Political Intervention Research Articles

Public Discourse on the Israel‐Hamas War 2023: A Comparative Analysis of Lithuania and the United Kingdom

AbstractThe conflict between the Israeli government and Hamas escalated on 7th October 2023, with the media playing an unprecedented role in shaping the perceptions and narratives surrounding the ongoing tensions. The portrayal by the media, often mirroring global viewpoints and biases, has significantly influenced public opinion and international stances, serving as a catalyst for political, diplomatic, and humanitarian interventions. The aim of the study is to analyze the formation of discourse on the Israel‐Hamas war (2023) within the media landscapes of Lithuania and the United Kingdom, emphasizing the role of national broadcasters and uncovering the primary disparities in the information provided by online news portals lrt.lt and bbc.com. Employing the qualitative content analysis method, the study provides comprehensive insights into the subject matter. Moreover, it highlights the approaches of the Lithuanian and UK governments towards security discourse in Europe and their concerns regarding humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip. The study is relevant to shed light on how political decisions and public opinion influence the international community's support for various actors in the conflict, including the manifestation of Islamophobic and antisemitic sentiments.

Remote hand: Cross-regional SASAC holdings and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from China

The simultaneous existence of government intervention and support for state-owned enterprises makes it difficult to study the relationship between government involvement and business efficiency. Drawing on China's emerging and widely developed cross-regional state-owned holding patterns, this study examines the impact of reduced political intervention on the investment efficiency of local state-owned enterprises (SOEs) when resource support is constant. We demonstrate that the geographic separation of SASAC and SOEs contributes to corporate investment efficiency and that this effect works mainly through the reduction of political pressure and the optimisation of corporate governance. This confirms the existence of the government's grabbing effect on businesses from an opposite perspective.

From an arasta bazaar to a piyasa street: the transformation of Direklerarası in Ottoman Istanbul from the 1720s to the 1920s

This article examines the transformation of Direklerarası Street, located on Istanbul’s historical Divanyolu, from the 1720s to the 1920s. Originally built in 1729 as an arasta to generate revenue for Ibrahim Pasha’s madrasa, it featured an innovative architectural style comprising rows of shops facing each other and colonnaded sidewalks. It served as a commercial and social centre for the Janissary Corps until their abolition in 1826. Around the 1860s, Direklerarası integrated into the entertainment and social milieu surrounding Beyazıt Square, particularly during the Ramadan months, and evolved into the primary promenade street of intramural Istanbul with the proliferation of literary cafés, teahouses, and theatres from the 1880s onwards. However, starting from the 1910s, changing socio-cultural and urban dynamics led to the decline of Direklerarası’s reputation and popularity. Conceptualizing Direklerarası as both a spatial entity and a reflection of the cultural dynamics of the late Ottoman capital, this article scrutinizes its transformation driven by social interactions, local entrepreneurship, and political interventions, focusing on spatial experiences, entertainment, spectacle, promenade culture, and clientele.

The representation of disability in the Italian media: The case of Ansa

The representation of disability in the media significantly influences the social perception of disability among the general population, as well as among individuals with disabilities themselves. This study focuses on the case of Ansa, the primary Italian press agency, to examine its portrayal of disability and persons with disabilities in the year 2022. Through the content analysis of a corpus comprising 1692 articles collected via keyword search, the research aims to draw a ‘map’ that can describe the disability narrative conveyed by Ansa. Key findings highlight Ansa’s narrative as displaying a form of under-representation of disability. Physical and mobility disabilities dominate the discourse, adhering to the common mediatic ‘hierarchy of disabilities’. But even more clearly, Ansa’s representation tends to be generic, abstract and lacking in specificity, thus presenting disability as a depersonalised and collective label. The narratives predominantly revolve around political interventions, funding, and institutional aid, with limited attention given to personal life stories that rarely attain national news status. Ultimately, the agency’s portrayal appears as a narrative of disability without the disabled persons, representing the phenomenon as a systemic issue that can be resolved through public frameworks and policies, with no direct involvement of those affected. This reinforces the notion that disability is a depersonalised problem that always needs external solutions.

Toward the identification of laggard rural areas: an evolutionary resilience approach

ABSTRACT Based on the evolutionary resilience approach and using Principal Component Analysis, this paper proposes a composite weighted index to measure levels of rural resilience and, in addition, to unravel why some rural areas are less resilient than others. Taking the region of Cantabria (northern Spain) at the municipal level as a sort of ‘laboratory’, the overall results unveil poor levels of resilience and suggest that the main factors limiting resilience are related to cultural interest, rural potential, natural endowment, and connectivity. Our findings also reveal considerable spatial heterogeneity across the different domains of resilience. As a specific contribution, the study brings together rural resilience levels and population growth (as population decline is the first direct consequence of a lack of resilience) in order to define different categories of rural territories, among which laggard rural areas are singled out as areas to be targeted for political intervention. When focusing on such areas, a crucial finding of the paper is that some municipalities that are lagging behind have not been included by the Regional Government as being at severe risk of depopulation, meaning that they cannot benefit from close public monitoring and fiscal support.

Power and Political Influence in Sports in Indonesia: A Literature Review

This research aims to analyze the power and political influence in sports in Indonesia. In this study, the author used a qualitative approach with data collection techniques through literature review. The results of the study showed that power and political influence greatly affect the development of sports in Indonesia, from the development of infrastructure, organization of sporting events, to the recruitment of athletes and coaches. Political influence also affects the integrity of sports, such as doping cases and cheating in competitions. In addition, power and political influence can have a negative impact on athletes and coaches, such as political intervention in technical decisions and the appointment of incompetent people as sports administrators. However, there have been several efforts made by the government and society to reduce the negative impact of power and political influence in sports, such as the formation of independent institutions and increasing awareness of sports integrity. Therefore, the conclusion of this study is that it is important to pay attention to the role and political influence in the development of sports in Indonesia, as well as taking appropriate steps to maintain integrity and minimize the negative impact of power and political influence in sports.

Nonhuman humanitarians: animal interventions in global politics

Nonhuman humanitarians: animal interventions in global politics

Coup d’états in Africa: A cure or prophylactic for good governance?

Military Coups in Africa share a “cause-and-effect” relationship with civilian mal-administration, by way of the military auditing, disrupting and helping to arrest or capture, and re-organize defective governance system in politically sick-nations. This aim appears consistent with the mandate of the Military to serve, protect and defend the national interests, therefore, turning coups into constitutional cure and prophylactic? The analysis in this paper is conducted under the concept of Military-Coup-Symbiosis: consisting of mutualism, commensalism and parasitism. Military-Coup-Symbiosis espouses the cyclical nature of military-takeovers, and the beneficial effects on democracy in general. It also rationalizes the justification why coups are bound to co-exist with civilian governments, for as long as political leaders continue to support and engage in De-democratization processes, exhibiting inimical conducts such as neopatrimonialism, and non-meritorious job recruitment and promotions. This paper investigates the possible curative qualities of military coups on good governance by posing as perpetual threat caution to democracy, and the normative values as political prophylactic to arrest and prevent potential leadership abuses. The ultimate question is how military interventions in politics can be harnessed to clean up mal-administration in politically sick-nations?

“The dead do not negotiate”: Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, and Britain’s obsession with history

ABSTRACT Why do we remember the dead with such intensity in Britain, as if they were still among us? I argue that Hilary Mantel makes a critical intervention in this debate with her historical fictions Wolf Hall (2009), Bring Up the Bodies (2012) and The Mirror and the Light (2020). Her novels are theoretical and political interventions that allow us to critically evaluate historiographic, heritage and commemorative practices in contemporary Britain. I argue that they demonstrate the harmful consequences of commemorations centred around the continuous revival of the dead, because this practice justifies injuries against and negligence of the living through an appeal to imagined ancestors, who cannot engage in compromise or change their minds. This mode of knowing the past results in social standstill and the perception of social and political change as a threat. Thinking through the characteristics of this historical epistemology with Martin Davies, Walter Benjamin and Friedrich Nietzsche, I go on to argue that Hilary Mantel’s intervention exposes the violent consequences of such a mode of knowing the past and proposes a radical alternative: rather than negotiating with the dead, it reminds us to focus on the needs of the vulnerable living in the present.

“Who Needs a Marvel Superhero When You’ve Got Molly Johnson?”: Country and Maternal Agency in Leah Purcell’s Adaptations of “The Drover’s Wife”

ABSTRACT This article explores Goa-Gunggari-Wakka Wakka Murri artist Leah Purcell’s recent multigenre project, “The Legend of Molly Johnson”. Beginning as an adaptation of Henry Lawson’s “The Drover’s Wife”, the project fundamentally defamiliarises and subverts Lawson’s story from the standpoint of an Aboriginal woman. Evolving across different genres—from play to novel and film—Purcell’s project is a unique case of adaptation, identity-making and transmedia world-building. This article considers Purcell’s adaptations as a form of franchise storytelling, and central to her cultural and political interventions is the figure of Molly Johnson. As an iconic Aboriginal heroine, Molly is empowered by her deep connection with Country and her role as a mother. Central to the narrative is the theme of maternalism, which allows Purcell to weave her personal experiences and family history into the character of Molly, who encapsulates the strength and resilience of generations of Aboriginal women. Purcell’s “Drover’s Wife” project also mounts an intersectional critique of mainstream White feminism through the juxtaposition of Molly and Louisa Clintoff, a character introduced in the novel and film versions.

A Qualitative Study on the Influencing Factors of E-Government Adoption to Improve Public Trust in Local Government: Case Study of Rokan Hulu Municipality

Amidst global public trust challenges, e-government emerges as a promising solution to bolster trust. In Indonesia, rural areas face obstacles hindering effective e-government implementation. This paper explores Rokan Hulu Municipality's initiatives, aiming to understand e-government's impact on public trust at the rural/district level, bridging critical knowledge gaps. This study employs a qualitative approach to investigate the factors influencing e-government adoption. Primary data is gathered through interviews with key stakeholders, supplemented by secondary data from organizational documents. Employing open and axial coding, this study organizes findings to the Technology-Organization-Environment framework. Within the technological dimension, obstacles such as infrastructure; integration and interoperability; data security and confidentiality; and service providers, third parties, or vendors emerge as significant barriers. In the organization dimension, culture, organizational capability, budget constraints, human resource quality, perceptions, bureaucracy, and strategy become challenges, with organizational capability and strategy showing mixed impacts due to incomplete initiatives and limited inter-agency coordination. In environment dimension, digital divide, regulatory availability, and public participation become inhibiting factors, while political intervention becomes the driving factor.

Turkey’s Trust in the USA: Causes of the Criticised Alliance Member’s Approach

The article deals with Turkey's trust in the USA as its most important ally in NATO. Semi-structured interviews with Turkish academics and international relations experts during field research identified three main areas of Turkish mistrust in the USA – the Cyprus question, USA support for the PYD/YPG in Syria, and USA intervention in Turkish politics. The research results presented in the causal network show that the main cause of Turkish mistrust towards the USA is the factors leading to the phenomenon of fear of abandonment. That causes Turkey's increased need for independence from strategic partners and the subsequent increase in the application of a balance policy. The study concludes that one of the main reasons for Turkey's current attitude towards NATO is the need to ensure its security, and this need stems from Turkey's mistrust of the USA.

Islamic Radicalisation in Bangladesh: An Analysis of Political Islamism in Bangladesh

Islamism in the modern world is clearly portrayed as a notion of religious extremism. Bangladesh on the other hand as a young developing nation finds its root into two different branches of ideology: Bengali cultural and Muslim ideology. The militant groups in Bangladesh have been found active recently specially after 2015 when international media spotted Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the Islamic State’s (IS) presence in the country. This study, however, aims at understanding the Islamic radicalisation in Bangladesh through the analysis of Islamist political and non-political groups’ functions and propaganda. In this article the ideas of Islamic radicalisation, mutations and role and function of Islamist militant as well as political group have been discussed. The role of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing in the radicalisation have been discussed. The disputed relationship of Jamaat and the radical extremists as well as ban on their politics have created a complex scenario in Bangladesh. The political polarisation and politicising of counter terrorism effort have weakened the government’s effort to tackle radical organisation. Honest and tolerant political intervention by welcoming different views regarding the solution of the radicalisation problem can help address it effectively.

Judicial Mafia and ecological in-justice: Obstacles to policy enforcement in Indonesian forest management and protection

Indonesia is among the eight nations with the greatest forests area in the world. One of the most powerful tools fighting global climate change is forest conservation. Appropriate, prudent, and practical regulations and policies are needed for the protection and preservation of forests. Therefore, Ecological justice-based environmental management is a concern for all nations in the world. To achieve this, regulations and policies must take into account the needs of both people and other forest ecosystem components. This article covers a range of Indonesian laws and policies of crimes related to forest destruction. It identifies three key challenges in achieving ecological justice. The first is the government's intervention and judicial mafia's involvement. The second is ineffective criminal penalties. Punishment for environmental destruction should employ an ecological perspective and a criminal system that promotes corrective justice, restorative justice, and rehabilitative justice. The final challenge is the dominance of political power and government intervention. Political interests influence the bureaucracy's changing tasks and responsibilities and cause the conflict of power.

Pembentukan dan Perkembangan Parmusi Cabang Padang Pariaman (1968-1971)

This study examines the formation and development of the Indonesian Muslim Party (Parmusi) Branch in Padang Pariaman during the period 1968-1971. Parmusi was established in 1968 with the goal of reviving the legacy of Masyumi, which was disbanded by Soekarno. The establishment of the Parmusi branch in Padang Pariaman was formalized through Decree Number 214/1/1968. Although initially expected to become a new political force, Parmusi faced various challenges, including intervention from the New Order government and Laksusda. Under the leadership of Raisuddin Muchtar and Alhadar Alam, Parmusi endeavored to consolidate support and participate in the 1971 elections, despite encountering electoral fraud and political pressure. Parmusi’s campaign and political activities were often closely monitored by intelligence and government officials. The results of the 1971 elections showed that Parmusi secured 7 seats in the Padang Pariaman Regional House of Representatives, although it remained under the dominance of Golkar. This study provides insights into local political dynamics and the struggles of an Islamic political party amid state surveillance and intervention.

Toward transgender health: Analysis of current barriers and theorizing interventions.

In the fields of medical and behavioral health care, there is a demonstrable scarcity of providers who possess the necessary levels of clinical and cultural competency required to serve transgender patients. As a result of this deficiency, many members of the transgender community engage in an avoidance of care. Among providers, there are observed deficiencies in awareness regarding specific acute and chronic health disparities experienced by members of the transgender population. We aim to demonstrate the unique and intersectional health disparities experienced by this community, to empower providers serving this community. Additionally, we endeavor to propose a range of potential clinical and political interventions and options for mobilization that providers can engage in. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Examining the Political Influences on School Governance in South Africa: A Case Study of the Zululand District

This research examines the impact of political party affiliations and interference on school management in the Zululand District of South Africa. Using an interpretive research approach and qualitative methods, including an extensive review of existing literature and data collection through interviews, the study conducts semi-structured interviews with 21 individuals from three public primary schools. It also explores the influence of political factors on School Governing Bodies (SGBs), including their involvement in party politics and the challenges they face in enhancing their capacities. The findings confirm significant political interference in school governance, particularly in rural areas where political affiliations influence decision-making. SGBs often align themselves with political parties, leading to governance inefficiencies and conflicts among parent governors. Through the lens of participatory democratic theory, the study reveals governance capture in rural schools, with discriminatory practices and corruption arising as consequences of political intervention. The recommendations call for empowering SGBs to navigate political pressures through policy reforms, ensuring autonomy for parent governors, and reassessing the permissible extent of political influence within the governance framework. Additionally, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) is urged to address socioeconomic factors exacerbating corruption and to uphold integrity within school governance structures. By addressing the influence of politics and enhancing transparency, the DBE can cultivate a more equitable and effective educational environment for rural South African students.

Notting Hill Carnival and Rock Against Racism: converging cultures of resistance during late 1970s Britain

ABSTRACT The Notting Hill Carnival and Rock Against Racism were two of the most significant cultural and political movements of the mid-to-late 1970s. While the two movements had numerous contact points, academia has hitherto viewed them in isolation. In contrast, this article examines three areas of convergence that Rock Against Racism held with the Notting Hill Carnival to assess whether their connectedness advanced the struggle against racism in Britain. The first point of convergence relates to how the two cultural forms interlaced politics and culture in response to a racially charged hostile environment in the mid-1970s. Secondly, contesting social space became a central tactic of the respective movements’ cultural and political interventions. Finally, in responding to the challenges of incorporating and representing young people, the two movements became platforms which engendered cross-pollination between black and white youth subcultures, strengthening antiracist solidarity. The article utilises data from qualitative interviews and archival research.

Constructing the Local in Madagascar: Resistance and Politics of Scale

ABSTRACT Madagascar has historically served as an experimental ground for various externally led political and economic interventions and ideologies. This article uses the concept of scale to explore how these interventions have contributed to (re)defining and manipulating the local in Madagascar, at both epistemological and material levels. By focusing on three key periods (colonialism, post-independence socialist and communist policies, and contemporary peace processes), we show that the local in Madagascar has been associated with multiple, sometimes conflicting practices and interpretations, but that these understandings also constitute a source of power and resistance for Malagasy actors, possibly contributing to recurrent conflicts.

Navigating a world in conflict: The mental health implications of contemporary geopolitical crises

ABSTRACT Throughout history, armed conflicts have profoundly affected individuals and societies, with recent events in Ukraine, the Middle East, and beyond bringing into sharp focus the severe mental health and humanitarian consequences of geopolitical crises. Such situations often result in mass fatalities, destruction, displacement, forced migration, and other critical life events. Amid these scenarios, the adverse outcomes for mental health and well-being in both the short and long term must be emphasized. As a conceivable example of the latter, the proposed concept of intergenerational trauma could have far-reaching implications. In particular, in certain regions, civilians have repeatedly experienced instances of violence and may have continually been exposed to critical life events and traumatic stress. In this context, the consequences of these events for individual well-being and global mental health will likely be registered for years to come. Accordingly, urgent help and actions to address the mental health burdens within contemporary conflicts should be accentuated in humanitarian, political, and diplomatic interventions. Equally, health policies must adopt a long-term approach to support initiatives under the purview of global and public mental health objectives.