Political Dimensions Research Articles

Documentary Objects, Textual Materials, and Performative Testimony in Memory Reconstruction – Mi vida después (2009) by Lola Arias

Mi vida después by Lola Arias premiered in 2009 in Buenos Aires, as a stage proposal about people who reconstruct their childhood experiences and the life stories of their parents, some of them disappeared because of the repressive State that organized and executed the most atrocious dictatorship in Argentine history between 1976-1983. In this paper, we inquire about the use of documentary materials on stage, the figure of the witness, and the value given to testimony. We postulate that this stage experience develops procedures that give shape to a dramaturgy of the living based on performative testimony that allows new approaches to the memories presented in the public sphere as proof of truth. The documents and testimonies emerge from the representational gap that opens up between the generation of the parents who suffered censorship and repression and the generation of the young performers who can give an account of their childhood memories. From their stories, one can see the lack, the absence, the emptiness, and the difficulties in speaking. These forms of expression function as dual discursive devices that express both subjective experience and the reflection of a political and social dimension.

A divided society: social perceptions about indigenous peoples’ rights in Chile

ABSTRACT The recognition of indigenous people’s rights, both legally and socially, poses a significant challenge for contemporary democracies. This article focuses on the acceptance or rejection of indigenous rights by citizens and elites in Chile, often framed as a debate between multiculturalism and plurinationalism. However, we argue that these labels fail to capture the nuanced distinctions present at the societal level. To address this limitation, we propose a methodological strategy that examines how individuals align themselves with specific sets of rights for indigenous peoples. Through this approach, we identify three distinct groups: pluriculturalists, who support only indigenous cultural rights; multiculturalists, who advocate for cultural rights along with specific additional rights; and plurinationalists, who advocate for the recognition of a broad range of rights. We contend that the political dimensions of recognition – including self-government and territorial autonomies – generate significant controversy within Chilean society and posit that achieving constitutional consecration of these rights is unlikely.

Evolution of Green Finance: Mapping Its Role as a Catalyst for Economic Growth and Innovation

This scientometric study analyzes the evolving landscape and outlook of green finance as a driver of economic innovation and growth, highlighting key trends and influential research within this critical field. A dataset of 371 publications was compiled from the Scopus and Web of Science databases and analyzed using VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and Voyant tools to map the research landscape. By systematically reviewing the scientific literature, this research tracks the development of green finance’s role as a catalyst for economic innovation and growth, identifying trending topics, key studies, and major contributors through bibliometric and scientometric methods. The analysis reveals a growing interdisciplinary approach, integrating environmental, social, and political dimensions into green finance research. Keyword analysis identified three primary thematic clusters: (1) green finance and innovation, (2) economic growth, carbon neutrality, and fintech, and (3) renewable energy and urbanization. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the field and aims to guide future research while contributing to ongoing debates on the role of green finance in fostering economic innovation and sustainable growth.

The Evolution of Cameroonian Cooperation with the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation: A Historical and Geopolitical Analysis

This paper investigates the historical and evolving relationship between Cameroon and the Soviet Union and later, the Russian Federation, focusing on political, military, economic, and cultural dimensions. Positioned strategically at the crossroads of West and Central Africa, Cameroon has balanced longstanding ties with France against a growing partnership with Russia. Since the Soviet Union’s formal recognition of Cameroon's independence in 1964, Soviet support in education, infrastructure, and ideological alignment contributed to a foundational relationship grounded in anti-colonial and socialist values. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, relations were reestablished with the Russian Federation, shifting from ideological alignment to pragmatic cooperation, particularly in defense and economic engagement. Key findings indicate that Russia cooperation with Cameroon cut across education, reciprocal visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports, food trade and military defense. The study uses a qualitative methodology, incorporating primary sources such as government records, treaty documents, and public statements, alongside secondary sources including academic articles and policy analyses. This approach allows for an examination of key historical milestones, the role of security concerns, and economic priorities that have shaped Cameroonian-Russian relations over the years.

Murdered and missing: description, art, and human rights

AbstractThe aim of the article is to explore how describing works of art and artistic practices enables a deeper understanding of the political dimensions and effects of art. Drawing on visual and documentary analysis, the article explores two artworks: Azúcar Rabiosa (‘Rabid Sugar’) (2018) by Cerrucha which addresses the justice system’s inaction regarding femicides and transfemicides in Mexico and Remain (2018) by Hoda Afshar, which documents the experiences of a group of stateless men who were left to languish when the Australian government closed its offshore immigration detention centre. Two key arguments emerge. First, making visible through description different aspects of artistic objects and practices helps account for what these artworks do politically. Second, taking description seriously enables us to understand how these artworks make claims to human rights.

Pedagogizing Identity in Teacher Education Through Critical Autoethnographic Narrative

In this study, I report on my use of critical autoethnographic narrative (CAN) writing with English language teacher candidates (TCs) in a graduate-level teacher education course. In that iterative, scaffolded writing activity, I coached TCs to construct their teacher identity in narrative and make visible to themselves ideologies dominant in the sociopolitical context of language teaching. Drawing data from my CAN implementation in Spring 2023, I analyze Pamela's (pseudonym) case to address this research question: How does she construct her English language teacher identity in a semester-long CAN writing activity? The qualitative data analysis demonstrates that Pamela's language teacher identity involved: (a) becoming a social justice advocate, (b) grappling with neurodiversity, and (c) positioning language as an evolving local contextualized practice. Based on her positioning of language, she denies ‘one right way’ approach to language use, ‘teaching as correcting errors’ approach, and ‘assessment as gatekeeping’ approach as part of her teacher identity. Pamela's CAN shows that the personal, professional, and political dimensions of language teaching are intricately intertwined in teacher identity, and that teacher identity construction involves tensions of competing ideologies in the sociopolitical context.

The Enigma of Ownership of the Balkan Epic

The Balkans, characterized by complex historical, political and cultural dimensions, presents a rich and diverse ethnic, cultural and social picture. This complexity is explored in Adela Peeva's documentary Who Is This Song?, which investigates the contested origins of a folk song claimed by many Balkan nations. The documentary is a truth about the cultural diversity in the Balkans and the difficulty to identify the belonging of almost every cultural product that belongs to the folklore of these parts. This study focuses on Albanian, Bosnian, Croatian, and Macedonian folklore, using phenomenological and comparative methods to uncover common motifs, themes, and narrative structures, as well as differences. The study highlights the rich cultural heritage of the region shaped by various historical influences and contributes to a deeper understanding of the cultural identity of the Balkans. From this research it is concluded that the peoples living in this geographical space have exchanged among themselves over the centuries, so that in modern times, the folklore contents that we have analyzed are so close in terms of theme, motif and narrative structure that if they are not shown in the different language it would be difficult to understand that they belong to some nations. Received: 14 September 2024 / Accepted: 28 October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024

(De)politicizing water: justice in times of water crisis

In times of climate change, water resources are shrinking at an alarming speed worldwide, making water a focal point of social and political contestation. Essential for environmental and human wellbeing, and economic prosperity, competing demands on water’s finite resources amidst the global water crisis raise critical justice questions regarding allocation, accessibility, legitimate recipients, or prioritized uses. Access to water is deeply intertwined with political decisions, as it heavily depends on infrastructure and governance. Depoliticization, however, renders water issues to technical or economic terms, aligning with neoliberal practices that commodify and privatize water resources. This approach often neglects the inherent political and social dimensions of water, privileging corporate interests while restricting access for the poor and powerless. This article examines how (de)politicization shapes such water realities by applying theoretical perspectives on (de)politicization and environmental justice. Through a systematic literature review and interpretative content analysis, we explore how (de)politicization is conceptualized in scholarly discussions, identifying common themes in the water context, the scales and regions addressed, and the roles of various actors and actions involved. Our research reveals a persistent tension between depoliticization and repoliticization. While depoliticization, though conceptually rather imprecise, obscures accountability and perpetuates neoliberal practices leading to exclusion, repoliticization, driven by activism, addresses policy deficiencies and amplifies marginalized voices. By illuminating these dynamics, this study enhances the understanding of (de)politicization in the water realm and its implications for justice.

Human Rights Violations: The Entry Point for International Troops into Papua

This research explores human rights violations in Papua, focusing on the feasibility of international troop deployment as an intervention strategy against a backdrop of severe abuses such as extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests documented by organizations such as Amnesty International. The study aims to assess the potential role of international troops in safeguarding human rights and maintaining peace, using a qualitative methodology to analyze secondary data from human rights organizations and governmental sources to identify trends and challenges. The main contributions include highlighting gaps in existing interventions, proposing a conceptual framework for international troop deployment that considers legal, political, and ethical dimensions, and contextualizing issues of state sovereignty and regional diplomacy within the ASEAN framework. Specific findings indicate that while international troop deployment could enhance civilian protection and accountability, it faces significant barriers, including legal constraints related to international law, political resistance from local authorities and neighboring states, and ethical concerns such as the risk of escalating violence and undermining local governance. The study concludes by suggesting a balanced approach emphasizing dialogue, sustainable development, and cooperation within ASEAN to address human rights issues in Papua effectively.

A leader I can(not) trust: understanding the path from epistemic trust to political leader choices via dogmatism.

There is growing concern about the impact of declining political trust on democracies. Psychological research has introduced the concept of epistemic (mis)trust as a stable disposition acquired through development, which may influence our sociopolitical engagement. Given trust's prominence in current politics, we examined the relationship between epistemic trust and people's choices of (un)trustworthy political leaders. In two representative samples in the UK and US (N=1096), we tested whether epistemic trust predicts political leader choices through three political dimensions: dogmatism, political trust, and ideology. Although epistemic trust did not directly predict choices of political leaders, it predicted dogmatism and political ideology, which in turn predicted choices of political leaders. A network analysis revealed that epistemic trust and political dimensions only interact through their common connection with dogmatism. These findings suggest that cognitive and affective development may underlie an individual's political ideology and associated beliefs.

The political dimension of music and national anthems

This research is based on historical and descriptive methods, scientifically includes several articles, which discusses the political situation that occurred and what impact it had on instrumental and vocal music in Europe. The mythological content of this research consists of several chapters: The first chapter is about the history of national music in Europe and the political situation that facilitated and encouraged the formation of this kind of view and work on music. The second chapter discusses the countries that have done the most work on national music such as (Russia, Bohemia, Spain, Austria, Hungary, France and Italy) with the presentation of the prominent artists who have played a significant role in this field. Then, in the third chapter, four of the national anthems that have appeared significantly around the world are discussed.

A postcode lottery in education? Explaining regional inequality in multilevel systems

AbstractInequality is a challenge for societies around the globe. In addition to its socio‐economic and political dimensions, inequality also has a territorial dimension. Focusing on educational inequality across regions, this article explores factors that shape regional differences in student enrolment and educational attainment in 14 OECD countries. The findings of the article suggest that a strong level of regional authority over education increases regional inequality in education. Further factors are regional differences in education expenditures and variation in the population size of regions. Low regional inequality in education seems to be explained by a low degree of regional authority or low differences in education spending. By examining regional inequality in education, the article enhances our understanding of the way multilevel governance influences the quality of life within regions. In particular, it highlights the impact of decentralization on territorial inequality.

O bill Palmerston e o Império do Brasil

On August 24, 1839, the British Parliament passed the Palmerston Act as part of its global crusade against the smuggling of Africans to America. The measure, which signaled a radicalization of Britain's anti slave trade policy, classified the trade of Africans as trafficking, authorizing the country's navy to seize Portuguese vessels suspected of engaging in this activity. Based on the premise that the dispute between Portugal and Great Britain did not solely influence the fate of these countries, this article aims to analyze how the Brazilian press reacted to the Palmerston Act, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Additionally, the text intends to examine the consequences of this act for the future of the slave trade to the Empire of Brazil, particularly in its political dimension.

Human Rights System Guidelines on the Benefit from Scientific Progress in Access to Medicines

Abstract Health innovation and research has become an economic and profitable activity. Market practices have exposed inequalities, scarcities and inequities in access to treatments and have significantly reduced the decision-making power of governments in the field of public health. Documentary research on the human right (HR) to health (Art. 12) and its interrelationship with the right to benefit from scientific progress (Art. 15, b) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) on access to medicines in three bodies of the UN system - the ICESCR Monitoring Committee (CESCR), the Human Rights Council (HRC) and World Health Organisation - over the last 10 years. The documents address three main topics. Market: marketing restrictions, price controls and using flexibility in pharmaceutical patents to reduce costs and produce generics. Innovation: patent protection without barriers to access to medicines for people in need. Health system interventions: giving priority to economic efficiency and sustainability by institutionalising health technology assessment, selecting essential medicines, developing clinical guidelines and integrating and linking regulatory agencies. These normative guidelines minimise the ethical, political and legal dimensions of the human right to enjoy scientific progress in access to medicines as a priority value that should guide public and private action, and emphasise technocratic and financial measures that seek to reconcile the liberal and social logic of the ICESCR. Key messages • In order to maximise the guarantee of human rights in access to medicines, economic and financial considerations should play only a residual role in human rights. • To give countries greater decision-making power at the global health, the scope of the right to benefit from scientific progress and its applications in health care needs to be expanded.

Reflecting on the powers, possibilities and constraints of geography curricula in England, Finland and Sweden

ABSTRACT National curriculum statements found within the Official Recontextualising Field (ORF) provide an insight into how geography as a school subject is conceptualized in a country’s education system. National curricula can shape teachers’ agency in curriculum making and what, how and where children and young people study and learn geography. This paper engages with the lower secondary national geography curriculum for England, Finland and Sweden. We examine the structure and nature of the national geography curricula in each country, before drawing on the threefold arrangement of geographical knowledge as a tool for the analysis of the curricula. Our analysis found that deep and descriptive world knowledge forms the largest proportion of all three national curricula documents, and we argue that this can lead to a potentially limited conceptualization of geographical knowledge and representation of geography. We also suggest that the threefold arrangement could more actively engage with political dimensions when considering futures, and that there should be greater attention paid to the histories and geographies of the discipline (geography) in school geography.

Culture and Social Movements: The Example of South Africa in the Post-Apartheid Period

This paper explores the intricate relationship between culture and social movements in post-apartheid South Africa through a critical phenomenological approach. This method focuses on the lived experiences and societal impacts of these movements, revealing how cultural symbols, narratives, religious frameworks, sports, media, and identity have shaped and sustained the struggles for justice and equality. The analysis begins by defining social movements and culture, emphasizing their interplay within the South African context. Using a phenomenological approach developed by Husserl and expanded by Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre, this study undertakes steps such as phenomenological reduction, description, essence identification, and structural analysis. These steps are further enriched by combining critical theory with phenomenology, highlighting social, historical, and political dimensions. This approach allows for an in-depth understanding of how culture, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and moral components, influences the formation, strategies, and sustainability of social movements. Key findings illustrate that cultural elements have served as sources of resistance, empowerment, and solidarity, playing an essential role in shaping collective identities and actions. Ultimately, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic interplay between culture and social movements in South Africa, underscoring the importance of cultural resources in driving social change.

The hidden garden: cultivating relational writing through intimate encounters in the collective research journey

ABSTRACT Relational writing offers an alternative approach to traditional writing and is a process to explore intimacy in togetherness. In this paper, we offer a bouquet of stories that we, eight scholars, have written collectively to share our memories of researching and writing together over the past three years. Ours was not a linear journey; it evolved organically, like a rhizome. With our intention to relate, intimacy followed. We contend that this intimacy can help us withstand the pressures of the neoliberal academy, foster care and, most importantly, flourish like a garden. We find that the journey of relational writing nurtures new ideas and possibilities, it is not just transactional, but cultivated. This paper, therefore, contributes to emergent theorising on collective writing and writing differently by advancing the concept, practice and experience of relational writing across aesthetic, moral and political dimensions.

Taking knowledge exchange to practice: A scoping review of practical case studies to identify enablers of success in environmental management

AbstractA gap exists in the literature on how to implement theories of knowledge exchange (KE) into practice within an environmental management context. To support the improved practice of KE, we conducted a scoping literature review evaluating 56 empirical case studies globally to identify enabling conditions for implementing effective KE. Identified enabling conditions were organized into a core capacities framework, which highlighted essential elements of effective KE from organizational, individual, financial, material, practical, political, and social capacity dimensions. Results show that major enablers to effective KE relate to practitioners' individual and organizational capacity including the ability of practitioners (often boundary spanners) to establish trust with relevant actors through their interpersonal relationships and possessing sufficient background knowledge and skills to facilitate collaborations across disciplines and sectors. We also identified main challenges to engaging in KE (e.g., insufficient long‐ term funding for projects, lack of interpersonal skills for KE practitioners to build relationships and network, and inadequate background knowledge for practitioners to exchange knowledge in an accessible manner), and the outcomes and impacts that can emerge from effective KE work. We find that practitioners often perform quantitative evaluations that provide instantaneous and measurable impacts for the effectiveness of KE, but do not capture the impact of interpersonal relationships and trust that are best achieved through qualitative approaches. Lastly, the synthesis of enablers, challenges, outcomes, and impacts presented in this paper can be a resource for practitioners to identify what enablers may be missing from their KE strategies and in what capacity the KE work can be strengthened.

Jewish-Muslim Friendship Networks: A Study of Intergenerational Boundary Work in Postwar Germany

Abstract This article presents a little-known story of Jewish-Muslim coexistence in Germany after World War Two. Using an ethnographic case study of Frankfurt am Main’s train-station district (Bahnhofsviertel), the analysis investigates long-term and partially forgotten Jewish-Muslim narratives, relations, and neighborhood encounters, paying particular attention to the changing political, spatial, and temporal dimensions that have blurred or closed symbolic boundaries between Jews and Muslims since the late 1960s. Bringing together the scholarship on symbolic boundaries and urban diversity, the theoretical discussion contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the variegated processes of Jewish-Muslim boundary-making and un-making over time, as well as the macro- and micro-level influences which shape these negotiations and outcomes. Studying Jewish-Muslim relations at the neighborhood level by adopting a boundary-related approach brings out more clearly the tensions over groupism and fluidity in theoretical debates and removes the current exceptionalism around Jewish-Muslim themes, making them more easily compared with other boundary processes within everyday life.

Veterinary ethics and companion animal euthanasia: what can we learn from critical disability studies?

Within veterinary ethics and practice around companion animal end-of-life and euthanasia, the political and cultural dimensions of death and dying are rarely addressed. This reduces the ability to engage with questions like: what future potential goods (positive affective states, meaning) could an animal experience by continuing to live; what constitutes a life worth living; and how can we make this decision for another being? These are questions that have been subject to extensive dialogue within Critical Disability Studies. The aim of this paper is to provide an analysis of how core considerations from Critical Disability Studies could be useful in veterinary ethics when considering companion animal end of life and euthanasia. First, critiques of the dis/ability binary and associated hierarchies raise questions about how animal disability and illness are understood, and around challenging questions like psychological illness and behavioural euthanasia. Second, nuanced engagements with questions of a life worth living and Quality of Life emphasise the importance of individual animal experiences, personality, and the foregrounding of 'what is important for the animal'. Third, dialogues around choice and agency critique the tendency to focus on owner choice, rather asking what opportunities there are to listen to the preferences of animals themselves. Finally, engaging with care and power highlights the ambivalent nature of caregiving, of euthanasia as a practice of care, and the power intrinsic to making End of Life decisions on behalf of another. Overall, perspectives from Critical Disability Studies allow us to engage with challenging questions of veterinary ethics and end-of-life care in companion animal practice with more nuance and complexity.