Dynamic Power Research Articles

Unraveling the self: How postmodern philosophy reshaped the narrative of personal identity

This paper examines the philosophies of Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Gilles Deleuze, and Judith Butler, focusing on their insights into identity and individualism. While self-help literature often advocates fixed identities, this study argues for an alternative: existence as constant transformation, challenging stagnation in personal growth. Using a materialist lens, it explores identity through interactions of internal and external experiences with power dynamics. Postmodernists collectively highlight the self’s fluidity and its perpetual evolution. The goal is to assess their influence on understanding the self and explore implications for future narratives on identity.

Power Abuse in Child Sexual Abuse in Indonesia

Child sexual abuse (CSA) in Indonesia is a critical issue shaped by the dynamics of power abuse. This study examines how perpetrators, often trusted figures such as family members, educators, or community leaders, exploit their authority to commit sexual abuse against children. Using a multiple case study approach, the research analyzes 15 cases from various regions in Indonesia. The findings reveal that CSA frequently involves the manipulation of power through threats, inducements, and the exploitation of cultural or religious norms. Contributing factors such as patriarchal norms, social stigma, and institutional weaknesses exacerbate the vulnerability of victims and hinder their access to justice. Framed within Michel Foucault’s theory, the power dynamics in these cases encompass hierarchies, normalization of violence, and discursive control. Perpetrators leverage their authority to instill fear and silence victims, while gaps in legal systems and patriarchal cultural values reinforce impunity. The long-term impact on victims includes psychological trauma, social stigma, and diminished quality of life. The study recommends strengthening child protection systems through public awareness campaigns, responsive reporting mechanisms, psychosocial support, and stricter oversight of educational and religious institutions to prevent and address CSA holistically.

Saints and City Models: Contested Borders and the Representation of Subject Towns Between Florence and Siena

The Black Death in 1348 was followed by a period of ongoing skirmishes between the city-states of Florence and Siena, marked by active territorial expansion, mercenary raids, and larger wars. Subject towns were profoundly affected by this turmoil and came under the alternating influence and control of the two dominant cities. In the face of this unrest, one way for inhabitants of subject towns – including Lucignano, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, and Cortona – to manifest both local identity and political allegiance was to commission artworks. Of the paintings made for these contested sites from the late fourteenth to the early sixteenth centuries, a number include depictions of the town for which the image was made, held by a patron saint. These city models offer a valuable lens on a marginalized area, providing insight into how subject towns were conceptualized and understood by patrons, artists, and viewers. Saintly advocacy and protection are frequently invoked in relation to recent or ongoing political upheaval, emphasizing civic and sacred loyalties or affiliations. The depiction of towns as models held by saints also echoes the actual transactional changes of ownership that frequently occurred, reflecting the multifaceted power dynamics between artist and patron, or between dominant city and subject town. Furthermore, the prevalence of such city models in paintings commissioned from Sienese artists suggests a particular Sienese “border mentality,” or an awareness of the intersections of identity that result from existing on shifting cultural and political borders.

Dissemination of climate-smart agriculture practices in the Upper West Region of Ghana: insights from local stakeholders and institutions

ABSTRACT Limited empirical evidence exist on local-level institutions’ innovations and experiences in facilitating climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption. Qualitative interviews with farmers and local institutions supporting agriculture in Nandom, Ghana, were conducted. We found that local-level institutions employed (1) farmer-field schools (FFS) for capacity building to provide relevant knowledge for managing CSA practices; and (2) credit extension packages to reduce financial barriers to accessing inputs and technologies for CSA. We also found that sociocultural, financial, logistical, and technological constraints are the most important barriers hampering local-level institutions` ability to effectively facilitate CSA adoption. Furthermore, we observed that to encourage the uptake of CSA practices, particularly among vulnerable groups such as women, social power dynamics surrounding resource access and utilization must be addressed. For practice, the findings (1) serve as a case for learning different innovations that can be adapted in different contexts; and (2) give insights on how to overcome social barriers to CSA adoption and facilitation. We recommend that governmental institutions such as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture allocate resources and design policies that builds the of implementers. Training institutions must tailor contents to the needs and assimilation levels of target communities. Additionally, development partners should establish long-term funding mechanisms beyond grant cycles to provide sustainable financial support for CSA upscale.

War at the Gates

The conflict in Ukraine, now in its third year, has evolved into a complex geopolitical confrontation with limited prospects for resolution. Initially, diplomatic efforts focused on compromises or territorial concessions failed, as both Russia and NATO consolidated their positions. Strategic miscalculations on both sides have raised the stakes, transforming the conflict into a broader struggle for influence. For the West, the conflict represents a test of NATO unity and US global leadership, while for Russia it is an existential battle against perceived NATO encroachment. The protracted war has shifted the goals. Russia, initially seeking a quick victory, now prioritizes dismantling Ukraine’s military potential and providing a buffer against NATO expansion. In contrast, the US and its allies aim to shore up Ukraine’s resistance while preserving NATO cohesion, despite mounting financial and logistical challenges. With diplomatic solutions stymied by mutual distrust, military escalation seems increasingly likely. Demographic and economic constraints are further pushing both sides toward decisive action. Russia faces time pressures from demographic decline and NATO’s ongoing rearmament. Likewise, prolonged engagement strains NATO unity and risks exposing broader vulnerabilities in the Western alliance. A potential U.S. withdrawal under a new administration could shift responsibility to NATO’s European members, threatening Ukraine’s cohesion and defense capabilities. As entrenched positions and geopolitical imperatives harden, the conflict underscores a critical inflection point in global power dynamics, where the window for a negotiated solution is narrowing and the risk of a broader confrontation is growing.

From Vilified Queen to Political Strategist: Re-evaluating the Role and Image of Bona Sforza. The Queen’s 1537 Response to Her Critics

This study examines the contrasting historical narratives surrounding Queen Bona Sforza, focusing on her 1537 response to her accusers amidst the noble rebellion. Bona’s tenure as queen consort, notably marked by economic consolidation and assertive political engagement, presents a rich case for examining the dynamics of female leadership in a male-dominated sphere. The significance of this topic lies in its potential to enrich understanding of gender roles, power dynamics, and historical narrative construction within the field ofearly modern European history. Despite considerable scholarship on Bona, there remains a gap in research specifically addressing how her own communications – particularly the 1537 letter to royal secretary Samuel Maciejowski – counter contemporary and later historical portrayals, and what this reveals about gendered perceptions of power and authority. This study aims to interrogate these aspects, posing the question: How does this re-reading of Bona’s self-representation in her response to accusations during the 1537 rebellion illuminate the complexities of female rulership and challenge existing historical narratives? In the epistolary analysis this research adopts a gendered lens to assess the juxtaposition between Bona’s portrayal by contemporaries and her own articulation of her role and actions. The findings reveal that Bona’s communications asserted her competence and dedication to statecraft. This analysis challenges the pejorative characterisations ofthe queen’s actions, suggesting a conscious effort to navigate and contest the gendered constraints imposed upon her rulership. Her management of economic resources, engage-ment in diplomatic and legal affairs, and the cultivation of a narrative of benevolent yet firm governance emerge as key themes. These findings are significant as they contribute to a nuanced understanding of Bona’s leadership, offering insights into the strategies employed by female rulers to assert authority and influence historical narratives. Moreover, this study highlights the importance of examining communion strategies of historical figures to challenge and expand upon established historical interpretations, enriching the discourse on gender, power, and historiography in the early modern period.

Power struggles and resource control in Sudan: Analyzing the dynamics of local communities, regional elites, and the state in Sudan's natural resource governance

This paper discusses the complex dynamics of natural resource governance in Sudan, focusing on the interactions between local communities, regional elites, and the state. With abundant natural resources such as oil, minerals, and fertile agricultural land, Sudan has great potential to advance its economic development. However, historical legacies of marginalization, socio-political inequalities, and centralized models of governance have turned this into a landscape marked by power struggles and conflict. Local communities, often dependent on these resources for their livelihood, experience issues related to their exclusion from decision-making, receiving low compensation, and environmental depredation. Regional elites position themselves as brokers, and use their socio-political influence to gain benefits from both the state and corporate actors at the expense of the local population. Meanwhile, central state governance strategies of national revenue generation often align with external investors and widen the rift with local and regional stakeholders. This paper highlights the fundamental causes of resource-related conflicts and inequalities in Sudan through a critical analysis of historical contexts, power dynamics, and governance frameworks. It advocates for an urgent need to adopt inclusive and decentralized governance structures that give priority to equity, sustainability, and the active participation of local communities in decision-making. The findings contribute to broader discourses on natural resource governance, conflict resolution, and sustainable development in resource-rich but politically complex nations.

Critical pedagogy and gender norms: insights from Moroccan educational settings

This study investigates the use of critical pedagogy in Moroccan educational settings to challenge persistent gender norms and power dynamics. The thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with educators indicates critical pedagogy's impact on gender role perceptions and practices. The findings show how critical pedagogy encourages critical consciousness and challenges old conventions, promoting gender equity in the classrooms. Teachers’ viewpoints illustrate both the problems and accomplishments of implementing critical pedagogy, emphasizing its ability to foster inclusive learning environments. This study provides insight into critical pedagogy’s transformative impact on instructors’ practices and students’ involvement with gender dynamics in Morocco. By explaining these educational practices, the study highlights critical pedagogy as a catalyst for achieving social justice in Moroccan schools, emphasizing the importance of pedagogical techniques that support equitable learning and question cultural norms.

Analysis of China's Power, Space, and Technology Dynamics using Peste Framework

Analysis of China's Power, Space, and Technology Dynamics using Peste Framework

Mobile SoC Power Optimization: Redefining Performance with Machine Learning Techniques

Power optimization is a critical challenge in System-on-chip (SoC) design due to the growing demand for high-performance mobile devices with extended battery life. This paper explores novel applications of machine learning (ML) technologies to readdress the question of power optimization strategies in mobile SoCs. In order to balance performance and power consumption in real time, ML takes advantage of predictive modeling, dynamic power management, and energy efficient workload scheduling. This study makes key contributions to integrating ML models into SoC architectures, including a novel ML-driven adaptive voltage scaling and frequency tuning workflow that demonstrates the potential for significant power savings, as well as empirical analysis. Given our findings, we believe that ML offers a transformative potential for the realization of sustainable and efficient mobile computing solutions.

Muñoz-Díaz, Javier; Ibacache, Kathia, and Gómez, Leila. (2024). <i>Indigenous Materials in Libraries and the Curriculum. Latin American and Latinx Sources</i>

Javier Muñoz-Díaz, Kathia Ibacache, and Leila Gómez—Latinx scholars based at U.S. universities—advocate for genuine decolonization, moving beyond what Tuck and Yang (2012) describe as merely “metaphorical” efforts. They emphasize the importance of integrating and promoting Indigenous literary materials within university libraries and curricula, which are still predominantly shaped by Eurocentric frameworks. Their approach aligns with Aymara scholar Rivera Cusicanqui’s (2012) call for decolonizing practice, which requires collaboration across multiple agents—Indigenous communities, Latinx scholars, librarians, faculty, and Indigenous content producers. This collective effort seeks to challenge how Indigenous peoples are often positioned within academia merely as instructors, informants, or cultural performers, thereby addressing the “geopolitics of knowledge” that maintains unequal power dynamics. They call for political collaboration grounded in the sovereignty and autonomy of Indigenous peoples, advocating for partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities (Keme, 2018) to ensure that Indigenous knowledge systems and perspectives shape academic spaces on their own terms.

UNVEILING POWER DYNAMICS IN AI-ENABLED EDUCATION: A FOUCAULDIAN PERSPECTIVE

This paper explores the complex interplay between artificial intelligence (AI) and education through Michel Foucault's governmentality theory. It investigates how AI affects power dynamics, knowledge dissemination, surveillance, and individual agency in educational contexts. By applying Foucault's concepts of biopower, disciplinary power, and control, the paper uncovers the intricacies of AI in learning environments. It stresses the importance of ethical governance, critical reflection, and responsible decision-making in utilising AI for education. The analysis highlights the need to understand AI's influence on knowledge formation, educational hierarchies, and student experiences. It examines surveillance in AI-powered education, revealing control and regulation nuances. The paper emphasises addressing power imbalances, ensuring privacy, and promoting transparency in AI-driven education. It contributes to discussions on technology's ethical and practical implications in education, calling for strategies that prioritise student well-being, equity, and empowerment as technology evolves.

DIASPORA BELONGING BETWEEN EXCLUSIONARY ISOLATIONIST DISCOURSES AND COSMOPOLITAN IDEALS

Reviewed literature on “long-distance nationalism” with its roots in methodological nationalism and more recent constructivist theoretical frameworks that allow for the fluidity of identity, intersectionality of social power dynamics and regard for the immigrant connectivity and simultaneity of virtual presences, provide us with a spectrum of analytical lenses. The mechanism that explains either isolationist, exclusivist tendencies in some migrants or their agency as envisaged promoters of cosmopolitan lifestyles, rests in the stories migrants tell about themselves and how they choose to structure emotional affinity into identity constructs of self and others. While accommodating the theoretical framework of seeing diasporas as transnational digital networks or as amorphous “imagined communities” potentially molded by political elites, this article chooses to consider diaspora affiliation as a category of social practice, fulfilling psychosocial needs of self-actualization. This theoretical framework provides the basis for semi-structured autobiographic interviews and analysis of narratives, as artefacts structuring the basis of belonging and othering within first- and second-generation of Romanian American migrants. This analysis may help examine how diaspora engagement with state actors is decoupled from the native territory’s evolution and governance. It also intends to be the basis for recommendations for further research to better understand transatlantic diasporas and to inform potential policy making with regards to engaging diaspora community entities in promoting cultural identity resilience, skills that protect and promote the positive anchoring of members.

TRANSFORMATION OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN THE CONTEXT OF MEDIATIZATION: CHALLENGES FOR SOCIAL ORDER IN UKRAINE

Research objective: To analyze the transformation of political discourse under mediatization conditions and its impact on social order in Ukrainian society. The study employs a comprehensive application of systemic approach, institutional, comparative and historical methods, as well as content analysis of official social media pages of state institutions. The dualistic nature of modern mediatization is established, which manifests through simultaneous processes of media integration into traditional social institutions and the formation of media as an independent social institution. Key challenges to social order arising from the mediatization of political discourse are identified. A conceptual model of interaction between media and political institutions in the context of social order transformation is proposed. The research reveals the emergence of new forms of political engagement and participation facilitated by digital platforms. It demonstrates how social media has become a crucial arena for political discourse, reshaping power dynamics between political actors and citizens. The study also highlights the potential risks of information manipulation and the spread of misinformation in the mediatized political environment. The understanding of mechanisms of political actors’ adaptation to media requirements and transformation of traditional forms of political communication is expanded. The research results can be used to develop communication strategies for state institutions under mediatization conditions. For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the impact of political discourse mediatization on social order in the Ukrainian context is conducted, taking into account the specifics of hybrid threats. An in-depth study of the influence of digital technologies and social networks on the transformation of political communication in the context of hybrid threats is suggested. The article is empirical in nature.

Mapping Power Dynamics in Local Climate Action: Policy Networks in the Climate Village Program of Pekanbaru City, Riau

Mapping Power Dynamics in Local Climate Action: Policy Networks in the Climate Village Program of Pekanbaru City, Riau

Cultural Chronicles – Uncovering the Legacy of Oppressive Black Architecture in Memphis and Other Cities

Architectural structures and the spaces they create are not neutral; instead, they mirror the values and power dynamics of the societies in which they are constructed. This observation is particularly noticeable in the buildings African Americans inhabited throughout American history. Nevertheless, Black architecture has yet to be recognized as a culturally significant field within academia. To tackle this issue, this paper seeks to expand the architectural discourse by exploring what constitutes Black architecture. Specifically, we will investigate the histories of five houses that hold a particular place in African American historical architecture:• The barrack,• The slave cabin,• The shotgun house,• The housing projects,• The Black suburban homes.Our investigation will delve into the repercussions of each style, the societal goals in establishing each class, and the policies passed that instigated their creations. We will emphasize the connections between these styles and how each type has changed over time. This exploration will allow us to scrutinize Memphis’ architectural choices, placing them in the broader context of architectural trends at the national and regional levels. Exploring Black architecture’s evolution will also help us comprehend how architecture can contribute to racial inequality in our society. We aim to challenge the notion that architecture is only a symbol of beauty, shape, and form and instead recognize its potential to perpetuate subjugation, oppression, and control.

Adapting Military Doctrines to Shifting Power Dynamics in the International System: Looking Beyond Unipolarity through the Analyses of Charles Kupchan

With the end of the bipolar system at the end of the Cold War, the world order shifted to a unipolar era led by the United States (US). However, with the increase in asymmetric threats and diversity of actors in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks, this stabilization process has given way to uncertainties and multi-vector debates. Charles Kupchan’s work analyses different system transformations from a more structuralist perspective. This article aims to analyze how states determine their military doctrines and strategies in the face of constantly transforming system balances. Within the analytical framework discussed by Kupchan, it is possible to discuss how military doctrines are adapted to the variables of the international system. Many factors are at play here, from regionalism to alliance formations and threat perceptions to actors’ diversity. Kupchan’s “No One’s World” argument leads us to the problem of the opportunities and contradictions that states face in determining their strategic priorities within the framework of the complex structure of the multipolar order, which is this article’s main starting point.

EFFECTS OF THE MULTISPORT ACTIVITY PROGRAM ON YOUTH FOOTBALL PLAYERS’ MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Objective: Our study aimed to compare the dynamic leg strength, acceleration, running speed, agility, and ball-handling skills of young football players. Material and method: Forty-two players members of the Szeged-Csanád Grosics Academy participated in the so-called "Multisport Activity Program" (SG) (nsg=42), whereas the control group (CG) involved players from the academy's partner clubs (ncg=109). Our testing procedure included: standing long jump, 10 m, and 30 m run, COD 505, and T-Test with ball dribbling. Results: We found that the dynamic leg power of the SG players was significantly improved. The means of the T-tests demonstrated (p<0.001) improved ball dribbling skills in the SG group. We found no significant difference in the COD 505 test results. The results of the standing long jump, 10 m, 30 m, COD 505, and ball control tests are strongly correlated; however, none explain the minor COD difference. Conclusion: It is beneficial for players to participate in multisport sessions involving various agility and ball control tasks. The COD 505 test results demonstrated smaller differences between dominant and non-dominant sides in SG participants. We suggest they are less likely to develop unilateral movement patterns that lead to overtraining injuries. The results indicate that implementing a "Multisport activity program" benefits youth athlete.

Listening to The Reluctant Fundamentalist:

This article centers on Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007) and explores the challenges of reciprocal recognition and the impact of power dynamics on trust between the West and Muslim communities in post 9/11 America. Bart Moore-Gilbert's critique of existing models of recognition politics; specifically, models developed by Fukuyama and Taylor, reveals the limitations in addressing the Muslim experience and Islamic fundamentalism within western liberal-democratic societies. The failure of ocular-centric approaches – prevalent in the western tradition – to adequately represent the Muslim experience, guides me towards sound theories which provides the theoretical underpinning to this analysis. Thus, I denote this shift as a practice in decolonial listening. Drawing on Nicole Furlonge’s analytical framework of “listen in print” and the concept of “aural recognition”, I argue for a more comprehensive recognition through an aurally-engaged practice of reading and political engagement. Ultimately, I advocate for listening in order to develop trust and for a compassionate stance towards lives and encounters of Muslim minorities in post 9/11 America.

Exploring the Intersections of Gender Dynamics, Sexual Behaviour, and the Hazard of Reporting Sexually Transmitted Infections among Women in Pakistan: An Intersectional Feminist Perspective Utilizing PDHS (2017–18) Data

This study examined the factors influencing women's susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Pakistan from an intersectional feminist perspective. The research analyzed sexual behavior, spouse-related dynamics, patriarchal structure, and socioeconomic and demographic factors to understand the complex realities faced by women in this societal context using the 2017–2018 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey. In applying intersectional feminist perspectives, statistical analyses, including chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regressions, were employed to explore the factors influencing reported STI levels. The findings revealed that 35.8 percent of women reported experiencing STIs within the past year. Contrary to expectations, women who exhibited sexual empowerment were prone to report STIs, highlighting the impact of power dynamics and gender norms on women's sexual health. In addition, there was a negative correlation between women's participation in decision making regarding contraceptive use and the reporting of STIs, suggesting that women's autonomy in reproductive choices does not necessarily lead to improved sexual health outcomes. To effectively combat this issue, this article presents an integrated approach that challenges negative masculine attitudes, promotes healthy sexual behaviors, and emphasizes communication and shared responsibility for sexual health within marital relationships. Interventions should prioritize fostering marital fidelity, enhancing communication between partners, and empowering women to make conversant decisions about contraception.