Socialist Research Articles

Decoding the Strands of Women Oppression in Fiction of North Eastern Women Writers: A Study of Temsula Ao’s The Night (2005), Easterine Kire’s A Terrible Matriarchy (2007) and Jahnavi Barua’s Rebirth (2010)

India had long come out of the shadows of otherisation by the West, but ironically, it had constructed its own facets of misinterpretation and otherisation of its diverse indigenous groups within the subcontinent. Northeast India is one such geographical region that have always been viewed as exotic, backward owing to the distinct cultural and traditional patterns of its numerous tribes, castes and groups, of which very little is explored by the mainstream society and hence deemed as rooted in backwardness. The region has always been entangled in the web of national, ethnic, regional identities as it seems to exist in isolation from mainland India and grapples with insurgency and the inability to accommodate long term cultural and indigenous diversity. Additionally, the cultural, ethnic ethos and norms of each indigenous group acts as an influential factor in shaping the identities of the North East Indian people. In such contexts, the women question becomes a case of double marginalisation owing to unbalanced power relations as well as patriarchal customs and rules of various indigenous groups and the perpetual militarisation and regional identity crisis in the area. The research aims to investigate the factors moulding the identity of north eastern woman from the lens of gendered subalternity, through some strong, vivid narratives with passive-strong female characters. It is an attempt to understand how the multiple social ideologies of region, ethnicity, race, gender, nation, identity overlap to delineate to hierarchal disparities in the society contributing to victimisation of women.

Framing HIV and AIDS in competitive authoritarian democracies. Case study of the print press in Mozambique, 1986–2020

Mozambique has the sixth highest prevalence of HIV in the world and ranks fourth in new infections. The government-owned print press Notícias has played an important role in the social construction of HIV and AIDS in the country as it was entrusted with the role of disseminating HIV and AIDS information to the public since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country in 1986. Using Notícias’ articles and frame analysis perspective, the article analyses the way Notícias has framed HIV and AIDS in the country since the late 1980s. The choice of media results from the fact that the way a phenomenon is constructed influences the way it is understood, as well as the way people may behave before it. The study found that Notícias’ frames on HIV and AIDS have suffered from a threefold tension: the need to maintain the Frelimo government’s former centralised and grassroots-orientated socialist ideology of health services in the context of the liberal market; the need to balance the influence of the global multilateral and bilateral actors and the Frelimo government’s political interest of translating HIV and AIDS response to the Mozambican context; and the need to portray a nationalist and positive image of the government’s performance in HIV and AIDS response before Mozambique’s non-fully plausible societal practices for an effective HIV and AIDS response. In a top-down approach, Notícias’ frames reflect not only the African post-independence ancillary and nationalist role of government-owned print press but also the power of global actors. Less is done from the societal bottom-up perspective.

How the “West as method” fails: A study of entrepreneurship education from the perspective of China

China's entrepreneurship education has developed a unique model that positions entrepreneurship education as a critical means of talent cultivation, resulting in the “learning through competition” model. Entrepreneurship education in China, imported primarily from the United States, exhibits significant differences. Existing research has highlighted these disparities; however, there is a notable lack of in-depth, detailed descriptions and comprehensive analyses of their underlying causes. Employing qualitative research methods, this study examines how these differences are shaped from a Chinese perspective. It reveals how Chinese higher education perpetuates an Americentric canon within the social sciences, but fails to implement “the West as method” in entrepreneurship education. However, while China has adopted the external aspects of American entrepreneurship education—such as curricula, competitions, and mentorship—the internal logic of the Chinese system differs significantly, resulting in two distinct educational landscapes. Key factor contributing to the China-US differences include market maturity, deficiencies in Chinese comparative education, China's principles of equality rooted in its socialist ideology, the politicized nature of its education system, and a pervasive hustle culture. These elements have shaped China's entrepreneurship education goals, teacher cohorts, landscape and business plan competitions in ways that are distinct from those in the United States. By adopting an ‘Eastern as method’ perspective, this research enriches the discourse on entrepreneurship education and encourages deeper reflection on current practices.

Voluntary Geographies of Internationalism: The Contributions of a Radical Mexican Family to Global Pacifism, Feminism, and Anticolonialism

This article addresses geographies of internationalism, feminism, pacifism, and anticolonialism, by investigating the case of pacifist and feminist activist Clementina Batalla Torres de Bassols (1894–1987) and her son, geographer Ángel Bassols Batalla (1925–2012). Based in Mexico and involved in global conferencing on pacifism, women’s rights, and geography, this activist and scholarly family provided examples of voluntary commitment to internationalism as both an ethical stance and a political option. Although not extraneous to Cold War logics, as they explicitly sympathized with the Eastern Bloc between the 1950s and the 1980s, the Bassols Batallas acted independently from party logics, following their family history rooted in the independent socialist traditions of Cardenismo and of the Mexican Revolution. They voluntarily contributed to international circulation of ideas without seeking any leading role in the international associations with which they worked. This case allows for constructing ideas of voluntarism and individual agency as drivers for internationalism and informal diplomacy. Furthermore, although some aspects of their pacifism and feminism might seem outmoded, these scholars and activists fostered ideas of social and cultural struggles across plural axes through transnational, anticolonial, and multilingual engagement that can still inspire critical and decolonial geographies.

Vladimír Vernadskij o nemecko-rakúskej okupácii Ukrajiny v roku 1918

The article deals with the diaries as an important narrative source for historians in their study of the past. The diaries are a very peculiar type of source that is different from memoirs. Usually, the author writes his memoirs about the events that he lived through many years ago or he witnessed in the past. It is naturally that with the flow of time he may forget about something, miss something or recall something incorrectly; moreover, as it is known, in memoirs events of the past are reflected with a hindsight and that is why they do not always accurately reflect the feelings of the author at the time when these events took place. People’s attitudes towards the events can also change as the years go by. Moreover, human memory is very much selective. Unlike memoirs, the diaries allow us to understand the attitude of a particular human being to the surrounding world and contemporary events when he or she wrote about them. This has enormous value for the researcher. The diaries, as a type of historical document, are important precisely because they provide us not only with object of a historical process, in other words, what is being described, but also with insights about their authors who are present not as abstract depersonalized subjects of this process, but as living human beings with their merits and shortcomings, with their convictions and moods, their dreams and concerns. Moreover, the diaries provide unique material for the study of social psychology of people in concrete historical period. The author of diaries, which became the object of our attention, was Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadskyi (1863-1945), an outstanding Russian 20th century naturalist, geologist, biogeochemist, thinker and winner of the Stalin Prize, academician, creator of the doctrine of the biosphere, its evolution and transformation into the noosphere, who was one of the founders of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences and its first President, as well as the founder of the National Library of Ukraine. Their main value of his diaries, in our opinion, is that they help to feel the atmosphere of the dramatic events of October Revolution and Civil War in Russia and Ukraine, allows us to restore the spirit of the revolutionary stormy years in all its tragedy and contradictions. As for the content of the great scientist’s diaries, a significant part of them consists of the facts of his personal life., but also a lot of space is devoted to his impressions and reflections on political events, in particular about the German and the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Ukraine in 1918. In his diaries, a negative attitude towards the Bolsheviks and socialist ideology, non-acceptance of manifestations of Ukrainian nationalism, and condemnation of the talentless policy of the Central Rada can be clearly traced.

Translation And Politics- An Analysis Of Zhu Guangqian’s Aesthetic Translation Thoughts After 1949

As a kind of discourse right, translation is an effective way of self-shaping, improvement and re-creation of social ideology and ideological culture, as well as a kind of political act. In the history of Chinese aesthetic translation, Zhu Guangqian played an extremely important role. Two distinctly different stages can be used here to divide his aesthetic research and translation practice: translation for academic service before the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and translation for political service after the founding of PRC. After 1949, Zhu Guangqian’s translation practice was deeply influenced by the atmosphere of the times. Translation and politics were inseparable. This paper takes Zhu Guangqian’s academic career after 1949 as a case study, devoted to explore his aesthetic translation under political circumstances according to historical facts, including three aspects: the dramatic shift of aesthetic research and translation thoughts, the academic path of combining translation and research, and the aesthetic translation thoughts of unity in thought and language.

Dealing with Failure: The Media’s Portrayal of Entrepreneurs in Croatia

Entrepreneurship and stigma have been subjects of interest in various studies within the entrepreneurship field. The evidence suggests that societal stigma may lead to the stigmatization of entrepreneurs who have faced business failure, potentially influencing their strategic decisions and the likelihood of re-entry into entrepreneurship. Additionally, the liability of newness and the stigma of failure are critical factors that shape entrepreneurial dynamics and outcomes in different national contexts. The fear of societal judgment and negative perceptions can deter individuals from engaging in entrepreneurial activities, hindering entrepreneurial risk-taking and innovation, and limiting the growth and development of entrepreneurial ventures. The societal stigma associated with business failure in former socialist economies has been a significant factor influencing entrepreneurial activities in these regions. Research has indicated that socialist ideology historically stigmatized private proprietorship, associating it with negative connotations such as parasitism, exploitation, and profiteering. This lasting stigma has had implications for individuals pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities in post-socialist economies, impacting their perceptions and decisions regarding entrepreneurship. The transition from socialist planned economies to market-oriented systems has brought about changes in attitudes towards entrepreneurship. While socialist legacies may have initially influenced societal norms and perceptions of entrepreneurship, the emergence of market economies has led to a reassertion of entrepreneurship in these regions. Numerous studies indicate that the way media depicts entrepreneurs and their ventures plays a crucial role in shaping the attractiveness of entrepreneurship as a career choice and in developing social norms pertinent to the entrepreneurial spirit. In our research, we utilize qualitative content analysis to examine the representation of entrepreneurship, including the successes and failures of entrepreneurs, in Croatian media. The findings reveal a dominant adverse perception of entrepreneurship as a career in Croatia, with entrepreneurs frequently depicted as tycoons. Additionally, since the 1990s, entrepreneurs have faced stigma, and there appears to be no evident direction for improvement in this area.

Research on the influence mechanism of college students' mainstream consciousness leadership under the background of mobile Internet

In recent years, the rapid innovation and popularization of mobile communication and new media technologies have brought about profound changes in the mode of social information dissemination. For college students whose ideological values are still in the critical period of development and change, how to enhance their mainstream ideological leadership in the mobile Internet era and guide the ideological and behavioral development of college students with socialist ideology guided by Marxism has become a common focus of attention in society and academia. At present, the research on the mainstream ideological leadership of college students in the academic community mainly focuses on the negative impact of modern communication technologies such as new media on the ideological work of colleges and universities and the corresponding countermeasures, while the theoretical core and internal composition of the mainstream ideological leadership, as well as the deep impact logic, positive and negative impacts and systematic improvement paths of the technological and social changes in the mobile Internet era on the mainstream ideological leadership of college students are still insufficient. Therefore, this study aims to go beyond the research perspective of traditional college ideological education management, deeply explore the basic connotation and force composition of the mainstream ideological leadership, systematically analyze the deep impact logic of the mobile Internet era on the mainstream ideological leadership of college students, sort out its improvement opportunities, and explore the structural dilemmas in it, and propose a systematic path for improving the mainstream ideological leadership of college students.

Ideological narratives of liberalism and socialism

Objective: to compare the ideologies of liberalism and socialism in economic science in the context of the current stage of their evolution. For this purpose, the paper identifies the goals of these ideologies by analyzing the scientific narratives of economists. The study is also aimed at identifying similarities and differences between the ideologies of liberalism andsocialism. Methods: qualitative methods, narrative analysis, review of scientific literature. Results: the comparison of common interpretations of the “ideology” concept in various branches of economics and in other social sciences shows differences in terminology. The comparison of the liberalism and socialism ideologies in economics shows the difference between the declared goals of liberals and socialists. The goal of liberalism ideology is human freedom,and of socialism ideology – distribution equality. The ideologies considered are internally heterogeneous and have evolved over time. At present, liberalism is continued in neoliberalism, which aims at increasing the population wealth rather than freedom as an end in itself. There are non-egalitarian interpretations of the essence of socialism, which reduce it to the economy governmentalization. There are also debates about the advantages of the market over centralized planning in socialism. The extremes of the ideologies of liberalism and socialism can be clearly distinguished, but in practice, many studies take an intermediate position. A common feature of liberalism and socialism is their modernist character and criticism of archaic economic institutions designed to redistribute wealth from the poor to the rich. Scientific novelty: it consists in identifying the economic goals proclaimed by the ideologies of liberalism and socialism, based on the analysis of the relevant theoretical narratives in scientific literature. Practical significance: it is determined by the need to understand the factors influencing the economists’ worldview. Studying the ideologies of liberalism and socialism is useful for understanding the intent of the authors of recommendations for improving the institutions of the modern Russian economic order.

View the History of Foreign Texts in Chinese High School Textbooks from the Perspective of Language and Identity Recognition

This article aims to explore the historical development and complex context behind foreign texts in Chinese high school textbooks from the perspective of language and identity. By sorting out the selection process of these foreign texts in textbooks, we can reveal the profound influence of national cultural policies, changes in international relations, and the evolution of social ideology on the content of textbooks. This selection not only reflects the response of the Chinese education sector to globalization and the adjustment of cultural strategies, but also highlights how countries shape the cultural identity of young people through their education systems at different historical stages.

The Development of Psychodynamic Psychiatry in China.

The development of psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychiatry in China is influenced by political, economic, cultural, and social ideology. The process of psychoanalysis entering China is also a reflection of Chinese history, mirroring China's transition from conservatism to openness, from focusing on tradition to embracing modernity, and from focusing on community and family to individualism. These changes align with the Chinese continuous exploration and pursuit of integration, adaptation, and individuation in the process of globalization, urbanization, and modernization. This article describes the continuous expansion and development of psychoanalysis and psychodynamics in China parallel to societal changes and how an increasing number of people have begun to engage in psychoanalysis or psychoanalytic practices and research. The author describes challenges to how psychoanalysis can better serve the Chinese people through clinical practice and in-depth research under the country's unique social, cultural, historical, and political background.

The Broken Human–Object Continuum: The Technological Future and Socialist Contradictions in Rhapsody of the Ming Tombs Reservoir (1958)

Abstract The third section of Rhapsody of the Ming Tombs Reservoir (Shisanling shuiku changxiangqu 十三陵水库畅想曲, 1958), the first film in Mao-era China to include elements of science fiction, envisions a technologically advanced future in the year 1978. While seemingly aligned with the rapid industrialization goal of the Great Leap Forward, the film’s techno-fantasy attracted blistering criticism. Focusing on the overlooked historical debate that followed the release of the film, this article argues that criticism regarding the visualization of a technological future reveals how seemingly legitimate imaginations of a communist future reflect internal contradictions within the socialist present. Reading the film and the debate it sparked within the context of technological development in the late 1950s, this article identifies one locus of criticism: the human–object relationship. During the construction of the reservoir, the film shows a harmonious human–object relationship, but the futuristic part of the film depicts that relationship as profoundly alienated. I argue that this discontinuity does not betray ignorance of or an intentional departure from socialist ideology; rather, it reflects ideological contradictions between intellectual and manual labor, egalitarianism and class difference, industrialization processes and revolutionary agendas. In its rhapsodic depiction of advanced devices that consolidate the division of knowledge, the film unintentionally lays bare a fundamental conflict that was undermining the socialist system in the real world.

The Role of the New Era Chinese Spirit in the Economic Development of Border Regions

The New Era Chinese Spirit is a fusion of the national spirit centered around patriotism and the era spirit centered around reform and innovation. It is an important component of the socialist ideology with Chinese characteristics in the new era and serves as a great spiritual banner guiding the Chinese people's unwavering efforts to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Starting from the background, content, and essence of the New Era Chinese Spirit, this paper analyzes its significant role in the economic development of border regions. It explores how to cultivate and practice the New Era Chinese Spirit in border areas, providing strong spiritual motivation and ideological support for advancing the modernization of these regions.

Политическая этика Си Цзиньпина — наследование и развитие идей «Управления страной добротой» конфуцианства и марксистской этики

Modern China is an industrialized, high-tech state. But even at the beginning of the last century it was a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. The Chinese people made a number of attempts to save the country and revive it, and finally found the path that suited them — the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The guiding ideology of socialism is Marxism, and the Chinese specificity is the traditional thoughts and culture ingrained in the mentality of the nation. The characteristic of the Chinese way is the perfect combination of these two philosophical thoughts. So how do you combine this? This article uses the example of Xi Jinping’s political ethics to analyze its guiding ideology — Confucius’s concept of governing the country with kindness and Marxist ethics. The authors first analyze the specific meaning of Xi Jinping’s political ethics, and then analyze the basis of the philosophical thought of his ethics: The set of political strategies included in the Confucian idea of virtue-based government: political strategies, talent strategies, economic strategies and management strategies; as well as the main characteristics of Marx’s ethics. This proves that building socialism with Chinese characteristics benefits from the high degree of compatibility between Marxism and traditional Chinese philosophical thought. The novelty of this article also lies in the fact that it talks about traditional Chinese Confucianism and Marxist philosophy in one dimension.

Introduction: Why a Special Focus on Mental Health and Substance Use?

Mental health and substance use have a long history of recurring cycles of reform across the globe. These reforms are often driven more by shifts in economic conditions, social ideologies, political climates and technological advancements than by design from within the fractionated mental health sector. Progress has been hindered by difficulty in fully conceptualizing the complex, multi-faceted nature of these issues, as well as by stigma, insufficient research and a lack of information. Additionally, there has been a dangerous complacency stemming from the misconception that these conditions are personal and/or moral failings.

Trees in Lao Myths and Beliefs: Roles and Symbolic Ecological Meanings through the Aspects of Folklore

This paper aims to analyze the roles and symbolic ecological significance of tree motifs as depicted in Lao myths and beliefs, derived from both literary and oral traditions. The study applies the concept of roles and symbolic ecological meanings within a folkloric framework for its analysis and interpretation. The findings indicate that tree motifs in Lao myths and beliefs encompass four primary roles and symbolic ecological meanings: first, as representations of the universe and life; second, as symbols of humanity and the supernatural; third, as embodiments of fertility and prosperity; and fourth, as representations of the Buddha and the principles of Buddhist teachings. We argue that the roles and symbolic ecological meanings of trees are intricately connected to the social and cultural dimensions in both profane and sacred senses, reflecting the thought systems of the people. This connection illustrates the worldview, values, and social ideology of Laos in a compelling manner.

A Comparative Study of the Divorce Systems of the Tang Dynasty and Japan at the same Era

The system of divorce, which is a very important part of the marriage system, also formed a complete system and developed to its peak in the feudal era of the Tang Dynasty. In the process of economic, cultural and political exchanges between the Tang Dynasty and other countries, the divorce system of the late Asuka Period, the Nara Period and the early Heian Period in Japan, which corresponded to the Tang Dynasty, had a certain influence. This paper mainly combines the historical material "Tang Laws and Regulations" and Japanese "Pension Laws", "Household Marriage Laws" and other laws to carry out theoretical research, literature research method, and comparative research method. In the process of transplantation of Chinese law, it also reflects the different social ideologies of two different countries for the divorce system, and it produces a certain difference for the maintenance of harmonious family relations, social stability, and the sense of well-being of the divorce system to different.

למרכזיות הדמיון המעמדי בראשית הלאומיות היהודית

This article examines the centrality of ideas of class and status in the formative years of Jewish nationalism. Based on a close reading of a variety of sources, the article illuminates the dominance of these ideas and provides a new conceptual framework for understanding the roots of the Jewish national idea in general and of proto-Zionist and early Zionist ideas in particular. In the first decades of the era of modern Jewish nationalism, national longings were often expressed as class aspirations. These two types of discourse were intertwined and mutually nurturing, often making it difficult to distinguish between them. The underpinnings of the class-nationalist discourse of the period were bourgeois-liberal and even bourgeois-conservative aspirations, and therefore these elements are presented in the article as key to understanding the formation of the modern Jewish national idea. Although the influence of social-class discourse on the shaping of early Jewish nationalism has been discussed in the literature, it has usually been presented as background, rather than as a key component in the emergence of the national idea. Unlike other studies that have focused on the question of class within Jewish nationalism by investigating the role of socialist ideology and party perspectives or which have explored the subject in a specific context, this article investigates the link between Jewish nationalism and class ideas on a broader scale—as a definitive element in proto-Zionist and early Zionist thought. Finally, the article highlights the transition from the language of class, which characterized the first decades of modern Jewish nationalism, to the language of vitalist nationalism, which became dominant during the classical period of Zionism.

Norms of equality reduce prejudice towards migrants, but only among conservatives

AbstractPeople are sensitive to norms, but under what conditions promoting anti‐prejudice norms reduce prejudice remains unclear. Three studies among Dutch participants (total N = 700) examined the effects of (in)equality norms on prejudice towards migrants. To gain greater clarity, we also examined how potential boundary conditions—namely economic and social ideologies—moderate this relationship. A norm of equality was measured (Study 1) or manipulated (Studies 2a and 2b). In Study 1, a perceived norm of equality predicted lower prejudice towards migrants, operationalised as cold feelings, social distance, and perceived outgroup threat, through the increased personal endorsement of equality, particularly among (economic) rightists. In two experiments (Studies 2a and 2b), as well as in a joint analysis of both studies, we found that inducing an equality norm (vs. not) mitigated prejudice towards migrants, but only among (social) rightists. These findings highlight the positive role of social norms promoting equality in combating prejudice and the importance of considering boundary conditions for this role, such as ideology. We discuss the implications for theory and practice regarding prejudice (reduction). Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's .

Genetic and environmental influences on the stability of political attitudes

It has been established across several contexts that political attitudes are informed by heritable factors. However, it remains unclear how much of the stability we observe in political attitudes can be ascribed to environmental factors and how much of the stability is due to genetics. In this paper we show, using a unique three-wave panel dataset of twins (N = 2471) spanning ten years, that both environmental and genetic influences are important in explaining the stability of social and economic ideology. However, we find that changes in ideology over time are explained by environmental factors for both social and economic ideology. For social ideology, only the shared environment is important in explaining changes over time. For economic ideology, both shared and unique environmental factors influence changes over time. Our results suggest that stability and change in political attitudes is a complex phenomenon that is best understood when examining heritable as well as social factors.