Social Groups In Society Research Articles

THE EVOLUTION OF MULTIPARTY POLITICS IN UZBEKISTAN: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

This article examines the development of the multiparty system in Uzbekistan, highlighting the key stages and milestones since independence. It outlines the role of political parties in fostering democratic governance and representing the interests of diverse social groups in society. The paper explores the historical formation of political parties in Uzbekistan, from the cessation of the one-party system to the establishment of legal frameworks that empower political parties in shaping state power. The emergence of the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan is discussed as a significant event in the country’s evolving political landscape. Furthermore, the article addresses the current challenges faced by political parties, including the lack of political ideology, limited public awareness of political rights, and the need for improved competition among parties. The author argues that enhancing the legal foundation of parties and increasing their involvement in governance is essential for deepening democratic reforms. The article concludes with recommendations to strengthen political party participation, foster public trust, and promote active competition in Uzbekistan’s political system.

Inclusivity of ICT Based Solutions to Public Transportation Problems: Challenges and Opportunities for Bloemfontein

Promoting information and communication technologies as mobility and transportation accessibility solutions in efforts to achieve sustainable transportation excludes socioeconomic vulnerability. ICT-related efforts do not meet the mobility and accessibility needs of every single group in society, resulting in socioeconomic exclusion for specific groups of people. Social exclusion disadvantages vulnerable social groups in society's mobility, while limited mobility reduces access to activities for disadvantaged groups; travel for job hunting, education, work, and health facilities further increases these groups' physical isolation. The need to travel for activities, services, and basic goods for human consumption such as food, water, and medication must be addressed by developing inclusive transportation systems. Through tele-activities, e-payments, security and surveillance, among other components adaptable to travel and mobility, technological solutions have been at the forefront of prescriptions to transportation problems. However, they remain inaccessible to some of society. The study investigates whether inclusive, sustainable public transportation can be fully realized in developing countries by utilizing technology-based travel behavior solutions. It also investigates the effectiveness of ICT solutions to travel, mobility, and accessibility issues in a South African city with a relatively traditional public transportation system. The study considers socioeconomic travel processes as well as travel behavior constructs to inclusivity in order to weigh the prospects of equitable provision of ICT-enabled public transportation services in the developing world. This study discovered that travelers have smartphone access; however, the purposes of smartphones are not directly related to travel and transportation. Furthermore, public transportation service providers do not have an online presence. Overall, for ICT-enabled public transportation to thrive in developing countries, accessible technologies such as calls and SMS that do not require internet access must be considered.

Introduction: W. E. B. Du Bois: Religion and Social Inequality

AbstractW.E.B. Du Bois understood the critical role religion plays in power inequities in the, world. He was very acquainted with how it is used as a tool to exclude and subordinate human beings and yet, at the same time, serve as a source of refuge. This special issue of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion is a collection of articles that examines religion and social inequality from a variety of different angles with a Du Boisian lens. When we focus our lens on religion and social inequality, we are highlighting the ways in which religion plays a part in the unequal distribution of power across social groups in society. This special issue focuses on how religion impacts social life and the way individuals and groups embody or struggle to reclaim their agency within a context of silent oppression at times and not‐so‐silent oppression at others times at the personal‐, group‐, and global levels.

The construction of racial stereotypes and how they serve as racial propaganda

AbstractIn social psychology, stereotypes have generally been viewed as overgeneralized beliefs about social groups in society. Although stereotypes—especially those that are negative—tend to be recognized as contributing to prejudice and discrimination of marginalized communities, they are often conceptualized as containing a “kernel of truth.” Meanwhile, there has been relatively little consideration of the historical and cultural origins of racial stereotypes. This is an important oversight given that stereotypes have and continue to be used as a means to excuse and reinforce the systemic oppression of communities of color. Thus, the current paper uses a historical framework to review major stereotypes that have targeted communities of color throughout U.S. history, with a focus on stereotypes of Black people. In doing so, we conceptualize racial stereotypes as propaganda that have historically functioned to support oppressive societal systems in the U.S. by both (a) shaping public perceptions and expectations and (b) by influencing the thoughts and behavior of members of stereotyped groups. By situating stereotypes within their historical and cultural frames, readers can recognize the way stereotypes reinforce systems of oppression. We conclude with research implications and encourage stereotyping scholars to foreground the social construction of stereotypes and the function that they serve by contextualizing their work in the social and historical context in which stereotypes emerged.

Ask a Political Scientist: A Conversation with Katherine J. Cramer about Listening as a Way of Democratic and Scholarly Life

Ask a Political Scientist: A Conversation with Katherine J. Cramer about Listening as a Way of Democratic and Scholarly Life

WOMEN'S CLOTHES AND DECORATIONS OF THE CITY OF NAKHCHIVAN

The land of Azerbaijan is divided into various historical and ethnographic regions in terms of their unique customs and traditions. One of such historical and ethnographic regions is Nakhchivan. In the XIX-XX centuries, this region consisted of two large cities - Nakhchivan and Ordubad. The article explores women's clothing, jewelry and decor items typical for the Nakhchivan region of Azerbaijan. National clothes are an important ethnographic phenomenon that characterizes, distinguishes and conveys the national aspect as a kind of material culture. Like other areas of material culture, clothing is also related to the socio-economic conditions of human life and clearly reflects the labor activity of people, artistic and aesthetic taste and class differences between social groups of society. In addition to religious beliefs, climatic, geographical and natural conditions also influence the style of clothing. The study of folk costumes in historical and ethnographic regions determines the general (similar) and local (different) characteristics of the Azerbaijani clothing culture and helps to closely monitor ethnocultural ties with the neighboring peoples of Azerbaijan. It is clear from research that although the clothing style of the 19th century is a logical continuation of the types of clothing formed in previous historical periods in accordance with the style method and sewing technique, it has undergone changes in accordance with the needs of the new period. This feature is most often found in urban and professional clothing. In particular, the deepening of the division of labor led to the creation of various types of professional clothing. The growth of trade union differences in society over time manifested itself in their clothing. Researchers note that in the 19th century, changes took place in Azerbaijani clothing, one of which was the gradual disappearance of military clothing and related types and their disappearance from the market over time. Only the dagger hanging from the belt and lead pockets on the side of the rope remain in addition to the clothes. After that, these elements partially lost their functional significance, which was preserved as a decorative element of decor Clothes are usually made from cloth. Fabric is one of the elements that reflect the culture of people. The patterns and colors of fabrics are important features that make the difference both between people and between rich and poor.   Since the middle of the 20th century, as in any clothing, national features began to disappear in women's clothing over time. Changes to the shape and features of clothing are now reflected in the style of clothing. Today, national clothes are practically not used among the townspeople. In particular, the media and the socio-economic structure form the basis of the dress change. In addition, the death of older people who wore traditional clothes and the interest of young people in today's fashion have led to the fact that national clothes are not in demand and are on the verge of extinction every day. To prevent this, it is necessary to create the necessary infrastructure for the transfer of these clothes to future generations.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES: A FIELD OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES OR AN OBSTACLE FOR THE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL REALIZATION OF PERSONS FROM THE ROMA COMMUNITY

In the modern global world, digital technologies are becoming more and more necessary and a mandatorycondition for successful personal and professional realization. We live in a world where digital change and the entryof new technologies into various social spheres have a significant impact on the way each one of us works, buys,communicates and communicates. A number of analyzes are available in the specialized literature, which take intoaccount the fact that through the ongoing digital change, an evolutionary change is taking place in society withsignificant socio-economic consequences, which bring risks and opportunities for profound changes in the socialstructure of society. In order to prevent polarization in society, action is needed to benefit vulnerable individuals andsocial groups. One such action is related to the achievement of equality of opportunity.Thus, not full equality is achieved, but "achieved inequality" (Parsons 2005) which replaces "assigned inequality" asa result of belonging to a certain class, ethnicity or gender by birth. If we have to paraphrase Ralph Dahrendorf'sthesis (RalfDahrendorf 1979), for the digital transition to happen, new technologies must increase the opportunitiesand improve the life chances of the different social groups in society. A research question of great practicalimportance is how new technologies, instead of deepening existing socio-economic inequalities, can create newopportunities for everyone, including vulnerable groups at risk, against whom statistical data show a lag in the use ofthe Internet for professional and personal fulfillment. The recovery and digital transition must be fair and include thedifferent social groups in society. Insufficiently researched in Bulgaria is what are the opportunities and risks thatdigital technologies hide for the representatives of the different ethnic communities.The present report follows the theoretical tradition of the multidimensional stratification approach, founded by MaxWeber, to determine divisions and positions in the social structure of society. On the basis of a series of in-depthinterviews conducted among representatives of the Roma community within the framework of a project on the topic:"Digital divide and social inequalities: levels, actors and interactions", funded by FNI at the Ministry of Educationand Science, an attempt will be made to answer the research question.

Creative Resistance to Russian Aggression as a Socially Responsible Initiative of Graphic Designers of Ukraine

ІНФОРМАЦІЙНИЙ
 The purpose of the article is to highlight the results of the half-year activity of the Department of Graphic Design of KNUKiM (KNUC&A) in the informational struggle against Russian aggression. The experience of creative resistance as a creative mission of students and teachers of the department in the period from February 24 to August 24, 2022, is analyzed from the standpoint of the concept of the “socially responsible initiative” of a graphic designer introduced by the author of the article. The purpose is also to compile pedagogical activities for the training of socially responsible graphic design professionals. Research methods. The empirical method, method of analysis, and synthesis were used. Numerous scholarly and journalistic materials on the social responsibility of the graphic designer were analysed. In addition, the methodological basis for the article was the review and systematisation of empirical material regarding the results of the activities carried out. Scientific novelty. Based on consideration of the “social responsibility” concepts from the management sphere and “initiative” from the pedagogy sphere in the context of a modern graphic designer activity, a new notion of “socially responsible initiative” is introduced. It is interpreted as one of the signifiers of professionalism. The author shows that the vectors of realization of the socially responsible initiative directly depend on the state of the society where the designer practices. On the example of the activities of the Graphic Design Department of KNUKiM, the manifestation of this professional characteristic in the conditions of full-scale Russian aggression in Ukraine is reflected. Coverage of collective creative activity of teachers and students is shown in the context of a pedagogical experiment that passed the self-organization stage and the organizational stage.
 Conclusions. Modern visual communication is an area of constant interaction between different social groups of society, which graphic designers provide with their projects. The Department of Graphic Design of KNUKiM once again showed its creativity and progressiveness in the process of training design professionals. The team, made up of teachers and students, has made and continues to make a powerful contribution to the information front in Ukraine during the active phase of Russia’s war in Ukraine: more than 200 exhibition posters have been designed, and participation in international projects has been accepted, around 30 exhibitions have been organised and held in Ukraine and abroad. At the level of professional design communities, we organise landmark exhibitions in which the created works not only present a sharp reaction to the present but also model the future with their verbal and non-verbal codes.

«Homines novi»: несколько слов о данной тематической рубрике «Одиссея»

The article serves as an introduction to the publication of papers presented at the conference on Homines novi: new social groups in society (November 2021, Moscow, IGH). The conference focused on ‘new people’ emerging in societies of the past, which is closely connected with the problem of ‘the Other’ at large. The contributors analyze the phenomenon of new literati (students, scholars, magisters etc.) emerging as new social strata in some European countries. Other new social groups discussed in the papers include a self-appointed ruler’s retinue, Knights of the Order of the Garter, and the French community in 18th century Russia.

Влияние уголовного наказания на взаимодействие преступника с социальным окружением

The article deals with social and personal aspects of the impact of criminal punishment on the interaction of criminals with the social environment. It is shown that social interaction is an important factor in the formation of criminal orientation and a key condition for resocialization of criminals. It is noted that criminal orientation is formed and manifests itself in social interaction. Key importance for its strengthening and weakening has the nearest social environment, including family members, relatives and friends.
 It is stated that criminal punishment has an impact on social and personal aspects of social interaction of persons brought to criminal responsibility. Social consequences are determined by the attitude of society to the crime and the offender. Social perceptions establish attitudes, stereotypes and attitudes in the interaction with criminals. At the same time, social perceptions are contradictory, because they belong to different social strata, communities and social groups of society. The personal consequences of the impact of criminal punishment on the interaction with the social environment include changes in self-concept and self-esteem, as well as the state of the needs-motivational sphere. Their psychological consequences are characterized. The conclusion is made that the self-perception and self-esteem of criminals has formation defects that affect the perception of the social attitude to the crime, hindering the experience of guilt for its commission. It is shown that criminal prosecution strengthens the contradictions in the self-perception and regulation of the needs-motivational spheres of personality.
 The specificity of self-attitude is caused by the contradiction between the maintenance of positive selfimage (positive «I-image» and high self-esteem) and avoidance of taking responsibility for the committed crime in combination with negative social ideas about the crime and the offender.
 The conclusion is made about the prospects of research of social interaction of persons who have been subjected to criminal prosecution as a resource of prevention of their re-criminalization.

Mass culture as a form of production of images, ideas and meanings: artistry and propaganda

In a liberal democratic society, the development of mass culture is determined by the market. The authors show that the social order comes from the management of companies that produce "cultural products", as well as from publishing concerns, film and television corporations, and music firms. They finance only those projects that satisfy the company, while producers select only those scripts and promote those projects and performers that satisfy the tastes and attitudes of social groups in society. Prestigious awards in any field of art (for example, the Oscar Academy Award) are given to the authors of those works that meet the ideological guidelines and criteria for artistic expression. And every award is also a kind of benchmark for artists. The article shows that mass culture acts as a form of production of images, ideas and meanings.

On the Future(s) of Energy Communities in the German Energy Transition: A Derivation of Transformation Pathways

Active participation of citizens in the sustainable energy transition—particularly in energy communities—is explicitly desired by the European Union and considered vital for a successful transformation of Europe’s energy system. Currently, energy communities, i.e., citizen-led groups generating energy from renewable sources can be found across Europe, though current numbers are small. However, it is expected that the majority of EU households will be active in some form in the generation of energy by 2050. In order to understand how such a development could come about, and if desired, how it could be ensured, we developed and applied a quasi-dynamic model using the Cross-Impact Balance (CIB) approach and with it analyzed and assessed such a transition in detail. Data for the CIB model was derived from case studies, interviews, three surveys including two discrete choice experiments, expert workshops, and complementary secondary data. A central consideration of the model is a differentiated representation of the heterogeneity of actors in society and their interactions. Main results obtained from the application of the model are possible transformation pathways of citizen participation in the energy transition of Germany. A key finding was that if current trends continue, a citizen-driven energy transition based on energy communities will unlikely be successful. We conclude that several framework conditions must change simultaneously from the status quo so that different social groups in society can be active in the generation of energy. These include changes such as the abolition of hindering regulations and the expansion of financial support schemes with a focus on lower socioeconomic groups. Furthermore, only in a combination of conducive social factors such as neighborhood cohesion and conducive social influence, as well as favorable economic conditions, can energy communities become an important player in Germany’s future energy system.

Фестиваль як святкова культурна практика

The scientific research reveals the characteristics of the festival as a cultural form, defines its structure, functions and social purpose. General and special features of the festival as a festive practice are described (its purpose, ontological foundations, cultural potential). The research methodology focused on the systematic approach allowed to apply the comparative, historical and cultural, typological and analytical methods. The ability of the festival to improve social relations, smooth over difficulties and misunderstandings caused by intercultural diversity, create a single cultural space indicates that in the modern world the leading function of the festival is integration and differentiation. The study justifies that in order to initiate systematic festival practices in territorial communities one should take into consideration the following factors: the significance of the cultural potential of the festival; the ability of cultural practices to influence the economic situation of the settlement; the impossibility to realize the festival potential without the support of the government and understanding the importance of culture as social capital by its representatives; the co-ordination of common interests between the cultural and artistic environment and the local community; having a common understanding of social and cultural problems and ways to solve them. The author proves that the festival, forming an open symbolic and cultural space for dialogue, acts as a «cultural mediator» between different social groups of society. The implementation of communicative, educational, entertainment functions and the function of a direct participation contributes to achieving the goal. In modern society, the festival is not only a powerful factor in strengthening social capital as such, which stimulates the economic, cultural, and educational development of the local community; the festival represents and, at the same time, produces patterns of cultural development for the near future. It creates its own cultural product, actualizing modern culture, as it combines different cultural practices in a single project.

Соціокультурні фактори інституційної модернізації суспільства

The article analyzes the possibility of creating inclusive development institutions. The authors aim to define certain elements of the institutional environment that directly influence the process of creating inclusive development institutions in Ukraine. Attention is focused on individual social phenomena and processes that are closely related to the economy, affect the processes of modernization of the economy and society. The question of the content and nature of internal institutional transformations, the sociocultural aspect of institutional construction, which has acquired new features, is considered. The results of changes in the sphere of everyday consciousness, in the system of existing culture and values that led to deideologization and transformation of the sociopolitical dominant are reflected. It is proved that the prospects for further transformation of the post-Soviet economy and society are increasingly determined by the transformation of political institutions towards greater pluralism. Changes in the social structure of society that have increased the number of groups capable of influencing sociopolitical relations are defined. It is determined that the emergence and strengthening of interconnections of new types of value layers and subcultures based on heterarchy led to the formation of sociocultural heterogeneity of Ukrainian society and the ability to build cross-cutting channels of social mobility between the top and the basis of the social pyramid, to unite different social groups of society. The role of digitalization and informatization in the processes of sociocultural institutionalization and in the formation of inclusive political and economic development institutions is reflected. A weakening of disintegration processes in the public consciousness as a result of the unification of sociocultural signs is noted. It is determined that the sociocultural unity of society becomes the basis for social development and the formation of the collective identity of the Ukrainian nation.

Development of a method for assessing forecast of social impact in regional communities

The development of the social aspect of the world community is closely related to the expansion of the range of digital services in cyberspace. A special place in which social networks occupy. The world's leading states are conducting information operations in this environment to achieve geopolitical goals. Such processes are reflected in real social and political life. This makes it possible to influence not only the social groups of society, but also to ensure manipulation in political "games" in the conduct of hybrid wars. The simultaneous interaction of social factors, influencing factors, the presence of communities in social networks forms a full-fledged socio-cyber-physical system capable of integrating real and virtual interactions to manage regional communities. The article proposes a method for predicting the assessment of social mutual influence between “formal” and “informal” leaders and regional societies. The proposed models make it possible to form not only a forecast of the influence of agents, but also the interaction of various agents, taking into account their formal and informal influences, the use of administrative resources, political moods of the regional society. This approach allows dynamic modeling based on impact and relationship analysis. The presented results of simulation modeling do not contradict the results of opinion polls and make it possible to form a set of measures that can be aimed at overcoming the negative impact on the regional society of both individual “leaders” and political parties. Analysis of the simulation results allows to increase both the political and social stability of the regional society, helps to prevent conflict moods and contradictions.

An Investigation of the Relationship between Prospective Teachers’ Attitudes towards Multiculturality and Refugee Students

Multiculturalism refers to the existence of different social groups in society. Multiculturalism advocates a society in which no culture is dominant. Multiculturalism is a fact of life for many people. Multiculturalism and globalization affect how people organize the world around them and how they see themselves and others. Multicultural education offers an educational program that concerns not only specific minorities but also all social groups. Today, with the effect of globalization, teachers and students can participate in educational activities all over the world. This situation requires educators to approach multicultural education positively in order to ensure equality of opportunity in education. In this study, it is aimed to examine the relationship between prospective primary school teachers and pre-school teacher candidates’ attitudes towards multiculturalism and refugee students. The article summarizes the information on multicultural education, which is one of the reflections of globalization on education, and refugee students and equal opportunities in education. The research was carried out with the relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods. In the study, it was determined that the sum of multicultural attitudes increased the general level of attitude towards refugee students. Another result of the research is that the sum of multicultural attitudes increases the level of communication, adaptation and efficiency. In the study, the communication scores of the preschool teaching department were also found to be higher than the communication scores of the primary school teaching department.

Feeling Left Behind by Political Decisionmakers: Anti-Establishment Sentiment in Contemporary Democracies

According to much of the extant literature, feelings and beliefs among many citizens of being left behind and unheard by unresponsive political decisionmakers, who lack moral integrity represent the epicenter of recent protest and populist discontent in democratic society. Based on survey data for 20 contemporary democracies from two ISSP waves, we found that anti-establishment attitudes are not shared among the majority of respondents. Although there are differences between country contexts. Such sentiment is associated with macrostructural dynamics, since unfavorable attitudes toward politicians are more widespread among publics in countries which are exposed to higher levels of public corruption and witnessed increasing levels of income inequality. Besides, such sentiment is also restricted to particular social groups of society, because hostile feelings toward political decisionmakers are stronger among citizens in the lower ranks of society and among younger birth cohorts. Since the beginning of the century and throughout the Great Recession, unfavorable attitudes toward politicians have not increased among the public in advanced democracies. However, our analysis indicates that respondents with such attitudes have increasingly turned toward voting for anti-elite parties to raise their voice and now make use of online options to express their political views more frequently than in the past. Overall, the analysis contributes to recent research on populist and reactionist dynamics in contemporary democracies by addressing dynamics and structures of the feeling of being left behind by political decisionmakers and its implications for political (in)activity.

Neoliberalism can reduce well-being by promoting a sense of social disconnection, competition, and loneliness.

Neoliberalism has become the dominant ideology in many parts of the world. Yet there is little empirical research on its psychological impact. On the basis of a social identity approach to health, we hypothesize that, by increasing competition and by reducing people's sense of connection to others, neoliberalism can increase loneliness and compromise our well-being. Study 1 (N=246) shows that the more neoliberal people perceive society to be, the worse their well-being, and that this relationship is mediated via loneliness. In two experiments, we showed that exposure to neoliberal ideology increases loneliness (Study 2, N=204) and, through this, decreases well-being (Study 3, N=173). In Study 4 (N=303), we found that exposure to neoliberal ideology increased loneliness and decreased well-being by reducing people's sense of connection to others and by increasing perceptions of being in competition with others. In Study 4, the effect of neoliberalism on well-being was evident for liberals only. We discuss the potential impact of neoliberalism on different social groups in society.

ГОСУДАРСТВЕННАЯ ПОДДЕРЖКА АГРОБИЗНЕСА В ГЕРМАНИИ: СОЦИАЛЬНО-ДЕМОГРАФИЧЕСКИЙ АСПЕКТ

The purpose of the study is to determine the possibilities of using mechanisms for supporting agribusiness in foreign countries and to develop recommendations for their adaptation in domestic agriculture. The current socio-demographic situation in rural areas of Germany, Kazakhstan and other states, measures of public support are considered. In the EU and Germany, agricultural policy is aimed at intensive development of the industry: increasing the level of innovation in agricultural sector and food industry; maintaining high standards of environmental and animal protection; introduction of advanced scientific developments in the branches of agro-industrial production; supporting the activities of research institutes; increasing contribution to diversifying rural economic development. It was revealed that the aggregated budget of funding sources allows you to control its implementation at all levels from planning to final use. Public administration guarantees a stable income to farmers; an appropriate standard of living comparable to the wealth of other social groups in society; the prospects for the professional activity of entrepreneurs in the countryside; conditions and directions of training of agricultural personnel. Modern challenges, among which the aging of the population employed in agriculture in Europe and Germany, is currently the most important problem, therefore, starting in 2015, a new financial instrument to help young farmers under 40 was included into the main program of assistance to the EU agricultural sector. Analysis of employment indicators in rural areas of Kazakhstan and the experience of public support in Germany made it possible to formulate measures to support agricultural producers, which will change the approach to agricultural labor, its prestige.

Problems of the tax system of the Republicof Kazakhstan and ways to solve them in the framework of optimizing the tax mechanism

The article is devoted to actual problems of functioning of the tax mechanism in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The author studies the characteristic features of the tax mechanism. Tax policy occupies a leading position in the field of state methods of influencing economic processes. Priorities for the development of the economy of any state are largely determined by the level of tax payments achieved, which are a consequence of the tax burden, in particular, its maximum permissible level in the conditions of modern economic policy and tax legislation. The modern tax system of Kazakhstan lacks a stimulating initiative, which in modern conditions of development should be implemented in the implementation of all tax functions - fiscal, distributive and regulatory. Based on the study of statistical data, the effectiveness of the tax mechanism and the tax system was determined. According to the author, the tax system should be based on optimal coordination of interests of all social groups of society - entrepreneurs, workers, civil servants, students, pensioners, etc. The author offers recommendations for a consistent reform of the tax system, implemented in the modern conditions of the economy of Kazakhstan. The aims of the state to determine the optimal limits of the tax burden will contribute to the development of production and create conditions for the growth of the national economy.