Socio-political Dynamics Research Articles

“This is one Lucianus, nephew to the king!:” Political Dynamics of Four Hungarian Translations of "Hamlet"

In this paper I endeavour to retell a partial history of the Hungarian translation of Hamlet’s commentary: “This is one Lucianus, nephew to the King!” (3:2:239) on the “Murder of Gonzago,” aiming to elucidate the intricate interplay between translation, cultural discourse, and socio-political dynamics. Hamlet’s commentary, seemingly straightforward yet laden with complexity, poses implications capable of reshaping the trajectory and purpose of his theatrical experiment, crafted to probe and establish Claudius’ guilt. The partial history of translations encompasses the epochs of Ferenc Kazinczy (18th century) and János Arany (19th century) up to the modern renderings of István Eörsi and Ádám Nádasdy (20th-21st centuries). Within this framework, I claim that exploring these translations of Hamlet’s commentary offers a gauge of Hamlet’s position in Hungarian cultural discourse. The evolving connotations of words, reflective of linguistic shifts, imbue layered meanings not only onto the statement itself but also onto the theatrical experiment it encapsulates. This exploration of translation, interpretation, and linguistic evolution sheds light on Shakespeare’s and Hamlet’s socio-cultural-political role in Hungary, as translations serve not merely as transparent channels of meaning but also as reflections on the political and cultural commitments of translators and their audiences.

The “proconsul of african nationalism”: Nyerere and Tanzania

In 2022, the 100th anniversary of Julius Nyerere (1922-1999), the leader of Tanganyika, the founder and first president of Tanzania, an outstanding African politician and statesman, was celebrated. His political legacy in Tanzania, as well as the socio-political dynamics in Tanganyika and Zanzibar are the milestones in the recent history of the East African region, in the history of ideology, national question, national movements on the continent. His name is associated with both African nationalism and pan-Africanism. The achievements of Nyerere as a nationalist - “gathering”, creating, structuring, stabilizing and preserving a multi-tribal Tanzania as an integral state unit - are at the same time the success of Nyerere as a pan-Africanist, since the Tanganyika-Zanzibar union is a relatively successful experience in the political unification of two previously separate sovereign territories.

Important Aspects of Innovative Activities of Women in the Field of Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Objectives: The primary objectives of this analysis are to examine the challenges faced by independent developing countries, focusing on the specific case of Uzbekistan. The study aims to understand the complexities involved in building a democratic and free civil society during the country's ongoing journey as an independent nation. Additionally, the objectives include identifying the shifts and advancements in societal sentiments, particularly the current social upsurge among citizens as Uzbekistan enters a stage of rapid development.
 
 Methods: The research methodology encompasses an analysis of historical and contemporary data related to Uzbekistan's development as an independent nation. It involves a comprehensive review of socio-economic difficulties and political crises during the early years of independence. Additionally, the methods include examining the current social landscape and citizen sentiments, considering factors contributing to the peaceful and rapid development phase. Qualitative and quantitative data will be employed to provide a nuanced understanding of the country's evolving socio-political dynamics.
 
 Results: Preliminary findings indicate a noteworthy shift in societal mood, marked by a social upsurge among citizens in Uzbekistan. The results highlight a transition from past concerns over socio-economic difficulties and political crises to a present state characterized by peaceful coexistence and rapid development. A detailed analysis will be conducted to identify the factors contributing to this transformation and to provide insights into the dynamics of the evolving civil society.
 
 Conclusion: In conclusion, the analysis reveals a positive social upsurge in Uzbekistan, reflecting a shift from challenges to opportunities in the country's development trajectory. The peaceful and rapid development phase signifies a notable milestone in the nation's journey. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the complexities involved in the development of independent nations and underscore the importance of societal factors in shaping the trajectory of democratic and free civil societies.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS OF RECENT POLITICAL SECULARISM IN TURKEY AND HABERMAS' PROPOSED REMEDIES

Within the intricate structure of global political landscapes, the nation of Turkey emerges as a captivating subject of study, particularly when examining its progressive secularism and the complex interplay of socio-political dynamics. This study aims to examine the fundamental structural factors that surround the implementation of Turkey's present political secularism, while also employing Habermas' proposed notion of a post-secular society as an approach to address and resolve these intricacies. This study utilizes a qualitative research methodology by doing literature studies and relying on secondary data for data collection. The findings of this study suggest that Habermas's notion of a post-secular society has the potential to develop a sociopolitical structure that is more democratic and inclusive in the setting of Turkey where it is being investigated.

The Classic Period is About the Coverage of Universal Issues In Korean Literature

Objective: This article delves into the classic period of Korean literature, focusing on the coverage of universal issues within the literary works of that era. The objective of the article is to analyze and identify the universal themes and issues addressed in Korean literature during the classic period, highlighting their relevance and impact on a global scale.
 
 Method: The methods employed in this study involve a comprehensive review and analysis of classic Korean literary texts, as well as an examination of historical and cultural contexts. Through this approach, the study aims to uncover the prevalent universal themes such as love, conflict, human nature, and socio-political dynamics within the classic Korean literary corpus.
 
 Result: The results of the article reveal that the classic period of Korean literature demonstrates a remarkable resonance with universal human experiences and emotions, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries. The literature of this era provides profound insights into the fundamental human condition, offering a unique perspective that is both distinctive to Korean culture and universally relatable.
 
 Conclusion: Conclusion part includes, the findings underscore the significance of classic Korean literature in addressing universal issues and themes, contributing to the enrichment of world literature. The study advocates for the recognition and appreciation of Korean literary classics as valuable contributions to the global literary canon, fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of universal human experiences.

Making kin: Indigenous relationality in promoting public and political knowledge about religion

Religion is a problematic category when understanding the different sociopolitical dynamics that impact and influence settler Canadian identity and society. However, against the modern western struggles around religion, like that of religion and non-religion, anti-Indigenous racism and Indigenous elimination remain a constant and unifying factor of settler colonialism. Yet Indigenous knowledges are framed by what is called religion through relationality, which informs situated knowledges, the ethos and world views, and the governance of distinct yet related nations/peoples who are human and other-than-human. The problem is that discussions on the intersectional nature of religion and relationality fall short of a critical treatment. This article outlines the issues of settler colonialism in perpetrating Indigenous dispossession, and asks scholars of religion to focus on how ‘making kin’ supports a critical disruption to settler-colonial definitions of religion that promotes public and political understandings of Indigenous relational knowledges.

A ‘Requiem’ for the short-lived democracy in Iran in the 1950s: Jamalzadeh’s rewriting of Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People

ABSTRACT This paper challenges the conventional histories concerning early translations of dramas in Iran through a sociohistorical reading of Jamalzadeh’s Persianized representation of Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People in 1961. Focusing on Bourdieu’s theory of practice toned with Pym’s translation historiography, the authors explore the ‘whys’ of Jamalzadeh’s motives when he opted to translate Ibsen’s drama. The article, therefore, examines Jamalzadeh’s rewriting against the backdrop of the field of theatre in 1950s Iran to unveil the sociopolitical dynamics that conditioned and shaped his translation. Also, embedding in Bourdieu’s concept of habitus the Derridean notion of the ideal translator, the authors explore Jamalzadeh’s (bi)cultural habitus(es) as a translator in self-exile. It is proposed that (a) utilizing his Iranian cultural memories, Jamalzadeh depicted parallels between incidents in the drama and the political events of the decade leading to the 1953 coup and the fall of Mosaddegh; (b) exploiting his European cultural/intellectual memories, he deploys Ibsen’s text to taunt Iranian political elites’ short-sightedness and/or hypocrisy and lament the herd behaviour of the masses consequent on the former group’s debilitating conflicts.

Exploring the Integration of the Land, Water, and Energy Nexus in Sustainable Food Systems Research through a Socio-Economic Lens: A Systematic Literature Review

The efficient use of land, water, and energy resources in Africa is crucial for achieving sustainable food systems (SFSs). A SFS refers to all the related activities and processes from farm to fork and the range of actors contributing to the availability of food at all times. This study aimed to analyse the growth in the land–water–energy (LWE) nexus integration in sustainable food system research. The focus was on publication growth, the thematic areas covered, and how the research addressed the policies, programmes, and practices using a socio-economic lens. The study utilised a systematic literature review approach, following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The study underscored the limited emphasis on the socio-economic perspective in the examination of the LWE nexus within sustainable food system research in Africa. Policies, governance, institutional influences, and social inclusion are crucial for addressing the region-specific challenges and achieving sustainable outcomes, but they seemed to be underrepresented in current research efforts. More so, this review revealed a paucity of research on key influencing factors like gender, conflict, culture, and socio-political dynamics. Ignoring these social factors might contribute to an inadequate management of natural resources, perpetuating issues related to food security and equity in resource use and decision-making. Additionally, the dominance of non-African institutions in knowledge production found in this review highlighted a potential gap in locally owned solutions and perspectives, which are crucial for effective policy development and implementation, often leading to failures in addressing region-specific challenges and achieving sustainable outcomes. Overall, the study highlighted the need for a more holistic approach that not only considers the technical aspects of the LWE nexus but also the social, cultural, and institutional dimensions. Additionally, fostering collaboration with local institutions and ensuring a diverse range of influencing factors can contribute to more comprehensive and contextually appropriate solutions for achieving sustainable food systems in Africa.

Translation in Flux: Revisiting the Past, Envisioning the Future

Abstract Translation and translators are emerging as powerful catalysts for promoting vibrant cross-cultural interaction among individuals from different backgrounds. Commonly perceived as the process of converting content from one language to another, translation is a nuanced and multifaceted endeavor that transcends mere linguistic conversion. Translators act as adept mediators, deftly navigating the intricate web of diverse texts and cultures while shaping their uniquely insightful perspectives. This article explores the rich historical dimensions of translation, highlighting its deep connections to philosophical beliefs and socio-political dynamics. It also aims to enhance our understanding of the complex nature of this practice by dissecting various dichotomies in translation studies, including contrasting philosophical views of translation and divergent approaches to the art of translation. In today’s interconnected world, the role of the translator has become increasingly indispensable, underscoring that translation goes beyond mere words; it serves as a mirror that reflects the ever-evolving globalized landscape. To chart a path forward, we must recognize the importance of revisiting the past, drawing wisdom from history, and gaining valuable insights for the future.

Association of political candidates and ulamas during the 2019 election on Twitter

This article explores how Indonesian political actors associate themselves with Ulamas through Twitter visual messages to symbolise Islamic piety during the Indonesian Presidential Election 2019. Despite past political events, socio-political dynamics are still relevant to understanding the current political climate. This article employed a qualitative approach by observing and analysing messages from @jokowi, the official account of the elected President, during the political contestation period. Specifically, multimodal analysis was used to examine visual data. We conclude that Islamic piety symbolisms were strategically used as a political instrument during the Election. Political actors, such as Jokowi, associated themselves with Islamic piety symbols and other Islamic cultural attributes to construct a certain strong image and appeal to the Indonesian Muslim voters. An association with Islamic piety symbols could boost his image and appeal to voters.

Beyond dollars and cents: why socio-political factors matter in energy system modeling

Traditional energy system modeling (ESM) has predominantly focused on techno-economic factors such as costs and efficiency. However, this narrow perspective fails to capture the intricate interplay between energy systems and socio-political dynamics that significantly influence their real-world impact. This piece underlines the importance of incorporating socio-political factors into ESM and highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach. We identify several reasons why socio-political factors are often overlooked in ESM, including technical bias, complexity, data standardization challenges, time and resource constraints, and societal biases. These factors must be addressed to improve the relevancy of ESM, reduce social injustice, and promote innovation in the design of future energy systems. Incorporating socio-political factors into ESM offers several benefits. To achieve these benefits, the paper suggests a shift towards a more comprehensive and value-driven approach and offers several options for improving ESM including: (I) recognizing that socio-political factors are just as important as techno-economic factors (II) improving the structure of the modeling process (III) developing new and innovative metrics for socio-political factors (IV) linking different types of models (V) emphasizing the need for interdisciplinarity in ESM. By prioritizing the aspects of the energy system that concern people to the same degree we prioritize cost, we can derive value-driven insights to assist in creating a more sustainable future for all.

Exploring The Divine Message: Quranic Studies in The Context of Islamic Scholarship

This research delves into the profound realm of Quranic studies within Islamic scholarship, focusing on historical development, methodologies, and specific interpretations. The study examines the evolution of Quranic studies, elucidating its growth from the early Islamic era to contemporary times. Various methodologies employed in interpreting the Quran are scrutinized, highlighting their impact on shaping religious thought. A meticulous analysis of two prominent exegeses, Tafsir bi al-Ray, and Tafsir bi al-Mathur, reveals their intricate tapestry of evocative interpretations. The research underscores the interplay of historical and socio-political dynamics in shaping Quranic scholarship, showcasing both challenges and opportunities. Ultimately, this exploration enriches our understanding of the Quran's multifaceted significance within the Islamic tradition.

Fluctuating Currents: Balancing urban growth and restoring native riverine synergies in Mumbai — the case of Dahisar River

In 1690 CE, a transformation was initiated by the British East India Company on the seven islands along India's western coast. These islands, once primarily Portuguese territories featuring indigenous communities deeply intertwined with rich ecological and cultural histories spanning millennia, underwent a gradual metamorphosis into the major metropolis known as 'Bombay,' a trajectory that persists today in its rebranded identity as 'Mumbai.' This article delves into how the commonly accepted imaginations of urban utopia progressively turned away from the perceived stagnant waters of rivers and estuaries that, in reality, served as vital coastal ecological buffers. The expansion of Mumbai city propelled its citizens, particularly marginalised low-income groups and traditional settlement inhabitants, towards the outskirts where vestiges of natural ecosystems endure. This shift granted them rudimentary necessities such as water and outdoor spaces, including prospects for agriculture. The convergence of socially vulnerable communities with ecologically delicate zones frequently led to heightened intricacies and debilitation, placing immense stress on both the city's ecological and social resources. This article centres on the examination of urban rivers, using the Dahisar River, a representative seasonal watercourse in Mumbai, as a focal point. Through this exploration, it seeks to scrutinise the multifaceted networks intertwined with Mumbai's river systems, emphasising the urgency of recalibrating perceptions of rivers in Indian urban landscapes. The study also reflects upon the tumultuous socio-political dynamics of the city, involving governing bodies, indigenous stewards, urban residents, and industries. Amid the array of potential solutions, technical and ecological facets often take a backseat to the socio-political determination required to adopt a more ecologically conscious stance. Nonetheless, optimism persists, as climate change mitigation and urban well-being emerge as entrepreneurial prospects for the nation's economic hub. The national leadership aims to position itself as a catalyst for change, aligning with global ecological narratives on the political stage.

Heritage ambivalences: the aesthetics of fictionalised pasts in Roca Barea’s Imperiofobia

ABSTRACT Roca Barea’s Imperiofobia y Leyenda Negra (Empirephobia and Black Legend) has been a bestseller in Spain since it was published in 2016. However, this historical essay has also provoked intense controversy regarding the veracity of data presented and the ambivalence, or even incoherence, of its arguments. This article analyses Imperiofobia from a different point of view: as a heritage product with a strong narrative dimension. A heritage product can enable an individual story to be inserted into a collective mythological narrative, as in the case of this book. Imperiofobia encourages the reader to become involved in an epic war against the enemies of empires, as well as against the enemies of Spain (mainly the eurozone’s most powerful countries and progressive or left-wing intellectuals). This involvement dimension is essential to understand how, in general, ambivalent and even incoherent narratives about the past can be functional in socio-political dynamics.

‘We thought we would be welcomed with open arms’: Holocaust refugees in Dutch Caribbean internment

ABSTRACT The trajectories and experiences of more than a hundred Jewish refugees, who arrived in the Dutch colony of Suriname in December 1942, shed light on the complex connections and tensions between colonial hierarchies, Jewish heritage and antisemitism. Furthermore, De Jong's article highlights the often-overlooked role of the Dutch Caribbean during the Second World War, particularly in providing refuge to Holocaust survivors. The article first delves into the broader colonial context and the sociopolitical dynamics of wartime Suriname. The refugees, initially interned and subjected to restrictive regulations, struggled with their diminished status and the obligatory domestic chores, especially in this colonial setting. De Jong also touches on the complex interplay of racial hierarchies in the colony and antisemitism, shedding light on the refugees’ position within this new environment. Second, De Jong examines intra-Jewish tensions in Suriname through two case studies of conflict: the first surrounding a Purim celebration and the second concerning a request for a separate Ashkenazi service during the High Holidays. These conflicts reveal the challenges faced by the refugees and the established Jewish community in negotiating cultural and religious identities. The disputes were significant but eventually resolved, demonstrating the resilience and flexibility of both groups. The study provides a multifaceted understanding of the refugees’ experiences in Suriname by integrating traditional archival documents with personal narratives and oral histories. It underscores the Dutch Caribbean as a significant site of refuge and Jewish interaction during the Second World War, contributing to broader discussions on colonial spaces in Holocaust Studies

Decolonisation, gentrification, and the settler-colonial city: Reappropriation and new forms of urban exclusion in Israel

Focusing on the immigration of upper-middle-class Palestinian families to the Israeli town of Upper-Nazareth, originally built by the state to enhance Jewish presence in the area, this paper frames the concept of decolonising gentrification. Accordingly, it studies a unique inconsistency between economic class and ethnonational hegemony, which enables upwardly Arab minority families to overcome ethnic barriers and to exercise social and spatial mobility. Therefore, this paper explains how these socio-political dynamics challenge the local settler-colonial aspects of urban development and enable the reappropriation of colonised urban space. Focusing on the case of Upper-Nazareth and its former ‘Officers’ Neighbourhood’, we examine a distinctive contradiction between political power and economic abilities that triggers a unique case of gentrification, where the colonised minority gentrifies the colonising hegemony. At the same time, this decolonising gentrification, as we argue, takes place in restricted urban enclaves, and relies on an ethno-class price gap as it is only the minority upper-class who is willing to pay the increasing prices, due to their limited options. Therefore, as this paper shows, decolonising gentrification simultaneously challenges and recreates urban settler-colonialism, enabling limited market-oriented reappropriation while triggering ethnic-based accumulation and new forms of neoliberal exclusion.

Enslavement for Manumission: The Creation of Byzantine ‘Private Subjects’

ABSTRACT The article challenges current perspectives on slavery as ‘unfreedom’ and proposes to examine the enslaved within a socio-political dynamics of power relations. An analysis of four Byzantine documents from the eleventh century and the place they accorded to slaves and manumitted slaves reveals the way enslavement and manumission served together as a means to acquire socioeconomic independence and private authority by turning the enslaved persons into private subjects: men and women exclusively subordinated to the authority of their owners. Private authority was based on a total subordination towards the enslaver and challenged the public imperial authority over people. An analysis of the place accorded to slaves and manumitted slaves in the private domain as seen from juridical and economic documents from the central Middle Ages from different regions of the Byzantine Empire shows slaves as social capital and slavery as a means to gain socioeconomic independence as part of the power game in a medieval society.

From improvement to relationship management: a case study of data artifact creation and use in a school improvement network

ABSTRACT Improvement networks are a relatively recent phenomenon in US education that create interorganizational networks of educators working together to improve specific educational problems. A shared emphasis of these networks is the use of data to support the improvement process, but little is known about their data use in practice. This study takes an in-depth look at the 800+ data artifacts created and used in a single focal network’s 3rd year, applying a mixed methods case study design. The findings show that while data artifacts are predominantly created to support the improvement process, they are frequently used for relationship management as network hub members navigate the sociopolitical dynamics typical of a complex change effort – if they are used at all. The study has implications for practitioners as they decide what data artifacts to create and use, as well as for researchers’ theory building about productive data use in improvement efforts.

Theological Pluralism: Exploring Religious Expressions within The Baha'i Community in Kubu Raya

This research illustrates the vulnerability experienced by contemporary society in practicing religious beliefs, necessitating the emergence of Theological Pluralism as a new innovation to provide space for minority communities such as the Baha'i to express their religious beliefs. The objective of this study is to elucidate the expressions and responses of the community towards the Baha'i community in Kubu Raya, viewed through the lens of Theological Pluralism. The research employs a qualitative approach rooted in sociology, incorporating literature review and field research. Data collection methods include observation, previous research, and relevant data pertaining to this study. This study indicate that the Baha'i community expresses its beliefs through social interactions viewed from the perspective of Theological Pluralism, ultimately fostering attitudes of tolerance, inclusivity, and appreciation for diversity within pluralistic societies. The community's response to the Baha'i varies, with some exhibiting positive acceptance and others displaying negative rejection. Factors influencing these responses involve limitations in religious knowledge and the socio-political dynamics impacting religious domains.

Military Aspects of the Break-up of Yugoslavia

The break-up of the SFRY in 1991 led to a significant reshaping of the region’s political landscape. Four of the six former Yugoslav republics subsequently joined NATO, enhancing the geopolitical stability in the North Atlantic Alliance’s vicinity. Given the intricate socio-political dynamics in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, the affiliation of these former Yugoslav republics with NATO undoubtedly contributes to regional stability. Conversely, in the prevailing political climate, the Russian Federation, leveraging its influence among the Bosnian Serbs and within Serbia, is introducing destabilizing factors to the area.