Political Characteristics Research Articles

Атеизм в цифровую эпоху

The article examines the transformation of atheism as a social and worldview phenomenon in the era of digitalization. Atheistic forums and collective blogs represent a rich field for the study of non-belief; however, they have so far received only sporadic attention from religious scholars and philosophers. The article also presents the phenomenon of “new atheism”. Rather than a system of logical argumentation and classical rational critique of typical theistic arguments, this new atheism comprises a complex of rhetorical techniques aimed at a mass audience, often characterized by irrationality and focused on eliciting specific emotions towards believers rather than fostering an informed understanding of the subject of controversy. Atheism took root in the postmodern situation from its ends of metanarratives, the primacy of feelings over reason, pluralism of opinions and other characteristic features. Moreover, the Internet turned out to be an excellent platform for disseminating the ideas of “new atheism”, promoted by opinion leaders and bloggers, which is a characteristic form of propaganda for Internet media. Nevertheless, the scale of modern non-belief does not approach that of religious movements, nor does it reach the level of cohesion and political passion characteristic of the militant atheism of the 20th century.

IMPLEMENTASI PEMBELAJARAN AKIDAH AKHLAK DALAM MEMBENTUK KARAKTER SISWA KELAS VIII DI MTS NEGERI 2 SUKOHARJO

Learning moral aqidah is one of the curricula taught at secondary education level which has a big influence on students' behavior, both in school life and outside of school. This research aims to find out how moral learning is implemented in shaping the character of Class VIII students at MTs Negeri 2 Sukoharjo. The approach in this research is a qualitative approach, using descriptive case study research. This research was conducted at MTs Negeri 2 Sukoharjo using data collection techniques in the form of observation and interviews. Aqidah Akhlak learning is used as a media for the process of forming polite character in students. This is supported by the role of Aqidah Akhlak teachers in directing and cultivating good moral character so that in the future students become good individuals in society. The culture of shaking hands before entering class at MTs Negeri 2 Sukoharjo is an inspiration for the polite character of students who need to be emulated in the millennial era.

Assessing social equity of federal disaster aid distribution: A nationwide analysis.

In this study, we conduct the first comprehensive, nationwide assessment of social equity performance of multiple federal post- and pre-disaster assistance programs that differ in targeted recipients, project types, forms of aid, and funding requirements. We draw on the social equity and distributive justice theory to develop and test a set of hypotheses on the influence of program design and specificity on their aid distributional patterns and equity performance. The analysis uses panel data of about 3000 US counties to examine the relationship between a county's receipt of federal assistance and its recent disaster damage, socioeconomic, demographic, political, local government, and geographic characteristics in a two-stage random effects Tobit model. Expectedly, we find that post-disaster grants are largely driven by recent disaster damage, while damage is simultaneously influenced by local socioeconomic conditions. For all disaster programs, disproportionately more federal aid is allocated to populous counties. For programs geared toward state and local governments and targeting community recovery and mitigation, more aid is received by counties with better socioeconomic conditions. Conversely, for programs targeting individual relief and recovery, more aid is given to counties with lower incomes and greater social vulnerability. Results also indicate that counties located in high-risk regions receive greater outlays. These findings shed light on the varying degrees of social equity of federal disaster assistance programs tied to their cost-share requirement, funding caps, and inherent complexity of application procedures.

الإرهاب السياسي: دراسة اجتماعية تحليلية

Violence has roots that go deep into antiquity, and its use began with the second generation of humanity, when Cain killed his brother Abel, thus committing the first crime in human history. This prompted thinkers, psychologists, and sociologists to say that violence is an instinct inherent in the human self and associated with human nature in its tendency to control and impose influence and domination. There have been many studies that have dealt with the subject of violence and that have come to addressing the subject of terrorism, and we find many of these studies that have defined it, and we also find that some of these studies and some governments, organizations and political figures intentionally and unintentionally confuse in many cases the phenomenon of terrorism with other human phenomena and problems. Other violent forms, such as national resistance, armed liberation movements, political crime, war, and the crime of genocide. In this analytical study, we will determine when terrorism transforms and acquires a political character? By analyzing political terrorism sociologically. We take into consideration two basic elements of this problem. The first is the subject of the phenomenon of political terrorism, or to whom the violent act of political terrorism occurs, and the second is the goal or objectives of practicing the act of political terrorism.

Political communication from the standpoint of ideational turn: cognitive representation of the idea of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (in English)

The article examines the specifics of political cognition as a structural element of political communication. The main task of the study is to identify, in the conditions of an ideational turn, the characteristics of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization political and media axis, modeled in scientific and media publications and conditioned by different logic and political cognitions of the authors. The mediatization of modern political discourse makes it possible to consider ideology as a potential opportunity that creates grounds for organizing the institutional present through the symbolism recontextualization of the institutional past. The Argentine sociologist, anthropologist and semiotic, Professor of Communication Sciences at the University of San Andres, Elisio Verona’s position is recognized as a priority in understanding ideology. Critical linguistics is considered to be the most productive in terms of representing and describing the multiplicity of interaction between participants in political communication, balancing communication of political cognitions. In the conceptual modeling process, elements of political analysis are used, based on the appeal to ideas as causal variables. The research is carried out taking into account the importance of causal-constitutive logics, while causal logic is recognized as the priority logic of communication, with an orientation towards the idea as a focal point. The authors consider the idea of cooperation, which models the SCO’s institutional functions, through cognitive presentations in scientific and media sources, and ground its interpretation on the terminological and conceptual apparatus of Russian constructivism.

The Resurrection of the Political Offence Exception to Extradition in UK Law

The resurrection of the political offence exception to extradition in UK law would be worthwhile. Once providing protection to persons sought for offences of a political character, the exception was removed from UK law in 2004. A number of factors weigh in favour of its reintroduction. Those relevant at the time of its development in the 19th century have become increasingly relevant again, supporting contemporary considerations. The cases of Julian Assange and Clara Ponsati illustrate the need for reintroduction. A new exception, a ‘constitutionalism bar’, founded upon the rule of law, human rights and democracy could protect the foundations of modern liberal democracies as well as individuals at risk of persecution.

S2191 Examining Political Contributions and Characteristics From Gastroenterologists in the United States

S2191 Examining Political Contributions and Characteristics From Gastroenterologists in the United States

The Impact of Developing Moral Education on the Morality of Primary School Students in China

This study investigates the impact of moral education on the development of students' morality in these institutions. It highlights the unique political and cultural characteristics of Chinese moral education, emphasizing its role in fostering values of communism and socialism with Chinese characteristics. The research examines the effective mechanisms implemented by the government and educational departments, the crucial role of moral education teachers, and the importance of textbooks in guiding students' moral development. The study finds that despite some challenges, moral education positively influences the moral growth of primary school students in China. Recommendations for policymakers, educators, and teachers are provided to enhance the effectiveness of moral education, ensuring it meets both practical and individual needs.

Shifting Political Strategy, Organizational Characteristics, and Political Issues of Islam-based Party in Indonesia

Shifting Political Strategy, Organizational Characteristics, and Political Issues of Islam-based Party in Indonesia

Diversity in Civic Engagement: Political Priorities and Protest Behavior of Arizona College Students

A core function of higher education is to prepare students to be active and informed citizens who are prepared to make sustained contributions to civic life and democratic society. However, past research on college student civic engagement has disproportionately focused on students at traditional 4-year universities and on a narrow range of political activities. In this study, we analyzed online survey data ( N = 1,159) collected before the 2020 presidential election from young adults throughout Arizona who were attending 2-year and 4-year postsecondary institutions. Results show significant differences between community college, transfer and university students in terms of political identities, background characteristics, and participation in Black Lives Matter protests. Yet, across these postsecondary pathways, young adults expressed a strong commitment to active citizenship and ranked combating climate change and dismantling systemic racism as top political priorities. We call for more research on underserved students’ political identities, outlooks, and behaviors as part of a broader and more inclusive conceptualization of civic engagement.

The Early Career of Köprülü Mehmed Pasha: An Archival Reconstruction

Abstract The grand vizier Köprülü Mehmed Pasha (d. 1661) stands out as one of the most celebrated figures of Ottoman history, but despite his prominence, the basic contours of his earlier life remain largely unknown, and most of what is known derives from narrative accounts produced long after his death. This study utilizes archival sources to reconstruct Köprülü's career prior to his 1656 promotion to the grand vizierate. It reveals a major gap in the narrative sources: in 1653, when Köprülü is supposed to have been politically inactive, he was actually serving as a provincial governor in the sensitive region of Karaman in south-central Anatolia. At that time, a rebel faction was active in the area, and evidence indicates that Köprülü aligned with them. Elements of this faction, under Abaza Hasan's leadership, would later go on to rebel against Köprülü himself in 1658. Köprülü's ties to this rebel faction stand in sharp contrast to his later historical image as a paragon of order and central authority. An understanding of this period thus permits a reevaluation not only of Köprülü's political character, but also of how his supporters worked to construct his image in the aftermath of Abaza Hasan's rebellion.

Drivers of the use of digital platforms by Portuguese parishes – how small government entities struggle with the demand for transparency

PurposeThe provision of online information through the use of digital platforms (websites and social networks) can be helpful for public sector organisations to promote transparency and accountability, thereby bringing it closer to citizens, more accessible and with higher added value for society. Whereas the call for government transparency is manifest and seems to be equal for all parts of government, this paper investigates whether small government entities are able to cope with this demand. In addition, the drivers of digital platforms are investigated in the context of Portuguese parishes.Design/methodology/approachThe paper follows a quantitative research approach based on an original data set with more than 3,000 observations collected in two different time periods (2015 and 2020), which looks at the parishes’ use of website and Facebook.FindingsFindings show that about half of Portuguese parishes, which are mostly small entities with on average fewer than 3,500 inhabitants, have an institutional website, whereas almost three out of four have Facebook. The empirical analyses reveal that a lack of organisational capacity of small entities can be an obstacle for the use of an institutional website and of Facebook. Furthermore, factors from the provider side (e.g. being part of a merger, participation in previous elections) and the user side (e.g. having access to broadband internet) are also found to have an influence on the adoption, use, and dropping of a digital platform.Originality/valueThe use of an original data set with more than 3,000 observations, and the research of the influence of size as a proxy of organisational capacity on the presence of parishes on the internet and Facebook, are innovative elements of this paper. In addition, this study adds to the knowledge about the influence of organisational, political, and socio-demographic characteristics on the use of digital platforms by small government entities.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-04-2023-0171

The Election of 1801 and James A. Bayard's Disinterested Constitutionalism

Abstract: Distinguishing, on the one hand, between the 1800 state-based presidential election contests between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams that resulted in Jefferson's victory and, on the other, the voting in the House of Representatives in early 1801 to resolve the electoral vote tie between Jefferson and his vice-presidential running mate Aaron Burr, this article focuses exclusively on the latter contest, whose result made Jefferson president of the United States. In doing so, it rejects historian's conventional approach to the congressional deadlock as a mere pendant to what is conventionally known as the "Election of 1800." Second, it brings forth the Election of 1801 as the first major constitutional crisis in American history and thus makes it a major constitutional as well as political event. Third, it focuses on Delaware congressman James A. Bayard, the pivotal figure in resolving the voting deadlock in the House, which threatened to lead to civil violence and the failure of the Constitution. Fourth, taking Bayard to be a serious constitutional thinker as well as a shrewd political character, it argues that his act to resolve the deadlock, coupled with his explanation for doing so, constituted the first of only occasional major instances of disinterested constitutionalism in American history. The article thus contributes to the revival of attention to American constitutionalism, to the role that constitutional principles have played in American political history, and to the interplay between politics and the rule of law in the earliest years of American constitutional government

Influence of citizen relationship management system on citizen participation in Taiwan: A participatory politics perspective

Although studies have investigated the development of citizen relationship management (CRM) systems in various cities, no understanding exists regarding how CRM systems operate and how they influence citizen participation. Moreover, limited studies have been conducted regarding the political factors that influence citizen participation through CRM systems. Drawing from data obtained through interviews with key stakeholders involved in the implementation of a CRM system in Taiwan, the present study comprehensively analyzed the primary political characteristics and effects of this system, outlined the political factors influencing system use, and formulated suggestions for mitigating the influence of politics on the system. The findings reveal that the development of the citizen relationship management system was constrained by potential political factors in public policy development. These factors included the dynamics of power relations between citizens and local governments, the politicization of policy processes, conflicts in policy decision-making models involving top-down and bottom-up approaches, the political intentions and motives of stakeholders, and the influence of potential policy actors. Considering the case of the Taiwanese citizen relationship management system, this study provides suggestions and guidance for policymakers aiming to minimize political influence on citizen participation, with a focus on tailoring these approaches to meet the specific public service needs of citizens.

Immunity through technification? A critical review of water governance discourses in Tunisia

AbstractAfter Tunisia's independence from France in 1956, the country was engaged in what has been termed the “supply management policy”, that is, a maximum mobilization of water resources through large‐scale modern hydraulic infrastructure. Towards the beginning of the 1980s, the country entered a crisis and had to adopt in 1986, under pressure from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, a “Structural Adjustment Program” (SAP) that prioritized measures to improve economic efficiency and liberalize the economy. Since then, Tunisian water policy has progressively shifted towards “Integrated Water Resources Management” (IWRM). This review critically analyzes the water governance discourses that have framed these policy interventions. I will draw on academic research and official and civil society reports to suggest that these discourses have been “rendered technical”, stripping issues of any political (and therefore conflicting) character. When rendered technical discourses raise development projects and policies above the terrain of political contestation, the possibilities of action available to those opposed to them become limited. This depoliticization of development interventions through technical discourses narrows the public space of democratic debate. I will also argue that the “technification” (rendering technical) process is reversible. Opposition groups can challenge technical discourses with a critical approach that can reconfigure and alter the trajectory of governmental programs. However, critical discourses can, in turn, be rendered technical.This article is categorized under: Human Water > Water Governance Human Water > Rights to Water

Exploring the political character of decision-making: The BJPIR and the politics of (de)politicisation

In this short contribution to this special issue, we attempt three main things. Firstly, to highlight the pivotal role that the BJPIR has played in helping to initiate and develop a myriad of attempts to understand processes of (de)politicisation. Secondly, to provide a very brief and admittedly selective overview of some of the broader developments in these debates. Thirdly, to pay a brief tribute to the seminal contribution and wider legacy that Pete Burnham’s work has made to our understanding of depoliticisation and its wider role in the state’s attempts to manage its credibility and legitimacy and avoid crises.

Settling a State—Settling for a State: Reinterpreting One Hundred Years of Zionist–Arab Relations

Abstract In recent years, a more coherent, widespread critique of Zionism as a form of settler colonialism has developed in Western academia. Despite its critical assumptions regarding Zionism, this conversation has yet to influence one of the core images of the Zionist-Arab encounter, mainly that of Palestinian intransigence versus Zionist political flexibility. According to this stereotypical image, these contrasting political characteristics played a central role in allowing a Jewish state to be established in a large part of historical Palestine, while an Arab one did not materialize. By examining political encounters between Zionists and Palestinians over the course of more than a hundred years, this article shows that, in fact, Palestinian leadership and Palestinians generally were willing to settle for an internationally recognized Arab-Palestinian state at key points. By contrast, Zionists usually exhibited greater ambivalence toward the idea of a recognized state, preferring to settle for something else, mainly expansionism. By adopting a counterintuitive approach, this article seeks to contrast the colonial dimension of Zionism with the more flexible and ultimately more state-and norm-oriented quality of Palestinian nationalism.

Convention, Protest, or Violence? Estimating the Influence of Repertoires of Contention over Tactical Choice

Why do people opt for different forms of collective action, like lobbying, marching, or rioting, to voice contentious claims? The patterns of these collective action forms, or “tactics” exhibit variations among groups, regions, and nations, evolving over time. Current explanations for such tactical patterns are unsatisfactory due to limited theoretical and empirical exploration of the concept of repertoires of contention. This paper presents a comprehensive theoretical model drawing on social practice and learning theories, centered around the notion of tactical familiarity. The central idea posits that people in diverse societies have learned distinct ways of doing politics, gaining varying familiarity and proficiency with different tactics, developed through three mechanisms: feedback, diffusion, and memory. These mechanisms contribute to the formation of notably distinct repertoires of contention. Based on this theoretical model, this study develops an empirical measure of tactical familiarity. The novel measure allows comparing the impact of tactical familiarity with other factors, like political regime characteristics. Previous research has not conducted such comparisons, as it often focuses on particular tactics, like protests or violence, without delving into the full array of potential tactical choices, including conventional-institutional ones. Using quantitative event analysis and a dataset of 10 Million International Dyadic Events, the paper examines 17,575 global political events from 2000 to 2004. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression highlights repertoires of contention’s significant influence on tactical choices, potentially outweighing political regime characteristics.

Implementasi Program Daily Activity Menggunakan Kata Ajaib dalam Pembentukan Karakter Sopan Santun Kelompok B1 TK Pertiwi Sowankidul

Character education is one of the most important things that young children should get as 80% of their brain development occurs during that time. A lack of respect and regard for others might be influenced by the absence of character education in early life. One of the key institutions in helping kids develop their character is their school, and instructors there have a significant influence on how kids behave. The purpose of this study is to explain how a daily activity program that uses magic words to develop polite character is implemented. This study employs a case study methodology and a qualitative research strategy. Interviews and observation were the research methods employed in this study. According to the study's findings, kids are becoming more aware of the usage of "magic words" (sorry, please, thank you, and excuse me) and their conduct is changing as a result. After executing the daily activity program that uses magic words in the construction of polite character, children who had not previously understood the value of utilizing them in everyday life to create polite character now understand it better and are able to use it in their daily lives.

A Study Examining the Impact of County-Level Demographic, Socioeconomic, and Political Affiliation Characteristics on COVID-19 Vaccination Patterns in Indiana.

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign resulted in uneven vaccine uptake throughout the United States, particularly in rural areas, areas with socially and economically disadvantaged groups, and populations that exhibited vaccine hesitancy behaviors. This study examines how county-level sociodemographic and political affiliation characteristics differentially affected patterns of COVID-19 vaccinations in the state of Indiana every month in 2021. We linked county-level demographics from the 2016-2020 American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates and the Indiana Elections Results Database with county-level COVID-19 vaccination counts from the Indiana State Department of Health. We then created twelve monthly linear regression models to assess which variables were consistently being selected, based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and adjusted R-squared values. The vaccination models showed a positive association with proportions of Bachelor's degree-holding residents, of 40-59 year-old residents, proportions of Democratic-voting residents, and a negative association with uninsured and unemployed residents, persons living below the poverty line, residents without access to the Internet, and persons of Other Race. Overall, after April, the variables selected were consistent, with the model's high adjusted R2 values for COVID-19 cumulative vaccinations demonstrating that the county sociodemographic and political affiliation characteristics can explain most of the variation in vaccinations. Linking county-level sociodemographic and political affiliation characteristics with Indiana's COVID-19 vaccinations revealed inherent inequalities in vaccine coverage among different sociodemographic groups. Increased vaccine uptake could be improved in the future through targeted messaging, which provides culturally relevant advertising campaigns for groups less likely to receive a vaccine, and increasing access to vaccines for rural, under-resourced, and underserved populations.