Political Dimensions Research Articles

The La dimensión política y psicosocial en prácticas grupales de enseñanza universitaria en psicología

It presents the systematization of teaching practices that have been developing for seven years in the Faculty of Psychology of the University of the Republic, the only public, co-governed and freely accessible university in Uruguay. The experience is located in two degree courses that seek to reflect on the formative trajectories located. We have found that the group dynamics and methodological tools of Clinical Sociology, particularly the Parental Project and the Social Trajectory taken as pedagogical-didactic devices, enable subjective and transformative processes. Both are part of the analysis of the involvement that enables the deployment of the political dimension of training and professional practice, contributing to questioning and resisting the impact of neoliberal logic at the societal and university level. Both devices also enable the implementation of an ethical-political stance of the teacher-student relationship on the level of knowledge that challenges the place of being-teacher, enhancing participation and autonomy in the process of becoming university. From the biographical singularity, it is possible to visibilize the various forms that assume the plot of the sociopsychic bond where they are produced, reproduced, resisted, rejected and re-signified university formation. It will deepen the transversal analysis of the macro socio-historical trajectory and the socio-cultural mandates, where from the story of the students themselves it is possible to politicize the formative experience. In this sense we understand that the methodological supports used can be an innovative key to rethink pedagogical proposals and their relationship with curricular contents in university education.

Multidimensional Social Deprivation Impacts on Frailty in the Elderly: The Mediating Effect of Depression

To investigate the mediating role of depression in the association between multidimensional social deprivation and frailty among the elderly. A total of 533 elderly individuals were enrolled from a district in Chengdu using a convenience sampling method. The participants responded to a questionnaire survey. Spearman rank correlation coefficient was employed to assess the correlations among social deprivation, depression, and frailty. MacKinnon's product-of-coefficients method was used to test the significance of the mediating effect of depression between social deprivation and frailty. Among the participants, the average score for social deprivation among the participants was 48.9±7.1, the depression detection rate was 12.8%, and the frailty incidence rate was 8.4%. Social deprivation was positively correlated with frailty (r=0.212, P<0.001) and depression (r=0.399, P<0.001), while depression was positively correlated with frailty (r=0.248, P<0.001). The results of the mediation analysis showed that depression partially mediated the relationship between social deprivation and frailty (P<0.05), accounting for 64.95% of the mediation effect. Specifically, depression partially mediated the relationship between socio-economic status, comprehensive feeling, and frailty (P<0.05), accounting for 70.30% and 64.76% of the mediating effect, respectively. Depression fully mediated the relationship between family and social support, political and social participation dimensions, and frailty (P<0.05). Social deprivation can influence frailty in elderly people, with depression partially mediating this association.

Exploration of green index system from the perspective of urban renewal

In the context of China's urban sustainable development, the green index system can be used to assess and monitor the environmental impact and sustainability of urban renewal projects, provide scientific basis for decision makers, and guide urban renewal to develop in a green, low-carbon and sustainable direction. China has incorporated green development and ecological civilization construction into the "13th Five-Year Plan" outline, and clearly put forward the major task of "comprehensively improving the quality of cities" in the "14th Five-Year Plan" outline, in order to accelerate the transformation of urban development mode and carry out urban renewal action. From a macro point of view, in the process of urban renewal, how to use a better evaluation system to plan the future development of urban green space and combine it with design practice is becoming more and more important. From the micro point of view, how the public environment and architectural space in different cities react, reflect, and even promote the process of urban renewal. In many parts of China, urban renewal based on the small block model is encouraged to be widely adopted, and local environmental improvements promote public health and support the transformation of cities to sustainable models based on theoretical, practical and political dimensions. This paper analyzes the urban renewal measures under different scales of landscape, architecture and community, and illustrates their responses to the green index system in urban renewal through cases. From the perspective of urban renewal, the paper combines macro-planning transformation and micro-renewal to analyze the green ecological goals achieved in the process of urban low-carbon development and ecological restoration.

Re-visiting &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Sophocles&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;’ &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Antigone&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: Dr. Dina Amin’s 2022 Egyptian Version &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Antigone’s Law&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;

This paper attempts to compare &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Sophocles’ Antigone&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; to the Egyptian adaptation &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Antigone’s law&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; (2022), to highlight the significance of intertextuality. The study entails contributions to intertextuality that will be integrated in analyzing the adapted discourses. It will also capitalize on the political and social dimensions illustrated in the adapted play. The study aims to explore the oppressed female voices in the concerned texts and how the adapted work is appropriating to any oppressed culture that suffers from the same sense of oppression throughout the ages. In this respect, the paper reflects the oppressed female character who defies her uncle who embodies the tyrannical figure that does not want her to bury her brother. In this respect, the paper rests on Julia Kristeva’s and Mikhail Bakhtin’s development of intertextuality. It will also rely on Lorna Hardwick’s and Robert Fraser’s reference to the use of verbal and semiotic techniques which give the audiences a new comprehensive meaning that could be linked to their real life. This paper will also explain Susan Bassnett’s concept of polyphony or plurivocality that is set in contrast to the earlier model imposed by the colonial power of univocality. In other words, the other voices can be heard rather than the dominant single or monolithic voice. Plurivocality is capitalized on as it is at the heart of post-colonial thinking. Therefore, the study aims at proving that the experience was not only limited to the individual, but also to a whole community and humanity as well, and that reflects and highlights the power and the wisdom of women through the ages with different manifestations in the examined discourse. The study therefore, attempts to prove how the notion of intertextuality is found deeply in the Egyptian adapted work.

Globalization Authority: Fragmentation of Self and Disturbance of Religious Identity from Distortion to Extremism in Amin Ben Batta’s “Overdrive”

Globalization stands as a pivotal reality deeply ingrained within diverse ideologies, exerting significant influence across political, social, and cultural dimensions. Central to its impact is the concept of religion, pivotal for its role in reshaping societal identity structures. This study seeks to investigate the implications and consequences of globalization on the religious landscape, employing a descriptive-analytical approach to the novel Overdrive by Amin Ben Battha. The research critically examines the narratives of Jewish and Christian believers before and after the alteration of sacred texts, explores the proliferation of discourses centered on violence, extremism, and the rejection of moderation within Muslim communities, and ultimately considers globalization’s objective of eroding religious distinctiveness in favor of a unified global identity ideology. Furthermore, the study critiques the condemnation of unfettered public freedoms by transforming monotheism into a mere ideological belief.Haut du formulaire

Social Assistive Robotics: An Ethical and Political Inquiry Through the Lens of Freedom

The development of social assistive robots for supporting healthcare provision faces a lack of an ethical approach that adequately addresses the normatively relevant challenges regarding its deployment. Current ethical reflection is primarily informed by an individual-centered perspective focused on robots’ implications for their end-users and thereby limited to the dyadic human–robot interaction sphere. Considering that this is tightly correlated to the restricted understanding of core ethical concepts upon which reflection stands, this paper delves into the concept of freedom from a philosophical perspective to unfold its full normative breadth for a critical assessment of technological development. By bringing to the fore the political-structural dimension of freedom and, in turn, elaborating the political dimension of technology, the undertaken philosophical approach discloses freedom as a transversal ethical concept for a normative reflection on technology. Thereby, it broadens the scope of ethical attention beyond the sphere of human–robot interaction and turns attention to the so far overlooked structural dimension of human–robot relations. Drawing on conceptions of freedom as non-domination, among others, the paper approaches social assistive robotics and reexamines the terrain of relevant issues for its development. Since freedom is one major issue upon which current concerns revolve, the undertaken analysis substantially enriches the ongoing ethical discussion on social assistive robotics’ implications for human freedom. In this way, this work contributes to going beyond the current individual-centered ethical perspective by laying conceptual grounds for a comprehensive ethical approach to social assistive robotics’ development.

Philosophical Perspectives on International Aid and Development

Purpose: The general objective of this study was to explore the philosophical perspectives on international aid and development. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the philosophical perspectives on international aid and development. Preliminary empirical review revealed that international aid is a moral obligation based on justice and equity, rather than optional generosity. It critiqued the effectiveness and motives of aid distribution, emphasizing the need for strategic approaches that empower recipients and address root causes of poverty. The study highlighted the importance of aligning aid with social justice and human rights, advocating for development that integrates economic, social, and political dimensions. It also called for reevaluating power dynamics in aid relationships, promoting egalitarian partnerships based on mutual respect and shared goals. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Utilitarianism, Deontology and Postcolonial Theory may be used to anchor future studies on the philosophical perspectives on international aid and development. The study recommended that theoretical models of international development incorporate ethical principles such as justice, equity, and human rights, shifting from a purely economic focus to a more inclusive approach. Practitioners were encouraged to engage in continuous ethical reflection, build genuine partnerships with local communities, and prioritize capacity-building initiatives. For policymakers, the study advocated for integrating ethical considerations into development policies, adopting a rights-based approach, and promoting sustainable practices. These recommendations contributed to theoretical discourses by challenging traditional paradigms, provided practical guidelines for more effective interventions, and offered a roadmap for creating ethical and sustainable development policies.

Framing the Wind: Media Coverage of Offshore Wind in the Northeastern United States

ABSTRACT Media coverage shapes public acceptance of renewable energy, but how offshore wind is being communicated to the public, particularly in the United States, is understudied. This study investigates the framing approaches of media coverage of the first two large-scale offshore wind projects in the U.S. We find that most coverage is local, with media coverage increasing during debates around permitting, construction, and community impacts. Emphasis framing focused on economic, political, and environmental dimensions of offshore wind, but the framing differs significantly between the cases. Benefit frames focused on job creation, climate mitigation, and political leadership and collaboration. Risk frames focused on political conflict and lack of transparency, impacts on wildlife, and economic impacts on the fishing industry. These findings help contextualize the debates around offshore wind in the U.S., elucidating what dimensions are made most salient to the public and how project characteristics may drive media coverage.

Impacts of the terrorist attacks and political incidents in major cities on tourism industry: Evidence from the tourism managers in Turkey

Tourism crises caused by terrorism are characterised by a sharp decline in inbound tourism and a severe deterioration of destination image. Between 2015 and 2017, Turkey suffered terrorist attacks and political incidents in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Gaziantep, and Şanlıurfa. This paper explores crisis-related factors and their influence on destination image and tourism demand with a series of three studies adopting both primary data collected from tourism managers and secondary data analysis of tourism statistics. Study A explored the adapted measurement tool's reliability and validity to define the factors related to crisis impacts. Study B involved CFA to validate the dimensions of measurement tools and regression analyses to examine their influence on destination image and tourism demand. Study C included a comparison of the tourist arrival and expenditure statistics from 2014 to 2019 with a secondary data analysis. Study A showed that the long-term effects of crises caused by terrorism must be evaluated in structural and political dimensions. Study B indicated that both factors affected destination image negatively, while only structural problems influenced international and domestic tourism demand. Study C supported the effect of both factors on tourist arrivals and tourism income, involving the analysis of tourism statistics.

REVIVAL OF THE EVIL EMPIRE AS A THREAT TO HUMANITY

Empires are an extraordinary phenomenon in the history of mankind. The study of empires requires scientific understanding, thoughtful comparison and deep analysis. Such way of studding the comparative approach of the problem has arisen that will help us understand the nature of the emergence and disappearance of imperial formations, find answers to difficult questions: how empires grew, for what reasons some of them were powerful and others weak, why some empires disappeared and others flourished (John Hutchinson, 2017). Is there a connection between the instability of power, coups and the death of empires? And finally, what are the consequences for world development of the disappearance of imperial formations. Among the reasons for the demise of empires, researchers single out political and economic problems, social and cultural issues, and environmental challenges. The author of the article tries to explain how the Moscow Empire was formed and how the Russian Empire manages to survive despite a number of dangerous challenges. In the submitted article prof. L.Chekalenko for the first time revealed the phenomenon of "saving" the empire in historical and political dimensions. The author discovered that Russia was saved by its vassals – conquered peoples. So, the article examines the factors that support and revive imperial formations, and also makes cautious assumptions about the future scenarios of the development of events surrounding the current situation.

Focusing a history of modern philosophy course on freedom

AbstractThis article is on pedagogy; it is not a report on original research. It is a case study, seeking to spell out some implications for teaching History of Modern Philosophy (HMP). In past courses, I used a classic syllabus: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Hume, and Kant, focusing on epistemology and metaphysics, telling the standard story of rationalists and empiricists, with Kant breaking the stalemate with his transcendental arguments. After a few times, for circumstantial reasons, I changed the focus of the course. Instead of telling the usual story, I would focus on freedom in its metaphysical, moral, and political dimensions. This had the effect of giving the philosophy majors enough metaphysics and epistemology to make them work hard, while appealing to (some of) the General Education students by relating the course materials to real world struggles. I figured that some people who could not relate to the technical discussion of substance, attribute, and mode might relate to struggles for freedom. I think I succeeded, as I will go on to recount.

Beyond control? The political economy of private interception, intrusion, and surveillance markets

Private intrusion, interception, and surveillance (PIIS) markets represent a key vehicle for the global expansion of digital surveillance regimes. Yet, due to their opacity and notorious secrecy, these markets have received relatively little scholarly attention. Triangulating between a unique dataset comprising 5973 industry presentations, interviews, and industry reports, this article provides novel insights into the evolution of market structures and public control efforts. Conceptualizing the PIIS-market as a dynamic and fluid assemblage, we highlight how the enmeshment of social, political, and technological dimensions shaped hierarchies and agencies of control. Our findings point towards the existence of three intersecting dynamics of territorialization, changing technological affordances, and ordering that persistently undermined attempts to limit market operations. In reflecting on these past failures, the presented approach points towards the importance of timing and highlights a need to re-conceptualize control in state-market relations from an assemblage perspective, pragmatically working across bureaucratic boundaries and leveraging disparate power centers across the public and private divide. Considering the growing interest in economic dependencies and the strategic dimension of high-tech markets, these findings have a wider relevance to current debates about the rise of economic security states.

O-236 Why one is not enough when studying pregnancy loss - a European perspective

Abstract Pregnancy loss is a distressing but still poorly understood condition, ending one in four pregnancies. With more than 30 million losses worldwide yearly, it is posing significant challenges to individuals, families, and healthcare systems. This presentation delves into the imperative for a multifaceted approach to studying pregnancy loss. By examining pregnancy loss through multiple lenses including fetal and parental genetics, male and female physiology, and psychosocial, lifestyle and political dimensions, we can achieve an improved understanding of the causes, impact, prevention, and treatment of pregnancy loss. Historically, pregnancy loss has been considered a part of the reproductive journey – a course of nature. And until a couple has suffered from recurrent pregnancy loss, the physiological and mental impact has been neglected. This is an outdated approach that prevents a full understanding of the consequences and underlying etiologies hindering the potential of prevention and treatment, and thereby contributes to maintaining the women’s health gap. Moreover, current practice ignores the association of euploid pregnancy loss with an increased risk of future losses and later maternal health consequences such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In Copenhagen, we are currently running a large-scale pregnancy loss study (Copenhagen Pregnancy Loss, COPL) involving 3000 pregnancy losses. By including the full trio (fetus, female, and male) we are gaining new insight to the mechanisms causing pregnancy loss and the consequences hereof, both in men and women. We know from previous cytogenetic investigation of lost pregnancies, that about 60% are caused by fetal aneuploidy. But the remaining part is still not well understood and leaves the opportunity of treatments and preventions if we knew the underlying mechanism. That we aim to cover by building the largest database and biobank in the field. Moreover, collected data from the COPL study will be linked to nationwide Danish registries including comprehensive information on medical history, social economic status, educational status, medication, and ancestry. We have validated the use of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal blood to separate the losses caused by fetal genetics or not. This differentiation is essential to address the heterogeneous nature of pregnancy loss, but also to provide an individual answer to the couples. In 1000 consecutive pregnancy losses between gestational age 5 and 22 weeks, we were able to provide a cffDNA based result of the fetal ploidy status in 89% of cases. When comparing the method to direct sequencing of the pregnancy tissue, the cffDNA-based testing had a higher success-rate and identified 85% of the aneuplodies (sensitivity) with a 93% specificity. These results show the potential and feasibility of the method to distinguish euploid and aneuploid pregnancy loss for improved clinical management and benefit of future research. From our close collaboration with couples that are experiencing a devastating event as pregnancy loss, we have seen the huge unmet need for better handling, but also a deep commitment and motivation from the men and women involved. We have investigated the conflicting feelings emerging in a next pregnancy and a need for closer support and care. We belief, that it takes a trio to improve the understanding and handling of pregnancy loss.

Modelling Transformation of Communities by Public Universities in Post Conflict Northern Uganda Using Economic and Demographic factors

Scarcity of knowledge exists on how economic and demographic factors of surrounding communities influence the capacity of universities to transform them. This study examines the dimensions that contribute to community transformation in the context of the community surrounding Gulu University in post-conflict northern Uganda and the economic and demographic factors of the surrounding community that influence their transformation by Gulu University. The study employed a cross-sectional research design with a sample of 390 households. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on household economic and demographic factors and data on dimensions of community transformation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the contributions of the dimensions of community transformation, while logistic regression model was employed to determine economic and demographic factors that influence community transformation by Gulu University. The independent variables tested in the economic and demographic categories included age, gender, household size, occupation, alternative income, savings, credit, remittances, and education, while transformation formed the dependent variable. Findings revealed that the economic, physical, political and spiritual dimensions contribute more to the transformation of the community surrounding Gulu University, while the economic and demographic factors that had a significant influence on community transformation included occupation in civil service, business, and commercial farming (P=.004); and the level of education (P=0.044). The study concludes that the economic, physical, political and spiritual dimensions with their associated variables contributed more to community transformation. These can be used by other related studies to measure community transformation by universities in the context of developing countries. Furthermore, policies need to focus more on supporting the improvement of the business environment to promote commercial farming and university education since they have a higher multiplier effect on community transformation. Consequently, community members need to focus on business, harness commercial farming and achieve university level of education

Towards a critical digital literacy and consciousness in higher education: the emancipatory role of critical digital pedagogy

ABSTRACT Digital pedagogy demands a critical approach to address challenges from technological inequalities, global crises like COVID-19, and the ethical and social implications of digital society. Higher Education (HE) must develop practices prioritizing critical literacy and consciousness. Critical Digital Pedagogy (CDP) emerges as a crucial framework for navigating these challenges and opportunities This literature review analyzes 40 studies to explore how CDP reshapes HE practices, emancipating students and teachers as critical, reflexive agents concerning the digital environment’s ethical, social, cultural, and political dimensions. It addresses three key research questions: (1) How does CDP, applied to teaching praxis, promote projects and methodologies that emancipate students as critical and reflective agents? (2) What educational principles within CDP enable the development of critical digital literacy among HE students? (3) How does CDP influence the construction of critical awareness within the HE community? The review highlights the importance of critical digital literacy in enhancing analytical skills, fostering critical data comprehension, and promoting digital inclusion. It advocates for transformative changes in educational practices and the adoption of innovative, technology-based methodologies that foster critical consciousness. Finally, the article proposes six CDP-based actions for HE, addressing themes like emotional support, digital ethics, and digital activism.

“The Political Dimension of the Unification-Disintegration Paradox in Mantra (2001) by Rodrigo Fresán”

Rodrigo Fresán’s writing had a significant impact on Southern Cone literature when his first book, Historia argentina, was published in 1991. Despite its high sales and favorable reviews, which earned Fresán the status of a celebrity writer, his works have often been criticized for possessing “an esthetics of insensitivity and/or an ethics of indifference” (Freidemberg). This essay refutes these accusations of postmodern shallowness in Fresán’s writing and instead proposes an examination of the “politics of literature” (Rancière) in his 2001 work Mantra. The purpose of this essay is to challenge the aporias of the theory of “littérature engagée” derived from Jean-Paul Sartre’s philosophy that were debated among Latin American intellectuals during the 1960s and 1970s. The main objective of this essay is to demonstrate that Fresán’s writing is not only literary but also political in nature. In Mantra, we can observe a system of heterogeneities that disrupts the realm of experience, creating a non-dialectical paradox between the forces of unification and disintegration that elicits an emotional response and challenges the illusion of a concrete, complete identity. This, in turn, allows us to reconsider central themes such as memory.

Beyond powering and puzzling: the political dimensions of policy learning

ABSTRACT Over the years, policy learning has emerged as a theoretical lens to provide an alternative understanding of powering-based approaches to the policy process and policy outcomes. This has been a success story, with policy learning gaining presence among theoretical frameworks on the policy process. However, the puzzling-powering dichotomy is reductive. In real-world policy processes, we find both puzzling and powering. Also, we cannot reduce the value of learning to what is not explained by power alone. This Introduction shows how puzzling and powering interact and with what consequences on policy processes, moving beyond the dichotomy. We present how the four contributions of this Special Issue explore this territory and suggest how to approach the design of governance architectures for learning.

GREEN INFORMALITIES AS SOCIALLY JUST ECOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: Enduring with Dignity at the Edges of Resilient Development in Dhaka

AbstractEcological infrastructure and urban agriculture are enacting a green resurgence in cities. In the global South, however, ecological infrastructure is often premised on erasing already existing informal agricultural practices (green informalities) and leads to the displacement of marginalized urban dwellers. How, then, can ecological infrastructure be calibrated with the specific realities of the global South's green informalities? What other socially just modalities of infrastructure can be learned from the vantage point of informal settlements? Past urban scholarship has documented the crucial role of urban agriculture in addressing food insecurity and poverty in the global South, yet the symbolic, collective and political dimensions of agricultural practices are absent from these accounts. Drawing from critical urban scholarship and feminist political ecology, and based on engaged research with a collective of urban farmers facing eviction, I argue that green informalities bring together dwellers and plants in an intimate entanglement in the everyday gendered politics of endurability and collective power‐building at the settlement level. The article illustrates that the informal economic and political practices that constitute these green informalities are crucial for understanding grassroots practices vis‐à‐vis urban environments. Recognizing the political and affective dimensions of green informalities can move urban studies and governance towards a situated appreciation of informal urban agriculture as socially just ecological infrastructure that centers justice and dweller agency.

HOW LOCAL PRACTICES OF SOCIOPOLITICAL INNOVATION DEVELOP: And Why This Matters for Urban Transformations

AbstractThis article addresses a critical gap in extant theorizing of urban transformations by focusing on the political and temporal dimensions of how innovations emerge, develop and become institutionalized into alternative systems of the everyday such as social centres, community gardens or urban commons. Going beyond current approaches, we offer a new understanding of innovations as sociopolitical practices: sets of resourced activities aiming to reshape urban spaces to achieve social and political ends locally. Developing an original theorization of such practices, we identify and differentiate between three sets of activities designed to meet local needs: assembling innovations—identifying and employing a wide variety of local resources within a neighbourhood; extending innovations—broadening the scope of initiatives and making them last; and, institutionalizing innovations, anchoring them in a more formalized structure. Sociopolitical innovations require sustained practices whereby situated agents pragmatically push for change over time. While the ongoing development of systems of the everyday may have limited immediate transformative impact, the reshaping of local resources prefigures an alternative which breaks from, yet is embedded in, everyday urban life. Our theorizing is underpinned by an international qualitative study of neighbourhoods in four European cities: Amsterdam, Birmingham, Copenhagen and Glasgow.

Quality of Women's Role in Social, Economic and Political Dimensions and the Role of Academic Institutions in Making It Happen

In various dimensions of social life, especially in the social, economic and political dimensions, there are differences in the quality of roles between men and women, where the quality of women's roles in these three dimensions is still very weak. This cannot be separated from the social order and system that develops in society, such as labels given to women which indirectly hinder women's movements. The maximum role of academic institutions is also expected to improve the quality of women's roles. If we pay attention so far, it is very clear that the role of academic institutions has not been able to function optimally in improving the quality of women's roles. Therefore, this discussion wants to explain the quality of women's roles in social, economic and political aspects, as well as what steps academic institutions must take to make this happen.