Political Stability Research Articles

Guardians or disrupters? Peace discourses and politics in Tanzania

ABSTRACT The African Union declared 2010 the “African Year of Peace and Security,” with its famous slogan “Make Peace Happen.” However, the meaning of peace is contested depending on particular discursive contexts and the purpose that the peace narratives of the dominant political actors serve. This paper interrogates peace discourses in Tanzania. Drawing from desk reviews and key informant interviews, it reveals how Tanzania’s political opposition and civil society actors contest the ruling party’s rhetoric of peace and tranquility. The paper unravels critical perspectives about national peace, particularly how it can be achieved and maintained. The findings reinforce previous research on language, ideology and politics that shows how dominant political parties in Africa reproduce and maintain power through peace narratives. Specifically, the paper adds to the emerging literature on peaceocracy, where political stability and order are prioritized at the expense of democracy.

Important drivers for customer satisfaction – a Swedish crisis reflection

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine crisis effects on customer satisfaction and underlying drivers by adding a new set of data to previous research. The core questions are: are the findings from Hallencreutz and Parmler (2019, 2021) sustained or can new customer demands, needs, expectations and behaviours be traced in the wake of the ongoing crisis? Design/methodology/approach A first study covering 2005–2017 was completed in 2018, published online in 2019 and in print in 2021 (Hallencreutz and Parmler, 2021). This new study adds the years 2018–2023 to the data set and reuses the partial least squares (PLS) approach to structural equation models, also known as PLS path modelling. Findings This additional study sustains the results from the initial study (Hallencreutz and Parmler, 2019, 2021). The variable product quality has been substituted by service quality as one of the most crucial drivers for customer satisfaction together with brand image, and the current state of permacrisis has not changed that. Research limitations/implications The study is built on Swedish data from the EPSI Rating Initiative (Eklöf and Westlund 2002) covering customer perceptions in banking, insurance (life and non-life), telco (mobile operators, broadband and Pay-tv) and energy (trade, distribution and heating) over the years 2005–2023. Practical implications The study emphasizes the importance of understanding how customer satisfaction drivers evolve over time in different industries and societal sectors, especially during crises. This additional study sustains the paradigm shift in the studied industries – product quality has been substituted by service quality as one of the most crucial drivers for customer satisfaction, and the current state of economic downturn has not changed that. Social implications Society will have to learn to live with political and economic instability and unpredictability for the foreseeable future. To recognize the increasing value deriving from firms’ intangible assets while providing flawless deliveries seems to be a way forward in troublesome times. This is also a catalyst for existing societal trends: the necessary reforms to master sustainable transformations will require an ongoing adaptation process, with both winners and losers across continents. Originality/value The world has coped with a global pandemic, and Europe is currently experiencing a humanitarian, political and economic crises caused by a war in Ukraine. This extended period of global instability and insecurity could be called a permacrisis (Collins dictionary, 2022). This study offers a unique quantitative analysis built on Swedish data from EPSI Rating initiative.

Assessment of the impact of COVID-19 and political instability on mental health of university students in Sudan

Background: The mental health of students plays a crucial role in their learning and performance. The COVID-19 pandemic, the political turmoil and a coup in Sudan has exacerbated stress and anxiety among university students in Sudan due to uncertainty about their academic activities. Aim: To assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurrence and coping strategies adopted by university students in Sudan. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to June 2022. It used the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE) and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) questionnaires to assess the occurrence of PTSD and coping strategies among 596 university students in Sudan. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the frequency and percentage, Student's t test was used to compare the means of 2 groups and one-way analysis of variance to compare the means of ≥ 3 groups. Results: There was a high prevalence of PTSD among the students, with a score of 31.2 (SD 16.4). The total score of PTSD was higher among female students. Around 36% of the students had a PTSD score > 37, which is considered high enough to suppress immune function. The most widely adopted coping strategies were religion and acceptance of the situation, while substance use was the least. Students who had COVID-19 infection during the pandemic differed significantly from uninfected students in the application of coping strategies. In contrast, students whose family members or friends had COVID-19 were not significantly different from students with uninfected family members or friends in the application of the coping strategies, such as self-blame, denial, substance use, and behavioural disengagement. Conclusion: We recommend the initiation and implementation of psychological counselling programmes for university students in Sudan onsite or remotely. Further research should be carried out to assess the long-term effects of the pandemic and the political conflicts so as to design and implement appropriate and efficient interventions

Wartime service provision and post-conflict state legitimacy: Perception-based foundation of sustainable development in Northwestern Pakistan

Promoting a peaceful environment is integral for socioeconomic reconstruction in conflict-affected societies. However, the absence of violence does not immediately result in national endeavors for development because a post-conflict state often lacks a popular base of state legitimacy owing to the wartime fragmentation of socio-political groups. Implementing a questionnaire survey in northwestern tribal areas in Pakistan, specifically the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas, this study explores how and why state legitimacy rises and declines as a result of wartime interactions between political actors and civilians. Empirical analyses of novel survey data reveal that wartime service provision is associated with post-conflict sustainable development regarding the civilian perception of legitimacy of the state. State legitimacy is strongly perceived by civilians who have received public services from the state and weakly by those who have been exposed to rebel services. We further disaggregate wartime service provision to explore the influence of providers and variety/types of services. The results indicate that the provision of a wider variety of wartime services impresses upon civilians’ perceived legitimacy; furthermore, while the delivery of basic and extra services beyond justice and security is associated with state legitimacy, the impact is conditional on service providers. State legitimacy has an important role in political stability and national collectivity needed for post-conflict sustainable development. As wartime civil–military relations persistently influence civilians’ perception of political legitimacy, post-conflict reconstruction needs to take locals’ experiences into consideration so that the development initiatives can be legitimate and sustainable.

Civil Conflict’s Impact on the Pursuit of Inclusivity, Safety, Resilience and Sustainability in Anglophone Cities of Cameroon

AbstractCities are increasingly becoming sites where violence and conflict thrive. In the African continent, civil conflict has been rife, with cities not only being targets but also hosts to civil unrest. Since 2016, Anglophone (English-speaking) cities in Cameroon have been host to a civil conflict that has had devastating impacts on the socio-economic well-being of the Anglophone regions, impeding efforts to achieve sustainable development goal 11 (SDG 11), related to inclusivity, safety, resilience and sustainability in Anglophone cities. Moreover, the conflict has deepened the divide between the Anglophone and Francophone populations, making peaceful coexistence between them increasingly difficult. Utilising a content analysis methodological approach, this paper examines the Anglophone Cameroon civil conflict through the lens of urban sustainability, looking to unravel how the conflict has affected efforts towards pursuing SDG 11 in Anglophone cities. The paper argues that civil conflict has robbed Anglophone cities of the required ingredient of socio-economic and political stability necessary for SDG 11 to thrive, and unless the civil conflict is curbed and a stable peace attained, the pursuit of inclusivity, safety, resilience and sustainability in Anglophone cities would be a futile venture. This paper recommends the establishment of a comprehensive approach to resolve the conflict in a way that considers the root causes of the conflict, as well as measures to foster urban sustainability in Anglophone cities. When this is done, it would be more feasible to attain inclusivity, safety, resilience, and sustainability in Anglophone cities.

Credit Risk and the Financial Performance of Commercial Banks in Somalia.

The operation of commercial banks in Somalia unfolds amidst formidable economic challenges stemming from political instability, ongoing conflicts, and a frail institutional framework. Nevertheless, Somalia’s financial sector exhibits resilience, with several commercial banks endeavoring to address the financial needs of businesses and individuals nationwide. These banks play a pivotal role in mobilizing savings, facilitating transactions, and providing credit, thereby supporting economic activities in Somalia’s predominantly cash-based economy. This study explored the impact of credit risk on the financial performance of Somali commercial banks, employing Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) as the theoretical framework. Adopting a descriptive survey research design, secondary data from licensed commercial banks and the Central Bank of Somalia were analyzed over ten years (January 2014 to December 2023) using panel regression analysis. Findings reveal a moderate negative correlation between credit risk, measured by Bad Debt Expense Ratio (BDER), and financial performance, indicated by Return on Equity (ROE). Statistical tests confirm the significance of this relationship, emphasizing the importance of robust credit risk management practices for sustaining favorable financial outcomes. Recommendations include uniform improvement in risk management practices across the sector and proactive measures to mitigate emerging credit risk factors. Enhancing risk management frameworks is vital for ensuring continued financial stability and performance in the Somali banking industry.

Barriers to equitable healthcare services for under-five children in Ethiopia: a qualitative exploratory study

BackgroundDisparities in child healthcare service utilization are unacceptably high in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, little is known about underlying barriers to accessing child health services, especially among low socioeconomic subgroups and in remote areas. This study aims to identify barriers to equity in the use of child healthcare services in Ethiopia.MethodsData were obtained from 20 key- informant interviews (KII) and 6 focus group discussions (FGD) with mothers and care givers. This study was conducted in Oromia Region, Arsi Zone, Zuway Dugda District from June 1–30, 2023. The study participants for this research were selected purposively. The information was collected based on the principle of saturation after sixteen consecutives interview were conducted. Both KII and FGD were audio-recorded and complementary notes were taken to record observations about the participants’ comments and their interactions. Each interview and FGD data were transcribed word-for-word in the local Afaan Oromo and Amaharic languages and then translated to English language. Finally, the data were analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software and narrated in the linked pattern of child health service utilization.ResultsThis study identified six major themes which emerged as barriers to healthcare utilization equity for caregivers and their -under-five children. Barriers related to equity in low level of awareness regarding need, low socioeconomic status, geographical inaccessibility, barriers related to deficient healthcare system, community perception and cultural restrictions, and barriers of equity related to political instability and conflict. The most commonly recognized barriers of equity at the community level were political instability, conflict, and a tremendous distance to a health facility. Transportation challenges, poor functional services, closure of the health facility in working hours, and lack of proper planning to address the marginalized populations were identified barriers of equity at organizational or policy level.ConclusionThis study showed that inequity in child healthcare utilization is an important challenge confronting Ethiopia. To achieve equity, policy makers and planners need to change health policy and structure to be pro-poor. It is also necessary to improve the healthcare system to increase service utilization and access for impoverished women, individuals with lower levels of education, and residents of isolated rural areas. Furthermore, context specific information pertaining to cultural barriers and political ecology are required.

Artificial intelligence and socioeconomic forces: transforming the landscape of religion

This research examines the influences of artificial intelligence and socioeconomic factors on religious freedom across 20 countries from 2000 to 2022. Employing a detailed model that integrates both specific effects related to individual countries and annual changes, our study offers an extensive empirical analysis of how artificial intelligence relates to religious freedom. The results indicate a notable negative impact of artificial intelligence on religious freedom. Furthermore, the study sheds light on key factors that affect religious freedom, uncovering a positive correlation with elements such as economic growth, political stability, and education levels. However, it was also observed that increased digitalization correlates negatively with religious freedom. These conclusions are reinforced by findings from the system-generalized method of moment estimation, which strongly support our initial results. Consequently, this study establishes that the relationship between artificial intelligence and religious freedom is intricate and shaped by a variety of socioeconomic factors. Our findings emphasize the necessity for thoughtful consideration of the broader societal impacts of artificial intelligence, especially regarding essential human rights like religious freedom.

The response of energy aid and natural resources consumption in load capacity factor of the Asia Pacific emerging countries

Researchers have frequently raised questions about the capacity of CO2 emissions to depict the state of environmental quality comprehensively. The study responds to this gap by recommending a novel instrument, Load Capacity Factor (LCF), to precisely evaluate the ecological implications of energy aid (EA) and natural resources extraction for environmental quality in 34 Asia Pacific countries (APAC) between 2002 and 2021. Applying the instrumental variable GMM, the present estimations respond that environmental quality (LCF) suffered significantly due to energy aid (0.0259%) and natural resources (0.0557%) in the candidate countries. These outcomes are further corroborated by the heterogeneity analysis based on income and region. The addition of moderators, including the rule of law and political stability, steered the relationship between EA and LCF in a positive direction. The findings imply that policy alignment is crucial to operationalising energy aid and natural resources to achieve sustainable economic development in the sampled group.

Rentierism—Political Instability Nexus: The Danger of Oil-producing Region Crisis in Nigeria

The growing popularity of the rentier state theory has made the focus on the impact of oil rents on political stability central for revealing how natural resource (including oil) windfalls link to the weakness of institutional quality in any resource-rich economy. Considering the core characteristic of a rentier state (such as Nigeria)—a distributive political economy—the article examines how the stability of Nigerian political system can be affected by oil rents over the period 1996–2021. Through the adoption of autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds test to cointegration and vector error correction mechanism (VECM) for the test of long-run causality, the apparent effect of oil rents on Nigerian political development is reflected in the analyses and findings. Empirical evidence supports the oil impedes political stability assertion, as there is statistically valid negative association between oil rents and political stability in the short run and long run. It is demonstrated that oil wealth could offer greater incentives for civil conflicts, which have resulted in escalating political problems. In addition, the causality mechanism implies that the relationship found merely indicates association between oil rents and the level of political stability in the long term, and it is not causal. Thus, it is posited that through the adoption and implementation of sound policy measures, the escalation of conflicts would likely subside, especially in most oil-rich regions or states, whereas civil order could be promoted. It is, therefore, critical to enhancing fairness in the use and distribution of oil wealth, improving people’s welfare, particularly in the oil-producing communities and in general, ensuring that democratic principles in the management of resource windfalls are sustained. JEL: Q33, Q34, H56, H12

Future directions for context in ICT4D: A systematic literature review

The digital divide between the Global South and North has been a major concern for researchers from various fields in the past two decades. This divide has led to an increased focus on research related to information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) and other relevant disciplines. Given the prevalence of dominant paradigms that often lead to aggregated and context-free observations, this paper emphasizes the role of context in ICT4D while advocating for more nuanced, context-specific approaches in research and policy formulation. Through a systematic literature review, it proposes a conceptual framework that captures the psycho-social and the structural dimensions of context in ICT4D as well as their impact on success of related projects. The paper highlights the need for tailored theories addressing often overlooked elements such as language, ethnicity, religion, government change, political instability, and legal frameworks in the context of ICT4D. The proposed framework offers a roadmap for researchers to navigate the complex context of ICT4D, especially in the realm of emerging technologies.

The Role of Political Stability in Nine Arab Natural Resource-Abundant Countries (ANRAC) Toward Environmental Sustainability through CO2 Mitigation

This study examines the intricate interplay of political stability, natural resource rent, industrialization, globalization, economic growth, and carbon emissions in nine Arab resource-abundant countries (ANRAC) from 1996 to 2019. Applying advanced statistical approaches, such as the Method of Moment Quantiles Regression (MMQREG) as a baseline estimation approach, along with the inclusion of PCSE, FGLS, and FMOLS, to enhance, to enhance the reliability and stability of the obtained results. The study results suggest that globalization, coupled with the interplay between political stability and economic growth, fosters advancements in environmental conditions and the pursuit of sustainable practices. In contrast, political stability, abundant natural resources, sustained economic expansion, and widespread industrialization are associated with increased CO2 emissions, posing detrimental effects on the environment. Notably, there seems to be a correlation between the concurrent improvement of political stability and economic growth and a reduction in CO2 emissions.

India, Repression, and Ecologically Unequal Exchange of Wood

A recent cross-national article by Sommer, Restivo, and Shandra finds that wood exports to India from peripheral nations are related to levels of forest loss in the peripheral nations. While it suggests new insights into how semi-peripheral nations engage in ecologically unequal exchange, we contend this finding is incomplete and offers only a partial explanation of forest loss. We draw on Evans’s idea of a “triple alliance” to argue that in an effort to promote industrialization, repressive nations in the periphery try to create a “good business climate” for foreign firms by offering investors economic incentives, regulatory concessions, and (imposed) political stability. Thus we hypothesize that greater wood exports to India are related to forest loss in peripheral nations with worse repression. We find support for this hypothesis by regressing data on 67 peripheral nations.

Leadership and Organizational Performance of Telecommunication Company: an Exploratory Study of Hormuud Telecom in Somalia

This study explores the relationship between leadership styles and organisational performance within the context of Hormuud Telecom, a telecommunications business in Somalia. Given the unique socio-economic, political and security instability context in the country, the study examines the influence of leadership styles, methods, and practices on the organization's overall success. This leadership style appears to correlate positively with key performance metrics such as employee satisfaction, internal and external efficiency, and customer retention. This research seeks to provide significant insights into the dynamics of leadership in the telecoms sector by performing an in-depth investigation of Hormuud Telecom's leadership structure and its impact on several areas of organisational efficiency. Employing a qualitative study technique, the research adopted a qualitative research design incorporating secondary data and observational methodologies to gather insights and comprehend the influence of leadership styles on team leadership styles, employee satisfaction, and operational efficiency. It further examines the prominent leadership behaviours seen at Hormuud Telecom and establishes a relationship between these practices and qualitative improvements in organisational performance. The findings indicate a strong correlation between transformative leadership increased employee engagement and improved performance indicators. Similarly emphasises the significance of adaptive leadership in the swiftly evolving telecom industry like in Somalia, indicating that effective leadership plays a crucial role in enhancing organisational performance under demanding economic and operational conditions. This research enhances the overall discussion on leadership in developing economies and provides practical knowledge for firms functioning in comparable situations.

Tax revenue mobilization and institutional quality in sub‐Saharan Africa: An empirical investigation

AbstractThis paper investigates the effects of institutional quality on tax revenue collection in sub‐Saharan African countries. We include the six institutional quality indicators (i.e., voice and accountability, political stability, regulatory quality, rule of law, control of corruption, and government effectiveness) as explanatory factors for tax revenues and its components in a sample of 42 countries over the period 1996–2019. A system GMM approach was used for the estimations. Consistent with previous results, we find that institutional quality has positive and significant effects on tax revenue collection in sub‐Saharan Africa. Specifically, aggregate total tax revenues, direct taxes, income taxes, and goods and services taxes are positively affected by the six institutional quality indicators. Indirect taxes are positively associated with four indicators, with the exception of government effectiveness and political stability, while tax on international trade are affected by institutional quality factors, with the exception of control of corruption and voice and accountability. These findings indicate that sub‐Saharan African countries should improve institutional quality to boost tax revenue collection.

Regional perspectives on patient safety policies and initiatives: a focus group study with patient safety leaders in the Middle East and Asian regions

Preventing and reducing risks and harm to patients is of critical importance as unsafe care is a leading cause of death and disability globally. However, the lack of consolidated information...

Assessing Financial Inclusion Impact on Economic Empowerment in Pondicherry: A Study on Banking Scheme Beneficiaries

The Indian banking industry today is quite robust and strong to be able to take on the challenges of achieving greater financial inclusion. Access to affordable financial services, such as credit and insurance enlarges livelihood opportunities and empowers the poor to take care of their lives. These empowerment aids will create social and political stability. Customers who are account holders in Indian bank under financial inclusion scheme in Pondicherry formed the population of the study. The bank stated that thousands of customers were covered under this scheme. Since the study focus only on individual account holders, of financial inclusion. List of individual account holders was obtained from the bank case firm. Majority (60 per cent) of the respondents’ income was in the range of around Rs. 3,000 – 5, 000 per month. 64 per cent of sample respondents were living in the concrete roofed houses. About 37 per cent of respondents were visiting the bank once in a month followed 33 per cent visits as and when it requires. The economic empowerment index revealed that there was no significant improvement in the savings pattern, increase in income and housing condition and it was found that there was slow and insignificant level of economic empowerment taking place among the socially disadvantageous people even after the financial inclusion under NPPFI scheme implemented by banks. It could be concluded that the scheme had not brought any significant change in the life style and economic status of the people who are supposed to be its beneficiaries.

Understanding Bangladesh's security governance through peacekeeping assemblage: does contribution matter?

Abstract How do international peacekeeping experiences inform the security governance of contributing states from the global South? This article advances theoretical and policy arguments that international peacekeeping exposure contributes to forming multitudes of effects on domestic security affairs and shaping the contributing countries' security governance. The analysis problematizes the transformation of norms, policies, practices and institutional approaches in shaping the national security outlook of the contributing nations. Considering peacekeeping as a discursive ‘glo-cal’ affair and Bangladesh as a critical case, this study underscores how Bangladesh's contributions to United Nations Peace Support Operations (UNPSOs) inform its security governance. The article adopts a qualitative–interpretive approach to examine the assembling effects of Bangladesh's participation in such endeavours. It highlights the transformation in security institutions, new capacities in knowledge and income-generating sectors, new peacekeeping norms, and partnerships in security cooperation as the cornerstones in the national security outlook. Extending the purview of the existing literature on contributors' roles and impact, this article has offered assemblage as a dynamic conceptual lens to understand new domestic significance for the armed forces as global peace providers. Challenges related to the struggle for democracy, political stability and good governance persist in Bangladesh; nevertheless, the peacekeeping assemblage explains how the country has considered accelerating its global peace endeavours.

Exploring political topics that connect to antisemitism on Twitter: U.S. midterm Pennsylvania gubernatorial race 2022

Online antisemitism rears its head during times of political instability, especially during contentious elections. This paper uses the 2022 Pennsylvania Gubernational governor race as a case study to examine what political topics spur antisemitic expression on Twitter. Both rich political and antisemitism discourses are offered by this election that featured a Jewish Democrat candidate Josh Shapiro and far-right Republican candidate Doug Mastriano. Over 800 tweets were qualitatively analyzed through critical discourse analysis to understand both Shapiro’s political tweets and the antisemitic reply tweets. This study addresses the gap of what online political contexts leads to instances of antisemitism on Twitter during political elections. Grounded in antisemitism and political propaganda literature, this study shows that particularly controversial topics of abortion rights and extremism in politics led to the highest amount of antisemitic expression. Dominantly, Jewish political control conspiracies were used as simple explanations for particularly turbulent political topics.

“Don’t worry, be happy (and the vote out the incumbent): economic anxiety and incumbent support”

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been a substantial upsurge in the cost of living and income inequality across established democracies. These shifts, intensified by recent public health crises and growing political instability, have subjected voters to an extraordinary mix of social, political, and economic uncertainty. Despite widespread doubt about the future, a consistent finding in the economic voting literature highlights that voters’ evaluation of the past economy strongly influences their decision to either reward or penalize incumbents. Additionally, these studies find that voters’ forward-looking evaluations of personal economic conditions and general economic expectations often yield weak or negligible effects. These patterns motivate an important empirical question – why do future-oriented economic evaluations fall short in yielding a more substantial effect on incumbent support amid considerable personal struggle and uncertainty about economic conditions ahead? Grounded in appraisal theories of emotion, our study suggests that these consistent results may stem from existing measures inadequately capturing the multi-dimensional and affective nature of voters’ future economic concerns. Using data from the Canadian province of Ontario, we explore the extent of voters’ economic anxiety, identify the factors influencing these sentiments, and show that economic anxiety weakens support for incumbents in provincial and municipal elections.