Political Dynamics Research Articles

The failure of the militarised fight against ‘Galamsey’ in Ghana: A critical overview of the class and political dynamics

This paper argues that the militarised fight against illegal artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) in Ghana—popularly known in Ghanaian parlance as ‘galamsey’—is neither class-neutral nor apolitical. It is politically opportunistic and elitist, class-wise. Drawing on a plurality of secondary sources—scholarly and grey literature, media, and internet sources – we present a critical overview of developments in the Ghanaian ASM sector, and the militarised fight against illegal operators. Further, we delineate and clarify the politics and class dynamics that characterise the sector and the overall state-led fight against the phenomenon of ‘galamsey’. We predict that because these dynamics pivot on financial wherewithal and power, the militarised fight against ‘galamsey’ may hardly succeed and is thus always and forever bound to fail. Yet, its implications for the powerless subaltern classes are always appalling and deleterious, as they often lose their livelihoods in the fight, culminating in retarded community development.

The Impact of Political Stability on Regional Economic Growth in India: A Comparative Study of State-Level Development

This study explores the intricate dynamics of Indian politics, focusing on the interplay between historical legacies, electoral processes, and socio-economic factors shaping contemporary governance. As the world's largest democracy, India offers a unique perspective on political evolution influenced by colonial history, diverse cultural contexts, and rapid economic changes. The analysis covers the historical foundations of India's political system, the impact of major political parties and leaders, and the role of elections in determining policy outcomes. Key areas of focus include the influence of caste and religion on voting behavior, the effects of political campaigns and media, and the evolution of political alliances. The study also addresses current challenges such as corruption, governance inefficiencies, and the impact of globalization on domestic politics. Findings indicate that while India's democratic institutions are resilient, significant disparities in political representation and governance persist, highlighting the need for reforms to enhance transparency and address socioeconomic divides. This examination provides valuable insights into the complexities of democratic governance in a diverse and rapidly evolving society. Additionally, the study underscores the role of regional politics and local governance structures in shaping national policies. It highlights how regional parties and state-level leaders influence broader political trends and contribute to the complexity of India's federal system. By incorporating these perspectives, the analysis offers a comprehensive understanding of how local and national forces interact, shaping the overall political landscape of India

Актуальные направления развития современной системы высшего педагогического образования

The Higher Pedagogical School is focused on the formation of students' ability and readiness for continuing education, professional and personal self-development and self-education, necessary in an era of intense social, economic, political and technological dynamics of change. The purpose of this article is to identify the current directions of development of the Russian system of higher pedagogical education in new socio-economic and socio-political conditions. The article considers the following areas of development of higher pedagogical schools: the transition to a unique national system of higher education; the creation of new models for evaluating the results of higher pedagogical education; the introduction of the "Core of higher pedagogical education" taking into account an interdisciplinary approach; the creation of a system of interregional pedagogical districts based on pedagogical universities. The article notes that the creation of a new national system of higher education gives Russian pedagogical education a more modern, competitive and qualitative character, thereby contributing to improving the professional training of future teachers and creating conditions for the implementation of trajectories of continuous pedagogical education. The article uses a theoretical method in the form of analysis of sources, as well as synthesis based on them. It is concluded that the key factor in the development of the higher education system and ensuring its high quality should be a harmonious combination of basic knowledge and practical training of students.

Child Marriage in “Hitaw” and Mādīyān

Abstract Child marriage, the union between a child below the age of consent and a spouse who is the same age or older, remains a prevalent practice in Iran. Often these marriages involve young girls betrothed to much older men as a result of economic arrangements between the girl’s guardian and the groom. This practice imposes numerous physical and psychological hardships on the child bride, whose domestic and reproductive labor becomes bound to a man she chose not to marry. By analyzing “Hitaw” (1973), by Ali Ashraf Darvishiyan, and Mādīyān (1986), directed by Ali Zhakan, this article aims to examine the perceptions and portrayals of these girls and their sexuality within the realm of art and literature. Through this analysis it seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, and political dynamics that perpetuate child marriage and impact the lives of young girls in Iran.

Naturalization of work accidents through political dynamics: A discursive analysis

Over the last two decades a number of devastating work accidents have occurred in Turkey that have resulted in massacre-like deaths and destructions. Although dramatic consequences forced all actors to promise for betterment, no significant improvement has been achieved yet and one accident followed the other. Apart from social and economic factors, political power tends to be attributed to having the most critical responsibility in all incidents. The present government, which has been in power since 2002, has aimed and achieved to create a pro-government capitalist class who can dominate specific sectors, such as construction, energy and mining in which most of the serious accidents occur. By taking the control of media, the government not only attained the majority of communicative channels but also created a manipulative discourse potential that has enabled to shade reality concerning the accidents. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to analyze how these accidents are normalized by the government’s discourses. A multi-stage naturalization model is employed to reveal the production and circulation of discourses in public sphere during the framing process of the accidents. The model can also be used to propose a solution for de-naturalization, which is also one of the aims of this study.

Mainstreaming decarbonization through local climate budgets in Norwegian municipalities

ABSTRACT Climate budgets are increasingly being used in local climate governance, but it is not clear whether they have the potential to drive systemic change toward decarbonization. This study uses a political dynamics of decarbonization framework to assess the transformative potential of municipal climate budgets to catalyze changes across cultural, economic, political, and technological systems to overcome carbon lock-in. Document analysis and interviews with climate budget experts from Oslo, Fredrikstad, Hamar, Bergen, Arendal, Bærum, Asker and the county of Agder in Norway were employed in this study to identify and discuss transformative conditions for decarbonization. Climate budgets are used to integrate climate change mitigation as a core element of municipal governance. This approach aims to integrate climate change mitigation into existing decision-making mechanisms and expand the mandates of municipal departments and agencies in executing and overseeing climate actions. Local climate budgets are also being used to catalyze changes across cultural, economic, political, and technological systems through the alignment of new laws, regulations, financial and institutional capacities, inter-municipal coalitions, and cooperation with the private sector. However, climate budgeting in cities and local governments faces multiple barriers. These include a lack of jurisdiction over emissions accounted for in climate budgets; inadequate legal frameworks to support municipal climate actions; and competition for financial and institutional resources with other public services expected by city residents. These findings deepen our understanding of the transformative change potential in local climate action experiments by emphasizing the role of political dynamics in overcoming carbon lock-in.

Nostalgia, Scapegoating, and Alterity Politics. An analysis of the Albatross Undercutting Zimbabwe’s Leverage of Bilateral Relations with China

The article explores the interplay of nostalgia, scapegoating, and alterity politics within the context of China–Zimbabwe relations. Grounded in postcolonial critique, constructivism, and psychology, the paper grapples with how identities, historical narratives, memory, and the legacy of colonialism shape state behavior and policymaking. Therefore, this study interrogates the contradictions, continuities, and discontinuities surrounding the ideological frameworks, histories, and power structures as they impact Zimbabwe’s postcolonial policy praxis and maneuvers with China. Pursuant, I foreground the agency of domestic political dynamics in shaping the nature, impact, success, or failure thereof, of China–Zimbabwe relations. Overarchingly, the study brings nuance to the broader salience of identity politics in shaping the Global South relations with emerging powers either as a source of leverage or hindrance.

The changing South in presidential elections

We examine presidential elections in the American South. Our empirical starting point is the 2008 election of Democrat Barack Obama. We discuss political dynamics leading up to this historic contest but focus our analysis on the last four elections concluding with the defeat of President Trump in 2020. Tapping into recent southern politics scholarship emphasizing partisan patterns that differ based on population growth (or lack thereof), we show how this factor affects presidential voting with an assemblage of data collected at the state-, county-, and individual-level. We first consider the prominence of presidential Republicanism across the 11 southern states. Next, we delve into these states’ counties to further assess two-party competition in presidential contests. Finally, drawing on Cooperative Election Study (CES) data, controlling for a host of factors, we examine whether varying population rates at the state- and county-level affect presidential preferences. The U.S. South is forever changing, and in presidential politics substantial alterations to its electorate generally favor an emerging Democratic Party.

A Critique of Marvin G. Weinbaum's Review of "The Decline and Fall of Republican Afghanistan Book"

This paper examines Marvin G. Weinbaum's critique of "The Decline and Fall of Republican Afghanistan" by Ahmad Shuja Jamal and William Maley. Weinbaum's review, published in the Middle East Journal, offers a comprehensive analysis of the book's structure, strengths, and weaknesses. While Weinbaum effectively highlights the book's deep analysis, historical context, and scholarly rigor, this critique identifies several areas where his review could be further strengthened. These include a more critical examination of the sources used, a deeper exploration of the political and social impacts, a sociological analysis of Afghanistan's twenty-year war, and a comprehensive analysis of the authors' methodology. Additionally, this article addresses significant discussions such as the lack of localization in content, the process of Afghanistan's revitalization, and the impact of Pashtunism on the country's political and social dynamics. By incorporating these perspectives, the critique aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to the fall of Republican Afghanistan and the complexities surrounding its recent history.

RETURN MIGRATION OF VIETNAMESE FROM CAMBODIA: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Over several decades, a combination of historical, economic, and political factors have influenced the multifaceted phenomenon of Vietnamese return migration from Cambodia. This article examines the return migration of Vietnamese from a historical perspective with document and contextual analysis, revealing a broader picture of the socio-economic and political dynamics in Cambodia and the historical relationship between Cambodia and Vietnam. Before the 1990s, return migration was significantly influenced by colonial-era migration policies and pervasive anti-Vietnamese sentiments. These factors led to violent repression and forced evictions under regimes such as Lon Nol and the Khmer Rouge, profoundly impacting the Vietnamese community in Cambodia. In contrast, administrative governance and economic factors have become the key determinants of Vietnamese return migration in the contemporary period. Understanding the underlying causes and mechanisms that create the situation for Vietnamese in Cambodia and their return is crucial, serving as a basis for addressing their current challenges and promoting their social integration in both countries.

Political Dynamics and the Role of the State in Responding to the 212 Rallies

Political Dynamics and the Role of the State in Responding to the 212 Rallies

Economic Growth through Rent Streams, Financial Development and Institutional Quality in Mena

This study examines the relationships between natural rent streams, financial development, institutional quality, and economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and is the development of fixed effects panel models during 1990–2020. The analysis of the MENA region sheds light on the complex, dynamic nature of the region’s economies and societies, as this region is an interesting case study where economic, political and cultural dynamics are diverse. The region faces economic diversification needs, conflicts, migration, and climate change, making this study timely and relevant. To this end, fixed effects regressions and scenario approaches were applied to the collected panel data. The findings reveal natural resource rents as the primary driver of economic growth, their effectiveness dependent on financial development and institutional quality levels. A well-developed financial sector facilitates efficient channeling of rents into productive investments, while strong institutions mitigate resource curse effects. In contrast, while remittances and foreign aid do not directly impact growth, their effectiveness is enhanced by financial development and institutional frameworks. The results highlight the critical roles of financial sector development, institutional quality, and robust governance in shaping the impacts of resource rents in this resource-rich region. The policy recommendations emphasize strategies for managing resource wealth, strengthening financial systems, promoting inclusion, improving institutions, and fostering an enabling environment for remittances and foreign aid to promote sustainable economic growth.

The domestic politics of the Swiss‐EU negotiations on the Institutional Framework Agreement (and beyond)

AbstractThis article examines the domestic political dynamics surrounding the negotiations between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) on the Institutional Framework Agreement. It identifies the main domestic difficulties that prevented an agreement from being reached. The empirical reconstruction of the negotiations suggests that domestic consensus became very difficult because the issues under negotiation were two‐dimensional, activating both the anti‐EU and the left–right dimensions. Moreover, the data suggest two main factors that prevented this difficulty from being resolved. First, political parties across the political spectrum were internally divided on the issues under negotiation. Second, the worsening corporatist dynamic between the Confederation and the social partners, as well as between the social partners themselves, made it very difficult to activate the concessions to the trade unions that had been used in previous EU negotiations to secure their agreement.

Analysis of Linguistic Landscape: Holy Child College of Education Campus

The aim of the paper is to analyze the linguistic landscape of Holy Child College of Education. Drawing of data from first-hand fieldwork, this paper explores the display of language and multimodal on signage on the College campus. In all, it was found out that English language is prevalent on all types of surfaces (walls, doorpost, buildings, cenotaph, billboard) to aid in the identity of occupants as well as associate identity to the properties of the institution. There were also a few private shops which have names on them. The study employs qualitative and quantitative content analysis of a data of about 74 signages from the College. It looked into issues such as top-down, bottom-up approach as well as symbolic and informational function. It also examined if there are instances of the use of only one language or more than a language on a signage. The theory that supported this investigation was Linguistic Landscape Theory foundered by Landry and Bourhis (1997). This theory has it that the study of linguistic landscapes refers to the visibility and salience of languages on public and commercial signs in a given territory or region. Landry and Bourhis argue that the linguistic landscape of an area can serve as an indicator of the relative power and status of different linguistic communities within that area. This theory suggests that the languages displayed in public spaces can reflect broader social, cultural, and political dynamics, such as the dominance of one language over another, and it can affect the perception of language status and identity among community members.

Academic boycotts of Israel: a narrative review

ABSTRACT Academic boycott of Israeli institutions has emerged as a highly contentious issue within scholarly discourse, eliciting diverse perspectives and impassioned debates. This article examines the complexities surrounding academic boycotts, focusing on the Israeli context, and explores the motivations, justifications, and implications put forth by advocates and critics. Drawing from a review of 23 articles published until May 2024, the article highlights the contrasting viewpoints on academic boycotts and their impact on academic freedom, dialogue, and international relations. It concludes by emphasising the importance of safeguarding academic integrity and objectivity amid debates that intersect with broader societal and political dynamics. Keeping politics out of academia is crucial to ensure that education remains a space for unbiased knowledge dissemination and critical thinking, free from external pressures and influences.

The production of extended local territory: Topology and the spatial politics of city-region making in China

A new trend has been emerging in China’s urban and regional politics, as it is becoming prevalent to extend one municipal authority to another, transcending boundaries, often through the establishment of joint development zones. These newly produced subnational territories are worth further attention to clarify the underlying political dynamics of China’s changing state space. This paper examines the Shenzhen–Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone in Guangdong and analyses the political–spatial processes through which a certain area of Shanwei has been transformed into the ‘Eastern frontier of Shenzhen’. Looking into the relational power nexus that has also been inflected by trans-scalar and cross-boundary dynamics, as well as its manifestations in urban landscapes, we propose extended local territory as a key analytical concept to explore how and how far the rise of extensive territoriality has been articulated with intensive localities. Empirically, we elaborate on the ways in which the territorial ambition and authority of Shenzhen have been managing to traverse boundaries, while also recognising that Shenzhen’s aspiration of materialising its extensive territoriality is challenged by both scalar constraints and the grassroots politics rooted in local history and geography. Addressing the dialectics between the extensive territoriality and intensive locality, we attend to the inter-topological effects and trace the patterns of correlation that are involved in this process, which also turns out to be a critical approach to better understanding changing state spaces in and beyond China.

Enrolment of students in Nigerian tertiary institutions: A reflective impact of the slogan ‘who school help'

There has been a noticeable decline in enrolment in some Nigerian tertiary institutions, such as colleges of education, polytechnics, and some state-owned universities. Various factors have been identified as influencing this problem. This study aims to investigate the impact of the popular slogan "Who School Help" on post-secondary school enrolment in Nigeria. The study used a descriptive survey research design, collecting both qualitative and quantitative data. A purposive sampling method was used to select participants from Senior Secondary Class 1 to Senior Secondary Class 3. In this category, 565 students were selected. Additionally, 20 participants were accidentally selected based on inclusion criteria, with 10 of them being secondary school graduates and the other 10 being graduates from tertiary institutions. The study found that all participants claimed to be familiar with and resonate with the slogan 'Who School Help?' Furthermore, the study revealed that factors such as graduate unemployment rate, salary disparities, and political dynamics motivate the promotion of the slogan as a means to explain the decline in post-secondary school enrolment. In conclusion, the study determined that the popular use of the slogan "Who School Help" among Nigerian youths significantly influences individuals' decisions regarding post-secondary education. The limitations and recommendations of the study were also discussed.

Navigating poverty in developing nations: unraveling the impact of political dynamics on sustainable well-being

Political instability, dismal governance, and corruption are among the factors that currently distress poverty. The primary objective of this research was to determine how political factors distress poverty in developing nations, which has perhaps not been investigated yet. The main objective was also to observe if the effect of political factors on poverty is a dilemma or a reality. Poverty (dependent variable) has been divided into two segments: income poverty index and Human Health Poverty Index; however, political factors (independent variables) studied were corruption, democracy, governance, and political globalization. Twenty-six years of data were taken from 1997 to 2022 of twenty-four developing nations. The poverty and institutional quality indices were constructed through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The Fixed Effect, System GMM, and 2SLS approaches were used to determine the dynamic impact on poverty. Furthermore, this study incorporated fixed effects with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors to address cross-sectional dependence. The findings indicated that, although there was a significant connection between governance and income and human poverty. Democracy also showed a negative and significant relationship in the income poverty model but insignificant in the human poverty model. Political globalization showed negative and significant associations with poverty models (income and human poverty). Conversely, corruption showed a significant positive relationship in poverty models, i.e., income and human poverty.

Deconstructing the Politics of Linguistic Mutation in Tom Stoppard’s Dogg’s Hamlet, Cahoot’s Macbeth

Tom Stoppard’s theatrical works, Dogg’s Hamlet, Cahoot’s Macbeth, serve as a significant exemplification of linguistic and political power dynamics. These plays represent a transformative shift that depicts the workings of hegemony in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War era. Stoppard, a Czechoslovakian native, crafted these satirical works in response to the brutal persecution of critical intellectuals and censorship of their dissident works. The plays voice the intellectual restlessness of the time, resisting the status quo, and illustrating the tensions that led to the 1989 Velvet Revolution. Stoppard’s innovative linguistic experimentation transforms Shakespeare’s plays, Hamlet and Macbeth, into an entirely novel linguistic system, named “Doggspeak,” which derives inspiration from Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations. This new linguistic transformation acts as a catalyst for social and political change, resisting surveillance and censorship of free speech. Stoppard’s plays, therefore, use language to alter power relations, creating space for political defiance. This paper delves into two key questions: How does Stoppard modify language in the dramatic setting, and how does this linguistic transformation shift power relations within the plays? By creating a new linguistic system, Stoppard outmanoeuvres oppressors and wittingly turns language into an instrument for political rebellion. He stages a truncated, mutant version of Shakespeare’s plays where they are banned, giving voice to the intellectual restlessness of Czechoslovakia in the 1970s. Stoppard’s plays posit that language is not merely a tool for communication, but also a vehicle for social and political transformation. Through linguistic mutation, Stoppard subverts the existing power structures and challenges the hegemony of the oppressors. This essay argues that Stoppard’s plays showcase the crucial significance of language in the struggle for political and social change, emphasizing the crucial role that language plays in shaping our perceptions and understanding of the world.

Covert 19th century political intrigues of Tenerife nobility revealed by cryptanalyzing an encrypted letter

This article presents a cryptanalysis of a 19th-century encrypted manuscript discovered in the archives of Conde de Siete Fuentes in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The manuscript, preserved by the heirs of the 6th Count of Valle de Salazar, utilizes a polyalphabetic substitution cipher. The cryptanalysis was performed by applying statistical frequency analysis and developing a Python script for decryption, resulting in the authors successfully deciphering the message. The decrypted letter reveals political communications discussing the strategic positioning of Tenerife as the capital, the dissolution of local councils, and the influence of key political figures. The analysis compares the cipher with historical encryption techniques, and identifies the unique characteristics of the manuscript’s encryption method. The study highlights the political dynamics and alliances within Tenerife’s nobility and their interactions with the central Spanish government, providing significant insights into, both, the cryptographic practices and political maneuvers of the time.