Political Intervention Research Articles

Anti-corruption campaign and SOEs innovation: The role of the central inspection group in China

Using central inspections of China aimed at SOEs as a quasi-natural experiment, we investigate the causal effect of anti-corruption campaigns on the innovation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Based on the sample of China's SOEs, we find that the central inspections lead to an uplift in the quantity of SOE innovation at the expense of innovation quality. Further analysis indicates that owing to the unique motivation of political promotion, SOE managers improve the operation indicators valued by the government when subjected to political intervention in the shape of anti-corruption, such as the innovation quantity, referred to as the political monitoring mechanism. Eventually, there will be a decline in the quality of innovation that will supplement the long-term value of SOEs since the central inspection does not contribute to corporate governance.

Bhutan's Three-Pronged Strategy, Stifled Democracy and Human Rights Concerns

The assessment of human rights and social justice in Bhutan reveals numerous challenges. Developmental disparities are stark, with significant resources directed towards the western districts, home to the ruling elites. This exacerbates the development lag in the southern, eastern, and central districts. Tourism mainly benefits the western areas, concentrating the majority of tourists there and leaving limited opportunities for other regions. Gender inequality persists, with women underrepresented in political and leadership positions. Girls continue to face harassment in public, molestation in schools, and violence at home, without targeted political interventions. Ethnic minorities, religious groups, and residents of remote regions remain marginalized. Despite internal discontent and international pressure leading to a nominal political transition from an absolute monarchy to a democratic constitutional monarchy, the underlying power dynamics have not significantly shifted. There is a trend towards increased authoritarianism, surveillance, and opacity. Citizens advocating for democratic rights remain imprisoned for over three decades, despite the rulers' nominal embrace of democracy. While democratic institutions have been established, the monarchy wields more influence than before through the secret police (De-Suung), election interventions via the interim government, curtailing elected governments' autonomy, and preventing the introduction of ‘royal annuity bills’ in parliament to regulate the royal budget. This strategy has created a systematic authoritarian regime, cloaked as a constitutional monarchy for over sixteen years. Civil society organizations exist, but their leadership, often from the royal family, limits their effectiveness in addressing ordinary citizens' needs. These issues highlight profound governance, development, and gender equality challenges in Bhutan.

Initiation and delivery of comprehensive sexuality education in Japanese schools

ABSTRACT Access to good quality comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), while a fundamental right, is not provided everywhere. In Japan, children lack knowledge and skills relevant to their sexual and reproductive health and rights as CSE is not mandatory. Moreover, because of political intervention, the existing curriculum is insufficient, and teachers and schools are limited in providing CSE. This study explored the factors associated with the initiation and provision of CSE in Japan. A convenience sample of 251 school teachers was surveyed using a self-completed questionnaire. The teachers were asked about views and experiences related to CSE. Notably, 163 (64.9%) teachers reported experience delivering such education because their school had implemented CSE (67 out of 163, 41.1%) or their colleagues had invited them to do so (32, 19.6%). Membership in agroup that promotes CSE practice, having ≥ 20 years of teaching experience, and acknowledging the negative impact of an inadequate curriculum and political criticisms on CSE were strongly associated with the provision of CSE. Our study findings suggest that inviting new teachers and developing a positive environment is critical to increasing the provision of CSE, and criticism from conservative politicians cannot prevent teachers from doing so.

Association between secondhand smoke exposure and anxiety among adolescents: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

Adolescents are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke exposure. Mental health issues may be one of these negative consequences. This study aimed to explore the association between secondhand smoke exposure and anxiety among Korean adolescents. This study used the nationwide representative cross-sectional data obtained from the 4-year (2020-2023) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey. In total, 214514 individuals aged 12-18 years were included in this study (109910 males and 104604 females). Secondhand smoke exposure was assessed based on responses to questions concerning the days they were exposed (at home and in public places), while anxiety levels were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 scale. Multivariable logistic regression analysis divided by sex was performed to explore the association (p=0.0173 for interaction by secondhand smoke exposure and sex), and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Among the study population, 8.8% of the male and 15.6% of the female participants had anxiety. After adjusting for covariates, adolescents with secondhand smoke exposure had a higher likelihood of reporting anxiety than those without the exposure (male, OR=1.23; 95% CI: 1.16-1.29; female, OR=1.27; 95% CI: 1.21-1.33). In additional stratified analyses, this association was more prominent among those who were never smokers, were exposed for more days, and had severe levels of anxiety. This study found that secondhand smoke exposure was associated with anxiety in adolescents; hence, proper political interventions to reduce secondhand smoke exposure may be required.

The Cultural Tradition of Zombification in Haiti: An Example of Film White Zombie

The well-known narrative of zombies, the reanimated monsters of contemporary popular culture, can be traced back to the late 1960s, or more specifically to the release of the film Night of the Living Dead (1968) by American director George A. Romero. However, at the time of the film's inception the term zombie was already widely present in American popular culture: the cinematography of voodoo zombie, created in Haiti through magic and psychoactive substances, appeared in America in 1932, with the release of the film White Zombie, based on the travelogue The Magic Island (1929), by American missionary William Seabrooke. The paper initially points to the social and historical circumstances that led to the spread of zombies in Haiti: as the first independent nation of the Western Hemisphere, Haiti at the beginning of the twentieth century became the subject of American imperialist strategies and a threat to the maintenance of hegemony, therefore in the texts of colonial travel writers it was described as a nation of savagery, black magic, powerful voodoo cults, and the reanimated dead. Cultural and racist stereotypes that were transmitted to the United States justified the American "civilizing" mission, i.e. political and economic interventions. The role of zombies in Haiti was that of a slave, a profitable workforce, used by local urban elites, voodoo sorcerers, and colonial regimes since the eighteenth century. In this regard, my analysis highlights the ways in which White Zombie reproduces the established image of Haiti as an exotic place filled with mystery and dangers, adopts the dominant American viewpoints marked by discrimination and racism, and sets cultural norms of distinguishing between the civilized and the barbaric, whereby the white color of the skin reflects the norm of the civilized. To this end, the dialectic of slavery is emphasized in the film by the zombification of a young white woman, thus manifesting the tensions that existed between the imperialist powers and their "subjects" of enslavement, and emphasizing the unequal power relations between subordinate Haitian slaves and Westerners in high positions. Finally, the changes that have taken place over the decades of the zombie monster's development are highlighted: the zombie moves away from Haiti and approaches the modern world, and becomes a reanimated, highly infectious, cannibalistic monster of consumer society, that is, a monster of the global capitalist system.

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.

Catholic universities: Political power, cultural paradigms, and identity from early modernity to the ‘long 1960s’. A historical overview

This paper delves into the historical trajectory of Catholic universities, spanning from the early modern era to the 'long 1960s’, focusing on the development and change of their religious identities and mission amidst challenges posed by state intervention, secularization, and shifts within the Church and society. The analysis explores the reforms introduced in university governance by internal or external agents and the transformation of academic cultures influenced by intellectual or scientific trends, political intervention, ideological activism, and religious currents within Catholicism. Concurrently, it evaluates how these processes affected the capacity of Catholic universities to shape society and maintain a relevant presence in culture, offering responses rooted in Christian faith and heritage. To achieve this, four distinct periods are characterized: the expansion of early modern Catholic universities under the post-Tridentine paradigm; the decline of Catholic higher education amidst enlightened reforms, the French Revolution, and the development of national university systems in the early 19th century; the Ultramontane and neo-Thomist revival, leading to the development of a new model of Catholic universities (1840s–1950s); and the impact of the ‘long 1960s’ on the identity and ethos of Catholic universities.

“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.