic Disease Awareness: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

BackgroundMobile health crowdsensing (MHCS) involves the use of mobile communication technologies to promote health by supporting health care practices (eg, health data collection, delivery of health care information, or patient observation and provision of care). MHCS technologies (eg, smartphones) have sensory capabilities, such as GPS, voice, light, and camera, to collect, analyze, and share user-centered data (explicit and implicit). The current literature indicates no scientific study related to MHCS interventions for chronic diseases. The proposed systematic review will examine the impact of MHCS interventions on chronic disease awareness.ObjectiveThe objectives of this study are to identify and describe various MHCS intervention strategies applied to chronic disease awareness.MethodsLiterature from various databases, such as MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, will be examined. Trial registers, reports, grey literature, and unpublished academic theses will also be included. All mobile technologies, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, and tablets that have short message service, multimedia message service, video, and audio capabilities, will be included. MHCS will be the primary intervention strategy. The search strategy will include keywords such as mHealth, crowdsensing, and awareness among other medical subject heading terms. Articles published from January 1, 1945, to December 31, 2019, will be eligible for inclusion. The authors will independently screen and select studies, extract data, and assess the risk of bias, with discrepancies resolved by an independent party not involved in the study. The authors will assess statistical heterogeneity by examining the types of participants, interventions, study designs, and outcomes in each study, and pool studies judged to be statistically homogeneous. In the assessment of heterogeneity, a sensitivity analysis will be considered to explore statistical heterogeneity. Statistical heterogeneity will be investigated using the chi-square test of homogeneity on Cochrane Q test, and quantified using the I2 statistic.ResultsThe preliminary search query found 1 paper. Further literature search commenced in mid-March 2021 and is to be concluded in April 2021. The proposed systematic review protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; no. CRD42020161435). Furthermore, the use of search data extraction and capturing in Review Manager version 5.3 (Cochrane) commenced in January 2021 and ended in February 2021. Further literature search will begin in mid-March 2021 and will be concluded in April 2021. The final stages will include analyses and writing, which are anticipated to start and be completed in May 2021.ConclusionsThe knowledge derived from this study will inform health care stakeholders—including researchers, policy makers, investors, health professionals, technologists, and engineers—of the impact of MHCS interventions on chronic disease awareness.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/24589

The Role and Effectiveness of Corporate Social Responsibility Assurance in a Mandatory Setting: Professional Accountants’ Perceptions

Firms using corporate social responsibility assurance (or CSRA) recruit an external and independent third party to undertake assurance of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) information that they disclose. From a theoretical perspective, CSRA may play a role within two distinct mechanisms: the signaling mechanism, whereby CSRA signals both the quality of the disclosed information and firms’ CSR performance, and the legitimizing mechanism, whereby CSRA is strategically used as a ‘sophisticated’ compliance exercise. Thus, while the signaling theory predicts that CSRA should provide the expected benefits for its intended users, studies based on the legitimacy theory question the effectiveness of CSRA. In an attempt to disentangle which mechanism is dominant, this study investigates how professional accountants, as assurance providers, perceive CSRA and its effectiveness. We use an online questionnaire survey involving a between-subjects experimental design with 104 French professional accountants as participants. The quantitative and qualitative results suggest, in line with legitimacy theory, that CSRA is used more as a compliance exercise than as an effective signal. We advance the idea that in the French setting, in which CSRA is mandatory, it is used by firms to create the illusion of transparency by complying with disclosure requirements. However, we offer an alternative interpretation by arguing that some professional accountants may in fact seek to resist the implementation of mandatory CSRA using a strategy of justification.

Dose of aspirin to prevent preterm preeclampsia in women with moderate or high-risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of aspirin dose on the incidence of all gestational age preeclampsia and preterm preeclampsia.Data sourcesElectronic databases (Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov and the Web of Science) were searched for articles published between January 1985 and March 2019 with no language restrictions.MethodsWe followed the PRIMSA guidelines and utilized Covidence software. Articles were screened by 2 independent reviewers, with discrepancies settled by an independent 3rd party. Study selection criteria were randomized trials comparing aspirin for prevention of all gestational age and preterm preeclampsia to placebo or no antiplatelet treatment in women aged 15–55 years with moderate or high-risk factors according to the list of risk factors from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. The quality of trials was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The data were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis comparing aspirin at doses of <81, 81, 100, and 150 mg. Pre-specified outcomes were all gestational age and preterm preeclampsia.ResultsOf 1,609 articles screened, 23 randomized trials, which included 32,370 women, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In preterm preeclampsia, women assigned at random to 150 mg experienced a significant 62% reduction in risk of preterm preeclampsia (RR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.20–0.72; P = 0.011). Aspirin doses <150 mg produced no significant reductions. The number needed to treat with 150 mg of aspirin was 39 (95% CI: 23–100). There was a maximum 30% reduction in risk of all gestational age preeclampsia at all aspirin doses.ConclusionsIn this meta-analysis, based on indirect comparisons, aspirin at a dose greater than the current, recommended 81 mg was associated with the highest reduction in preterm preeclampsia. Our meta-analysis is limited due to the deficiency of homogeneous high evidence data available in the literature to date; however, it may be prudent for clinicians to consider that the optimal aspirin dose may be higher than the current guidelines advise. Future research to compare the efficacy aspirin doses greater than 81 mg is recommended.Study registrationPROSPERO, CRD42019127951 (University of York, UK; http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/).

2020 Guideline for Prehospital Management, Emergency Evaluation and Treatment of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals from the Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine and Taiwan Stroke Society.

To improve the clinical outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke, the public, pre-hospital care system, and hospitals should cooperate to achieve quick assessment and management for such patients and to start treatment as soon as possible. To reach the goal, the Consensus Group, including emergency physicians and neurologists in the Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine and Taiwan Stroke Society, performed an updated review and discussion for the local guidelines. The guidelines consist of 12 parts, including public education program, evaluation and management in the emergency medical system, emergency medical system, assessment of stroke care capability of the hospital by independent parties, stroke team of the hospital, telemedicine, organization, and multifaceted integration, improvement of quality of care process of stroke system, initial clinical and imaging evaluations after arriving at the hospital, imaging evaluation for indications of intravenous thrombolysis, imaging evaluation for indications of endovascular thrombectomy, and other diagnostics. For detailed contents in Chinese, please refer to the Taiwan Stroke Society Guideline and Taiwan Emergency Medicine Bulletin.

Who Stays and Who Goes: Understanding the Immigration Vote in the 2015 UK General Election

Abstract How do voters choose between a mainstream party and a populist radical right party (PRRP)? Existing research says that PRRP voters share specific attitudinal characteristics, but many mainstream party voters also have these attitudes. Drawing on spatial theories of party competition, voters make their decision to vote for a mainstream party or a PRRP based on their perceived placement of the mainstream party on immigration. Looking at the case of the 2015 United Kingdom (UK) General Election with the British Election Study Panel Survey, I analyse voters that think immigration is the most important issue facing the UK. These are the voters that prioritise the same issue as UK Independence Party (UKIP). The findings show that those who perceive the Conservative Party will reduce immigration are less likely to vote UKIP than those who perceive the Conservative Party will not reduce immigration. This relationship holds even when the respondent is highly Eurosceptic and anti-immigration.

Price Adjustments in the Sudanese Construction Industry for Public-funded projects

In recent years Sudan suffers from deterioration in the economy. There are three financial legislations issued from the Government of Sudan between Nov 2016 and Oct 2018. These legislations have led to increase in prices of all goods and materials especially construction materials that lead many contracting companies to submit claims demanding for adjustment of prices. This paper documents effort by the Government of Sudan (GoS) to address price adjustments for public-funded projects affected by the mentioned legislations. It also validates some data submitted by the contractors to examine the adjustment through a technical committee established for that purpose. Furthermore, the GoS has introduced a program to build the capacity of all involved parties in the construction industry to calculate price adjustments. This paper compares some data submitted by some contractors for three projects in east Sudan (Qadarif), West Sudan (Zalingei) and central Sudan (Khartoum) that have been approved by consultants with prices of materials obtained from an independent third party the in Khartoum. The results of the comparison are found that some increase in material follows the prices of the (USD) dollar as reinforcement and some local material increase in price due to other reasons like fees of transportation. Also, when comparing prices in different states in Sudan, there are differences in some material depending on the distance from Khartoum and the availability of the materials in the states like local materials as aggregates and red bricks.

The International Standards for Solar Thermal Collectors and Components as a Medium of Quality Assurance

Within this publication a detailed overview about the national and international solal‘t1lel1nai standards is made. The various tests are described and a cross reference list for comparing the different standards is given. Moreover a certification model is presented and the advantage of third party assessment is carried out. The requirement for a solar thermal test laboratory to conduct independent third party assessment by means of an ISO/IEC17065 accreditation is given. Finally the concept of a quality system for solar thermal markets is explained and major advantages are outlined. Solar thermal systems and their components are described in various national and international standards. In Europe the standard EN12975 de?nes the regulations and requirements for solar thermal collectors. The standard EN12976 is established for the evaluation of factory made solar thermal systems. The EN12977 is the state of the art standard for the evaluation of custom build systems. Nowadays in Libya the standard ISO9806 for solar collectors and the standard ISO9459 for domestic water heating systems de?ne the regulations and requirements for solar thermal collectors and systems. In the meanwhile, empowered Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Ef?ciency Certi?cation Body is under construction. This body is working now to set the minimum requirements of the testing facilities of solar thermal systems. The international standard for collector testing is the ISO9806 and the standard ISO9459 Part2,4,5 for domestic water heating systems. Within the year 2013 a revision of the ISO9806 will be published and, for the ?rst time, a consistent harmonized standard for the main solar thermal markets will be set in force. Besides the various standards for solar thermal products a meaningful element for the quality assurance and the customer protection is third party certi?cation. Third party certi?cation involves an independent assessment, declaring that speci?ed requirements regarding a product are ful?lled. In a certi?cation process based on speci?ed certi?cation rules an authorized certi?cation body is con?rming that a solar thermal product has passed performance tests, reliability tests and further requirements according to the standards. In Europe a certi?cation body holds an accreditation according to EN45011. At international level the standard ISO/IEC17065 is in force. Test results as a basis for product certi?cation are determined by solar thermal test laboratories. The implementation and the business operation of such a solar thermal test laboratory is an important element within the national/regional solar thermal market. To ensure the quality of the products and to attend the role of an observer on the market, the test facility has to ful?ll a number of requirements. Besides the necessary technical equipment and the implementation of tests in accordance with the various national and international standards, the laboratory shall realize a quality management system to guarantee the quality of tests and services. Based on the technical equipment, the testing scope and an implemented Quality Management System (QMS), the test laboratory can achieve an accreditation according to ISO/IEC17025 as basis for independent third party testing. Independent testing and evaluation of solar thermal collectors and components like hot water stores and controllers offers an important medium for quality assurance. To guarantee a high degree of product quality and consumer protection a quality system for the solar thermal market is necessary. Core of the quality assurance of a functioning solar thermal market are the national standards body, which is developing standards and regulations as a working basis ill technical committees, the national metrology institute that guarantees the traceability of measurements on fundamental and natural constants, and ?nally the national accreditation body which ensures the conformity of the various actors to a speci?c standard. Laboratories work closely with the certi?cation authorities and apply the developed speci?c norms and standards. The certi?cation bodies must ensure the conformance of their test laboratories with the standard ISO/IEC17025, which include the quality standard ISO 9001:2008 and also include additional requirements. The traceability of the metrics of solar thermal testing laboratories is usually made with the help of calibration laboratories that are specialized on certain measurements. Those are also accredited and ensure the traceability of their measurements to the national meteorology institute. Other stakeholders are the group of importers and exporters and foreign investors who are on the national market in entrepreneurial activities, as well as the group of consumer organizations that represent the interests of customers. By means of good networking of stakeholders and focusing 011 the quality process, a high-quality and ?ourishing solar thermal market can be created.

Pengaruh Leverage, Opini Audit Tahun Sebelumnya, Pertumbuhan Perusahaan, dan Ukuran Perusahaan terhadap Opini Audit Going Concern

Audit reports are used by auditors to inform the accuracy of the information in the financial statements. The auditor as an independent party has the competence to provide an opinion on the client's financial condition. If it is estimated that the company cannot continue its activities, it is likely that it will get a going concern audit opinion. Audit opinion can help investors and other stakeholders in assessing the status of the company's business continuity. The important thing from a going concern audit opinion is to provide additional information for investors in making investment decisions. This study analyzes the factors that determine going concern audit opinion on manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The factors tested in this study are leverage, initial opinion, company growth and company size. The study used a sample of 125 companies for the 2014-2018 period. The results of data analysis were obtained from logistic regression tests. The empirical results show that prior opinion and leverage increase the likelihood of receiving a going concern opinion. Meanwhile, company growth and company size have no effect on going concern audit opinion. Nagelkerke's R Square test shows the ability of the factors in this study to explain 63.1% of going-concern audit opinion, while 36.9% is explained by other factors outside the research model. The findings from this study are expected to help investors and other stakeholders to prevent losses if they invest in companies that have the potential to go bankrupt.

Reviewing Cyclonic Low-Shear Choke and Control Valve Field Experiences

Summary In hydrocarbon production and processing, choke and control valves mix and emulsify petroleum phases. The consequence is often that the efficiency of separation processes is affected and finally that the quality of oil and water phases is degraded. Over the last few years, low-shear valves targeting petroleum processes have emerged on the market. This paper presents four separate live-fluid experiences from low-shear valve installations, each surveyed and documented by an independent third party. Three of the installations refer to choke valves, whereas the fourth installation refers to a control valve. For each installation, standard choke and control valves were used as reference valves. In terms of downstream separation efficiency, the low-shear choke valves reduced oil-in-water concentrations respectively by 70, 45, and 60%, by total average. In the control valve application, the low-shear valve, which was located between the hydrocyclones and a compact flotation unit, reduced the oil-in-water concentration by 23%. In sum, the field installations have demonstrated that low-shear valves significantly and consistently reduce oil-in-water concentrations and thus improve the produced water quality. The results signify that low-shear valves may be used in debottlenecking separation and produced water treatment processes, reducing the environmental influence from produced water discharges. Because the low-shear technology enables processing of petroleum phases with less effort, energy, and chemicals, it also reduces emissions to air.

Audit Committees in Maltese Listed Companies and their Perceived Effectiveness: An Assessment

Purpose: In this study we assess and analyse the effectiveness of Audit Committees within Maltese Listed Companies with respect to the following five determinants: composition, authority and resources, diligence, internal audit contribution and assessment. Design/Methodology/Approach: In order to ensure that the objective was achieved, this study adopted a qualitative mixed-method approach to collect data. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten Maltese Listed Companies representatives, four External Auditors and two Regulators. Findings: The findings indicate that there is still some disagreement as to the extent of Maltese Audit Committee Effectiveness. The appointment of Audit Committee members is left to the discretion of the Board, which tends to appoint the Non-Executive Directive to the Audit Committees without sufficient considerations for their competences and possibly their effective independence. Additionally, Audit Committees might be over-burdened with extremely varied objectives and with insufficient resources for them to reach all such objectives. Practical Implications: Audit Committee meetings held by Maltese Listed Companies seem to surpass the minimum requirement stipulated by law and this is perceived to be contributing to their effectiveness. Moreover, although Internal Audit Functions are seen as fundamental for Audit Committees to reach their objectives, the lack of a statutory requirement to establish IAFs is probably negatively impacting Audit Committee Effectiveness. Originality/value: Finally, although there seems to be a general opinion that Audit Committees assessment is necessary, the introduction of tighter regulation, such as a statutory requirement to introduce an independent third party in such process, is likely to encounter opposition.

Sustainability and ecotourism principles adoption by leading ecolodges: learning from best practices

ABSTRACT This study identified best practices in the sustainable management of leading ecolodges around the world based on a qualitative content analysis of sustainability communications. Sixty-five top global ecolodges were identified and analyzed according to (1) independent third party ecolodge designations, and (2) a conceptual framework of ecolodges based on a rigorous definition of ecotourism, emphasizing a nature-based focus, education, sustainability (conservation and community involvement/benefits), and moral imperative dimensions. Key themes within these dimensions included biodiversity conservation, preserving socio-cultural heritage, improving social wellbeing, contributing to the local economy, learning opportunities for guests, influencing local attitudes, creating opportunities for visitors to get involved, sharing profits with local people, social justice, and seeking third-party recognition. This study contributes to the expanding base of literature on ecolodges by investigating best practices within each core dimension of ecotourism and evaluating these through corporate social responsibility and stakeholder theory perspectives.

UKİP’İN AVRUPA-ŞÜPHECİSİ TUTUMU VE BİRLEŞİK KRALLIĞIN AYRILIK REFERANDUMUNDAKİ ROLÜ

The United Kingdom continued to question some aspects of the European Union even after becoming a member state in 1973. The country’s uneasiness with the European Union increased significantly in the 1990s, when the European Union member states took significant steps to deepen the level of integration in response to the changing dynamics of the international politics. Never-ending unrest in the country eventually led to the withdrawal from the EU, commonly known as the Brexit, after a decision basing upon a referendum in 2016. This paper analyses the role of the United Kingdom Independence Party in the Brexit process till the end of the referendum of 23 June 2016. The study argues that concomitant operation of the current and historical dynamics produced the result of the Brexit.

Interview with Guido Rings: “We need intercultural solidarity if we want to survive and prosper in a world hit by ultranationalism”

As a master’s and Ph.D. student at Anglia Ruskin University in 2011, I recall the central message in lectures given by my eventual Ph.D. supervisor Professor Guido Rings was that we cannot underestimate the enduring strength of the legacy of colonialism in Europe and its influence on shaping contemporary attitudes towards immigration. Indeed, as I was completing my studies, I became increasingly aware of the negative rhetoric towards migrants in politics and right-wing press. In an attempt to placate the far-right of his party and address a growing threat from the UK Independence Party (UKIP), a discourse of ‘othernising’ migrants on the basis of their supposed rejection of ‘Britishness’ from former UK Prime Minister David Cameron in particular caught my attention. The result of this was tightening of immigration regulations, which culminated of course in the now-infamous Brexit vote of 2016. Almost a decade after my graduation, Professor Rings is currently Vice Chair for the Research Executive Agency of the European Commission and continues to work at Anglia Ruskin University at the level of Ph.D. supervisor. He still publishes widely in the field of Migration Studies and his recent high-profile book The Other in Contemporary Migrant Cinema (Routledge, 2016) and editorships in the fields of culture and identity (iMex Interdisciplinario Mexico) argue for increased intercultural solidarity in Europe as well as a strengthening of supranational organizations like the EU and the UN to offset growing nationalism. I got in touch with Professor Rings to find out where he feels Europe stands today with regard to migration and get his comments on the continued rise of nationalism on the continent.

Data on the Egyptian Collection of the National Museum of Transylvanian History. The contribution of Baron Balázs Orbán to the creation of the Egyptian Collection of the Cluj History Museum

"This paper aims to highlight the contribution of the famous Hungarian historian and ethnographer of Szekler origin Balázs Orbán, born in the village of Polonița, near Odorheiu Secuiesc, to the establishment of the Egyptian Collection of the Cluj History Museum, in the second half of the nineteenth century. Baron Balázs Orbán is best known for his main work, A Székelyföld leírása, published between 1868 and 1873. Its six volumes represent a genuine encyclopedia of the region. Balázs Orbán was a prominent intellectual of the era in which he lived – he was a writer, historian, ethnographer, a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy (since 1887), politician in the Independent Party, and a participant in the 1848 revolution. He had an adventurous life, reminiscent of the romantic novels of Mór Jókai or Victor Hugo. To the latter Balázs Orbán was linked by a beautiful friendship, largely due to their shared belief in the liberal and democratic ideas of the era in which they lived. This paper aims to present the years spent by Balázs Orbán in the Orient, as well as the cultural fruits of this period. In his youth, at the age of only 19, the future Hungarian scholar made a trip for several months to the Near East. On this occasion, he acquired a series of valuable Oriental artifacts, which he later donated to the Transylvanian Museum Society, the prestigious Transylvanian cultural institution founded by Count Imre Mikó in 1859, whose collections are preserved today in the heritage of the National Museum of Transylvanian History in Cluj‑Napoca."