Political Interests Research Articles

'I don't believe in the neutrality of research. OK?' Mapping researchers' attitudes toward values in science.

Background: Codes of conduct for research integrity provide ambivalent guidance on the role that the values of society as well as political and economic interests can or should play in scientific research. The development of clearer guidance on this matter in the future should consider the attitudes of researchers.Methods: We conducted 24 semi-structured interviews with holders of grants from the European Research Council and performed an inductive thematic analysis thereof.Results: We developed 4 themes reflecting 4 main attitudes of researchers toward the interactions between values and science: awareness, concern, confidence, and embracement. While interviewees recognized that science is not completely value-free (awareness), they still seemed to hold on to the so-called value-free ideal of science as a professional norm to minimize bias (concern, confidence). However, they showed awareness of the beneficial influence that values like diversity can have on research (embracement).Conclusions: Codes such as the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity tend not to problematize the tensions that emerge from having the value-free ideal of science as a norm and being guided by the values of society. Our findings suggest the time might be ripe for research integrity codes to address more directly the value issues intrinsic to science.

Balancing power and prosperity: China’s geo-economic engagement with the Gulf Cooperation Council

Since the 1990s, China’s engagement beyond its geographical periphery, especially with Asian regions, has grown exceptionally, which is best evident in the Gulf sub-region and Western Asian nations. Indeed, energy-based interactions were the first to be established with Gulf Arab countries, and today, more than two decades after the Cold War, such relationships have evolved into tighter partnerships and engagement networks. Thus, in the last decade, China has increased its economic and political footprint in the Gulf region, as it has become one of the region’s largest external investors and trade partners. In its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, China faces varying challenges as each country pursues its interests, making the Chinese strategy in the region more complex. The Gulf countries have had to balance their relationship between the US as a security guarantor and China as an important economic partner. They strive to maximize their political and economic interests in the process. The main contention of this paper is that the GCC should not be viewed as a homogenous entity and that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a flexible approach designed to bolster China’s economic objectives in each Gulf country. Our research scrutinizes China’s geo-economic strategy and geopolitical aims about the Gulf States’ aspirations to maximize their economic ties with China. Against this background, this paper discusses the political and economic relationships between the People’s Republic of China and the Gulf Arab states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Extracting Political Interest Model from Interaction Data Based on Novel Word-level Bias Assignment

In democratic countries, political interest is deeply involved in people's daily lives. Research in political consumerism shows that product purchase decision is also influenced by the political orientation of the consumer. In traditional recommendation system design, user interest in an item is provided by a unified model. Recently, interest disentanglement methods have been introduced. It is shown that by disentangling interest factors such as conformity and private interest, recommendation performance can be significantly improved. However, few studies attempt to disentangle political interest in purchase behavior, which is bipolar. In this paper, we propose a method to extract political interest model from e-commerce interaction data, which is supported by a novel word-level political bias assignment. For the bias assignment part, we improved a political bias distilling method. For the political interest model extraction part, we extend a one-side bias method to make it support bipolar bias. We compare our method with state-of-the-art baseline methods in several evaluation settings, and the experimental results show that our method can achieve superior performance. Further investigation shows that our method is consistent with theories of political consumerism.

‘제주환경보전분담금(관광세)’ 제도 도입과정 분석 : 정책흐름모형(PSM)의 적용

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has been reviewing the introduction of a tourism system related to a Tourism Tax for the environmental conservation of tourist destinations since 2012. However, the system, now referred to as the ‘Environmental Conservation Contribution,’ was ultimately postponed in May 2024 due to legal issues, political interests, negative public opinion regarding the system’s introduction, and a lack of supporting evidence. This study analyzes the process through the application of Kingdon(1984)’s Policy Streams Model(PSM), noting that discussions surrounding the ‘Jeju Environmental Conservation Contribution’, which faced long-standing challenges, did not follow a rational policy process due to differences in stakeholder opinions and the fluid nature of the system’s details. The anaylsis identified two main factors congributing to the difficulty in introducing the Jeju Environmental Conservation Contribution System. First, the window for policy decision-making did not open because the problem stream, policy alternatives stream, and political stream were not aligned, largely due to the insufficient formation of the political stream. Second, the policy leader who held significant influence in aligning these three streams, were unable to strongly lead the introduction of the system to it’s conclusion. Based on the research results, the practical implications of this study are as follows. First, for the successful implementation of the system, political efforts to persuade the public and shape public opinion are essential. Additionally, effective policy PR strategies are needed to foster social consensus through negotiations with multilateral consultative bodies and to enhance public awareness of the system. Second, it suggests that a logical and reasonable design that can change and persuade public perception is necessary when designing policy alternatives. Third, policy leaders should lead changes in the national atmosphere and public opinion formation based on professional knowledge and resources, and combine the three streams of the policy formation process with innovative strategies. The academic contribution of this study is that it lies in its application of empirical research using policy theory in the field of tourism studies, by clearly identifying the complex factors and problems involved in the introduction of the tourism system. Furthermore, this study enhances the clarity and objectivity of the analysis by refining the factors analyzed in the existing Policy Streams Model.

Framing HIV and AIDS in competitive authoritarian democracies. Case study of the print press in Mozambique, 1986–2020

Mozambique has the sixth highest prevalence of HIV in the world and ranks fourth in new infections. The government-owned print press Notícias has played an important role in the social construction of HIV and AIDS in the country as it was entrusted with the role of disseminating HIV and AIDS information to the public since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country in 1986. Using Notícias’ articles and frame analysis perspective, the article analyses the way Notícias has framed HIV and AIDS in the country since the late 1980s. The choice of media results from the fact that the way a phenomenon is constructed influences the way it is understood, as well as the way people may behave before it. The study found that Notícias’ frames on HIV and AIDS have suffered from a threefold tension: the need to maintain the Frelimo government’s former centralised and grassroots-orientated socialist ideology of health services in the context of the liberal market; the need to balance the influence of the global multilateral and bilateral actors and the Frelimo government’s political interest of translating HIV and AIDS response to the Mozambican context; and the need to portray a nationalist and positive image of the government’s performance in HIV and AIDS response before Mozambique’s non-fully plausible societal practices for an effective HIV and AIDS response. In a top-down approach, Notícias’ frames reflect not only the African post-independence ancillary and nationalist role of government-owned print press but also the power of global actors. Less is done from the societal bottom-up perspective.

Young people’s civic engagement in Italy: evidence on grade 8 students from the international civic and citizenship education study (ICCS) 2016

Civic engagement represents a key aspect of a democratic society and is itself a multidimensional construct. Research has shown that the promotion of civic engagement is an important component of civic and citizenship education intended in a broad sense, pertaining to formal, non-formal and informal learning situations. Within a national scenario characterised by increasing levels of general institutional disaffection and a lack of electoral and political involvement, the recent reform in the area of civic and citizenship education (Law 92/2019) has led to lively debates on the status of its implementation in Italian schools and recent research at the national level has highlighted the lack of activities to promote students’ engagement. This study further investigates the ICCS 2016 findings on civic engagement of Italian students with two objectives: to identify possible groups of Italian eighth-grade students on the basis of their level of civic engagement and to examine the associations among these groups and some key factors reflecting school contexts and students’ attitudes and behaviours. To reach these goals, the data analyses encompassed a latent profile analysis and a logistic regression model. The latent profile analysis allowed the identification of three groups of Italian students: disengaged, moderately engaged and engaged students. The results of the regression model showed that engaged students were characterised by a higher level of citizenship self-efficacy. These findings confirm those of previous research on the key role of internal self-efficacy in promoting students’ civic engagement.

Manusia Dalam Logika Politik di Era Media Digital

Political praxis in the digital media era often contains biases in understanding human dignity. This article wants to investigate whether the political logic in such an era contains certain concepts about humans that are implicit, hidden, or intentionally hidden. The theoretical framework of Shoshana Zuboff and Agus Sudibyo's thoughts on "Capital Surveillance" and "Digital Universe" is the reference used by the author to see to what extent the role of the use of digital technology and virtual spaces in political propaganda contains humanitarian biases and does not direct political goals on human dignity. The results of the author's observations and research show that political praxis in the digital media era has utilized humanitarian issues only for the sake of pragmatic and transactional electoral political interests. The author finds that human dignity in political practice in the digital media era is only an instrument, not a goal.

THE ECONOMIC PAMPHLETEER: Government regulation: Too much or too little

First paragraphs: On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a 40-year-old Court decision that had made it easier for the federal government to enforce regulations that protect the environment, public health, workers, and consumers from eco­nomic exploitation. The six-to-three majority ruling was widely considered a victory for corporate and conservative political interests that have worked for decades to weaken government regulations. The case has been called “the conservative-dominated court’s clearest and boldest repudiation yet of what critics of regulation call the administra­tive state” (Sherman, 2024a, para. 3). The same justices, by the same majority, stripped the Securi­ties and Exchange Commission of its primary means of fighting fraud by requiring jury trials for accused violators of SEC rules (Sherman, 2024b). In other words, the current Supreme Court has demonstrated a commitment to weakening the government’s ability to write and enforce rules and regulations. . . .

Engineering under oppressive regimes: exploring the role of engineers during apartheid South Africa

ABSTRACT Engineers’ contribution to society tends to be located in rational, technical constructs devoid of social and political interests. This paradigm presents a challenge to engineering educators tasked with undergraduate engineering curriculum content that links to society in some way. This article reports on a study undertaken by engineering educators who were motivated to understand the role of the social and political on the work of engineers. It explores how engineers conceived of their role during apartheid, an oppressive political regime for the majority of South Africans that officially ended in 1994. Interviews were conducted with engineers and academic staff to examine how participants’ navigated engineering practice and academic work during that period. The thematic findings allow for a conceptualisation of the apartheid ‘system’ they encountered, depicts how they saw their role in this system and explores the underlying reasons for why they behaved in the ways that they did.

Reinterpreting the NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program as a corporate political activity

Abstract Background In the US firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents. However, and despite there being limited evidence to support the adoption of gun safety education programs, firearm industry-funded groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA) promote the delivery of their education-based Eddie Eagle Gunsafe® program while lobbying against other firearm policies less favourable to the firearm industry. The study aimed to address an important research gap by examining how the NRA frame gun ownership, safety and the role of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program as an effective firearm safety intervention and whether the design, promotion and delivery of the program serves the corporate political interests of the firearm industry, and if so, how. Methods We conducted a critical analysis of program-related texts and films and the NRA’s practices to promote its legitimacy and effectiveness, guided by the application of published taxonomies of corporate framing and action strategies. Data was collected from the program-specific websites and other NRA outlets to capture the breadth of strategies used to promote their education program. Results The NRA’s practices support the corporate political agenda of the firearm industry. The NRA adopts framing and action strategies that present the presence of firearms in homes and communities as inevitable and normal and the education of children through the delivery of their “lifesaving” program as the common-sense and effective way of keeping children safe from firearm injuries. They make misleading claims about the effectiveness of the program while undermining the credibility of those who advocate for the safety of children and adolescents. Conclusions The ongoing delivery of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program needs to be questioned. Policies based on a recognition that children and adolescents are safest when their homes and communities are free of firearms are needed to prevent firearm injuries. Key messages • The NRA makes misleading claims about their program’s effectiveness and distorts understanding of what is needed to prevent firearm injuries and ensure the safety of all children. • The firearm industry needs more attention from the global public health community. Evidenced policy measures that prioritize the prevention of firearm injuries are needed to save children’s lives.

Formation of the upper chambers of parliaments in Federal States: comparative research

The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of the formation of the upper chambers of parliaments in twenty federal states. The dependence of the representation of the subjects of a federation in the upper chamber on the method of formation of the latter is noted. There are four main ways. The influence of the method of forming the second payment on the degree of communication between senators and the subjects of the federation is shown. The article substantiates the position that this connection is the strongest in cases when the subjects of the federation themselves delegate their representatives to the upper chamber. It is argued that there is no linear relationship between the method of formation of the upper chamber and the scope of its powers. The latter depends on the institutionalization, which is based on the political interests of the ruling groups.

Discrimination and Political Engagement: A Cross-national Test

Abstract What is the effect of personal discrimination on the political engagement of ethnic and racial minorities? Existing research theorizes increased engagement, but evidence is mixed. The discrimination and political engagement link is tested across six countries: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Interest in politics and political actions (e.g. protest and donations) show constant relationships: people who have experienced discrimination have more interest in politics and take more political actions. There is no clear evidence of different effects of political vs social discrimination. However, the link between turnout and discrimination varies systematically across countries: a positive correlation in three separate American datasets, but mixed and null in other countries. This may be the result of the distinctive American conflict over voting rights for racial minorities. The conclusion discusses priorities for future research, including a focus on establishing causal relationships and testing mechanisms.

Философско-экзистенциальный подход Х. Арендт и экономический подход Ф.А. фон Хайека к изучению сущности тоталитаризма: сравнительный анализ

This article is devoted to the examination of various approaches to totalitarian political regimes. As is well known, in the 20th century, regimes such as Hitler’s in Germany and Mussolini’s in Italy unleashed the largest global conflict; while the regimes of Mao in China, Stalin in the USSR, and Pol Pot in Cambodia resulted in the deaths of millions due to repressions. Based on this, the goal of the work follows: to identify the essence of a totalitarian political regime, the prerequisites and reasons for its emergence, and also to determine what steps modern society needs to take in order to prevent the emergence of such regimes in the future. The article employs logical-analytical research methods that facilitate a thorough examination of the literature, specifically through analysis, synthesis, abstraction, generalization, deduction, induction, analogy, and hypothesis. As a result of the study, the authors conclude on the inadmissibility of totalitarian political regimes from both a humanistic and a rational standpoint, as well as the necessity of active citizen involvement in politics as the sole means to avert their emergence.

Partisanship and Older Americans’ Engagement with Dubious Political News

Abstract Studies based on digital trace data show that older Americans visit and share dubious news sources far more often than younger cohorts, tendencies often attributed to lower levels of digital literacy. At the same time, survey experiments show that older Americans are no worse, if not better, at discerning between false and accurate news. If older Americans can identify misleading news content equally well, why are they still more likely to engage with it in observational settings? In this article, we combine survey measures and digital trace data for three nationally representative samples (N = 9,944) to argue that the existing literature overemphasizes the importance of factors like digital literacy relative to standard political variables such as political interest and partisanship, factors known to increase across the lifespan. Calcified partisanship in particular makes older Americans vulnerable to hyperpartisan news—which is highly slanted but not verified as explicitly false. High rates of engagement with this category of content, which has been examined in survey studies of older citizens less regularly in the literature, may partially explain the high rates of engagement with dubious news domains in behavioral trace data. In all, our findings have important implications for how we understand—and might intervene to reduce—high engagement among this cohort with dubious news.

Challenges and Opportunities in Empowering Leadership: An Emerging Trend in Musikot, Rukum West

Indigenous communities in Nepal have historically faced marginalization, with limited access to resources and decision-making roles. However, recent years have seen a notable change, particularly in Musikot, Rukum West, where indigenous women are increasingly assuming leadership roles across various sectors. This study delves into the rise of indigenous women's leadership examining the patterns of its emergence, the factors promoting their political engagement, and the primary challenges they encounter. Despite the increasing presence of indigenous women in leadership, they continue to face significant obstacles rooted in deep-seated patriarchal norms and structures, particularly in political and governmental arenas. These impediments include discouraging organizational dynamics, societal biases, familial obligations, and cultural stereotypes that perpetuate their underrepresentation. Challenges specific to political parties, such as limited opportunities for advancement and insufficient support mechanisms, further complicate these issues. To foster indigenous women’s leadership, which is vital for social inclusion and democratic governance, comprehensive strategies are necessary. These include promoting equal opportunities, economic empowerment, enhancing access to education and healthcare, and adhering to international norms. Implementing targeted policy interventions is essential to ensure the sustainable political involvement and leadership of indigenous women in Musikot, Rukum West.

The Contribution of Halide Edib Adıvar to the Development of the Women’s Movement in Türkiye and Her Influence in the Context of Gender Equality

Halide Edib Adıvar, a prominent literary figure, holds a significant place in Turkish political scenes and Turkish literature during the Republican era. Her personal life, activities she participated in, and particularly her views on women's rights distinguish Halide Edib in a unique position. During the National Struggle, Halide Edib actively engaged in Anatolia and was among the first female speakers to emphasize the need for Turkish women to attain a dignified position in modern societies through her speeches, literary works, and writings. Acting as an educator advocating for active female participation in the education sphere, Halide Edib portrayed modern and educated female models in her works. Through her novels and writings, she made substantial contributions to the Turkish women's movement by presenting strong representations of women and questioning societal gender roles. Halide Edib Adıvar used various media outlets such as columns, articles, and books to promote gender equality. Drawing attention to women's education in her novels and writings, she encouraged awareness on the subject. In accordance with the directive of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, she co-founded the Anadolu Agency with Yunus Nadi Abalıoğlu in Ankara on April 6, 1920, seventeen days before the inauguration of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on April 23, 1920. Halide Edib actively engaged in journalism by translating the political content of newspapers published in English at the agency. Halide Edib also played a role in the Women's Defense of Homeland Society, one of Turkey's first women's associations, striving to empower women for greater societal and political involvement. This study employs qualitative research methods to comprehensively examine Halide Edib Adıvar's role in societal change, her contributions to the women's rights movement, and her impact on empowering and raising awareness among women in Turkey and globally.

In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: An Ethical Exploration of Citizen Assessments of American University Presidents’ Political Endorsements

Higher education leaders sometimes transgress norms of political involvement. Despite some norm-violating behaviors, legal consequences are sparse. Some argue that this is based on concerns over taxpayers impugning regulators’ motives as partisan. Public skepticism is warranted, especially as university officials engage in unlawful forms of political activism that can go unenforced. What explains citizens’ tolerance for norm-violating political activities within higher education institutions? Furthermore, what drives citizens to blame some leaders for engaging in legally precarious political behaviors while providing more latitude for others who act similarly? Drawing from research on citizen accountability as well as partisan cue-led attitudes, authors argue that tolerance for political involvement in higher education contexts is explained by an institutional leader’s partisanship and sectoral type, that is, private versus public institution. To test these claims, authors fielded a survey experiment drawing on a Lucid panel. Findings show evidence that a leader’s partisanship and the institution’s sectoral type influence individuals’ acceptance or rejection of a university president’s endorsement of a political candidate, dependent upon the respondent’s partisan characteristics. Findings also confirm the emerging politicization of higher educational spaces, highlighting the implications for understanding public perceptions of higher education leaders’ political involvement and the impact on the sector.

Effects of Offshore Wind Farms: Environmental and Social Perspectives from Uruguay

The installation of offshore wind farms is rising, driven by the goal of changing the global energy matrix. However, many of their possible impacts are still unknown. Increased noise levels, disruptions to food chains, pollution due to traffic, and impacts on fishing communities and tourism are all potential effects to consider. Marine habitats are essential carbon dioxide sinks. Therefore, losing marine biodiversity due to offshore wind farms can be counterproductive in mitigating climate change. Balancing biodiversity conservation, wind potential, and political interests is challenging. Today, Uruguay has significantly decreased the fossil share in its electricity generation, incorporating electricity generation from wind, solar, and biomass energy alongside hydroelectricity. In line with this, the country’s Hydrogen Roadmap highlights green hydrogen as relevant, potentially serving as a fuel for both domestic and export transportation. Combining the country’s strong base of wind energy production experience with its sustainable policy, it plans to implement offshore wind farms to produce green hydrogen, making studies of its impacts crucial. This paper reviews the current social and environmental information on the Uruguayan coastal habitat, analyzes onshore wind farms’ ecological studies, and examines offshore wind farms’ global environmental and social impacts. Finally, it proposes studies for environmental approval of offshore wind farms.

When is gender on party agendas? Manifestos and (De-)democratisation in Greece, Portugal, and Spain

ABSTRACT When do political parties give attention to gender-related political interests, and what determines their positions? We argue that progress in gender equality commitments is an essential component of democratisation, and backsliding in these indicates democratic decay. Using original data coded from party manifestos in Greece, Portugal, and Spain over recent decades, we investigate the role of party ideology and critical junctures in the political context. We find that left-wing parties give more attention to gender-related interests than other parties. Far-right parties also give significant attention to some interests and stand out for traditional positions. Further, the economic recession significantly decreased attention to gender-related interests. Our results suggest that economic crises and associated far-right party strength fuel gender backsliding and de-democratisation.

An Examination of Fraternity Men’s Orientations toward Political and Social Involvement

ABSTRACT Given interest in understanding how fraternities inform students’ capacities for leadership, the purpose of this critical quantitative study was to investigate the precollege characteristics and higher education experiences influencing orientation toward political and social involvement among college fraternity men. Results demonstrated significant differences among racially/ethnically minoritized groups, as well as the fraternal experiences that shaped political and social involvement orientation. We conclude by offering implications for research and practice pertaining to fraternity life.