post-World War Research Articles

“Françafrique” Systemic Crisis

Recent global geopolitical shifts have deformed the postwar world order. These tectonic shifts mark the beginning of the end of French dominance in West and Central Africa, changing dramatically the layout of international relations in the region that has always been considered France’s zone of interests. There is a rapid degradation and disintegration of the French military-political system known as “Françafrique”, the essence of which lies in the latent ties between the corrupt elites of the Fifth Republic and certain African countries that are dependent on their former metropole both economically and politically. The purpose of this article is to examine the collapse of this system as a whole and its constituent parts in order to come closer to understanding how the destruction of its individual fragments causes the crisis of interconnected structural elements of the entire system. Within the framework of a short article, it is only possible to outline a general approach to considering the problematic situation, based on the theoretical and methodological approach, which implies a systemic analysis of the object, i.e., the phenomenon of “Françafrique”. Recently, a number of works have appeared devoted to various aspects of this problem (the change of elites in African states, the disappointment in the effectiveness of the former metropole’s Africa policy, the reduction of the French military presence in the Sahel and Central Africa, the failure of the military operation Barkhane, the collapse of the Fifth Republic-inspired military-political blocs of African countries). The novelty and relevance of this work lie in demonstrating the need to study these trends in their integrity and interrelationship. This approach requires a comprehensive study of the causes, course, results, and consequences of the collapse of the military-political system of “Françafrique” as part of a future large-scale study of this phenomenon.

Global economic order and global economic governance

Abstract This issue of the Oxford Review of Economic Policy explores the origins of the US-led liberal multilateral economic order in the post-war world and the threats which that order now faces, drawing on contributions from two different groups of people—academic international relations (IR) scholars and international economists. This introductory essay attempts to weave the various strands of this intellectual collaboration together. First, it provides a narrative history of how economic collaboration emerged in the aftermath of the Second World War. Second, it describes the nature of the global economic governance that emerged and provides a new formal framework for analysing it, making use of the idea of ‘concerted unilateralism’. Third, it explores how contemporary challenges—a broadening of policy requirements, the rise of economic nationalism, and the rise of China as a new hegemon—mean that the global economic order is now in flux. And finally, it concludes with a general observation that runs through the paper: that IR scholars are inclined to analyse international economic regimes, economists to study particular policy proposals, and that these two perspectives can—and should—complement one another.

Muhammad Khatami’s Reforms in Iran from the Perspective of Transitology and the Outlook for Democratic Change

On May 23, 1997, a victory of Muhammad Khatami in the presidential election in the Islamic Republic of Iran started a brief period of liberalization in the country long mired in a repressive and authoritarian political regime. The new government loosened the restrictions imposed on the public space, widened the scope of some civil liberties and under the slogans of “religious democracy”, “rule of law” and “participation” aroused expectations of a further political change. Nevertheless these expectations were futile and the widely popular reform movement was stifled by a repression on the part of the conservative core of the regime. This study attempts to analyze these events as a failed attempt to democratic transition, leaning on the theory of Guillermo O’Donnell and Philipe Schmitter. It demonstrates that the transitive period under Khatami’s presidency followed the typical path of the disintegration of the post-World War II authoritarian regimes, which usually begins by the split within the governing elite of the régime itself and proceed through gradual and contingent introduction of liberalizing and democratizing reforms by its “soft-liner”. On this basis it attempts to capture the overall dynamic of the transitive process, define its turning points, identify the causes of its ultimate successful obstruction by the “hard-line” conservatives and derive from this experience implications for a possibility of democratic change in future.

Establishing veritocracy: Society, truth and science.

In the west, truth is being eroded by post-modernist ideas such as alternative facts. Once truth is no longer valued it is a short route through nationalistic populism to fascism. To combat this we need to establish the idea of 'veritocracy' as a form of government. A veritocracy is a democracy in which truth is so highly valued that promising to tell the truth will become a central feature of politicians' election manifestos feeding back the idea of veritocracy deeper into national culture. A proper understanding of the nature of science can support the idea of veritocracy. This proper understanding will not repeat the mythology of post-World War II philosophy and history of science, but will begin with the much more socially cognisant revolution in our understanding of science that began in the 1960s and 1970s. Nevertheless, a 'wave three' of science studies will justify science, not as a certainty-maker for policy, but as the way to bet in developing the best understanding of the observable world. The key is that science depends on moral truth in its attempts to develop correspondence truth. Science, like the law, should be a 'check and balance' in pluralist democracies and an object lesson in how to pursue truth in decision-making.

National Wounds and Gendered Harm: Reframing Abortion Pain in The Worst of Times

In light of abortion’s recurrent political centrality in the United States, examining abortion narratives remains critically urgent. This article analyzes the abortion narratives found in the 1993 anthology The Worst of Times compiled by Patricia G. Miller, which collects individual stories of illegal abortions from the post–World War II years. It analyzes these narratives in the context of the postwar period’s growing sensational political fascination with abortion pain, alongside the second-wave feminist positioning of abortion as the paramount feminist issue and inherent basis of feminist community. Against these discourses, the semi-anonymous narrators of The Worst of Times disrupt hierarchized, universal, and exclusionary models of pain. Rather, this article argues that, in constructing life writing centered around the painful experience of illegal abortion, the narrators’ experiences cohere into relational clusters that evince commonalities while also maintaining differences. In engaging with their painful abortion experiences, these narratives reshape the medical, national, and feminist power structures that attempted to define the pain that abortion signified. In a moment when abortion legislation faces continued assaults, these narratives invite a consideration of how the embodied, personal pain of abortion can facilitate creative models of community that rethink the power structures that restrict reproductive autonomy.

Cardiorenal Syndrome: An Evolutionary Appraisal.

A recent American Heart Association Scientific Statement and Presidential Advisory recognized a new syndrome, the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome. This expands our understanding of what has been called cardiorenal syndrome by incorporating the pathophysiological interrelatedness of metabolic risk factors into the previous concept of cardiorenal syndrome. Importantly, perturbation of cardiac or renal physiology combines to produce significant detrimental outcomes. The cardiorenal syndrome is a significant part of the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome and contributes to health care cost, disability, and mortality. It is a vexing malady that has generated considerable interest. To understand the syndrome evaluation of its teleological origins is important. In life's beginning, eukaryotes acquired exocytosis for excretion, formed tubular secretory systems for clearance, and a mesenchymal nucleic acid vasoform for nutritional distribution. Those structures progressed to cardiovascular and renal systems of evolving organisms, whose migration to rivers and land imposed complex, coordinated, homeostatic roles to maintain intravascular stability. Tissue mineralization of vertebrate endoskeleton added renal calcium balance regulation, which in kidney failure results in cardiovascular calcification. Insight into cardiorenal disease can be traced to ancient Egyptian and Chinese medicine, through the Scientific Revolution, and into current insights regarding human physiology and pathophysiology. The post-World War II epidemic of cardiovascular mortality generated considerable information on cardiovascular disease, which being higher in patients with kidney disease, drew increasing health concerns. The cardiorenal syndrome was formally introduced in this setting with a focus on ultrafiltration to manage volume overload. An evolutionary review of insight into cardiorenal syndrome will help us better understand the new cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome.

Interconnectivity disrupted by fading globalization: a network approach to recent international trade developments

The post-World War II decades experienced rapid growth in international trade, but a trend of weakening globalization has been consolidating recently. We construct the international trade network (ITN) using bilateral trade (2010–2022) to assess how interconnectedness has evolved in the face of recent developments. Our analysis reveals that, while network connectivity initially improved, there has been a shift towards a negative trend since 2018, coinciding with an increasingly unfavorable environment for international trade. We also document significant changes in the roles of countries within the ITN. While the USA remains the primary hub and China solidifies its second position, key countries like Germany, France, Great Britain, and Japan have notably lost relevance, whereas nations like India and the Republic of Korea are gaining prominence. Finally, employing an econometric model, we show that countries with large economies, significant manufacturing sectors, lower inward foreign direct investment stock, and economic and geopolitical stability tend to occupy more central positions in the ITN.

UTILIZAÇÃO DE NOVAS TECNOLOGIAS EM VISTORIAS E INSPEÇÕES NAVAIS NO BRASIL

Reverse Engineering was widely used by the Japanese in the post-World War II era. However, at that time, the process of deconstructing and reconstructing the analyzed products was almost completely artisanal. Reverse Engineering (RE) consists of a technique characterized by the reproduction of a physical model, so that it can be transformed into a digital model, that is, the process of creating a product based on a similar one that already exists. The objective of this article is to present the technologies used in naval surveys and inspections in Brazil. To develop this study, a quantitative bibliographical research was carried out in books, scientific articles, monographs and other texts already published in relation to the topic discussed. The maintenance of naval instruments and objects is extremely important for various activities carried out by the Navy. In several maintenance cases, it is necessary to replace parts, which may not be found, which generates costs and leads to delays in repairs. Therefore, the use of 3D printers can solve several problems.

UTILIZAÇÃO DE NOVAS TECNOLOGIAS EM VISTORIAS E INSPEÇÕES NAVAIS NO BRASIL

Reverse Engineering was widely used by the Japanese in the post-World War II era. However, at that time, the process of deconstructing and reconstructing the analyzed products was almost completely artisanal. Reverse Engineering (RE) consists of a technique characterized by the reproduction of a physical model, so that it can be transformed into a digital model, that is, the process of creating a product based on a similar one that already exists. The objective of this article is to present the technologies used in naval surveys and inspections in Brazil. To develop this study, a quantitative bibliographical research was carried out in books, scientific articles, monographs and other texts already published in relation to the topic discussed. The maintenance of naval instruments and objects is extremely important for various activities carried out by the Navy. In several maintenance cases, it is necessary to replace parts, which may not be found, which generates costs and leads to delays in repairs. Therefore, the use of 3D printers can solve several problems.

Refusal to Negotiate: Britain’s Position and Impact on the World War in 1940

In 1940, amidst World War II, the United Kingdom, under Prime Minister Winston Churchill, decisively refused to negotiate with the Axis Powers. This article explores the strategic implications of this refusal, arguing that it prevented the legitimization of Germany’s aggressive policies and altered the war’s course. By analyzing the Versailles peace system’s failures, Churchill’s leadership, and the geopolitical shifts resulting from the United Kingdom’s stance, the article highlights how this decision shaped the postwar world order, influencing Europe’s geopolitical landscape and setting the stage for an Allied victory

Heritage in and of the Housing Crisis: the Case of the Aylesbury Estate

AbstractThe UK’s housing crisis is at breaking point, caused primarily by deregulation, the diminished provision of public housing and the marketing of housing as property assets rather than homes. Yet the role of the heritage industry within these processes has been insufficiently analysed. This paper outlines multiple intersections between heritage and the housing crisis by examining the regeneration of one of London’s post-World War II public housing estates, the Aylesbury. It will illustrate how heritage methods and discourse have been instrumentalised by property developers and estate residents and discuss the implications this has for the heritage sector.

Women in Post-World War II America: Portrayals, Stereotypes, and Challenges

This essay examines the portrayal of women in post-World War II America, focusing on the perpetuation of gender stereotypes and challenges faced by women in the era. Through historical and visual analysis of primary sources, namely a Coca-Cola poster and the iconic V-J Day in Times Square photograph, the study reveals the complexities underlying societal attitudes towards women during this transformative period. The Coca-Cola poster exemplifies the idealized image of women as submissive caregivers, despite their growing role in the workforce. Similarly, the analysis of the V-J Day photograph unveils the contrast between the perceived romance and the reality of non-consensual interaction, shedding light on the evolving understanding of consent and the limitations of prevailing gender norms. By juxtaposing historical context and visual representation, this research underscores the nuanced interplay between media imagery and the evolving societal roles of women in post-war America. The study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and representations women faced in shaping the post-war landscape.

The persistence of anti-Protestant policies from the Fascist period in post-World War II Italy: ideologies, practices and legislation

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to examine the continuities between Fascist Italy and the early republican period in terms of anti-Protestant policy. To this end, it analyses three main issues: the ideology behind Catholic anti-Protestantism and the role played by Catholic hierarchies and Holy See itself; Italian legislation and norms in religious matters, with reference to minority denominations; and the concrete attitudes of State organs at central and peripheral levels. Drawing on extensive archival documentation (from Italian, Vatican and international archives), this article shows the profound continuities, but also the differences, in anti-Protestant legislation and practice between Fascist period and the early Republican era, marked by a strong Catholic and Christian-Democrat hegemony. Thanks to this extensive documentation, this article highlights the role played by various State actors (government, central ministerial apparatuses, local administrations, judiciary) in determining the contrasting side-lining of anti-Protestant policies, which took place in the mid-fifties.

The attempt to create a post-World War II international information order

This article focuses on the UNESCO-sponsored 1971 Intergovernmental Conference for the Establishment of a World Science Information System (UNISIST) and the 1974 Intergovernmental Conference on the Planning of National Documentation, Library and Archive Infrastructures (NATIS) and the events, often themselves international and intergovernmental conferences, leading to them in association with IFLA (especially its Universal Bibliographic Control program), the International Federation for Documentation and International Council of Scientific Unions, and its Abstracting Board. It notes the disappearance of these programs and their approach to a coherent, cooperative global information system. It argues that this was a result of geopolitical developments, organizational changes within UNESCO and its related organizations, and the rapid evolution of huge competitive commercial enterprises. These have been responsible for both developing and exploiting the transformative digital technologies that are now associated with owning increasingly complex information systems and services, and selling access to them in what has become a global, borderless marketplace for information as a commodity.

ЯНИС СРЕЩУ МИНОТАВЪРА: ЛЕГЕНДАТА ПРОДЪЛЖАВА (РАЗМИСЛИ ПО ПОВОД НОВАТА КНИГА НА ЯНИС ВАРУФАКИС)

A new book by Yanis Varoufakis, Technofeudalism - What Killed Capitalism, has recently been published. Do you remember Varoufakis? In early 2015, at the height of the Greek debt crisis, the little-known (at the time) university lecturer was appointed finance minister and quickly became a star. He was certainly not the first to oppose the so-called Washington Consensus and neoliberalism in economics, but he was perhaps the most eloquent and the most extreme in his criticism, backed by a deep knowledge of the workings of the modern market economy. His time in power was less than half a year, but he will certainly be remembered for a long time. After him, Greece now has its sixth finance minister, but I am sure that even there few people know their names. I allowed myself this extravagant title as I am still under the strong impression of one of his previous books, The Global Minotaur, in which Varoufakis examines economic history and crises, focusing on the role of the US in the post-World War II global economy. The author uses the myth of the Minotaur as a metaphor to explain the complex system of global financial flows that fuelled the US economy and contributed to the accumulation of global economic imbalances that ultimately led to the global financial crisis of 2007-2009.

The Analysis of “Hybridity” in The Lonely Londoners from the Perspective of Postcolonial Theory

This article gives an analysis of “hybridity” in Samuel Selvon’s novel The Lonely Londoners from the perspective of postcolonial theory, which depicts the lives of West Indian immigrants in post-World War II in London, as well as their negotiation of identities within a new cultural landscape. The “hybridity” discussed in this paper includes linguistic hybridity, naming hybridity, culinary hybridity, and hybridity in spaces. These multidimensional features of “hybridity” reveal the wisdom and strategies that characters demonstrate in the process of constructing identity and seeking a sense of belonging. Drawing on postcolonial theories of hybridity, this thesis analyzes how characters adeptly employ strategies of “hybridity” to negotiate identity and regain a sense of belonging, thus presenting the diversity of belonging and subjectivity in the postcolonial context through characters’ exploration and negotiation of hybrid identities.

Generative transcription: The interview in post-World War 2 anglophone African literary culture

ABSTRACT This article discusses the ways in which the interview form was deployed in the 1960s and 1970s as a means to engender and critique a pan-African anglophone literary public within the context of decolonization. In so doing, it argues that the transcribed interview becomes a troublesome signifier of the legacies of colonialism while also offering a generative means by which to constitute literary publics and models of authorship across a number of newly decolonized countries. To do so, the article draws on three collections: broadcast interviews produced by the BBC’s English-language African service with host Edward Blishen; broadcast interviews produced by the London-based Transcription Centre, an organization dedicated to promoting anglophone African culture and funded by the Central Intelligence Agency-backed Congress for Cultural Freedom; and satirical interviews published over several issues of the leading little magazine of African arts and culture, Transition.

Carrots with(out) sticks: credit policy and the limits of green central banking

This article considers the role of central bank interventions in credit and financial markets in support of decarbonization. Drawing on the critical macrofinance literature, we argue that central banks are constrained in greening financial flows by their continued adherence to monetary dominance – prioritizing short-term price stability – and the structural demands of global market-based finance. This has led to a narrow focus on 'market-fixing' and 'de-risking' policy interventions, implicitly outsourcing the green transition to private finance whilst asserting that central banks cannot be seen as 'climate policymakers'. Moving beyond the constraints of this macrofinancial regime remains challenging, as we illustrate with the European Central Bank's (ECB) tilting of its corporate asset purchase program. We explore the lessons from the Post-World War II credit guidance regimes employed in many countries and consider how these could be updated to meet the challenges posed by market-based finance. Such a shift would require an evolution in the role of the central bank as a public agency, challenging current norms around independence and market neutrality.

American Veteran Noirs: Investigating Exceptionalism and Its Post-World War II Trauma

Abstract This essay looks at some of the American film noir that focus on traumatized veterans in the post-World War II era, up to the twenty-first century and argues that noir thrillers centering on mentally disturbed veterans of World War II allow for both commemoration and criticism of the global interventionism that American exceptionalism legitimized during the Cold War and the Wars on Terror. Paradigmatic noirs construct traumatized veterans to investigate their symptoms of amnesia and paranoia as responses to historical interventions. While the analysis of Fred Zinnemann’s Act of Violence (1948) challenges idolizations of members of the Greatest Generation as morally superior immediately after their return home, that of Alan Parker’s Angel Heart (1987) probes into how the projection of a Faustian tale upon amnesia connects a post-World War II identity conflict to an anti-communist climate ripe with social tensions. The third veteran noir, the post-9/11 film Shutter Island (2010) by Martin Scorsese, conclusively reveals how two paranoid narratives overlap in the films under scrutiny, aiming to deconstruct the patriotic trope of American heroism in their subtexts. (AG)

Multi-criteria thermal resilience certification scheme for indoor built environments during heat waves

With climate change, the indoor built environment is expected to significantly influence the occupant's safety and well-being. A novel multi-criteria thermal resilience certification scheme for indoor built environments during extreme heat events is proposed in this paper. The certification scheme considers overheating, thermal comfort, heat stress, and hygrothermal discomfort in built environments. These criteria are quantified using key performance indicators like indoor overheating degree, hours of exceedance, wet-bulb globe temperature, and heat index, respectively. This scheme is developed based on existing best practices like standards, rating systems, and literature. The scheme is implemented on a benchmark building energy performance model for detached post-World War II dwellings in Belgium as a case study using weather data measured from the City of Brussels. The indoor overheating in the reference dwelling is assessed with a static threshold of 27 °C for the bedrooms and adaptive thresholds for other areas. The analysis found that the building performance is within the defined threshold levels throughout the heat wave duration for all criteria. Therefore, the reference dwelling got a maximum attainable score of four points and is rated five-star for thermal resilience during heat waves. The proposed certification scheme is intended as a standardized framework and highlights the need for further revisions in building performance policies and guidelines.