Political Reform Research Articles

A Transition in Search of Democracy: Democratic Stagnation and Resurgent Authoritarianism in Paraguay

This article introduces a special issue on Paraguay’s stalled democratization and enduring authoritarian legacies following the fall of Alfredo Stroessner’s dictatorship. Despite formal political reforms, the country remains dominated by elite rule, institutional fragility, and clientelist governance, reinforced by the near-continuous hegemony of the Colorado Party. The article surveys key turning points in the post-Stroessner period, explores the resurgence of authoritarianism under Cartismo, and outlines four themes addressed in the issue: authoritarian legacies and political patronage; state capture by economic elites; the rise of agro-extractivism; and grassroots struggles for land and democracy. Together, the contributions offer a critical reassessment of Paraguay’s post-dictatorship trajectory and shed light on the structural forces driving persistent democratic stagnation.

“Well, it’s very doctor-related” – interprofessional communication and collaboration between GP practices and nurses in the ambulant setting: a qualitative study in southern Germany

BackgroundThe demographic transition in Germany is leading to an increase in the number of people needing care or nursing services in their own homes. Interprofessional communication and collaboration among healthcare professions providing outpatient care is paramount to ensure effective and high-quality patient-centred care. However, interprofessional communication and collaboration comes with complex prerequisites and rarely works smoothly. Thus, it is necessary to assess the current status quo.Therefore, the aim is to characterize communication patterns, factors influencing interprofessional communication and collaboration and expectations towards communication and collaboration between home-care nursing services and general practitioner practices in Germany.MethodsSemi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals in general practitioners’ practices (n=7) and nurses working in home-care nursing services (n=10) were conducted in southern Germany. The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic content analysis.ResultsCurrent communication occurs via fax, telephone or personal contact for various purposes, including issuing or rectifying prescriptions and exchanging information about change in a patient’s condition. Key factors influencing interprofessional communication are organizational (e.g., lack of direct communication), profession-related (e.g., hierarchy) and individual (e.g., capacity to provide care). Interprofessional collaboration is scarce. Healthcare professionals expect uncomplicated, efficient and quick communication and collaboration through set channels.ConclusionsCurrent interaction patterns are deficient and require political, structural and educational changes to establish well-functioning collaboration in the ambulant sector that facilitates patient-centred care. Educational and political reforms should comprise expanding interprofessional education in curricula and the introduction of clear and secure communication channels.

Intellectual Initiatives of the Iranian and Kazakh Intelligentsia in the 20-30s of the XX Century

The article examines the role of the Iranian and Kazakh intelligentsia in the process of modernization. We are talking about the struggle for the independence of the country at the beginning of the twentieth century and the modernization of the consciousness of traditional society. The historical experience of the Kazakh and Iranian intelligentsia was studied, as well as the goals and objectives set by the intellectuals of the two countries on this path, the path of their struggle. The ideas of intellectuals of both countries regarding nationalism and colonialism are analyzed, including their reaction to European imperialism and their efforts to promote national independence. In the twentieth century, a comparative analysis was conducted of how intellectuals reacted to the challenges of modernization and secularization, how their ideas and values changed over time, their ideas about nationalism and identity, including how language, culture and history played an important role in the formation of national identity. The author speaks about the gradual transition of the ideas of enlightenment of the intelligentsia of the nation to the idea of political reforms, that is, reforms at the state level, about the process of introducing this idea into the national idea. The reasons for the emergence of these ideas and the functions they perform were analyzed. The article presents a historical and comparative analysis of the intellectual activity of the Iranian and Kazakh intelligentsia of the early twentieth century. To this end, an attempt was made to conduct a study of the activities and ideological initiatives of the intelligentsia of the two countries using methods of historical comparison and comparison, historical description and analysis.

Higher Education EI role in Professor-Students Ratio and healthcare. Study Direction in Universities

Introduction: In the early 1990s, Albania was one of the last communist regimes in Europe. The fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the collapse of the Berlin Wall inspired many people in Albania to push for political and social reforms. After mass protests long-standing authoritarian rule, Albania transitioned to a multiparty democracy. Objectives: The objectives ate incorporating EI in nursing Education and enhancing the Professional Development with the aim to encourage reflective practices where nurses can self-asses and recognize their emotional responses to various situations. Methods: The method of research is by survey based on students answered and observing university nursing students’ behavior in their practices with patients. During such methods were shown Critical points on behalf of Doctors, nurses, therapists and based on psycho-social point of view the Conflict is inevitable Nurses often work in high-stress, emotionally charged, and Emotional intelligence allows nurses to de-escalate potentially violent situations. Results: However, the survey conducted shown that this transition was not smooth, and there was much that had to be rebuilt or addressed in the aftermath of decades of isolation and repression. Albanian society took an inevitable turn as far as the Albanian society was coming out of the communist regime. There was so much undone his period was indeed a time of profound transformation for the country. The Albanian Emotional intelligence (EI) truly marked a change in healthcare and in academic behavior relationship Professor-Student. In the healthcare sector, emotional intelligence is particularly vital among nursing professionals. Studies have shown that nurses with high EI are better equipped to handle workplace violence and conflict, leading to more harmonious relationships. Conclusions: This papers surely would improve classroom dynamics, and reduce the stress students feel in conflict situations. Another important point to be focused are Parents and educators who understand the value of EI are better equipped to nurture emotionally intelligent children. So the relationship with parents and educators is very important and the Emotional intelligence in early education can lead to more resilient, compassionate, and cooperative future generations. In Albania this relationship has always been strong but the democratic development left their marks

The Relationship Between Indicators of Political Reform and The Level of Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Jordan

Objectives: This study aims to demonstrate the impact of political modernization plans and programs (transparency, rule of law, size of government, organizational efficiency, women's empowerment, political rights, anti-corruption measures, political participation) on achieving sustainable development goals in Jordan. Methods: The study adopted a quantitative approach, employing this methodology to present and analyze indicators of sustainable development and political modernization in Jordan, using quantitative methods to test the relationship between the study variables. Results: The results of Pearson correlation coefficient analysis indicate a weak but statistically significant positive relationship between political modernization plans and programs and achieving sustainable development goals in Jordan. There is a noted relationship between political modernization plans and programs (transparency, rule of law, government size, regulatory efficiency, women's empowerment, political rights, anti-corruption, political participation) and the achievement of sustainable development goals in Jordan. This suggests that political modernization plans have had a weak impact on achieving sustainable development goals. Conclusions: The study concludes that efforts should be made to improve the legislative environment to ensure equality of rights for all before the law and to achieve social justice by promoting the principles of citizenship, rule of law, and equal opportunities. Additionally, enhancing political participation is crucial to strengthen the role of the parliamentary institution in the Jordanian state and to achieve sustainable development.

Exploration and Practice of Ideological and Political Teaching Reform in Investment Course

Deeply exploring the ideological and political elements of various courses in universities and integrating ideological and political education into the entire teaching process is the development trend of ideological and political education in universities under the new situation. Investment has strong characteristics of modernity, practicality, universality, and interest, which naturally give this professional course advantages in carrying out ideological and political practices and make it easy to form a broad consensus on ideological and political concepts. This article combines the characteristics of the investment course, guided by the ideological and political teaching goals of the investment course, and fully utilizes various teaching modes to explore and integrate ideological and political elements into the investment course. Finally, it evaluates the ideological and political teaching of the investment course, aiming to improve the quality of ideological and political teaching and achieve comprehensive education for all students throughout the entire process.

When do ethnic majorities share power? The politics of de-majoritarian constitutional reforms in Pakistan and Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT Ethnic majorities often resist sharing power with ethnic minorities. However, my comparative analysis, using primary evidence, demonstrates that ethnic majoritarian states (e.g., Pakistan) are most likely to share power when divisions within the dominant ethnic group arise and manifest as (1) intra-ethnic civil–military institutional tensions, (2) intra-ethnically driven and cross-party supported social movements and (3) cross-ethnic, multi-party consensus. These conditions form a contingently operationalised causal mechanism that can lead to reforms empowering (minority) ethnic groups within their territorial regions for shared governance. I further test this argument via Sri Lanka, where the absence of this mechanism also fails constitutional power sharing.

A Study on the Current Status of Integrating Jiangxi Red Culture into College English Curriculum From the Perspective of Cultural Confidence

Effectively integrating Jiangxi Red Culture into College English curriculum to enhance students’ cultural confidence remains a critical task for advancing ideological and political education reform during the new era. Based on an analysis of the value implications of integrating Jiangxi red culture into college English courses, this study analyzes the current status of integrating Jiangxi red culture into College English curriculum, through empirical research methods such as questionnaire survey and interview. The findings reveal systemic deficiencies in red cultural cognition, teaching methods, extracurricular practice, and evaluation mechanisms, which collectively hinder the practical effectiveness of Jiangxi red culture integration within English higher education.

The Curriculum Ideological and Political Reform of Cross-Border E-commerce Major in Higher Vocational Colleges Helps Chinese-Style Modernization

The "Chinese-style modernization" and "high-quality development" are the key themes of China's current social and economic reforms. This development requires higher vocational colleges to proactively serve national strategic needs and provide high-quality, morally and professionally competent talents that are in line with the requirements of Chinese-style modernization. This article explores the compatibility and mutual promotion among the ideological and political education in the cross-border e-commerce major of higher vocational colleges, the high-quality development of higher vocational education, and the Chinese-style modernization of related industries. By analyzing the theoretical basis of ideological and political education in cross-border e-commerce courses and its role in value guidance, cultural dissemination, and innovative practice for relevant talents, the article holds that the reform of ideological and political education in cross-border e-commerce courses, by integrating ideological and political education into the entire teaching process of the major, significantly enhances the ideological quality and professional skills of the talents cultivated and delivered to related industries. Finally, the paper also proposes the logic and path for curriculum ideological and political reform of cross-border e-commerce major in higher vocational colleges to facilitate the transformation and upgrading of the cross-border e-commerce industry and serve Chinese-style modernization.

From Labor Market Dualization to Inclusive Growth? Trade Unions and the Politics of Labor Market Reform in South Korea

The landslide victory of the center-left Moon Jae-In in the 2017 presidential election opened a window of opportunity for progressive reform in South Korea. Elected on a platform of social inclusion and fairness and with support from organized labor, the Moon Jae-In government (2017–22) made at first considerable progress in advancing inclusive labor market reform and an alternative growth model against opposition from business, but the administration quickly lost momentum when facing political headwinds. We show that the government's capacity for progressive reform and social concertation was constrained not only by business interests but also by divisions on the left. Opening up the black box of organized labor, we provide a nuanced analysis of tensions on the left and demonstrate how a counterintuitive coalition of labor market insiders and radical outsiders on the movement's left undermined social dialogue and more inclusive unionism.

Public perception of algorithmic policing in a non-democratic context: evidence from Kazakhstan

ABSTRACT Governments around the world use advanced computer algorithms and data-driven systems to enhance their law enforcement systems. Research on public attitudes towards the use of such algorithmic policing in non-democratic countries remains scarce. Our study addresses this gap by exploring attitudinal factors influencing the acceptance of algorithmic policing in a non-democratic regime with a novel dataset from a survey conducted in Kazakhstan in May 2023 (N = 1748). Our findings contribute to the literature on algorithmic policing and authoritarian digitalisation, demonstrating how algorithmic tools become a part of the ‘authoritarian bargain’ to deliver governance efficiency without political reforms.

The Existence of Legal Politics in Realizing a Just State of Law

The rule of law aims to create justice, but in practice, legal politics is often influenced by the interests of economic and political elites. Injustice occurs due to regulations that favor certain groups over the welfare of the community at large. One example is regulatory changes in the mining sector that facilitate investment but ignore the rights of surrounding communities. This study aims to analyze the role of legal politics in realizing an equitable rule of law. This study explores how legal politics affects regulations, legal implementation, and its impact on society, especially in the context of mining policy. This research uses a normative method with a literature study approach. Secondary data is obtained from books, scientific journals, and relevant laws and regulations. The approaches used include statute approach, conceptual approach, and case approach to understand the influence of legal politics in public policy. legal politics in Indonesia still tends to favor the interests of the elite, resulting in inequality of justice. Inconsistent law implementation, weak rule of law, and political intervention in the judicial system hinder the realization of social justice. Regulations in the mining sector, for example, favor entrepreneurs over the welfare of local communities. Therefore, political legal reforms are needed that favor the interests of the people, strengthen the rule of law, and ensure the protection of human rights in order to create a just rule of law.

Podiel občianskej spoločnosti na humanizácii právneho štátu.

Civil society plays a crucial role in shaping the rule of law by fostering democratic participation and advocating for human rights. This article examines how civil society contributes to the democratization process and the implementation of universal voting rights. It explores the evolution of new legal entities and the establishment of interest-based self-governance models. The study also discusses contemporary challenges facing participatory democracy, particularly in light of declining public engagement and increasing political polarization. The analysis suggests that while civil society remains a powerful force for legal and political reforms, its impact depends on institutional frameworks and political conditions that enable or restrict civic participation.

The politics of minimum income reform in Spain: explaining unexpected and consensual path departure

Abstract Southern European welfare states have historically been characterised by the absence of national safety nets. However, these countries have witnessed a succession of policy reforms over the past three decades. In 2020, the Spanish Parliament unanimously approved the ‘Ingreso Mínimo Vital’ to finally cease being the only European country without a minimum income scheme at the national level. This article investigates the political and institutional mechanisms that enabled this policy reform, which was particularly unexpected due to the fragmentation of the party system along both ideological and territorial dimensions. To solve this puzzle, I employ the ‘explaining-outcome’ process tracing method and rely on qualitative data from official documents, party manifestos and parliamentary interventions spanning from 2015 to 2020. In addition, I build on ten expert interviews with relevant actors directly involved in the reform, conducted between 2022 and 2024. Findings illustrate that inclusive path departure was possible through two political stages. First, left-wing party competition and strong socio-political demand (2014–2020) allowed for the introduction of the scheme into the political agenda. Second, territorial politics and the external shock of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic ultimately contributed to mitigating expected political cleavages during the parliamentary process.

Resilience, reflexivity, and decolonization: policy narratives in Kalaallit Nunaat

BackgroundKalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) is undergoing rapid socio-economic and environmental transformations, particularly due to climate change, shifting governance structures and aspirations for political independence. These developments necessitate resilient policy approaches to support sustainable regional development while addressing historical and contemporary power dynamics.AimThis paper examines policy narratives in Kalaallit Nunaat, analyzing how they shape resilience building processes. Specifically, it explores the interplay between system oriented and community resilience approaches in national and regional policymaking.MethodA policy narrative analysis was conducted through a review of national strategies, government reports and other public policy documents from 2011 to 2020. The study applies a decolonial lens to examine how these narratives frame resilience, governance and development priorities in Kalaallit Nunaat.ResultsFour key narratives were identified: (1) the independence narrative, (2) the regional inequality narrative, addressing governance centralization and disparities between Nuuk and smaller settlements; (3) socio-economic and demographic challenges narrative, highlighting population decline, labour market issues and social inequalities; and (4) and climate change narrative, framing environmental shifts as both risks and economic opportunities. While all narratives prioritize independence, they differ in their perspectives on governance structure, local agency, and resilience building strategies. The study finds that policy narratives often assume resilience as an outcome of economic growth and political reforms, rather than a structured community driven process.ConclusionA decolonial approach to policy development in Kalaallit Nunaat requires centering community perspectives and strengthening locally driven decision-making processes. Rather than treating resilience as an assumed outcome of economic growth, policies should actively support long-term resilience-builidng by addressing structural inequalities, ensuring inclusive governance and integrating local knowledge into decision-making. By balancing community driven priorities with national governance reforms, policies can better support sustainable and equitable development.

The Impact of Political Instability on Democratic Development in Nepal (2022–2024)

This paper analyzes the reasons that led to a change of government in Nepal every few months between 2022 and 2024. This illustrates that the instability boils down to interconnected external and internal factors. This identifies internal factors such as party fragmentation, weak coalition governments, intra-party disputes, constitutional ambiguities, and socioeconomic grievances on corrupt regimes. The geopolitical pressure from India and China is undoubtedly among the external factors, but the growing pressures of our international donors and financial institutions are not distant abandonments. This issue is within the above theme through a qualitative case study of all three coalition governments that collapsed during this period. This data was extracted by closely reading government documents, political party manifestos, and media and academic literature. These results highlight the governance challenges in a politically fragmented environment characterized by weak institutions and international coercive pressures. The research concluded that such instability can only be counteracted by wide-ranging political reforms aimed at constructing democratic institutions, enhancing transparency and accountability, and mitigating intolerance developments through reducing socio-economic grievances.

Exploration and Practice of Ideological and Political Teaching Reform in the Course of “Residential Landscape Design” in the New Era

In the era of real estate stock, facing people’s aspiration for a better life, residential landscape, as the environment most closely related to people’s lives, how to meet people’s dreams of living environment in the new era in design has become an important research content. This article will conduct an in-depth analysis of the background, overall ideas, teaching design, practical effectiveness, and other aspects of the ideological and political teaching reform of the “Residential Landscape Design” course. It explores how to guide students to pay attention to people’s livelihood issues, cultivate students’ awareness of serving the people, their ability to design for the people, and their sense of responsibility to love the people under the guidance of Xi Jinping’s educational ideology in the new era.

Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making for Sustainable Risk Management

Economic, environmental, and social sustainability challenges are critical to managing sovereign credit risk in the MENA region. This paper proposes a framework for selecting comprehensive strategies using a Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach. A hybrid Best-Worst Method (BWM) and Fuzzy TOPSIS model are applied to rank sustainability strategies related to sovereign credit risk, addressing the vagueness and uncertainty in stakeholder data. Ten strategies are evaluated across three sustainability dimensions: economic, environmental, and social. The findings highlight that Developing Human Capital and Regional Cooperation and Trade Integration are top priorities for economic sustainability, emphasizing skill development and trade relations. Public-private partnerships and renewable energy investments are most viable for environmental sustainability, leveraging private capital for large-scale projects. Social sustainability is best achieved through public-private partnerships and renewable energy investments, which create jobs and improve energy access, promoting socio-economic stability. Political stability and governance reforms are identified as enabling factors for sustainability initiatives. This research contributes to the systematic body of knowledge on sovereign risk management in developing economies, offering a consistent framework for decision-makers in the MENA region to prioritize sustainable growth and creditworthiness amid uncertainty.

The Right to Engage in Political Party Activities among University Students (A Jurisprudential, Legislative, and Analytical Study)

The right to participate in public and political life, including party affiliation and joining existing parties in accordance with the law on an equal basis among all members of society, is a fundamental characteristic of the concept of comprehensive democracy. The international community has called on countries to respect this right and not exclude anyone from it. Considering that university students are among the main segments of society and the backbone of the nation's future, it is essential for them to engage with active political parties in their countries and gain experience so that they can play an effective role in political development, especially in light of directives calling for comprehensive reforms, including political reform. Since political participation is a key element in empowering individuals, it is crucial to ensure the participation of all groups and to remove obstacles that hinder the involvement of university students.

Identifying daily life vulnerability and regional homeostasis: verbalising homeostasis landscape in regional policy for disaster areas of Tohoku, Japan

Vulnerability in disaster contexts involves two key issues: firstly, post-disaster recovery is often seen as an opportunity not only to rebuild damaged systems and restore communities to their pre-disaster state but also to improve components and conditions to create more resilient social systems. Secondly, reconstructing the environment, landscape, and infrastructure exactly as they were before the disaster often reinstates the same vulnerabilities that existed previously. From a homeostasis perspective, vulnerabilities can be categorised into two types: those resulting from inaction and the accumulation of difficulties over time, and those triggered by sudden impacts such as natural disasters. If we view vulnerabilities as part of the regional complementary process, they can serve as multi-faceted political vectors for reform. To achieve genuine recovery, it is essential to adopt homeostasis as a guiding principle for political reform, eliminating institutionalised discrimination and fostering diverse, adaptive mechanisms within regional systems.