Political Tensions Research Articles

Geopolitical Dynamics and the Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards: Implications from the Conflict between Ukraine and Russia

This study explores the potential implications of geopolitical dynamics surrounding the conflict between Ukraine and Russia on the adoption and implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in affected countries. Analyzing the interplay between political tensions, economic sanctions, and domestic instability, the research sheds light on the challenges and opportunities for regulatory harmonization and financial transparency in regions affected by geopolitical conflicts. Key findings highlight the impact of regulatory uncertainty, economic sanctions, and security concerns on businesses' compliance with IFRS, as well as the influence of policy shifts and government agendas on the trajectory of regulatory reforms. The study underscores the importance of adaptive regulatory strategies and international cooperation in promoting financial stability, transparency, and resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty and conflict. By addressing these challenges, stakeholders can navigate the complexities of geopolitical dynamics to advance the adoption and implementation of IFRS, fostering global financial standards and stability in the face of geopolitical challenges.

Can anthropologists get humor? A collaborative experiment on empathetic knowing at a time of predicaments

AbstractAs a pandemic‐era collaborative writing project undertaken amid rising geopolitical tensions, this article demonstrates understanding humor in contemporary China as an ethnographic project leading toward deep, empathetic knowledge at a time when in‐person fieldwork became difficult. Through deciphering and translating layered meanings “encrypted” in and intentions signaled by humor in a new comedy program launched in 2021, we dive deep into the lively social life in contemporary China. Humor, via “thick description,” offers valuable insights into life in “fieldsites” that were hard to access during the pandemic time, amid political tensions. It provides a unique lens to examine the unspoken but shared sentiments in societies where humor has become a fundamental mode of public expression. It alerts us to existential anxieties in social life, the subtle voices of social critique, and the yearning for empathy. Humor is not only a valuable object for anthropological inquiry but also a vantage point to reflect on ethnographic methodology and epistemology. We examine humor, with its sentimental and ethical potentialities, and through spontaneous collaboration of mutual support, envision new possibilities in anthropological knowledge production.

Real-Time Twitter Trends Analysis Using Latent Dirichlet Allocation and Machine Learning

In today’s world of growing social media usage twitter has become an enormous source of data from public in form of tweets. These tweets can be collect and useful to extract effective meaningful insights ex, public sentiments, choices and opinions about a particular event, product or person, which can prove helpful for business growth, political parties and celebrities to know public choices, sentiments and their reviews over a particular product , person or government decision. But before performing sentiment analysis on tweets data we need to clean and per-process it as tweets data is highly unstructured and noisy for that many methods are there:-data per-processing, stop-words removal, stemming, lemmatization etc. After data cleaning effective meaningful insights can be extracted and sentiment analysis can be performed to extract public opinions and their choices. Twitter data possesses significant power in capturing timely public opinions on a variety of topics, such as preferences for products, political tendencies, and sentiments within the business realm. The extensive user base of this platform provides a wide array of viewpoints, rendering it a valuable resource for comprehending consumer behaviour, political developments, and market outlooks. By employing sentiment analysis, organizations can measure levels of customer contentment, policymakers can evaluate public reception, and corporations can monitor how their brands are perceived to make well-informed decisions. The real-time aspect and high level of user involvement associated with Twitter data render it priceless for shaping strategies related to product innovation, political campaigns, and business expansion efforts. This research paper highlights the power of power BI tool in data visualization of real-time tweets of a user twitter account and builds effective dashboards and also perform sentiment analysis of real-time tweets. Keywords: LDA, Machine Learning, Topic Modelling, Sentiment Analysis, NLP, Social Media.

TURKISH REFUGEES IN BRAZIL AFTER THE 2016 TURKEY COUP ATTEMPT

Population geography is a subdiscipline of Geography devoted to the study of one of the aspects of geographic space, which is population flows. The flow of refugees is a topic of interest. In 2016, Turkey underwent a coup attempt which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people and increased internal political tension. This study aimed to verify whether Turkey’s internal circumstances impacted the number of Turkish refugee requests in Brazil and if so, to describe these refugees’ general profile and their spatial distribution, without risking their safety. We used data provided by the International Migration Observatory, which is linked to the Brazilian Ministry of Justice. The analyses were performed using descriptive and geospatial statistics and showed a considerable increase in the number of Turkish refugees in Brazil from 2016, as well as their concentration in the richest state of the federation. We believe these results provide relevant information to improve the Brazilian system of recognition and reception of refugees.

The Decaying of International Institutions - Politicised Inaction and Whataboutism

Whataboutism has destroyed the political, economic, media and social spheres of human life. It has made sure that there is no fruitful exchange of ideas or distribution of knowledge but it has converted debates and discussions into futile exercises of shaming, name calling and generating sensationalism. This paper sets a premise based on Public, Nationalist and Neo-liberal events to point out the development of the ideology of Whataboutism. Through an in-depth literary and objective review of political changes in the International institutions the paper works to establish a cause and effect relationship between the internal disintegration of International bodies and Whataboutist narratives in the public forum. The paper focuses on three institutions - United Nations (political disposition), and International Court of Justice (legal disposition), to show the overall collapse of the International world order, leaving the local geographical bodies with power vacuums and broken financial tracks. It attempts to draw a parallel between the League of Nations and United Nations to show the signs and markings of obsoletion and inaction. To present the gravity of the situation, the paper also supplies subject matter from three important geo-political situations - namely Israeli-Palestinian Crisis, Yemen Crisis and the Sudan-Darfur conflict for the United Nations jurisdiction.

“Loneliness of Catalonia”: Separatism in Catalan-speaking Regions in Spain in 21st Century

The article analyzes the historical, ethno-social, economic, and political reasons for the formation of separatist tendencies in regions where the Catalan language is spoken in Spain: Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands. It is commonly believed that these regions share many similarities, yet in practice only Catalonia seeks independence. The study investigates why separatist tendencies are prominently displayed in only one of the Catalan-speaking regions. The research is based on historical facts, scholarly works dedicated to separatism in Catalan-speaking regions, statistical data on the economies of the regions and election results, and news reports. The conclusion drawn from the study is that the Catalan-speaking regions have many distinct characteristics: they have different histories tied to their past status as regions; different self-perceptions within Spain and globally, varying economic conditions, and consequently different political tendencies. It is proven that due to historical, ethno-social, economic, and political reasons, Valencia and the Balearic Islands have no intention of separating from Spain, leaving Catalonia alone in its quest for independence.

‘Oliver Cromwell is a Devil!’ Religious Radicalism and Political Turmoil in Geneva during the English Civil Wars

ABSTRACT When King Charles I was beheaded in 1649 it incited a series of events in the Reformed city of Geneva. The Civil Wars and Regicide uncovered the political and religious tensions within Geneva during the English Civil Wars. In Geneva, two important bodies, the Small Council of civil magistrates and the Company of Pastors jockeyed for an appropriate response from their diverse members. Additionally, the leaders of Geneva had to respond to English and Continental rumours that they were to blame for England’s woes. Utilizing archival research, this article examines the transnational implications of the English Civil Wars and it shows that the Genevans had far from a unified view of the Civil Wars. Ultimately, the primary fear for the leaders in Geneva was not necessarily the death of a king, but instead that they would be associated with the worst aspects of the Radical Reformation: Anabaptism.

Impact of Identity Politics on Security and Stability in Medan

This research aims to investigate the influence of identity politics on political stability and security in Indonesia. This research uses a literature review method to collect and analyse various previous studies on identity politics, political stability and security in Indonesia. Data were analysed qualitatively to identify patterns, trends and relationships between identity politics variables and political stability and security. The results of the analysis show that identity politics has a significant influence on political stability and security in Indonesia. Religious, ethnic and regional-based political identification is an essential factor influencing political and security dynamics in this country. Political conflicts rooted in differences in identity often trigger political and security tensions that have a negative impact on state stability. Based on the analysis results, it can be concluded that identity politics significantly impacts political stability and security in Indonesia. A better understanding of the dynamics of identity politics can help formulate more effective policies to maintain political stability and security in the country.

Applying Theorem of Ross to Transition Probability Matrix in Energy Options Pricing after Political Tensions and Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Probability Matrix, it is necessary to obtain energy options pricing. The paper found the true probabilities of transition from the current state of the market to other states. The energy options pricing including effects of Political tensions is proposed. The methods are based on true probabilities of transition to the next state of the energy market. It can be used to predict the movement of the underlying asset of energy options (oil and gas derivatives pricing). For example, one strategy might be to compare the energy sources at the beginning 2022 (before 24.02.2024) with the current state of the market. The results show that this matrix can be implemented in energy options pricing, which represents the true probabilities of transition from the current state of the market to modern state. Practical implementation is an investment strategy in oil and gas futures that should include the median of a given distribution with the current state of the market after beginning of Russia-Ukraine conflict. The absence of arbitrage opportunities is a fundamental principle underlying modern financial pricing theory. This concept is peculiar to the statement of the fundamental theorem of asset pricing. The results prove idea that at a fixed point in time is the information about some market quotations of American Call options can be determined. The results have a set of quotes that are available in both directions: both for strikes and for periods to maturity.

From Politics of Islam to Terrorism: Discovering the Roots of Islamophobia in Indonesia

Islamophobia is an issue that has affected both minority and majority Muslim communities in many countries, including Indonesia. To gain a deeper understanding of Islamophobia in Indonesia, this study focuses on two of eight components of Islamophobia identified by Sabri Ciftci (2012), namely, Islam is perceived as a political ideology and is associated with violence. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including historical-comparative and survey, the authors explore how the Indonesian government has dealt with Islamophobia since the Old and New Order periods. This research also delves into how Islamophobia has impacted minority Christians and moderate Muslims during the Reform Era, where Islam is often associated with religious intolerance and terrorism. The results indicate that Islamophobia in Indonesia has three primary root causes linked to certain Islamic societal behaviour: political tensions between Islamic fundamentalists and nationalists regarding the state ideology, religious tensions between radical Muslims and Christians resulting in intolerance, and acts of terrorism using Islamic symbols. This research concludes Islamophobia in Indonesia has switched from the government to the community level, requiring the government policy to eliminate Islamophobia in a pluralistic society.

Political Context and Faculty Attitudes Towards High Maintenance Students in Kurdistan, Iraq

This research explores the resilience and stress levels of university students in Kurdistan, Iraq. Focusing on the educational impact within this context, the study examines the relationship between student stress and faculty engagement. Employing both Pearson correlation analysis and two-way ANOVA, the investigation provides insights into how faculty availability correlates with student stress in a politically tense environment. Key findings indicate concerns for what is known as the Pygmalion effect and underscore the need for support services that address the unique socio-political challenges. Thus, an impetus for an examination of student engagement practices, emphasizing the importance of faculty interaction in crisis-affected zones. The exegesis underscores the role of institutional support, urging educational authorities to enhance faculty management tailored to the multicultural and politically sensitive context of international education. From which, it advocates for empathy and a broader understanding of how postcolonial and post-dictatorial dynamics affect higher education. Conclusively, this article calls for ongoing research into the dynamic between political tension, student well-being, and academic success, suggesting that addressing these interconnected facets is essential for fostering an effective learning environment. It posits that understanding and improving the faculty-student engagement within can significantly enhance academic outcomes.

The impact of geopolitical risk on sustainable markets: A quantile-time-frequency analysis

We examine the impact of Geopolitical Risk (GPR) on green, clean, and socially responsible markets by employing the newly proposed Wavelet Quantile Correlation, Cross-quantilogram and Causality-in-quantiles. Unlike earlier studies, we incorporate the GPR index to encompass the risk linked to conflict, acts of terrorism, and political tensions. In brief, our findings show that GPR emerges as a significant factor influencing market behavior, with distinct patterns observed across different time scales and trading horizons. Our results are beneficial for investors and portfolio managers to adopt more rational investment strategies and for policymakers to make appropriate policy arrangements.11Corresponding author: Ahmed H. Elsayed (ahmed.elsayed@uaeu.ac.ae)

Transboundary cooperation in Arctic climate change governance under geopolitical tensions

Political conflicts or geopolitical tensions can create uncertainty in addressing climate change and environmental management in the Arctic. Dissecting how actors interact with each other and form networks is important for understanding ecological and environmental management challenges during geopolitical tensions, as well as promoting better governance. We construct transboundary networks for Arctic climate change governance (ACCG) from 2013 to 2021 based on the Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone (GDELT). Further, we used network descriptive statistical analysis and Temporal Exponential Random Graph Models (TERGM) to explore the structure of ACCG networks and the key factors influencing cooperation formation. The findings suggest that the overall cooperation density of the ACCG is low, and the dominant position of core actors is continuously strengthening. Non-state actors are less likely to be seen as partners and their participation depends largely on cooperation with states. The results also show that actors with similar stances and problem exposure are more likely to cooperate, but those exposed to high latitudes often choose not to cooperate; first-comers are more likely to perceive as cooperating yet they are inclined to establish internal cooperation. Additionally, two geographically proximate actors are more likely to cooperate. This indicates that under geopolitical tensions, the ACCG faces challenges not only due to the limited capacity of non-state actors to perform transboundary functions but also because the cooperation mechanisms are influenced by regional political logic. Accordingly, we further suggest policy recommendations from developing binding international frameworks to guide transboundary cooperation, enhancing cooperation among non-state actors, and ensuring the representativeness and fairness of non-Arctic actors' participation. This research provides insights into transboundary environmental management under political tensions, while also offering new pathways for analysing large-scale environmental governance structures.

Improving Halal Accessibility in India: Identifying Barriers, Adopting Mobile Technology Solutions

This research paper explores the challenges faced by Muslims in accessing halal food in India and proposes a mobile application as a solution to enhance halal accessibility. The study utilizes a combination of secondary and primary research methods, including surveys and literature reviews, to investigate the prevalent issues and potential solutions. The findings reveal that the lack of awareness among non-Muslims, coupled with misconceptions about halal certification, contributes to the limited availability of halal options. Additionally, political tensions and cultural norms further hinder halal accessibility in India. To address these challenges, the paper suggests the development of a mobile application that provides users with information about halal-certified restaurants and products, as well as a platform for community engagement. The proposed app aims to empower Muslim consumers and promote inclusivity within the food ecosystem. Keywords : Halal accessibility,Mobile application,Muslim consumers,India,Challenges

Care, Ecology, and the Crisis of Eco-social Reproduction: Politicizing More-than-Human Care

Abstract While the ethics of care has considered the possibility that caring occurs for the environment, it often remains silent about the caregiving that humans receive from the environment. This essay suggests that ecological justice requires humans to consider themselves not only as ecological caregivers, but also as care receivers from more-than-human earth dwellers. The argument is built by first accounting for the diverse forms of care that humans receive from other-than-humans. The focus then turns to eco-feminist and eco-Marxist thought to denaturalize this care, highlighting how capitalist economies put other-than-humans to work and appropriate their efforts to maintain the world. The fact that they cannot demand a salary and that the commodification of life increases its depletion leads to an examination of how the conceptual recognition of more-than-human care can be translated politically. The article sketches how the political tensions at work in practices and conceptions of care outlined by feminist and indigenous thought could allow to engage more critically with environmental issues, notably by blending environmental humanities’ emphasis on affective dispositions and attachments towards other-than-humans, with materialist ambitions to highlight exploitation and invisible labor.

Sacred Brutalism: the Church of Annunciation in Nazareth and the Central Synagogue in Nazareth Illit

In attending to the history of both the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth and the Central Synagogue in Nazareth Illit in the context of the region’s history, the following discussion explores the architectural principles that gave rise to these two buildings while contextualising them as an outcome of the cultural and political tensions between the Jewish and Arab populations.

China-ASEAN Economic Ties: Balancing Growth amid Middle-Income Challenges and Opportunities

The introduction of a free trade area between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China (ACFTA) in 2012 brought China to a leading economic position in Southeast Asia (this was manifested in a significant, almost 2.2-fold, increase in the volume of trade) and turned it into a driving force of ASEAN’s economic prosperity. However, this increased economic interdependence creates challenges for both China and ASEAN: on the one hand, China seeks to make the transition from a high-income country to sustainable economic development in the ASEAN region, and on the other hand, ASEAN has concerns about excessive economic dependence on China. This situation requires a balance to be struck to avoid repeating the historical patterns seen in Japan in the 1960s and 1980s. This article examines the investment, trade and geopolitical relations between China and ASEAN in a historical retrospective of 2010-2022, assesses their economic dependence and the mechanisms of political-economic relations, identifies the factors that caused China’s rapid economic breakthrough, and outlines directions for overcoming the most modern challenges that have place in the context of this relationship through formulation of suggested frameworks. The article considers 2 research questions, for the solution of which the G/T (Grounded Theory) approach was used and a qualitative analysis of the 12 most relevant sources was carried out (limitation of their number – according to the concept of theoretical saturation), selected primarily through online databases, websites, international organizations’ data, analytical reviews, and scientific papers. RQ1: Identify the root causes of the problems faced by ASEAN middle-income countries in their engagement with China. The article identifies the following 3 main reasons through the empirical review analysis: 1) dependence of middle-income ASEAN countries on financial assistance, especially from China; 2) a noticeable decrease in unity in the ASEAN region; 3) China’s lack of recommendations on the advisory policy of economic development in the ASEAN countries. RQ2: development of recommendations for middle-income ASEAN countries to increase their ability to pave independent paths to sustainable economic development and reduce their economic dependence on China, taking into account the review of the balance of power in political relations with the United States and China. Using the qualitative analysis tool ATLAS.ti (version 24) for the G/T approach, it was concluded that to overcome the syndromes of lower-middle-income trap (LMIT) and higher-middle-income trap (HMIT), ASEAN economies should implement the following spontaneous strategies: infrastructure development, improvement of basic education and promotion of science and technology. In addition, it is important to raise awareness of political tensions between China and the US, apply the techniques of thoughtful diplomacy, fine-tuned policy formulation, and shared vision to establish a diplomatic balance between China, the US, and Japan in the context of geopolitical risk management.

What makes a “distinguished global scholar” in global education? : (Trans)formative experiences toward global mindedness

Having an international experience, often through study abroad, has been a consistent theme in global education. There are a multitude of research studies on how international experiences foster global mindedness. In these studies, it is common for researchers to ask participants to reflect on their international experiences. In contrast, we took an alternative and slightly experimental qualitative approach to dig into the processes of becoming globally minded. Using existing and documented narratives as data, we examined the life-long learning processes of thirteen “distinguished global scholars.” Our study illuminates the (trans)formative experiences that contributed to their global mindedness. Four common themes emerged from our analysis: (1) Experiencing war and/or political tension; (2) Encountering social injustice; (3) Engaging with socio-cultural difference; and (4) Leaving the familiar / reaching out to the unknown. The findings and discussion deepen the understanding of how global mindedness is developed and offers insights for educational interventions.

South Korea in 2023

In 2023, South Korea faced turbulence under the Yoon Suk-Yeol administration, which was marked by democratic challenges, foreign policy shifts, and high political tensions. This report examines South Korea’s transformative year, with a focus on ongoing leadership transitions, emerging diplomatic horizons for freedom and human rights, economic challenges stemming from “Peak Korea,” and key social issues, including a high suicide rate, low birth rate, and the controversy over the dog meat ban. It also discusses President Yoon’s challenges as the leader of a global pivot state.

Nexus of political tensions and cross-border contraband trade between Ethiopia and the Sudan, 1974–1991: evidences from Metema-Humera corridor and its environs

Nexus of political tensions and cross-border contraband trade between Ethiopia and the Sudan, 1974–1991: evidences from Metema-Humera corridor and its environs