Political Structures Research Articles

Religiosity and entrepreneurship: women entrepreneurs in Turkiye

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to showcase how entrepreneurial opportunities can be contextually formed differently for women entrepreneurs concerning their relationship with religion. This article reveals the multi-level and nuanced relationship between religiosity and entrepreneurship through a contextual lens by studying the interaction in a specific national country, Turkiye.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses the life stories of 10 Turkish women entrepreneurs operating in Turkiye. Data were selected purposefully to conduct an in-depth analysis. Thematic content analysis with a discursive approach and deductive and inductive coding methods were performed.FindingsThe findings suggest that the relationship between religiosity and entrepreneurial opportunities is highly contextual and nuanced. Religiosity brings trust and provides access to religious networks which can lead to entrepreneurial opportunities, while leaving people outside of this network bereft of these benefits. The creation of a closed circle for its beneficiaries is a feature of a social network, yet the results show that contextual forces of politics and gender can lead women entrepreneurs outside of this religious network to limit their possibilities of accessing public funding and facilities based on their perceptions as well as negative experiences. It is also seen that religiosity at a certain level is necessary to operate in conservative settings and traditionally masculine business environments with patriarchal practices and norms, as well as due to the religious affinity of the ruling political party. However, because of perceptions and discursive meanings attached to religion and religiosity in the country, women entrepreneurs need to be cautious in expressing their religiosity and find a balance so that they are not seen as unprofessional, incompetent and unqualified as well as do not jeopardise their business due to a controversial religious affiliation.Originality/valueThis paper is of value as it studies religiosity from a contextual perspective enabling and constraining women entrepreneurs in their entrepreneurship in relation to gendered and political structures. In this way, it displays the multiple ways of limitation and support that religiosity can bring for them concerning entrepreneurial opportunities. Turkiye provides a rich context with its mixed religious and secular societal norms and values and neo-liberal institutions and policies to examine the so-far underexplored issue of religiosity in the field of entrepreneurship.

A Comparative Political Analysis of Finland and Belarus Based on the 2022 World Happiness Report

This analysis is in the field of Political Science, specifically Comparative Politics. This paper analyzes the scores of two countries Finland and Belarus on the 2022 World Happiness Report. Finland, known as the happiest country in the world is highly esteemed as a leader in democracy, healthcare, and education, and ranks number 1 on the World Happiness Report with a score of 7.821. Belarus*, a former Soviet Republic famously known for its lack of free and fair elections, ranks number 65 with a score of 5.821 (Helliwell et al., 2022). According to the report, the asterisk near Belarus signifies that the ranking is based on survey reports from 2019, and not from 2020 or 2021 (Helliwell et al., 2022). This analysis explains the gap between the two countries and identifies factors responsible for the stark differences between the scores. Several factors identified that explained the differences in the scores were related to politics, such as formal political institutions (political structure within both countries), political informal institutions (political culture), election processes (validity of elections), and the presence of a steady modern democracy or lack thereof, determined by the presence of four requirements. Another important factor identified was economic performance and the presence or lack of economic stability. This paper concludes that although Belarus presents itself as a democracy, the country does not in fact qualify as a modern democracy because of its inability to pass the requirements of a modern democracy.

A Contribution to the Study of Violence Against Women in Politics

This chapter addresses various aspects of the emerging research area, exploring concepts, theories, and data related to the study of violence against women in politics. It occurs within the political sphere but specifically targets women. It is used to reinforce traditional social and political structures by targeting women leaders who challenge patriarchy and the prevailing social expectations and norms. In many societies, such practices are marginalized, naturalized, depoliticized, and remain invisible. When female politicians are attacked for their political views alone, this is not necessarily a case of violence against women in politics. Ambiguity emerges, however, due to the fact that the means for attacking female politicians often rely on gendered scripts, focusing on women’s bodies and their traditional social roles, primarily as mothers and wives, to deny or undercut women’s competence in the political sphere. Symbolic and semiotic violence in politics can be effective in sustaining women’s oppression because it is subtle, euphemized, and invisible. Even if women recognize these acts as exercises of power, they still do not name it violence, even in societies with greater levels of gender equality. The concept of semiotic violence refers to the use of language, images and symbols as a means to marginalize and disqualify women as political actors. Often normalized, these dynamics serve to maintain gender hierarchies, undermining democracy and eroding the possibilities for women’s political empowerment. In response to the question of how to solve the problem of violence against women in politics, researchers offer a solution in the form of a comprehensive approach to addressing this sort of violence.

Political psychology and the study of LGBTQI+ groups, politics, and policy: Existing research and future directions

AbstractSocial science interest in LGBTQI+ politics and policy has grown in the 21st century. Likewise, the political opportunity structure for LGBTQI+ activists has changed significantly, with historical expansions of legal protections only to be followed by the current period of backlash and retrenchment. In this article, we outline existing and potential research in LGBTQI+ politics and policy employing theoretical perspectives from political psychology. Promising advances in the study of LGBTQI+ politics and policy draw on framework and theories grounded in social and political psychology. Nevertheless, we also identify several significant gaps in the literature including the lack of focus on intersectional perspectives, subpopulations such as intersex people and those born with differences in sexual development, and the psychology of LGBTQI+ people and its relevance for their political attitudes and behavior.

Медии, медийна култура, комуникации: процеси и трансформации

Abstract: This study aims to explore various scholarly perspectives on defining the concept of media culture and its significance for media, social, and cultural development. The theoretical review presents relevant theories, concepts, ap¬proaches, and important themes in the field of media culture. It argues for the necessity of a coherent theory of media transformation and media culture. The hypothesis posits that modern technologies utilizing artificial intelligence are not equivalent to human capabilities but are increasingly encroaching upon tradi¬tio¬n¬ally human domains such as language, religion, art, and politics. The conclusions drawn from the theoretical review and critical reading are applicable to several scientific fields. Media transformation often involves conflicts and is accom¬panied by crises. Therefore, media transformation can be seen as a process of transitioning from the old to the new. It expresses a new experience over time, accompanied by crises that arise from changes in technical, social, and political structures. These crises lead to a profound transformation in the media system and represent a turning point for the phenomenon of media culture as a social practice constructed by the media, through which meaning is created via different forms of communication. Keywords: transformation, media, media culture, media competence, culture, technology

Mathematical Model of an Electoral Process and Predicting of Outcome

We developed and analysed a mathematical model to study the dynamics of an electoral process and predict the outcome in Nigeria with three political parties as major actors. We model the ruling party; major opposition party and minority opposition parties. The model includes party campaigners of the three political parties and a class of eligible voters. The model also incorporates the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), electoral observers, judiciary, security personnel and thugs. The influx of voters into the system is determined by the registration rate of voter cards. The model’s interest lies in the measure of positive influence that the party campaigners who eligible voters to join their party. With this, the model mirrors election’s outcome and the movement of voters between the three groups of political parties involved. The model has proven that the pattern of election’s outcome for each political party is affected by the defection of party members and lack of policy consistency. We determine the equilibria analytically and discuss the stability of the system. Numerical simulations are graphed in combination with curve fitting to compare each party’s performances over the years. The result shows that no political party remains in power steadily from 2007 to 2019. Thus, the prediction of elections outcome to the political space of any region in Nigeria depends on political party structures and voters’ decisions.

Reperkusije petooktobarskih promena 2000. godine u svetlu dokumenata, memoara i svedočenja

Drawing upon documents, memoirs, testimonies, and scholarly literature, this study elucidates the dynamics underlying the October 5th alterations in 2000 within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia. „The Fifth October“ refers to a sudden shift in political authority driven by compounded socio-political, economic, and societal tensions, alongside external influences. These multifaceted political and security upheavals, culminating on October 5, 2000, exhibited characteristics akin to a „colored revolution“, signifying a change in power dynamics without altering the prevailing political structure or formal power mechanisms. While temporal detachment affords a more impartial inquiry, the analysis contends with entrenched political narratives, oscillating between glorification and complete denial of the significance of October 5th.

STATE FORMATIONS IN ANCIENT TURKIC STEPPE SOCIETIES

The Turks are one of the oldest nations of the world, and there is evidence that they had established states very early in their history. The masses of the Turks living a nomadic life in the steppes had formed political structures diff erent from the state systems of settled societies, and we can call these "steppe states". The most important feature of the steppe states was that they did not have fi xed centers and ruled over expansive territories using their well-trained armies. Nomadic steppe states were unions of tribes. They were established not by settled states or cities, but by the gathering of nomads who had the power of war. A family with authority torule ("kut" in ancient Turkic), which was received from God and could be held by legitimacy, established the state. The strength of the centralized structure depended on the ability to intervene in the remote corners of the state; otherwise, the dynamics of the steppe would bring about the rebellion of the connected tribes. The Turkic state existed in tribes formed by families connected to each other by blood kinship, and the state emerged from the tight, disciplined cooperation among these tribes. This gave the state a military character. Since the soldiers, horses and weapons were always ready for war, the expansion of the state was inevitable. Starting from the Huns until the 9th century, the center of these great states, which had a nomadic structure before Islam came onto the scene, was Ötüken, which was originally thought to be in the Orkhun Valley. After the 9th-10th centuries, Turkic states were established by Muslim horse warriors who combined urban and nomadic steppe traditions, making rich trade networks their political centers.

“We’re sinking”: a qualitative interview-based study on stakeholder perceptions of structural and process limitations to the Canadian healthcare system

BackgroundDespite longstanding efforts and calls for reform, Canada’s incremental approach to healthcare changes has left the country lagging behind other OECD nations. Reform to the Canadian healthcare system is essential to develop a higher performing system. This study sought to gain a deeper understanding of the views of Canadian stakeholders on structural and process deficiencies and strategies to improve the Canadian healthcare system substantially and meaningfully.MethodsWe conducted individual, ~ 45-minute, semi-structured virtual interviews from May 2022 to August 2022. Using existing contacts and snowball sampling, we targeted one man and one woman from five regions in Canada across four stakeholder groups: (1) public citizens; (2) healthcare leaders; (3) academics; and (4) political decision makers. Interviews centered on participants’ perceptions of the state of the current healthcare system, including areas where major improvements are required, and strategies to achieve suggested enhancements; Donabedian’s Model (i.e., structure, process, outcomes) was the guiding conceptual framework. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and de-identified, and inductive thematic analysis was performed independently and in duplicate according to published methods.ResultsThe data from 31 interviews with 13 (41.9%) public citizens, 10 (32.3%) healthcare leaders, 4 (12.9%) academics, and 4 (12.9%) political decision makers resulted in three themes related to the structure of the healthcare system (1. system reactivity; 2. linkage with the Canadian identity; and 3. political and funding structures), three themes related to healthcare processes (1. staffing shortages; 2. inefficient care; and 3. inconsistent care), and three strategies to improve short- and long-term population health outcomes (1. delineating roles and revising incentives; 2. enhanced health literacy; 3. interdisciplinary and patient-centred care).ConclusionCanadians in our sample identified important structural and process limitations to the Canadian healthcare system. Meaningful reforms are needed and will require addressing the link between the Canadian identity and our healthcare system to facilitate effective development and implementation of strategies to improve population health outcomes.

Koloniale Laster

Abstract In this article, Carlos Pereda introduces the concept of “colonial reason” and explores how philosophical practices and modes of thought are entwined with colonial political structures of exploitation, exclusion, and oppression. Pereda argues that philosophy in Latin America risks perpetuating and reinforcing the colonial gesture, either by turning to the European centers of thought (thus pursuing debates that always take place elsewhere) or by isolating itself and idealising the “own.” According to Pereda, both approaches fail to dismantle colonial violence within philosophy. In his alternative approach, Pereda outlines principles and methodological criteria for the decolonisation of reason and philosophy. He emphasises the importance of methodological prudence that discerns between innocent, paralysing, and strategic uses of identity expressions and advocates for modes of reading and argumentation that conceive philosophy as an inclusive and ongoing dialogue. In Pereda’s terminology, this entails fostering “permeable reason” that manifests itself through “nomadic thinking,” a form of thinking that is capable of questioning itself and being questioned.

Network dynamics of civil society: a longitudinal study in Malaysia amidst changing political opportunity structures

Network dynamics of civil society: a longitudinal study in Malaysia amidst changing political opportunity structures

Feminists for a new Constitution in Chile: forging progressive alliances in times of crisis

This article explores the impact and influence of the feminist movement in Chile on the draft of feminist progressive ideas in the Constitutional process of 2021, emerging as a consequence of the social uprising of 2019. Central to this analysis is the pivotal role played by what I term ‘feminists-in-movement’ and ‘feminists-in-power’, delineating the common narratives between grassroots feminist organisations and those individuals advocating within formal political structures, such as political parties and governmental bodies. While the Constitutional draft embodied numerous feminist perspectives, this article focuses on elucidating the feminist political influence by analysing two key proposals included in the 2021 Constitutional draft: care rights and gender-focused politics. The proposals serve as exemplars illustrating the power of political collaboration in pushing progressive agendas during societal upheaval. By dissecting these proposals, this article underlines the significance of forging alliances between different feminist factions, underscoring their collective ability to advance transformative policies during moments of crisis.

Pedagogical Competence in Bulgarian Higher Education in the Middle of the Twentieth Century

After the end of WWII, Bulgaria has become a part of the East Bloc for a long time. Under the strong influence of USSR, communist regime was imposed in Bulgaria and the country’s political, social and educational structures were radically changed by the ideology of this regime. The transformation in all educational institutions turns them into a strong factor about the building of socialism in Bulgaria. This reflects on the higher pedagogical education and the nature of the of the teachers' education, especially their pedagogical competence. The aim of this research is to present the processes to the transformation and the imposition of a new concept for the content of higher pedagogical education. The research is based on the original documents for educational policy and practice. The research centres on the characteristics of the communist (socialist) pedagogy. The detailed analysis shows that the political realities influence the conceptual set-up and functional goals of the higher pedagogical education.

Ecosystem-based management approaches for watershed conservation and geosustainability

When contributors' goals and legislative and political structures vary, as they often do in the case of worldwide fish populations, it becomes more challenging to implement ethical fishing tactics. Canada, the United States, and Mexico all fish from Pacific regions anchovies in the California Modern. Climate-driven numbers and geographic dynamics may pollute the waters of collaborative aquaculture and lead to overloading. This research expands upon prior works using a game theoretic model of Tran's boundary sardine fisheries in different climatic conditions to account for ecological links. More significant economic advantages accrue from cooperation fishing tactics that consider the mackerel's role as feed for other species in the natural system, as opposed to plans that merely take note of the worth of mackerel harvests to a particular fishing nation. The maximum environmental benefit is obtained at a fishery rate for sardines barely less than the sardine Fishery Management Safe Yield. Ecological-based control of fisheries can increase sustainability and profits, but only if investors and policy makers consider the ecology in business-applicable models. Understanding and adapting to the fast alterations in habitat distributions due to climate change and designing ways to achieve viable and lucrative fishery amidst altering environments will necessitate an increased emphasis on ecosystem-based governance.

Biocultural and social determinants of ill health and early mortality in a New Mexican paediatric autopsy sample.

Hispanic children have higher odds of growth stunting than non-Hispanic White children. Native American children die younger and have higher odds of respiratory diseases and porous lesions than Hispanic and non-Hispanic Whites. Rural/urban location does not significantly impact age at death, but housing type does. Individuals who lived in trailers/mobile homes had earlier ages at death. When intersections between housing type and housing location are considered, children who were poor and from impoverished areas lived longer than those who were poor from relatively well-off areas. Children's health is shaped by factors outside their control. The children included in this study embodied experiences of social and ELS and did not survive to adulthood. They provide the most sobering example of the harm that social factors (structural racism/discrimination, socioeconomic, and political structures) can inflict.

Examining the Impact of Religion on Civilization: Insights from Ibn Khaldun and Arnold Toynbee's Theories

This paper examines the impact of religion on civilization through the perspectives of two prominent scholars, Ibn Khaldun and Arnold Toynbee. The paper provides an overview of Toynbee's theory of comparative civilizations, highlighting his emphasis on the comparability of diverse societies and his rejection of the notion of inherent superiority or inferiority among civilizations. The paper also explores Ibn Khaldun's cyclical theory of the rise and fall of civilizations, which emphasizes the role of religion in shaping the fortunes of societies. This study utilizes a comparative methodology to analyze the viewpoints of Ibn Khaldun and Arnold Toynbee on the impact of religion on civilization. The work explores the perspectives of individuals on social unity, governing systems, and the development of culture. It utilizes knowledge from their writings and historical circumstances to clarify the complex connection between religion and human communities. The paper investigates the impact of religious beliefs on the rise and fall of civilizations, drawing on insights from both Toynbee and Ibn Khaldun. It examines how religion has influenced the development of civilizations, including its role in shaping cultural values, political structures, and economic systems. The paper also explores how religion has contributed to the decline of civilizations, including through religious conflicts and the erosion of social cohesion. Overall, the paper provides a comparative analysis of the role of religion in civilization and society, drawing on the insights of two influential scholars. It highlights the importance of understanding the complex interplay between religion and civilization, and how religious beliefs have shaped the fortunes of societies throughout history.

Teachers’ and parents’ perspectives on citizenship education in Turkey: Consensus and disagreements

Citizenship education (CE) in Turkey holds a pivotal role in shaping the civic consciousness of forthcoming generations. This study employs Q methodology to analyze the perspectives of teachers and parents regarding CE in Turkey, examining their viewpoints in the context of the political structure. The research reveals both consensus and disagreement among teachers and parents. Despite significant differences between teachers and parents, a consensus emerges on the importance of reinforcing national identity through CE. Moreover, there is a prevalent perspective on citizenship that exhibits limited tolerance for differences. The perspectives identified in the study reflect the political polarization present in Turkey. Some perspectives adopt a nationalist understanding rooted in Islamic foundations, influenced by the political power in the country, while others adhere to a secular nationalism based on the principles of Kemalism. These findings underscore the necessity for all facets of CE to embrace a more comprehensive perspective that promotes tolerance and democratic values.

Western Domination, Destructive Governance, and the Perpetual Development Crisis in the Arab Region

This article presents a theoretical view that describes how the rooted Western imperial political structure in the Arab region has trapped the latter in a perpetual development crisis. It follows a de facto analysis and contends that Western imperialism has maintained a counter-development of Arab governance since the mid-19th century, which has resulted in a persistent economic deficiency in the region. This article discusses why Washington Consensus endeavors have failed to deliver the promised results in the development of the region, and argues that it has condoned the principal problem, which is the foreign de facto hostile Western strategic rule that has an inherent disinterest in achieving comprehensive development in the Arab region. This article provides an argument against the views that blame the Arab’s economic failures on domestic institutional factors, and maintains that the foreign Western hostile domination is the primary source of the lasting backwardness in the Arab region. This article defines the West as the consortium of European and North American nations that have had imperial enterprises in the Arab region in the modern period. The most notable of these nations are the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

Urban Political Structure and Inequality: Political Economy Lessons from Early Modern German Cities

What was the impact of urban political structure on preindustrial wealth inequality? I document that more closed political institutions were associated with higher inequality in a panel of early-modern German cities. To investigate the mechanisms behind that macro-relationship, I construct a unique individual-level panel dataset on personal wealth and political office-holding in the city-state of Nördlingen (1579–1700). I employ a difference-in-differences setting to show that political elites enriched themselves substantially, increasing inequality. To address endogeneity concerns, I exploit the Thirty-Years’ War as a shock to elites’ potential for enrichment from public office. Officials manipulated this crisis to enrich themselves further.

Проблемы реализации принципов социальной ответственности бизнеса в России

Business social responsibility is a form of self–regulation of business, which is aimed at achieving social, environmental, and philanthropic goals jointly with society and at the same time contributing to strengthening the brand's reputation. The principles of Business Social responsibility (SOB), or corporate social responsibility of business organizations, are now steadily spreading around the world, involving new countries and organizations - from small enterprises to multinational companies. Although the principles of the SOB are uniform, they acquire the characteristics of the country whose companies implement them in their activities. Priorities in the development of the state, the political structure, the state of the economy in the country, and key global problems leave their mark. In Russia, the concept of CSR has appeared relatively recently, at the moment there is an active process of forming an integrated approach to this phenomenon, which causes the emergence of a significant number of problems related to various aspects of the process under consideration. The purpose of the study is to analyze the dynamics of the development of social responsibility of Russian business through the prism of non–financial reports provided and to formulate the main problems of CSR implementation at the present stage. Research results: the concept, essence and basic principles of corporate social responsibility are considered, the main stages of the formation of CSR principles in Russia are studied. The dynamics of the provision of non-financial reports over the past 10 years has been analyzed, the structure of the submitted reports has been evaluated by industry characteristic of companies and by the share of organizations providing reports on a regular basis. The main disadvantages of the introduction of CSR principles from the point of view of entrepreneurship are studied. The main problems of CSR implementation at the current stage of development of the Russian economy are formulated and disclosed in detail. In the final part of the work, the main advantages of forming an integrated approach to the concept of CSR at the national level are formed, the main advantages of this process are presented.