Positions Of Authority Research Articles

Populism Unveiled: Mechanisms and Triggers of Political Violence

In recent decades, there has been a widespread surge of populism worldwide. Populists strategically utilize media platforms to highlight the suppression of ordinary citizens by political authorities and the perceived unethical behaviors of political elites. Populists, who employ political slogans advocating for the interests of the common masses and eliminating corrupt elites, have swiftly garnered widespread support. However, the ascent of populists to positions of authority has coincided with a notable increase in political violence. While scholars have extensively elucidated definitions and classifications of populism, and numerous theoretical studies have analyzed factors contributing to the emergence of populism in different geographical areas, there remains a shortage of unified comprehension regarding the mechanisms through which populism incites political violence. This paper investigates the various trajectories of political violence triggered by populism through a comprehensive literature review and comparative analysis. The study contends that political violence is incited by populism through two distinct pathways, as evidenced by an analysis of incidents occurring in various regions under populist regimes. The first pathway sees political violence initially prompted by the consolidation of power and the repression of political adversaries by populist leaders. The second pathway involves the xenophobic ideology of populism intensifies conflicts between native citizens and foreign immigrants, thereby heightening the likelihood of political violence.

The Illusion of Truth in Michael Ondaatje’s Anil’s Ghost

Michael Ondaatje's Anil’s Ghost, a literary masterpiece, focuses on the distortion of truth. Set against the backdrop of civil unrest in Sri Lanka, the novel follows forensic anthropologist Anil Tissera as she exposes the complexities of revealing truth in a world rife with political and personal turmoil. This research abstract delves into the multifaceted layers of reality distortion portrayed in Ondaatje's work .At its core; the novel questions the notion of objective reality. Ondaatje masterfully employs fragmented narratives, shifting perspectives, and unreliable memories to diminish the lines between truth and fiction. Through Anil's investigation into the skeletal remains of victims of political violence, Ondaatje exposes the subjective nature of memory and the inherent biases that shape our understanding of past events. Moreover, the novel explores the psychological toll of living in a reality distorted by trauma and political oppression. Characters like Anil and Sarath, haunted by their pasts, grapple with the existential question of whether it is possible to reconcile personal truth with the external realities imposed upon them. Ondaatje's lyrical prose evokes a sense of disorientation, mirroring the characters' internal struggles as they confront the elusive nature of reality. Furthermore, the novel examines how power dynamics influence the construction of reality. Ondaatje exposes the ways in which those in positions of authority manipulate narratives to serve their own agendas, perpetuating falsehoods and suppressing marginalized voices in the process. Through Anil's quest for justice, the novel underscores the importance of bearing witness to the silenced truths obscured by those in power. The novel serves as a profound exploration of the distortion of reality in the face of political upheaval and personal trauma.

READING SILAPPADIKARAM IN THE CONTEMPORARY TIMES: A STUDY OF ITS PERFORMATIVE ASPECTS

Silappadikaram is a classic literary work of ancient Tamil society, believed to have been composed around the 5th century BCE by Ilango Adigal. It encompasses elements of Jainism, Buddhism, and other religious traditions then prevalent, and also it incorporates themes, myths, and theological principles from each of the belief systems. The epic offers a vivid portrayal of both virtuous and malevolent deeds, while exploring themes of joy and suffering. What sets Silappadikaram apart from other epics is that the text focuses on an ordinary couple, as opposed to kings and armies. The text painstakingly demonstrates the behavioural nuances of society, ranging from commoners to rulers. Love and separation, gaining and losing power, are recurring themes in Indian classical dramas by notable playwrights like Vishakadatta, Kalidas, Bhasa, and Bhavabhuti, etc. These plays were created with the intention of influencing society, specifically targeting individuals in positions of power and authority. However, post-colonial Indian theatre took a different approach, placing common individuals as protagonists in the plays. Works such as Aadhe Adhure, Ghashiram Kotwal, Hayavadana, and Sakharam Binder address prevalent societal issues, with the central character being an ordinary person. The main aspects of modern theatre and the plays mentioned here primarily explore the everyday activities of common individuals and how they are influenced by other members of society, economic factors, and politics. This paper studies the contemporary relevance of Silappadikaram in modern theatre by drawing a comparison with these modern Indian plays.

Perception in Uniform: A Study of Police Attitudes towards the Transgender Community in Pakistan

This study analyzes the complicated relationships between the police force and the transgender population in Pakistan. While laws like 2018's Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act are a step in the right direction, the transgender population still faces prejudice and violence, including from those in positions of authority. Using quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, and focus groups, this study provides a sequential explanatory mixed-methods analysis of police opinions. In the quantitative stage, police officers' cognitive, affective, and behavioral attitudes are measured with a structured questionnaire; in the qualitative stage, the reasons for these attitudes are explored using thematic analysis. An intersectional analysis is used to investigate the relationship between many social identities and police training and policy. Findings demonstrate a gap between policy and practice, impacted by cultural stigma, lack of proper training, and personal prejudices. In order to create a police force that is more welcoming to all members of the community, the study finishes with suggestions on how policy and training can be improved and how the public can become involved. This study adds to the ongoing conversation on human rights and policing by stressing the critical importance of instituting structural reforms to guarantee the safety and respect of all citizens, regardless of their gender identity.

Israeli students' perceptions regarding sperm donation: dilemmas reflections with dominant demographic effect.

Sperm donation has undergone significant medical and social transformations in recent decades. This study aimed to explore Israeli students' perceptions towards sperm donation and investigate the potential influence of demographic characteristics on these perceptions. The study encompassed 254 students from Tel-Aviv University, who completed an anonymous online survey in January-February 2021. This cross-sectional quantitative online survey, comprised 35 questions categorized into three sections: demographic data, assessment of prior knowledge, and perceptions of sperm donation (general perceptions related to both positive and negative stigmas associated with sperm donation, the roles and activities of sperm banks, and considerations surrounding identity disclosure versus the anonymity of sperm donors and their offspring). Participants exhibited a relatively low level of prior knowledge (mean 31.2 ± 19 of 100). Scores for positive and negative stigmas ranged from 1.3 to 2.2. Notably, the statement "Donors' anonymity preservation is crucial to maintain sperm donation" received a mean of 3.7. Seeking for anonymous sperm donation identity both by recipients and offspring was ranked with low means (1.5 and 1.7, respectively). However, the pursuit of half-siblings by mothers or siblings themselves received higher ratings ranging from 2.7 to 3. Women's stigma ranking were notably lower, while men emphasized the importance of donor anonymity. Sperm Banks hold a position of medical authority rather than being perceived as being commercial entity. The preservation of donor anonymity is widely accepted as a crucial element, prioritized over the requests for identity disclosure from recipients and offspring. Demographic parameters exhibit a strong and precise effects on participants' perceptions.

Can mental health practice benefit from procedural justice theory? A critical analysis on the opportunities and pitfalls of procedural justice to address coercion and human rights issues in psychiatry

The theory of procedural justice, derived from social psychology, is employed in numerous fields of study concerned with the quality of interactions involving individuals in positions of authority. Although this theory is increasingly cited for its potential to promote approaches aimed at mitigating the effects of psychiatric coercion and better respecting individuals' rights, empirical literature provides limited insights into how procedural justice could be translated into practice. It is important, therefore, to examine the theoretical and practical implications of such an orientation. Based on a critical analysis of existing literature, this article will discuss the potential contributions and limitations of procedural justice applied in the field of mental health and psychiatric nursing. Procedural justice has limitations regarding solutions for human rights violations in psychiatry. It nonetheless allows a focus on the quality of interactions with individuals in coercive contexts, in addition to considering the social and identity-related implications of psychiatric coercion.

The queen bee phenomenon in Canadian surgical subspecialties: An evaluation of gender biases in the resident training environment.

The queen bee phenomenon (QBP) describes the behavioural response that occurs when women achieve success in a male-dominated environment, and in this position of authority, treat their female subordinates more critically. It has been demonstrated in business, academia, the military, and police force. The goal of this study was to determine whether the QBP occurs in surgical specialties. We hypothesized that female surgeons, fellows, and senior surgical residents would be more critical in their assessment of junior female residents than their male counterparts. A scenario-based survey was distributed via email to all Canadian surgical programs between February and March 2021. Scenarios were designed to assess either female or male learners. Centers distributed surveys to attending surgeons, surgical fellows, resident physicians, and affiliate surgeons. Respondents average Likert score for female-based and male-based questions were calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed based on gender, age, seniority, and surgical specialty. 716 survey responses were collected, with 387 respondents identifying as male (54%) and 321 identifying as female (45%). 385 attending surgeons (54%), 66 fellows (9%), and 263 residents (37%) responded. The mean Likert scores for female respondents assessing female learners was significantly lower than male learners (p = 0·008, CI = 95%). During subgroup analysis, some specialties demonstrated significant scoring differences. The QBP was shown to be present among surgical specialties. Female respondents assessed female learners more critically than their male counterparts. These findings highlight the importance of tackling organizational biases to create more equitable educational and work environment in surgery.

College leadership decisions and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: an elite interview study

Objective This study at a US Native American-serving Nontribal Institution (NASNTI) deeply analyzed collegiate leadership’s responses and experiences during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants Elite interviews were conducted between April and June 2021 with the college president, provost, dean of student engagement, human resources director, and chief of police. Interviewees were purposively selected due to their positions of authority. Methods Each one-hour interview used a semi-structured guide for standardization and was conducted either virtually or in-person while following COVID-19 protocols. The general inductive method was used to identify nodes and categories within the transcripts. Results Six nodes (conceptual domains) and 18 categories were identified. Though there was variability in interviewee emphasis, the respondents described the motivations, drivers, and sentiment behind their decision-making in a transparent way. Conclusions NASNTI leadership reported being able to navigate the pandemic by emphasizing transparency and engaging students, while working alongside the community.

Cinematic Contrasts: Gender Dynamics In Workplace Leadership

With a focus on the contemporary dynamics of gender roles and expectations at workplaces, this THEMATIC ANALYSIS aims to examine the contrasting depictions of male and female characters in positions of power and authority. Study analyses a curated selection of 10 Bollywood movies from various genres between 2013 and 2023, and sheds light on gender depiction in workplace leadership and the underlying societal narratives. It delves into the nuanced characterizations, narratives, and storytelling techniques employed to depict workplace authority from male and female perspectives. The study illuminates how cinematic portrayals of gender-centric power dynamics in work settings have evolved and shaped audience perceptions, societal expectations, and aspirations. Furthermore, it explores whether the films reinforce or challenge conventional gender stereotypes. The findings provide valuable insights into the evolving gender role dynamics, power, and leadership in Indian popular culture and lay the groundwork for future research and dialogue on gender equality at workplaces and in media representation. Keywords: gender roles, movies, leadership, gender stereotypes, societal norms

Cinematic Contrasts: Gender Dynamics in Workplace Leadership

With a focus on the contemporary dynamics of gender roles and expectations at workplaces, this THEMATIC ANALYSIS aims to examine the contrasting depictions of male and female characters in positions of power and authority. Study analyses a curated selection of 10 Bollywood movies from various genres between 2013 and 2023, and sheds light on gender depiction in workplace leadership and the underlying societal narratives. It delves into the nuanced characterizations, narratives, and storytelling techniques employed to depict workplace authority from male and female perspectives. The study illuminates how cinematic portrayals of gender-centric power dynamics in work settings have evolved and shaped audience perceptions, societal expectations, and aspirations. Furthermore, it explores whether the films reinforce or challenge conventional gender stereotypes. The findings provide valuable insights into the evolving gender role dynamics, power, and leadership in Indian popular culture and lay the groundwork for future research and dialogue on gender equality at workplaces and in media representation.

Peacekeepers and Local Women and Girls: A Comparative Mixed-Methods Analysis of Local Perspectives from Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo

ABSTRACT The UN may sanction peacekeeping operations (POs) to neutralize armed groups and promote democratization. This research presents perceptions from beneficiaries of assistance related to POs and relations between local women/girls and peacekeepers within two post-colonial contexts: the DRC and Haiti. Using cross-sectional, mixed-methods data collected in Haiti (2017) and the DRC (2018), we performed a comparative secondary analysis to better understand similarities and differences by country and gender in how participants perceived peacekeepers. Congolese participants were more likely to perceive foreign UN personnel as ‘able to offer financial support’, compared to Haitian participants who were more likely to perceive the UN personnel as ‘in a position of authority’ and ‘able to offer protection’. Overall response patterns indicated that both Haitian and Congolese perceived the peacekeeper as responsible for initiating interactions with local women/girls. However, some variations were noted: Congolese male participants were most likely to perceive UN personnel as the initiators of interactions with local women and girls, compared to Haitians and Congolese females, who were more likely to perceive local women and girls as the initiators. Our research presents a locally grounded understanding of how locals perceive POs and peacekeepers relative to their communities and women and girls.

Re-membering the dismembered in university 'politics of process': Strategies for women's empowerment and inclusivity in academic leadership

In response to the legacy of Apartheid, South Africa has implemented gender equality policies to address the marginalisation of women in higher education institutions. Despite this liberation movement, the politics of university systems have continually marginalised previously disadvantaged black people, especially women. This is evident in the statistics of black women in positions of authority and academic development in South Africa. Observations and literature confirm that social, cultural, and institutional practices, often called the "politics of process," remain significant obstacles to women's full inclusion in the university leadership system. Therefore, this study aims to deconstruct gender supremacy within university systems from the perspectives of experienced women. It adopts a decoloniality approach, viewed through a transformative lens, which seeks to transform the perceived organisationally "dismembered" women by "re-membering" them into the sphere of equal recognition in university politics. Participatory research (PR) was employed to design the study, involving five women from a public university in South Africa, selected using a convenient sampling method. Unstructured interviews were conducted to gather information from the participants. Thematic Analysis (TA) was applied to analyse the data. The study found that institutionally induced challenges, women as impediments to themselves, and patriarchy and societal issues are major barriers preventing women from attaining positions of authority. In contrast, institutional support, self-empowerment, and mentoring initiatives represent strategies to re-member the dismembered, forming the basis of the study's recommendations.

Navigating power dynamics between pharmacy preceptors and learners

Pharmacy preceptors are crucial in pharmacy experiential education. They help develop learners during didactic learning, experiential learning, and post-graduate training. Preceptors hold a position of authority over learners as they are responsible for providing feedback and ultimately completing evaluations that determine whether the student passes or does not pass the rotation. Preceptor status, behavior, and communication style may cause students to feel intimidated. Preceptors should be aware of this power differential and keep generational, gender, cultural, and other factors in mind when providing feedback. Preceptors should also receive training and be open to constructive feedback from learners to ensure the experience meets the needs of the learner and allow for adjustments on the experiential rotation. Students should be empowered to provide open and honest feedback to preceptors in a psychologically safe environment without fear of repercussions.

Getting out of history: Levitation and paralysis in Sebald and Nabokov

Abstract Nabokov and Sebald confronted the dark sides of their national histories and tried to exempt themselves from them. Nabokov liberated himself from its burden by escaping into levitation, whereas Sebald’s willing exposure to its consequences ended in paralysis. Nabokov appears in his Emigrants as the equivocal figure of the ‘butterfly man’ who is simultaneously mobilizing and immobilizing. This is like the Russian writer himself, who used to adopt butterflies’ metamorphoses as a writer and paralyze them as a lepidopterist. Contrary to him, Sebald was horrified by their immobilization and sincerely empathized with them. Eluding the detached position of an ultimate authority and making his author deeply attached to all kinds of ‘nocturnal’ creatures, he created an unreliable but indispensable narrative agency. If Nabokov was at pains to deaden the uneasy memories of his past in order to relieve the present of their contamination, Sebald took the other way around, adhering to the most painful of them in order to enlighten their subterranean existence. He was committed to manifest these deeply buried remnants via his protagonists and narrators, however this amounted to the expulsion of those among them that had no other choice but to stick to life in darkness.

Horizoning recent trends in the security of smart cities: Exploratory analysis using latent semantic analysis

The expeditious advancement and widespread implementation of intelligent urban infrastructure have yielded manifold advantages, albeit concurrently engendering novel security predicaments. Examining current patterns in the security of smart cities is paramount in comprehending nascent risks and formulating efficacious preventative measures. The present study suggests the utilization of Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) as a means to scrutinize and reveal implicit semantic associations within a collection of textual materials pertaining to the security of smart cities. Through the process of gathering and pre-processing pertinent textual data, constructing a matrix that represents the frequency of terms within documents, and utilizing techniques that reduce the number of dimensions, Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) has the ability to uncover concealed patterns and associations among concepts related to security. This study proposes five recommendations for future research that employ a topic modeling technique to investigate the often-explored subjects related to smart city security. This discovery provides additional evidence in favor of the proposition that a robust blockchain-driven framework is vital for the advancement of smart cities. Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) offers important insights into the dynamic landscape of smart city security by employing several techniques such as pattern recognition, document or phrase clustering, and result visualization. Through the examination of patterns and developments, individuals in positions of political authority, urban planning, and security knowledge possess the ability to uphold their proficiency, render judicious choices substantiated by empirical data, and establish proactive strategies aimed at preserving the security, privacy, and sustainability of intelligent urban environments.

Analyzing `Language Features of Construction Contracts from The Multi-Dimensional Perspective

In recent years, China’s active participation in the international construction market has led to a greater demand for the comprehensive demystification of construction contracts from the language perspective. Nevertheless, scarcity can be felt concerning that perspective. This study aims to explore language features via the multi-dimensional approach proposed by Biber. A corpus-driven method was adopted on the basis of five real construction contracts. The salient language features were uncovered statistically by adopting the Multi-dimensional Analysis Tagger (MAT), and a series of visualized results displaying lexico-grammatical features and general genre features of construction contracts from different dimensions were also output. The results revealed that nouns and normalization were densely employed in construction contracts. Meanwhile, language variables like phrasal coordination, predicative modals, passive voice, and suasive verbs were excessively employed. The results also uncovered that adverbs and be as the main verb were counted as underused. As to the general genre features, the results suggested that the contracts were written documents with informational, non-narrative, context-independent, self-assertive, and abstract features. Those features stem from the communicative purposes of construction contracts, rendering construction contracts the formal style, explicit communicative purposes, objective stance, and authoritative position. Though with limited language features, we can still obtain an insight into the interpretation and teaching of construction contracts.

Should the Commonwealth of Virginia Privatize Liquor Sales?

Privatization is an effective policy choice for governments to reduce public debt, improve the financial health of the private sector, and improve the firm’s economic efficiency. However, beyond the economic and financial factors, there are several political implications of privatization policies that are important to consider. Although many economic benefits are presumed to occur due to privatization, the unique position of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (VA ABC) makes it, unlike most public firms that have been considered for privatization. Privatizing this firm would result in the Commonwealth of Virginia losing over $250 million from its General Fund annually and would negatively impact the state’s labor market. This policy brief examines the economic, financial, and political motivations to privatize state-owned enterprises and discusses the implications that privatizing the VA ABC would have on the Commonwealth.

교사의 권위: 비판적 고찰

Modern society is a society without authority. According to Peters, it could be dramatically described as the rise of the fatherless society. The emergence of individualism and rationalism led to the weakening of social authority. The weakening of teacher’s authority in education is not unrelated to this. Peters explains the teacher’s authority as rational authority. According to him, while traditional society in the past was maintained by traditional authority and charismatic authority, in modern society, the authority of teachers should be defined as the authority of position and professional knowledge. However, his explanation does not clearly reveal the nature of the teacher’s authority. Defining the teacher’s authority from a rationalistic perspective only shows the external aspect of the teacher’s work, not the essence. The teacher’s authority must be supported by sources that enable the teacher to transmit knowledge. As an alternative to rational authority, teacher’s erotic authority can be said to be the fundamental power that makes education possible and the teacher’s internal authority that allows students to be introduced to the values ​​of the subject content.

Sheikh Al-Khaleesi in the book “Faisal I, King of Iraq”

    Criticism of historical books is known for its positive and negative critical evaluation of their historical content. It involves analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the book and assessing its historical scholarly quality. In this historical scientific study, we attempted to provide implicit detailed analytical criticism and evaluate the historical text of the book "Faisal I, King of Iraq." We focused on studying, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from the religious authority of the Khaleeji lineage in the city of Kazimiyah and its religious and political impact on modern Iraqi history. Throughout this study, we presented the reader with a brief introduction to the basic information about the book and its author. We analyzed the historical content of the book by rephrasing the author's conclusions and providing comments supported by documents on each conclusion related to the topic of the Khaleeji family leaders, Sheikh Mahdi and his son Sheikh Muhammad Al-Khaleesi. We also considered the author's writing style and evaluated the organization of the book presented for study and its use of references and other methodological aspects¹.
 Contemporary Iraqi history holds significant importance in scientific studies across its political, historical, and social aspects. Recognizing the historical memory of this intellectual heritage and invoking it for successive generations through a rigorous scientific approach is crucial. Our study specifically analyzed the positions of the Khaleeji religious authority in the book "Faisal I, King of Iraq," which comprehensively documents the life of one of the most significant rulers in Iraq's entire history. Faisal I stands out as a prominent figure in the Middle East during a sensitive historical period. His role was pivotal in establishing modern Iraq in 1921. As nations take pride in their national heroes, fighters, and martyrs, the Iraqi memory should always honor the life milestones of Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Mahdi Al-Khaleesi (1860-1925), who was a national hero and a fighter. He also served as the highest religious authority during the reign of King Faisal I¹.

Some scandals in gender-based violence and intimate partner violence

This study was requested by victims of gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV), who wanted their voices to be heard. They were not interested in their identities being revealed, but they only wanted to share their stories to expose some rot by high-profile people. This paper sought to explore the meanings that these victims attach to the experiences of GBV and IPV in cases where perpetrators are well-to-do, highly respected persons occupying positions of authority in recognized establishments. Six (6) IPV victims, selected using the purposive sampling method, participated in the study. They were interviewed, and their text data was analyzed. The results show that some high-status people perpetrate GBV and IPV, covering the known types of IPV and generating two new ones of IPV extending to the victim’s family and threats to divorce their victim. The paper recommends monitoring and evaluating high-status people and also bars GBV and IPV perpetrators from practicing in high-profile trades.