Role In History Research Articles

“Side by Side with Fighting Nations”: Making the New Culture of Pro-African Solidarity in the Campaigns of the Czechoslovak Committee for Solidarity with African and Asian Peoples

AbstractThe article analyses the solidarity campaigns organized by the Czechoslovak Committee for Solidarity with African and Asian Peoples between the 1960s and 1980s. It situates the Czechoslovak solidarity towards African countries in the wider framework of the solidarity politics of the Eastern bloc and points out differences as well as similarities. Although the Czechoslovak Solidarity Committee was one of the first such committees to be founded in Eastern Europe, in the 1960s its official as well as public commitment to internationalist principles was modest compared with those of solidarity movements elsewhere in the bloc. However, the solidarity campaigns with African liberation movements intensified in the early 1970s. The campaigns in this period were marked by strong national symbolism, which drew on historical parallels between the African and Czechoslovak struggles for independence. The everyday internationalism in this case filled the public space with images of shared suffering, inferiority, and occupation, through which Czechoslovak citizens made sense of their historical role in the world. The article argues that this “nationalization” of official solidarity campaigns helped to embed the victimization narratives that survived the Velvet Revolution and that, in the 1990s, became a basis for new Czech and Slovak political identification.

Pro-Fascist Hesitations of Western “Democracies” in the Interwar Period and on the Eve of the Second World War: Revisiting the Need to Analyze the Essence of Ideologies in the Specific Context of Historical Socio-Political and Diplomatic Circumstances

The article provides examples of anti-sovietism motivated sympathies of Western political circles for fascist-type regimes in the interwar period. It is concluded that in order to combat the falsification of history and the distortion of information through the memory and identity politics implemented by a number of states, it is necessary to study and widely publicize the historical, socio-political and diplomatic circumstances of the policy of Western countries on the eve of the Second World War. An important condition for the fight against falsification of history and tendentious coverage of historical facts is to identify the real essence and conditions for the emergence of political regimes of the fascist type in a specific historical context, as well as to counteract attempts of modern interpretations of the essence of fascism, taken out of context and dictated by the tasks of the current political situation, propaganda and information warfare aimed at distorting the historical role of the Soviet Union and undermining the “soft” power and value sovereignty of the Russian Federation as a successor state.

Refleksje o podręczniku metodologii historii (Wprowadzenie do metodologii historii, red. nauk. Ewa Domańska, Jan Pomorski, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa 2022, ss. 572)

Reflections on a methodology of history textbook (Wprowadzenie do metodologii historii, ed. Ewa Domańska, Jan Pomorski, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warsaw 2022, 572pp) The article is a critical analysis of selected issues examined in Wprowadzenie do metodologii historii (Introduction to the Methodology of History), edited by Ewa Domańska and Jan Pomorski, Warsaw 2022. The reviewer focuses on general methodological and epistemological issues, believing that the authors of the various chapters pay too little attention, for the most part, to the relation between the methodology of history and general methodology. The discussion concerns the history of historiography, the role of history in the emergence of the humanities, the dispute over the status of history in the nineteenth century, particularly nomothetism and idiographism in the light of Auguste Comte’s classification of sciences compiled in France and their division as seen by Wilhelm Windelband and Heinrich Rickert, proposed in Germany, as well as explanation in historiography. With regard to that last point, deductive-nomological and genetic explanations are considered. Attention is drawn to the problematic nature of the application of the classic pattern of deductive-nomological explanation in connection with the problem of universal laws and historical theories (more generally – concerning the social sciences), as well as to the differences in the understanding of causality in historiography and theoretical natural sciences, which is relevant to the analysis of the genetic explanation. In the final section of the article the author points to the link between the approach to historical cognition and general problems of epistemology.

Varieties of just transitions in the European car industry

ABSTRACT This article examines the responses and strategies developed by business, unions, and governments to the electric turn in the industry in Germany and France, Europe’s main car-producing countries. We concentrate on the role of history and institutions in the determination of adjustment paths. Since institutions reflect specific histories, the electric transition in the industry can take on different forms in different countries. In both countries, governments play a supportive role, leading in France, and following in Germany. The strong works councils in German car companies are reluctant to engage in a rapid transition that would devalue the assets of the workforce and endanger past investments in internal combustion-related technology. Trade unions, in contrast, who organise the workforce in the wider industry, are in favour of a faster transition as it will secure future employment. The French EV industry, in contrast, is now a booming sector, after several decades of deep restructuring with massive employment losses. Its key short-term problem is to train enough workers to staff the rapidly expanding car battery industry. Lacking a deeply rooted training system like the German one, the industry has a relatively free hand in selecting and preparing its future workforce.

Poetry of Kazakh zhyraus of the khanate period

Relevance. Zhyrau poetry is an important part of Kazakh literature, reflecting the historical and socio-political events of the Kazakh Khanate period from the 15th to 18th centuries. This poetry provides valuable insights into the struggles and aspirations of the Kazakh people during a complex and turbulent period in their history.Purpose. This paper aims to analyze the historical aspects and role of zhyrau poetry in Kazakh literature, examining its thematic content, artistic features, and the influence of zhyraus on the social and political life of the Kazakh Khanate.Methodology. The study reviews existing research on zhyrau poetry, drawing on literary criticism, historical analysis, and close readings of selected poems. It examines the development of zhyrau poetry, the classification of its genres, and the syncretic nature of this art form, which combines elements of improvisation, music, performance, and philosophical reflection.Results. The paper demonstrates that zhyrau poetry was closely tied to the political and social realities of the Kazakh Khanate period. Zhyraus acted as advisors to khans, openly expressing their views and providing guidance on issues of national importance. Their poems reflect themes of land defense, heroism, unity, and the struggles against foreign invasions, particularly the Dzungar and Chinese forces. The study also highlights the role of zhyrau poetry in preserving Kazakh cultural identity and history during a tumultuous era.Conclusions. Zhyrau poetry is a fundamental part of Kazakh literary heritage, reflecting the complex historical and socio-political conditions of the Kazakh Khanate period. By analyzing the thematic, artistic, and chronotopic features of zhyrau poetry, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the struggles, aspirations, and worldview of the Kazakh people during this pivotal era. Further research and cultural initiatives, such as feature films, are recommended to promote the study and appreciation of this important literary tradition.

BCG and Alternative Therapies to BCG Therapy for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease. Treatment decisions are mostly decided based on disease stage (non-muscle invasive or muscle invasive). Patients with muscle-invasive disease will be offered a radical treatment combined with systemic therapy, while in those with non-muscle-invasive disease, an attempt to resect the tumor endoscopically will usually be followed by different intravesical instillations. The goal of intravesical therapy is to decrease the recurrence and/or progression of the tumor. In the current landscape of bladder cancer treatment, BCG is given intravesically to induce an inflammatory response and recruit immune cells to attack the malignant cells and induce immune memory. While the response to BCG treatment has changed the course of bladder cancer management and spared many "bladders", some patients may develop BCG-unresponsive disease, leaving radical surgery as the best choice of curative treatment. As a result, a lot of effort has been put into identifying novel therapies like systemic pembrolizumab and Nadofaragene-Firadenovac to continue sparing bladders if BCG is ineffective. Moreover, recent logistic issues with BCG production caused a worldwide BCG shortage, re-sparking interest in alternative BCG treatments including mitomycin C, sequential gemcitabine with docetaxel, and others. This review encompasses both the historic and current role of BCG in the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, revisiting BCG alternative therapies and reviewing the novel therapeutics that were approved for the BCG-unresponsive stage or are under active investigation.

Unravelling molecular dynamics in living cells: Fluorescent protein biosensors for cell biology.

Genetically encoded, fluorescent protein (FP)-based Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensors are microscopy imaging tools tailored for the precise monitoring and detection of molecular dynamics within subcellular microenvironments. They are characterised by their ability to provide an outstanding combination of spatial and temporal resolutions in live-cell microscopy. In this review, we begin by tracing back on the historical development of genetically encoded FP labelling for detection in live cells, which lead us to the development of early biosensors and finally to the engineering of single-chain FRET-based biosensors that have become the state-of-the-art today. Ultimately, this review delves into the fundamental principles of FRET and the design strategies underpinning FRET-based biosensors, discusses their diverse applications and addresses the distinct challenges associated with their implementation. We place particular emphasis on single-chain FRET biosensors for the Rho family of guanosine triphosphate hydrolases (GTPases), pointing to their historical role in driving our understanding of the molecular dynamics of this important class of signalling proteins and revealing the intricate relationships and regulatory mechanisms that comprise Rho GTPase biology in living cells.

Sustaining eastern oak forests: Synergistic effects of fire and topography on vegetation and fuels.

Across much of the eastern United States, oak forests are undergoing mesophication as shade-tolerant competitors become more abundant and suppress oak regeneration. Given the historical role of anthropogenic surface fires in promoting oak dominance, prescribed fire has become important in efforts to reverse mesophication and sustain oaks. In 2000 we established the Ohio Hills Fire and Fire Surrogate (FFS) study to examine whether repeated prescribed fire (Fire), mechanical partial harvest (Mech), and their combined application (Mech + Fire) reduced the dominance of subcanopy mesophytic competitors, increased the abundance of large oak-hickory advance regeneration, created a more diverse and productive ground-layer flora, and produced fuel beds more conducive to prescribed fire, reducing the risk of high-severity wildfire. Here we report on the ~20-year effects of treatments on vegetation and fuels and examine the support for interactive effects across a topographic-moisture and energy gradient. In general, we found that Fire and Mech + Fire treatments tended to reverse mesophication while the Mech-only treatment did not. The moderate and occasionally high-intensity fires resulted in effects that were ultimately very similar between the two fire treatments but were modulated by topography with increasing fire severity on drier sites. In particular, we found support for an interaction effect between treatment and topography on forest structure and tree regeneration responses. Fire generally reduced mesophytic tree density in the midstory and sapling strata across all site conditions, while leading to substantial gains in the abundance of large oak-hickory advance regeneration on dry and intermediate landscape positions. Fire also promoted ground-layer diversity and created compositionally distinct communities across all site conditions, primarily through the increased richness of native perennial herbs. However, the fire had limited effects on fine surface fuel loading and increased the loading of large woody fuels, potentially increasing the risk of high-severity wildfire during drought conditions. We conclude that two decades of repeated fires, with and without mechanical density reduction, significantly shifted the trajectory of mesophication across most of the landscape, particularly on dry and intermediate sites, highlighting the capacity of a periodic fire regime to sustain eastern oak forests and promote plant diversity but modulated by topography.

Alikhantura Soguniy Role in State Administration in East Turkestan

The article studies the political situation in Turkistan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the political activity of Alikhantura Soguniy, who opposed to the policy of Chor administration's violence against the local population in East Turkestan as well as his role in history, society, state administration, authority, religion, and other issues, and the scientific and creative works of Alikhantura Soguniy on the way of science and enlightenment.

Metaphors in Educational Videos

Traditionally, metaphors have been used as a pedagogical tool to facilitate the processes of educational mediation. From a medial perspective, there are various ways to implement educational mediation, and currently, we are witnessing an increase in the use of videos. Given the historical pedagogical role of metaphor and the widespread use of videos, we expected to find a significant amount of the scientific literature exploring metaphors in educational videos. However, studies establishing a direct connection are rare. Motivated by this gap, we decided to present users with a metaphorical educational video, intending to observe and analyze, through a phenomenological approach, how the metaphor is perceived by users. To gather data on users’ experience, we applied the think-aloud protocol during video consumption and then we conducted semi-structured interviews. Subsequently, we analyzed the collected data using phenomenological procedures. Our results highlighted that the use of metaphor can stimulate engagement and facilitate the educational mediation, as long as the metaphor is shared and perceived as coherent by users. Finally, we have highlighted some distinctive aspects of using metaphor in educational videos, such as the ability to visually represent metaphors, create metaphorical contexts, and reinforce the processes of embodied simulation that occur during video viewing.

American indie cinema between DIY cultures and global Hollywood: Exploring the paradigm of Slacker

A landmark of the 1990s independent cinema and emblem of Generation X, Slacker (1991) is a significant event in the genealogy of Austin, Texas DIY scenes, with a long-lasting impact on the city's film industry and cultural history. The article applies research on DIY to the realm of American independent cinema, using Richard Linklater's iconic film to define indie cinema as a complex idea, linking the global media industries to cult performers emerging from intense subcultural contexts. After touching upon the history of American independent cinema, the film's content is read against its production networks, suggesting the historical role of DIY media ecologies in the value chain of Hollywood. The flexible career pathways emanating from Slacker chart various fates that creative labour undergoes in today's media industries. This methodological perspective reinforces a relational approach to the study of independent cinema, suggesting possible lines of inquiry for future research.

Waqf for accelerating socioeconomic development: a proposed model with focus on Pakistan

PurposeThe unique institution of waqf that was ignored during the colonization of the Muslim areas has to be revived to play its role in shared growth, social inclusion and cohesion in society. This research paper aims to explore the role of waqf as an instrument for a sustainable growth system and to suggest a model for socioeconomic development in an economy like that of Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative research is based on analytical methods to arrive at the frameworks and a model that could facilitate the revival of waqf for community development/social inclusion in economies like that of Pakistan.FindingsAs most of the OIC member states like Pakistan are facing serious financial problems due to debt servicing obligations, promoting Waqf for various socioeconomic and cultural functions is a vital requirement for such economies. The inability of the state institutions in providing necessary civic, health and education facilities to the public is causing serious harm to the balance of the society. It requires promoting a formal system of charity and using FinTech for waqf-based donations and financing the micro businesses. The perpetuity complimented by the profitability of the waqf properties makes the waqf institutions sustainable and effective when compared to individual charities.Research limitations/implicationsThis is conceptual research discussing the potential of waqf in light of its historical role. Researchers may undertake empirical studies on awqaf operations in various jurisdictions and their role in the empowerment of the poor.Practical implicationsThe research will provide the researchers with insight into the potential of waqf as a tool for community development. Besides, it will enable policymakers and implementation authorities to socialize charity for sustained benefits and welfare.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first major research that discusses the role of waqf in economies facing budgetary and trade deficits in the eradication of poverty and the promotion of social and economic entrepreneurship in realizing the community development targets for the economies like that of Pakistan.

W wirze historii – człowiek na tle wydarzeń przełomowych. Obraz protestów w 2020 r. we współczesnej literaturze białoruskiej na przykładzie wybranych opowiadań z tomu „Ператрус у музэі” Alhierda Bacharewicza

The article is devoted to the protests after the falsified presidential elections in Belarus in 2020 on the example of a collection of stories by Alhierd Bakharevich “A Police Search in the Museum”. Particular attention is paid to the creation of heroes, as well as the entanglement of the individual in history. The characters are divided into two groups: ordinary people who, despite their fear, decided to participate in demonstrations, and people struggling with the hardships of everyday existence, who, despite their lack of political involvement, become the subject of interest of representatives of the authoritarian power. The collection of stories, published in 2023, introduces a new direction in contemporary Belarusian prose related to protests. The analyzed work has not yet been the subject of in-depth reflection in literary studies. A traditional comparative analysis was used, where the decisive criterion was the positioning in relation to the role of executioner – victim. The aim of the article is to point out that the heroes of social protests were ordinary people who were pushed into action by their disagreement over the open violation of freedom of choice and the inability to decide on their fate, or the brutality of the representatives of the authorities. In the stories, there are characters expressing both individual and collective experience. The created characters and their adventures are therefore a literary record of events related to the post-election protests and everyday existence. The analysis proved that in the image of the protests, special attention was paid to a man and the role of history in his life. The characters created are ordinary people, representatives of various professions and social classes. These are not individuals whose character traits would make them stand out from society. These are average people who are unable to accept the actions of the authorities any longer. The past is largely absent, as it is only marginally remembered. Such an approach allows us to emphasize the role of ongoing events and indicates that they determine a person’s life.

Industrial Growth and Socio-Economic Impact: An Analysis of Armi's Manufacturing History in the Mongiana Industrial Village of Serre Calabria

The Mongiana Arms Factory in Calabria (Italy), built in 1852, constitutes a significant example of 19th century armoury. Designed by Domenico Fortunato Savino, active from 1852 to the mid-1860s, the factory produced 2000-3000 weapons annually for the bourbon army, with a peak of 7000-8000 in periods of maximum production. He introduced the «Mongiana» spring-loaded rifle, replacing the French model of 1842. After the unification of Italy, it lost relevance, being downgraded to a transformation workshop, and later closed. Today, part of the Ecomuseum of the Ironworks and Foundries of Calabria, the building has been under restoration since 2013. The Museum of the Royal Bourbon Ironworks, the result of a careful recovery process, allows for an in-depth exploration of the historical, economic, and technological role of the factory in the panorama of the steel industry of the time.

How couples negotiate livelihoods in a Danish island setting: the role of history, geography and gender relations

Finding a way to make a living may be difficult if one lives in a small island with few possibilities for regular full-time jobs. Focusing on how co-habiting couples negotiate their livelihood options with each other and with the island setting, the paper shows how the local labour market and its inherent (im)possibilities are shaped by a specific history, geography and set of gender relations. Empirically, the paper draws on couple interviews from the Danish island of Læsø, with approximately 1800 inhabitants. The analysis shows how history, traditions, geography and gender relations impact on livelihoods and possibilities for developing new lines of work. It also shows how these factors continuously interact with one another and are negotiated by both individuals and couples. Underscoring the argument that island labour markets are different from mainland labour markets, the analysis suggests that the need for negotiation may be more obvious in an island setting which is demographically and economically under pressure. Islands cannot simply be treated as ‘smaller’ versions of mainland communities. They pose qualitatively different contexts. The palpable geographic borders of the island community entail that ‘everybody knows everybody’, thus enhancing visibility of individual choices and roles in the local labour market. Therefore, the impact of intangible factors may be enhanced in island settings, where deviations from tradition become immediately observable as people live in close proximity to one another.

Teaching Resource of Chengdu Popular Music for Fostering Literacy and Cultural Education in China

Chengdu’s popular music, with its profound historical and cultural significance, serves as an educational resource at the intersection of music, literacy, and cultural education. This research aims to propose guidelines for the teaching resource of Chengdu popular music for fostering literacy and cultural education. Located in the culturally diverse Sichuan Province, Chengdu boasts a rich tapestry of musical traditions, from folk to hip-hop, making it an ideal research site. Two key informants, experts in folk and hip-hop music, provide valuable insights into Chengdu’s musical evolution. Data analysis involves thematic analysis of questionnaires and interviews, offering a comprehensive understanding of the city’s music culture. The study reveals Chengdu’s historical role as a cultural crossroads and the evolution of its pop music into a distinctive force within China’s music landscape. Advocating for the integration of Chengdu popular music into educational curricula, this research emphasizes the need for well-structured teaching resources to capture its cultural authenticity. The benefits of cultural education include fostering diversity appreciation, enhancing cultural understanding, promoting literacy skills, cultivating emotional intelligence, strengthening cultural identity, and inspiring creativity and expression. Chengdu popular music offers a transformative approach to fostering cultural literacy, empowering students to thrive in a globalized world.

Ukrainian-Polish collaboration in the field of education: content analysis of the scientific magazine "Osvitolohiia"

The article analyzes international collaboration in the field of education through the example of the content of the Ukrainian-Polish scientific magazine "Osvitolohiia/Oświatologia" founded by the Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv University. The rubrics were studied according to their content, the main directions of research of Ukrainian and Polish scientists were established. It was found that the placement of articles (2012—2023) according the topic in the publication is heterogeneous: most studies were published on issues of philosophy and history of education, sociology and cultural studies of education. The articles highlight the Ukrainian-Polish experience of reforming the higher education system and reveal its features in the context of European integration. Many works are devoted to the analytical understanding of the historical role of the personality and creativity of outstanding Ukrainian writers, scientists, teachers, the activation of market relations in the education system, the volume of budget investments in education, the analysis of the state policy of independent Ukraine in the field of general secondary education, the adaptation of legislation on higher education to the requirements of the European Union. Quantitative characteristics of the studied information resources are given, in particular, the resources are grouped and characterized by theme, number of articles, and the language content of the periodical is determined. In view of the analyzed array of scientific papers, we believe that research on the issues of the Ukrainian-Polish experience, on ensuring the quality of higher and secondary education, inclusive education in the study of theoretical provisions on the development of an inclusive environment in educational institutions, informatization, digitization of the transformation of education, especially in the aspect of the development and emergence of new digital technologies is perspective issues of filling the content of the magazine now. Publications in scientific publications allowed Ukrainian and Polish scientists to create new information resources, open up new creative opportunities for scientific collaboration.

EIGHT-POINTED STAR: IMAGES AND MEANINGS DURING FORMATION OF LATVIAN STATE (1905-1920)

Images of eight-pointed star (regular octagram) play an essential role in history of Latvian culture. Eight-pointed star visual representations appeared during national awakening in late 19th and early 20th century, as it was extensively used in visual and decorative art in between wars, also it played a role in exile and restoring national independence in 1980s. In the formation of the State of Latvia ethnographic ornaments became widely used by many artists, so, as early as in the beginning of 20th century, eight-pointed star was perceived as Latvian ornament of importance. The star was represented visually, also attained a meaning in textual comments or in visual and cultural context. Thus symbolic meaning of eight-pointed star in Latvia was expanded and following meanings emerged: “typical Latvian ornament”, “ancient Latvian rituals” in J.Rozentāls wall mural “Spēks” (Power), “historical, true Latvian style” in J.Kuga’s scenography for J.Rainis “Uguns un nakts” (Fire and Night), “national-patriotic” in A.Cirulis Latvian Riflemen battalions flags and “Latvian historic regions” in A.Cirulis version of Latvian flag.

A disseminação cultural de complexos vegetais na medicina popular do estado de Alagoas

Plant complexes are mixtures of plants, in which several species are associated with each other in closed containers, together with alcoholic and sweetened substances, forming over the days a substance used to cure illnesses. They are exemplified by bottles, syrups, and lickers. Seeking to understand the biocultural aspects associated with these preparations is essential, as they play a historical and traditional role for different local populations in Northeastern Brazil. Thus, this work aimed to investigate the role and composition of plant complexes used by folk medicine in the state of Alagoas through a systematic review. For this, we carried out searches for ethnobotanical works carried out in Alagoas that showed complex plants used in the region. To search for the works, we used keywords in Portuguese and English on the Google Academic and Scielo platforms, which were selected and analyzed. We identified 169 vegetable complexes through 6 categories of use (41 lickers, 41 bottles, 11 medicinal baths, 53 teas, 16 syrups and 07 juices. A total of 70 species were identified (32 are exotic and 38 are native) used in the preparations. Such complexes are used to cure various illnesses, especially those associated with the respiratory system. Plant complexes play a significant role for people in the region, as in addition to being used for medicinal purposes, they are part of the sociocultural aspects of the region. This work effectively contributes to the dissemination of biocultural aspects associated with plant complexes in popular medicine in the state of Alagoas and serves as a subsidy for carrying out new related works.

The roles of history in accomplishing digital transformation: a dynamic capabilities perspective

ABSTRACT Strategy research on the uses of history in organisations have mushroomed in the recent years. While one of the main uses of history is to accommodate strategic change, little is known about the historical dynamics underpinning this process. In this study, we used the dynamic capabilities theoretical perspective to argue that the managerial ability to strategically use history is a factor related to successful strategic change. A case study of the digital transformation of a multinational ICT company was carried out to explore the strategic use of history. The company's history portrays a series of critical events which served as a basis to theorise the narrative of these past events in accomplishing digital transformation. We provided in-depth discussion of the organisation behaviours that preceded this strategic change. We contribute to literature by discussing the role of specific history-oriented practices in accomplishing digital transformation and their relationship with two emerging history-based managerial abilities.