Political Structures Research Articles

Assembling Differences

In the Peruvian Amazon’s lower Marañón basin, the prospect of an indigenous assembly appears unlikely: how can previously semi-nomadic groups, historically immersed in recurrent warfare, come together in a cohesive political entity? This transformation is undoubtedly a product of historical processes, greatly influenced by Western political structures and legal frameworks. However, does this shift erase the traditional conflicts among Amazonian groups? The criteria defining indigenous identity and collective action still bear traces of past hostilities, albeit reshaped by indigenous political dynamics. This article draws from the ethnography of a federation assembly to delve into the nuances between fragmentation and unity. Through the lens of assembly issues, it seeks to uncover both the ruptures and continuities defining contemporary indigenous communities.

Political cycles, fiscal policy and capital flight in Africa

PurposeThis paper examined the interactive role of Political Cycles on the relationship between Fiscal Policy and Capital Flight in Africa.Design/methodology/approachA two-step System Generalized Methods of Moment empirical estimator was employed. This study used data on 40 African countries from 2009 to 2018.FindingsThe findings revealed that the interaction between political structures and fiscal policy is positive and significant, indicating that fiscal policies during election periods or different regimes would increase capital flight. The study found that political cycles positively affect capital flight, indicating that election periods and possible government changes promote capital flight activities. The tension and volatile atmosphere characterizing election periods in most African countries cause investors to use all alternatives, including illegal systems, to fly funds to a potentially stable economy.Practical implicationsThis study recommends that government and policymakers maintain fiscal discipline during election years and enact pragmatic policies to ensure the continuity of critical fiscal policies to promote business climate and economic stability, especially when there is a change in government.Originality/valueThis study contributes to capital flight literature in two forms. One, the study, to the best knowledge of the authors, is the first to proxy tax with corporate tax (a sound proxy for tax within the business space). Also, this study is the first to empirically show that elections worsen the effect of fiscal policy on capital flight in Africa.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2024-0130

Macedonia’s Interests in Thrace and Conflicts with Athens

From the late sixth century BC on, close connections between the political actors of Thrace, Hellespontine Phrygia, Persia, Athens, and, during their times of Greek supremacy, Sparta and Thebes are attested. When Macedonia advanced to the Hellespontine sphere, the basic understanding was ultimately disturbed. Aiming at controlling both sides of the straits, Philip could take the Phrygian satraps at the climax of their influence as an example and pursue a mirror-image policy. This paper explores the ways Philip’s connection with Artabazos may have provided him with insights into the political networks and structures in the area. It also considers the history of family ties between the Argeads and the family of Artabazos

The role of Macedonia in the decline of Aiakid monarchy in Molossia/Epeiros

From the late 6th century BC on, close connections between the political actors of Thrace, Hellespontine Phrygia, Persia, Athens, and, during their times of Greek supremacy, Sparta and Thebes are attested. When Macedonia advanced to the Hellespontine sphere, the basic understanding was ultimately disturbed. Aiming at controlling both sides of the straits, Philip could take the Phrygian satraps at the climax of their influence as an example and pursue a mirror-image policy. This paper explores the ways Philip’s connection with Artabazos may have provided him with insights into the political networks and structures in the area. It also considers the history of family ties between the Argeads and the family of Artabazos.

Social Crisis and Islamist Transformation: Iraq’s Sadrism Through Bourdieu’s Homology

Abstract This article theorizes Islamist transformations by mapping the evolution of Sadrism in contemporary Iraq through a period of state collapse, war, and political consolidation. Using Pierre Bourdieu, this perspective emphasizes how field-based crises can synchronize and amplify homological relations between the deep-lying structures which differentiate religious from political spheres of Islamist activity. The article identifies these homological processes and structures and explains how they have patterned underlying morphologies of Sadrist politics. This differs from existing literature on Islamist movements where religion has often been contextualized in terms of material social conditions, or priority ascribed to political struggles and structures and emphasis placed on surface-level symbolic practices. By contrast, a Bourdieusian lens provides a theoretically robust approach to study the relationship between religion and politics, and an evaluative framework for Islamist transformations which is less normative than some alternatives and more generalizable beyond the context of Islamism and Islam.

Consequences of Technology Path-Dependence and Lock-In for Latecomers in Economic Development

Economic development is generally understood to reflect an expansion of technological capability. Technological change is path dependent. Technology systems lock in on standards. These factors impose constraints on latecoming developing countries, where agents have to master processes that are compatible with established standards in order to integrate into a global technology system. Their integration, furthermore, tends to happen under a specific socio-economic umbrella, to wit the business, economic, and political power structures of the global north. The constraints on latecomers that path dependence and lock-in suggest in this context impose potential obstacles for an instrumental use of the potential that economic development offers for general human development. An integration into global production structures can result in a perpetuation of disadvantaged positions unless specific, for instance geopolitical, factors counter technological and institutional dynamics. This analysis of economic development processes complements results formulated under dependency theory and financialization frameworks.

The Role of City Brands in National Branding

The perception of a country as a brand is influenced by various factors, including the global economy, political structure, and location. However, the literature lacks sufficient information on identifying the items that can strengthen these variables. This research argues that it is crucial to identify the distinguishing features of each city and use them to create a country brand model from the collective city brands. The study employed a survey method, collecting 1,637 questionnaires from three distinct cities in Türkiye. The brand identities of these cities, as perceived by their citizens, were then analyzed. The obtained data was used to propose a model enabling Türkiye to establish a brand identity from local to general. The research revealed that although the three cities share similarities, their citizens perceive different sub-dimensions of their respective city brands, which are interrelated in various ways. The sub-dimensions of city identity as perceived by the citizens of the three cities form the basis of the proposed country branding model. In future research, it is recommended that the model be re-examined for different target groups and different countries.

The Pacific Islands and Chinese power as presence, influence, and interference

Abstract Dominant debates about China’s growing presence in the Pacific Islands – through infrastructure, aid, trade, and investment – suggest that Chinese material power directly translates to influence and effective interference in Pacific states’ domestic and foreign affairs. These perspectives fail to clarify the causal link between Chinese economic statecraft and Pacific governments’ alignment with Beijing’s interests. They also deny Pacific people agency, overlooking how power relations are mediated by Pacific state and non-state actors operating across complex political and socio-economic structures. We challenge such rationalist conceptualisations of Chinese power by developing a constructivist taxonomy of power as presence (dormant capability), influence (socialisation), and interference (incentives), and applying it to the Melanesian subregion. We argue that Chinese power is not merely material, causal, and unidirectional. Chinese power can also (re)shape the identities and interests of Pacific elites and publics in a constitutive manner, potentially aligning their ideas about substantive norms, rules, and practices guiding their foreign relations with Chinese ‘core interests’ and perspectives on regional and global politics.

The case for geography in nursing practice.

The discipline of geography is an increasingly necessary lens required to understand population-level diseases. Syndemics, or co-occurring diseases or epidemics within a specific population, are contextualized by place-preexisting social, economic, and political structures. Nurse practitioners are well-positioned to critically assess the impact of geography on patient health and well-being. This perspective provides a brief summary of syndemic crises, with a case example in the West Virginia coalfields. The position of this paper is one that supports geography, in addition to social determinants of health, as a framework for syndemics. A geographic perspective provides a more comprehensive picture of marginalized populations and regions facing the phenomenon. Given the significance of holistic nursing, attention to the role of geography in syndemics provides an increased dimension of care and treatment.

EAEU Role in the Evolution of Multipolar Structure in World Politics

The global political system is undergoing a transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world. Scientific discussions are underway regarding the emergence or formation of new poles in the world, including the potential development of a pole through the integration structure of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Attention is focused on the changing conditions of the global economy and their influence on the development strategies of regional integration associations. The necessity to adapt the development strategies of the EAEU to new trends, including the shift in the economic paradigm and the reassessment of the role of integration process participants, is argued.Aim. To justify strategies and approaches to building an economic pole based on the EAEU.Tasks. Examining various theoretical approaches to the concept of multipolarity, poles, and centers of power. Investigating interpretations of global and regional leadership. Analyzing the concept of regional leadership considering the role of the EAEU as an important element of the new world political and global economic system.Methods. Comparative analysis of vectors and development strategies of regional integration associations. The civilizational approach illuminates not only the key economic and political aspects of regional leadership but also the cultural and civilizational factors of regional integration. The deductive method and synthesis allowed for the formulation of new approaches to understanding the economic component of the EAEU pole.Results. It has been established that one of the possible and most effective ways to form the economic component of the EAEU pole is to consider the formation of a new technological paradigm in the Union’s development strategy amidst the transformation and transition to a new economic paradigm.Conclusions. Framing the EAEU as an independent pole, based on the concept of changing economic paradigms, implies a rethinking or establishment of institutions based on principles of non-discrimination, mutual respect for sovereignty and national interests, as well as the establishment of mutually beneficial relations with other states. Such an approach to pole-building is a key step in transitioning to the sixth technological paradigm.

Relations between the State and Business in the Conditions of the “Developmental State”

Aim. To identify the mechanism of state regulation of private enterprise initiative operating in the “developmental states” of East and Southeast Asia, which ensures consistently high rates of economic growth and an increase in public welfare.Tasks. Based on a comparative analysis, to determine the characteristic features of the model of relations between the state and business in the “developmental states”, to reveal its strengths and weaknesses, the role of the ruling elite in its functioning.Methods. The central concept is the “developmental state”, the elements of which are revealed by Zia Onish, the concepts of “planned-rational state” (C. Johnson), “built-in autonomy” (P. Evans), “neopatrimonial state”, “cohesive capitalist state” and “fragmented multi-class state” (A. Koli). The model of the relationship between the state and business is based on works related to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.Results. It has been established that in “developmental states” the relations between the state and business are built into the political structure of society, in which centralized governance allows states to ensure political stability, reduce transaction costs for private entities, motivate entrepreneurship and create additional opportunities for economic development, and as a result - increasing the welfare of society.Conclusions. The example of the countries of East and Southeast Asia shows that the success of a “developmental state” is possible only when the political settlement enables the ruling elites to have the law enforcement capabilities to conduct an effective, nationally-oriented industrial policy necessary for the further improvement of the country’s technological capabilities. The rapid economic development of “developmental states”, which has led to talk of a “miracle”, raises the question of the possibility of using this experience in other regions of the world, including the EAEU countries.

The Effects of Taxes on Income Distribution Justice

One of the most important economic problems that countries have faced from the past to the present is income inequality. Income distribution is an important indicator that allows us to understand the social and political structures of societies by revealing how the income gap between the rich and the poor in a country changes. Thus, income redistribution or income justice is one of the important goals of fiscal policy. Taxes are also important intervention tools that economic management has in achieving this goal. In this context, this study aims to examine the relationships between different types of taxes and income distribution in the Turkish economy during the period from 2002 to 2022 by using markov regime switching analysis method. The analysis results indicate that, during the period covered by the study, indirect taxes have a positive effect on income distribution, while taxes based on declaration have a detrimental effect on income distribution.

China's Response to the Expansion of U.S. Influence in Asia: The Intersection of Religion and Governance in Afghanistan (2011-2019)

Research Problem: The article addresses China’s concerns regarding the expansion of U.S. influence in Asia, particularly focusing on Afghanistan's strategic importance in the geopolitical competition between the two powers. The U.S. military presence and Afghanistan’s religiously influenced governance pose a significant challenge for China, which must navigate both political and religious dynamics to secure its interests in the region. This research investigates how these factors shape China’s foreign policy and its interactions with Afghanistan. Research purposes: The study aims to explore how China’s foreign policy towards Afghanistan has evolved in response to the geopolitical and religious landscape influenced by U.S. actions. Specifically, it examines China’s strategic calculations regarding Afghanistan’s religious governance and how this affects its efforts to engage with Afghan political actors, such as the Taliban, while maintaining its broader geopolitical and economic goals, including the Belt and Road Initiative. Research methods: The research employs a historical and analytical approach, drawing on data from 2011 to 2019 to examine China's foreign policy shifts in response to U.S. actions in Afghanistan. The study relies on secondary sources, including policy papers, academic works, and governmental reports, to assess China’s evolving role and strategies concerning the religiously influenced political structures in Afghanistan. Results and Discussion: The findings show that China’s foreign policy towards Afghanistan is significantly influenced by its concerns over U.S. military presence and alliances in the region. China’s engagement with Afghanistan has been shaped by the need to navigate the religious-political dynamics, particularly with the rise of religiously motivated actors such as the Taliban. China’s strategic responses include strengthening diplomatic ties, economic investments, and engaging with both Afghan religious and political leaders to secure its geopolitical interests. The article discusses how China's secular approach to governance contrasts with Afghanistan’s religious influences, affecting its foreign policy strategies. Research Implications and Contributions: This study contributes to the broader understanding of how religion, politics, and governance intersect in Afghanistan’s international relations, particularly with China. It provides insights into how China adapts its foreign policy to account for religiously motivated governance, while also pursuing its geopolitical goals in the region. The research offers valuable perspectives for policymakers and scholars on the interplay between religion, governance, and foreign policy in a strategically significant context like Afghanistan.

The Changing Role of Leaders in Chinese Foreign Policy Making Process

China has experienced a long period of rapid economic development. As a result, China has become one of the world's most important economic actors. The transformations China has experienced have made the foreign policy-making process quite complex. In the Chinese political system, leaders have always played a critical role in foreign policy making. However, the role of the leader has become more important since Xi Jinping came to power. This article mainly examines how Chinese leaders, and Xi Jinping in particular, play a role in foreign policy making. This study basically seeks to answer the question to what extent Chinese leaders have power and influence in foreign policy making. China's current economic and political structure does not allow leaders to come to power who would cause major upheavals in the overall direction of the country. This study basically argues that no matter how powerful they try to be, Chinese leaders have limited power and influence in foreign policy making. This study is based on constructivism’s analysis of the agent-structure problem.

POPULIST POLITICS IN PAKISTAN: A CASE STUDY OF PAKISTAN THREEK -E- INSAF (PTI) FROM 2018-2023

Populism, although not a new political ideology, has witnessed a significant resurgence since the late 20th century. Emerging initially among Southern sharecroppers and tenant farmers in the United States during the 1880s, populism has since manifested globally, characterized by its opposition to elites and its appeal to the "common people." This thesis explores the nature of populism, its ideological foundations, and its impact on contemporary politics, with a particular focus on Pakistan's political landscape. The study critically examines the populist strategies of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leader Imran Khan, assessing their socio-political and economic consequences from 2018 to 2023. By distinguishing between populist and non-populist politics in Pakistan, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of PTI's rise and its implications for democracy and governance in the region. The analysis reveals the intricate dynamics between populist rhetoric and policy, and their effects on the economic and sociopolitical fabric of Pakistan. Key findings indicate that PTI's populist approach has significantly reshaped political discourse and governance structures, promoting a narrative that pits the "pure people" against the "corrupt elite." The thesis also highlights the broader implications of populism for democratic practices, suggesting that while populism can invigorate political engagement and address genuine grievances, it also poses challenges to pluralism and institutional stability. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of populism in the Pakistani context, offering valuable insights into its potential trajectories and the critical balance required to sustain democratic values amidst rising populist sentiments.

1800 BC – Trade and Transformation in Middle Bronze Age Greece. An Essay on Regionality and Inter-regionality in Middle Bronze Age and Early Mycenaean Aegean

Abstract The article confirms that profound economic, social, and political transformations occurred around 1800 BC on the Greek Mainland and especially on the Peloponnese. We underline that the former century – the 19th century saw the creation of chiefdom societies in parts of the Mainland and consider the 18th century to create the economic, social, and political structures of the Mycenaean state. We have seen that the external relations with the tribes on the Greek Mainland were with the Cyclades, while no relations with Crete are attested during the period of the early shaft graves in Mycenae (MHIIIA). In the Eastern Mediterranean, the 18th century BC saw the fall of the Middle Kingdom in Egypt, the rise of the Assyrian dynasty under Shamshi-Addad, the kingdom of Hammurabi of Babylon, the early Hittite kingdom and the establishment of Troy VIa in northwest Anatolia. We consider this tremendous boom in the Eastern Mediterranean to have inspired the creation of the secondary (‘derivative’) Mycenaean state. The intention is to show that using a high-resolution diachronic time scale makes it possible to create a narrative of gradual social, economic, and political transformations from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age in the Aegean area. The article is divided into two sections. First, a summary of the most recent results describing chronology and social transformations in Middle Bronze Age and early Mycenaean Greece (‘status analyses’) and second, a conclusion estimating what these data tell us about the origin of the Mycenaean society. To reach this conclusion, we have constructed an evolutionary model in order to establish a gradual development of Mycenaean society. The conclusion based on our evolutionary model seems to advocate for a strong influence from the eastern Mediterranean countries, creating the social and economic structure of the Mycenaean society.

From European Roots to Settler Soil: Adapting Foucault’s Biopolitics to Canadian Settler Colonialism

This article examines the applicability of Michel Foucault’s biopolitical theory within the Canadian settler colonial context. Foucault’s concept of biopolitics, which describes the shift from sovereign power to the regulation of life and populations, is grounded in European historical contexts. In contrast, the Canadian settler colonial experience diverges significantly, necessitating a re-examination of biopolitics. The article argues that in Canada, the relationship between sovereignty, population, and territory does not follow the European model described by Foucault. Instead, Crown sovereignty established its control through legal mechanisms that defined ‘Indian’ status, displacing Indigenous territorialities and political structures. By analysing the evolution of ‘Indian’ status within the Indian Act (1985), the article highlights the centrality of law in constructing settler colonial biopolitics. This legal framework was used to manage and assimilate Indigenous populations, reflecting a unique biopolitical strategy aimed at creating a relationship to territory and population. The study contributes to a more specific understanding of biopolitics in settler colonial contexts, emphasizing the distinct role of law in these processes.

Business deserts politics under weak institutions: evidence from Russia, 2003–2010

Abstract Businesspeople are expected to invest in political connections when the institutions are weak. Using an original dataset from Russia in 2003–2010, we document changes in political connections of the richest businesspeople and show that within the institutional environment of a fledgling autocracy political engagement stops paying off, and the businesspeople retreat from politics. The businesspeople’s political disengagement reveals their insider assessment of the quality of Russian political institutions, indicating that as autocracy consolidated in Russia, its political institutional structure was in decay. This finding contributes to our understanding of authoritarian institutions, suggesting that even though autocracies nowadays might be institutionalized to a much higher degree, in the short-run autocracy is still detrimental to institutionalization.

An examination of Pacific nations ‘legislatures’ interactions with Supreme Audit Institutions and the impact on audit quality

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report a study of public accountability within the political and economic structures that characterise Pacific nations. The authors examine audit quality with respect to Pacific Island nations’ governmental reporting to investigate ways to improve accountability in a region that is economically and environmentally challenged. Design/methodology/approach The authors examine whether audit quality in Pacific Island nations is associated with the practical arrangements of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), taking into account external factors. The “practical arrangements” include the independence of a SAI (regarding its staffing and funding) and also the requirement for it to report to the Executive. The financial setting in each jurisdiction has been seen to impact the quality of financial reporting and auditing. The authors examine mediating factors such as income, political stability and education that may also impact audit quality. This study uses publicly available databases as well as jurisdictional annual reports and the associated audit opinions and management letters (where available). Jurisdictional reports on public financial management were also analysed. Findings The authors find that public sector audit quality is low in many Pacific countries, concluding that public accountability is impaired. While the authors recommend changes to the practical arrangements that can improve audit quality, the mediating factors also impact audit quality. They argue that a renewed focus on financial capability could enhance public accountability in these nations, but there are limiting factors that are difficult to overcome. Practical implications There are problems in providing accountability for public sector activities in Pacific nations. The authors suggest that improvements to the appointment and funding of SAIs to enhance their independence will help to reduce these issues. Originality/value The authors present a framework for analysing SAIs’ practical arrangements and audit quality that includes variables that may mediate the effects of these practical arrangements. They apply the model to 20 Pacific jurisdictions, showing that the practical arrangements of a SAI directly impact audit quality. Nevertheless, there are instances where audit quality is poor despite good practical arrangements, implying that mediating factors also play a substantial role in determining audit quality of a SAI.

Navigating the Secular Landscape: Religious Discourse on Transgender Rights in the United Kingdom

Transgender people face high rates of discrimination and health problems yet supportive policy measures are often opposed, especially by religious organisations adhering to cis-normative theologies. Scholars exploring the links between religion and transgender issues have examined a number of themes, but the way religious actors discursively frame transgender issues remains under-researched. This article contributes to work in this area by using the concept of political opportunity structures to examine the discourse of religious groups on the 2022 Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill. The study shows that arguments were typically framed in secular terms, drawing on the epistemic authority of science and a language of individual rights. Supporting groups used arguments designed to highlight the difficulties that transgender people face. Oppositional groups used themes based on biological essentialism, concern for the well-being of trans people, the risks to cisgendered women and warnings about the negative impact on society and religious freedoms.