non-Western Research Articles

Improving sense of school belonging in Indian schools: Student perspectives

AbstractStudents’ sense of school belonging is associated with healthier psychological functioning and improved academic outcomes. Currently, most research on school belonging has been conducted in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, resulting in school belonging practices and interventions largely biased towards Western school systems and cultures. This study sought to identify Indian students' perceptions of teacher‐level and school‐level factors that could contribute to a sense of school belonging. Open‐ended survey questions were used to qualitatively explore how teacher‐ and school‐level practices contributed to the school belonging of 93 Indian students aged 12–19. Data analysis followed manifest content analysis, identifying themes within teacher‐level and school‐level domains of enquiry. Results reveal valuable insights into factors influencing school belonging from the students’ perspective. These findings can inform the development of targeted interventions to support Indian students in rebuilding their sense of school belonging, improving their wellbeing, and enhancing their academic success. The research also contributes to a broader understanding of school belonging practices and their cultural sensitivity, benefiting educators, policymakers, and researchers worldwide.

Algunos apuntes preparatorios para abordar el tema de la responsabilidad histórica de los estudios generales en un contexto de colapso mundial y crisis civilizatoria

Introduction. In the introduction to the article we set out how the global collapse and the current civilizational crisis imply the need for a permanent reflection on the role of general studies and the impulse in the academic formation of a new humanism that criticizes and overcomes the ideological prejudices of liberal humanism. Objective. The general objective of the article is to provide a propaedeutic contribution to address the issue of the responsibility of general studies to continue promoting a new humanism. Discussion. The discussion starts from a critical description of the failure of liberal humanism or that analyticaland colonial interpretation of the history of European and American thought from which a hegemonic and western identity was sought to be defined during the second half of the 20th century. Conclusions. After making this critical exposition, some general and exploratory reflections on the importance of education and generalstudies in the process of forming critical thinking of people capable of authentically acing our own societies are presented as conclusions.

From the periphery to the centre: Protestantism and Korean identity in the north-west region

In late 19th-century Korea, Protestantism was perceived as a symbol of western civilization and a messenger for western-style modernity. It was also accepted within the framework of a clash between civilizations, a confrontation of power against power. In such a context, traditional elements were seen as something to be discarded, while western-style modernity, including Protestantism, became the object of aspiration. As is well recognized, the ‘north-west region’ of Korea emerged as the cradle and most vibrant epicentre for the reception of Protestantism, outpacing other regions in terms of both rapid qualitative and quantitative growth within a short time frame. This raises the question: Why did Protestantism receive such an active and passionate welcome in the north-western region? As part of a case study, this article focuses on Pyeongan Province and explores how the encounter between the north-western region and Protestantism reshaped the pre-existing ‘identity’ of north-westerners. In essence, the reason why the people of the north-west region embraced Protestantism more actively compared to other regions was twofold: first, due to their long-standing aspiration to move towards the centre, which had persisted from the past, and, second, because the Protestantism introduced to this region had a mutual affinity with the north-western people. This can be considered as the factor that enabled the rise of north-western people in the early modern period.

Application of Traditional Chinese Culture in Cross-Cultural English Education: A Case Study of the Maritime Silk Road in Guangdong Province

The phenomenon of aphasia in Chinese culture is serious. The existing English teaching materials emphasize too much Western culture education and lack traditional Chinese cultural elements. Therefore, this paper takes the Guangdong Maritime Silk Road as an example to study the specific application of traditional Chinese culture in cross-cultural English education. This paper first summarizes the significance of cross-cultural integration into college English education and then points out the serious phenomenon of Chinese cultural aphasia. Next, the paper focuses on English education, using English textbooks as a starting point to explore and integrate strategies related to excellent traditional Chinese culture from the Guangdong Maritime Silk Road. By integrating traditional Chinese culture into business English classes (with the Guangdong Maritime Silk Road as an example), the study explores the influence of such cultural integration on students’ cross-cultural communication skills, cultural identity, and learning effects. The results showed that the P value of the experimental group and the control group was < 0.05, that is, cultural integration had a positive effect on improving the effect of cross-cultural English education. The overall scores and cultural confidence of the experimental group are higher than those of the control group, which proves that cross-cultural teaching has a positive effect on the improvement of students’ scores.

Discussion on the Differences between Chinese and Western Cultures and Intercultural Translation

Due to different geographical backgrounds and development histories, there are certain cultural differences between China and Western countries, which often lead to cultural conflicts and seriously affect the efficiency and effectiveness of cultural exchanges. In the context of accelerating economic globalization and integration, as well as increasing cooperation among countries, in order to ensure the accuracy of translation, it is necessary to have a proficient and accurate understanding of the cultural differences between China and the West. By relying on these cultural differences, we can improve communication patterns and continuously enhance intercultural translation skills.

Uncovering Holistic Contemporary Paradigms and Hamemayu Hayuning Bawana to Realise Sustainable Development Goals

Objective: This research aims to: (1) understand the historical development of Holistic Contemporary Worldview (CHW) and Kejawen Philosophy (Hamemayu Hayuning Bawana/HHB); (2) explore the correlation between CHW and HHB; (3) compare the axiology of HHB and CHW to better understand the path to achieving sustainable development goals; and (4) identify opportunities for maintaining sustainability through the perspectives of CHW and HHB. Theoretical Framework: The Earth is currently facing unsustainable changes, which are evident in climate change and the increasing frequency of disasters. These problems are believed to stem from reductionist-mechanist thinking, which fosters an anthropocentric attitude. In contrast, holistic thinking offers a new perspective on nature, seeing it as an interconnected whole where each component supports the others to maintain prosperity and balance. This idea is in line with the Javanese philosophy of life, HHB, which emphasizes harmony between humans and nature to enhance the beauty of life. Both concepts highlight the need for fundamental changes in the way humans interact with each other and nature to support the achievement of Sustainability especially the implementation of the Sustainable Development Golas (SDGs). Method: This descriptive qualitative research uses a literature study technique that is conducted in three stages. First, a literature study on the historical development of human views on nature, both from the Western view (CHW) and the Eastern view, especially Java (Kejawen-HHB). These historical developments are presented in the form of narratives to provide a clear picture of events and context, thus helping in understanding each philosophy. The second stage reviews these narratives to identify the core similarities and differences between the two approaches. Finally, the third stage analyses these comparisons to find clues about new approaches to sustainability, especially attitudinal changes to support the achievement of sustainable development goals Results and Discussion: This research shows that the concepts of CHW and HHB are two concepts that emerged from two different regions and times but have the same philosophical line. Both understand that all components of nature need to coexist and respect each other psychologically and even spiritually. This change in attitude is necessary to avoid the evil nature of humans (greed and arrogance) in fulfilling their needs in the form of development. The goal of sustainable development should be utilized for the benefit of the many and the broad (inclusive), which is the core concept of deep ecological understanding (Ecosophy of CHW) and needs to be supported by the concept of roso (spiritual culture of HHB). Both approaches have significant similarities and differences in some aspects but share the common goal of maintaining a dynamic balance to sustain living systems. Research Implications: The findings of this research are expected to contribute to a new perspective on how to achieve sustainability. The old approach based on classical mechanics is still relevant and useful to support the achievement of the SGDs, but the complexity of the world demands a change in behaviour in treating the universe and development. CHW and HHB provide new clues on how to achieve this. Originality/Value: This study compares and correlates two approaches from distinct origins: one rooted in the logic-driven Western culture and the other in the spiritual-based Eastern tradition. These approaches also emerged in different eras: one in the modern, complex age, and the other in the mythology-based ancient kingdom. By examining this correlation, the study underscores the importance of regulating thoughts and behaviors to ensure the continuity of life, particularly within the complexities of modern civilization.

The Impact of Catholic Culture on the Cultural and Spiritual Lives of Contemporary Vietnamese Students

Catholicism has been practiced in Vietnam for more than four centuries. Over seven and a half million people are members of the Vietnamese Catholic community as of the year 2022. The most notable examples of Catholic culture in Vietnam are these forms. A deeper relationship between Vietnamese spirituality and Catholic culture has been established due to the phenomenon known as "Vietnamese" Catholicism. Beyond the confines of the Christian community, Catholic culture is now pervasive throughout Vietnamese society. Students constitute a significant component of the Vietnamese population, particularly the younger generation. In light of this, the question arises as to how the spirituality of Vietnamese students has been influenced by Catholic culture. In order to investigate the process of Catholic cultural assimilation among Vietnamese people, the writers use empirical analysis to investigate four typical narratives: New Year's Day on January 1, Valentine's Day on February 14, and Christmas Day on December 25. It provides a complete explanation of the cultural shifts in society due to globalization. In addition to being inspired by Confucian culture, Vietnam is open to Western culture, particularly Catholicism. Vietnam has a long and illustrious past and a unique culture.

The Differences between Chinese and Western Names and Their Cultural Implications

Names serve as more than mere identifiers; they embody cultural values, identity formation, and societal norms. This study examines the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western naming conventions, exploring how these practices reflect broader cultural, historical, and religious influences. Drawing on the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, the research investigates how language—and consequently names—shapes worldviews and social structures. In China, naming conventions often emphasize familial ties, cultural heritage, and philosophical principles rooted in Confucian values and ancient traditions. In contrast, Western naming practices tend to prioritize individualism and personal expression, reflecting values of freedom and equality. The study highlights the importance of names in shaping identities and social interactions, particularly in a globalized context. Understanding these distinctions promotes intercultural dialogue and enhances mutual respect between Chinese and Western cultures. The findings suggest that names function as cultural markers, bridging personal identity with collective heritage, and tradition with modernity.

A cross-cultural comparison of intrinsic and extrinsic motivational drives for learning.

Intrinsic motivational drives, like the autonomous feeling of control, and extrinsic motivational drives, like monetary reward, can benefit learning. Extensive research has focused on neurobiological and psychological factors that affect these drives, but our understanding of the sociocultural factors is limited. Here, we compared the effects of autonomy and rewards on episodic recognition memory between students from Dutch and Chinese universities. In an exploratory learning task, participants viewed partially obscured objects that they needed to subsequently remember. We independently manipulated autonomy, as volitional control over an exploration trajectory, as well as the chance to receive monetary rewards. The learning task was followed by memory tests for objects and locations. For both cultural groups, we found that participants learned better in autonomous than non-autonomous conditions. However, the beneficial effect of reward on memory performance was stronger for Chinese than for Dutch participants. By incorporating the sociocultural brain perspective, we discuss how differences in norms and values between Eastern and Western cultures can be integrated with the neurocognitive framework about dorsal lateral and ventral medial prefrontal cortex and dopaminergic reward modulations on learning and memory. These findings have important implications for understanding the neurocognitive mechanisms in which both autonomy and extrinsic rewards are commonly used to motivate students in the realm of education and urge more attention to investigate cultural differences in learning.

Correlation Between Culture and Music Used in Advertising

Objective: The objective of this study was to find out if there is a correlation between a country’s culture and the type of music they use in their TV advertisements. Methods: We used the Hofstede model profiles for each of the five countries we selected for this study in order to determine if there is a correlation between each country’s profile (which represents its culture), and the music that was selected in each country’s advertising. Of the six dimensions in the Hofstede model, we chose to focus on three dimensions for the purpose of this study. The three dimensions we used are individualism/collectivism, masculinity, and uncertainty avoidance. We analyzed the music by using Spotify’s Web API tool, which gave us three values: energy, danceability, and valence. We chose those values from Spotify since they are well-suited to be linked to the Hofstede dimensions that we are investigating here. Individualism/collectivism (from Hofstede’s culture model) is associated with danceability (from Spotify’s music tool); masculinity (from Hofstede’s culture model) is associated with energy (from Spotify’s music tool), and uncertainty avoidance (from Hofstede’s culture model) is associated with valence (from Spotify’s music tool). Results: The USA has a medium-high country/song coherence value (321) and a low-medium commercial/song coherence value (492). India has a high country/song coherence value (251) and a low-medium commercial/song coherence value (446). The Netherlands has a low country/song coherence value (548) and a low commercial/song coherence value (512). Japan has a high country/song coherence value (227) and a medium-high commercial/song coherence value (392). Singapore has a medium-high country/song coherence value (342) and a low commercial/song coherence value (529). Conclusion: We have found that there is correlation between a country’s culture and the type of music they use in their TV advertisements in countries with Eastern culture such as India and Japan but not in countries with Western culture such as the US, The Netherlands, and Singapore.

EKSISTENSI SENI TARI KREASI MODERN DALAM MENGEMBANGKAN NILAI KARAKTER OLEH KAMPUS MENGAJAR 7 DI SDN 22 AMPENAN

Abstract : Dance is a form of regional culture that contains many cultural values ​​that are strong in social, cultural, philosophical and spiritual values. The cultural values ​​of each dance movement are able to describe the identity of a region. Students' personalities in character building through dance have the aim of being a form of existence in learning traditional dance at school in forming a learning process that is fun, creative, communicative and aesthetic (Ayu Retnoningsih, 2017). However, over time, traditional dance has faded with western culture, so the existence of character strengthening has had a decreasing impact. The development of the times coupled with technological developments seems to be eroding various local wisdom values, especially for the younger generation and children (Umi Mahmudah1 et al., n.d.). Therefore, the author wants to provide efforts to prevent the erosion of traditional culture and western culture by preserving dance movements and instilling character from elementary school age, especially at SDN 22 Ampenan. This research uses descriptive qualitative analysis. The research results were obtained through observation, interviews and documentation. With this dance training, it is hoped that it can preserve culture and also foster students' character of cooperation, tolerance, discipline, national spirit, love of the country, and responsibility. Key Word : Dance, Character Values, Teaching Campus

Rudolf Eucken and the crisis of spiritual life

ABSTRACT The paper clarifies some prominent aspects of Rudolf Eucken’s Philosophy of Life that, despite its vast influence in the late nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries, is nowadays mostly forgotten. More specifically, I will reconstruct Eucken’s philosophical diagnosis of the spiritual crisis affecting European and Western civilization in relation to the concepts of culture, history, and worldview. First, I will offer an analysis of the spiritual crisis in its two core aspects: as a crisis of culture and as a crisis of the historical present stemming from the unprecedented polarization of vying worldviews. Second, I will identify the defining traits of Eucken’s original and systematic concept of Weltanschauung through a detailed comparison with Ernst Haeckel’s naturalistic worldview, an early version of scientific reductionism. Third, I will show how the problem of clashing worldviews both configures and responds to the present crisis and how such a problem hinges on a latent process of falsification of life. In doing so, I will shed light on Eucken’s belonging to Lebensphilosophie by elucidating the relation between philosophy and life as well as the task of philosophy vis-à-vis the present crisis.

The impact of geopolitical processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina on urban development and cultural identity

The historical-geographical development of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) in the area of the fusion of Western and Eastern Christian civilizations and the Orient resulted in ethnic and religious heterogeneity, occasional political crises and ethnic conflicts that shaped the cultural identity and character of the entire development. BH was separated from the Yugoslav community in the conditions of the civil war. After the war in 1995, a complex administrative-territorial organization of the new state was established, based on the ethnic and religious affiliation of the population. At the same time, the transition of the socialist social system took place, as well as other geopolitical processes and social changes in the Western Balkans initiated by globalization. The paper focuses on cultural disintegration and changes in urban identity and development of cities through the analysis of the six largest urban centers as indicators of social changes in BH. The results of the analysis suggest that there has been a cultural differentiation of society, which is reflected in changes in the ethnic and religious structure of the population and their spatial distribution. Economic stagnation and depopulation of urban centers, as a consequence of the civil war and social reforms, were confirmed by a comparative analysis of statistical indicators of economic and demographic development. Cultural changes were determined by relevant scientific methods and approaches: historical-geographical method, comparative analysis of statistics of demographic indicators and changes in spatial distribution, ethnic and religious structure of the population, and economic changes by analysis of employment in sectors of the economy. The scientific results of previously published papers devoted to some of the mentioned problems, primarily economic development and population dynamics in BH and its large cities, were also taken into account. In this paper, social changes are observed through the cause-and-effect relationships of geopolitical and cultural processes (political, economic and cultural disintegration), social and economic reforms (ownership transition and deindustrialization) and their manifestations on cultural identity and the development of urban centers.

Avengers, Disassemble!

Popular culture both reflects and shapes the audiences’ beliefs. Content Analysis of blockbusting movies can teach us about public attitudes. This study examined underlying themes pertaining to personality types, as they are reflected in movies produced by the largest franchise in history, Marvel Cinematic Universe. Twenty-seven Marvel characters were assessed for their personality traits and received a rating for each of the big five personality aspects. To test which personality type was endorsed by the Marvel narratives, each character’s success was measured by examining the outcomes for that character. Successful outcomes were defined by levels of goal achievement in two categories, somatic goals and reproductive goals. The hypothesis was that being a commercial art-product of Western culture, Marvel storylines will follow neoliberal ideas, and award success to characters that align with the entrepreneurial personality type. That is, characters that exhibit high levels of openness, stability, extraversion, and conscientiousness, but not high levels of agreeableness. Results showed that the strongest predictor for success was openness to experience. It was followed by a second predictor, emotional stability. No correlation was found between extraversion or conscientiousness and success. Agreeableness was found to be moderately correlated to somatic success. The hypothesis was partially supported, indicating there might be some influence of neoliberal values on the Marvel character depiction.

As authentic as a Christian hipster: navigating authenticity within Emerging Christianity and Western culture

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the current pejorative understanding and usage of the term ‘Christian hipster’ within the context of Emerging Christianity through a case study of a Dutch emerging project: PopUp Kerk. The (Christian) hipster is approached as a linguistic ideal type within a broader Western cultural discourse, in both popular culture and literature on Emerging Christianity, regarding the paradox of authenticity. I argue that, in contemporary and academic ‘hipster bashing’, the Christian hipster becomes both the stereotypical embodiment and the scapegoat of a paradox inherent in a Western culture focused on authenticity. In the second part of the article, I introduce an ideal typology to conceptualize the type of authenticity sought in hipster Emerging Christianity. I argue that taking the Christian hipster seriously can provide insights into the way the Zeitgeist is influencing the ways in which Western evangelical Protestantism more broadly understands and seeks authenticity. Finally, the article explores what theological insights the Christian hipster may offer regarding (in)authenticity and faith.

Queering Authoritarianism in Uganda: Dissident Sexualities and Tropical African [anti]-Aesthetics in Stella Nyanzi’s No Roses from my Mouth

In this article, I argue that queering female sexualities as ‘dissident sexualities’ Stella Nyanzi in her collection of prison poems, No Roses from My Mouth (2020), harnesses the aesthetics of radical rudeness (insults) through expressions of humor, innuendo, and anecdote grounded in the Baganda cultural repertoire, to critique President Yoweri Museveni’s authoritarian regime in Uganda. Her poetry draws attention to queer sexualities grounded in stylistics of dissent. Humor in the prison poems allows Nyanzi to develop an audacity that alludes to the authenticity of her queer consciousness. To this end, the article teases out how radical rude poetics, a corollary of tropical [anti]-aesthetics, affords Nyanzi a literary platform to manipulate pejorative imagery, libidinous metaphors, subversive phrases, and lewd expressions entrenched in humor as political protest. More evocatively, the article asserts that within the context of tropicality, radical rudeness as pan-Africa’s anti-aesthetic response to the Western (English) culture of politeness is focused upon in No Roses from My Mouth as a literary fuse that expands tropical aesthetic’s critique of colonialism/postcolonialism in Africa to poetically confront authoritarianism in Uganda.

A Study on the E-C Translation of Daily Chemical Advertisements from the Perspective of Communicative Translation Theory

Advertising can not only build the image of a brand, but also increase the visibility of the product. Today, as the global economy becomes more and more interconnected, more and more products are pouring into the international market, in which advertising translation plays an irreplaceable role. Due to the differences between Chinese and Western cultures, this paper mainly studies from the perspective of communicative translation theory, and selects naturalization strategies as theoretical guidance, including paraphrasing, additive translation, transcreation, imitation translation and retranslation methods to conduct research on the Chinese translation of advertising slogans for daily chemical products. It is found that when translating daily chemical product advertisements, translators should not only follow the three principles of advertising slogan translation, but also flexibly adopt different translation methods for different texts, so as to continuously increase the cultural value and commercial value of daily chemical product advertising. The purpose of this paper is to provide inspiration for the translation of advertising slogans in the future, and to better promote cross-cultural business communication.

Restitution of African Cultural Heritage: Revisiting Natural Law Concepts of Statehood and Property in the Context of Colonial Spoliation

Abstract In the late nineteenth century, Western Powers launched military campaigns in sub-Saharan Africa resulting in the colonization of vast territories and the spoliation of cultural property. To justify the conquest, they asserted the supremacy of Western culture and disregarded principles of international law in their dealings with African states, communities, and individuals. This article examines colonialist legal justifications such as the denial of statehood of pre-colonial sub-Saharan African societies, the notion that conquest and spoliation were justifiable, and the belief that African legal systems lacked concepts of property. The article details why these arguments contradict well-established nineteenth-century legal principles, particularly state sovereignty and private property, which together form the conceptual basis for the prohibition of spoliation. The universal nature of those principles allows for the nondiscriminatory application and interpretation of historical law and consequently the protection of African pre-colonial states and private as well as public cultural property.

Investigating the Experiences of Cultural Code-Switching Among Black Middle-Class Professionals in South Africa

This research investigates the experiences of cultural code-switching among Black middle-class professionals in post-apartheid South Africa. By virtue of the unjust and inhumane laws imposed during South Africa’s discriminatory apartheid regime, salient dominant and minority cultures have prevailed in the post-apartheid era. The discrimination against and hegemony over previously oppressed cultures have engendered layers of trauma and unhealed scars in contemporary South African society. Using in-depth interviews with a sample of professionals, the research shows how the dominant Western culture has shaped the perceived hierarchy of professionalism in the South African workplace and an unconscious demand has been placed on Black individuals to adapt their cultural beliefs, values, and norms. This study is the first to clearly identify a taxonomy of specific codes like lifestyle and appearance, and critically examine the psychological states and experienced emotions that influence code-switching among Black middle-class professionals. The qualitative findings were used to create a framework that includes the relationship between formative influences, internal and external pressures, and coping strategies. The study supports a core argument that South African Black middle-class professionals have presented as a quintessential example demonstrating the concept of cultural code-switching, although there was also strong evidence of change as the country has evolved, which has allowed for greater cultural authenticity.

Children in the face of death

The expropriation of death in contemporary Western civilisation has mainly affected children. Through the skirmishes of adults, they have been kept away from the subject and the reality of dying, often out of concern not to disturb the horizon of joy of their childish condition and often also to avoid the resonant blows that can be thrown back from children to adults.