Political Objectives Research Articles

Improving Computer Vision Interpretability: Transparent Two-Level Classification for Complex Scenes

Abstract Treating images as data has become increasingly popular in political science. While existing classifiers for images reach high levels of accuracy, it is difficult to systematically assess the visual features on which they base their classification. This paper presents a two-level classification method that addresses this transparency problem. At the first stage, an image segmenter detects the objects present in the image and a feature vector is created from those objects. In the second stage, this feature vector is used as input for standard machine learning classifiers to discriminate between images. We apply this method to a new dataset of more than 140,000 images to detect which ones display political protest. This analysis demonstrates three advantages to this paper’s approach. First, identifying objects in images improves transparency by providing human-understandable labels for the objects shown on an image. Second, knowing these objects enables analysis of which distinguish protest images from non-protest ones. Third, comparing the importance of objects across countries reveals how protest behavior varies. These insights are not available using conventional computer vision classifiers and provide new opportunities for comparative research.

The Dance of Musa: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Holy Girl

This article examines a single figure from Christian history, the reformed sinner known as Musa of Rome (d.c. 593). Tracing the evolution of Musa from Gregory the Great’s Dialogues to early modern pastoral texts, this study explores processes of condemnation, recalibration, and negotiation regarding dance in premodern Christianity. The first section analyzes medieval portrayals of Musa as expressions of “choreophobia,” a term borrowed from dance studies scholar Anthony Shay that denotes cultural anxiety surrounding dance. Here, I argue that choreophobic renditions of Musa sedimented medieval misogyny and conceptualized sin. The second section turns to late medieval sources that assess dance differently vis-à-vis dance studies scholar André Lepecki’s concept of “choreopolice” or “choreopolicing”. For this study, choreopolicing highlights how ecclesiastical authorities refashioned Musa as a moralizing vehicle to articulate and implement clerical agendas. The third and final section explores Musa’s inspiring aura as a sacred muse. In this vein, her kinesthetic afterlives helped Christian laity apprehend Marian piety, visualize the resurrected body, and communicate hope for redemption. Methodologically, this study embraces the frameworks of religious studies, medieval studies, and dance studies. However fictional and embellished retellings of the Musa story were, this article—the first in-depth scholarly study dedicated to Musa of Rome—demonstrates how the medieval dancing body manifested a site of political contestation, ecclesiastical control, and individual redemption.

Thunder Alone Does Not Defeat an Enemy: An Analysis of Airpower in Vietnam

Operation Rolling Thunder is among the most well-known aerial operations in the Vietnam War, if not all of military history. However, that recognition originates more from infamy than achievement. The massive employment of ordinances, manpower, capital and military logistics did not yield the results desired by the American top brass, instead, the war in Vietnam only intensified with mounting American casualties and growing anti-war sentiments. To be concise, it was a failure. This paper aims to analyze 1) how Operation Rolling Thunder was executed, 2) why it was conducted that way, and 3) what therein should be blamed for the disastrous results mentioned earlier. The objective of the paper is to provide relevant suggestions for the use of airpower based on the experiences of Operation Rolling Thunder. This paper dissects Operation Rolling Thunder by its context, execution, and efficacy to demonstrate the usefulness air power had in the war. The operation was poorly planned and done in almost all major aspects, and the results were similarly poor. Airpower failed to be an effective political tool in this case as it failed to bring the North Vietnamese government to the negotiating table. The research employs a qualitative historical analysis, drawing from established military doctrines, primary sources such as U.S. governmental documents, and secondary scholarly discussions. Findings indicate that the gradual escalation strategy, political mismanagement, and lack of coordination with ground forces were key factors contributing to the operation's failure. The study concludes by offering recommendations for the effective use of airpower in modern military campaigns, demonstrating that airpower must be deployed in concert with other military assets to achieve political objectives.

Miejsca napięć pamięci Zagłady w Polsce w kontekście tendencji we współczesnej Europie

SITES OF TENSION OF MEMORY OF THE HOLOCAUST IN POLAND IN THE CONTEXT OF TENDENCIES IN CONTEMPORARY EUROPE Many researchers, among them Jacques Le Goff, have stressed the significance of memory of the past as a determinant in the struggle for power and in creating collective identities. This text evolved on the basis of qualitative studies undertaken in 2019‒2022 within the framework of the international research project “Sites of Tension: Shifts in Holocaust Memory in Relation to Antisemitism and Political Contestation in Europe” carried out by the University of Haifa in cooperation with five research teams from Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Hungary, and Poland. The aim of the study, in which the author participated, was to examine contemporary tensions and conflicts related to memory of the Holocaust on the basis of analysis of political discourse, social media, and interviews with teachers. The text seeks answers to research questions about affinities and divergences between selected states, about recently emerging patterns in teaching about the Holocaust in the context of increasing historical politics in Poland, and about resistance to education programmes imposed by the authorities. The cases from the five selected European countries indicate how memory of the Holocaust serves expression of political attitudes and social identities.

Orthodoxy and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romania and Bulgaria: Political Turmoil, Informal Networks, and Religious Scepticism

Romania and Bulgaria stood out in the European Union as the countries with the lowest COVID vaccination rates. The article argues that Orthodox churches have played an influential role regarding the ways in which the population adhered (or failed to adhere) to national health measures. In Romania, the Church was divided between official and informal networks of social and political power which led to an increase in the far-right movement. In Bulgaria, the Church was closely associated with the government’s stance towards supporting health measures and, in the long term, political protests became associated with anti-vaccination program.

Assessing NATO’s cohesion: methods and implications

AbstractWhile united in initial responses to Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, NATO members face challenges as the alliance adapts to a significantly worsened security environment. Although Russia’s war in Ukraine provided NATO with a unifying threat, we argue that external factors are not sufficient to maintain its cohesion. This forum contribution develops a conceptual tool to assess alliance cohesion across both political and military dimensions, thus highlighting the agency of the “architects”, “bricoleurs”, and “agnostics” in shaping NATO’s internal politics. This approach allows for estimating the degree to which allies coordinate their political objectives, as well as the effectiveness of strategies to achieve them. To estimate the strength of alliance cohesion, we introduce four cohesion drivers—security threats, norms, institutions, and leadership—and assessment criteria. This article outlines three scenarios modelled on the war in Ukraine, suggesting that alliance cohesion suffers the most during prolonged security crises. Using this assessment tool can provide the “architects” of European security with ideas for policies aimed at strengthening NATO cohesion.

COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN INCREASING ELECTABILITY IN DENPASAR

A political communication plan is a comprehensive selection of the actions that will be taken now to further future political objectives. In political communication, you must know the forms: a. political rhetoric, political parties to invite and influence voters to vote for political parties through campaigning. b. Political agitation is used to invite people to vote for and support one of the political parties. c. political propaganda is a campaign that invites and guides the public or voters in accepting a view or value. d. political lobbying, negotiating political parties, and bargaining between parties and the government. e. political action political action in shaping the image or image of a political party. In addition, there are stages of communication strategies: observing problems, planning and making programs, taking communication actions, and evaluating work programs. According to Schorder's theory, political strategy is divided into two parts; offensive strategy (attack) and defensive strategy (defensive). This study employed a descriptive qualitative methodology, and the techniques for gathering data included interviews, document studies, and observation. With the study's results, the communication strategy of political parties in increasing electability has been implemented, but the public response says that political parties only brand candidates from political parties. Keywords: Communication Strategy, political communication, Political Parties

Party Organisation, Youth Wings and Political Representation in Contemporary Albania

Despite the political mobilisation of young people in protest politics in postcommunist Eastern Europe, the political representation of young people in legislatures is low. The article investigates how party youth wings contribute to such representation. Dimensions of party organisation such as degree of leadership autonomy, entropy and organisational entrenchment are better predictors of youth political representation by youth wings than formal political institutions designed to incentivise the political representation of under-represented groups. We generate our findings based on the cross-case comparison of the youth wings of the two dominant centre-left parties in Albania.

The spatial dimension of political dissent – Centre-periphery dynamics in Sweden

This article introduces the concept of centre-periphery dynamics, emphasising the multifaceted distribution of political power and resources between central and peripheral areas within a polity. The study examines how these dynamics influence party-political dissent in Swedish local governments. Drawing on data from a comprehensive survey of councillors across Sweden's 290 municipalities, it analyses whether political dissent vary across policy areas such as taxation, refugee reception, and public service locations. The findings indicate that while centre-periphery dynamics does not influence conflict levels in most areas, they significantly affect dissent regarding location of public services. Conflicts are more likely to escalate in municipalities with a larger portion of the population residing outside the administrative centre and spread across a wider area. These results suggest that centre-periphery dynamics play a crucial role in shaping party dissent, particularly on issues relevant to territorial politics, and that the level of dissent primarily depends on the capacity of disadvantaged groups to mobilise and advocate for their interests.

Is Enhanced Transparency the “Backbone” of the Paris Agreement? A Critical Assessment

Abstract This article scrutinizes the role of transparency in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Specifically, it examines a widely heard claim that ‘transparency is the backbone of the Paris Agreement’, and the assumption that mandatory transparency (reporting and review) is essential to fill potential gaps in climate action left by voluntary, nationally determined climate targets. We subject this claim to critical scrutiny by tracing the political contestations around the desired role of transparency in the UNFCCC, with a focus on mitigation-related transparency. Our analysis shows that, despite developing countries expressing concerns during the pre-Paris negotiations, the Paris Agreement's enhanced transparency framework (ETF) is almost exclusively ‘enhanced’ (compared with earlier provisions) for developing countries, with some instances of regression for developed countries. Furthermore, the effects of such enhanced reporting are not straightforward and might de facto have an impact on countries’ autonomy to nationally determine their mitigation targets in diverse ways, even as all the detailed reporting does not facilitate comparability of effort. With implementation of the ETF due to start in 2024, our analysis provides a timely exploration of the extent to which transparency is really a backbone of the Paris Agreement, and for whom and with what implications for ambitious action from all under the international climate regime. It calls into question whether the transformative potential of transparency, much extolled within the UNFCCC process, will materialize for all countries in a similar manner or rather will have an impact on countries differentially.

Social media and political protest mobilization: unveiling the dynamics of the Arab Spring 2.0

Social media and political protest mobilization: unveiling the dynamics of the Arab Spring 2.0

Design as a Political Object: The Necessary Positioning of the Designer as an Agent of Change.

Faced with what we could consider an act of connivance with the prevailing neoliberal model of leisure and production, the designer has become an apolitical, naïve and blind subject, immersed in the unthinking action of unlimited production. Humanity must feed 8 billion people while at the same time guaranteeing both its survival and the sustainability of the planet. Given this challenge, design must resituate the subject at the centre of the model in all its fields and specialities. This repositioning must come from a politicised, eco-centric and left-wing perspective to become an engine of social change, clearly and openly confronting extreme neoliberalism and its constant growth curve, a model that has placed humanity in a process of programmed self-extinction due to the prioritisation of earnings and profit over our own existence. The upcoming generations of design professionals will play a crucial role in the planet’s future. We are facing a challenge of capital proportions in which all actors in society and the market, among which design is one of the most relevant, will have to work together in unison. From within the interconnected international system that the academy represents, it falls on us to promote and encourage new attitudes that facilitate the repositioning of designers, removed but not alien to the perverse complexities of the extreme neoliberal market. For and because of this, we seek to enervate consciences and promote reflection in pursuit of the consequent revolt, which, if disregarded, will condemn us to failure as a society and as a species.

Representation of Dalit Characters and Reflection of Their Consciousness in Nepali Short Stories

The paper attempts to explore the position of Dalit characters and their consciousness on the contexts, contents, and issues as portrayed in the select stories from “Nepali Kathama Dalit [Dalits in Nepali Stories]” published by Nepal Academy. The stories written on Dalit subject matters and issues primarily portray the socio-economic and political positions, problems and issues of exclusion of Dalits in different forms. The characters of the stories demonstrate the miserable condition of Dalits; however, they speak up against the oppression and discrimination for their rights, equality, justice and liberation. For the purpose, the researcher has selected the stories of Khagendra Sangroula’s “Sangram Bahadur Sarki”, Narayan Dhakal’s “Sunakhari Tol”, Matrika Pokharel’s “Itihasko Chihanmathi Ubhiyera” and Krishna Bam Malla’s “Pudke Damai”. The stories are plotted on the context, issues, and problems of Dalits and their resistance against the caste system. The study basically explores the representation of the Dalit characters, their socio economic and political positions, consciousness and protest for the change. Hence, the stories are studied from the perspectives class consciousness connecting with caste consciousness. The researcher has employed the qualitative approach with descriptive and exploratory methods.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Is China using the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to advance its economic development or to fulfill broader geopolitical objectives? While the BRI is often touted as a primarily economic venture aimed at addressing domestic overcapacity, this paper posits that political objectives are equally important. Drawing on selectorate theory, I assess whether China uses this initiative for political purposes. If so, it would be more likely to partner with authoritarian countries it sees as more amenable to political influence. Using logistic and Cox models to analyze data from 2013 to 2020, I find that political considerations are as relevant as economic ones. This research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the BRI within global political and economic contexts and explains China’s international strategy.

The Sovietization of Azerbaijan: Historical Perspective

The Sovietization of Azerbaijan, spanning from the early 1920s to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, was a transformative period that significantly impacted the country's political, social, economic, and cultural landscape. This paper explores the multifaceted process of Sovietization and its enduring legacy on Azerbaijan's development. Politically, Sovietization entailed the establishment of authoritarian rule, characterized by one-party dominance and the suppression of political dissent. Socially, it led to both advancements in education and healthcare and the suppression of cultural and religious freedoms, contributing to tensions within Azerbaijani society. Economically, Sovietization fostered the development of heavy industry and infrastructure but also resulted in environmental degradation and economic inefficiencies. Understanding the complexities of Sovietization is crucial for comprehending contemporary Azerbaijani realities and ongoing efforts towards political reform, economic development, and social progress.

Building a European Union ‘Treasury’: Explaining the European Commission's New Approach to Debt Issuance and Management

AbstractThis article examines how the European Commission went from being an occasional participant in capital markets in the 1970s to an established bond issuer by the 2020s. As a result of these changes, the Commission has moved away from its traditional model of back‐to‐back lending using a wide array of funding instruments towards the regular issuance of EU bonds and bills in the style of a European treasury. Using a principal–agent approach, we ask whether this shift was driven by member states seeking to reap the benefits of collective borrowing or rather by slippage by the Commission aimed at spurring European integration. Our results show that the Commission's occasional attempts to advance wider political objectives were rebuffed by member states, which, nonetheless, ultimately embraced the idea of a European treasury. Our findings emphasise the logic of delegation over agency slack when it comes to the EU's evolution as a borrower.

The relationship between American civil–military relations and military outcomes

Civilian control of the military is an inflexible requirement of the American republic, but there is contentious debate over how that control should be exercised. Both sides of the divide tend to agree that military results matter. Civil–military relations succeed if healthy discourse results in accomplishing the mission and obtaining optimal outcomes, but fail if the military does not accomplish the political objectives. This article advances the understudied thread of military effectiveness in American civil–military relations by testing the acumen of each side's judgment in 44 use of force decisions since the Second World War. In decisions on whether to use military force, military preferences have not yielded superior outcomes to civilian preferences, but there is evidence that military shirking from armed interventions has helped avoid ill-advised wars. Further studies should investigate decisions on how to use military force.

Ladies and (White) Gentlemen, Introducing Political Theory: Activist Learning and Teaching the Political Theory Canon

This paper seeks to enumerate the unique problems associated with teaching introductory political theory courses and offers a new framework for more inclusive teaching. It notes three problems associated with teaching introductory political theory: the importance of the “canon” of political thought, the lack of representation in the canon, and the canon’s emphasis on abstract and universal theory. I consider arguments that hope to challenge the canon such as attempts to deparochialize, creolize, and reanimate. The paper draws on these arguments to offer the framework of activist learning that can mitigate the challenges of the canon as they relate to the classroom. Activist learning borrows strategies from active learning pedagogy but addresses the specific problems of political theory. It takes the study of politics as itself a moment of political praxis and the student as an already aware agent in politics. What this means is that the canon and the material of introductory courses in political theory are subjects and sites of political contestation. Students are invited not only to collaborate in their own education but also to actively shape the field of political theory through their engagement.

Political parties and Russia’s escalation of the war in Ukraine: consequences for left-wing parties in Moldova

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 had a significant impact on Moldova, particularly due to its geographic proximity to Ukraine. Although Moldova has long balanced relationships between Russia and the European Union, the war prompted a re-evaluation of its geopolitical stance. In order to better understand domestic political party contestation of foreign policies, this article analyses Moldovan parliamentary debates between February 2022 and December 2023. The analysis focuses on the arguments used by members of the left-wing political parties that had previously adopted a more pro-Russian stance for the country’s foreign policy. The findings show reduced political contestation after Russia’s full-scale invasion with the left-wing parties, avoiding articulating clear positions on Russia’s war in Ukraine. Compared to the clear stance of the ruling PAS party, the opposition parties were inconsistent in their views on Russia and the EU, often ambiguous about Russia and divided on EU integration.

(De)politicizing water: justice in times of water crisis

In times of climate change, water resources are shrinking at an alarming speed worldwide, making water a focal point of social and political contestation. Essential for environmental and human wellbeing, and economic prosperity, competing demands on water’s finite resources amidst the global water crisis raise critical justice questions regarding allocation, accessibility, legitimate recipients, or prioritized uses. Access to water is deeply intertwined with political decisions, as it heavily depends on infrastructure and governance. Depoliticization, however, renders water issues to technical or economic terms, aligning with neoliberal practices that commodify and privatize water resources. This approach often neglects the inherent political and social dimensions of water, privileging corporate interests while restricting access for the poor and powerless. This article examines how (de)politicization shapes such water realities by applying theoretical perspectives on (de)politicization and environmental justice. Through a systematic literature review and interpretative content analysis, we explore how (de)politicization is conceptualized in scholarly discussions, identifying common themes in the water context, the scales and regions addressed, and the roles of various actors and actions involved. Our research reveals a persistent tension between depoliticization and repoliticization. While depoliticization, though conceptually rather imprecise, obscures accountability and perpetuates neoliberal practices leading to exclusion, repoliticization, driven by activism, addresses policy deficiencies and amplifies marginalized voices. By illuminating these dynamics, this study enhances the understanding of (de)politicization in the water realm and its implications for justice.