Political Influence Research Articles

POWER SECTOR MANAGEMENT FAILURE AND LOAD SHEDDING IN ZAMBIA

This paper examines the management failures within Zambias power sector and their direct linkage to the persistent issue of load shedding. It highlights the critical role of ZESCO, the state-owned utility, in navigating financial constraints while attempting to meet the electricity demands of both domestic consumers and export contracts. The study identifies key factors contributing to load shedding, including inadequate infrastructure, demand forecasting failures, and political influences that prioritize short-term gains over sustainable energy solutions. Furthermore, the paper discusses the potential of diversifying energy sources, such as solar and wind, to mitigate reliance on hydroelectric power and enhance resilience against climate variability. Recommendations for comprehensive strategies to address the energy crisis and improve load management are provided, emphasizing the need for long-term planning and investment in renewable energy initiatives.

대한제국기 중앙군 병영 배치와 그 정치적 함의

After the Gabo Reform, the arrangement of modernized military barracks was closely linked to King Gojong's political leadership. As a result of the military reform, which took place amid the shrinking political influence of King Gojong during the Gabo Reform, the newly established Central Army (Hullyeon-dae) placed a barracks around the Jongmyo Shrine, far from Gyeongbok Palace, where King Gojong resided. As King Gojong regained political leadership with escape to Russian embassy, the barracks of the Central Army shifted their focus to Gyeongbok Palace. After returning to Gyeongun Palace, King Gojong established the Siwi-dae as his own guard corps, and along with the declaration of the Korean Empire, he began to increase the Central Army with the Chinwi-dae and the Siwi-dae as its two main axes. In addition, in the process of establishing Emperor Gojong's absolute imperial authority, the Military Headquarters (Wonsubu) were established in the palace, and the barracks of the Central Army were placed around Gyeongun Palace. After the Russo-Japanese War, Emperor Gojong's influence on the military rapidly weakened as Japanese troops were stationed in Seoul and large-scale disarmament of the Korean Imperial Army proceeded. The Japanese military took over the empty barracks due to disarmament, and as a result, the Korean Imperial Army was isolated in the center of the capital. This relocation of military barracks was one of the reasons why the Korean Imperial Army was disbanded so helplessly when the army was disbanded.

Jejak-Jejak Tertulis: Sejarah Pembukuan Hadis Dalam Islam

This study examines the development, controversy, and influence of hadith bookkeeping in the Islamic tradition from early times to modern contexts. Hadith, as the second source in the Islamic religious hierarchy after the Quran, played an important role in directing religious practice, the establishment of Islamic law, and understanding of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as well as the early period of Islam. Although it began soon after the death of the Prophet, the process of bookkeeping hadith has been marred by controversies surrounding authority, reliability, and methodology. These controversies include the validity of hadiths, the reliability of narrators, selection criteria, and methodologies of interpretation, as well as political and ideological influences in the bookkeeping process. Through a qualitative approach with literature studies, this study analyzes patterns, themes, and arguments that arise in literature related to history, methodology, and controversy in hadith bookkeeping. The results showed that hadith bookkeeping had a significant role in the development of Islamic thought and practice, despite methodological debates. Hadith bookkeeping remains an important cornerstone in the Islamic tradition, and the advice for the future is to maintain the quality and integrity of the hadith bookkeeping process and pay attention to various perspectives in interpreting and applying hadith in a contemporary context.

The Role of Political Skill in Bigg Boss: Strategies for Survival and Behavioral Competencies in Reality Show

This study investigates how political skill turns into success on Bigg Boss, an Indian reality TV show. Political skill, involving adaptability and influence, is known to be valuable in organizations, but its reach beyond business is unexplored. This study analyzes Bigg Boss Season 14 to address this gap. A purposive and convenience sampling method was utilized. Housemates’ behaviors were analyzed through content analysis with a summative approach, identifying five key aspects of political skill: influencing, sincerity, deceitfulness, social astuteness, and networking. Housemate statements were translated and analyzed to identify recurring themes and patterns. Correlations between these behaviors and success in the game were examined. Results showed a link between all five behaviors and success, suggesting housemates who exhibited them more often lasted longer. The winner displayed the most social astuteness, followed by sincerity, networking, influencing, and lastly, deceitfulness. These findings highlight that political skill, characterized by a strategic combination of social behaviors, is key to winning Bigg Boss. The study offers a broader understanding of political skill by demonstrating its applicability beyond business and emphasizing the importance of using these behaviors skillfully and adaptively. It also suggests connections to other academic fields, opening doors for future research.

Determinants of Sustainable Rural Community-based Value Chains

Failure to understand business from a value chain perspective was identified in the National Entrepreneurship Policy 2030 as one of the challenges that need to be addressed for an entrepreneur's sustainability. Value chains refer to the activities that add value at each stage in developing, producing, and delivering quality products to customers. This paper aims to identify the determinants of effective and sustainable factors that underpin rural community-based value chains in their business conduct. In achieving these objectives, the methodology includes a case study on the Warisan Dapur Lenggong Business Project in Lenggong, Malaysia, library searches, and an analysis of previous literature reviews on value chains and community-based small businesses. The finding shows that factors contributing to the success of rural entrepreneurs in value chains can be categorised into internal and external patterns. Internal individual factors include entrepreneurial culture, skills and knowledge, adaptability, continuous improvement and Innovation, networking and collaboration. In contrast, internal community factors include community, leadership, local association and staff support, value proposition and differentiation, financial management, community resilience and perseverance. In comparison, external factors include access to market information, technology and infrastructural limitations, political influence and government policy. This paper also hopes to strengthen the body of knowledge on how effective value chains help entrepreneurs achieve sustainable competitive advantage as one of the agenda for 2030 Sustainable Development and for making Malaysia a higher-income and civilised nation.

Bilateral investment treaties and investors’ social accountability: the law and praxis in South Asia

Purpose International investment law governs matters related to transnational investments. The extensive reach of transnational corporations (TNCs) has granted them substantial economic, political and social influence, often intertwining them with public interest issues and implications in human rights violations. This paper aims to explore the profound influence exerted by TNCs in today’s globalized world and its implications for human rights and social responsibility within the framework of international investment law. Particularly, it acknowledges the vulnerability of economically weak South Asian states and cites past instances such as the Bhopal gas tragedy in India and the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh as egregious violations of human rights. Focusing on South Asian bilateral investment treaties (BITs), this paper aims to examine the scope of investors’ social accountability. Design/methodology/approach This research engages with doctrinal and analytical methods in traversing through primary and secondary sources. It would parse the arbitral tribunals’ jurisprudence for their discussion on the inclusion of social accountability obligations within international investment agreements (IIAs). Further, it engages in a quantitative analysis related to the nature of the social accountability-related obligation of the corporation within South Asian BITs. Findings The findings reveal a glaring absence of the law on investors’ social accountability and the need for enhanced regulatory mechanisms to address the escalating influence of TNCs on human and social rights. The absence of a robust legal framework, coupled with the asymmetric nature of international investment law, granting investors greater rights and leverage compared to states, exacerbates this challenge. The phenomenon of “regulatory chill” inhibits states from effectively enforcing regulatory measures aimed at protecting human rights and the environment. Furthermore, the broad interpretation of clauses such as “fair and equitable treatment” by investment tribunals often undermines states’ ability to implement measures in the public interest. While international organizations such as the UNCTAD and the UNCITRAL Working Group III are actively discussing reforms to IIAs, the existing guidelines addressing investors’ social accountability are woefully lacking in the content as well as the method of their integration with international human rights law. The findings underscore the imperative for South Asian nations, the subject of this research’s empirical analysis, to adopt a comprehensive approach involving both domestic law reforms to promote corporate social accountability and active pursuit of negotiations for the inclusion of binding social obligations for investors within IIAs. Practical Implications This research, drawing upon international law developments, offers suggestions for incorporation of social accountability provisions via relevant domestic law reform. The research could be viewed as a prelude for mapping the legal developments in the area of investors’ social accountability within investment agreements, as well as investment contracts, drawing guidance from international law instruments. Originality/Value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no other study analysed the scope of investors’ social accountability in South Asian BITs.

The politics of Gulf foreign aid: from survival and solidarity to political and military influence

This article critically examines the shifting dynamics of foreign aid politics within the Gulf states. Historically rooted in cultural factors and solidarity with Arab and Muslim nations, foreign aid from prominent donors such as the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait has undergone a profound transformation. Their aid has evolved from solidarity aid into an effective instrument of foreign policy, used strategically to project power and expand regional influence. This shift has not only redefined the role of Gulf countries in international and regional politics but has also catalysed the transformation of states in the broader Middle East. This article, therefore, seeks to answer the following two questions: (1) How do we explain the evolution of the politicisation of Gulf foreign aid? and (2) To what extent has the provision of Gulf foreign aid been a crucial determinant of changing regional dynamics in the Middle East, particularly since the Arab uprisings in 2011? It argues that Gulf donors have become crucial power brokers, shaping the politics and trajectories of key states such as Egypt post 2011. Their substantial financial assistance has proven instrumental in steering political and socio-economic transformations, highlighting the pivotal role of Gulf aid in shaping regional affairs.

Historical Perspectives on Older Americans’ Voting and Political Influence: Explorations of the Effects of Individual Aging, Life Cycle, and Generational Cohort

Historical Perspectives on Older Americans’ Voting and Political Influence: Explorations of the Effects of Individual Aging, Life Cycle, and Generational Cohort

Becoming Modern and Secular: A Review Essay on Recent Work on Islam and South Asia

Abstract The Muslims of South Asia are more than five hundred million people, distributed between Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, and there are more Muslims in South Asia than in any other region in the world. After Indonesia, which is the largest Muslim country in the world, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are the second, third, and fourth largest Muslim countries, respectively. Although the prevalent approach in the study of Islam is to consider its so-called Arab character as central, the Muslims in pre-Partition India constituted the largest body of Muslims in the world, and the vast political and intellectual influence exerted by South Asian Muslims on the wider Muslim world is often neglected. Many of the most important political, intellectual, and spiritual developments within Islam have had their origins, or have flourished, in South Asia, and Muslims from the region have played important roles in the global history of Islam, including during the colonial period, in resistance to colonial rule, and in intellectual responses to and dialogue with Western thought. Pakistan was specifically created to provide a homeland for South Asia’s Muslim population and its trials and tribulations over the past seventy-five years have been carefully watched by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Muslims constitute India’s largest minority, with an often uneasy—to say the least—relationship to the majority. In the context of the three books under discussion, I explore issues, such as secularism, modernity, and religion, and their impacts on the conception of the nation-state that was promoted during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as an expression of political modernity.

Influence of citizen relationship management system on citizen participation in Taiwan: A participatory politics perspective

Although studies have investigated the development of citizen relationship management (CRM) systems in various cities, no understanding exists regarding how CRM systems operate and how they influence citizen participation. Moreover, limited studies have been conducted regarding the political factors that influence citizen participation through CRM systems. Drawing from data obtained through interviews with key stakeholders involved in the implementation of a CRM system in Taiwan, the present study comprehensively analyzed the primary political characteristics and effects of this system, outlined the political factors influencing system use, and formulated suggestions for mitigating the influence of politics on the system. The findings reveal that the development of the citizen relationship management system was constrained by potential political factors in public policy development. These factors included the dynamics of power relations between citizens and local governments, the politicization of policy processes, conflicts in policy decision-making models involving top-down and bottom-up approaches, the political intentions and motives of stakeholders, and the influence of potential policy actors. Considering the case of the Taiwanese citizen relationship management system, this study provides suggestions and guidance for policymakers aiming to minimize political influence on citizen participation, with a focus on tailoring these approaches to meet the specific public service needs of citizens.

Political economy of immigration policy: direct versus indirect political influence

Political economy of immigration policy: direct versus indirect political influence

Exploring Youth's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Readiness Towards Implementation of Undi18 in Batang Padang District, Perak

The amendment to the Federal Constitution in 2019, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18, sparked discussions on the preparedness and maturity of individuals in this age group to participate in elections. Recognizing the necessity for a comprehensive political communication strategy to effectively engage and prepare youth, a structured framework with a defined objective has been developed. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and readiness among youth in the Batang Padang district regarding voting at age 18, and analyse the factors influencing their participation. Using a quantitative approach, the study employs a questionnaire as its primary instrument, gathering responses from a sample of 462 individuals aged 18 to 20 in the Batang Padang district, Perak. The findings reveal a commendable level of knowledge among youth, albeit with a moderate attitude and readiness towards voting. Furthermore, the study identifies motivating factors for youth participation in voting, including personal responsibility, political party influence, peer interactions, the impact of social media influencers, and family influence. This research aims to provide valuable insights and empirical data to stakeholders, aiding in the development of targeted strategies to engage and prepare youth for active participation in the nation's democratic processes.

A history of advocacy in breast cancer: lessons for all of us in putting advocacy to work - or 'how to just get things done!'

Advocacy in breast cancer has a history going back eight decades, influencing funding for research, giving women a voice in their treatment, and helping destigmatise the disease and its management. We aim to outline this trajectory. This is a retrospective historical narrative. We have identified a number of prominent women diagnosed with breast cancer who have had significant political influence and describe the grassroots movement of patient advocacy groups who now have a seat at the policy table and are integral to the research agenda. We also report on how as surgeons we can advocate for better treatments and care pathways, and importantly help build the evidence-base to inform better practice and policy. Surgical advocacy and consumer advocacy have led to huge improvements in management and outcomes for those affected by breast cancer.

Halting and re-issuing of the Zambia community health strategy (2017–2021): a retrospective analysis of the policy process and implications for community health systems

BackgroundOver the years, low-and middle-income countries have adopted several policy initiatives to strengthen community health systems as means to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC). In this regard, Zambia passed a Community Health Strategy in 2017 that was later halted in 2019. This paper explores the processes that led to the halting and re-issuing of this strategy with the view of drawing lessons to inform the development of such strategies in Zambia and other similar settings.MethodsWe employed a qualitative case study comprising 20 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders who had participated in either the development, halting, or re-issuing of the two strategies, respectively. These stakeholders represented the Ministry of Health, cooperating partners and other non-government organizations. Inductive thematic analysis approach was used for analysis.ResultsThe major reasons for halting and re-issuing the community health strategy included the need to realign it with the national development framework such as the 7th National Development Plan, lack of policy ownership, political influence, and the need to streamline the coordination of community health interventions. The policy process inadequately addressed the key tenets of community health systems such as complexity, adaptation, resilience and engagement of community actors resulting in shortcomings in the policy content. Furthermore, the short implementation period, lack of dedicated staff, and inadequate engagement of stakeholders from other sectors threatened the sustainability of the re-issued strategy.ConclusionThis study underscores the complexity of community health systems and highlights the challenges these complexities pose to health policymaking efforts. Countries that embark on health policymaking for community health systems must reflect on issues such as persistent fragmentation, which threaten the policy development process. It is crucial to ensure that these complexities are considered within similar policy engagement processes.

Political Inequality

Inequality in political participation and influence has strongly increased in recent decades, breeding economic inequality. In this review, we focus on three aspects of political inequality: the increasing concentration of both political and charitable donations, the growing gap in descriptive representation, and the persistent lack of substantive representation. Based on the existing literature as well as on novel evidence, we relate these aspects to the recent widening of turnout inequality. We then examine novel forms of participation—e.g., the rise of small donors in the United States—and the efficiency of policies aimed at improving representation. Finally, we discuss new avenues for research.

Does firm-level political risk influence earnings management?

Does firm-level political risk influence earnings management?

Rally around the flag? Explaining changes in Swedish public opinion toward NATO membership after Russia's invasion of Ukraine

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden changed its historic position of non-alignment and applied for membership in the NATO military alliance. This decision coincided with a shift in public opinion in favor of NATO membership, in what has been described as the largest and fastest shift in public opinion that has ever been measured in Swedish history. We examine two aspects of this “rally around the flag effect” to explain this change, the effect of the crisis event itself and the effect of political elite influence by analyzing within-individual changes of a Swedish university student population at three different time points. We find that after the Russian invasion but before the decision was made to join NATO, public opinion was still split with roughly 40% still opposed. However, after the decision was made to apply for membership to the alliance many people changed their position (32%), either making up their minds or switching position entirely. We show that these changes were likely in response to the decision to join, and that they were moderated by individuals’ previously established political preferences.

State Contexts for a Public Health Emergency: The Divergence of Politics and Administration in COVID-19 Vaccination Rates

Amid the array of challenges prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the policy response of governments proved vital. Different states in the U.S. pursued varied policy approaches that demonstrated distinct divergences in impact. Particularly, contrasting state contexts produced markedly assorted frameworks for the delivery of public health services, which indicate potential effects for COVID-19 policy implementation. Using the rates of COVID-19 vaccination as a measure of policy execution, the purpose of this study is to examine the political and administrative influences contributing to differences in COVID-19 public health policy outcomes among the states in the U.S. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models included data sources of nationally representative information pertaining to state public health attributes of politics and administration during the height of the pandemic and vaccine campaign. The findings suggest that state political leadership and fiscal capacity display significant associations with COVID-19 vaccination disparities, while other administrative indicators did not. The results signal important policy implications for the politics–administration dynamic within the COVID-19 pandemic and offer further understanding toward the roles of federalism and governance in future public health emergencies.

O conceito de território na perspectiva dos estudos agrários sobre povos e comunidades tradicionais: Diálogos e reflexões

The paths taken by the concept of territory in the field of the history of geography are marked by social, political and theoretical-methodological influences that affected the ways of thinking about geography and the role played by territory in social dynamics. In this sense, authors such as Haesbaert (2019), Saquet (2020), Gottmann (2012), Claval (1999), Andrade (2004), among others, discuss in depth the paths taken by the concept of territory in geography, bringing elements that help us understand the approaches that the concept has obtained throughout the history of geography, which are influenced by more structural conjunctures, such as the epistemological changes and transformations generated in the scope of social reality, as Claval (1999) points out. That said, the objective of the present research is to analyze the approaches to the concept of territory in research that discusses indigenous peoples and quilombola communities in selected texts. In the methodological scope, we highlight that the research is based on the content analysis, according to Bardin (2022), of works published in the annals of the International Symposium on Agrarian Geography (SINGA), between the years 2003 and 2019, totaling nine editions analyzed. In the field of research results, we identified the presence of different approaches to the concept of territory in the research, notably from multidimensional, relational and integrative conceptions of the concept of territory proposed by different geographers, such as Rogério Haesbaert, Claude Raffestin, Marcos Aurélio Saquet, Milton Santos, Ariovaldo Umbelino de Oliveira, Bernardo Mançano Fernandes, Joël Bonnemaison, Maria Geralda de Almeida and Carlos Walter Porto-Gonçalves, among others. Finally, in the framework of the conclusions of the research, we detected that within the research framework adopted, there is a centrality of the concept of territory as an important element in the study of indigenous peoples and quilombola communities, a fact that, in a way, reflects the importance that the concept has been gaining in the field of agrarian studies.

Exploring Stakeholders’ Perspectives on the Barriers to the Application of Cost-Reduction Techniques in Public Higher Educational Building Delivery

The assessment of barriers to the application of cost-reduction techniques in delivering educational buildings in Nigeria is essential in addressing the infrastructural shortage, building performance, delay, cost, time overrun, and abandonment in the delivery of higher educational buildings (HEBs). This study examines barriers to applying cost-reduction techniques in educational buildings in southwestern Nigeria. Using a survey design, the questionnaire was distributed to stakeholders who participated in delivering the government intervention, private donors, and internally generated revenue educational buildings in public tertiary institutions in southwestern Nigeria from 2012 to 2022. A total of 150 copies of the questionnaire were administered, while 133 responses were obtained and analyzed. To begin with, data reliability and validity were examined using Bartlett’s sphericity, Cronbach’s alpha, and Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) tests, accordingly, followed by descriptive, Kruskal–Wallis H test, and exploratory factor analysis. The six components obtained from exploratory factor analysis for explaining the barriers to applying cost-reduction techniques in educational buildings were as follows: ambiguity in HEB contracts awards and project executions, lack of control from the HEIs management over HEB project delivery, perceived political influence in HEB procurement, unrealistic contract requirements and change orders, non-prioritization of automation integration in HEB delivery, and deficiencies in contract documents and costing. This study recommends establishing a project-monitoring team involving independent consultants from project inception to reduce excessive errors, practices of assigning contracts to the lowest bidder, and excessive claims for variation orders that escalate the project’s final sum.