Political Profile Research Articles

Running uphill: A comparative analysis of the gender gap in campaign financing

AbstractWomen are not a demographic minority, but they certainly are a minority in politics. Most legislative bodies across the world are still overwhelmingly male. Female candidates cite lack of resources as one of the main deterrents to run. Using data on candidates encompassing twenty‐eight elections in sixteen countries between 2006 and 2017, we examine the role of electoral institutions, partisanship and candidates’ political profile in mitigating – or aggravating – the gender resource gap. We find that female candidates systematically avail of significantly lower campaign budgets. This is true across different electoral systems and on the left as well as on the right. The gap is larger in size among incumbents. It is also wider in parties that use voluntary quotas and put forward more female candidates. Moreover, the budget composition of male and female candidates varies considerably. Male candidates tend to use higher proportions of their own resources, while female candidates rely on proportionally higher party contributions, that are, however, smaller in size.

Educational Metaphor in the Polish press: a perspective on presenting the political situation in Poland at the beginning of the Russia–Ukraine war

The following paper investigates the topic of educational metaphors about the Russia–Ukraine War in Polish press articles. Educational metaphor relates to the use of concepts connected with schooling or teaching in order to describe other concepts. The research material is composed of texts published after 24 February 2022 in the following newspapers: Do Rzeczy, Gazeta Polska, Polityka, and Krytyka Polityczna. This article aims to present one of the metaphorical mappings together with its critical analysis with the use of the conceptual metaphor theory (Лакофф, Джонсон 2004) and critical metaphor analysis (Charteris-Black 2004). According to the research, the trichotomy which includes the Polish Government, the opposition parties, and the Polish society may be distinguished in the Polish press. Amidst these oppositions, the metaphorical mapping is discerned, according to which the war is understood as the teacher, the politicians and society as the students, and the help offered to Ukraine is interpreted as the examination. Assessment of the actions undertaken by the Government, the opposition parties and the society has been the subject of the ideological and political profile of a particular magazine.

The Impact of Policy Quality and Political Stability on Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN Countries: An Institutional Economics Analysis

This investigation pivots on the impact of policy quality and political stability on foreign direct investment within ASEAN countries. Both facets form essential components of a country's political risk profile; a lower risk profile, characterized by sturdy policy quality and political stability, tempts investors to channel their capital into preferred investment destinations. Our research employs a panel data regression analysis across seven ASEAN nations; Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei Darussalam, from 2012 to 2022. The Common Effects Model emerged as the optimal panel model during our study. We found that policy quality negatively impacts foreign direct investment, signifying that investments are perceived unprofitable due to the policy quality in the ASEAN region. In counterpoint, political stability has a positive effect, confirming that stable political circumstances in the ASEAN region draw investor interest. These significant findings validate that policy quality and political stability significantly sway foreign direct investment within ASEAN countries, making them crucial considerations for prospective investors.

Gender on the mind? Gender heuristics and rationalizations in candidate evaluations

AbstractAs more women enter politics, public and scholarly narratives about the extent and nature of gender bias in mediated campaigning environments diversify. Yet there is still little understanding of how voters substantively think about gender in their evaluations of women and men candidates and how voters' thoughts are affected by different types of media coverage. Drawing on literature on gender stereotyping and rationalization, this paper distinguishes two roles in which gender manifests in the candidate evaluation process—as a heuristic and as a rationalization. We empirically investigate these different ways in which gender affects voters' thoughts following neutral and contextually rich candidate stimuli by means of a mixed methods think aloud study. The results show that voters think less—but more positively—about substantive aspects of women's political profiles. These favorable thoughts include heuristic inferences of communal traits for women but not men candidates. Moreover, we find that voter rationalizations involve gender as ex post vote justifications and socially desirable drivers of candidate evaluations. Together, the findings not only showcase the complex roles of gender in voters' candidate evaluations but also the importance of considering the normative context in which vote decisions take place.

Shades of incivility in Reddit: A comparison between echo chambers and plural spaces

AbstractThis research relies on a two‐stage content analysis of Reddit to test the assumption that by emphasizing othering and polarizing opinions, homogeneous ideological spaces trigger impolite and uncivil comments towards others, as opposed to spaces that enable cross partisan‐ideological exposure, which overall are seen as positive for democracy. It examines subreddits with varying probability of occurrence of echo chamber effects to measure the prevalence and the targets of incivility and studies the interactions in which these comments emerge in discussions about immigration. Findings show that incivility is higher in subreddits that bring together users with the same ideological and political profile, in which echo chamber effects are more likely to occur, but the redditors’ reactions are similar in both types of environments. The targets of incivility vary according to the political orientation of the comments and the political context of the country.

In Search of the Missing Link: Election Law Infractions and Candidate Sanctions

In contrast to the extensive literature on the determinants of campaign spending and its effect on candidates’ electoral performance, comparatively less literature exists on the legal and sanctioning characteristics of political finance systems. Though some contributions have analyzed and compared the institutional designs of these financing systems, limited literature has empirically examined infractions and sanctions of electoral laws, categorized as either a crime or a misdemeanor, by the candidates. Limited knowledge exists about the political and sociodemographic profile of candidates who commit such offenses or misdemeanors, a gap this study addresses by empirically analyzing electoral law infractions. Using the case of Chile and an unpublished database of infractions of 38,246 candidates in the local elections of 2008, 2012, and 2016, as well as the legislative elections of 2009, 2013, and 2017, we present four conclusions. First, only about one-fifth of candidates commit such infractions. Second, such infractions are more common during first-tier elections, especially in deputy and senatorial elections. Third, the candidates most likely to commit such infractions are independent candidates who compete in regions remote from large urban centers, especially in rural areas. Fourth, the rise in infractions is linked to a new law that more strictly regulates candidates’ campaign spending. The study enhances our understanding of the efficacy of political finance systems and the enforcement of electoral sanctions.

Influence of Political Risk on International Business Operations in Germany

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of political risk on international business operations in Germany. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study revealed that political uncertainties, such as shifts in government policies, geopolitical tensions, and regulatory changes, can significantly impact the business environment, investment decisions, and market opportunities in Germany. While Germany is known for its stable political system and business-friendly environment, recent developments, such as Brexit, global trade tensions, and the rise of nationalist movements, have introduced new layers of complexity and uncertainty for international businesses operating in the country. These political risks can manifest in various forms, including disruptions to supply chains, fluctuations in currency markets, and heightened regulatory scrutiny, necessitating proactive risk management strategies and adaptive business practices. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Institutional Theory, Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) & Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) theory may be used to anchor future studies on influence of political risk on international business operations. Implement regular political risk assessments using this comprehensive framework to identify potential threats and opportunities in different regions. Businesses should use advanced analytics and scenario planning to forecast potential political changes and their impacts. Businesses should diversify their investments across multiple countries and regions with varying political risk profiles. Policymakers should establish standardized guidelines for political risk assessment to ensure consistent and accurate evaluation across industries and regions. This will help firms better prepare for and mitigate political risks.

Comparing political participation profiles in four Western European countries

AbstractMost studies of political participation have either focused on specific political behaviours or combined several behaviours into additive scales of institutional versus non‐institutional participation. Through a multi‐group latent class analysis of participation in 15 different political actions, conducted among citizens from four Western European countries, we identified five empirically grounded participant types that differ in their political engagement, socio‐demographic characteristics and political attitudes: ‘voter specialists’, ‘expressive voters’, ‘online participants’, ‘all‐round activists’ and ‘inactives’. While the same participant types were identified in all four countries, the proportion of citizens assigned to each type varies across countries. Our results challenge the claim that some citizens specialize in protest politics at the expense of electoral politics. Furthermore, our typological approach challenges previous findings on the individual characteristics associated with political (in)action.

A place to speak and be heard? Parliamentary speech and media attention in Estonia, 2011–2019

AbstractWhile existing studies have addressed the importance of political profile for media visibility, far fewer works have examined how speaking in parliament is associated with media attention—an important mechanism in reaching out to voters. This paper tests how the amount and particularly the style of parliamentary speech are related to media attention. We employ a unique data set that covers all parliamentary transcripts for the 2011–2015 and 2015–2019 parliamentary terms in Estonia and online media content from that period (~ 2.7 million news articles). We assume that MPs can use parliamentary speech as a tool to foster personal attention. First, the results show that MPs who speak in parliament receive more media attention than those who do not, and speaking more means more media visibility. Second, the media pays more attention to rank‐and‐file MPs who use more negative, complex language and more singular and plural first‐person pronouns.

Development and Analysis of GIS Regional Political Profiles in West Java Utilizing the Spatial Overlay Join Method

This research aims to build Geographic Information System (GIS) of Political Region Profiles in West Java using the Overlay Spatial Join method. The study addresses the political complexity in Indonesia, particularly in West Java, which serves as a significant political base. The success of political campaigns requires a profound understanding of voter preferences, demographic dynamics, and local issues. Limited access to accurate location data poses a serious obstacle to the effective design of campaign strategies. This research responds to these challenges by designing a GIS that integrates political and spatial data. The research focuses on West Java, where regional diversity poses unique challenges. Through the Overlay Spatial Join method, the research aims to provide in-depth insights into political region profiles, serving as a foundation for intelligent political campaign strategies. The benefits of the research include an understanding of regional characteristics, performance comparisons of political parties, and in-depth analysis for campaign resource efficiency. The system integrates data from various sources, provides spatial visualization, and enables the analysis of regional profiles for the identification of deep political information. The research's contribution is not only academic but also practical in enhancing the effectiveness of democracy and general elections in West Java.

Problems and Prospects of Elected Women Representatives at Grass Root Level in Kerala with Special Reference to Palakkad District

It’s been decades after implementing the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution. The capacity-building measures taken by the Government aim to develop the Elected Women Representatives at the Panchayat level to lift them to societal needs and to adapt themselves to the forefront leaving behind all the difficulties they faced in the past which will make them completely competent to be a leader. Local Governance had remarkable progress after the inclusion of women into the mainstream of politics. Here, attempts are made to analyze the socio-economic and political profile of the Elected Women Representatives and the problems faced by the elected women representatives at the individual level and institutional levels in the Palakkad district of Kerala.

The Role of Minority Political Groups in the Dissemination of Disinformation. The Case of Spain

ABSTRACT This study seeks to understand better the role played by minority political groups in Spain in promoting disinformation on Twitter. The study applies statistical analysis and topic modelling to posts (tweets and retweets) published in Spanish on Twitter (n = 20,481 tweets) and to content identified as disinformation (n = 2,730) by two independent fact-checking projects in Spain from August 2019 to March 2020. The data reveal that the political communication strategy focuses primarily on the confrontation between the majority of political groups at the national level and on legitimizing the political projects of these groups to their potential voters through specific issues. The data also reveal a co-occurrence between messages published by political actors and content identified as disinformation by fact-checkers, which depends on the tweets’ political profile, virality, and sentimental load. For this reason, the digital presence of these actors creates favourable conditions for the viral dissemination of disinformation, mainly when their content focuses on mobilizing potential voters through emotional messages. It could be helpful for fact-checkers to identify and understand the role of these actors in promoting this content.

Evaluating and analyzing student labor literacy in China's higher vocational education: an assessment model approach

IntroductionThis study addresses the gap in evaluating labor literacy amongst vocational students in China's higher vocational education system. It aims to develop a comprehensive framework for assessing essential labor competencies, thereby contributing to a nuanced understanding of vocational education's role in skill development.MethodsEmploying a multifaceted research methodology, this study integrates questionnaire surveys, econometric analyses, and the Delphi method to assess labor literacy among 749 students from three leading vocational institutions. A pioneering labor literacy assessment model is introduced: S = 0.5466B1+0.1816B2+0.1623B3+0.1095B4, where S denotes the overall labor literacy score. Here, B1 represents labor concepts, B2 denotes habits and qualities, B3 signifies knowledge and skills, and B4 encapsulates emotions and attitudes, illustrating a comprehensive approach to measuring labor literacy.ResultsOur findings reveal pronounced disparities in labor literacy across the identified dimensions, with particular deficiencies in labor concepts. The study also identifies six determinants—gender, political profile, academic performance, internship and training base utilization, inclination towards innovation and entrepreneurship, and labor education evaluation mechanisms—that significantly influence labor literacy outcomes.DiscussionHighlighting the imperative for a contextually informed and holistic approach to labor literacy, this study's insights advocate for educational strategies that are both aligned with labor market demands and cognizant of socio-cultural nuances. The developed assessment model not only propels the theoretical discourse in vocational education forward but also provides a pragmatic guide for educators and policy makers, aiming to mitigate disparities and enhance labor competencies through refined educational practices.

A Study of IKH Algorithm for Civic Education Strategies of Graduate Medical Students in Information Age

Abstract In this paper, we use the krill swarm optimization algorithm to optimize the optimization-seeking ability of the projection-seeking analysis model and construct the IKH-PP model. Evaluation indexes of ideological and political education strategies are built from seven dimensions, such as moral quality and political performance, and the index values are standardized using the extreme value normalization method. Create and enhance the projection indicator function, sort based on the projection value size, and determine the advantages and disadvantages of various samples. Taking psychology as the perspective, efforts were made to explore a collaborative educational path for psychological counseling and ideological education for medical students using the psychological perspective. The results showed that 50% of the 600 medical students at University Z chose “realization of ideal pursuit,” and they were generally more positive and progressive. However, only 48 of them expressed that they were very concerned about current affairs and that their political awareness still needed to be improved. Before and after the collaborative psychological counseling and political education interventions, there were statistically significant differences between Group I and Group II in the G3/F3 dimension (P=0.047, 0.008) and the G11/F11 dimension (P=0.022, 0.034), which were statistically significant or not. There were statistically significant differences in the overall access to Civics and all dimensions of Civics among medical students of different genders (P<0.05), grades (P<0.001), and political profiles (P<0.05) students.

Історико-теоретичні аспекти дослідження Шведської моделі розвитку

Swedish model of development is one of the most successful in the world, with high levels of well-being, social equality and economic stability. An analysis of its historical and theoretical foundations allows us to understand what factors contributed to the achievement of these results. In today’s world, many countries face challenges such as economic inequality, aging populations, migration crises, climate change, etc. The Swedish model can offer valuable experience that can be adapted by other countries to address these challenges. The object of the research is the Swedish model of socioeconomic development. The subject of the research is the historical and theoretical aspects of of studying the Swedish model of development. The aim of the article is to study the historical prerequisites and stages of formation of the socioeconomic policy of Sweden. In the course of the research, the methods of analysis and synthesis, the theoretical method, the method of comparison, the calculation and constructive method, the analytical and prognostic methods were used. The article highlights the socioeconomic and political profile of Sweden; the main stages of historical development and formation of socioeconomic policy of Sweden are identified. The authors concluded that national models of economic development, despite some common features, demonstrate unique characteristics in each country. An important aspect of the success of such models is the reliance on general principles and norms that promote socioeconomic growth. The success of the socioeconomic policy of any country is based on deep historical values, an active foreign policy and reliable social protection of citizens, including access to education, health care and social support. Achievements in the economic sphere allow Sweden to conduct an active foreign policy and strengthen its position in international organizations and entities. Sweden also uses economic leverages to advance its foreign policy goals, which provides it with influence in the international arena not only economically, but also politically and strategically. In the future, Sweden must maintain a balance between a high level of social protection and economic sustainability. It is important to improve strategies to combat unemployment and stimulate the development of innovative sectors of the economy in order to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the Swedish economy at the international level.

French-speaking jewish community in contemporary Israel: sociological and political profile

The article examines the sociological, demographic, and political characteristics of a French-speaking repatriate community in Israel. The community is an important factor in both Israeli and French internal politics and the bilateral relations between Israel and European countries. The authors conclude that multiple identities are preserved, consisting of French-speaking, Jewish, and Israeli elements, and underline the quantitative and qualitative difference between the 2010s wave of repatriation and the previous waves. The difference is tainted by the reasons that pushed the French Jews to their historic homeland and by the difficulties of economic integration. A well-developed infrastructural network is created that buttresses the identitarian multiplicity. There are also indicators that the identity infrastructure might be complemented by the organized political representation that is now realized through the positions reserved non-officially in the national party lists. Because of its predominantly right-wing conservative political orientation, the French Jewish community is considered an electoral resource for the incumbent coalition of right-wing conservative, nationalist, and ultraorthodox parties, and the need for further stimulation of the French aliya is now voiced.

The Crisis of American Conservatism in Historical–Comparative Perspective

Starting from the assessment that contemporary American conservatism is in a state of crisis, manifested in a dynamic of growing radicalization, this article seeks to identify the factors and actors that contributed to this trajectory and to thus elucidate its more fundamental drivers, assuming that Donald Trump and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movements are symptoms rather than causes of this radicalization. To this effect, a succinct and pointed history of modern American conservatism from its beginnings in the postwar era is presented, using a periodization into three broad eras. Particular attention is given to the internal heterogeneity and conflicts within the conservative movement on a political and an intellectual level that help explain how conservatism as a whole, or at least its dominant forces, has continued to move to the right over the decades. In order to put this trajectory into perspective, a parallel history of German conservatism is used as contrast. One conclusion that can be drawn from this account is that both German and American conservatism are experiencing a crisis, but for very different reasons and with highly different manifestations. While American conservatism is in a radicalization spiral, German conservatism suffers instead from an identity crisis and a loss of any meaningful ideological–political profile.

Political careers and stability in office of regional ministers in Italy

ABSTRACT Models of political representation and selection in the Italian regions have undergone major changes since the mid-1990s, due to the new framework of opportunities based on a presidential form of government and a new party system. We aim to understand the extent to which certain socio-economic characteristics and political profiles influence the stability of the tenure of Regional Ministers (RMs), using an original dataset of 1121 RMs in ordinary statute regions. Our results show that political affiliation and regional political experience are crucial for holding office and even certain socio-economic features such as gender and age. Indeed, centrist politicians are less likely to remain in office than those who belong to other parties. Furthermore, they are more likely to stay in office longer if they have a high level of regional experience.

Metamorphosis of an intellectual: Gaetano Salvemini, exile in Europe and the United States

AbstractLong neglected, Gaetano Salvemini's years of exile (1925–1949) now constitute a crucial period for reconsidering his intellectual and political profile. This article intends first to propose an overall interpretation of Salvemini's exile that considers the years 1919 to 1925 as the culmination of a profound turning point in his life. The central part of the essay is devoted to reconstructing the genesis of Salvemini's relationship with the United States and dwells on the reflections written after his first trip overseas in 1927. In them it is possible to find a clear analysis of the impact of Fascist propaganda on American soil and a definition of the tasks that exiles were called upon to perform in their host countries. Building on these premises, the study rereads Salvemini's years of American exile by focusing on three aspects. Firstly, his great ability to adapt to the American academic world. Secondly, his commitment to the field of research, with works dedicated to the study of Fascism, some centred on a reinterpretation of the concept of democracy and others on the methodology of history. Thirdly, his prodigious activity carried out in the antifascist struggle.

Career models in the new tripolar order. Political profiles of the Italian MPs after 2022 general elections

The 2022 general elections confirmed the instability of the Italian political system and in its shift from a bipolar to a tripolar competition dynamic. The article explores similarities and differences among MPs elected in 2022 during such electoral turmoil, aiming to understand their profiles and career paths. Specifically, the research investigates whether certain elements such as gender and affiliation with an organisational thick or thin party may influence the MPs’ career models. We run a multinomial logistic regression to test the effects on multilevel career patterns by relying on an original dataset which comprises the socio-economic and political characteristics of the current MPS and their career trajectories for a total of 588 observations. Our findings show that women are often newcomers, and they are more likely to display an alternative career model. They struggle to fully capitalize on the opportunities offered by multilevel democracy, both before and after attaining their position as MPs. Furthermore, MPs belonging to a party with a strong organisation are more likely to develop unidirectional and integrated models, indicating their ability to navigate the multilevel context with well-planned and structured career paths.