Structuring Research Articles

Fa’a Sāmoa Criminology: An Aspect of Pacific Criminology Counternarrative

Criminological imagination requires that criminologists adopt multiple perspectives on their study subjects, shifting backwards and forwards between the personal and remote, the micro and the macro, or the theoretical and the empirical. Criminology should thus be ‘refractive’ (Frauley 2015: 21), harnessing the multi-perspectivism of social life to produce fuller, sharper analyses that reveal links between individual lives, social structures, and historical context. One such perspective is fa’a Sāmoa criminology. Not much is known about this worldview or its relationship with criminology, let alone its application as a credible epistemology. This article argues that Western criminology is not the only way to generate new knowledge and recommended solutions and that instead fa’a Sāmoa criminology offers an alternative way. Two qualitative case studies demonstrate how Sāmoan thinking and doing applies in the contexts of Sāmoan young people’s interaction with the youth justice system and hard-to-reach gang-involved Sāmoan peoples. Key implications are highlighted and recommended.

Discourses of Power and Social Structures: A Comparative Study of Bourdieu and Foucault

This essay critically examines the theories of Pierre Bourdieu and Michel Foucault, particularly focusing on their views of language, power, and discourse. It explores Bourdieu’s concept of language as a form of capital and his notion of habitus, providing practical examples from job interviews. The essay also delves into Foucault’s understanding of discourse and its role in shaping societal norms, using the discourse of ‘madness’ as a case study. Through a comparative analysis, the paper highlights the strengths and limitations of both theorists’ approaches, suggesting areas for further elaboration and clarification.

Hormonal changes in northern white-cheeked gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys) after the death of a group member.

The small apes, gibbons and siamangs, are monogamous species with their social groups comprising of both parents and their offspring. Therefore, the loss of a member may elicit a stress response in the remaining members due to their strong bonds. Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been useful indicators of stress, but distinguishing between acute versus chronic stress may be limited when measuring these hormones alone. The adrenal hormone dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), a GC antagonist, has been implicated in the regulation of the stress response. Thus, the concomitant measurement of these hormones can help examine whether an event, such as the loss of a group member, elicited a stress response. In this brief report, we discuss the hormonal response of two zoo-housed northern white-cheeked gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys) (1 adolescent male and his mother) after the death of the adult male of the group. Baseline fecal samples were collected opportunistically from these two individuals 5months prior, and 3months following the death of their group member. A total of 25 samples were quantified for fecal GC metabolites (FGCMs) and DHEAS by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to calculate the FGCMs:DHEAS ratio. Our results indicate an increase in FGCMs and FGCMs:DHEAS for the adolescent male, but not the adult female, following the death. Our findings suggest that the integration of FGCMs and DHEAS measurements can provide valuable information to interpret individual stress levels to the sudden change in the group's social structure.

Broad host use and frequent polyandry in the facultative dulotic species Formica aserva (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

The study of social parasitism faces numerous challenges arising from the intricate and intranidal host-parasite interactions and the rarity of parasites compared to their free-living counterparts. As a result, our understanding of the ecology and evolution of most social parasites remains limited. Using whole-genome and reduced-representation sequence data, we conducted a study to fill knowledge gaps on host use, colony social structure, and population genetics of the facultative dulotic ant Formica aserva Forel. Our study reveals the remarkable ability of F. aserva to exploit at least 20 different host species across its wide geographic distribution. In some cases, one social parasite colony exploits multiple hosts simultaneously, suggesting a high degree of generalization even at a local spatial scale. Approximately 80% of the colonies were monogyne (with a single queen), with many exhibiting higher rates of polyandry compared to most Formica ants. Although we identified a supergene on chromosome 3, its association with colony structure remains uncertain due to the rarity of polygyny in our sample. Population genetic analyses reveal substantial geographic population structure, with the greatest divergence between California populations and those from the rest of the range. Mitochondrial population structure differs from structure inferred from the nuclear genome on a broad geographic scale, suggesting a possible role of adaptive introgression or genetic drift. This study provides valuable insights into the ecology and evolution of F. aserva, underscoring the need for further research to decipher the complexities of host interactions and the genetic mechanisms that regulate social structure.

Political Critiques and Power Dynamics within Pakistani Society: A Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of Pakistani Drama "Ishq Murshid"

This research paper proposes examining postmodern political power in the Pakistani Urdu television drama “Ishq Murshid” (2023), employing Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as its theoretical framework that is utilized to examine how the drama reflects, reinforces, and critiques political matters and power dynamics within Pakistani society. The study's main objective is to analyze how the selected drama portrays political power, ideology, and resistance and examine the implications of political narratives and political realities in Pakistani discourse. This study is based on the qualitative method and systematically identifies and interprets political discourse within the political narrative, exploring the themes of authority, power, corruption, and social injustices represented in all the episodes of “Ishq Murshid.”. This study uses the tools and techniques for analysis including thematic coding, discourse markers identification, and critical contextualization of dialogues and narrative structures. The study aims to contribute to understanding the media's role in shaping and reflecting political discourse in South Asia, mainly through the lens of popular Urdu drama. The findings of the study of “Ishq-e-Murshid” critique Pakistan's political and social structures, highlighting corruption, moral resistance, and power dynamics. It critiques stereotypes, societal mistrust, and the role of family and legacy.

The consequences of micro-discretions and boundaries in the social prescribing link worker role in England: a realist evaluation.

Social prescribing addresses non-medical factors affecting health and well-being. Link workers are key to its delivery by connecting people to relevant support, often in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Funding from the National Health Service means that link workers are becoming a common part of primary care in England. To explore and understand the implementation of link workers in primary care in England. A realist evaluation addressed the question - When implementing link workers in primary care to sustain outcomes - what works, for whom, why and in what circumstances? Link workers and staff associated with seven primary care sites across England. Researchers spent 3 weeks with each link worker, going to meetings with them, watching them interact with patients, with healthcare staff and with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. In addition, interviews were conducted with 61 patients and 93 professionals (voluntary, community and social enterprise representatives and healthcare staff, including link workers). Follow-up interviews were conducted with 41 patients and with link workers 9-12 months later. Data were coded and developed into statements to identify how context around the link worker triggers mechanisms that lead to intended and unintended outcomes. We found that link workers exercise micro-discretions in their role - actions and advice-giving based on personal judgement of a situation, which may not always reflect explicit guidance or protocols. Our analysis highlighted that micro-discretions engender positive connections (with patients, healthcare staff, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector) and promote buy-in to the link worker role in primary care. Micro-discretions supported delivery of person-centred care and enhanced job satisfaction. Data also highlighted that lack of boundaries could place link workers at risk of overstepping their remit. Our research focused on link workers attached to primary care; findings may not be applicable to those working in other settings. Data were collected around seven link worker cases, who were selected purposively for variation in terms of geographical spread and how/by whom link workers were employed. However, these link workers were predominately white females. Enabling link workers to exercise micro-discretions allows for responsiveness to individual patient needs but can result in uncertainty and to link workers feeling overstretched. Poor link worker retention may, in part, be associated with a lack of clarity around their role. Research to explore how this shapes intention to leave their job is being conducted by authors of this paper. This article presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme as award number NIHR130247.

Stakeholder Perspectives and Experiences of Implementation of Accreditation and the ISO 9001 Programs in Hospitals of Iran: A Qualitative Study

Background: Accreditation and ISO 9001 programs in hospitals are widely adopted for quality control and quality improvement in healthcare. Objectives: The objective of this study is to identify stakeholders’ perspectives and experiences regarding the implementation of accreditation and ISO 9001 programs in hospitals affiliated with the Social Security Organization in Alborz Province, Iran. Methods: In this qualitative study, participants were selected based on purposive sampling. For data collection, semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted with hospital staff in different positions (n = 30). All interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Based on the analysis, 10 primary themes and 88 subthemes were identified. The 10 primary themes were categorized as experiences, strengths, weaknesses, effective factors, and recommendations for the implementation of accreditation and ISO 9001 programs in hospitals. Proper planning, benchmarking, physician involvement, increased resources, and more training are suggested for the successful implementation of accreditation in hospitals. Additionally, fostering a positive culture, focusing on the executive dimension, changing managerial attitudes, training, and supporting and motivating staff are the most important recommendations for the implementation of the ISO 9001 program. Conclusions: The results provide important insights into the dimensions of implementing accreditation and ISO programs in hospitals, which can be used by health policymakers and managers to improve the implementation of these programs in Iranian hospitals.

Outlining a Democratic Transition in Iran: The Significance of a Non-Dominant Social Contract and the Expansion of Universal Rights

Amidst significant upheavals in Iran, the "Woman Life Freedom" movement has emerged as both a call for social justice and an opportunity for Iranians to discuss a new social contract for the country. This paper draws on Philip Pettit’s philosophy of "New Republicanism" and Danielle Allen’s notion of "Justice by Means of Democracy" to propose a foundation for this new social contract. The central idea is “non-domination”—the principle that a society should be constructed so that no individual or group can exert arbitrary power over another. From this perspective, the “Woman Life Freedom” movement seeks not just the overthrow of the existing regime but the creation of a society where the rights and freedoms of all citizens are equally guaranteed and promoted. Alongside advocating for gender equality including LGBTQ rights, this paper emphasizes the necessity of guaranteeing life with dignity, the freedom of religious practice, and political autonomy for Iran's diverse regions in a new Iran. Achieving this requires a new social contract based on dialogue and collective participation, forming the bedrock for a new Iranian society and political regime. This paper is structured as follows: It begins by defining what a social contract entails and how it differs from a constitution, arguing that constitutions often fail without a preceding social contract. It illustrates this by reviewing constitutional developments in Iran up to the 1979 revolution. The paper then explores how a new social contract can be formulated for Iran and outlines its primary principles. Finally, it discusses the concrete political, social, and economic structures that this new social contract would establish in a post-Islamic Iran.

The Change and Development of Female Images of Different Social Periods Reflected

Before the emergence of deconstructivism, the idea of gender binary opposition occupied the mainstream of social thought. Female was regarded as second gender, attached to male who occupied social resources, and female’s subject consciousness was also weak. The proposal of deconstructivism broke this gender binary opposition, which belongs to the product of patriarchal society, female’s self-consciousness also gradually awakened. With the development of society through different eras, the changes of women’s status and thoughts in the real world are also accurately reflected in the literary works at that time. This paper takes the female images in three classic literary works in different social periods as the key point, including Tom Jones in classicism, Jane Eyre in Romanticism and O Pioneers! in Modernism. By analyzing the surface changes of these female images and the deep social reasons that promote such changes, this paper reflects the changes in social power structure and social resource distribution caused by the development of time and people’s ideological liberation, criticizes the imprisonment and oppression of women in the old society, and witnesses the gradual awakening of female consciousness and the birth of a relatively just society.

INTERACTIONS OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WITH THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS

Strategic directions of the cluster approach (collaborative activity) of the educational process carried out in educational organizations, means of using the power of the globalization process "against oneself", best practices of foreign countries, external environment of educational institutions and social organizations relationship with, the infrastructure of innovative activity, the characteristics of educational organizations, the innovative management competency of the head of the educational organization.

Fuzzy logic for the management of vaccination during pandemics: A spread-rate-based approach

<p>Pandemics, such as coronavirus disease COVID-19 are known to cause massive damage to the world's economic growth and their impacts are serious and influence across every aspect of social structure. The most inevitable factor in responding to the disaster of pandemics is the right management in terms of allocating a limited vaccine supply. The focus of this research work is to utilize a fuzzy logic inference system in the allocation of vaccine doses to the regional authorities by a central authority. The objective is obtained by designing a system based on fuzzy logic that considers the spread rate as the input to infer the vaccination rate of the local population. This system makes it possible for sufficient doses of vaccines to be allotted to the prioritized regions where the severity of the spread rate is a concern and vaccines are not held up in regions where the severity of the spread rate is lesser. The designed system is verified using MATLAB software, which shows that this method can ensure an effective and efficient allocation of vaccination in the local regions and aid the fight against the disastrous spread of the disease.</p>

Feminicide In Brazil: Reflections Of Inequalities And Culture Of Impunity

Violence against women in Brazil is a serious and persistent issue that goes beyond the boundaries of the most visible forms of physical aggression and homicides, deeply permeating social structure and affecting millions of women in various ways. Rooted in historical and structural gender inequalities, this violence reflects an entrenched culture of sexism that values male domination and devalues women, perpetuating a power hierarchy that keeps women in constant vulnerability. Impunity further exacerbates the problem, with many cases going unreported and judicial responses often inadequate. In addition to devastating individual consequences, violence against women has profound societal impacts, restricting women's personal and professional development and generating significant costs to public health and the economy. Effectively addressing this challenge requires a multifaceted approach including education, awareness, effective public policies, support for victims, and rigorous punishment of perpetrators. Investing in gender equality from basic education onward is crucial to promoting a culture of respect for women's rights and preventing future acts of violence. Combatting violence against women demands a collective commitment from all sectors of society, from governments to civil society organizations and individuals, to ensure that all women can live free from fear and violence, with their rights fully protected and respected

The Cultural Ostracism Of Indian Nepalis And Their Crusade For Identity In The Indian Landscape

India is a land of diverse cultures, witnessing a massive influx of people from all ages. Many historical events in the past led to the migration of various ethnicities from the neighbouring countries in India. One of the significant events was the 'Anglo-Nepalis war' of 1814 followed by the acquisition of Darjeeling by the British in the year 1835, which led to the massive migration of Nepalis1 into India. The large-scale influx resulted from the 'British colonial' demand for brave soldiers and plantation workers for tea estates. Later in 1950, the 'open border' concept in the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, added to the migration history. Since then, the Nepalis have dispersed and become a part of the social structure of Indian society. In the early 19th century, the influx was mainly of the janajatis2 (indigenous people) from Nepal and a few groups geographically belonging to the Himalayan areas. The immigrants geographically dispersed themselves in the areas bordering India and Nepal. Their diaspora resulted in a shift in their lifestyle and culture. At present, they are widespread in various parts of India, struggling to create a niche identity for themselves. Though they belong to India, they are not socially recognized as Indian. To an extent, the contribution of Indian-Nepalis to the military is prevalent but what remains unknown is the question of their identity of being 'an Indian'. Therefore, this paper intends to explore the Indian Nepali community’s contribution to India, the intercultural exchange, their influence on Indian cuisine and culture, and their fight for acceptance as true Indians in their own nation. Further, by examining the socio-cultural dynamics, the community’s migration pattern, and processes of cultural assimilation, this study aims to highlight the community’s efforts to overcome marginalisation and assert their identity within the broader Indian landscape

Global Monarchy: Royal Encounters in the Age of Empire

AbstractMonarchy is one of the oldest truly global social structures. On the eve of the imperial age, most of the world was governed by monarchs. But as the European empires expanded, this order was radically transformed. During the long nineteenth century, most non-European monarchies were conquered by imperial powers. Often, European imperial powers abolished them, imprisoning, killing, or exiling local rulers; in other cases, the imperial powers incorporated the conquered monarchies into new imperial orders of indirect rule. Yet, there were some monarchies that survived Europe’s imperial expansion. In fact, every country that retained its independence in the era of high imperialism was ruled by a monarch: Ethiopia, China, Japan, the Ottoman empire, Persia (Iran), and Siam (Thailand). To some extent, these monarchs lived in the same social worlds as their European counterparts, forming a global, status-based community. This article offers some observations on the relationship between the world’s monarchs in the age of empire by focusing on encounters between European monarchs and those of the few non-European countries that retained their independence.

Divisive Affect, Loyalty, and National Cohesion: Du Bois contra Wagner

Abstract The question of divisive affect and national cohesion has been placed at the center of debates in the United States over curricula dealing with race, but the problem is not a new one. Several European thinkers of the late-nineteenth through early-twentieth century theorized affect in the context of social cohesion, including Richard Wagner, Ernest Renan, and Georg Simmel. W. E. B. Du Bois, the author argues, lays bare the power dynamics of these intersecting views in his short story, “The Coming of John” in The Souls of Black Folk. Du Bois recognizes and critiques a specific strategy that he finds most clearly crystallized in Wagner, who advocates building and transmitting national allegiance by suppressing historical knowledge, fostering affective attachment to the nation, and excluding dissenters. Philologist Ernest Renan and sociologist Georg Simmel elaborate on the temporal dimensions of these mechanisms. In conversation with these theories, Du Bois illustrates in “The Coming of John” a stickiness of time—reiteration rather than reconciliation—arising from the reciprocally reinforcing functions of loyalty and ignorance of the past. While Du Bois here also employs methods for re-engaging historical time, the difficulty of moving beyond past social structures reemerges in his later works.

Global Social History: Rethinking Class and Social Transformation in the Modern World

AbstractThe rise of global history has fundamentally reshaped historical scholarship over recent years. Questions about class structures, however, have rarely been specifically addressed by global historians. Scholars of social history, meanwhile, have traditionally studied social stratification within national frameworks. The introduction to this special issue addresses these shortcomings, exploring global social history as a new field of historical inquiry. Interweaving global and social history, it demonstrates that we cannot understand the emergence and transformation of social groups across the modern world – groups such as the aristocracy, the economic bourgeoisie, the educated middle classes, the peasantry, or nomadic groups – without considering how they were influenced by global entanglements. Moreover, it points out that we have to examine globalization as a social process that was shaped by particular social groups. The special issue will connect the study of global connectivity with that of the emergence and evolution of social structures.

Co-evolving networks for opinion and social dynamics in agent-based models.

The rise of digital social media has strengthened the coevolution of public opinions and social interactions that shape social structures and collective outcomes in increasingly complex ways. The existing literature often explores this interplay as a one-directional influence, focusing on how opinions determine social ties within adaptive networks. However, this perspective overlooks the intrinsic dynamics driving social interactions, which can significantly influence how opinions form and evolve. In this work, we address this gap, by introducing the co-evolving opinion and social dynamics using stochastic agent-based models. Agents' mobility in a social space is governed by both their social and opinion similarity with others. Similarly, the dynamics of opinion formation is driven by the opinions of agents in their social vicinity. We analyze the underlying social and opinion interaction networks and explore the mechanisms influencing the appearance of emerging phenomena, such as echo chambers and opinion consensus. To illustrate the model's potential for real-world analysis, we apply it to General Social Survey data on political identity and public opinion regarding governmental issues. Our findings highlight the model's strength in capturing the coevolution of social connections and individual opinions over time.

Representasi Budaya Jawa dalam Novel Garuda Gaganeswara: Teka-Teki Jalan Lurus Melingkar Karya Ary Nilandari

This research aims to examine elements of Javanese culture in the novel "Garuda Gaganeswara Teka-Teki Jalan Lurus Melingkar" (GGTTJLM) using the Circuit of Culture Hall approach and Koentjraningrat Literary Anthropology. As a country rich in cultural diversity, Indonesia holds a rich culture that is the heritage of its people. However, the potential for social divisions can arise if this diversity is not properly understood and monitored. Children's literature, as depicted in Nilandari's work entitled "Garuda Gaganeswara: The Puzzle of a Straight and Circular Road", plays an important role in shaping, reflecting and inheriting the values, norms and traditions of society. This type of research is descriptive qualitative with data collection techniques in the form of phrases, words and discourse. Data collection was carried out through literature study using reading and note-taking techniques. The research results show that the representation of Javanese culture in the novel GGTTJLM reflects local wisdom, including myths about Dewi Sri and Masangin as seen from the perspective of the Circuit of Culture Hall. The identified cultural elements involve community activities in language, knowledge systems, social organization, living equipment and technology systems, livelihoods, religion and art.

북송사업과 니가타귀국협력회의 역할에 관한 고찰

Focusing on Niigata Prefecture, this article aims to clarify the implementation process and facilitating factors of the return of Zainichi Korean to North Korea. In previous studies, important discussions have been made mainly on the International Red Cross, the Chochongryeon (朝鮮総連), and North Korea-Japan relations. On the other hand, social organizations and local governments that have engaged in practical cooperation received relatively less attention. Based on existing research, this article focuses on the practical movements surrounding the return of Zainichi Korean to North Korea that occurred in Niigata Prefecture from 1959 to the early 1960s, discussions on extending the agreement, and public relations activities. Although the North Korean repatriation support activities in Niigata Prefecture are not determinants of the North Korean return project, it is suggested that they played a role in facilitating the continuation of the North Korean repatriation in a critical phase.

Online Gambling: A Tantalizing Game with Risks that Drain Fortunes and Futures

Online gambling has become an increasingly serious problem in Indonesia, affecting not only individuals but also social structures more broadly. This study aims to examine the prevalence and characteristics of online gambling among Indonesian adolescents and university students and find challenges and strategies in dealing with this problem. The data were analyzed using theme analysis, and the findings show that online gambling is a complex problem influenced by various factors, including ease of access, social influence, and financial incentives. This research shows that a comprehensive approach is needed in dealing with online gambling, involving the government, law enforcement, and civil society organizations. The findings suggest that public education and awareness campaigns are crucial in preventing online gambling, and law enforcement should be equipped with effective resources and technology to monitor and block online gambling activities. This research contributes to the existing literature by providing insights into the experiences and perceptions of Indonesian adolescents and university students who engage in online gambling. The findings also indicate the importance of a multi-faceted approach in dealing with online gambling, including the development of alternative recreational activities and the provision of counseling services for those affected by gambling addiction.