Positions Of Power Research Articles

Anti-Black Racism and Soccer in Canada: Is It Because I’m Black, Ref?

This study critically examines the experiences of members of a sub-Saharan African men’s recreational soccer club with anti-Black racism in a Western Canadian city. Drawing from extensive ethnographic fieldwork, and working at the intersections of Critical Race Theory and Physical Cultural Studies, our analysis focuses on how team members navigate a racial hierarchy that privileges Whiteness and cements their status as outsiders through both overt and subtle forms of racism on the pitch, and the laborious, retraumatizing challenges of “proving” these racist incidents to those in positions of institutional power. We underline the need for anti-racist and anti-oppressive policies and training, and independent judiciaries to monitor and address racist incidents and systemic racism—and its intersections with other forms of oppression—in Canadian sport cultures.

On the practical application of the provisions establishing liability for corruption crimes in official activities committed by officials of legal entities under public law

The article explores the major criminological indicators that illustrate the practical application of criminal law provisions establishing liability for corruption crimes in official activities that are committed by officials of legal entities under public law. By analyzing the provisions of the notes to Articles 45 and 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, along with the features characterizing the perpetrators of crimes in the sphere of official activities, the author outlines the range of criminal offenses in the area under study. These offenses include, in particular, abuse of power or official position (Article 364 of the CC of Ukraine); acceptance of an offer or promise, or receipt of an undue benefit by an official (Article 368 of the CC of Ukraine), and unlawful enrichment (Articles 3681, 3682, 3685 of the CC of Ukraine). Based on official statistical sources (the Office of the Prosecutor General and the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine), the author conducted a long-term criminological analysis of the situation with the crimes under study and determined the absolute, average, and relative values in the period from 2016 to 2023, as well as the indicators reflecting the correlation between the number of recorded criminal offenses and the number of detected and convicted persons for each type of crime in this category. The calculated indicators revealed a dramatic gap between the number of recorded criminal offenses and the number of detected persons, as well as the number of detected and convicted persons. This discrepancy suggests that the criminal justice system has low efficiency in combating crimes of the studied category, with the real scale of these offenses, given their significant latency, far exceeding the officially recorded indicators. The study conducted by the author holds an independent value both for scientific purposes and for law enforcement activities and provides the relevant basis for information support in combating corruption crimes in official activities that are committed by officials of legal entities under public law; most importantly, it provides a clear understanding and assessment of the efficiency of the relevant criminal law provisions and serves as a prerequisite for developing the measures to improve the efficiency of criminal justice authorities in this area.

Peculiarities of forensic characterization in the investigation of criminal offenses committed by judges

The article is devoted to the analysis of the degree of scientific development of the issues of criminalistic characterization. The scientific approaches to determining the essence of the criminalistic characterization of crimes in the structure of the investigation methodology are considered. The importance of this scientific category is emphasized. It is noted that one of the most important components in the structure of the forensic methodology is the forensic characterization of a crime. The author reviews the literature in the field of criminal law, criminal procedure, forensics, and operational and investigative activities related to abuse of power or official position by a judge in the administration of justice, and also their detection and investigation. The author presents different approaches to the concept and structure of forensic characteristics in general and, in particular, to the structure of forensic characteristics of acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit. Based on the results of the analysis of court practice on combating undue advantage in Ukraine in recent years, it is established that a significant share of such encroachments falls on the judiciary. The author analyzes the concept and components of the forensic characterization of criminal offenses committed by judges. It is found that its structure includes the following elements: identity of the offender, identity of the victim, method of commission, object of the offense, setting, time and place of commission, motive and purpose of the criminal offense, typical traces of the crime (“trace pattern”). The existence of interrelations between the elements of forensic characterization makes it possible to use a systematic approach in the study of this issue. It is stated that the subject of criminal encroachment is an unlawful remuneration; the author identifies the ways of committing and concealing a crime; the author proposes to divide the ways of direct receipt of unlawful benefit into certain types; the elements of the “trace picture” are revealed; it is emphasized that the most typical places of giving and receiving unlawful benefit by judges are the office, other premises of a particular institution or organization, and public places; the author also emphasizes the characteristic features of the offender and the victim. The analysis of monographs, dissertations and other scientific works on the outlined issues has shown that the fundamentals of the methodology for investigating criminal offenses committed by judges remain undeveloped.

Features of preventing abuse of authority or official position committed by public servants

Corruption in Ukraine is recognized as a threat to national interests, sustainable development and European integration. Despite the significant efforts made by the state and international institutions to overcome corruption in the main spheres of public life, its level still remains high. When defining the essence of corruption, one should first of all proceed from the fact that it cannot be reduced to any specific socially dangerous act, to a specific offense. Corruption is the result of the historical development of society and the state, including Ukrainian society and the Ukrainian state. At the same time, in the last decade, corruption in Ukraine gained an unprecedented scope and influence on political, economic and other social processes. It іs found that the problems of countering corruption in Ukraine in many respects coincide with similar problems in other countries. This coincidence is caused by the same social essence of corruption as the corrosion of power, which consists in the abuse by officials of state authorities and local self-government bodies of power or official position for selfish or other personal interests. Regardless of the differences in the state system, the main socio-economic prerequisites of corruption are the same in principle for all countries − the imperfection of the mechanism of the exercise of power, the desire of subjects endowed with power to use this power for personal purposes, and the main directions of combating corruption − restrictions, neutralization and elimination of its social prerequisites, causes and conditions of corrupt acts, determination of restrictions and prohibitions for civil servants, establishment of responsibility for their violation. The reduction of corruption to a certain type of offense by a certain part of scientists and practitioners is one of the most significant mistakes in the understanding of corruption. Corruption is a social phenomenon that has social conditions, social patterns of development and exerts a negative influence on social processes. Existing in society and being a product of social relations, it permeates various social spheres of society, deforming social relations in different ways.

Mapping the discursive landscape of data activism: Articulations and actors in an emerging movement

Growing awareness of the societal consequences of datafication in recent years has given rise to a new form of civil society engagement called data activism. This article examines the discourse surrounding data activism on the social media platform Twitter. Through a mixed-methods approach combining computational analysis of Twitter content and close readings of Twitter profiles, we explore how new forms of civil society action related to data justice are articulated and linked to other forms of activism, conflicts and problems, and the actors involved in these articulations. Our analysis reveals a distinction between two articulatory patterns in the data activism discourse. The first involves grassroots actors, such as community organisations and individual citizens, who challenge existing power structures and advocate for social change. The second, on the other hand, is associated with academics, capitalists and policymakers who already hold positions of power and influence. This asymmetry is consistent with previous findings in data activism research. We encourage future research to extend these patterns, using additional methods and case studies, to further refine and contextualise the understanding of data activism within the civil society realm.

Why did the Bosniaks Embrace Islam, Unlike the Serbs and Croats?

Abstract: This article discusses the reasons, why, unlike their Serb and Croat neighbors, the Bosniaks embraced Islam. Though somewhat gradual, the process was both collective and earnest, amounting to a phenomenon rarely witnessed in the latter periods of Islamic civilization in general, and the expansion of the Ottoman Caliphate in particular. Different scholars have provided different perspectives on the enduring mystery. However, as religion has been politicized and nationalized in the Balkan region, and politics and nationalism have become intertwined with religion, the task of reconciling conflicting perspectives and establishing the truth has become increasingly complex. This article posits that, besides, several secondary socio-political and economic factors, religion was the primary driver behind the conversion of the Bosniaks. The unique faith and rituals of the Patarens in Bosnia, along with their Bosnian Church, had a notable impact on a large number of Bosniaks, including those in positions of power and authority. The Bosniaks were distinguished by their inclination towards openness, inquisitiveness, and pursuit of truth, unlike the Serbs and Croats who often let ethno-nationalism and faith-based chauvinism shape their religious and socio-cultural choices. A research methodology that integrates descriptive, interpretative, and analytical historical methods is employed in the entire work.

Gender socialization and adolescent pregnancies in Togo.

The aim of this article is to understand the significance of the gender socialisation of adolescents and its impact on sexuality. This socio-anthropological study is based on qualitative surveys conducted as part of two action-research programmes implemented between 2018 and 2022 in Togo. The empirical data comes from individual semi-directed interviews, group interviews and life stories relating to the themes of sexuality, early pregnancy and gender-based violence. The results show that in these patriarchal societies, the socialisation of adolescents is structured around gender relations. The social construction of masculinity is based on a position of decision-making power for young boys, while that of femininity inculcates submissive behaviour in young girls. In these contexts, many young girls, even if they do attend school, find it difficult to express their opinions on matters of love and sex.

Model of partnership in sustainable palm oil: efforts to increase partnerships in the palm oil business in Indonesia

Purpose A partnership model is necessary for palm oil plantations’ sustainability. The developed model does not identify the optimal technique for smallholder palm oil because it faces complex challenges. This study aims to determine a partnership model for sustainable palm oil plantation business in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative research methods were used, and data analysis was performed using NVivo 12 Plus software, which helps improve the accuracy of qualitative studies and provides implications for evidence-based studies. All respondents, whether through surveys, interviews or focus group discussions, understood their contributions to this research and provided consent. Findings The results indicate that the core–plasma partnership pattern implemented by companies needs to be considered a relevant model for partnerships in the Indonesian palm oil industry. Social networks play a role in implementing this partnership pattern, which is influenced by the diversity of the actors involved. However, complexity arises from the dynamics of power and position among these actors, which demands increased interaction and mutual trust. Therefore, various dimensions must be considered, including plantation management, product marketing, cultivation techniques and sustainable development. Research limitations/implications The research results have limitations, particularly regarding access to information for company policymakers, because there remains complexity related to the position and dominance of power between actors, which influences the achievement of common goals. A more complex analysis is needed to produce complete research. Further studies are required to provide a more comprehensive explanation of the humanist approach in the context of palm plantations. Originality/value This study provides an important theoretical implementation: a more humane approach through a partnership model that adds value and is based on aspects of morality in implementing partnerships in the palm oil plantation sector. It also provides new and substantial insights regarding practical implementation for policymakers and practitioners who want to improve partnership practices in sustainable palm oil businesses by implementing value-added and morality-based partnership models in Indonesia as well as other developing countries.

Style du Leadership et genre Cas des managers de la santé au Maroc

to assess the gender leadership style of managers in the Moroccan health sector. Descriptive study. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), a questionnaire that evaluates leadership style, was used to collect data from 120 managers in the Moroccan healthcare sector (40 female managers and 80 male managers). In Morocco, the representation of women in positions of responsibility and power is still lower than that of men. However, the average score on the transformational leadership style scales for female managers among the 120 people surveyed was 15.51, while the average score on the transactional leadership style scales was only 6.073. While the average score on the transformational leadership style scales for male managers among the 120 respondents was 10.26, the average score on the transactional leadership style scales was 8.57. These results demonstrated the existence of a difference between the leadership style and gender of managers in the healthcare sector. This study was able to confirm the theory underlining the difference between the two leadership styles of male and female managers, even in a sector such as healthcare.

“Working within broken systems”: Social workers bridge the fractures of U.S. healthcare: A qualitative inquiry on moral injury

Healthcare social workers (HSWs) in the United States are integral to interdisciplinary teams and health services. HSWs have a unique role in healthcare, as they care for their patients' psychosocial needs, through case management and clinical services. There is a gap in understanding how HSWs are impacted by their healthcare work. This study aims to understand the experience of moral injury, a marker of well-being, amongst HSWs in one state in the United States. Moral injury is the moral transgression (or boundary breaking) by oneself or someone in a position of power in high stakes situations and the negative outcomes of those experiences. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 HSWs in August of 2022. Thematic analysis was used to understand the lived experience of moral injury for HSWs. Three themes emerged: 1) HSWs’ definition and examples of moral injury; 2) HSWs situated in the “in-between” of policy and practice; and 3) upholding social work values within the medical model. These findings impact healthcare practice and policy, in delineating what falls within the bounds of social work, changing the workflow of health services, and creating further opportunities for interdisciplinary training, well-being initiatives, and systems-level changes. The findings from this work highlight the importance of understanding the moral impact of healthcare work on social workers, which should be further examined in depth not only amongst HSWs but also across the healthcare workforce.

Empathic stress is decreased by prior stressor experience and increased in a position of power

The observation of a stressed individual can trigger a stress response in a passive observer. Little is known about the mechanisms of this so-termed empathic stress, including the observer's empathic involvement with the stressful situation. In 108 opposite-sex stranger dyads, we expected to increase the observer's empathic involvement with a stressed target performing a standardized laboratory stressor (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST; Kirschbaum et al., 1993) by exposing observers themselves to the TSST one week earlier. Conversely, we intended to decrease empathic involvement by granting observers a powerful position over the targets (by asking them to evaluate the targets' TSST performance and allegedly decide on their financial compensation). A control group without any manipulation was also included. In the preregistered data analysis, two types of empathic stress were investigated: vicarious stress, which evolves irrespective of the target's stress response, and stress resonance, which is proportional to the target's stress response. Irrespective of manipulation, observers exhibited vicarious stress in subjective and high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), and synchronized with the targets' stress reactivity in cortisol release. Prior TSST experience unexpectedly decreased observers' self-reported empathy and vicarious cortisol stress reactivity. The power manipulation, conversely, led to stronger observer vicarious stress in overall heart rate and HF-HRV reactivity. Based on Wondra and Ellsworth's (2015) appraisal theory, we propose that, due to their prior stressor exposure, observers habituated to said stressor, and consequently changed their evaluation of the target's stressful situation. In contrast, observers in the powerful position may have felt responsible for the targets, triggering a stronger vicarious stressful experience.

Organisational innovation and gender diversity: Insights from the civil engineering industry

Orientation: The civil engineering industry is vital in ensuring that infrastructure development has a beneficial social, economic, and environmental impact.Research purpose: This study explored the role of gender diversity and organisational innovation with a view to address social ills in the civil engineering industry in South Africa.Motivation for the study: The study is premised on the paucity in extant research and responds to calls for more research on the role of gender diversity and organisational innovation with a view to address social ills in the civil engineering industry.Research design, approach and method: Employing the interpretivist paradigm, 15 civil engineering professionals were purposively selected based on their extensive experience and comprehensive deep knowledge of the industry and interviewed using the semi-structured approach of interviews using the Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) platform. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts.Main findings: From thematic analysis, the following themes emerged from the primary data: skewed gender representation, females’ retention challenges, creation of an inclusive environment, building a strategic female structure, inclusive innovation, and role models and mentors’ deficit.Practical and/or managerial implications: The civil engineering industry needs to empower women occupying positions of power and not just fill the numbers through the removal of the male gatekeeping effect as the current status shows male dominance. It is also critical to create an inclusive environment, grow the pool of females to build the numbers critical for gender diversity, particularly at the top, and promote mentorship opportunities.Contributions and/or value add: This article advances knowledge on the role of gender diversity and organisational innovation with a view to address social ills in the civil engineering industry and exposes the shared patriarchal values that many organisations appear to promote. It further highlights that society still struggles with infrastructure that does not address its needs and points the civil engineering industry towards the current skill sets and experiences of its female workforce, and how to leverage those capabilities to benefit the industry and the entire society.

Conspiratorial narratives as cultural repertoires and methodological tools.

This article builds on data and field work notes from two ethnographic studies conducted in two cities: Istanbul and Trabzon, Turkey. It examines the socio-political dynamics behind the prevalence and impact of conspiratorial narratives. We explore the emergence, circulation, and effects of these narratives and how they shape political orientations and mobilisation. We raise methodological questions about these narratives and propose researchers closely scrutinise them rather than dismissing them as illogical or incoherent. Our research reveals three novel relational and methodological insights derived from conspiratorial narratives. First, these narratives serve as sense-making tools during times of uncertainty. They provide accessible explanations for abrupt changes, and they rely and draw upon 'cultural repertoires'. Second, by challenging the mainstream narratives, they shape subjectivities; empowering narrators to act as agents. Third, how conspiratorial narratives circulate has implications for the dynamics of state-public relationships, often following the neoliberal logic, they portray political leaders as central figures in navigating complex decision-making processes. Our case studies demonstrate that actors, even in less powerful positions, may not necessarily antagonise the state. We underscore the methodological significance of these narratives for researchers, to examine actors' agency, group dynamics, and responses to everyday injustices.

Conformism vs. Independent Opinions: The Challenges Facing Education Administration Students when Dealing with Political Conflicts Practiced in Simulation-Based Learning

Israel is defined as a Jewish and a democratic state. Yet, in recent years, the government of Israel has attempted to change the balance of power between the judiciary and the legislative and executive authorities. Many perceived this change as a fatal blow to democracy, while others supported the change. These political conflicts cannot be ignored inside schools. The purpose of this study was to examine how education administration M.A students deal with political conflicts within schools and the communication strategies they use. To that end, the method of simulation-based learning was used. The main research questions focused on the study participants’ willingness to express their opinions about controversial political conflicts. The results revealed an unexpected scenario. Even though school principals might be expected to be in control because of their powerful position in the organization’s hierarchy and their authority to mete out punishments and rewards, the simulations showed a different outcome in the broader political context, indicating that a general sense of chaos reigned in schools as well. Following these results, we developed a didactic educational model whose purpose is to educate toward social involvement and the ability to express a reasoned opinions.

Assessments of the key plasma parameters with different scenarios on HIT-PSI using EMC3-EIRENE

Linear plasma devices offer an effective way to conduct plasma-wall interaction studies and contribute to a basic understanding of edge plasma physics. A new platform at Harbin Institute of Technology for Plasma Surface Interaction experiments (HIT-PSI) is a newly-built linear device at the stage of commissioning that is capable of simulating high heat power deposition on divertor targets similar to tokamak conditions. Therefore, numerical simulations to evaluate the plasma characteristics are essential for designing and guiding the experimental conditions in HIT-PSI. In this work, the three-dimensional edge transport code EMC3-EIRENE has been used to investigate the plasma parameter distributions in HIT-PSI with the puffing and pumping systems involved. The effects of the heating power and target position on the distribution of electron density, electron temperature, and particle and heat fluxes have been investigated by EMC3-EIRENE. Particularly, the reduction in the electron density with the puffing fluxes has also been studied by analyzing individual atomic and molecular processes. Finally, the influence of varying pumping speeds on plasma parameters has been investigated in detail by adjusting the recycling coefficients at the two pumping ports.

The Level of Equity and Justification of the Sanctions Distributed within the Family and Professional Fields

This study explores the manner in which individuals explain their decisions when assigning sanctions (positive or negative consequences) during social interactions. Traditionally, individuals are thought to take responsibility for their actions (internal attribution). However, a certain number of results obtained in the field of education or in the work environment highlight the fact that in the case of sanction distributing behaviours, that is to say if we question the distributor (and no longer the receiver) of a sanction, attributions are more external than self-attributing. This research aims primarily to verify that such results can also be obtained in order to explain the sanctions distributed by a parent to their children or by a spouse to their wife. Moreover, considering that certain sanctions may not correspond to just compensation for the conduct of the individual being sanctioned, we also wanted, on an exploratory basis, to examine the attributions carried out by the distributors of unjust sanctions, again within the familial environment as well as in the professional field. A questionnaire was administered to 64 employees (with an equal distribution of men and women) who were also parents of young children. The questionnaire presented scenarios where individuals in power positions (a father to a child, a husband to a wife and a manager to a subordinate) distributed sanctions (fair or unfair) and the participants were asked to explain the cause using internal or external attributions. The results show that, for just sanctions, the attributions are preferentially external, while for unjust sanctions, differences are observed according to the gender of the participant. From an educational perspective, this research sheds light on the manner in which power dynamics in classrooms can influence how educators assign responsibility for learning. By recognizing the tendency to place blame externally when providing feedback or consequences, educators can create a learning environment that emphasizes internal responsibility and shared ownership of academic achievement. This shift in behaviour empowers students and fosters a stronger sense of agency in their own learning journey.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES: ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES IN COMBATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Since women and children are often the main victims because of their vulnerability and inability to stand against people in situations of positions of power, violence against women and their children, or VAWC, is a growing concern in communities. In order to protect women's and children's rights, the R.A. No. 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Their Children Act was passed in 2004. educates women about their rights and protects children from abuse in any form in the Philippines. Using a qualitative method, this study concentrates on in-depth interviews with participants in VAWC programs, such as Philippine National Police (PNP), barangay officials, and civilians. The objective is to evaluate the impact of these programs in preventing and lessening violence against women and children and to make recommendations for how to make them better. It's important to recognize the challenges facing programs that seek to prevent violence against women and children since it makes it easier to determine the ineffective aspects of the programs. By being aware of these challenges, we can develop strategies to enhance the programs and increase the effectiveness of safeguarding sensitive persons. Additionally, it guarantees more complete satisfaction of the requirements of women and children and a wise utilization of resources. KEYWORDS: Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004, Philippine National Police, Violence, Republic Act 9262, Programs

Transforming sorted and performance of waste recovery companies: Circular Economy, Sustainability Technology and SDGs

Waste management is now a major global concern. Therefore, the circular economy (CE) and sustainable technology have become the necessary means of achieving sustainable business development. In this study, we conduct an analysis of the waste recovery sector in Spain to determine whether the most innovative and socially aware companies complied with sustainable development goal (SDG) 5 (gender equality) and SDG 8 (decent work and growth) during the period 2019–2021 (pre-Coronavirus Disease 2019, (pre-COVID-19), during COVID-19, and post-COVID-19). To this end, based on factors comprising economic and financial variables, the companies were grouped via a cluster analysis using the k-means method; they were linked to the SDGs (5 and 8) in order to determine the compliance of this sector. The results indicate that the technological transformations carried out by the waste valorization companies were reflected in their financial performance, with an increase in revenues of 61 % between 2019 and 2021; all clusters complied with SDG 8. However, despite promoting business transformation, social change, sustainable technology, and CE, these companies are far from compliant with SDG 5; indeed, a setback in social development was observed, with a significant decline in the number of women in positions of power after COVID-19. This therefore constitutes one of the greatest challenges for companies in this sector.

Gender inequality in the Nordic film industry: Exploring above-the-line positions in film production

Abstract In this article, we explore the enduring barriers to gender equality in the Nordic film industry, with a focus on positions of power and structural biases. Despite considerable efforts over the past decades to highlight gender inequality – resulting in more women in creative positions in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland – a significant gap remains. Our analysis of 1,070 films produced and released theatrically between 2010 and 2020 in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden shows men dominating directing, writing, and producing roles in 75 per cent of the cases, with women slightly more present in producing. The study finds a negative correlation between the dominance of men in producing roles and the presence of women in directing and writing roles. Factors such as the size of the creative team and co-production had less impact on the proportion of women in key creative positions than expected, whereas a higher proportion of women in managerial roles is linked to an increased presence of women in positions of directing (Sweden) and writing (Finland). These results indicate that while some progress has been made, structural barriers still significantly hinder gender equality in the industry.

Seeing like an asset manager

AbstractAsset managers have assumed a position of unprecedented power and influence in the control of essential infrastructures of social life, with broadly negative ramifications. But as the commentaries assembled here all insist, it did not – and does not – have to be this way. In this reply, I discuss the potential, as I see it, for the world to be otherwise, offering a rather pessimistic prognosis.