Global Narratives Research Articles

Social impacts of the network "Composing Worlds: Humanities, Health and Well-Being"

In the twenty-first century, the interaction between humans and their ecological, sociocultural, and technological environment poses significant challenges, particularly regarding health and well-being. This paper contends that understanding these dynamics requires an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on the humanities, arts, social sciences, and health sciences. The "Composing Worlds" project addresses these issues by fostering interdisciplinary research, training, and cultural innovation, adopting a participatory approach, involving experts from different fields to uncover perspectives on crucial issues. The thematic analysis identifies collective correspondences covering critical thinking in health, environmental sustainability, technological advances, and bioethics. These axes guide transdisciplinary research and cultural activities to address 21st-century concerns. By promoting critical thinking and meaningful research, it aims to create a global narrative with a relational ethical connotation that encourages dialogue and reflection on changing societal paradigms.

Spatial analysis of disaster resilience research: A bibliometric study

We analyzed the global disaster resilience research literature to advance understanding of its geographical context. A key objective was to map the variation in disaster research resilience activity to identify hotspots and areas of less activity. The motivation is to reveal regional imbalances in resilience research and collaboration to contribute to the global narrative regarding marginalized regions. The methodology involves an in-depth examination of Web of Science (WoS) bibliographic data from 2010 to 2020, using keywords to develop a comprehensive perspective of disaster resilience research. Additionally, the study incorporates empirical data from the Emergency Events Data (EM-DAT) maintained by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Hazards at the Université Catholique de Louvain (CRED/UCLouvain) to provide context on the impact of disasters. A key innovation of this study is the Disaster Resilience Research Score (DRRS), a quantifiable metric to evaluate the state of disaster resilience research globally by country. The DRRS considers publications, citations, and institutional involvement to provide a well-rounded view of each country's contributions to the field. The results highlight the leading role in disaster resilience research of countries including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. However, there is a notable lack of research activity in countries such as Ecuador, Algeria, Kenya, Cambodia, and Myanmar, which also exhibit relatively high vulnerability to environmental hazards. Our findings indicate that countries identified as resilience hotspots predominantly collaborate within their country. This study highlights opportunities for strengthening collaborations between resilience research hotspots and locations less represented in the resilience research literature. It underscores the importance of identifying hot and cold spots to direct future research and foster a more equitable and sustainable response to climate change and hazards.

Second-home Tourism in Tropical China: residents’ perception of socio-economic impacts

ABSTRACT Despite the significant growth of second-home tourism research, its geographical focus remains limited to a few countries. China has become a global economic powerhouse, with a rapidly growing middle class with disposable income. A combination of the latter with a range of favourable socialist housing policies and unique cultural forces have encouraged, and in some cases demanded, multiple-home ownership among Chinese families. At the forefront of this phenomenon are vast numbers of senior snowbirds who have chosen the tropical island of Hainan as the location of their second home. While there has been some investigation around this topic in select locations in China, the academic understanding of this phenomenon remains in its infancy. This paper investigates residents’ perceptions of Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, regarding the socio-economic impact of second-home ownership on their lives, communities and the city. The results of this study will inform policy recommendations for local government while shedding new light on global narratives on second-home tourism phenomena.

Evolution of Sustainability and Media Coverage at the 2022 Qatar World Cup: An Analytical Study

Sustainability has become a key component of Sports Mega-Events (SME) since its inception in the 1980s and has evolved to include themes around social, economic, and environmental fronts. The 2022 Qatar World Cup is the first to be hosted in the Middle East, which presented a unique opportunity not only for Qatar to demonstrate its culture and heritage globally but also to allow people from around the world to connect with and share the Middle Eastern way of life. However, the event faced consistent criticism from Western media, governments, and NGOs, which became the key global narrative around the World Cup and reflected in the event’s sustainability strategy. This study first analyzes the sustainability frameworks of recent SMEs and finds an overwhelming focus on human rights issues in the Qatar World Cup, unlike other contemporary events. To understand this phenomenon, a content analysis of the coverage of the World Cup in major global news agencies found largely negative reporting of the event on issues such as corruption, human rights abuses, and intolerance towards marginalized communities. Applying the framework of Orientalism helps explain this disparity, and the paper furthers some tentative suggestions for governments and sports organizing bodies to adopt a sustainable framework, which is culturally responsive and aware of the needs of countries from the Global South.

Analytical Concepts for Transcultural Settings

In global intellectual history, there exists a tension between analytical concepts often carrying a Western or colonial pedigree andtheir ability to capture the multifaceted reality of historical actors who cannot be placed in one language or culture alone. The thematic section titled ‘Analytical Concepts for Transcultural Settings’ highlights the role of global intellectual historians as mediators who balance local realities with global narratives. It emphasises how rethinking the crucial role of analytical concepts can help historical actors challenge and transcend conventional categories, urging historians to adapt their analytical frameworks for transcultural settings accordingly.

MACDONALDIZATION AND DISNEYIZATION AS GLOBALIZATION TRENDS

The article explores the dimensions of the social phenomenon of McDonaldization, introduced into scientific circulation by sociologist George Ritzer. Using the principles established by the McDonald's fast food corporation as a metaphor, Ritzer delves into the consequences of rationalization and standardization observed in modern society. McDonaldization serves as a catalyst for larger-scale social transformations, spreading the process of globalization and generating the phenomenon of Disneyization in all areas of human activity. It is determined that the McDonaldization drive for efficiency and control leads to the «irrationality of rationality» in various aspects of modern human life. Benjamin Barber's concept illustrates strategies for the development of a globalized culture in which McWorld and Jihad coexist and interact, impeding the development of democratic processes, but each in its own way. The article reveals the nature of Disneyization and its implementation in the globalization narratives of our time. The emergence of the McDonald's and Disneyized worlds emphasize the spread of the logic of consumerism, which plays a key role in the formation of a new world order with an emphasis on universalization, predictability and control of all social processes that fall into the project. Disneyization is defined as a transformative force that embellishes reality, emphasizes compliance with consumer norms, and distorts historical narratives by making them simplistic. The trivialization and sanitization of media products are the next stages in the evolution of the McDonaldized and Disneyized world, which gives rise to hybrid consumption and the desire to expand the territory of influence. The findings of this study contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the impact of McDonaldization, which is not limited to the fast food industry but extends to social, educational, artistic, political, economic, and other spheres. The interconnection of McDonald's with related phenomena, such as Disneyization, allows us to take a fresh look at the development of modern society.

Ethical Challenges in Contemporary Global Narratives

Ethical Challenges in Contemporary Global Narratives

Discourse wars and ‘mask diplomacy’: China’s global image management in times of crisis

ABSTRACT To achieve foreign policy goals and boost prestige, states try to influence how foreign publics perceive them. Particularly during crises, the imperative to mitigate a negative image may see states mobilize resources to change the global narrative. This paper investigates whether China’s ‘mask diplomacy' efforts influenced portrayals of the country in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. We validate and apply a semi-supervised scaling method to 1.5 million English statements in newspapers around the world mentioning China and Covid-19. Multi-period difference-in-differences models reveal that media tone improved significantly after mask diplomacy engagement. Using its Covid-19 White Paper to determine China’s preferred external narratives, we also find that a country’s domestic media reproduced key terms more after the country received PRC support.

Interrogating global narratives of trans queerness. Well-being and agency? Or more stories of trans trauma?

In the international contemporary discourse transgender individuals arguably have an increased presence within public media highlighting the visible diversity that constitutes the LGBTQI2S+ community. However, in response to the challenging of cisgendered normative assumptions there has been an unprecedented swathe of anti-trans measures executed through the frenzied repealing of rights and freedoms within the key arenas of legal, medical, sporting, and educative domains. This paper explores the intersections of pathologizing rhetoric that emplotted anti-trans and transphobic discourses within and across public consciousness. The quotidian presence of these discourses provoked in us a wondering about how evolving conceptual debate is constructing a trans inclusive global imaginary. In this paper we situate trans safety not as a singular concept, but rather a differentially experienced phenomenon that is related to and embedded in questions of bio power and privilege. As such, when we refer to a trans safety imaginary, we are not solely addressing protection from physical violence but also safeguarding against psychological and emotional vulnerability.

Globalization: Embracing global citizenship and the right to migrate.

This comprehensive commentary explores various facets of globalization, including the right to migrate, cultural dimensions, power dynamics in shaping global narratives, the impact of globalization on health, and the roles of international institutions and multinational corporations. It delves into the socioeconomic implications of migration, emphasizing the ethical considerations surrounding globalization and the responsibilities of affluent nations. Examples such as the Fair Trade movement, global collaboration in health care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and the influence of power dynamics on cultural narratives provide a nuanced understanding. The commentary underscores the need for international collaboration, ethical business practices, and responsible investment to address global challenges. By examining these dimensions, the analysis contributes to a holistic understanding of the complexities associated with globalization, emphasizing the importance of balanced and inclusive approaches. This commentary is in response to an editorial published in this journal titled "Globalization through global citizenship and right to migrate."

新时代中国共产党文化叙事的三重维度

Entering the new era, the Communist Party of China has continued to promote the development of cultural inheritance and development, forming a multi-dimensional the picture of cultural narratives. From the perspective of activating tradition, it focuses on activating the contemporary value of excellent traditional Chinese culture through creative transformation and innovative development; from the perspective of basing itself on the present, it focuses on continuing to promote the theory of the sinonization of Marxism with “two combinations”; and from the perspective of facing the future, it points to the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the promotion of lasting peace and common prosperity for mankind, presenting a beautiful vision from forging a national narrative of the Chinese national community to building a global community of human destiny. From the future-oriented dimension, it points to the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the promotion of the common prosperity and lasting peace of mankind, which is a sublimation from the national narrative of forging the community of the Chinese nation to the global narrative of building a community of human destiny. Clarifying the three veins of the cultural narrative of the Communist Party of China in the new era is of great significance to telling the story of the Communist Party of China well and improving the narrative ability of the centennial party.

Harmonizing the Development of Local Socioeconomic Scenarios: A Participatory Downscaling Approach Applied in Four European Case Studies

Scenario analysis is a widely employed method for addressing uncertainties when assessing the physical and socio-economic impacts of climate change. Global scenarios have been extensively used in this context. However, these scenarios are in most cases not suitable for supporting local analyses. On the other hand, locally developed scenarios may lack the global context, thus having limited comparability with or transferability to other locations. The Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP), which have been primarily developed for climate impact research, provide the possibility to extend the existing global narratives and adapt them to local characteristics in order to develop locally relevant scenarios. Here, we propose a methodological framework for producing harmonized scenarios across different case studies. This framework was developed in the EVOKED project and combines elements of top-down and bottom-up approaches to develop local scenarios for four regions in northern Europe. We employ the SSP as boundary conditions and, in cooperation with stakeholders from these four regions, develop local scenarios for a range of SSP. The developed sets of scenarios are consistently informed by global developments and are therefore comparable with other downscaled scenarios developed in different regions. At the same time, they have been based on local participatory processes, thus being locally credible and relevant to the needs of stakeholders. The local scenarios constitute a climate service per se as they can raise stakeholder awareness of the processes that will drive risk, exposure, and adaptive capacity in the future and inform discussions on mitigation strategies and adaptation pathways.

Energy Security Blind Spots of Gas, Oil, and Coal Exporters

The global narrative around domestic energy security is dominated by the paradigm of import-dependent countries, and as a result the interactions of energy export activities with domestic energy systems are not generally considered. In this paper, we apply a systems approach to establish two potential blind spots in evaluating the whole-of-system energy security of energy resource exporters (actual primary energy self-sufficiency and export exposure of the domestic energy system), and examine some case studies, primarily in the Australian context, to validate the existence of these blind spots. The commencement of LNG exports from the state of Queensland is examined in detail. Furthermore, we propose two novel quantitative indicators to mitigate the blind spots established. First, a revised method is proposed to calculate energy self-sufficiency, showing for the exporters studied a less secure position than shown by the traditional method. Second, an indicator is proposed to quantify the extent of exposure of the domestic energy system to international markets through export linkages, which we have applied to Australia’s domestic energy system, showing the extent of the increase in international exposure since LNG exports from Queensland commenced in 2015–2016. Conclusions of this paper include the realization that domestic energy security for energy exporters, such as Australia and the other countries examined, is more complex and, in the cases examined, less secure than importer-oriented energy security frameworks have previously recognized. A further conclusion is established that the decoupling of energy resource exports from the domestic energy system through transition to a zero-carbon energy system based on domestic renewable energy sources can be an effective means of improving Australia’s energy security.

The Bulgarian connection: the Young Turks in exile and the making of radicalism in Ottoman Europe, 1895–1897

AbstractFocusing on the years between 1895 and 1897, this article reconstructs what happened after the arrival of Young Turk revolutionaries into the cities of the Danubian hinterland, particularly centering on Rusçuk (Ruse in today’s Bulgaria). In tracing the footsteps of İbrahim Temo and Mustafa Ragıp, two self-exiled figures from İstanbul, this study captures a particular moment when the Danubian cities became the hotbed of transnational radicalism, as a number of assassination plots began to be hatched by Muslim revolutionaries. A well-connected port city serviced by regular steamship links, Rusçuk was where professional revolutionaries met with the local Muslims, much to the ire of Ottoman diplomats in the region. In capturing their encounters, the goal is to point to the significance of Young Turk activities in the Balkans before the turn of the century, a phase which remains understudied in the existing literature. By focusing on a secondary port city that became home to failed assassination plots, this article also seeks to contribute to ongoing discussion in global history that warns against narratives of unhindered globalization. In studying fin-de-siecle radicalization, I hope to contribute to these debates by reflecting upon the limits of globalization as a productive field of historical inquiry.

Social media as a primary source of information: Exploring its role in disseminating the current situation in Palestine

The proliferation of social media has changed the global information paradigm, enabling immediate and direct access to breaking news. This research examines the role of social media as a primary source of information, focusing on the context of the conflict in Palestine. Through a qualitative desk research approach, it explores how social media contributes to disseminating current events in Palestine. The analysis involved a review of literature related to social media development, conflict information dynamics, and its impact on public opinion. The results show that social media has become an essential tool in accelerating and expanding the reach of information about the situation in Palestine. Individual actions, such as sharing news or personal views, can trigger significant public responses and shape narratives that influence global perceptions. Moreover, the active engagement of social media users in relaying actual information plays a key role in shaping opinions and attitudes toward the conflict. This research provides insight into the complex dynamics of social media as a key source of information, illustrating how information is disseminated and understood in the context of the Palestinian conflict. The implications of this research can contribute to further understanding social media's role in shaping public opinion and influencing the global narrative on sensitive issues such as the Palestinian conflict.

Is There a Global Narrative for Kinesiology?

At the National Academy of Kinesiology’s annual meeting in 2023, four International Fellows shared their insights into whether there is a global narrative for kinesiology. Panelists comprising Fasting (Norwegian, sport sociology), Jacobs (Canadian, exercise physiologist), Macdonald (Australian, pedagogy), and Tsung-Min Hung (Taiwanese, sport and exercise psychology) spanned both subdisciplines and continents. This paper represents a synthesis of their thinking, complemented with more incidental views from a range of scholars who accepted an invitation from Macdonald to contribute brief perspectives. Framing the paper are the concepts of globalization and its tethered process of neoliberalization, the latter argued to be a dominant ideology in many Western democracies that shapes the priorities of educational institutions. We conclude that the term “kinesiology” is not universally deployed to reference the discipline, although global narratives related to program priorities, knowledge status, metrics, and professionalization in the four continents represented exist.

The specific visuality of women of the global South in the media of the global North

This paper examines how neoliberal, gendered discourses of globalization position marginalized communities of women in popular culture, focusing on the ways in which the media of the global North produces the specific visuality of women of the global South. The representations of women of the global South, such as factory workers, mail/online-order brides, and domestic workers, point to the globalized mode of feminization of labor and the power asymmetry inherent in globalization. By analyzing the ways in which the female body of the global South embodies commodification, sexualization, and abjection, the paper points out that women’s experiences are marginalized or erased in the neoliberal narrative of globalization. The (re)imagination of women of the global South in the media of the global North testifies to the historical legacy and discursive traditions of the colonial/imperial past and points to the reproduction and dissemination of sexualized and racialized imagery of otherness.

A Case Study of the Hashtag #Freepalestine: Cultural Communication and Public Opinion Transformation

This study involves an in-depth analysis of Cultural Communication and Public Opinion Transformation through a case study of the hashtag #FreePalestine on social media. The Israeli-Palestinian controversy sparked a significant shift in public opinion, and these hashtags became an important instrument in weaving complex online narratives. This research aims to understand the impact of Cultural Communication through the hashtag #FreePalestine in transforming public opinion. Her focus includes online mobilization, influence on policy, changing international perceptions, and the formation of activist movements. This research method uses a mixed approach, namely combining qualitative and quantitative analysis. Data collection was carried out on 6 – 25 December 2023. Social media analysis was carried out to track trends, sentiment and relationship networks, while interviews and surveys were used to gain a deeper understanding of the influence of opinion transformation in the real world. This research shows that the hashtag #FreePalestine not only creates changes in online opinion but also mobilizes real action and shapes global narratives that influence policy and business. Cultural communication on social media is key to understanding further impact, with image visualization and visual solidarity being key elements in changing public opinion. The real-world implication of these findings is the importance of understanding the role of social media in shaping public perceptions and opinions regarding global conflict. In the future, this can serve as a guide for policy makers, activists and researchers to design more effective communication strategies in addressing sensitive issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Making space for play in the global post-COVID landscape

ABSTRACT In the last 4 years, over 1.5bn children faced education disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Approximately half of the world’s children were affected by prolonged school closures and unequal access to remote learning. However, initial global narratives mostly focused on academic setbacks resulting from these changes, known as ‘learning loss’. As such, they did not acknowledge the potential of play in children’s post-pandemic experiences. The Global Symposium on Post-Pandemic Play (GSPPP), held in March 2021, aimed to gather insights from researchers and practitioners working with young children. Data from the symposium highlights how play can mitigate the effects of academic setbacks and promote socioemotional wellbeing in the ongoing post-pandemic context. This paper presents GSPPP findings regarding challenges and opportunities associated with play in post-Covid societies.

Mormon Women at the Crossroads: Global Narratives and the Power of Connectedness

Mormon Women at the Crossroads: Global Narratives and the Power of Connectedness