Realist Perspective Research Articles

Reinterpreting Buddhist Environmental Ethics Through the Lens of Agential Realism

Reinterpreting Buddhist Environmental Ethics Through the Lens of Agential Realism

France and Iran's Rivalry in the Middle East: Strategies, Interactions, and Consequences

This study argues that France has recently sought to reassert itself as a power in the Middle East, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean (MENA), especially in its former colonies. In this context, France's quest for "Pax Mediterranea" under the leadership of Emmanuel Macron, which has intensified its political-military initiatives in the MENA region, is analyzed through the rivalry between Paris and Tehran in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, which are considered as Iran's spheres of influence in the Middle East. In this context, it is possible to explain the ups and downs of France-Iran relations from a realist perspective based on geopolitical competition, concrete threat perceptions and military-economic factors. Within the framework of neo-realist theory, which emphasizes the need to prevent the rise of regional hegemonic powers, this study argues that France's concern about Iran's growing influence in the region, the conflict of interests they face at the regional level and Iran's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons are the most important reasons for the unfriendly relations between the two countries.

전환의 시대, ‘교육2030’의 변혁적 역량과 행위성의 의미 분석

In 2018, the OECD created the ‘Education2030’ project, which emphasized developing Transformative Competencies and Agency to prepare students for challenges in the era of transformation. The purpose of this paper analyzed the contents and meaning from agential realism perspective, as suggested by Karen Barad, feminist new materialism, arguing that ‘Education 2030’ need to be studied from various perspectives. Therefore, the meaning of the core goals, competencies, and achievements of ‘Education 2030’ was analyzed by applying the Hermeneutic Phenomenological research method. As the results of this study, Transformational Competencies required the ability to create new values, control conflicts, and take the responsibility to respond to global crises. In addition, student agency and co-agency referred to growing and developing jointly by forming entangled relationships. Forward, we must make efforts to establish a educational ecosystem conducive to building Transformative Competencies and Agency. Agential realism is expected to be a useful perspective for breaking away from the dichotomous conceptual frame that distinguishes knowledge and competence in the curricula.

A Raciolinguistic and Racial Realist Critique of Dual Language’s Racial Integration

ABSTRACT Offering a raciolinguistic and racial realist perspective, this theoretical article critiques using dual-language bilingual education (DL) as a strategy to provide youth, particularly “English-language learners,” the elusive goal of a bilingual and racially integrated education. The author argues this racial desegregation approach – through its assumption that White students will be the English-language models – impedes DL’s potential to provide equity to Latinxs and other students. The author contends this integration strategy inadvertently perpetuates racist ideologies about racialized youths’ bilingualism, White mainstream English’s superiority, and majority-Latinx bilingual education. Furthermore, the strategy tethers justice for Latinxs to Whites’ interest in DL, consequently perpetuating material inequities.

‘Send everyone, it’s my son’ – Combined Glaserian grounded theory and thematic analysis of paramedics attending their own families

Introduction Medical clinicians treating relatives is ethically complex; in paramedicine, the time-critical nature of pathologies often precludes alternative treatment without risking morbidity or mortality. Aims This project had three aims: firstly, to retrieve baseline data for thematic analysis on the experiences of paramedics who have attended their own families; secondly, to generate explanatory grounded theory; and finally, to translate these findings into recommendations for practice. Methods Glaserian grounded theory and thematic analysis methods were both undertaken using a realist perspective. Acquiescence, wording, and habituation heuristics were mitigated in the interview design. There were 44 responses ( n = 93 instances of treating family), with 21 participants ( n = 34) from three countries interviewed. Saturation was determined using both Guest et al.'s and Thorne's criterion. Semantic and latent themes were generated inductively via a five-step process, with grounded theory generated simultaneously via a three-step Glaserian process. Cohen's kappa ranged from 0.82 to 0.93. Results Incidents were both traumatic (hangings, stabbings, traumatic arrests) and medical (paediatric arrests, cardiac arrests, overdoses). The core concept-category was ‘conflict between the roles of clinician and relative’. Paramedics reported a sympathetic hyperarousal response that they quickly suppressed, a rapid transition into ‘work mode’, and difficulty obtaining their normal state of flow, balancing dual roles as clinician and relative, transitioning out of work mode and into becoming a carer, and simultaneously processing the event. Organisational responses were frequently described as inadequate. Paramedics reported short-term experiences consistent with an acute stress response, and a large proportion suffered long-term, life-altering consequences. It is theorised that this phenomenon disrupts professional detachment, increases outcome self-expectations, interrupts normal routines, and promotes overmedicalisation. Conclusion This research provides baseline data and theory on the experiences of paramedics attending their own families. Five themes and 24 subthemes were identified, an explanatory theorem proposed, and a preliminary set of eight recommendations for translation into practice provided.

Where Does NATO's Enlargement Lead To?

The aim of this article is to show from the perspective of offensive realism the implications of NATO's post-Cold War enlargement. These implications should be seen on multiple levels: (a) the security of the new members of the North Atlantic Alliance, (b) the USA and the cohesiveness of NATO, (c) Russia, (d) the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine, (e) the militarization of relations in Europe, and (c) the global international system. The war in Ukraine is forcing the U.S. to make compromises with Russia and China, and this calls into question NATO's continued ‘open door’ policy.

Critical realism, the climate crisis and (de)growth

ABSTRACT What does it entail to study the climate crisis from – or consistently with – a critical realist perspective? The paper addresses this question in three steps. First, it considers the boundaries of critical realism in relation to climate crisis research. In this context it identifies climate science as a field that in important respects resonates implicitly with critical realism. Conversely, a book by human ecologist Andreas Malm is introduced as an example of a work that, while sympathetic to critical realism, in key respects contradicts core features of it. Second, to illustrate what an analysis of the crisis informed by critical realism can look like, the paper brings into focus the main causes of the climate crisis – including the capitalist growth imperative, neoliberalism, and consumer culture. Finally, the status quo project, the green growth project and the degrowth project are identified as fundamentally different ways of approaching the climate crisis.

An Enlightened Common Sense Approach to Environmental Education, with Special Reference to Climate Change

This article argues that, in order for humanity to act timeously to ameliorate threats such as climate change, we would do well to heed the central tenets of Roy Bhaskar’s transcendental realism, which he also calls enlightened common sense. This is because transcendental realism is critical of the unnecessarily burdensome assumption allied with systems/complexity theory that statistical analyses and complex computer models are necessary and suffi cient to deal with complex systems such as climate. To the contrary, from the perspective of transcendental realism, it is knowing ‘how things work’ – being enlightened – that is necessary, and often sufficient, to deal with complex systems. For example, in terms of climate change, knowing how the Greenhouse Eff ect works – that is, knowing how extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere heats the Earth – makes it as simple to decide to act to reduce carbon dioxide as knowing how gravity works makes it simple to decide not to step off a high-rise building. This does not detract from the further need to (preferably democratically) consider diff erent action options, for which computer models can be a helpful tool. Transcendental realism also has implications for how environmental educators define climate and climate change and it provides an antidote to certain challenges posed by climate change deniers. Much of the critique applied in this article to systems/complexity theory can also be applied to posthumanism.
 Keywords: climate change education, Roy Bhaskar, climate scepticism, complex systems, posthumanism

An Enlightened Common Sense Approach to Environmental Education, with Special Reference to Climate Change

This article argues that, in order for humanity to act timeously to ameliorate threats such as climate change, we would do well to heed the central tenets of Roy Bhaskar’s transcendental realism, which he also calls enlightened common sense. This is because transcendental realism is critical of the unnecessarily burdensome assumption allied with systems/complexity theory that statistical analyses and complex computer models are necessary and suffi cient to deal with complex systems such as climate. To the contrary, from the perspective of transcendental realism, it is knowing ‘how things work’ – being enlightened – that is necessary, and often sufficient, to deal with complex systems. For example, in terms of climate change, knowing how the Greenhouse Eff ect works – that is, knowing how extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere heats the Earth – makes it as simple to decide to act to reduce carbon dioxide as knowing how gravity works makes it simple to decide not to step off a high-rise building. This does not detract from the further need to (preferably democratically) consider diff erent action options, for which computer models can be a helpful tool. Transcendental realism also has implications for how environmental educators define climate and climate change and it provides an antidote to certain challenges posed by climate change deniers. Much of the critique applied in this article to systems/complexity theory can also be applied to posthumanism.
 Keywords: climate change education, Roy Bhaskar, climate scepticism, complex systems, posthumanism

Exploring experiences of moral injury and distress among health care workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health care workers have been exposed to a variety of practical and emotional challenges because of the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving them vulnerable to experiencing moral injury and distress. However, there is currently sparse research which directly explores such experiences. This study aimed to explore and characterise the experiences and impacts of moral injury and distress among health care workers during the pandemic. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with health care workers employed across both mental and physical health care services. Interviews were analysed from a critical realist perspective using thematic analysis. Three key themes were identified: attitudes towards moral injury, experiences of moral injury and consequences of moral injury. Participants appeared to identify with the idea of acting against their morals to varying extents based on their job roles. Participants experienced a range of potentially morally injurious and distressing events throughout the pandemic and many ultimately felt that they provided sub-standard levels of care due to extreme pressures on services. Detrimental impacts upon wellbeing were commonly reported, including high levels of emotional distress and feelings of guilt and shame. Some reported a loss of enthusiasm for their job and a desire to leave the profession entirely. Moral injury and distress presents a real concern for staff wellbeing and retention within the profession. During and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for health care providers to implement wider strategies to target moral injury and distress, and support staff within health care settings.

National Paralympic sport policies influencing a country’s Paralympic success

ABSTRACT The Paralympics Games are increasing in competitiveness as more countries seek top medal outcomes. In response, governments are focusing on the development and implementation of effective national sport policies/systems to optimise Paralympic success. However, little is known about national sport policy influencing a country’s Paralympic success. Indeed, the literature on national elite sport policy has focused on Olympic sport and emerging Paralympic sport studies are limited to a country/sport. The aim of this research was to identify key national Paralympic sport policy interventions influencing a country’s Paralympic medal outcomes. This exploratory qualitative study was informed by a realist perspective, and by the social relational and human rights models of disability. Twenty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted with national Paralympic sport managers from the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Canada, and the data was analysed using qualitative descriptive analysis. Findings confirm that existing national Olympic sport policies are also important for Paralympic success, however, within these policies, parasport-specific processes were identified, and two policy interventions unique to Paralympic sports were found: integration of disability-specific and Paralympic sport knowledge in the sporting system, and a national framework for Paralympic athlete classification. This study advances knowledge on national Paralympic sport policies and suggests that researchers, evaluators, and practitioners need to account for Paralympic-specific policies and processes. Tailoring policies to the specificities of the Paralympic domain may provide competitive advantage in the Paralympic Games. This study argues for further research to understand how the identified policy interventions may be influenced by the country’s context.

Person-attuned musical interactions (PAMI) in dementia care. Complex intervention research for constructing a training manual.

Music is of vital importance for cognition, human care, and the formation of social communities throughout life. Dementia is a neurocognitive disorder that affects cognitive domains, and in late-stage dementia, care is needed in all aspects of daily living. Within residential care home contexts, carers play a significant role for the "caring culture" but often lack professional training in verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Thus, there is a need for training carers to respond to the multidimensional needs of persons with dementia. Music therapists use musical interactions but are not trained to train carers. Therefore, our aim was to explore person-attuned musical interactions (PAMI), and additionally, to develop and evaluate a training manual to be used by music therapists when supporting and training carers in non-verbal communication with persons with late-stage dementia in residential care home contexts. With a realist perspective and systems thinking and within the framework for complex intervention research, the research group integrated several overlapping subprojects by applying a non-linear and iterative research process. Core elements related to person-centered dementia care as well as learning objectives were considered through the following four phases; Developing, Feasibility, Evaluation, and Implementation. The result was a training manual for qualified music therapists to use when teaching and collaborating with carers about how to implement PAMI in dementia care. The manual included comprehensive resources, a clear structure for training, defined learning objectives, and integration of theory. With increased knowledge about caring values and non-verbal communication, residential care home cultures may develop carer competencies and provide professional attuned care for persons with dementia. Further piloting and testing to examine the general effect on caring cultures is needed.

Over wat formele anticipatie vermag: het object in Kant en Wittgenstein

On formal anticipation: the object in Kant and Wittgenstein This article discusses the affinity between Kant’s notion of objectivity and Wittgenstein’s view on the limitations of language by addressing both philosophers’ relation to the constitutive space at work in a transcendental logic. For both, the system and conceptual room hosting the activity of subjective conditionality is dynamically connected to what can be seen as an object in response to the heterogeneity between concepts and sensibility. In his work On the Genealogy of Universals. The Metaphysical Origins of Analytic Philosophy (2018) Fraser MacBride makes a plea for the importance of Kant in the history of the origin of analytical philosophy, more specifically, the philosophies of Russell, Moore and Wittgenstein. He nevertheless does so in an inadequate way, because he understands Kant from a realist perspective striving to see ‘objects’ as an awaiting reality ‘out there’ to be made our own. Contrary to that, we make the case that a transcendental dynamics of a ‘lost’ primordial captivity is at work in the process of the constitution of objects. We look into Wittgenstein’s notion of substance and the problematic subreptitious exchange between the notions of substance and attribute on the one hand and the relation between the particular and the universal according to MacBride on the other. We propose that both Kant and Wittgenstein sharpen the awareness for the transcendental anticipatory activity of a presupposition, to be seen as a crucial moment within pure formalization and logical strictness, built on a minimal ontology of openness to what is determinable within the action of determination, opposite to a realism of what is simply determined as ‘what is the case’ without taking into account the constituting subject-pole.

Realism’s Perspective on Russia’s National Interest in Invanding Ukraine: A Literature Review

Conflict is unavoidable. Regardless of the nature of the conflict, war is the last alternative when the peace effort has failed to take. Russia's attack on Ukraine is the last stage in resolving the conflict due to the failure of peace negotiations between the two sides. This study aims to analyze the national interest of Russia in invading Ukraine through the perspective of realism. The method used in this research is a descriptive method with a qualitative approach. The data collection technique is secondary data through documentation or literature study. In this case, the researcher conducted previous research with the research topic studied from scientific articles in libraries and cyberspace. This study's results indicate an iceberg phenomenon in Russia's national interest in invading Ukrainian territory. Western expansion into the territory of Ukraine has created a security dilemma for Russia, so the war is used as momentum for Russia to achieve its national interests. Through the war, Russia played zero-sum to achieve its national interests, as a balance of power from Western powers, power expansion into the territory of Ukraine, and the power struggle. The armed conflict between the two countries is a challenge that must face by countries around the world, including Indonesia. In response to it, Indonesia used an independent-active principle based on Indonesia's national interests.

Visual images of sustainability in higher education: the hidden curriculum of climate change on campus

PurposePerceptions of climate change are strongly influenced by visual cues and images. Many universities have made significant steps towards decarbonisation, yet these often remain hidden from the campus community. This study aims to explore the hidden curriculum of climate change on campus and compare participants’ images of sustainability on campus with those on university websites.Design/methodology/approachThis research was underpinned by a critical realist perspective using innovative visual research methods including auto-photography and photo-elicitation to enable deep understanding of perceptions of sustainability and climate change on campus. Grounded visual pattern analysis (GVPA) was used to analyse campus photos and compare them to images used on university websites.FindingsFindings suggest that staff and student images more strongly encapsulated tensions between humans and nature than website photos, but that the latter included more evidence of social sustainability. Neither image set expressed climate change issues effectively; the invisibility of university decarbonisation activities represents a lost opportunity for learning.Originality/valueThis research uses novel visual methodologies and analysis (GVPA) with potential for wider use in sustainability research. This study offers new insights into the importance of the hidden curriculum of sustainability in higher education and the difficulties of making climate change visible on campus.

“Understanding the journey from A to Z”: centering peer support perspectives to unveil the mechanisms and power of peer support

Purpose This study aims to gain insights from peer support workers (PSWs) on the unseen mechanisms of peer support work that may be applied to implementing a child and youth mental health peer support program in a children’s hospital emergency department (ED). Design/methodology/approach This study used a critical realist perspective with a qualitative research design. Eight participants, all PSWs in health, community and social services working with adults, adolescents and children, were recruited from Alberta, Canada. Data were collected through in-person semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis. Findings The results generated interrelated patterns of meaning among PSWs that were grouped into three main themes: inside out and outside in, no one leaves empty-handed and sculpting health system softness. Research limitations/implications All participants were trained by the same organization and may have similar understandings and approaches to the peer support role. Participants were predominantly of a similar demographic; thus, participants with minoritized identities may have challenges not represented. Practical implications Using nontraditional staffing models in an acute center may facilitate a shift to meet the chronic and complex issues of the 21st century. Social implications Youth peer support roles may reduce stigma by challenging stereotypes and myths, reduce social isolation and improve meaning, connection and belonging for individuals with mental illness who are often dislocated and disconnected from society. Originality/value This study exemplified the positive impacts peer support could make by improving child, youth and family experiences; reducing stigma; providing hope and help; and embedding the recovery model directly into the ED.

Realism and Reconstruction: A Comparative Perspective

Realism and Reconstruction: A Comparative Perspective

Barriers and enablers to healthcare system uptake of direct oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: a qualitative interview study with healthcare professionals and policy makers in England

ObjectiveTo better understand the factors influencing the uptake of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) across different health economies in National Health Service England from the perspective of health professionals and other...

The impact of COVID-19 on the Persian Gulf: the realist perspective

This article aims to show the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on international relations and state policy in the Persian Gulf through the prism of realism theory. COVID-19 became a game changer for the domestic politics of the Persian Gulf countries and for the balance of power in that subregion. The application of realism reveals the statecraft of the Arab Persian Gulf during the pandemic to be a struggle for power and its consolidation. Therefore the hypothesis of the article holds that the authoritarian Arab Gulf states used the global COVID-19 pandemic crisis to consolidate and strengthen regime power and conduct humanitarian/mask/COVID-19 diplomacy toward the regimes most affected by the pandemic, shifting the geopolitical landscape. The first part of the article presents the general assumption of the analysis and the theoretical framework. The second and the third respectively discuss domestic and foreign policies of the Arab Persian Gulf states in the face of the pandemic, highlighting strengthening authoritarian tendencies and authoritarian bilateral cooperation. The fourth part relate to the Gulf Cooperation Council and its reaction on COVID-19. The last part draws on the theoretical framework adopted in the article offer conclusions that answer research questions.

NATO’s and Russian involvement in the Libyan Crisis in a view of the Post-Cold War Realism vs. Humanitarianism

The study investigates NATO’s and Russian involvement in the Libyan crisis by evaluating their actions from realist and humanitarian perspectives. There have been numerous studies portraying Middle East conflicts as great power confrontations and the mere pursuit of geopolitical interests. The study counters these explanations by analyzing the actions of the US, European powers, and Russia, and demonstrates how there were specific cases during which they acted in a humanitarian manner, while at other times they acted as realist powers. The study proves that when all three powers pursued humanitarian objectives, it led to a prompt collective action. However, when one or more of them pursued realist objectives, it led to a prolongation of the conflict. Nevertheless, when NATO powers (the US and European states) acted on humanitarian motives and Russia refrained from actively pursuing realist interests, collective action was still possible. Furthermore, even when all powers pursued realist motives, collective action was possible as those motives did not collide. The study implies that the application of R2P as a newly emerging form of international law might be possible elsewhere given that certain conditions are met.