Political Change Research Articles

A pendulum or a stopped clock? Rupture, continuity and political change in English sub-national government under Labour

A pendulum or a stopped clock? Rupture, continuity and political change in English sub-national government under Labour

Illustrating History: April 25th in Portuguese Comics

Abstract This essay offers a comprehensive analysis of Portuguese comics, with a specific focus on those that depict the April 25th Revolution of 1974. It traces the historical evolution of these comics, examining how they have engaged with significant political and social changes in Portugal. The study critically evaluates the term “BD de Abril” (April Comics), proposing a more nuanced categorization that reflects the thematic and chronological diversity within this body of work. By analyzing key works, including Utopia by Raquel Varela and Robson Vilalba, the essay explores how Portuguese comics have functioned as both artistic and historiographical tools, especially during periods of political upheaval. The research identifies four distinct phases in the development of “April Comics”: Denunciation (pre-revolution), Exaltation (immediate post-revolution), Revivalism (1990s–2000s), and Revisitation (2010s onwards). Each phase is contextualized within the broader socio-political landscape, revealing the evolving role of comics in reflecting and shaping historical consciousness. The essay concludes by arguing that while “April Comics” is a valuable category, it requires refinement to fully capture the complexity and richness of these works.

Digital Transformation in the Agri-food Sector: A Comparative Analysis of Industry 4.0 Innovations by Italian Sustainability Leaders

The agri-food sector is a key actor in the Italian economy and plays a crucial role in rescuing and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, diverse sustainability challenges including environmental conservation, economic volatility, political changes and regulatory constraints affect the agri-food company’s competitiveness and their ability to face global sustainability challenges. Exploiting digital innovation is then essential. By facilitating more efficient management of resources, reducing waste and improving supply chain transparency, digital innovations contribute to more sustainable, inclusive and resilient agri-food systems. This paper aims to understand the ongoing digital transformation of the Italian agri-food sector through a comparative analysis of innovative practices by Italian agri-food companies that are recognized as sustainability leaders. Among the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies, sensors, blockchain, cyber security, and artificial intelligence appear to be the most adopted I4.0 solutions to help companies influence the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.

Nursing advocacy and activism: A critical analysis of regulatory documents.

Background: Advocacy and activism are dynamic terms representing a spectrum of political action, aiming to achieve social or political change. The extent to which nursing advocacy and activism are legitimate nursing roles has been debated for around 50 years. Nursing regulatory documents, such as codes of conduct and professional standards, may provide direction to nurses on how they should act in the context of advocacy and activism.Aim: To explore what regulatory documents say about advocacy and activism, either explicitly or implicitly, and how they shape advocacy and activism.Research design: We used a Reflexive Qualitative Document Analysis approach with a Critical Feminist lens to analyse contemporary nursing regulatory documents from the USA, UK and Australia.Ethical considerations: This article has no human participants, and informed consent was not required.Findings: We identified eight nursing regulatory documents from the American Nurses Association, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. We constructed two major themes that reveal how nursing advocacy and activism are conceived and shaped in regulatory documents. Theme 1, Ideological arena describes the gendered and neoliberal subtexts influencing advocacy and activism. Theme 2, A five-pointed star, describes the shape of advocacy and activism in the regulatory documents.Conclusions: Regulatory documents from the USA, UK and Australia support diplomatic nursing advocacy and activism for people, equity, ourselves (nurses), the profession and systems change. However, more oppositional and disruptive advocacy and activism are potentially constrained by gendered and neoliberal subtexts that depoliticise nurses' roles.

Drawing a Long Shadow: Analyzing Spatial Segregation of Afghan Immigrants in Tehran

Although recent dramatic political changes in Afghanistan have brought that country to global attention, migration from Afghanistan to Iran has a long history. Nearly three quarters of Afghan immigrants in Iran are located in cities, particularly in Tehran’s metropolitan area. However, despite the long-term presence of Afghan immigrants in Iran, research on patterns and drivers of spatial segregation of immigrants has been very limited. The research method involves a secondary analysis of census data. Therefore, this article utilizes 2006 Iran census tract data to examine patterns of spatial segregation of Afghan immigrants in the Tehran metropolis. The required data for two-group segregation indices, Getis–Ord statistics, and Geographically Weighted Regression, were analyzed as a map using ArcMap and Geo-Segregation Analyzer. The results reveal that the spatial segregation of Afghans is high and that most live in lower-SES census tracts. Multivariable analyses indicate that the extent of segregation can be explained by education, job class, and generation status. It can be concluded that generational transition and access to human capital have reduced various indicators of spatial segregation of Afghan immigrants in Tehran.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING CHANGES AT THE ENTERPRISE

The article provides a rationale for the feasibility of implementing changes at the enterprise. Following crisis phenomena in the economy, actions to achieve short-term, mainly financial goals prevail in organizations. At the same time, worldwide experience shows that companies that focus only on current problems of survival have no guarantee of success in the future, and only those organizations that lay the foundations for this development today, in crisis conditions, will be able to fully develop in the future. For managers of Ukrainian enterprises, mastering the theoretical and practical aspects of change management is especially relevant, since work in the conditions of continuous economic, political and technological changes is accompanied by internal disintegration and the lack of systematicity in the implemented changes. The feasibility of implementing changes at the enterprise was analyzed and provided. The readiness of the organization for changes determines the sufficiency of forces in the organization to carry out changes at present. The main purpose of this article is to improve change management processes in organizations, using organizational support to improve the efficiency of these processes. Research methods: dialectical method of scientific knowledge, structural and logical - for clarifying the essence and content of change management, comparative analysis for grouping criteria for the implementation of successful organizational and economic changes. The practical significance displays a list of strategic changes offered to the enterprise to increase the efficiency of business functioning and a set of approaches to assessing the effectiveness and risks of implementing organizational changes. The proposed triad of elements of a comprehensive assessment of the key success factors of changes in the organization fits well into the model of D. Khayat - the ADKAR model, which allows you to assess the situation and manage changes both at the level of the organization as a whole and a specific employee.

Public opposition to fuel taxes in Europe: how important is social disadvantage and how do welfare regimes compare?

Fuel taxes are seen as an important instrument in the fight against climate change, including in the European Green Deal. From a social-ecological policy perspective, it is important to understand current high levels of public opposition to fuel taxes. If social disadvantage is an important driver of opposition, this would strengthen arguments that fuel taxes need to be designed in a fairer way. However, it remains unclear how important social disadvantage – here defined as a combination of low income, fuel poverty risk, low education, low occupational status and job insecurity – is for explaining opposition compared to factors such as political trust and climate change attitudes, and how the role of social disadvantage varies with welfare regimes in Europe. In this article, we examine how strongly social disadvantage is associated with opposition to fuel taxes once political trust and climate change attitudes are controlled for, and we compare results across welfare regimes. The article uses data from the 2016 European Social Survey and employs logistic regression and decomposition analysis. We find that social disadvantage contributes nearly as much to fuel tax opposition as climate change attitudes and political trust together, with 10.9 and 16.6 percentage points respectively. However, the role of social disadvantage varies by welfare regime. It matters most in Southern and Eastern Europe, where opposition is particularly high, as are poverty and inequality. We discuss implications for social-ecological policy strategies that aim to increase public acceptability of fuel taxes in Europe.

French Foreign Policy Shifts in a Multi-dimensional Perspective: The Impact and Consequences of Populism

French foreign policy has played an important role in global politics in history. As one of the core countries in Europe, France's diplomatic decisions not only affect its own interests, but also have a far-reaching impact on the political landscape of Europe and even the world. In the past few decades, the process of globalization, regional conflicts, EU internal dynamics and other factors have continuously reshaped France's diplomatic strategy. In recent years, the rise of populism has been particularly eye-catching. It not only triggered great changes in domestic politics, but also had a far-reaching impact on France's foreign policy. As a political phenomenon, populism is usually characterized by anti-elite, anti-dism and an emphasis on national sovereignty and the will of the people. In France, the rise of populism is reflected not only in the words and deeds of politicians and political parties, but also in the attitude and voting behavior of voters. The impact of populism on French foreign policy is mainly reflected in its attitude towards the European Union, its position on immigration and refugee issues, and its attitude towards international cooperation and multilateralism. This article aims to explore the foreign policy transformation of France under the influence of populism from a multidimensional perspective and analyze the consequences of this change. By comparing France's diplomatic strategies in different historical periods, people can more clearly understand the role of populism in it and its potential impact on future international relations.

Regenerating the pitch: environmental discourses in football

ABSTRACT Climate crisis, environmental problems, and their appropriate responses are contested topics in international football. In this study, I analyse the construction of these issues and the privileging of certain responses through a critical discourse analysis of media content on environmental problems from FIFA, UEFA and We Play Green's (WPG) websites posted in 2022 (N = 66). I then examine how power is expressed within these discourses, and how this influence the renegotiation of the dominant discourse. In addition to a dominant discourse offered by FIFA and UEFA emphasizing how economic development is compatible with, and needed to achieve environmental sustainability, I identified a counter-discourse offered by WPG, promoting radical changes in politics and consumer practices. The various constructions of environmental problems and appropriate responses found in the two discourses demonstrate the need for democratic discussions when conceptualizing these issues, to make responses less dependent on strategic and economic interests.

Material characterization of forged bronzes from ancient China (c. 11th-2nd century BCE) reveals development of the non-mainstream metalworking technique in Chinese bronze production

Although ceramic piece-mould casting was the dominant metalworking technique in the Chinese Bronze Age (c. 2100-221 BCE), the forging technique was also employed by craftsmen to pursue lightweight bronzes with thin walls and high hardness. However, compared to the ceramic piece-mould casting technique, research on forging technology is relatively limited. In this research, 48 sheet metal fragments of Chinese bronzes from different regions and periods (from the Zhou to Han dynasties) across China were analyzed by metallography, SEM-EDS, and hardness testing. The results show that craftsmen had a profound understanding of copper alloy properties and were able to produce thin-walled, functional artifacts by forging cast blanks with appropriate alloy compositions. With the development of forging technology and political changes, the types of forged thin-walled bronzes became more diverse, and their consumers expanded from the elite to civilians. This study not only reveals the material characterization of forged bronzes, but also elucidates the historical trajectories of forging technology and the multifaceted interplay between cultural influence, aesthetic pursuits and technological advancement in the development of forging techniques in ancient China.

MODERNIZATION OF STATE POLICY IN THE FIELD OF STATE CONTROL (SUPERVISION) OVER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

The article analyzes the essence of modernization of the State policy in the field of control (supervision) over economic activity with due regard for the changing political and economic situation in the country. The author examines the main conceptual approaches to the definition of basic terms, and also identifies the features and purpose of state control (supervision) in the economic sphere. It is found that the state of the system of control (supervision) over economic activity does not always correspond to the realities of today. Hence, the author concludes that the control system is not always relevant and effective. The author identifies the main problems on the way to modernization of legislation in the field of control (supervision) over economic activity. The author proposes to use adequate means of regulating and controlling economic activity during a special period caused, for example, by a pandemic, military operations on the territory of Ukraine, etc. The author examines the key areas of state policy in the field of legal regulation of control (supervision) over economic activity. The author defines the system of regulatory and legal support of the state policy in the field of control over economic activity at different stages of economic development of the country. The author analyzes the legal acts adopted under the legal regime of martial law aimed at stabilizing the situation in the economic system of our country.

Commitment and compromise in Danish cyber and tech diplomacy

Abstract This article explores the emergence of norm promotion strategies through an in-depth, partly autobiographical case-study spanning almost a decade of Danish cyber and tech diplomacy. The article engages the norms literature in International Relations and highlights the significance of the frequently overlooked internal negotiations that take place within the bureaucratic structures of norm entrepreneurs. Despite Denmark's favourable position and aspiration to become a norm entrepreneur in cyberspace, internal dynamics characterized by varying levels of commitment and compromise in negotiations over cyber norm promotion strategies resulted in both failed norm promotion attempts and fundamental alterations to a previously successful initiative. The article advocates for increasing analytical attention to the internal dynamics of norm entrepreneurs, positing that such examination not only offers a more nuanced perspective on the initial stages of a norm's life-cycle, but also furnishes an additional indication of a norm's robustness. Methodologically tracing the practices of civil servants as they negotiate their continuing commitment to norm-entrepreneurial strategies, particularly in response to domestic political changes or external events, provides norms scholars with valuable insight into the potential weakening or strengthening of a norm.

Ships, Spatial Interconnections, and the Problematization of Peripheral East Asia in the 1860s

Abstract The 1850s and 1860s were a crucial era in the history of East Asia. The opening of treaty ports and advances in information and navigational technologies both generated new commercial opportunities and brought more people and commodities from Europe and America to East Asia. What were the consequences of these political and socioeconomic changes and the resultant spatial interconnections? I argue that spatial interconnections rendered centuries-old nonstate spaces in East Asia increasingly problematic, to the extent of creating international conflicts. To illustrate this, I reconstruct the mutual influence among places constructed by and shown in the lives of the shipwrecked American vessel Rover and its crew in East Asian waters. Their activities embodied how transpacific and East Asian communication and commerce, and the growing treaty port community in China, became entangled with how Taiwanese aborigines managed their interaction with the outside world. In this and similar borderland incidents, spatial interconnections between central and peripheral East Asia constructed by ordinary people crossing borders, and the problems arising from such interactions, led to the problematization of peripheries in the 1860s.

Greece: Political Developments and Data in 2023

AbstractThe year 2023 was marked by two national elections during the summer months, as well as regional and municipal elections in October. New Democracy dominated electorally in both. Another key political change was the resignation of the head of the Coalition of the Radical Left, Alexis Tsipras, following his party's devastating defeats in national elections. He was replaced in internal elections later that year by Stefanos Kasselakis—a political newcomer with no prior experience. The deadly Tempi train crash, wildfires across the country, hooligan violence, and the devastating floods caused by Storm Daniel in Thessaly raised issues about the effectiveness of the government and added to the general mistrust of politics and politicians. In October, Greece regained investment grade in its credit rating from Standard & Poor's Global Ratings. Inflation, at 3.5 per cent in December, continued to be top of mind for most citizens. The devastating consequences of gender‐based violence persisted this year, with a staggering 15 femicides recorded in total.

Pentecostal Eschatology, Public Discourse and Political Engagement in Chile

This article explores the intricate evolution of Chilean Pentecostals from apolitical and socially detached citizens to ardent supporters of the country’s dictatorship. The aim is to challenge prevailing historical assumptions that explain the transformation through factors exogenous to the movement as well as long-held interpretations of their eschatological dispositions. It looks to revisit their early theological commitments and millennial concerns, complicating scholarly claims that the movement reflected a clear premillennialist orientation which has been held up to explain their enduring reluctance to enter the political sphere prior to the 1973 military coup. By examining early Pentecostal publications, this article reveals a religious movement shaped by pneumatological expressions, Methodist beliefs and local autonomy. Contrary to normative interpretations, it argues that Chilean Pentecostals’ longstanding unwillingness to engage in political change was not a forgone conclusion rooted in their theological commitments. Political engagement was always a possibility rather than a clear deviation. This research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of Chilean Pentecostalism, shedding light on the complex interplay of theology, historical context and scholarly interpretations that have shaped our understanding of the movement’s political trajectory.

Reimagining Spaces in Central and Eastern Europe or Memory Roulette: Legal, Political and Social Aspects

Abstract If one was to look for a single word to describe the historical experiences of Central and Eastern Europe (cee), roulette comes immediately to mind. Be that the fall of great empires of the region following World War i (wwi), the tragedy of World War ii (wwii), the Iron Curtain separating cee from the rest of the world, the fall of communism, the more recent illiberal ‘reckoning’ or the Russo-Ukrainian war, the region’s history is characterised by unpredictibility. Importantly, these moments of ground-breaking change affect not only the political sphere – although the regime shifts and border changes are often amongst the most noticeable – but also the national imaginaries, as the process of collective memory inversion takes place, and official narratives of the yesteryear are replaced by those currently in power. Law plays an important role in managing these modifications, in particular those most visible, relating to public spaces and cultural heritage. The purpose of this paper is to look holistically at the changes that took place in the public sphere in the region since the end of wwi, with a particular focus on the intersection of law, politics and social changes. In the first, theoretical part of the paper, the author explains the relationship between collective memory and public spaces, linking these concepts with the understanding of the field, violence, habitus, and crisis proposed by Bourdieu. The second part of the paper introduces the major moments of change in the recent cee history from the perspective of reimagination of public spaces, illustrating them on selected case studies: post-wwi fall of the empires and the destruction of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Warsaw, the wwii atrocities and the erasure of shtetl culture, the times of communism and the construction of the People’s Palace in Bucharest, the post-1989 decommunisation and the (not always) meticulous removal of the communist monuments from Estonia, the arrival of illiberalism and the reimagining of museums in Hungary, and, ultiamtely, the Russo-Ukrainian war and the ensuing derussification of Ukraine. In the third, conclusive part of the paper, the author looks at the big picture, linking the theoretical with the case studies more generally and proposing to draw lessons from Central and Eastern European roulette, which may also be applicable to other spaces in permanent flux.

‘A clash of cultures’: varying perspectives on the Rhodesian incorporation into the South African special forces

ABSTRACT The South African Special Forces shared a close bond with the Rhodesian Special Air Service during the 1970s. Prior to the political changes in Rhodesia in 1980, a secret offer had been extended by the South African Defence Force to the Special Air Service to join the South African Special Forces. Following the 1979 elections in Rhodesia, many Rhodesian SAS operators joined the South African Special Forces to form 6 Reconnaissance Commando. However, the cultural differences and friction between the South African and Rhodesian operators hindered long-term cooperation. The potential for a much broader integration of Rhodesian experience was lost due to the clash in cultures between the South Africans and Rhodesians, and the loss of these Rhodesian operators due to dissatisfaction represented a missed opportunity for South Africa to have significantly strengthened its special forces. After only one operation in 1981, in which three Rhodesian operators were killed in action, most of the Rhodesians opted to end their contract with the South African Special Forces, which ultimately resulted in the closure of the Rhodesian Commando. This article examines why the incorporation of the Rhodesians did not work as envisioned from both a Rhodesian and South African perspective.

The making of a dissonant heritage: the Foro Italico in Rome

ABSTRACT Italy’s long and stratified history offers abundant heritage resources, with Rome serving as a showcase for the architectural embodiment of political and ideological changes over time. Among these periods, the Fascist regime under Benito Mussolini initiated extensive urban and architectural renewal projects, notably exemplified by the Foro Italico, a monumental sports complex that is still actively used. The present contribution retraces the elements constituting Fascist architectural heritage in Italy and explores how Italian people comprehend and interpret the dissonant heritage site of the Foro Italico. Departing from previous approaches, this research employs a conservation perspective, exploring, among others, architectural and socio-cultural values associated with the complex. By analysing the motives underlying its unceasing use, this study seeks to understand why citizens continue to create new experiences and memories at the site despite its contentious ideological symbolism, without undergoing modern damnatio memoriae or de-commemoration processes, thus contributing to ongoing debates on heritage management and the politics of memory.

Water Drops

This article examines how individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds in Norway participate in anti-racist activism via social media. It investigates the nature of digital activism compared to traditional paradigms, highlighting the varied forms of engagement enabled by digital technology. Drawing on nine months of ethnographic fieldwork among individuals in the arts and cultural sector, it reveals how seemingly minor actions on social media can spark organized activism, unveiling the political activism inherent in daily life and social media practices. The article argues that individuals not identifying as political activists still contribute to political change through everyday social media activities, suggesting that contemporary activism can exist without activists. Introducing the metaphor of ‘water drops’ the article conceptualizes everyday politics as small contributions that may collectively shape meaningful change. Small acts can be merely drops in a vast ocean without major significance. However, if sustained over time, efforts across disparate online spaces can coalesce to challenge and subvert dominant social narratives regarding difference, racism, discrimination, and exclusion. Thus, contemporary activism can thrive with ordinary people who contribute to collective social transformation through digital and mundane interactions.

Towards understanding capacity development as a system: perceptions from multiple conservation stakeholder groups in Bhutan

Summary Capacity development is crucial for enduring conservation success. Recent scholarship has called for a systems perspective based on input from local stakeholders to better understand and develop conservation capacity. However, few studies have adopted such an approach to explore interactions among capacities or how capacity development needs and priorities evolve. We address this gap through a case study from Bhutan, centred on perceptions from 52 local conservation practitioners, planners, funders and community members. We use mixed methods to identify which capacities have been important for conservation success, which capacities are needed for future success, which capacities are foundational and how capacities interact. We find that capacity needs have shifted from individual-level knowledge and skills to community- and societal-level capacities in response to changing political and economic dynamics. Participants identified political support and leadership, reliable and sufficient funding, strengthening the research base, and increasing community awareness and engagement as critical future needs. Investing in these capacities holds the promise of further augmenting capacity development, thus increasing the value of limited resources. Our results demonstrate that capacity development should be viewed as a dynamic process and supported by strategic investment even in countries with track records of conservation success.