Political Entities Research Articles

Liberalism in Dialogue: Carl Schmitts Critique and Masao Maruyamas Defense

Abstract: Carl Schmitt criticized liberalism by asserting that it negates politics and leads to a crisis of parliamentary democracy. Through his theories on the concept of the political and sovereign decision-making, Schmitt provided a deep analysis of these issues. Masao Maruyama not only highly valued Schmitts work but also theoretically borrowed from his ideas. However, Maruyama placed individual subjectivity at the core of his analysis, using Japans traditional culture and unique historical and social context as his focus. In doing so, Masao Maruyama both supplemented and, in some aspects, refuted Schmitts critique of liberalism. For Schmitt, the survival and integrity of the political entity are paramount, necessitating a clear distinction between friends and enemies. His critique of liberalism centers not only on its moral neutrality but also on its perceived incapacity to make sovereign decisions that guarantee the preservation of the political entity. In contrast, Maruyama contended that Japanese imperialism elevated the state as the embodiment of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful, thereby positioning it as a value-laden entity, creating a metaphysical order seemingly justified by the imperative of national survival. Although this might initially appear to align with Schmitts notion of the states primacy, Maruyama ultimately critiques this belief as an ideological facade, which devolved into a mere instrument of totalitarian rule.

Maternal and newborn health prioritization in Yobe State, Nigeria: analysis of stakeholders' perspective.

Maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity in conflict-affected northeastern areas of Nigeria, such as Yobe State, are disproportionately higher than those in the rest of the country. There is limited evidence on the factors that influence maternal and newborn health (MNH) policymaking and implementation in this region, particularly with respect to the impact of conflict and context-specific issues. This study explores the political, economic and health system factors that drive the prioritization of MNH policies in Yobe State. The aim of this study was to elucidate the conflict-related factors influencing MNH outcomes, which could inform targeted interventions to improve MNH. The study is a descriptive case study that relies on multiple data sources and is guided by the Health Policy Analysis Triangle. We reviewed national and subnational research, technical reports and policies related to reproductive health and the MNH in Nigeria since 2010. Following stakeholder mapping, we identified and invited prospective participants in the MNH policymaking space. Nineteen stakeholders from the government, civil society and nongovernmental organizations, donor agencies, and public and private sector health providers in Yobe State participated in the semistructured in-depth interviews. Data were collected from November 2022 through January 2023 and were thematically analysed via Dedoose software. MNH services in Yobe State have received considerable attention through initiatives such as the National Midwifery Service Scheme, free MNH services, training of midwives with deployment to rural areas, and health facility renovations. The effective implementation of MNH services and policies faces challenges due to insufficient funding, and sustainability is hampered by changes in governance and political transitions. The Boko Haram insurgency exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Yobe State and disrupted MNH services due to the displacement of populations and the decline in the number of health workers. Additionally, sociocultural and religious beliefs hinder timely access to and utilization of MNH services. Although policies and guidelines for MNH services exist in the state, they are inadequately disseminated to health providers, which affects their effective implementation across facilities. Collaboration and intersectoral coordination platforms exist, but competition and rivalries among unions, political entities, and implementing agencies sometimes impede progress. Enhancing MNH services in Yobe state requires increased commitment for funding through the Northeast Development Commission rehabilitation fund; strengthening the health workforce, safety and retention plan; promoting gender inclusivity within the health sector; and addressing sociocultural barriers to women's health-seeking behaviors. Concrete, time-bound plans for policy dissemination are necessary to ensure effective service implementation.

Adapt research to the Anthropocene

Scientists measure how humans’ footprints deteriorate the global environment and our life, but neither monitoring nor technical solutions bend the curves. Homo sapiens is the dominating species of the Anthropocene. Should we re-focus research and explore potential transformation of the command centers of overexploitation: people's minds? The most important challenge for research in the Anthropocene is transformation of humans and their political and economic entities to respect the planet’s boundaries. Non-adapted research can mislead policies. On the example of two crucial risks, pollinator loss and climate change, the manuscript compares state-of-the-art research and what is needed. The examples show the necessary scope and depth of transformation. How to give more room for divergent intelligence, creativity and criticality in scientific and educational environments? The research sector must decide to either transform humans’ minds towards planetary responsible political performance or accept that AIscene might follow the Anthropocene and adapt humans to earth.

Analyzing Public Discourse on the Affordable Care Act through YouTube Comments

Abstract Introduction Social media’s pervasive role in daily life provides a unique avenue for understanding public sentiments. This study utilizes YouTube comments on an MSNBC video about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to explore public opinions on the policy and its political implications. Methods A qualitative analysis of YouTube comments on an MSNBC video was conducted. Netlytic, a scraping tool, gathered 1,949 comments. Thematic analysis, based on a coding framework derived from Semetko and Valkenburg’s frames, identified three predominant frames: Responsibility, Human Interest, and Economic Consequences. Results Of the 1949 comments posted in response to the ACA video on YouTube, 488 were analyzed. Three media frames were used to categorize the comments. Among the analyzed comments, 42% fell within the Responsibility Frame, indicating that 205 comments attributed responsibility for ACA-related issues, healthcare access, and costs to political parties, individual politicians, and government entities. The Human-Interest Frame accounted for 11% of the comments, with 53 remarks reflecting individual experiences related to healthcare access and costs. Additionally, 26% of the comments fell within the Economic Consequences Frame, signifying those 125 comments included remarks concerning the economic impacts of the ACA, such as increased healthcare access, taxes, and penalties. The remaining 21% of comments did not align with the three frames. Conclusions This study embarked on a comprehensive exploration of public discourse surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) within the context of the 2024 presidential election, utilizing YouTube comments as a rich source of qualitative data. Through a meticulous methodological approach, which included thematic framing analysis and intercoder reliability assessments, valuable insights into the diverse perspectives and sentiments expressed by social media users regarding this critical healthcare legislation were gained. Key messages • Social media allows for real-time understanding of people’s thoughts, beliefs, opinions, and ideas, as well as serves as a useful tool that fosters broad, unfiltered data/content. • Researchers conducted a qualitative analysis of public discourse on YouTube to explore the range of sentiments regarding the ACA.

Renaissance humanism and Martin Luther: The birth of nation‐states

AbstractThis article explores the interaction between Renaissance humanism and Martin Luther's Reformation in fostering the emergence of nation‐states in Europe. It argues that the emphasis on individualism, critical thinking, and a return to classical ideals during the Renaissance provided a fertile ground for Luther's challenge to the Catholic Church's authority. Luther's Reformation, with its focus on Scripture and a direct relationship between believer and God, further eroded the Church's control and transnational influence. This convergence of intellectual and religious transformations created a space for the development of distinct national identities and the consolidation of power by European monarchs. The article will examine how these movements challenged the existing political and religious order, ultimately contributing to the rise of nation‐states as the dominant political entity in Europe.

The Cost of Dancing with the Government: A Conservation of Resources Theory of Political Networking and CEO Burnout

AbstractAlthough prior research on the dark side of corporate political activity (CPA) has examined the negative impact of CPA on firms from the perspective of the macro cost of CPA (i.e., organizational loss) and the self‐interested motives of executives (i.e., personal gain), it has largely overlooked the negative repercussions of CPA for individuals intimately engaged in that process (i.e., personal loss). Drawing on the conservation of resources (COR) theory and focusing on Chief Executives Officers (CEOs) who engage in political networking (PN), we investigate how PN affects CEO burnout. We conceptualize PN as a form of relational exchanges between firms and political entities, positing that PN entails substantial resource depletion for those deeply involved, primarily due to significant ethical and moral challenges (i.e., identity threat). As PN intensifies, CEOs are compelled to allocate more time, effort and energy to navigate these escalating challenges, consequently exacerbating CEO burnout. Through the analysis of a 2‐year matched survey of CEOs and comprehensive archive data, we find robust support for our hypothesis. Furthermore, our findings suggest that CEO altruism and institutional knowledge weaken the relationship between PN and CEO burnout, indicating that individual intentions to benefit the collective and the ability to navigate such networking practices alter CEOs' perceived identity challenges. Our study contributes an individual‐level resource‐depletion perspective of CPA and cautions against the propensity of CEOs to engage in CPA driven by Machiavellian logic.

New Turkey, social policy, and a daytime talk show as a remedy: Müge Anlı as a modern Çalıkuşu

ABSTRACT ‘Müge Anlı ile Tatlı Sert’, which investigates unresolved criminal cases with interactive audience support, is one the most popular daytime television shows in contemporary Turkey. The neoliberal restructuring of the welfare system in New Turkey posits that providing protection and security against social risks is the sole responsibility of individuals and families. In line with this approach, the show individualizes social problems ready to be resolved by ‘Müge Abla’ (Sister Müge) and her audience. Müge Anlı's image, which conforms to the ideal modern and modest Republican woman, allows her to gain authority, trust, respect, and popularity. The show’s discourses, structure, and communicative strategies are the product of the New Turkey where ‘the sacred family’ is the central political unit and the nation is an extended, happy family reproduced through this show.

Which political entities are “Friendly” to religion? The interplay of entity, identity congruence, and Christian nationalism

Abstract How do Americans perceive the orientation of political entities toward religion? Building on group identity theories and burgeoning Christian nationalism research, I theorize Americans' perceptions of friendliness, neutrality, or unfriendliness toward religion will be contingent on the interplay between the specific entity, “identity congruence” (how partisan and ideological identities correspond to the partisan character of the entity), and Christian nationalism. Analyses of data from a large, nationally representative sample of Americans support my expectations. Both Christian nationalism and congruence on political identities predict how Americans perceive the posture of the Democratic Party, Republican Party, and Supreme Court toward religion. Yet associations differ depending on whether friendliness to religion challenges the entity's legitimacy (e.g., the Supreme Court). Interactions also show the influence of Christian nationalism and political identities on perceptions of friendliness are contingent on one another and the entity. Findings reveal how religious evaluations reflect group interests in complex ways.

Divergent Pathways in North–South Education Policy Development in Ireland in the 1920s: Exploring the Influence of the First Ministers for Education on Both Sides of the Border

ABSTRACT A long tradition of both State and religious interest and support characterised provision for education on the island of Ireland from the 1700s. Following the partition of Ireland in the 1920s, the newly created political entities of the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland forged separate and distinct education policy trajectories that largely reinforced and propagated the dominant identity in each jurisdiction. This article explores and assesses the contributions of the first Ministers for Education in the Irish Free State and in Northern Ireland in the 1920s, Eoin MacNeill and Lord Londonderry, respectively. A particular emphasis is placed on their influence, impact and legacy on primary education policy development and enactment. Ultimately it could be argued that both Ministers can be characterised to a certain extent as political failures in terms of introducing and embedding education policy that aligned with their personal or political ambition and ideology.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind? UK–EU Member States Bilateralism as an Enabler of Europeanisation

AbstractWhilst an extensive scholarship has questioned the role of the United Kingdom in multilateral and mini‐lateral venues, less attention has been devoted to the signature of 24 bilateral declarations between the United Kingdom and EU member states from 2021 to 2023. Bilateralism has indeed been one of the preferred UK strategies to achieve foreign policy co‐ordination with EU member states post‐Brexit. Questioning the intentionality of the United Kingdom in initiating and investing these arrangements, we find that despite the clear attempts to deEUise its foreign policy, we are also not witnessing purposes of de‐Europeanisation that would imply a repudiation of European shared values, a divergence from common priorities and an end to social encounters between UK and EU member states' officials. Instead, through a frame analysis of these declarations and interviews, we highlight that bilateralism has enabled continued Europeanisation, even though to a lesser extent in comparison with the pre‐Brexit situation. Closer relations with European capitals are thus enabling Europeanisation of UK foreign policy to persist. In other words, we conclude that whilst there has been, on the side of the United Kingdom, a repudiation of the EU as a political entity, there has been no rejection of common European values and priorities, which remain shared with EU member states.

IRON AGE LEVANTINE POLITIES AND THEIR MATERIAL CULTURE, WITH A CASE STUDY FROM TEL REḤOV, NORTHERN ISRAEL

SummaryThe following article deals with the possible association of political entities with specific material culture. By referring to a test case from the southern Levant – that of Late Iron IIA (late tenth–ninth centuries BC) Tel Reḥov and its political affiliation within the context of the regional settlement system, this article discusses the methodological caveats and prospects pertinent in any attempt to archaeologically identify political entities. It further demonstrates how settlement patterns and material culture may reveal the underlying social complexity of the Iron Age Levantine territorial polities, and the ways in which political hegemony was practised among diverse communities.

Swallowing the Whole: World, Planet, and Totality in the Planetary Fiction of H. G. Wells

Abstract: This essay examines the conflation between world and planet in H. G. Wells's turn-of-the-century science fiction. Writing when "world=planet" was not a given, Wells actively participated in the formation of the world-planet vocabulary across a range of genres and throughout the first half of the twentieth century. In particular, I look into the planetary experiments of his early fiction, where the materially limited planet continually thwarts the writer's attempts to equate that planet to the world he wished to develop as the ultimate political unit. Emerging through such attempts is a divergence between world and planet that enables us to think about the individual, the world, and the planet all on a commensurate scale, in a manner that is strikingly—and perhaps also troublingly—similar to what recent environmental discourse asks of us today.

The Impact of Globalization on Sovereignty of Nation-States

The term refers, in particular, to increased worldwide integrated trading and the enormous spread of international relations in general. Nonetheless, although it became an underlying influence on world politics and the transformation of universal states, it also brought about economic control and policy instruments into which states could no longer reach. Economic success would not only determine political power on the international scene but also trans/domestic politics. Nation-states were too small to have any influence because they could only coordinate policies that they could not influence on the international scene. It is another element of theory and practice that we think should require re-examination. The term has ethnic origins and originally meant "weighs globally". It can roughly be defined as the intensification of cultural, social, economic, and political relations across territories that have been or are part of different political units. Such relations became easier, faster, cheaper, and more frequent as a result of technological innovation in media, transportation, and communication. The concept of globalization has become an all-embracing phenomenon of the modern world. Its impact on states has generated a detailed debate about its role and significance for the nation-state. To understand the implications of globalization for the theory and practice of the state, it first requires some definition and understanding of the term.

‘달리뜨스탄(Dalitstan)’: 인도 식민지 말기 달리뜨 분리주의의 맥락과 성격

History of Modern India witnessed the struggles and negotiations of Dalits, the former Untouchables to secure their rights in various fields. Their movement, with its various stages from collective awakening to political entitlement, and to new cultural identity making, has primarily been led by B. R. Ambedkar. All these activities of Dalit movement have persisted amidst political upheaval of national movement and state formation in India. Dalits, facing the late-colonial and early republican circumstances, had to construct their own identity which survived the ‘all-embracing’ Hindu identity and to secure the safeguards as a minority while being recognized as the equal citizens of Republic of India. This research pays attention to the separatism of Dalit community suggested by Ambedkar during the 1940s and onwards. In the political process of the 1930s, he established a separate Dalit party and demanded separate electorates to become a political entity separate from Hindus, which was not fulfilled as his original demand. During the state-formation period of 1940s, separatist ideas have been presented by various minority groups. Ambedkar suggested his idea on geographical separatism for Dalits. The demand for separate settlements was proposed along with the political entity separated from Hindus through separate electorates, appropriate representation in public offices and budgets. Unlike the separatism of religious minority groups, Dalit separatism was not aimed at establishing an independent nation-state but was a practical alternative to overcome the poor economic base of Dalits and escape caste Hindu discrimination in villages. Dalitstan had the meaning of a liberated zone for Dalits without caste Hindu discrimination and oppression. Therefore, Dalit separatism should be understood as a political discourse of minority groups in the context of state formation rather than another partition.

Ideological Mind-Shaping or Brain-Shaping: Fusing Empirical Biopolitics and Political Philosophy of Mind

There are two primary philosophical approaches to examining the relationship between human bodies and political bodies. The first, reflected in traditional political theory on the body politic, is concerned with the question of how individuals aggregate into functioning or malfunctioning collectives—how singular citizen bodies come to constitute wider political entities. The second approach, maturing later in 20th century social and political philosophy, considers the opposite relation: instead of evaluating how the body politic emerges from the bottom-up, it focuses on how bodies become politicized from the top-down. This, more sociological, perspective explores how human bodies are disciplined and learn to self-discipline into particular physical forms and functions. Dominant ideologies can infiltrate the bodies of adherents, and the task of the social critic or political philosopher is to delineate how, why, where, and when political structures shape the minds and bodies of citizens, as well as whether the effects are coercive, destructive, or liberatory. I will argue that a political philosophy of mind cannot flourish without attention to the cognitive science of ideologies. Until recently there has been little serious dialogue between biology and political philosophy, partly due to disciplinary balkanization and mostly because of the infancy of empirical biopolitics, the science of how cognitive and neurobiological processes are molded by political ideologies. I will suggest that attending to the emerging science of ideological cognition can allow us to build a stronger, more compelling, and provocative thesis on the mind-shaping consequences of immersion in ideologies than is possible with conceptual tools alone

Varieties of central banking: the Nordic Model beyond a fiscal-centric approach

ABSTRACT Since policymakers and scholars coined the term in the 1930s, the Nordic Model has often been considered to denote a homogeneous political entity in which the constituent countries are ostensibly interchangeable. As a result, seldom attention has been afforded to what fundamentally differentiates Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. By going beyond traditional ‘fiscal-centric’ accounts of the Nordic model, and instead focusing on the role of central banks and monetary policy, we show that each country bares far less similarities than has often been assumed in the literature. We trace this heterogeneity back to variegated responses to the 1970s crises of Fordist capitalism and draw on growth model theory to explain this divergent trajectory. We show how these differences shaped how each country responded to the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, where a variegated array of monetary measures was employed to uphold their own distinct growth model. By accounting for the role of central banks within the Nordic Model, we propose that it is better understood as a series of models, drawing attention to the function of monetary policy within the growth models perspective in the political economy literature.

Meloni government’s strategic narratives vis-à-vis global financial markets: on the path of economic sovereignism?

ABSTRACT The aim of the article is to analyze the Meloni government’ strategic narratives vis-à-vis global financial markets, including their use of populist and sovereignist discursive-ideological frames, in order to analyze whether these narratives are more radical in relation to the past. We first introduce the concepts of populism and sovereignism, clarify definitional aspects and look at their relation with financialization; then, we provide the research framework based on the use of strategic narrative. This paper follows an in-depth diachronic analysis of three different Italian populist/populist radical-right governments in relation to financial markets: Berlusconi IV government (during 2011–2012), Conte I (2018–2019) and Meloni (2022–), looking at the potential evolution of narratives. The article’s contribution is twofold: (a) First, it further disentangles the populism–sovereignism relation, offering a map of the key frames adopted by populist/sovereignist political entities; (b) second, it diachronically compares three populist/right-wing governments, in different historical junctures, in relation to financial markets. We found that the strategic narratives by some key actors in the Berlusconi IV, Conte I and Meloni governments vis-à-vis global financial markets are in substantial continuity. Yet, we argue that Italy’s current government has growing preferences for a narrative approach based on (economic) sovereignism.

Rywalizacja mocarstw regionalnych i globalnych w pogrążonej wojną domową Libii

RIVALRY OF REGIONAL AND GLOBAL POWERS IN CIVIL WAR-RIDDEN LIBYAThe aim of the article is to analyse the role that the conflict in Libya plays in the politics of regional and global powers. The theory of regional security complexes was adopted as a theoretical perspective for considerations. The analysis focuses on the impact of threats within the Middle Eastern regional security complex, with particular emphasis on the North Africa sub-complex, and the impact that global powers have on this complex in connection with the conflict in Libya. The research problem under consideration is how the Libyan civil war fits into the architecture of regional security. The conditions of the conflict in Libya, such as the geostrategic location, tribal and regional divisions, weakness and breakdown of state structures, make it easy for both regional and global powers to influence its course. The clear division of the state into two strong and competing political and territorial units means that external actors are forced to take sides and get involved in the internal strife. The involvement of external actors has deepened and perpetuated the existing political, geopolitical and social divisions. Both sides of the conflict, with the support of regional and global powers, are entrenching their positions, stiffening their negotiating stances and thus limiting the chances of reaching a political agreement.

Assessing the Relationship between Political Financing and Policy Bias in B40 Welfare Policies during COVID-19

This conceptual paper delves into the intricate relationship between political financing and policy bias in the implementation of welfare policies for the B40 (Below 40 is the 40% of the total population that earns the lowest tier of household income compared to the first group of T20-Top 20% and second category M40-Middle 40%) cluster in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The B40 cluster comprises the most economically vulnerable segment of the population residing in public housing (the heavily subsidized government-owned residential areas for underprivileged citizens with certain household income categories). This study aims to unravel how political financing influences the formulation and execution of welfare policies, potentially leading to bias in resource allocation and support provision. Through an exhaustive review of existing scholarly literature and analysis of pertinent case studies, this paper embarks on examining the degree to which political financing impacts the decision-making process concerning welfare policies. The analysis focuses on identifying potential biases in policy formulation that may favor the interests of political entities providing financial backing to policymakers. Furthermore, the study also explores the implications of such biases on the equitable distribution of resources to the B40 cluster during the global COVID-19 crisis. The conceptual framework employed in this paper draws from theories of political economy, corruption, and public policy. By dissecting the extant body of literature, the paper aims to offer a nuanced comprehension of the dynamics between political financing and policy bias in the realm of welfare policies for the B40 cluster. The eventual findings are poised to enrich the theoretical understanding of the influence exerted by political financing on the formulation and execution of welfare policies, particularly during periods of global crisis. By identifying policy biases stemming from political financing, this study aspires to catalyze critical discussions on the imperative of transparent and accountable decision-making processes. Such deliberations are vital to ensuring the fair and effective implementation of welfare policies for the B40 cluster in Kuala Lumpur amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper thus serves as a clarion call for enhanced governance mechanisms and institutional reforms to uphold the principles of fairness, equity, and social justice in welfare policy formulation and implementation. This study contributes to the existing literature by shedding light on the nexus between political financing and policy bias in the context of welfare policies for vulnerable populations. It underscores the importance of addressing systemic flaws in governance and decision-making processes to mitigate the adverse effects of political influence on welfare policy outcomes. Moreover, the findings of this study have practical implications for policymakers, advocacy groups, civil society organizations and other stakeholders involved in shaping welfare policy agendas and advocating for reform initiatives. In conclusion, this paper calls for a concerted effort to promote transparency, accountability, and integrity in the formulation and implementation of welfare policies. By fostering a culture of ethical governance and democratic participation, policymakers can ensure that welfare programs serve the interests of the most vulnerable members of society and contribute to equitable and sustainable development outcomes.

How parties impact the trajectories of federalism: India

ABSTRACT The article examines the interface between the party system and the trajectories of center-state interactions in independent India. It argues that the Constituent Assembly put in place a strong-center model of federalism, giving the center much greater leverage than the states. The structural features envisaged in the constitution implicitly give us the image of a rigid framework and do not account for the dynamic nature of federalism. The discussion in the article, however, shows that there have been periods when the central state has been able to achieve a greater level of vertical integration, overriding the existing institutional frameworks. This has occurred whenever a party, owing to a lack of federal political culture and being under a person-centered leadership, managed to achieve polity-wide legislative dominance. Whenever it happens, the constituent states are reduced to more like administrative units, accepting directives from the center, as the existing federal safeguard mechanism loses its efficacy. However, here again the degree of integration has varied depending on the ruling strategy of the party leader, the party’s internal structure, and the level of resistance put up by the state units, and the opposition parties. In sharp contrast, when, due to political and economic transitions, the state-based parties gained prominence at the national level, then they invariably pushed for greater decentralization, strengthening the existing federal institutional safeguards, and striving to make the constituent states more autonomous political and economic units.