Political Role Research Articles

Small business political responsibility

While significant research addresses social responsibility in small businesses, studies on small business social responsibility (SBSR) overlook its political aspects. This gap persists despite a noticeable ‘political turn’ in corporate social responsibility research, which focuses on large multinationals tackling societal challenges amid ineffective state regulation. However, micro- and small businesses also engage with the political dimensions of social responsibility, albeit differently. This conceptual article introduces the concept of small business political responsibility (SBPR) and develops an original SBPR model centred on the political identities of owner-managers. It suggests that SBPR is dynamic, shaped by individual agency and highlights the importance of analysing the private sector’s political role from a small business perspective. Here, SBPR depends on managerial discretion rather than normative evaluations from civil society or local communities.

Threads of Peace: Leadership and Conflict Resolution in Nested Negotiation Networks

Abstract This article analyzes the intricate dynamics of protracted, asymmetric, and ethnonational (PAE) conflicts across continents, spanning the period from 1960 to 2021. Focused on Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, the research investigates the impact of specific bargaining and leadership strategies on the peaceful resolution of armed conflicts. Drawing from insights on the “nested negotiation network” phenomenon, the study examines and compares the relationships between parties within 11 complex conflict systems. Key findings include the crucial role of informal negotiations in shaping formal talks, a precedent of decreased major violence preceding negotiated resolutions, and the nuanced relationship between negotiation network density and inclusive formal negotiations. Noteworthy insights also include the distinctive influence of civil society and Indigenous groups, the political role of the military, and the mediating impact of external actors in bridging structural gaps within negotiation networks. The study highlights the significance of the strategic position of an actor in a relationship network, allowing for diverse manifestations of leadership styles in influencing the outcomes of peace processes. Individual authority figures and organizations can leverage their inter-coalition and intra-coalition connections to move the conflict closer to a successful resolution, while safeguarding their own vested interests at the bargaining table. These insights have important implications for understanding the complex interplay of actors and relationships in the resolution of PAE conflicts.

The EU's ‘Ever Closer Union’: Ideals and Contradictions of a Civilian Empire

ABSTRACTMost explanations of the European Union (EU) have dealt with it as a kind of (con)federation, a multi‐level construction, a peculiar blend of supranational and intergovernmental features, or a neo‐functional set‐up. Some regard the EU as an empire of sorts, but either this perspective is drowned out by approaches privileging a ‘normative power’ reading, or it is applied solely, respectively mainly, to the behaviour of the EU towards its ‘near abroad’. This focus on externaIities is both necessary and important, but it does not capture the full picture. This article argues that the EU generically is best understood as a neo‐imperial construct, also in its internal dealings, its requirements on member states to respect its norms and values and accept the limitations of national sovereignty, which EU membership implies. This ‘normative regime’ invariably leads to disagreements and open conflicts between centre and periphery. In one case, that of the UK, these conflicts have led to the British withdrawal from the EU. In others—here represented by Central Europe—to ongoing and bitter recriminations over the rule of law and the very nature of the EU as a collaborative venture. At the centre of all this we find Germany, as the clearest beneficiary of the civilian European empire. This empire, however, is vulnerable. Not just is it internally exposed to the pressure of member states and movements that prefer a union which makes fewer inroads into national sovereignty; it is simultaneously challenged by a global context which calls for the EU to take on a more independent, less subdued and more militant role in world politics. Hence, the EU—faced with external threats of different orders (the USA, Russia, China)—is currently trying to effect a transition from a civilian empire based on peaceful, democratic ideals to a more traditional, old‐school empire based on hard power. Whether it has the proper instruments to do this, if the centre is strong enough to hold, only time can tell. What is certain is that these ambitions have added new contradictions and dilemmas to the agenda of a civilian empire with visible growing pains, in which the voices of dissatisfaction and open resistance are on the rise.

Mainstream parties and climate policy development: what role for intra-party politics?

ABSTRACT Mainstream parties’ adaptation to the climate agenda is generally understood in terms of their existing ideological profiles or inter-party competitive dynamics. We know much less about the role played by intra-party politics (IPP). In this article we develop a novel analytical schema for understanding IPP and its relationship to climate policy development in mainstream parties by exploring how internal tensions in the ‘Ecological Modernisation’ (EM) framework play out in the intra-party setting. Utilising the case of the UK Labour Party (2020–24), drawing on 28 elite interviews and documentary analysis, we demonstrate how power dynamics between competing factions, key ideas and previous political experiences shaped Labour’s decision to drop its ambitious £28bn annual Climate Investment Pledge. The analysis has important implications for understanding how mainstream parties engage with the climate agenda and why their traditional governing ambitions (e.g. economic growth and stability) may come to trump climate policy goals.

Pre-Hispanic ritual use of psychoactive plants at Chavín de Huántar, Peru

Ritual is broadly accepted as an important locus of social interaction in the pre-Hispanic Central Andes, and research into the development of durable sociopolitical inequality in the region often focuses on the social and political roles of public rituals. At the Middle-Late Formative Period (ca. 1200-400 BCE) monumental center of Chavín de Huántar, as well as at contemporary sites, ritual has long been hypothesized to include the use of psychoactive plants. However, neither psychoactive plant remains nor chemical traces of psychoactive compounds in likely ritual contexts have been identified at any of these sites. Recently excavated deposits sealed in an underground gallery at Chavín contained twenty-three artifacts of forms (especially bone tubes) associated with consumption of psychoactive plants elsewhere in the region. We here report, based on independent microbotanical and chemical analyses, two kinds of direct evidence for use of psychoactive plants in institutionalized ritual at Chavín. These results are direct evidence of psychoactive plants in archaeological bone tubes used as inhalers and the northernmost direct evidence of vilca and Nicotiana use in the pre-Hispanic Andes.

INSTITUTIONAL APPROACHES TO HEALTH CRISES

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated in practice the need for direct collaboration between governing and scientific institutions. Information exchange proved to be the only tool to control the situation before a vaccine is developed and to determine the dynamics of public trust in institutions. Communication, in these terms, is an instrument for legitimizing imposed measures in society and a decisive factor for their political success. In the context of a health crisis, the role of politicians as communicators should not be underestimated because of the influence they have over the media and public life on the one hand, and because of the existing intersections between public health goals and political interest, on the other. Political response to pandemic situations in different countries is based on established cultural traditions and political priorities, often focusing on social values that unite the majority within the society. Political orientation could influence factors such as perceived risk and behaviour. Although politicization of anti-epidemic measures in 2020 determined subsequent attitudes toward prevention in different countries, positive outcomes have been seen when political leaders engaged with the people and called for unity. Empathy and personal example, as well as the use of social media, have been reported as good practices. While initially the induction of fear stimulated compliance, in the long term it has been viewed as harmful and as a source of distrust.

Action and reaction: how political influence perceptions interact with football fan loyalty

ABSTRACT Purpose The present study analyses the interaction between sport infrastructure development and the role of politics in that development. The analysis focuses on Hungary, where the relationship between politics and sport is prominent in the development of sports infrastructure. Methodology To investigate the research question, a unique dataset is used: in 2022, fans of a Hungarian first-division football team responded to a survey on team loyalty, venue preferences, perception of political influence and other topics in the city where this first-division football team is located (n = 207). Findings Empirical results highlight a significant moderating effect of perceptions on political influence: with lower levels of political influence acceptance, the relationship between perceived stadium quality and football fans’ loyalty is weaker. Practical implications The present findings have implications for sports management when the ideal role of political influence in the sport and football environment is debated. Research contribution Empirical findings contribute to the assessment of the impact of political influence perceptions on football fan loyalty. Originality Previous brand management literature did not examine moderation effects related to political influence perceptions extensively, and the research aims to fill this gap.

German Political Foundations in an Era of Geoeconomic Transformation: Navigating Civil Society Geopolitics and Boundaries of Influence

ABSTRACT German political foundations have long provided development and democratisation aid worldwide. Publicly funded and closely associated with a political party, these foundations’ activities have aligned with Germany’s role as a civilian power. This article examines the impact of the geoeconomic shift in Germany’s foreign policy on the political foundations. It focuses on Turkey with which Germany’s relations, both bilateral and within the framework of the EU, have been geoeconomic in nature. This article is based on interviews with former and current heads of country offices, staff from headquarters, country and regional offices, and local partners from four political foundations in Turkey, as well as an overview of their projects and activities. This study finds that while Germany’s geoeconomic shift has impacted the political foundations, this influence remains limited. It argues that although these foundations gain a geopolitical dimension through their political dialogue activities and roles as think tanks, their influence is often filtered through ideological lenses due to party affiliations. This ideological bias, along with the significant role of local partners and local staff, constrains the development of civil society geopolitics. Some partnerships may merely be instrumental or lack political orientation, further limiting the impact of geopolitical shifts.

The Discourse on the Role of NGOs in Indonesia’s Public Policy Process

This study aims to analyze the discourse surrounding the role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the public policy process in Indonesia. After the collapse of the New Order regime, the role of NGOs has become increasingly prominent in various stages of the policy process, from advocacy, formulation, implementation, to policy monitoring. However, the dominant discourse in Indonesia tends to reduce the political role of NGOs to only two main domains: community development and empowerment and humanitarian assistance. Using a post-structuralist approach and reflective document analysis, this study identifies distinctive characteristics in the discourse on the role of NGOs in Indonesia. Although the role of NGOs in the public policy process is very significant, their political dimensions are often not widely recognized, both by the general public and public policy academics in Indonesia. This condition actually opens up opportunities for NGOs to maneuver more flexibly in institutional and social spaces, influencing policy decisions while maintaining an image of neutrality in the wider political real.

Legal Politics in The Democratic State of Timor Leste

This research aims to analyze the role of legal politics in Timor-Leste in building a strong democratic system, as well as the challenges faced in law enforcement and the harmonization of legal regulations post-independence. The method used is normative analysis with historical and conceptual approaches, where data is collected through literature review, legal regulations, and related official documents. The results show that despite various legal reforms, the legal system in Timor-Leste still faces significant challenges, such as the imbalance between existing regulations and social needs and the limited capacity of law enforcement that hinders the effectiveness of policies. Additionally, there is still a strong political influence in the legislative process, which often affects the independence of judicial institutions. The implications of this study emphasize the importance of enhancing the capacity of law enforcement agencies and the strong commitment of all parties to strengthen the effectiveness of legal policies to support the achievement of sustainable democracy and the rule of law in Timor-Leste. This study is expected to contribute to developing legal policies that are more responsive to the country's evolving social and political needs.

Strategi Komunikasi Politik Perempuan di Maluku : Pela dan Gandong sebagai Modal Sosial

This study is motivated by the strong patriarchal culture in Maluku, which limits women's roles in politics. Despite efforts to increase female political participation, women still face social and structural barriers. Politics is often perceived as a masculine domain, making it even more challenging for women to gain legitimacy and support. In this context, female politicians in Maluku must develop effective communication strategies to navigate these challenges. This research aims to explore the political communication strategies of female politicians in Maluku and identify the factors influencing their success or failure. A qualitative case study approach was used, with data collected through in-depth interviews with female politicians, activists, and political observers, as well as document analysis and field observations. The findings reveal that, despite significant challenges, female politicians in Maluku adapt by leveraging local values such as pela and gandong. Community solidarity and social networks based on traditional customs play crucial roles in strengthening their political positions. Additionally, support from women's groups and political organizations helps them overcome structural barriers. This study concludes that women's political communication in Maluku is a complex adaptation to the local socio-cultural context. By utilizing local social capital, they strengthen their political standing in a male-dominated environment.

On the reconstruction of family life and ‘institutional forms of parentification': unaccompanied minors’ experiences with family reunification in Belgium and Norway

ABSTRACT Family reunification in the context of unaccompanied minor refugees (UMs) has been an emergent phenomenon in Europe during the last decade. Knowledge about UMs’ experiences with family reunification is needed to enhance social workers’ understanding of family dynamics in reunited refugee families and how these are intertwined with the institutional context. This article is based on a reanalysis of two sets of in-depth interviews with former UMs in Norway (n = 10) and Belgium (n = 15). Drawing on the concept of ‘institutional parentification,’ the article explores the tasks and responsibilities former UMs take on for their family during the process of family reunification. Results from the study show that the reconstruction of family life is impacted by institutional regulations, rules, and social work practices. Through a complex assemblage of legal, administrative, and political issues, the youngsters are assigned to – and take up – new roles in and responsibilities for the family reintegration process. By shedding light on institutional forms of parentification, the article calls for an increased awareness of the impact of the policies that regulate family reunification and their practical consequences and redirects attention to the political role of social work with refugee families.

Analyzing the Role of Communal Politics in Shaping Electoral Outcomes: A Case Study of Malappuram District

Analyzing the Role of Communal Politics in Shaping Electoral Outcomes: A Case Study of Malappuram District

Rethinking “Sustainability” as a Multidimensional Conceptual Framework for Local Journalism Studies

ABSTRACT Academics, industry leaders and governments have increasingly focused on the future of local news, exploring innovative models, funding solutions and regulatory frameworks to ensure its survival and relevance in an evolving media landscape. The journalism “crisis” has been particularly evident in rural and regional areas, where sustaining local news provision has been especially challenging. While scholars have adopted a variety of approaches to research this problem, there is scant literature that explores the notion of “local news sustainability” as a conceptual frame. This paper outlines a multidimensional approach that expands the primary economic focus by considering how the important social, cultural and political roles local news outlets play in their communities, and their strong connection to geographic places, shape sustainability. The paper also suggests that a greater consideration of time and endurance is required to help develop more meaningful, longer-term solutions to local news futures. This paper draws on cross disciplinary literature to problematise the concept of sustainability for local news.

Making the Global Local: The Case of Chinese Research and Innovation Evaluation Systems

Starting with China's increasingly prominent role in the global politics of science, this paper considers the case of Chinese policies for the evaluation of Research & Innovation (R&I) and the recent problematization of the Science Citation Index. Developing the notion of global embedding, we conduct a document study of Chinese R&I policy to explore how China mediates the relations between global standardization of research quality and local concerns for indigenous research development. Showing that China seeks high global rankings while also questioning them, we explore how globally familiar representations of the scientific process are expressed in core Chinese statements even as China pursues its own distinctive path. We discuss how co-production of standardization and difference instantiates a both practical and pragmatic resolution of global embedding—suggesting a flexible resolution of what might otherwise be presented as contradictory pressures. Shedding light on the mediations and translations of global ranking systems in R&I policy, we contribute to science & technology studies on co-production by exploring the relations between policies for science and the influence of broader political culture. At stake is the very notion that R&I policies can serve local as well as international needs.

صراع الدولة العثمانية مع القوى الأوربية (النمسا – روسيا أنموذجاً 1740-1792م)

The Ottoman Empire directed its full weight toward military and combat development, equipping the army and building warships. It appears that the vast responsibilities and the expansion of their territories necessitated this effort, or that the very formation of their state was inherently military. However, by 1740, the Ottoman Empire experienced a significant decline in civilizational progress, enduring a prolonged period of stagnation and cultural inertia, while its rivals—chiefly Austria and Russia—began surpassing it in scientific and military advancements. Over time, European developments became more pronounced, while the Ottoman decline became increasingly evident, leading to psychological and intellectual defeatism. Meanwhile, a new power emerged to challenge the political balance in Europe, refusing to be part of any settlement between the Ottoman Empire and Europe—Russia. This new force, under the leadership of Tsar Peter the Great, aggressively sought to lift Russia out of backwardness. The Tsar worked to establish a powerful army and an even stronger navy capable of expanding Russia’s political and military influence. This ambition made conflict between Russia and the Ottomans inevitable, particularly in breaking the Ottoman dominance over the Black Sea, opening maritime routes for Russian ships, and securing the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits for Russian commercial vessels. Neither Peter the Great nor his successors acknowledged the Ottoman Empire’s political role in Europe. Consequently, various European states found it necessary to support the Ottoman Empire against Russia’s expansion, not out of affinity for the Ottomans, but to counterbalance Russian influence and preserve stability in Eastern Europe. Western European nations were unwilling to see Russian influence extend into Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Throughout the 18th century, the Ottomans managed to maintain their political presence in Europe, largely due to diplomatic support from European nations—except Russia—which ensured their continued existence. This study is significant as it highlights the conflict between the Ottoman Empire and the two major European powers, Austria and Russia, during the second half of the 18th century (1740-1792), a crucial historical period that shaped regional and international dynamics.

Incorporating growth machines into rural-urban hydrosocial territories: a comparative-historical analysis of watershed power dynamics

ABSTRACT This paper borrows the concept of hydrosocial territories from political ecology to illustrate the role of urban political and economic power in shaping land use and water access to allow for urban growth. A comparative historical analysis is used to examine both the creation and extension of New York City’s water supply, focusing on the divergent paths of two cases: the highly suburbanized, East of the Hudson (EOH) and rural West of the Hudson (WOH) watersheds. Using critical realism as a framework, this paper details the emergence of different growth coalitions at different points in time. The coalitions mobilized power in different ways, ultimately laying the groundwork for land accumulation by the city to protect that water supply and for an additional expansion of the water supply. Understanding the social, economic, political, and environmental context behind these mechanisms provides insight into the power granted to city officials through legislation, presenting a unique example of power mobilized through growth coalitions leading to sustainable governance initiatives.

Diplomatic training and Sovereign Foreign Policy: Experience from Asia

This article analyzes the relationship between diplomatic training and the international positioning of countries, using the example of the Asian macro-region. The paper is a case study focusing on the experiences of China, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, and India. Through detailed country analyses, the paper aims to examine how the quality of diplomatic training correlates with states’ aspirations for autonomy and sovereignty in the emerging polycentric world order. The methodological framework of the study incorporates a multi-paradigm approach, integrating a neorealist perspective of the state as the central actor in international relations and a constructivist analysis of the impact of social practices on diplomatic strategy. An examination of the diplomatic training systems of the countries reveals a complex relationship with their foreign policy and personnel policies. The study finds a non-causal correlation between the foreign policy positioning of countries and their diplomatic training models. A state’s desire to increase its autonomy depends to a greater extent on its role and position in world politics in the space-time continuum. Thus, based on historical experience, among the cases studied, the desire for autonomy is stronger in those states where the colonial trauma is more acute. “Sovereignty” can take different forms depending on the resources available to a state. At the same time, quality diplomatic training ensures the possibility of implementing the sovereign line and provides the necessary human and ideological tools for this purpose.

Exploring linguistic representations of Brexiters vs. Remainers’ identities in an online media text

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the way in which the opposing political roles and identities assumed by the British citizens in the context of the EU Referendum in the UK – Brexiters vs. Remainers – were linguistically represented in a media text published in the pre-Brexit period. Our study explores the connections between language and identity and reflects on how media texts contributed to the construction of two opposing identities in the UK at a time of great national divides and personal anxieties. The study is structured into two sections, of which the former examines the linguistic representation of the divergent British identities generated by Brexit by applying Gee’s discourse analytical framework to an online published media text, while the latter employs the scrutinising lens of CDA to consider two relevant aspects: the tense relation between the UK and the EU and the issue of immigration. The article brings conclusive evidence that the two contrastive identities were constructed and represented in the selected media text according to the subjective perspective of an author who was guided by strong ideological views and supported by effectively employed linguistic means.

The Existence of Legal Politics in Realizing a Just State of Law

The rule of law aims to create justice, but in practice, legal politics is often influenced by the interests of economic and political elites. Injustice occurs due to regulations that favor certain groups over the welfare of the community at large. One example is regulatory changes in the mining sector that facilitate investment but ignore the rights of surrounding communities. This study aims to analyze the role of legal politics in realizing an equitable rule of law. This study explores how legal politics affects regulations, legal implementation, and its impact on society, especially in the context of mining policy. This research uses a normative method with a literature study approach. Secondary data is obtained from books, scientific journals, and relevant laws and regulations. The approaches used include statute approach, conceptual approach, and case approach to understand the influence of legal politics in public policy. legal politics in Indonesia still tends to favor the interests of the elite, resulting in inequality of justice. Inconsistent law implementation, weak rule of law, and political intervention in the judicial system hinder the realization of social justice. Regulations in the mining sector, for example, favor entrepreneurs over the welfare of local communities. Therefore, political legal reforms are needed that favor the interests of the people, strengthen the rule of law, and ensure the protection of human rights in order to create a just rule of law.