Political Interests Research Articles

Motiv osiguranja u nemačkom političkom diskursu o evropskim integracijama

Since the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis in 2013, there have been repeated statements by officials and politicians of the Federal Republic of Germany highlighting cooperation within the structures of the European Union as a kind of "insurance policy" for each member state. This paper examines the use of this term as a metaphor within political rhetoric to illustrate the perceived benefits of EU membership in the context of foreign policy and security challenges. In this sense, the European Union is portrayed as a safety net for its members amidst strained relations with Russia, given that country's role in triggering and shaping the dynamics of the Ukrainian crisis (and beyond). Additionally, the analysis explores the changing perception regarding EU enlargement policy, specifically how it is increasingly viewed as a tool for advancing European security and other political interests. Following a brief overview of the geopolitical nature of the war risk in Ukraine, the paper analyzes statements by German officials, seeking to clarify them through theoretical approaches in international relations (e.g., constructivism, liberal intergovernmentalism, realism) on the one hand, and through technical-conceptual definitions of the term "insurance" and related elements on the other hand.

Indo-Pacifički region kao geopolitički "pivot" na početku 21. veka

The subject of the paper refers to the analysis of the geostrategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region and the geopolitical movements and events in it at the beginning of the 21st century. The rise of China as a political, economic, and military power is the most important event in the transformation of the global international system, which, until recently, was sovereignly ruled by the USA. This geopolitical reality directed the world's attention from the Euro-Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific region. In addition, the economic growth of the region, in inseparable synergy with political and military strategic interests, represents a major challenge to the long-standing US dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. The transformation of China into a regional power with global aspirations has changed the structure of regional relations, undermining the recently unquestioned American hegemony in this part of the world. The paper will focus on the basic geopolitical developments in the Indo-Pacific region, the new geopolitical "pivot" of the 21st century. The research used the content analysis method of the numerous relevant sources in which the Indo-Pacific region is considered, which includes a large expanse of water and land, where this specificity is reflected in the fact that the most significant "geopolitical game" today is related to the events in the waters of the South China Sea. The method of analysis and deduction in considering the character form and relationship of the rise of China as a political, economic, and military power and the events in

A PRISÃO COMO SISTEMA: OS INTERESSES DO CAPITALISMO E O ENGODO DA RESSOCIALIZAÇÃO

The article deals with the emergence and forms of prison since Western modernity, its objectives and practices adapted according to the political, economic, social, cultural context and capitalist interests. It questions the purpose of the creation and maintenance of prisons. The objective of the work is to analyze what interests prison historically serves. The main planned and implemented prison models were presented; prison in capitalism and the discourse of social resocialization. The study is the result of a qualitative research approach, data collection was carried out through bibliographic and documentary review and the analytical method was dialectical historical materialism. The main authors used were Michael Foucault, Wacquant Loic, Aguirre Carlos, Bitencourt Cezar, Thompson Augusto and Baratta Alessandro. The results demonstrated that prison and punishment are reconfigured with each socioeconomic, historical, political or ideological transformation at different times and intersect according to capitalist interests. It was identified that prison is not capable of resocialize or reinstate, however, it controls a certain population and guarantees the maintenance of large capital.

Aba, Abia State, Nigeria’s Innovative and Interactive Fashion Houses: The Case of Inadequate Facilities for the Growth of the Fashion Industry in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

What is made in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria is not good for the Nigerians unless shipped out to Italy, repackaged and reintroduced back to the country in the name of Imported Product. This is the nonchalance and the problem with Nigerians. The fashion industries in the country are almost gone if not extinct because of bad governments, corruption and many inadequacies as a result of political affiliations and interests. The existing fashion houses are on individual basis and struggling to survive and for a more inclusive fashion industry in Aba, the researchers adopted content base analysis, qualitative research method where they carefully analyzed and interpreted works of other authors and used them in buttressing their points as applied to the issue at hand, Aba, Fashion House. Experts in the industry and especially, in Aba, believed that the fashion industry (houses) if properly handled, will hold paramount importance in today’s dynamic world of style and entrepreneurship in the area and will provide a platform for local designers to showcase and give a high end edge to their products and the Nigerian fashion in general. The management of the Aba, fashion industry must find ways to market their products to be accepted both locally and internationally. The idea of shipping their products to Italy and bringing them back to Nigeria to sell must be discouraged. And most importantly, the utilisation of adaptable spaces will allow for flexibility, enabling seamless transitions from workspace to event hosting areas, ensuring the accommodation of fashion shows, exhibitions, and educational workshops and that is how to connect with the rest of the fashion industry world.

Scottish History in the Eyes of Sixteenth-Century France

Scotland's mythical and medieval history has long been acknowledged as of critical importance in its sixteenth-century present. This article tracks these discourses across the channel, showing for the first time the limited circulation of Scottish histories in France and the dominance of English versions of the past in French texts, ranging from short, printed books to royal presentation manuscripts. This Anglocentric view not only helps to explain the discordant French views of the Scots (as loyal yet uncivil, and above all warlike) but also contributes to the ongoing reassessment that the auld alliance was not permanently binding but, rather, intermittently activated when political or economic interests required.

The Effects and Local Implementation of School Finance Reforms on Teacher Salary, Hiring, and Turnover

Knowing how policy-induced salary schedule changes affect teacher recruitment and retention will significantly advance our understanding of how resources matter for K–12 student learning. This study sheds light on this issue by estimating how legislative funding changes in Washington state in 2018–2019—induced by the McCleary court-ordered reform—affected teacher salaries and labor market outcomes. By embedding a simulated instrumental variables approach in a mixed-methods design, we observed that local collective bargaining negotiations directed new state funding allocations to substantially increase certificated base salaries, particularly for senior teachers with 16 years or more of teaching experience. Variability in political power, priorities, and interests of both districts and unions led to greater heterogeneity in teacher salary schedules. Suggestive evidence shows that state average teacher turnover rate was significantly reduced in the first year of reform. The McCleary-induced salary increase particularly reduces mid-career teachers’ (8–15 years of teaching experience) mobility rate and late-career teachers’ (23+ years of teaching experience) leaving rate. The McCleary-induced base salary increase has mostly null effects on teacher hiring in the first 2 years of implementation.

Бюджетная политика развитых стран: игра по правилам?

The article examines the reasons for the adoption of fiscal rules in advanced economies, their main types, evolution and results of application. In the practice of fiscal policy over the past decades, there has been a steady trend towards budget deficits. There are two main reasons that explain this widespread deficit bias phenomenon: the tendency to push out the financial discipline burden to future governments or even to future generations and the interplay of political processes and interest group activities (common pool effect). Chronic budget deficits and growing public debts have prompted many countries to adopt certain national and supranational (in the EU) fiscal rules – long-lasting constraints on fiscal policy through numerical limits on main budgetary aggregates: budget balance, debt, expenditure or revenue. Fiscal rules can promote financial discipline and reduce the deficit bias in several ways. This influence on fiscal behavior arises from their capacity to “tie the hands” of policymakers and to be a useful signaling tool, helping to reduce the asymmetry of information between policymakers and voters. But the compliance track record with fiscal rules is relatively poor. They have failed to provide sufficient fiscal discipline: the deficit bias persists and the debt-to-GDP ratio in most advanced economies continues to grow. The adopted budget rules are periodically suspended, they are subject to revision, sometimes formally implemented by applying the creative accounting, policymakers use them as a tool of political bargaining. Ultimately, fiscal discipline does not depend on the existence of rules, but on the willingness of politicians to comply with this discipline.

Regulating Platform Work in the UK and Italy: Politics, Law and Political Economy

The advent of the platform economy gives rise to an important challenge for existing systems of labour law across the world. Different countries are reacting to this common challenge with various legislative measures, ranging from accommodation to re-regulation. This paper analyses the policy response to the spread of platform work in the UK and Italy, countries with quite different labour law frameworks as well as contrasting political and regulatory institutions. These two countries have responded differently to the advent of the platform economy. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the paper draws on theories from political science and comparative political economy to explain the different regulatory outcomes observed. Specifically, it is argued that policy and legislative outcomes can be explained by the relative power of political actors and interest groups which are shaped, in turn, by the national system of political parties and the existing industrial relations frameworks. Platform or Gig Economy, Platform Work, Law and Political Economy, Power Resources

The Case of Abortion is a Problem its Legalization in Territory of Timor-Leste (2024).

Introduction: The main objective of this article is to approach the case of abortion with the form or manner in general and the modalities of pregnancy existing in Timor-Leste. Thus, the unsuccessful case is determined as the interruption of the pregnant woman with the destruction of the product of conception of human intercourse. The case of abortion can be classified into two models, such as spontaneous and instigated abortion. Objective: For what will be analyzed and examined about abortion or undue abortion is the problem of its legalisation which does not yet exist in the context of law and institution in Timor-Leste. Methodology: We used the deductive methodology in this composition and elaboration, because all research investigations are done through the library and other references were consulted in international articles and on the internet as a means of supporting and assisting in the study. Discussion: In the terms applied of spontaneous and when abortion happens naturally and induction is when the pregnant woman is interrupted by the will of the woman or mother. For many, the possibility of taking care of themselves is not fully supported by the legal system and the Catholic religion. For this reason, each place has its own process and seeks to solve it in a way that is more appropriate to the environment in which it lives, not forgetting or forgetting that the laws are the same tools of implementation. Thus, this study is to discuss and understand the legal aspects of the legality of abortion according to the Penal Codes and Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (CRDTL) to be valid and considered in the legal framework accordingly. Conclusion: The criminalization of abortion is historically related to social, political, religious and economic interests depending on the time and location, in addition to being adequate with the cultural understanding of what it is to be a woman, the meaning of pregnancy and the baby, in a public health condition cited by (Tilman CB & Acácio J., 2024).

Foreign aid and bilateral relations: The Israel−East Africa case

AbstractInternational relations literature generally tells us that donor countries see foreign aid as a key instrument of foreign policy to promote political interests. According to research, donor countries usually hope to get favorable voting at the United Nations (UN) arena in return, meaning that the motivation for foreign aid is not so altruistic. This article examines these claims and discusses the link between foreign aid, bilateral relations, and voting patterns in the UN General Assembly while focusing on Israeli foreign aid to five East African countries, using data on Israel's foreign aid and data on voting patterns from 2012 to 2021. The results testify that Israel foreign aid has helped to promote ties with Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania, but has not helped to promote voting patterns in favor of Israel. The results reveal a duality according to which the bilateral relations between Israel and East African countries have improved, but there has been no improvement in their voting patterns in a way that raises questions about the success level of using foreign aid as a tool to promote a favorable UN voting.

The Bankruptcy of Abraham Gibbs & Co. and the Crises of British Merchant Banking in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and in Britain

Introduction: This work examines the causes of the crisis and the fall of one of the most successful British merchant-bankers, Abraham Gibbs who by 1816 had made Sicily the centre of his financial world. It considers Gibbs' role in British political interests in the Mediterranean, as he financed the affairs of the British government there through Lord Bentinck, Nelson, Hamilton and Leckie. Aim of the work: The authors evaluate whether the Gibbs crisis was caused solely by poor management, and poor business aptitude or by other factors. The relationships Gibbs had with other merchant and bankers like Benjamin Ingham, Falconnet, Barings and Meuricoffre in London, Sicily and Malta are analysed. Methodological approach: The study is based upon the investigation of primary and secondary sources and uses archival material in Sicily and the UK to interpretate the Gibbs crisis. The authors explore the structure and efficiency of Gibbs' accounting and administrative practice from an interpretative stance, comparing Gibbs administrative practice with Benjamin Ingham's ones. By using the Ingham Whitaker archive in Marsala, we attempt to reconstruct and prove Gibbs level of accounting management in the context of the British community's business practices in Sicily. Main findings: in Gibbs' case more accurate and more reliable accounting pro- cedures, to internally check fraudulent activities, would have been the only real means of protection to safeguard business integrity. Originality: the work offers original information to improve knowledge on a specific and interesting period of the history of both Britain and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the interaction between British and Sicilian economies.

The Press and the Intelligence Community: The Construction of OTRAG and Cóndor as Global Threats

This article studies the way the US government through the Central Intelligence Agency, the Washington Post and the New York Times approached in tandem the development of rockets in Argentina and in two African countries (Zaire and Libya) during the last stretch of the Cold War. A qualitative analysis is carried out from primary government and journalistic sources, looking at how the media acted alongside the government and the intelligence community, providing the same information and a very similar interpretation of the facts, building common sense and a geopolitical imaginary. This is a geopolitical analysis of the construction of imagery of the dangerous identity of the OTRAG and the Cóndor II in the 1970s and 1980s. The conclusions show that both cases were construed as a geopolitical identity on non-core countries that ended in pressures, the projects be terminated, managing to build a sense by which the economic and political interests of the United States were projected hegemonically as universal interests.

Who are the users of Danish alternative media? A survey study on the prevalence of alternative news use in Denmark and profiles of the users

Abstract Nordic countries have experienced an upsurge of partisan alternative media positioning themselves as correctives of the mainstream, but only little is known about how many and who uses them. Building on original survey data from a representative sample of the adult Danish population (n = 2,455), this article presents the first study of the use of left-wing and right-wing alternative media in Denmark. Findings show that users are generally more likely to be older, male, and live in disadvantaged parts of the country, but that alternative media appeal across all levels of education and urban–rural divides. Results also show positive associations with use of national dailies and high political interest. Furthermore, use of alternative media is associated with taking ideological positions further to the left or right. Yet, the findings do not indicate that users generally take extreme positions. This study thus adds considerable nuance to the picture of alternative news users and also finds that alternative media with different degrees of alternativeness attract similar users.

Transboundary fine dust pollution in China and Korea: How has international politics impeded environmental negotiations?

AbstractTransboundary fine dust has been a leading cause of dispute between China and Korea since the mid‐2010s. This study observes that transboundary fine dust is not purely an environmental issue, but rather mixed with political and diplomatic challenges. Despite the emerging bilateral and multilateral efforts to tackle this issue, this research sheds light on how political and diplomatic factors have undermined the outcomes of environmental negotiations between China and Korea. We highlight three dimensions of policy‐based studies: scientific joint research on source‐receptor relationships, interstate environmental negotiations, and multilateral environmental institutions in Northeast Asia. This study argues that transboundary fine dust cooperation has been extensively entangled with national political interests and proceeded via diplomatic channels, leading to the current absence of binding agreements and policy commitments. Therefore, a steady process of de‐linking environmental cooperation and diplomatic fluctuations would be the best direction to proceed in a long‐term perspective.

Эстологическое исследование государственной символики Японии

The study of problems of constitutional and legal regulation using estological methods continues. The origin, development and operation of the constitutional and legal status of the state symbols of Japan is considered (an estological study of one of the institutions of Japanese constitutional law). Empirical materials and authentic documents (sources of law, acts of interpretation of law, acts of implementation and application of law) of Japan are introduced into scientific circulation. Conclusive constitutional and legal norms that have significant signs of legal and linguistic uncertainty are subject to esthological research. Based on the study of the patterns of existence of interests in constitutional law and the interests of constitutional legal regulation in Japan, conclusions are synthesized about the meaning and content of state symbols, its legal and technical features. As a result of the study, the presence of a phenomenology of interests of constitutional and legal regulation is revealed. The hypothesis is confirmed that the interests of legal regulation differ from the political interests of subjects of constitutional law.

Russia/USSR – Türkiye/Turkey: Legacy of “Friendly Neutrality”.Goals of Soviet Policy towards Turkey

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the Soviet leadership’s approaches to the implementation of the goals of the Soviet foreign policy towards Turkey, legacy of which remains until nowadays. The Soviet-Turkish relations in the 1920-s were built up on the basis of common political interests shared between two neighboring states existing in a similar geopolitical environment. The common goal for the Republic of Turkey and the USSR was to overcome international isolation and ensure national security. The Soviet government’s approach to determining the role and place of Turkey in the security system near the borders of the USSR was outlined by People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs G.V. Chicherin, who saw the Soviet-Turkish cooperation as one of the tools for ensuring the security of the Soviet borders in the south and southwest. One of the key issues in the Soviet-Turkish relations was the issue of the Black Sea straits. Considering the straits a "gateway" for an attack on the southern borders of the USSR, the Soviet government tried to revise the regime of the straits in a more favorable way for the country. the resolution of which in 1936 at the conference in Montreux did not suit the Soviet government completely. It was assumed that strong economic ties with the USSR and mutually beneficial security cooperation would become an effective instrument for deterring the Turkish leaders. During the Great Patriotic War, the goals of the USSR’s policy towards Turkey were to prevent it from being drawn into the war on the side of the antagonistic alliance, as well as to further revise the Montreux Convention in a more favorable direction for the Soviet leaders. The 1939–1946 attempts to put pressure on Turkey on the straits issue caused Turkey to withdraw from the orbit of the Soviet influence and led to almost two decades of hostile and tense relations between the two countries. After the death of I.V. Stalin, particularly in Khruschev’s era, the Soviet approach was characterized by a search for ways to improve Soviet-Turkish relations. The main instrument of this was expansion of the Soviet-Turkish trade and economic cooperation, due to which the foundations of today's highly developed bilateral Russian-Turkish relations were laid.

„Realizm i rozwaga”. Środowisko Ośrodka Dokumentacji i Studiów Społecznych wobec narodzin „Solidarności” (sierpień – listopad 1980)

The article discusses the relationship of the movement associated with the Center for Documentation and Social Studies to the birth of ”Solidarity“ (August–November 1980). Established in 1967, ODiSS first remained in a close formal-legal relationship with the ”Więź“ team and the Warsaw NCI (as part of the ”Znak“ movement), then in 1974 became independent, creating a separate entity, alternative and competitive to other Catholic circles and groups. ODiSS saw Solidarity as both a labor syndicate and a mass movement for social revictimization and social empowerment. Activists and participants in the movement were actively involved in assisting regional and company structures of the union, providing advice and legal assistance, and applying for workers’ rights in the forum of the People’s Republic of Poland’s parliament. At the same time, they warned against political involvement of ”Solidarity“, demands for system change, etc. ODiSS, representing religious people, remained in close contact with Primate S. Wyszynski and the Episcopate, although it was an autonomous environment, acting on its own responsibility. It also held formal and informal talks with representatives of the communist regime. It considered it crucial for both sides of the August agreements to keep their commitments and guarantees, which was to serve a genuine national understanding and the real democratization of socialism. In its activities, it adopted the ”constructive center“ formula. Being aware of operating within the framework of the legal and political rules in force (a concessionary environment), it balanced between what was optimal and what was possible in certain political realities, hence in its assessment of “Solidarity” it maintained prudent moderation, prudence and realism.

Impact of Campaign Regulations on Electoral Freedom

This research scrutinizes Constitutional Court Decision No. 65/PUU-XXI/2023, focusing on the intersection of campaign regulations and the fundamental right to electoral choice in a democratic society. Using a normative legal research methodology, the study delves into the legal concepts, principles, and norms governing electoral campaigns, particularly regarding their conduct in educational institutions and government facilities. This approach is both descriptive and normative, relying on existing legislation, court decisions, and supplementary academic sources to construct a comprehensive understanding of the subject. The research identifies a lack of clarity in current regulations about campaigning in educational spaces, as highlighted by the absence of specific legal guidelines in this area. The analysis of the Constitutional Court's decision and related electoral laws, including Article 280 of the 2017 General Election Law, reveals a need for more precise legal provisions to regulate campaign mechanisms and concepts effectively. The findings suggest that while existing laws aim to uphold citizens' political rights to free choice, they lack detailed implementation strategies, particularly concerning youth engagement in political processes. The study advocates for policymakers and government officials to develop legal frameworks that extend campaign outreach not only to the non-educational population but also to young voters, fostering their involvement and understanding of political contests. This would contribute to the national goal of informed and active citizenship.Highlights:
 
 Ambiguity in Campaign Regulations: The study highlights the lack of clear guidelines for conducting electoral campaigns in educational settings.
 Constitutional Court's Influence: Examines the impact of Decision No. 65/PUU-XXI/2023 on the balance between free political choice and regulated campaigning.
 Youth Political Involvement: Emphasizes the need for legal reforms to enhance the political engagement and education of young voters.
 
 Keywords: Electoral Campaign Regulation, Constitutional Court Decision, Political Rights, Youth Engagement, Legal Framework

Women Participation in Conflict: The Case of the Biafran War

In order to investigate the type and scope of Biafran women’s involvement in the Nigerian Civil War from 1967 to 1970, this case study looks into their various responsibilities by using academic research on women’s participation in the conflict as a lens. Through historical narratives, archive materials, and empirically documented interview of a government official who is Biafran, results show that, in contrast to stereotypes of women as passive during conflict, Biafran women had essential and active roles. They served even when deliberate malnutrition (“weapons of war”) was applied against them, severely impairing their capacity to provide for their families. Some women ventured into hostile terrain on perilous missions to procure provisions and sustenance. Furthermore, Biafran women fought alongside men on the front lines, a novel finding that refutes the belief that they only play supportive, non-combat roles. The research also reveals a rise in political involvement due to community organizing activities spearheaded by women such as Madam Agafa. Nevertheless, there are gaps in our understanding of the unique contributions made by Biafran women to conflict resolution and peace-building. This case study highlights the gendered stereotypes that emphasize women’s passivity during the war. It draws attention to Biafran women’s profound and significant role during this independence movement in various military, political, social, and economic spheres. They made significant sacrifices like males and participated voluntarily and forcefully. The research aims to encourage more women to participate in Nigerian decision-making and post-conflict reconciliation socially, economically and politically.

The Integral Role of Political Parties in the Democratic Movement of 1950

Political scientists differ in the definition of democracy. Some see it as liberal reforms or structural changes brought about by opposition parties, while others see it as the overthrow of an authoritarian administration and the first democratic elections. In Nepal, the definition of democracy and democratic movement varies, starting as an anti-Rana movement against the totalitarian state of one family rule. The anti-Rana campaign in Nepal served as the seed for the democratic movement. Plots and violence entered Nepali politics when people’s involvement in politics had decreased, which resulted in Jung Bahadur’s foundation of Rana authority in 1846. The democratic system, which was founded on the public’s involvement for fundamental rights, started to topple the repressive and authoritarian government. Since 1950, a great number of Nepali heroes have given their lives to bring democracy to their country. The purpose of this study is to uncover the political parties’ unacknowledged contributions to Nepal’s democracy struggle. This paper examines the multifaceted involvement of the political parties, highlighting the diverse strategies, mobilization techniques, and collaborative efforts that shaped the outcome of the democratic movement. Based on qualitative research method this paper shapes interpretivism utilizing and analyzing political movements and revolt change is Hegel’s Dialectical and David Easton’s Political System Theory. Hegel’s notion of “thesis-antithesis and synthesis,” which advances society, describes the conflict between outmoded and progressive concepts. The input-process-output combination that connects political parties and mass mobilization is the focus of Eastons’ theory. This paper briefly introduces Contextualizing the democratic movement in Nepal and its significance. It also highlights the Nepal’s historical and political context, tracing the events leading up to the 1950. Qualitative data about the topic under discussion has been gathered through in-depth interviews and library research. It is restricted to research on the topic’s history. The country’s democratic movement has been a central force shaping its evolution, with political parties serving as both catalysts and conduits for change. This article delves into the crucial role of political parties in Nepal’s democratic movement, highlighting their contributions, challenges, and the ongoing significance they hold in the nation’s political landscape.