Political Tensions Research Articles

Blind Game: An Interactive Installation About How We Can Exorcise Memories of a Visual Disability

In this paper, we recover an interactive artwork developed by one of the authors to provide possible ways of inserting the playful and artistic perspective into augmented human studies. In this way, a perspective based on play and interactive digital fiction can inspire us to look at other ways of using digital technologies that focus on improving human capabilities. The interactive installation Blind Game brings us a personal, visual, and playful perspective of a person who, at the age of three years, was diagnosed with amblyopia, revealing the subjective world of the character P.. Created in 2001, this installation was an interactive conceptual artwork developed by a young artist who wanted to exorcise the memories of her diagnosis of amblyopia and the tensions caused by the political instability in her home country. Through interaction and playful strategies, the artist sought to abstract herself from the reality around her, reorganizing her subjective relationship with visual impairment and the political tensions of a transition period between a dictatorial government and a democratic one.

Manifestations of gender stereotyped patterns in activities in digital environments of Chilean university students

Introduction: gender stereotypes are transmitted from generation to generation and become naturalized, making it difficult to deconstruct gender roles. Digital environments are not free of these stereotypical patterns, perpetuating values ​​and social roles related to gender. The objective of this research is to identify activities in digital environments of Chilean university students that may be associated with gender stereotypical behaviors.Methods: 324 women and 185 men aged 18 to 27 were evaluated through a questionnaire with a six-level Likert scale, where information was collected on the frequency with which students provided information and carried out actions on networks. Significant differences between sexes were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U.Results: women are more likely to provide personal information when requested. Men are more likely to use aliases, include avatar photos, and accept strangers into their networks. Women update their profile picture more and check who sees their posts. Men tend to make public more sensitive personal information such as political tendencies and religious beliefs.Conclusions: college students engage in stereotypical gender behavior on digital networks. These stereotypical behaviors condition students' behavior on social networks, leading to a migration from the analog to the digital world in terms of types of behavior, perpetuating social gender roles.

The Impact Of The Blockade And Politics On Health And Social Welfare In Palestine

The political conflict between Israel and Palestine has created a difficult situation for the Palestinian population, with a blockade imposed by Israel and persistent political tensions. The impact of the blockade and politics on the health and social well-being of the Palestinian population requires in-depth research to fully understand its implications. This research aims to analyze the impact of the blockade and politics on physical and mental health, access to health services, and the social welfare of Palestinian society. This research uses the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method to collect and analyze data from various related literature sources. Data was analyzed comprehensively to understand the impact of the blockade and politics on health and social well-being in Palestine. The results show that the blockade imposed by Israel has caused a severe health crisis, with increased risks of infectious diseases, shortages of medical equipment, and limited access to health services. In addition, political conflict has also caused an increase in mental disorders among the Palestinian population, as well as disturbing social instability.

Analisis Hukum Kasus Penembakan Pendeta Yeremia Zanambani dalam Perspektif Hak Asasi Manusia

This research aims to analyze in depth the shooting case of Pastor Jeremiah Zanambani from the perspective of law and human rights. In addition, the paper will also discuss the challenges in law enforcement in conflict areas, the social, political, and legal impacts of the shooting cases and provide policy recommendations to prevent the recurrence of state violence cases in the future. The research methods used in the legal analysis of the shooting case of Pastor Jeremiah Zanambani in a human rights perspective can include several key steps. First, the researcher will conduct a detailed case study related to the chronology of events, relevant facts, and social and political context in Papua. The social, political, and legal impact of the shooting of Pastor Jeremiah Zanambani is complex and multifaceted. From public trauma and mistrust, to rising political tensions, to major challenges in law enforcement, all of these aspects show the urgency of the need for reforms and new approaches to dealing with conflict in Papua.

Homophily in Interfaith Marriages in Israel Between Jewish Israeli Men and Arab Israeli Women

This study examines the perspectives of Israeli-Jewish men who are married to Israeli-Arab women. Given religious, ethnic, and political tensions and challenges, romantic relationships between Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs are not common. The homophilic tendency is a common model used to choose a partner based on religious, social, linguistic and educational similarities. This study utilized interpretive phenomenological analysis approach to focus on a unique and rather rare phenomenon in Israel to understand the lived experiences and coping mechanisms of Jewish men who married Christian or Muslim women in Israel. Fifteen Israeli men married to Arab Muslim or Christian Israeli women were included interviewed. Based on the analysis of the findings, several themes were identified which describe how participants utilize a pragmatic approach to bridge family, social, religious and political tensions. These themes strengthen recent studies, which found a certain degree of flexibility toward homophily among Jews and Arabs in Israel.

Variables influencing truth reconciliation commissions to promote post-conflict peacebuilding and statebuilding in Africa: a South African experience

Truth and reconciliation commissions (TRCs) are understood to offer cheap justice, a justice not bound by the law. South African experience in the post-apartheid era shows that they are significant tools for peacebuilding as well as statebuilding. The experience shows that the use of TRCs has created an authoritative record of what happened; enabled the victims to tell their stories without fear or embarrassment, and recommended legislative, structural and institutional reforms that avoided the repetition of past abuses. Successful peace and statebuilding are based on the above in order to achieve sustainable peace. TRCs promote rule of law, human rights protection, and ensure healing and freedom for all. However, the relapses of conflicts and political tensions, intercommunal hatred and divisions in African countries, create more questions than answers. These continuous issues show that TRCs have instead not resolved conflicts. The paper found that TRCs can only lead to successful peacebuilding and statebuilding if there is willingness on the side of the citizens as well as their political leaders. There is need to learn from the South African experience to ensure that TRCs lead to successful peacebuilding and statebuilding. The paper relied on historical research designed to study TRCs in Africa.

The moral economy of student debt: A pharmacological approach

Over the past three decades, student debt has surged in most English-speaking countries. Despite this trend, enrollment at universities has steadily risen, which testifies to the enduring appeal that higher education still exerts on middle-class individuals and families. Nevertheless, the policies responsible for this growing indebtedness have also stirred up their share of controversy. In an attempt to make sense of these debates, this article focuses mainly on the English and American cases to demonstrate how moral arguments have been put forth both in favor of and against using credit to finance education. Because it shows the ambivalent and unstable nature of the normative principles underpinning debt relations, the concept of moral economy is particularly well suited to discuss this phenomenon. On one hand, it explains how certain ethical expectations seemingly justify the need to incur debt for educational pursuits. On the other hand, it also shows why the perceived legitimacy of student debt eventually comes to be challenged. At its core lies an undecidable choice between antinomic values, as the decision to study on credit involves both a striving for personal autonomy and subjecting oneself to an exploitative relation of dependence. Recognizing this fundamental ambivalence, the article develops a ‘pharmacological approach’ to address the issue of student debt, aiming to better grasp the social and political tensions surrounding higher education in neoliberal societies.

Trade and economic cooperation of the EAEU: state, dynamics, ensuring national security

The relevance of the study lies in the fact that in the context of international political and economic tensions, the role of regional integration is more important than ever. Despite the fact that the EAEU is one of the youngest integration associations in the world, the history of its existence testifies to the importance for both participating countries and third countries and the global economy, as well as conducting joint policies in various spheres of international relations. The article provides an analysis of trade and economic cooperation between the EAEU countries from the point of view of studying the history and causes of its appearance, the current state and development prospects. The current state and features of trade and economic cooperation between the EAEU countries, the main macroeconomic and trade and economic indicators of the EAEU member states are considered. It is shown that since the creation of the EAEU in 2015, measures have been taken and successfully implemented aimed at identifying and gradually eliminating factors hindering the development of integration processes. With the help of the created strategies for the development of the grouping, supranational bodies strive to minimize the influence of internal and external factors on the growth of the economies of the member countries of the union. The EAEU has significant economic and trade, as well as investment potential. According to the authors, it is important for the EAEU countries and the association as a whole to more actively implement measures aimed at maintaining the economic security of the association and the participating countries, which requires new unified approaches to training at the country and regional levels.

Ethno-Graphics: Folklore and Baltic Printmaking in the Period of Late Socialism

Visual representations of folklore and mythology played an ambivalent role in Baltic art and society during late socialism. On the one hand, it was often a safe choice promoted by Soviet national cultural policy; on the other, artwork tapping into national and ethnic identities carried a subversive, anti-Soviet potential. Exploring folkloric themes, Baltic artists of the 1970s developed different strategies to navigate the cultural field between Soviet censorship, folklore revival, modern forms of expression, and resistance to sovietisation in their home countries. The renowned Estonian printmaker Kaljo Põllu (1934–2010) created a powerful fusion of ethnographic research and creative practice to re-imagine Finno-Ugric mythology and build an alternative foundation for Estonian identity. Latvian printmaker Dzidra Ezergaile (1926–2013) laid the groundwork for an ethno- and eco-critical approach towards Soviet modernisation through a novel visual exploration of Latvian folklore motifs. Finally, Lithuanian illustrator and monumental painter Birute Žilytė (b. 1930) revolutionised Lithuanian childhood imagery, providing Lithuanian folklore and myths with bright and brave contemporary forms. A postcolonial reading of Baltic printmaking during late socialism generates an interpretive grid for understanding the role of folklore and folklorism within broader cultural trends and political dispositions. A combination of folklore studies and art history might efficiently contribute also to gender studies and environmental humanities.

Subsidiary CSR Engagement During Bilateral Political Tensions

Subsidiary CSR Engagement During Bilateral Political Tensions

Bilateral Political Tension and MNEs Foreign CSR Reporting at Home

Bilateral Political Tension and MNEs Foreign CSR Reporting at Home

Right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance, system justification, and conservative political ideology as predictors of mental health stigma: The Hungarian case.

Insights from mental health stigma research indicate the importance of societal and political views on mental health perceptions. Most studies originate from typical Western neo-liberal settings and focus on generic mental health issues. Our research explores these associations in Hungary, an understudied post-communist context with significant stigma levels, examining a broad range of stigmas related to both general and three specific mental illnesses: schizophrenia, depression, and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The study aims to connect a wide array of political dispositions to stigma associated with both general and specific mental illnesses, exploring both attitudes and behavioral intentions. We surveyed 492 participants (147 males, 342 females) on their political dispositions, including Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA), Social Dominance Orientation (SDO), general and economic system justification, and conservative political ideology, and their attitudes toward general and specific mental illnesses. Regression analyses identified key political dispositions influencing stigma. RWA was significantly linked to most stigma outcomes, while conservative political ideology showed a selective impact. Other predictors had minimal influence on stigma outcomes. Our findings suggest that perceptions of danger, threat, and unconventionality, as indicated by RWA, are crucial for mental health stigmatization in Hungary. Intervention programs should target these factors, particularly in similar contexts.

Protecting and Protesting Notarial Exclamations and Declarations (Peru, Chile, Seventeenth-Eighteenth Centuries)

The second half of the seventeenth century, and the eighteenth century, were characterized by political tensions between Lima, the seat of government of the Viceroyalty, and the Chilean General Captaincy, which was under its jurisdiction. In this context, a Chilean army captain made a statement before a notary in Madrid contradicting previous statements he had made during a judicial interrogation recorded in Lima two years earlier, in which he criticized the Viceroy of Peru. Considering the declaration made in Madrid, this article analyses a legal concept often recorded in notarial documents, called the exclamación (exclamation), made by men and women in the jurisdictions of Cuzco and Lima (Peru), and Santiago (Chile), during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Exclamations were used by people seeking to protect themselves against future losses or to prevent the misuse of a previous written statement. Thus, they were official notarial deeds with a judicial purpose. Our hypothesis is that these notarial deeds liberated dominated voices. It allows us to delineate several functions of notarial writing, between justice and conscience. We question how truth and memory may or may not emerge from these documents, considering the location and gendering of protection and protest domination. We argue that the time factor is significant and that subalternity is not an inescapable condition.

‘Life Will Be Very Different after the War’: Administrative, Political and Academic Tensions in the Development of Papua New Guinea after the Second World War

ABSTRACTAt the end of the Pacific War (1941–1945) in Papua and New Guinea and the restoration of Australian rule, the Australian Labor government anticipated a self‐governing colony. It was not an act of decolonisation per se. Rather it was a step toward a self‐governing colony under the umbrella of Australia. Independence was for the future. The change of government at the end of 1949, and the replacement of the administrator J.K. Murray in 1952 by Donald Cleland, further weakened the momentum for reform as envisaged by the previous Labor government. Percy Spender, the new Minister for External Affairs and Territories, said that the ‘indigenous inhabitants … will be unable, for many years to come, to play any part in the executive government of the country’. The abandonment of the Ward policy and what it explicitly and implicitly offered was a betrayal of the promises made during and shortly after the Pacifc War, that is, that there would be change for the better and New Guineans would be able to control their destiny.

Biblical reconciliation: Preaching unity in the face of Christian nationalism and political schism

The post-Obama era in the United States has been marked by a deepening political divide, particularly within the Christian community, influenced by Christian nationalism and its entanglement with evangelical theology. This article examines the roots of this divide, tracing its origins to the fusion of White evangelical identity with national identity and the politicization of evangelical beliefs. Drawing on 2 Cor 5:10-20, the article explores the apostle Paul’s emphasis on Christ’s reconciling love and the believer’s role as ambassador of reconciliation. Analyzing the impact of divisive identity politics and ideological polarization on the unity of the Christian community, the article proposes a return to preaching the transformative power of Christ’s love to disentangle believers from political schisms while nurturing unity. The ministry of reconciliation is not merely a theoretical concept but a practical imperative for actively bridging divides and sharing the message of unity in Christ. Through a radical shift in perspective, focusing on Christ’s love rather than ideological positions, a Gospel-centered approach enables navigating political tensions and fosters unity within the body of Christ. Ultimately, preaching unity amid political schisms is not only a theological mandate but essential for embodying the transformative message of the Gospel in a divided world.

The Colonial Era and Beyond

This paper explores the historical and cultural evolution of Korean music from the Japanese colonial period to the contemporary K-pop industry. It examines the impact of Japanese colonial policies on Korean cultural identity and how traditional Korean music served as a form of resistance. Following liberation, American influences significantly shaped the Korean music scene, leading to the emergence of K-pop. The paper discusses the role of early K-pop groups and solo acts, including their strategic entry into the Japanese market. It also highlights the political and economic tensions between Korea and Japan, exemplified by controversies involving K-pop idols. The study underscores the intertwined nature of politics, culture, and history in shaping the global success of K-pop, while also reflecting on the enduring effects of colonialism and international relations on Korean popular music.

Building a Robust Federalism in India: Constitutional Provisions, Practical Challenges, and Pathways to Overcome

This study explores the intricacies of India's federalism, examining both the actual challenges encountered in implementing the system and the legal structure that establishes and governs it. The Indian Constitution aims to establish a balance of authority and responsibility between the central and state governments. It combines unique characteristics of unitary government with federal government. This study looks at the key constitutional provisions and amendments that specify the organizational structure of the federal government, including the division of legislative power, budgetary relationships, and administrative processes. Federalism cannot actually be implemented in India due to significant barriers, despite a constitution designed to maintain a careful balance. Administrative inefficiencies, political tensions, and economic disparities sometimes lead to strained relations between centers and states. This essay looks at these problems, highlighting instances of conflict and cooperation between different levels of government. This study aims to understand the evolution of Indian federalism by a critical analysis of case laws, policy decisions, and intergovernmental discussions. The paper also covers the effects of regionalism, coalition politics, and economic liberalization on the federal framework. The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the practical aspects of constitutional federalism and the necessary modifications to enhance its efficacy by means of an examination of these characteristics. The findings underscore the necessity of continuous deliberation and adaptation to ensure that India's federalism is resilient and responsive to the aspirations of its diverse citizenry.

Examining Qatari humanitarian diplomacy: key features, challenges and prospects

In recent years, Qatar has emerged as a key actor in humanitarian diplomacy (HD), which has received limited academic attention. This paper provides an analysis of Qatar’s engagement with HD, drawing on a literature review and extensive interviews with officials and humanitarian workers in Qatar, observations of state activities and humanitarian agencies, and personal interviews with international humanitarian aid workers. The study reveals Qatar’s unique strategy, characterised by its diplomatic stance and the integrated efforts of its governmental and non-governmental sectors, as foundational to its HD efforts. The study also reports challenges hindering those efforts, namely the impacts of the political tensions, the lack of diplomatic immunity for humanitarian workers, and a scarcity of specialised expertise in HD. These are explored in terms of their implications for the effectiveness of Qatar’s efforts, emphasising the critical need for enhanced supportive frameworks, targeted capacity-building initiatives, and well-defined protocols for HD engagement. To add to the dialogue on HD, this paper reflects on Qatar’s engagement in HD, suggesting that smaller nations can meaningfully contribute when leveraging their strengths and international relationships.

Development, democracy, and dependence in the Southern Cone: political coalitions, stabilizing mechanisms, and their hazards

This article explores the challenge of sustaining development-oriented political coalitions in ‘dependent intermediate democratic economies’ (IDDEs). Scholars have pointed out that the absence of upgrading coalitions in IDDEs, particularly in Latin America, results from weak economic and political institutions and fragmented political support, as well as from the political and social turbulences introduced by economic dependency. Our argument, however, is that some Latin American IDDEs have managed to craft semi-stable political configurations capable of sustaining development and reform processes with relative success. These intermediate coalitions pivot on context-specific stabilization mechanisms that balance institutional, political, and economic fragilities and tensions. To support this argument, we take issue with three countries in Latin America’s Southern Cone – Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay – and distinguish three different types of stabilization mechanism at play in each of these cases: an Argentine-style variant based on the hegemonic role played by a dominant political party, a Chilean-style variant based on elite consensus and the atomization of collective organization, and a Uruguayan-style variant sustained by stable links between and within economic and social sectors. Additionally, we explore how each of these configurations, due to their structure, carry inherent hazards that envision specific trajectories of destabilization.

Tensions in Finland’s ex ante constitutional review: The interplay of politics, law, and media

Abstract Constitutional review has become increasingly subject to heated political debates and struggles. While the constitutionality of laws is often reviewed after the laws have entered into force (ex post), this article examines an ex ante constitutional review assessing the political tensions and struggles typical of it. We examine the Finnish experience, drawing on forty-nine semi-structured interviews among key actors involved in the work of the Constitutional Law Committee (CLC) of the Finnish Parliament, which controls the constitutionality of laws before they enter into force. We find that tensions between law and politics are an important element of the ex ante constitutional review and show how they emerge in the work of the CLC and how the key actors involved in the review seek to control and manage them. We also suggest that the political tensions surrounding the ex ante review have intensified in recent decades and find three main reasons for this development. First, as constitutional and human rights have found their way into an increasingly wide range of political matters, political tensions in constitutional assessment have been aggravated. Second, external legal experts have begun to play a more prominent and public role in the review process, adding to the public tensions relating to constitutional interpretation. Third, the media and journalists have become increasingly interested in constitutional questions, which further inflames tensions. As a result, we suggest that scholars should increasingly explore and make transparent these de facto practices in constitutional review.