Original Interviews Research Articles

The consequences of Pakistan’s counterterrorism policies: socio-cultural and political transformation in tribal districts

ABSTRACT Counterterrorism (CT) policies are a primary subject in security studies. However, the consequences of their implementation on the socio-cultural milieu of the local populations are rarely explored, particularly in the context of the Global South. This study examines the effect of CT policies on the socio-cultural and socio-political transformation of Tribal Districts in Pakistan. Like many other countries, Pakistan has approached countering terrorism in the post-9/11 era through the adoption of a war model, which has led to a number of serious consequences for the local population in conflict-affected areas. The study relies on original interview data with hard-to-access informants from the Tribal Districts of Pakistan to reveal the previously underexplored impacts of CT policies and military operations. These impacts are termed “side effects” and are socially perceived as either positive or negative. This study postulates that these “side effects” of CT policies have resulted in a number of far-reaching socio-cultural and political transformation of the conflict-ridden regions of Pakistan.

The Bolivian pluriverse: the Comuna Group, emerging subjects, and transformative political action against neoliberalism

ABSTRACT This article reviews an important experience of pluriversal political activity in Bolivia, through the prism of the theoretical and political contributions of Grupo Comuna, a local organization of scholar activists and public intellectuals. Comuna deployed Marxist categories to examine, and intervene upon, the dilemmas of the pluriverse and the social and political challenges facing Bolivia’s original peoples (pueblos originarios). The article examines publications of the Group and original interviews with its members. Bolivian social movements were partially successful defeating neoliberalism in the country, and Morales’ administrations transformed Bolivia. These successes were achieved in and through an innovative analysis, including the recognition of the pluriversal nature of the Bolivian political process. Almost uniquely among politically engaged academics, Comuna helped to develop a programme adapted to the country’s circumstances and addressing the challenges of intervention in pluriversal activity; in doing this, they supported mass organization and mobilization, and achieved strong political impact.

Reaching out beyond the national border? How far‐right actors in Germany and Norway evaluate transnationalism

AbstractResearch has emphasised the importance of far‐right transnationalism, in terms of both ideology and practice. Yet, the literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of how far‐right actors themselves reflect their transnational practices (or lack thereof), such as party‐level exchange, joint protest events, or online communication. Drawing on original interview data from Germany and Norway, our research unveils that while far‐right ‘nationalists’ generally endorse transnational activities, only a minority actively participates. The interviewees perceive transnational practices as opportunities for strategic learning, showcasing of collective strength, and networking. Simultaneously, they express concerns about being associated with extremists and getting entangled in conflict‐ridden areas. Theoretically, we discuss the role of ideology and everyday life as well as the importance of only limited strategic incentives for understanding far‐right transnationalism. In doing so, we draw parallels to experiences made by left‐wing actors. Moreover, we underline the potential of Granovetter's ‘strength of weak ties’ for far‐right diffusion.

Diplomacy beyond the state: Ukrainian think tank experts as wartime diplomacy actors

ABSTRACT To understand the effects of war on the diplomatic practices of nonstate actors, this article focuses on the wartime diplomacy efforts of Ukrainian think tank experts in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Drawing on the concept of think tank diplomacy, the study specifically examines how Ukrainian think tankers adapted their diplomacy functions – negotiation, communication, information-gathering and promotion of friendly relations with other countries – under the conditions of the full-out war. The analysis combines insights from existing studies with the authors’ participant observation and original reflexive expert interviews with Ukrainian think tankers. The article reveals how Ukrainian expert professionals, unified by the goal of generating and maintaining international support for their country, adapted their diplomatic practices for asserting greater control over their agendas, engaging in cross-border collaborations and broadening their outreach efforts. By shedding light on the work of Ukrainian think tank experts in times of war, this article showcases the agency of knowledge-producing nonstate actors in wartime diplomacy.

Framing and prosecutorial discretion: evidence from Brazil

AbstractPrior studies in the United States argue that the discretionary decisions of federal prosecutors regarding which issues to prioritize are shaped by the politicians who appoint them, while studies on state prosecutors emphasize the role of press coverage and public opinion. However, these studies leave untheorized whether prosecutors’ discretionary decisions are also affected by how their peers frame issues within and beyond prosecution offices. Building on the scholarship of collective action frames, this study develops a framework to explain how prosecutors’ framing work affects their colleagues’ decisions about which issues to focus on. I draw on the case of Brazil, where federal prosecutors focused on crime-fighting and human rights, but in the mid-2010s switched focus to corruption following a large-scale investigation called Lava Jato. I compare Lava Jato with two similarly large investigations that failed to transform corruption into the dominant issue within the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Drawing on 131 original interviews, I show how federal prosecutors’ framing work can persuade their colleagues to focus on the same issue through two stages: (1) conceptualization of versatile frames that speak to problems a variety of issues prosecutors care about and (2) diffusion of frames through professional meetings – providing roadmaps for how other prosecutors can implement the new frame – and to the press, increasing public attention.

Exploring the impact of United Nations peacekeeping operations on the external affairs of host states

Studies of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations (PKOs) typically give scant attention to an important aspect of host states’ development: their external affairs. This article identifies ways in which UN PKOs can shape the external affairs of host states, focusing on UN peacekeeping in the post-Cold War period. We present the findings of a quantitative content analysis of key UN peacekeeping documents to establish which aspects of host state external affairs have been of concern to the UN. We then provide a conceptual framework that maps three areas of external affairs in which PKOs are particularly influential: relationship-building; institution- and diplomatic capacity-building; and the shaping of policy in domains of external affairs. We identify three pathways through which PKOs shape the external affairs of host states: mandated roles, improvised actions, and unintended consequences. Drawing on documentary analysis and original interview data, we illustrate our conceptual framework through an exploration of the impact of peacekeeping on the external affairs of two countries that have hosted large-scale UN-led peacekeeping missions in recent decades: Timor-Leste (East Timor) and Liberia.

The Velvet Revolution's Best Supporting Actors: Shirley Temple Black and U.S. Embassy Prague, 19891

Abstract This article discusses the contours of U.S. diplomacy in Czechoslovakia before and during the Velvet Revolution of 1989, showing how the U.S. embassy in Prague, in collaboration with the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) and State Department, crafted U.S. policy. Drawing on recently available primary materials (including declassified U.S. telegrams, Czechoslovak archival documents, unpublished memoirs, and original interviews), this article highlights the role of the U.S. embassy during the period from August to November 1989, including how key officials, above all Ambassador Shirley Temple Black, analyzed political developments, assisted Czechoslovak dissidents, and pursued extensive engagement with the Communist government. The article provides the first scholarly, granular account of U.S. diplomacy in Czechoslovakia during the November 1989 upheavals and contributes to the historiography on U.S. foreign policy and the end of the Cold War.

Natural Product Use Among Veterans with Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Study of Attitudes and Communication with Healthcare Providers.

Despite mixed evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of natural products, many are marketed for pain and related symptoms. Use of these products is prevalent among veterans, who have disproportionately high rates of chronic pain. To date, however, there is limited research on veterans' beliefs and attitudes about natural products and their communication with healthcare providers about their natural product use. To explore how veterans experiencing chronic pain make decisions about natural product use, to investigate veterans' beliefs about the safety and efficacy of these products, and to examine veterans' experiences discussing natural products with their providers. Qualitative sub-study conducted as a supplement to a pragmatic randomized controlled trial for chronic pain management. Twenty veterans experiencing chronic pain who reported using natural products for pain management or related health concerns. Qualitative interviews with veterans were conducted over the phone and audio-recorded. Interviews were guided by an original semi-structured interview guide and qualitative data were analyzed using a template-based rapid analysis technique. Veterans with chronic pain may perceive natural products as safer than pharmaceutical products and may prefer to use natural products. Talking with providers about natural products is important to veterans, who would like information regarding the safety and potential for interaction of natural products with pharmaceutical products. However, veterans were frequently disappointed with these conversations. Veterans felt their providers demonstrated biases against natural products, which negatively impacted patient-provider relationships. Veterans wish to have more productive conversations with providers about natural products. They value providers' open-mindedness towards natural products and transparency about limitations in their knowledge. Suggestions for how providers and healthcare systems might better support veterans interested in natural products are discussed.

Ripe for better post-war governance? The impact of the 2016 peace agreement on the reestablishment of health services in Colombia

A peace agreement represents a chance for the state to renew its social contract with the conflict-affected population. Conflict may reoccur if their expectations of a peace dividend are disappointed. However, in the existing literature there is a lack of focus on post-war public services and the challenges to re-establishing effective state governance, especially in areas with significant rebel presence. Much of the literature still assumes that conflict zones are ripe for better governance and the post-war impact of rebel governance remains largely unanalysed. Drawing on original survey data, interviews and focus groups, this mixed-methods article analyses the impact of the 2016 Colombian peace agreement on health services in areas with high conflict intensity and sustained rebel presence. In the most conflict-affected areas, it finds an increase in demand for health services but no improvement in the perceived quality of this care. In fact, in municipalities hosting FARC reintegration camps, which were specially targeted for improved healthcare, we find a decline in both demand and perceived quality. Three key obstacles are identified: 1) favourable views of wartime healthcare services provided by the FARC; 2) difficulties establishing state presence locally; 3) high expectations and mistrust of government provisions. This demonstrates the lasting impact of wartime rebel governance, and the challenges it poses to post-war state legitimacy, and adds to our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of uneven state capacity. It thereby makes an important and original contribution to our understanding of peacebuilding obstacles and to the growing literature on rebel governance.

Drug Screenings in Practice

This research article will contextualize drug testing and conditions of supervision by analyzing eight original in-depth interview and survey narratives provided by persons are in treatment for substance use disorder. We identify a gap in the literature surrounding drug testing as part of community supervision. Specifically, the practice of drug testing from the perspective of the person ordered to test is not well documented. We consider how these experiences diverge from the intention of drug testing by supervising agencies as described in the prior scholarship. This cleavage between the expectations, experiences, and understanding of persons being tested relative to those of supervision agencies presents an avenue for the government to improve community relations, and specifically, improve trust among formerly incarcerated persons towards the supervision process, thereby increasing its legitimacy while enacting procedural justice. The persons under supervision describe broad criminal justice experiences and histories with illicit substances that resulted in drug screenings. The opinions from persons who use drugs towards drug testing and related conditions also vary and suggest evidence-based practices involving drug screening could be helpful to improve compliance with conditions and increase trust towards supervision agencies and courts. Opinions towards obligatory drug screens ranged from fear to one of gratitude. A common theme emerged: when drug tests were viewed as avoidable, respondents described changing their behavior to avoid testing—such as avoiding employers who may test for drug use; when screenings were understood as obligatory, like in the context of court ordered community-based addiction treatment, some respondents identified the broader context of the testing as helpful to their abstinence from drug use. Respondents described drug screenings as impacting their employment, economic well-being, and freedom—in particular, failed drug screens on community supervision, including drug court and other specialized supervision caseloads, could result in punitive action including incarceration and other adverse outcomes like job loss. The risk acknowledgement, however, of consequences of a failed drug screen, had not up to the point of our interview, resulted in long-term abstinence from substances for any of the respondents under community-based supervision.

Restricted Philanthropic Gifts: Paradigm Clash between Law and Practice or Simply a Muddle?

Restricted philanthropic gifts are becoming more common, yet their legal characterisation is unsettled. Moreover, other than from anecdotal evidence, it is unclear how charities treat such gifts in practice. This article investigates the potential legal characterisations of restricted gifts and identifies the charitable trust as a commonly preferred construction by the courts. It then examines original empirical interview evidence from charities to show that, contrary to legal expectations, charities do not typically treat restricted gifts as being on charitable trust, but rather as being subject to an agreement or an extra-legal set of agreed norms with donors. This indicates a move away from a publicly regulated arrangement (the charitable trust) to private ordering arrangements, which has implications for the pursuit of public goals and the degree of power afforded to donors over social, cultural and environmental projects.

“I Felt Like a Normal Human Being”: Professional DJs’ Experiences of the COVID-19 Lockdowns

ABSTRACT The social restrictions prompted by COVID-19 disproportionately impacted creative industries that rely upon live performance as a main source of revenue, including the (electronic) music industry, resulting in widely reported financial hardship experienced by musicians. Based on original interview data, this article offers more nuanced insight into the experiences of professionally well-established EDM DJs. Our data show that while the DJs experienced anxiety and hardships matching those reported elsewhere, many also noted a less reported, more positive, dimension: In forcing a break from work, lockdowns created space to reflect upon the harmful effects of creative working practices and to envisage more fulfilling work-life balances.

Dilemma in primary care facility development:a qualitative study based on grounded theory in Guilin city

BackgroundSince the new medical reform, remarkable progress was achieved in primary care facilities in the number of consultations and essential public health service program. However, the problems including low quality and high mobility of personnel, weakened capacity and low efficiency of service still remain. Therefore, it has become an urgent task to solve the dilemma in primary care facility development. ObjectiveTo analyze the development dilemma of primary care facilities and propose corresponding countermeasures. MethodsFrom April to May 2021 the managers of 16 primary care facilities in 6 counties and 2 districts in Guilin were selected using multi-stage sampling method and invited to attend semi-structured interviews, which main contents included resource allocation, service capacity building, health insurance policy implementation, and development dilemmas. Grounded theory method was applied to classify, summarize and refine the original interview data at each level by NVivo 11.0 software. ResultsA total of 38 initial concepts, 9 initial categories, 4 main categories, and 1 core category were extracted, and nodes of stagnation in four dimensions including "Constraints in Resource Allocation," "Deviation in Functional Positioning," "Obstacles in the approach of the joint reform of 3Ms(medical service system, medical security system and medicine system)," and "Lack of Cohesion in Hospital Group Construction" were obtained. ConclusionThe development of primary care facilities is constrained by a variety of factors, with resource allocation balance and compensation mechanism improvement as core issue, "approach of the joint reform of 3Ms" as an external condition, "adjustment of functional positioning"(adjustment of functional positioning of primary care facilities) as key link, and the construction of cohesion hospital group as important approach.

Agents of platform governance: Analyzing U.S. civil society's role in contesting online content moderation

This paper examines the role of civil society in shaping content moderation governance arrangements in the United States. Drawing on prior research that recognizes the importance of civil society in shaping policy, this article analyzes the experiences of civil society practitioners engaged in content moderation activism. Based on in-depth original interviews with civil society practitioners, I demonstrate how civil society's activity in this space aligns with known regulatory standard-setting process competencies and suggest advocacy work benefits from the power of coalition lobbying and social capital. Moreover, I highlight the sense of frustration from some practitioners that they are not compensated by firms for their monitoring and reporting work that improves platforms' products, and I offer preliminary reasons for why practitioners contest moderation norms. The paper's insights contribute to the study of platform governance by illuminating informal mechanisms utilized by civil society, which holds broader implications for understanding the dynamics of non-state actors in shaping online platforms and their policies.

Fast growth and slow policy: a decade of digital credit in Kenya

Abstract The proliferation of mobile enabled instant credit products (digital credit) across emerging markets and developing economies poses challenges for policy-makers and practitioners that seek to expand access to credit while protecting consumers. The Kenya market, which experienced tremendous commercial innovation and growth from 2012 to 2022, but also significant consumer harms and unequal competition, offers a valuable reference case for actors in other markets facing rapid expansion of new fintech products and firms. Despite the substantial and often polarized debate around the country’s experience, there has been little systematic effort to capture and interpret key facts from the development of the digital credit market in Kenya during its first decade. This paper aims to fill that gap by providing a policy case study informed by original interviews of key stakeholders and extensive review of related academic and grey literature. The analysis suggests that policy responses were often inadequate to address the growing risks in Kenya’s digital credit market and presents five policy reflections from Kenya’s experience to support consumer protection and competition in emerging digital credit markets.

Reasons for the Exclusion of Women from Peace Processes: The Case of Georgia

Abstract With the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, security perception in the South Caucasus has been impacted considerably and this has highlighted the need for the international community to pay increased attention to unresolved, “frozen” conflicts. Against this background and the call for an effective and inclusive peace process in Georgia, the article focuses in particular on the inclusion of women in the Georgian peace process. By conducting document analysis and triangulating the findings with original interview data from thirty-one semi-structured interviews conducted in Tbilisi in spring 2023, the article argues that women's substantive inclusion in Georgia's peace processes continues to be limited and that the influence of women remains mostly on track II and III channels. It finds that the following reasons explain this continued exclusion: (1) elite-dominated hard power negotiation structures, (2) cultural factors, (3) the need for empowerment and linking the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas, and (4) insufficient implementation of commitments made to include women under the existing policy and legal framework. Aiming to spell out the multiple reasons underpinning the exclusion, this article speaks to the importance of ensuring more effective, sustainable, and inclusive peace processes in Georgia and beyond.

Neoliberal humanitarianism: Contradictory policy logics and Syrian refugee experiences in Japan

Abstract Since the 2011 beginning of the Syrian uprising, more than 800 Syrians have become registered residents of Japan. Japan is an unusual destination for these refugees due not only to its geographical and cultural distance from the Middle East and lack of Arab diasporic communities, but also to what we call neoliberal humanitarianism: an approach by which states adopt policies and programmes to reduce refugees’ suffering while also regarding refugees as potentially profitable workers responsible for their own economic survival and social integration. In Japan’s case, the driver of neoliberal humanitarianism is its interest in keeping par with G7 peers in ‘doing something’ in the face of a global ‘refugee crisis’ on the one hand, and its lack of political or social will to receive refugees, on the other. The contradictions inherent in these imperatives come to the fore in the ‘Japanese Initiative for the future of Syrian Refugees’ (JISR), which invites Syrian refugees to pursue graduate degrees at Japanese universities. Japan officially presents JISR participants as refugees, but legally regards them as students, provides limited financial support, and encourages them not to apply for asylum. This article investigates JISR as a case study of neoliberal humanitarianism and examines its contradictory logics and consequences, from the perspective of refugees’ experiences. Qualitative analysis of twenty-one original interviews shows that, though Syrians often choose Japan in search of stability after years of precarity in countries on Syria’s borders, neoliberal humanitarianism in this unusual destination generates a new chapter of uncertainty and disappointment.

Return to the countryside: An ethnographic study of young urbanites in Japan's shrinking regions

This article studies urban–rural mobilities in contemporary Japan using several island communities in the Setouchi region of the Seto Inland Sea as a case study. It seeks to examine the phenomenon of den-en kaiki (rural return) with a focus on young Japanese urbanites moving to depopulated regions outside large cities. Based on a 15-month ethnographic study, the paper draws on original in-depth qualitative interviews with 35 individuals in their 20s–40s. The findings show that while some may be more traditional “lifestyle migrants,” many are adopting rural living as a temporary escape from the city and are not necessarily committed to staying long term. The narratives reveal diverse mobilities as a reflection of the changing attitudes of young Japanese attempting to find meaning and satisfaction while sustaining a livelihood in post-growth Japan. The growing importance of the “relationship population,” referring to urbanites who spend extended time in rural communities but do not live there, is discussed to broaden existing conceptions of rural mobilities from the Japanese context. The messiness of rural mobilities in contemporary Japan highlights the need for an expanded understanding of concepts such as counter-urbanization to include various forms of exchange and consider how they can contribute to the future sustainability of rural spaces.

“Where are the pediatricians in all this?”: Family perspectives on the role of pediatricians in mental healthcare and suicide prevention

Rising rates of youth anxiety, depression, and suicide mean that pediatricians are increasingly likely to encounter children struggling with their mental health in their clinical practices. Despite pediatric professional organizations encouraging pediatricians to contribute more to mental healthcare and suicide prevention, research on the role of pediatricians and whether families consider them a resource is limited. Drawing on original survey (N = 1230) and interview data (N = 102), we investigate how families conceptualize and involve pediatricians in their children’s mental healthcare, including during suicidal crises. Our survey data show that while families considered mental health professionals the ideal point of contact, pediatricians were a close second, confirming that families view pediatricians as a mental health resource. Parent interviews clarify that parents most often turn to pediatricians for medication and referrals to other mental health professionals or because mental health professionals were inaccessible. We also examine how pediatricians helped (by connecting families promptly to appropriate care) or hurt (by stigmatizing suicide or by providing interventions associated with harm) during a child’s suicidal crisis. We conclude by emphasizing the importance of proper suicide prevention training for pediatricians, as well as suggesting directions for future research.

The neighborhood assembly in the art museum: Practicing cultural citizenship

Abstract The crisis of democracy calls upon public art museums to reflect on what is expected from them as public spaces. This article investigates the art museum as an engaged political participant in its local surroundings and the neighborhood assembly as the platform of this participation. Through original interviews with museum professionals, the article examines three examples of museum-based neighborhood assemblies in different geographical contexts: the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (Spain), Museo de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende (Chile), and Whitechapel Gallery (UK). Drawing on political theory to analyze the horizontal, discursive, and performative features of these practices, the article examines their democratic potential and limitations. The argument is put forward that the neighborhood assembly functions as a practice of participatory cultural citizenship, whereby the art museum can enter a space of co-authorship of the local cultural environment with the local constituents and can be a participant among many.