Pursuit Of Politics Research Articles

Dreams of American Christendom: White Evangelicals’ Political Pursuit of a Christian Order without Christ

Dreams of American Christendom: White Evangelicals’ Political Pursuit of a Christian Order without Christ

Passivity as Resistance: Counter-Conduct in Japan and Cambodia

ABSTRACT Resistance is often depicted as events that are active, adversarial and antagonistic. However, we would like to suggest that it could also be understood through other narratives, which connect political pursuits to passivity rather than activity. These stories can contribute to increasing our awareness of the limits of the resistance scholarship and extend the view of political performances. In this paper, two different trajectories of counter-conduct – the anti-sexual assault movement in Japan, and the anti-authoritarian struggles in Cambodia – will be used to reveal how resistance is sometimes delegated or outsourced, rather than actively pursued by the subject. In these cases, the political subjects’ passivity feeds political activities, but, on the other side of the coin, the activities also foster passivity.

The Collapse of Economic Voting Behaviour in Turkish Politics

For voters, phenomena such as increasing feelings of nationalism, the transformation of the perception of foreign powers into a political tool by the government, and the pursuit of polarisation politics by making the opposition enemies, push the importance of the economic crisis towards the back of the list of concerns for the voters. The general elections that took place between 1980 and 2018 are examined and the economic voting behaviour is explored in this study, especially in terms of periodical developments in Turkish politics. It is obvious that the economic voting model was an important determinant on the Turkish voters in the elections until 2008. However, ideological factors, strong leadership analysis or other indicators have started to replace the economic voting model in Turkey with serious political changes after 2008. In this context, this study is aimed to make an important contribution by filling the gap in the literature on economic voting in Turkish politics.

The fascination of the West and the ambivalence of the Byzantines towards it through the case of Demetrios Kydones

This paper focuses on the case of the politician and scholar Demetrios Kydones as typical of the fascination that the West exerted on the Byzantines, but also of the ambivalence towards it. First, there is a brief overview of the events of his life, which encouraged his contact with the Latins. A more detailed reference was made to his translation, writing, and teaching. In our view, his provocative positions were the reason he had not received the recognition he deserved to this day. His most important value lies in the fact that, in an age of hostility, he sought to bring Byzantium closer to the West by presenting logical and valid arguments beyond petty political pursuits and prejudices.

Penjajahan Negara-Negara Barat Atas Negara-Negara Islam

Islamic culture has been on a steady decline from the time of the prophet, who ushered in its golden age. A factor contributing to Islamic stagnation was the emergence of Western nations that colonized Islamic nations. In their imperialistic pursuit of power, wealth, culture, and politics, Western nations prey on Islamic nations. Consequently, it is intriguing to examine their colonization of Islamic nations. My goal in writing this paper is to gain a better understanding of the reasons behind western colonization of Islamic countries. I hope that all students in Indonesia, and particularly those at UINSU, will read it and be inspired to work towards a world where Islamic countries no longer face colonization from the West.. Library research is the methodology employed in this article. There was a lengthy period of Islamic stagnation due to the colonization of the archipelago by western powers. This was accompanied by devastating conflicts, economic and social inequalities, the loss of native culture and civilization, and the introduction of Christianity. Due in part to the fact that Islamic countries are unable to stand up to Western colonization on their own, Islam has been unable to advance in recent centuries. Economic, social, political, and legal decisions may all stem from the need for prior permission from the federal government in order to pass legislation pertaining to a state. A number of indigenous peoples' desires to secede from their colonial masters emerged in response to Western colonialism. Some of the colonized states that rose up in opposition to the occupying power were successful in becoming independent nations, while others were unable to do so due to the superior military might of the colonial power.

Political Pursuit of Unity: A Narrative Inquiry into the Davidic Reign and its Typology in the Oyo Empire

This is a contextual-biblical study on how political leaders can effectively pursue national unity amid diversity. Psalm 133 is one of the remarkable biblical texts on unity, it, therefore, becomes a major standpoint in this study. First, the study draws a connection between Psalm 133 and David’s reign, otherwise called Davidic unity reign. Second, it examines the unification strategy in the Oyo Empire and highlights its similarity in comparison with the Davidic unity reign. The methodology used in the study is narrative inquiry. It investigates the life of David in connection to Psalm 133 bringing out the relevant narrative behind the psalm. It also inquires about the historical narrative of the Oyo Empire with the aim of uncovering the political practices that were geared towards the unity of the empire. All the information in the study was gleaned from existing literature. Based on biographical, historical, and comparative analysis, it is evident that both King David’s Israel and Alaafin’s Oyo Empire have the worship of a divine being as their tool of unity. The major antithesis is that while Yahweh, the universal God, used David to unite all the tribes of Israel through worship, Alaafin used Sango, a tribal god, to unify all the people under his ruler-ship.

The Political Trajectories that Preceded the Russian Invasion of Georgia in 2008

The political paths that preceded the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008 were based on the fears that resulted from the occurrence of armed clashes between Georgia and its separatist regions for nearly two decades. Those fears included the Russian Federation, Georgia and the West in general and the United States in particular, depending on the interests of each of those parties; Therefore, the political side took a great deal of preserving the status quo, avoiding the use of force and the occurrence of an armed clash, However, the Georgian side torpedoed all these international, regional and local efforts. Because of the political recklessness he enjoyed, as well as the American encouragement to him; it was impossible for it to curtail the Russian role globally and regionally, but the Russian side refused to submit to those Western methods, and the political pursuit of those parties was joint and vigorous.

AUSTRIAN POPULIST RIGHT AND TÜRKİYE: A DISCOURSE ANALYSIS FOR FPÖ

The rise of populist radical right parties in the last decades is one of the most significant political developments in Europe. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) which was founded in 1956 is considered as a remarkable example in terms of using anti-immigrant and xenophobic discourses and affecting Austrian politics for more than half a century. In this article the FPÖ’s anti-Türkiye rhetoric is investigated by using discourse analysis. The Turkish community in Austria growing since the 1960s, the cultural differences and Türkiye’s EU membership discussions are the main topics used by the FPÖ to influence the public opinion. Therefore, it is aimed to reveal how and why FPÖ relates its nationalist, anti-immigrant, anti-Islam rhetoric to Türkiye and Turks. The FPÖ’s anti-Türkiye discourse is a noteworthy example of how a radical populist right-wing party targets another country, part of its own population and its cultural identity for its political pursuits.

Institutionalization of Transit-Oriented Development in Tokyo 1868–1945

ABSTRACT Many advocates of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) consider Tokyo an exemplary transit metropolis that uniquely relies on private railways. To better understand this enduring practice, this study traces its institutionalization before 1945. It concludes that following the Meiji Restoration, former feudal elites founded a private railway industry consisting of joint-stock companies when the state lacked funds. As a semi-public effort, the industry served the industrial and political pursuits of Meiji Japan. To defend the industry, these elites frustrated the attempt to nationalize railways in 1892 and weakened the extent of the nationalization in 1907. The latter directed private railway capital to the suburbs. By 1929, the elites had incrementally legitimized private railway conglomerates that developed railways and landed properties, including housing estates and commercial facilities, along railway corridors in Osaka and, later, Tokyo. Inspired by railway suburbs and garden cities in the Anglosphere, Japanese TOD was developed as a localized institution in a developmental state: a ‘standard operating practice’ framed by the iron triangle of industrialists, politicians, and bureaucrats. Because its defenders preserved the institution from wartime regulation and automobilization, this semi-public institution, balancing private and state pursuits, contrasted with its global counterparts, and continued to influence post-war Tokyo.

From Miracle to Montage: The Interpreter Figure in the Narratives of Latin American Travelers to the New China

This article analyses the role of the figure of the language interpreter in Latin American travel writing on the People’s Republic of China during the 1950s and 1960s, early decades of cultural diplomacy efforts between these regions. Through an examination of the crónica China 6 a.m. (1954), by Colombian anthropologist and writer Manuel Zapata Olivella, and the novel Los ojos de bambú (1964), by Chilean novelist Mercedes Valdivieso, this article argues that the interpreter figure, far from an invisible conduit of information, played a significant role in how Latin American travelers experienced the Chinese Revolution and negotiated their ideals of individual and collective transformation. Through the analysis of the interpretation act as an embodied, affective experience, beyond a sole cognitive transfer of meaning, Zapata and Valdivieso’s texts shed light both on the PRC’s mechanisms of soft power in Cold War geopolitical struggles, as well as the travelers’ aesthetic and political pursuits in a global context of revolution.

Belarus-Polonya Göç Krizi ve Genişletilmiş Aktörlerin Uluslarüstü Siyasi Kaygıları

This study seeks to examine the sociological, political, and humanitarian dimensions of the Belarus-Poland migration crisis and aims to discuss the differences between migration diplomacy and state-organized-engineered migration within the framework of the instrumentalization and weaponization of migrants. Statements made by EU authorities about the Belarus-Poland migration problem, sanctions, and measures implemented are investigated to evaluate the EU’s approach. Furthermore, in order to comprehend Belarus’ perspective, Lukashenko’s statements and press coverage of the incident are scrutinized. Theoretically, while following a descriptive analysis method, the article considers how Belarus-Poland border issue has given rise to a great deal of media interest due to Belarus’s balance and interest-oriented policies oscillating between the former Soviet world and the West and argues how Russia brought a global dimension to the issue as a result of its historical political pursuits. Finally, it concludes that the migration crisis between Belarus and Poland is not a simple crisis that concerns two countries, if anything, it is a reflection and precursor of multi-actor global politics serving different purposes in the region.

Wang Anshi and Song Poetic Culture

Wang Anshi and Song Poetic Culture

Can money buy friendship?—Evidence from the US and China’s competition for influence through foreign aid

AbstractUsing bilateral aid data from 47 donors to 194 recipients, we find that while donors reward good relationship with more foreign aid, recipients sweeten their political relations with donors only after aid cuts. The negative impact of aid on political relations is more pronounced after the Cold War, in politically stable regions, and in countries where China and the United States are both donors. We provide evidence that the competition for influence among donors with distinct political pursuits and the conflicts between donors and recipients in aid implementation are driving the results.

Factors Contributing to the Signing of the Abraham Accords

The signing of Abraham Accords can promote the realization of the common interests among countries to a certain extent. However, it may also trigger some conflicts among nations. This paper mainly analyzes the important factors contributing to the signing of the Abraham Accords from three perspectives: (1) the external factors -- the intervention of the US; (2) the internal factors -- the Arab and Israel’s adaptation to the current international situations; (3) other factors -- the impact of COVID-19, the dictatorship of Arab leaders, and the personal political pursuits of the leaders from other nations. In this paper, Classical Realism is used to analyze the interests between countries, and the influence of some political decisions made by relevant state leaders is supplemented by Neo-realism. Additionally, in this paper, Neoliberalism and Constructivism are also employed to analyze the negotiations between national interests, including compromise, containment, and obstruction, as well as how negotiations promote the realization of common interests. It is expected that this paper can be of some reference significance to future research on the interests between nations as well as their cooperation and conflicts in the context of globalization.

Depoliticizing urban futures: visionary planning and the politics of city-regional growth

ABSTRACT The importance of visionary planning has increased in urban and regional contexts as the production of visions has become a central tool in, for example, the management of city-regional growth through future-oriented governance. Thus, visions have become important terrains of political struggle and influence. This article analyses visionary planning from the perspective of depoliticization. Depoliticization is interpreted not as the foreclosure of the political in planning, but as a forceful mode of pursuit of a specific economized city-regional politics. These dynamics are scrutinized empirically through a case study of the Oulu City Centre Vision 2040 project, and they are connected methodologically to the construction of a spatial–political imaginary.

Navigating the Perilous Waters of Partisan Scholarship: Participatory Action Research (PAR) with the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF)

Participatory action research (PAR) has been offered up as a methodological orientation for public sociology. The challenges of PAR at the local level have been well documented. In contrast, PAR with the labour movement, in particular international meta-organisations such as global trade union federations, has received short shrift. We demonstrate how partisan scholars working with the labour movement can engage with both the different logics of collective action and the different levels of worker representation in pursuit of (political) emancipation. To illustrate how PAR can be ‘scaled up’ from the local to the global, we reflect on our participation with the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF). This revealed three particular perils of PAR – personal, purpose and political – that partisan scholars must navigate in order to foster action and emancipation by research. While PAR is an affirming process for our research partners, it is not a panacea for their problems.

The Making of Nordic Monasticism, c. 1076–c. 1350

The introduction of regular religious life in the Nordic region is less well-documented than in the neighbouring kingdoms of northern Europe. In the absence of well-preserved manuscript and material remains, unfounded and sometimes distorting suppositions have been made about the timeline of monastic settlement and the character of the conventual life it brought. Recent archival and archaeological research can offer fresh insights into these questions. The arrival of authentic regular life may have been as early as the second quarter of the eleventh century in Denmark and Iceland, but there was no secure or stable community in any part of Scandinavia until the turn of the next century. A settled monastic network arose from a compact between the leadership of the secular church and the ruling elite, a partnership motivated as much by the shared pursuit of political, social and economic power as by any personal piety. Yet, the force of this patronal programme did not inhibit the development of monastic cultures reflected in books, original writings, church and conventual buildings, which bear comparison with the European mainstream.

Drivers and inhibitors of diversity and social justice in the South African higher education sector: Reflections on a decolonised curriculum

This article analyses factors that drive or inhibit students’ epistemic access to higher education in South Africa. The analysis is in response to a need for institutional diversity and programme differentiation in our higher education institutions. The article intends to contribute to the ongoing debates on decolonisation and the social justice agenda in South African higher education. I argue that the first point of departure should be a focus on curriculum change. To this end I raise three arguments: firstly, the agenda on the size and shape of the system is not based on the pursuit for social justice and decolonisation, but on flippant political pursuits and markets. Secondly, the principles that govern the selection, organisation and sequencing of curriculum are not based on post-structuralism, but rather on structuralism. Thirdly, historically disadvantaged students do not have epistemic access and success in higher education.

Responding to Socioeconomic Diversity in the European Union (and to Steven Klein’s Essay) with Democracy-Enhancing Conflicts Law

Responding to Socioeconomic Diversity in the European Union (and to Steven Klein’s Essay) with Democracy-Enhancing Conflicts Law

Redirected utopias: the politics of self-reflexive autobiographical documentary in Albertina Carri’s Los rubios and Ufuk Emiroglu’s Mon père, la révolution, et moi

ABSTRACT Twenty-first century documentary production from around the world has used self-reflexivity to challenge assumptions about subjectivity and social positioning in ways that explicitly challenge the politics of filmmaking. Released in 2003 and 2013 respectively, Argentine director Albertina Carri’s Los rubios and Turkish filmmaker Ufuk Emiroglu’s Mon père, la révolution et moi incorporate fictions and fantasies into their autobiographical stories, telling their life stories through alternative narrative forms that deviate from existing social and aesthetic precepts. The two filmmakers seek to understand – and scrutinize – the utopian ideals of the revolutionary movements to which their fathers belonged in 1970s Argentina and Turkey, respectively. The directors use non-realist, non-linear approaches to telling their own life stories as a way of challenging what audiences think they know about their nations’ recent history. Situating these two films within their respective national film industries and within documentary practices around the globe, I show that their shared metonymic structures question the utopic aspects of their respective fathers’ revolutionary politics and the non-place of memory. As I argue in my comparative discussion, these films are ‘redirecting’ utopic autobiographical storytelling to challenge notions of cohesion in both the self and political pursuits.