Complex Societies Research Articles

More on mobility and sedentism: Changes in adaptation from Upper Paleolithic to Incipient Jomon, Tanegashima Island, southern Japan.

Sedentism is an adaptive alternative in human societies which is often associated with the emergence of complex societies in the Holocene. To elucidate the factors and processes of the emergence of sedentary societies, continuous accumulation of case studies based on robust evidence from across the world is required. Given abundant archaeological and geological evidence from the late Pleistocene to early Holocene, Tanegashima Island, situated in the southern Japanese Archipelago of the northwestern Pacific Rim, has significant potential to unravel factors and processes of sedentism. Our study evaluates long-term change in hunter-gatherer mobility on Tanegashima Island from the Upper Paleolithic to Incipient Jomon (ca.36,000-12,800 cal BP). Based on Bayesian age modelling, we performed diachronic analyses on lithic toolkit structure, lithic reduction technology, lithic raw material composition, and occupation intensity. The results illustrate that settlement-subsistence strategies on Tanegashima primarily correspond to the change in environmental conditions, mainly food resources, and foragers increased their degrees of sedentism when abundant forest existed. More important is that highly stable sedentism, which is not observed until the Incipient Jomon, depends not only on such a productive environment, but also on the increase in population size. High occupation intensity during the Incipient Jomon on the island is likely attributed to an influx of people from Kyushu proper. Although the relationship between cause and effect of these factors is still to be clarified in future work, our study provides insights on the fundamental causes of sedentism in the temperate forest of the late Pleistocene.

Molecular Adjustment to a Social Niche: Brain Transcriptomes Reveal Divergent Influence of Social Environment on the Two Queen Morphs of the Ant Temnothorax rugatulus.

Social insects form complex societies with division of labour between different female castes. In most species, a single queen heads the colony; in others, several queens share the task of reproduction. These different social organisations are often associated with distinct queen morphologies and life-history strategies and occur in different environments. In the ant Temnothorax rugatulus, queens are dimorphic. Macrogynes and microgynes reside in mono- and polygynous colonies and at lower and higher elevations, respectively. We analysed plastic changes in brain transcriptomes in response to the social environment in these queen morphs and their workers. We manipulated the number of queens over 4 months to investigate whether transcriptional activity is influenced by queen morph, social environment or their interaction. Changes in gene expression in the queens' brains in response to our manipulations were largely influenced by the interaction between social environment and queen morph, rather than independently by these factors. Macrogynes and microgynes thus adjust differently to their social environment. Similarly, worker transcriptomes were influenced by an interaction between behavioural type, that is, nurses or foragers, and queen morph. Nurses differentially regulated genes related to nutrition depending on queen morph, suggesting a link between social environment and metabolic dynamics in ant colonies. Overall, our study sheds light on how the social environment influences the molecular physiology of social insects. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in this ant with two queen morphs, worker physiology depends on queen morph and their role in the colony.

Carrying the Torch Forward, Meeting the Future, and Advancing the Charge

As the incoming editorial team, we explore the challenges and opportunities facing social equity in a complex global society and relate them to the opportunities for promoting social equity through the pages of the Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration (JSEPA). The authors discuss the importance of delivering equitable public service through knowledgeable civil discourse from a plurality of voices. The growth of JSEPA’s influence relies upon its inclusive contributions to the social equity discourse. The unending pursuit and submission of excellent research that asks thoughtful, future-focused questions exemplifies the discourse found in JSEPA, where we aim to illuminate the power and necessity of the fourth pillar of public administration—social equity. This pillar takes its rightful place alongside the traditional three pillars of public administration: effectiveness, efficiency, and economy. JSEPA provides a unique space with its focus on this fourth pillar and in doing so, contributes meaningfully to public administration journals committed to the traditional pillars.

The Empowered Future of Islam: Education as The Key to Success in Modern Society

This research aims to gain a profound understanding of the role of education in empowering the future of Islam and its key to success in modern society. A qualitative method is employed, utilizing in-depth interviews and participatory observations to explore the perspectives, perceptions, and experiences of the research subjects. The study focuses on a diverse group of participants, including educators, students, religious leaders, and members of the Muslim community from various backgrounds. Data collected through these methods will be analyzed using a thematic approach to identify key patterns and themes regarding the role of education in empowering the Muslim community. This research highlights the significant role of education in shaping the future perspectives of the Muslim community and how their educational experiences influence their views on religion and society. Moreover, the findings provide practical implications for policymakers and education practitioners by offering valuable insights into the design of more effective programs that address the evolving needs of the Muslim community amidst changing times. These insights aim to empower the Muslim community to navigate and thrive in a complex modern society.

The Examination of Britain’s Annexation of Awadh Illustrates how Colonial Misinterpretation Validated Imperial Policies

This paper examines the British annexation of Awadh (1856) through the framework of colonial misinterpretation, focusing on how the British applied the norm-deviation concept to justify their imperial policies. Drawing on Partha Chatterjee’s “Pedagogy of Violence,” the paper critiques how Nawab Wajid Ali Shah’s rule was mischaracterized as “deviant” due to its divergence from Western bureaucratic norms. This portrayal fueled British claims of misgovernance, leading to the annexation, which disregarded Awadh's indigenous political systems and cultural vitality. The annexation’s economic and social disruptions—heavy taxation, property confiscation, and the erosion of local industries—created widespread discontent among peasants, nobility, and sepoys, culminating in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Additionally, the paper explores the conservative critique of British liberal policies, which highlighted the failures of ignoring local traditions. This conservative backlash advocated for a more respectful approach to Indian customs, ultimately influencing British governance reforms, including the Queen’s Proclamation of 1858. By examining these dynamics, the paper reveals the consequences of imposing foreign standards on a culturally rich and politically complex society, underscoring how the annexation of Awadh became a case study in the larger imperial struggle between governance, cultural misunderstanding, and resistance.

Compromise of Islam and customary practices in the religious practices of the muslim community in Papua: a study of maqāṣid syarī’ah

Compromising Islam and customary practices (adat) in religious life practices is a manifestation of Islamic law in maintaining harmonious relationships among religious communities, particularly Muslims and Christians. This article not only aims to uncover various religious practices that compromise Islam and adat, but also presents an in-depth analysis of the impact of such compromises on inter-religious relations among the Kokoda community. The data analysis for this article was obtained through observation, interviews, and literature and document studies. The article demonstrates that religious practices among Kokoda Muslims are deeply infused with adat nuances, making compromise with Islam a middle ground. There are three practices that are openly carried out. First, in social relations practices, both Muslims and Christians perceive that their current religion is the one inherited from their family. This concept is an implementation of Islamic legal principles regarding the urgency of preserving genealogy and family traditions in the context of faith. Second, the celebration of major religious days is considered a shared possession even though they adhere to different religions. This aligns with Islamic law which emphasizes the importance of harmonious and respectful life among religious communities. Third, the marriage practice that compromises Islam and adat is an effort to fulfill the guidelines of Islamic law, while also preserving Kokoda adat. This reflects harmonization between religious obligations and respect for adat law. This study focuses on discussing the forms and impacts of religious practices that compromise Islamic law and customary practices (adat) within one community group, namely Kokoda. This research contributes to global studies on religious diversity, pluralism, and cultural conflict resolution, as well as adds to the literature on religious adaptation in culturally complex societies.

An operationalization of Teal

The public sector must reinvent itself as modern complexities require governance and management styles, enabling more agile and network-based collaboration. The Teal paradigm (Laloux 2014) has self-management (coordinated local autonomy), evolutionary purpose (a sense of meaning), and wholeness (trust enabling being present as a ‘whole’ human being) can foster innovation, agility, and effectiveness in the private sector. This raises an intriguing question: Can the Teal paradigm be operationalized, describing Teal-public governance and leadership and thereby supporting the public sector’s efforts to produce welfare in a complex society? First, the article makes a theoretical contribution by operationalizing the three Teal characteristics into 12 variable specifications. Subsequently, examples from a trust experiment in a Danish municipality illustrate how Teal-operationalization can facilitate the development of a teal praxis. Finally, the pertinences of the operationalizations for research and praxis are discussed.

Роль социологических дисциплин в профессиональном саморазвитии педагога

The article examines the role of sociological disciplines in the process of professional self-development of a teacher in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex society. Sociology offers important knowledge and tools for deep understanding of social realities, which will allow educators to remain flexible and relevant in their work. The study analyzes key components of educator professional self-development, such as self-awareness, consideration of external factors, deep interaction with students, readiness for self-development, creativity and reflection. Particular attention is given to how sociological knowledge can foster these components. The importance of teachers’ positive attitude to sociology, awareness of its usefulness for their professional activity, as well as the development of sociological culture in general and the use of active learning methods as conditions for effective professional self-development of teachers through sociological disciplines is emphasized.

Memory and Hope: Living and Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Pedagogy and Practice

Tēnā koutou e ngā iwi, e ngā reo, e ngā kārangatanga maha o te motu. Ka rere ngā tai o mihi ki a koutou i runga i te kaupapa nui o te wā, arā, ko te whakakotahi i te whakaaro me te whakahirahira i Te Tiriti o Waitangi hei tūāpapa mātāmua mō te mātauranga o Aotearoa. The work of teachers in Aotearoa is deeply relational, situated within the ongoing story of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This special issue, Memory and Hope: Living and Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Pedagogy and Practice, explores how teachers can embody the aspirations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, navigating the challenges of colonisation’s legacy while fostering hope for equitable futures. This editorial reflects on the interwoven threads of memory and hope, examining how teachers might honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi in a politically complex and diverse society.

Peran Filsafat Ilmu dalam Pengembangan Etika Ilmiah di Masyarakat Modern

This article discusses the role of philosophy of science in the development of scientific ethics in modern society using descriptive qualitative research methods. In the context of an increasingly complex society, the development of science and technology is often not balanced with an adequate understanding of ethics. Philosophy of science serves as a foundation for studying and reflecting on the moral values ​​that should accompany scientific progress. This study shows that philosophy of science not only provides a theoretical framework for the development of knowledge but also plays an important role in forming a critical attitude towards scientific practices that can potentially harm society. Through literature analysis, this article identifies several major contributions of philosophy of science, including reaffirming human values, developing ethical scientific policies, and promoting dialogue between science and social values. The conclusion of this study emphasizes the importance of integrating philosophy of science into scientific education and practice to create a more ethical and responsible society.

Tolas, fish traps and radiocarbon dating: The spatial characterization of the Manteño site of Ligüiqui in Ecuador and its contextualization within the chronological framework of other pre-Hispanic cultures

Abstract Ecuador is a key area in South America when it comes to understanding the economic, social and archaeological aspects of pre-Hispanic cultures in the northwestern region of the Andes. Among the most complex societies to have inhabited this territory is the so-called Manteño culture (AD ∼800–1530), which spanned across most of Ecuador’s central Pacific coast. Ongoing research at the site of Ligüiqui (Manta, Manabí) has enabled us to obtain a more complete overview of the chronological sequence of the Manteño period as well as contributing further data on the advanced stage of social development reached during the period; characterized by the hierarchical arrangement of sites, the use of extensive settlement models, and semi-circular stone fish traps (corrales). In order to understand the role played by this coastal site in the complex Manteño culture, a detailed radiocarbon study was performed in the sequence of the Ligüiqui site. In addition, using a detailed review of available Manteño settlement radiocarbon data (13 sites and 64 dates), we established a chronostratigraphic framework for the culture. Our data indicate that Ligüiqui probably acted as a supply centre for marine-origin products from the twelfth century onwards with activity peaking during the Late Manteño period. A multisite comparison using Bayesian modeling indicates an early onset of the Manteño culture in Ligüiqui around AD 700, and a general demise in most of the sites AD ∼1500 or slightly before. This culture finally collapsed before AD ∼1600 during the early Spanish colonial period. Only one site, La Libertad, shows potential evidence of having remained a Manteño settlement after that date.

Artificial Intelligence and its Role in Legislative Practices

One of the most significant challenges faced by the average person is understanding the general context of the legislation that applies to them. The legal discipline has certain characteristics that make it almost esoteric for those who are not part of it, however, it is necessary to know the legal norms as comprehensively as possible. People today are no longer just "from a village/town/province/country", but have become something almost universal within the frameworks of globalization and the vast library the Internet offers at nearly zero cost. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that is beginning to fundamentally change society, and within this "sea of transformations", the law – and legal and political practices in general – cannot avoid contact and change. There is no area of law not being altered, but in my opinion, the most significant place where transformations will be recorded is in legislating and drafting normative acts. Legislative operations are always complex and rarely bring satisfaction to those subject to regulation, given the relationship between the rights and obligations set out by normative acts. At the same time, it is challenging to legislate in an increasingly complex society, where enduring and situational interests intersect, where there are poor-quality mechanisms in legal documentation, and where the concept of legality is not always correctly perceived in the political environment. AI should offer a greater understanding of legal concepts to both ordinary citizens and legislators, precisely through its extensive library and its demonstrated synthesis and analysis capabilities. Therefore, the use of AI in the legislative process will become increasingly necessary as its capabilities grow, primarily to produce faster syntheses of legal documentation, essential for correctly understanding the context that justifies the need for new legislation. I believe that in the coming years, no country will escape this change, and AI will help eliminate some of the poor-quality practices that do not offer countries and citizens better prospects for wealth and professional development.

Social play fosters cooperation in wild adult chimpanzees.

Adult social play is a universal human trait, promoting the tolerance, bonding, cooperation, and collective action that sustain our large and complex societies.1,2 Play serves as a conduit for transmitting positive emotions, thereby stimulating psychological resilience to stressors and facilitating the positive intent and trust3,4,5,6 essential for cooperation emergence. In contrast, non-human adult social play is considered rare, and its role in cooperation remains unknown. We address this gap by studying the play behavior of 57 adult chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, where adult social play and collective action regularly occur. We show that adult female and male chimpanzees play more during times of increased mate competition (with males mainly playing with immatures) and with adult partners they had recent disputes with, highlighting the role of play in regulating social tension that can undermine cooperation. Chimpanzees also preferred playing with adult partners with whom they share strong affiliative bonds, aligning with the idea that play is associated with social familiarity and trust. Finally, adult chimpanzees were more likely to play before collectively defending their territory against outsiders and hunting monkeys. Those who played together were subsequently more likely to collaborate, reinforcing the notion that the positive feedback signaled via play can facilitate cooperation.5 Our findings demonstrate the sustained significance of adult social play throughout the chimpanzee lifespan, providing valuable insights into the evolution of adult social play and its societal functions, from diffusing tension to supporting social bonds and collective action.

The Evolutionary Journey of Humankind: Tracing Biological Adaptations, Environmental Dynamics, and Cultural Innovations

The study of human evolution offers a compelling narrative that spans vast epochs, weaving together the intricate threads of biological adaptation, environmental dynamics, and cultural innovation. This comprehensive review embarks on an illuminating journey through the annals of human history, tracing our evolutionary trajectory from the nascent origins in the Miocene Epoch to the complex societies of early hominins and beyond. By examining pivotal genera such as Dryopithecus, Ramapithecus, and Australopithecus and key species, such as Homo habilis, Homo erectus, and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, this article explores the significant adaptations that shaped our ancestors. Furthermore, it delves into the potential future paths of human evolution, considering the profound impacts of technological advancements, environmental challenges, genetic engineering, and social and cultural influences. This interdisciplinary analysis highlights the ongoing interplay between our biological heritage and the rapidly changing world, offering insights into the evolutionary processes that continue to shape the human species. . KEYWORDS :Environmental challenges, Homo erectus, Homo habilis, Homo sapiens, Human evolution

Call for Peace and National Cohesion: Reading from Selected Arabic Literary Texts of Nigerian Authorship

Since ancient times, literature has served as a mirror reflecting society and its progress, often engaging with themes of morality, compassion, unity, and peaceful coexistence within human communities. Literature, through both poetry and prose, communicates ethical values that encourage and educate for peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and harmonious social relationships. This study utilizes a descriptive approach to examine the contributions of Nigerian authors in Arabic literature to the promotion of national integration, harmony, and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of diverse ethnicities and constituencies. By selecting specific literary texts, especially poetry, from the works of three prominent Nigerian literary figures, this paper investigates how Arabic literature of Nigerian authorship has fostered ideals of unity, harmony, and peaceful cohabitation within Nigeria’s highly heterogeneous socio-political landscape. Findings from the study reveal that numerous Nigerian Arabic literary scholars have significantly contributed to the advocacy for national integration and peace. Their literary productions emphasize the importance of unity among Nigerians, despite the multitude of languages, rich cultural diversity, and varied practices across the country. These literary works serve as powerful tools for promoting tolerance, understanding, and unity, highlighting literature’s essential role in reinforcing shared national values, fostering patriotism, and enhancing collective consciousness in Nigeria’s complex and multicultural society.

ЭВОЛЮЦИЯ РЕЛИГИИ

Understanding religion requires explaining why supernatural beliefs, devotions, and rituals are both universal and variable across cultures, and why religion is so often associated with both large-scale cooperation and enduring group conflict. Emerging lines of research suggest that these oppositions result from the convergence of three processes. First, the interaction of certain reliably developing cognitive processes, such as our ability to infer the presence of intentional agents, favors—as an evolutionary by-product—the spread of certain kinds of counterintuitive concepts. Second, participation in rituals and devotions involving costly displays exploits various aspects of our evolved psychology to deepen people’s commitment to both supernatural agents and religious communities. Third, competition among societies and organizations with different faith-based beliefs and practices has increasingly connected religion with both within-group prosociality and between-group enmity. This connection has strengthened dramatically in recent millennia, as part of the evolution of complex societies, and is important to understanding cooperation and conflict in today’s world.

Traditions of Equality: The Archaeology of Egalitarianism and Egalitarian Behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa (First and Second Millennium CE)

Interest in egalitarianism and egalitarian behavior in complex societies has grown in recent years, spurred by anarchist approaches and collective action theory. Sub-Saharan Africa, however, has seldom figured in the discussions, despite the fact that it has been historically home to a diversity of societies that have either rejected political centralization altogether or put limits to it. The aim of this article is to examine, from an archaeological point of view, the forms of resistance that have restricted—or thwarted—monarchic power in the continent during the last two millennia. For this, I use the concept of traditions of equality. They can be defined as sets of political practices that are materially constituted, shaped by culture and transmitted through collective memory and that generate and structure egalitarian behavior in any given society. They occur across different types of sociopolitical organizations, from undivided societies of hunter-gatherers to strongly hierarchized kingdoms. Here, I will explore six of such traditions as they operate in Sub-Saharan Africa: relocation and isolation, anarchic and heterarchical settlements, adverse sacralization, equalizing technologies, counterinfrastructures, and revolution.

INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTIONS IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT: REFLECTIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

This study investigated the role of intergenerational connections in the school environment and their impact on the development of essential skills for the 21st century, such as communication, cooperation, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Based on a qualitative analysis carried out in projects at the University of Maturity, at the Federal University of Tocantins (UMA/UFT), the research examined how interactions between different generations contributed to strengthening students’ socio-emotional skills. The results indicated that the presence of older generations in schools promoted the sharing of experiences, the building of social bonds, and the development of a sense of belonging among participants. However, the study identified obstacles that hindered the implementation of these practices, such as the lack of preparation of educators and the absence of specific educational policies. Thus, it was suggested that the adoption of continuing education policies for teachers and institutional support were essential for intergenerational interactions to become an integral part of the school curriculum. It was concluded that well-planned intergenerational practices could significantly enrich the teaching-learning process and prepare students to act ethically and responsibly in an increasingly diverse and complex society.

Nonreproductive division of labor in staghorn ferns

Abstract In complex animal societies, group members often subdivide labor by focusing on different tasks such as reproduction and defense. While division of labor is well documented in animals, little is known about whether colonial plants exhibit similar patterns in task differentiation. To help bridge this gap in our understanding of sociality, we investigated nonreproductive division of labor in the staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum, Polypodiaceae), an epiphyte that forms colonies of many individual plants, which coalesce into a communal water and nutrient store. We conducted a series of field observations and glasshouse experiments to answer 3 questions: (1) Are individuals in the upper regions of colonies shaped in ways that facilitate the capture of airborne particulate matter (e.g. leaf litter)? (2) Do individuals at the apex of colonies decay in ways that inhibit the invasion of colonies by other plant species? (3) Does the anatomy of fronds at the bottom of colonies facilitate water storage? Results show that individuals at the top of colonies were larger and more lobed, which fostered the retention of leaf litter within communal nests. Plants located at the top of colonies also repetitively collapsed over the upper surface of nests as they decayed, inhibiting the germination and growth of foreign plant species. Lastly, individuals at the bottom of colonies produced thicker fronds with larger intracellular spaces, which facilitated the storage of rainwater captured above. Overall results demonstrate clear patterns in nonreproductive division of labor within staghorn fern colonies that are similar to highly social animals.

Student-centred OdeL support in theology: Why? and how?

Equipping students to become future-fit graduates who are competent to survive and thrive in an increasingly liquid and complex society presents an agonising challenge to educators at institutions of higher education. It seems that student-centred support is a key requirement for the renovation of open distance higher education. ‘The complex fourth revolution world we are living in’, the current unequal and diverse student body and the need to train students in theology to be agents of positive change and transformation highlight why student-centred edu-actions are required. Suggestions on how to create opportunities for, and how to implement effective student-centred support are presented through a descriptive qualitative approach. Although this is focussed on theology students, student support is needed in all disciplines and this structure can, if successful, also be transferred to other fields in human science. Nested in the centre of the Community of Inquiry model, the triangle of effective education provides the structure and foundation for both the discipline-specific and the more general fields of the pillars of higher education. Based on the foundation of this triangle, a toolkit for student success is proposed. The toolkit forms the inner part of the triangle; referring to who the students are, how they think, reason and act, culminate in how they change and grow through education. In addition, a short learning programme for educators is proposed to assist them in adapting their tasks to the changing environment and simultaneously supporting their students.Intradisciplinary/interdisciplinary implications: Although the focus is on theology students and lecturers, both the toolkit and lecturer training programmes can be implemented for the promotion of purpose-driven and human-centred skills development and academic excellence in the larger disciplines and fields of arts, humanities, social sciences and religious studies.