Socio-political System Research Articles

Void Almanac: A Political-Geologic Rubbing of Nuclear Testing in Mississippi

Although classical physics states that the void lacks matter or energy, the misunderstanding of emptiness as a spatial concept extends far beyond the sciences. The essay explores the concept of empty space, debunking classical physics’ notion of voidness by delving into quantum mechanics, where energy and particles continually manifest through a site investigation of the Salmon & Sterling Nuclear Test Site (located in Lumberton, MS, USA). This revelation challenges colonial ideologies, exemplified by terra nullius, which justified empire-building by claiming certain lands devoid of inhabitants. Operating through a political-geological exploration of repetitive cycles of extraction, speculation, and vacancy at the Salmon & Sterling Site spanning from the Mesozoic Era to the present day, I scrutinize spatial constructions and their reinforcement of prevailing socio-political systems. Juxtaposed against Faulkner’s Southern Gothic literature and Sartre’s existentialism, this essay underscores a modern dialectic between spatial arrangements and anticipations of cataclysmic endings. Through a passenger-traveler account of void-encounter, I propose a reconsideration of “emptiness” through examining its broader spatio-temporal origins and implications in relation to the nuclear detonations. This perspective allows for the synthesis of the inherent paradox of this site: initially conceived from Cold War anxieties to solidify social structures, yet also harboring unpredictable and potentially mutant futures.

The participation of sanitary doctors in solving economic problems that arose during the critical period of 1917-1920 in the city of Moscow

The article is devoted to the participation of Moscow sanitary doctors in the restoration of the municipal economy of Moscow destroyed by the war in order to prevent the spread of epidemics in the difficult period of 1917–1920, when the First World War had not yet ended, there was a change in the socio-political system, dual power arose everywhere in Russia and the Civil War began. All this led to the destruction of the old way of life, and in these difficult conditions a new state was born.

ҚОҒАМДЫҚ САЯСИ ИНСТИТУТТАРЫНЫҢ ТАРИХИ ҚҰҚЫҚТЫҚ ҚАЛЫПТАСУЫ

The article will focus on the process of formation and development of laws and regulations governing the life of society. This process takes place in the history of mankind, such as diverse forms of democracy (representative, direct, multiparty), republican form of government, constitutional guarantees of the rights and freedoms of citizens, independent courts, free and transparent elections and is associated with the formation of various institutions of power, mechanisms of governance of society, human and civil rights. Socio-political institutions include such elements as the state, legislative, executive and judicial authorities, political parties, social movements and the system of rights and obligations of citizens to society. The historical legal formation of socio-political institutions reflects the evolution of the socio-political system and the formation of the rule of law. We are talking about issues related to changes in the socio-economic situation, culture and values of society, as well as the struggle for the rights and freedoms of citizens. The process of historical legal formation of socio-political institutions is an essential element of the development of society and democracy, as it contributes to the strengthening of the rule of law. It should also be noted that the process of formation of socio-political institutions is not complete and continues to this day, with changes and reforms adapted to new conditions and challenges of the time.

After Trickle Down, Kicking Down: On Jordan Peterson, Naturalizing Inequality, and Neofascist Indirect Apologetics

This paper argues that Jordan Peterson’s enthusiastic reception, including on the neofascist Right, reflects how his discourse functions as a form of indirect capitalist apologetics, which no longer obviates how the sociopolitical system produces massive inequalities, but sanctifies inequalities as natural and eternal. Part 1 frames the contention of the paper, addressing methodological issues. Part 2 establishes the understanding of indirect apologetics, drawn from Gyorgy Lukács’ account of fascist ideology as involving the following three irrationalist functions: first, ontologizing and relativizing peoples’ material, socioeconomic concerns; second, positioning the in-group as privileged by nature; and third, displacing socioeconomically mediated anxieties onto designated enemies to be combatted by a revivified, masculine culture. Part 3 shows how Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life proposes a social Darwinism (indirect apologetics, function 1), whose darker underside is authoritarian permission to ‘kick down’ on the weak, or those who would seek to ameliorate sociopolitical conditions (indirect apologetics, functions 2, 3).

Anticolonial Networks and Unbalances in Literary Journals and Bulletins: Mensagem, Présence Africaine and Black Orpheus

ABSTRACT This paper looks at the connections between the editorial projects of Mensagem (edited in Lisbon, by Casa dos Estudantes do Império, 1948–1965), Présence Africaine (Paris, France and Dakar, Senegal, from 1947) and Black Orpheus (Ibadan, Nigeria, 1957–1975). It reflects on the mobility of objects and ideas through the networks established within Africa and Europe by the negritudinists, pan-African, or anticolonial writers and intellectuals discussed in those journals and magazines. The circulations of texts, authors, and translations among those three literary projects were connected to a conception of art committed to the dignification of cultures and knowledges beyond Eurocentric conceptions. This text maps connections, circulations, and translations of printed material crosscutting colonial languages. Finally, this paper problematizes the dynamics and imbalances that characterized those publications, related to intellectual displacement and the consequences of colonial rule on the conceptual and socio-political systems.

Re-politicizing the WHO's social determinants of health framework.

Although the World Health Organization's (WHO's) framework on social and structural determinants of health and health inequities (SSDHHI) has done much to raise awareness of these determinants, it does not go far enough in considerations of politics and power. The framework has become more de-politicized since its publication, with the definition of social determinants shifting toward downstream and individualized factors. In the meantime, new research fields on legal, commercial and political determinants of health and health inequities have emerged; however, these have not become integrated adequately into broader SSDHHI frameworks. To address these challenges, we argue for a re-politicization and an expansion of the WHO's framework by including the agents who have power over shaping structural determinants and the ways they use power to shape these determinants. We also provide a more detailed conceptualization of structural determinants to facilitate research. We propose a guideline for evaluating studies according to the extent to which they point upstream versus downstream and incorporate agents and considerations of power. We then use this framework to encourage more research on associations among agents, mechanisms of power, and structural determinants; how changes in structural determinants affect power dynamics among agents; and a wider focus on structural determinants beyond laws and policies, such as broad economic and sociopolitical systems. We also urge researchers to consider societal and institutional forces shaping their research with respect to SSDHHI. Research based on this framework can be used to provide evidence for advocacy for structural changes and to build more just systems that respect the fundamental human right to a healthy life.

The Montage Concept in the Play Roar, China! (The Meyerhold State Theatre, 1926) and in Traditional Chinese Theatre

Created based on real events, the Meyerhold State Theatre play Roar, China! was of a political nature, corresponding to Meyerhold's interest in one of the areas of theatrical politics of the 1920s, associated with the genre of political review. The political nature of the play is reflected in the stage presentation of two opposing forces and two socio-political systems behind them. The expression of the contradiction between the people and the opposing sides became an important political task of the play. To achieve it, the director of Roar, China! used the montage principle in the theatre. Such a principle of montage also exists in traditional Chinese theatre; however, on stage, it appears in the form of conventionality.

Scientific and Technological Development Strategy as a New Paradigm of Socioeconomic Modernization of Russia in the Context of Global Challenges

The article analyzes the provisions of the new Scientific and Technological Development Strategy of the Russian Federation. Attention is drawn to the reasons for changing the course of the state science and technology policy. It outlines the essence of the goals, priorities and prospects of scientific and technological development of Russia and gives an assessment of the key directions of state policy in the field of scientific and technological development, as well as mechanisms and tools for their implementation. Using analytical and formal legal methods, we consider the practice of regulating the issues related to organizing the directions of strategic scientific and technological development in Russia and reveal the systemic connections in law as well features of legal acts in the sphere of Russian public relations. The author believes that thoughtful and balanced government decisions in the development of an innovative economy might play a positive role in ensuring the national security of Russia and stabilizing the sociopolitical system of the country. In turn, the dominant ideas outlined in the Strategy are a part of the mechanism for countering existential threats towards contemporary Russia and ensure its national sovereignty in the long term.

The Dilemma of Democracy in Modern Russia: Parliamentarism or Universal Civil Co-government

The civilizational choice of modern Russia has posed to our people the problem of searching for a national idea, choosing a socio-political system that ensures the survival of the Russian state in the context of the global political crisis of liberal representative democracy and armed conflict with the West. Universal civil co-government and libertarian state socialism as a popular initiative coming from the depths of the consciousness of Russian society, acts as the only guideline for state-building capable of ensuring the national path of development of the country, preserving its identity and becoming an example to other peoples.

Cross-system interactions for positive tipping cascades

Abstract. Positive tipping points are promising leverage points in social systems for accelerated progress towards climate and sustainability targets. Besides their impact in specific social systems such as energy, food, or social norms and values, positive tipping dynamics may in some cases spread across different systems, amplifying the impact of tipping interventions. However, the cross-system interactions that can create such tipping cascades are sparsely examined. Here, we review interactions across sociotechnical, socioecological, socioeconomic, and sociopolitical systems that can lead to tipping cascades based on the emerging and relevant past evidence. We show that there are several feedback mechanisms where a strategic input can trigger secondary impacts for a disproportionately large positive response, and various agents that can trigger such cascades. This review of cross-system interactions facilitates the quantification and analysis of positive tipping cascades in future studies.

Суспільно-політичний лад і економічний розвиток Етрурії у 8–3 ст. до н. е.

The purpose of the article is to highlight key issues of the socio-political system and economy of Etruscan civilization as factors influencing both its rise and decline. The research methodology is based on the use of general scientific principles: historicism, objectivity, and a systemic approach in analyzing historical processes considered in this article. Special historical methods such as descriptive, problem-chronological, historical-systemic, and comparative-historical have proven to be effective. The scientific novelty of the research is determined by the authors' attempt to comprehensively reveal the topic of the socio-political system and economy of the Etruscans in the 8th–3rd centuries BC by utilizing the achievements of foreign and domestic researchers. Conclusions. The key factors determining the might of the Etruscans were the fertility of the land and the richness of the region's natural resources. However, their socio-political structure undermined this potential as Etruscan cities existed independently from each other and did not strive to unite into a centralized state, further weakening themselves with constant internal conflicts and internecine wars. The lack of unity and the Roman military superiority ultimately led to the loss of independence for the cities, and eventually, to the complete disappearance of the Etruscan ethnic group. The rapid growth of the Etruscan economy through international trade did not contribute to the unification of Etruria into a single centralized state due to the incomplete process of dissolution of tribal relations and the Etruscans' orientation towards the Greeks, including adopting their model of state organization. The formal unification of twelve city-states into the Etruscan League was a religious confederation but did not promote their cohesion. For a long time in Etruscan society, there were only two main classes – the aristocracy, in whose interests the state apparatus operated, and the class which was to varying degrees dependent on the aristocracy. At the same time, the indistinctness of the middle class may be associated with the fact that the ancestors of the Etruscans, who according to one version of their origin came from the east, subjugated the indigenous population, turning them into dependents, which was a typical practice in the ancient world.

Socio-political dynamics in clean energy transition

A rapid and effective transition to low-carbon energy production is essential to limit climate change impacts. While the scientific community has mostly focused on research and development and techno-economic aspects, quantifying the role of public acceptability and policy in shaping emission trajectories has been much more elusive. This study investigates the coupled dynamics of nonlinear socio-political acceptance and anthropogenic CO2 emissions, with implications for climate policies and clean energy investments. Our findings show that a top-down policy approach alone may not be sufficient for effective emission cuts, highlighting the need for a multi-level strategy that combines top-down and bottom-up approaches. Additionally, opinion polarization can trigger detrimental CO2 emission oscillations when governments decide to take heavy-handed policy interventions in highly polarized socio-political systems. Delayed perception of climate change damage or abrupt reactions to extreme weather events may also significantly affect emission reduction efforts, although in the opposite direction. Integrating these socio-political dynamics into climate models can enhance our understanding of the complex interplay between human and natural systems, enabling the development of more effective and resilient mitigation strategies.

Understanding the evolution of China’s approach to digital trade: interests, ideas, and institutions

Amid economic globalisation and the rapid development of advanced technologies in recent years, the world economy has shown an increasing trend of digitalisation, whilst digital trade has become the primary pattern of international trade. Based on differences rooted in socio-political systems, as well as the current precarious geopolitical realities, governments adopt different ideas in accordance with their respective interests in the institutionalisation of digital trade. As the world’s second-largest economy and a major digital power, China’s behaviours and ideological stances attract scholarly attention and states’ concern. Whilst Western countries and scholars have criticised China’s ideas of “government intervention in data regulation” and “cyber sovereignty” applied in its existing approach to digital trade, warning that China’s approach poses a threat to Western powers’ adherence to liberalism in the international digital trade system and the idea of “free data flow” in their approaches to digital trade, there has been insufficient research into how China’s approach to digital trade has evolved over time and which ideas and interests have influenced it. To bridge this gap in the literature, this paper divides the evolution of China’s approach to digital trade over the past three decades (1993–2023) into three phases using a longitudinal approach. This research conducts qualitative content analysis using official documents, white papers, and declarations from official Chinese websites, then adopts the 3I analytical framework to analyse which ideas and interests have influenced China’s approach in each phase and how its approach to digital trade has evolved over time.

МОДЕЛІ «ДЕРЖАВИ ЗАГАЛЬНОГО ДОБРОБУТУ» ТА ЇХНІ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ

The article examines the peculiarities of the welfare state model, which has been constantly changing, transforming, having different options for implementation, going through a crisis and post-crisis development. It is determined that only the state, in the policy of the welfare state, acts as a guarantor of social rights and opportunities for its citizens. The author reveals the types of welfare models and their main characteristics that determine the peculiarities of social policy implemented by countries. It is established that the model of the “welfare state” has experienced an economic, ideological and philosophical crisis, which has led to the need to update and modernize the conceptual foundations of its implementation. The author proves that changes in the country’s social policy allow for a clear distinction between programmatic retrenchment and systematic retrenchment, i.e., reduction of social programs or reduction of social expenditure financing in the welfare state model. The author reveals the typology of models of management of the state social policy, in particular: pluralistic, corporate, Marxist and elite models. It is proved that the main social task of the state’s economic policy is “not to distribute benefits, but to ensure the conditions of freedom and independence of individuals who are able to create these benefits and take care of themselves and their families on their own”. The modern version of the socio-economic model of the “welfare state” is to create conditions that will ensure the synergy of market self-regulation and state intervention, and can be implemented in the areas of economic freedom and personal development. In addition, the areas of development of the welfare state are: risks and innovations, social solidarity, social justice, lifelong support, distribution of difficulties between generations, which is part of the concept of sustainable development. It is established that the transformation of the welfare state model leads to a change in the mechanisms and instruments for its implementation, in particular: universalization of social expenditures; policy coherence between social, economic and environmental aspects of development; search for inclusive forms of its implementation and partnership between the State, civil society and business; identification of new directions in global and regional social policy. It is established that the choice of implementing the “welfare state” model depends on the historical, socio-cultural and economic conditions prevailing in a country and is determined by the type of its socio-political system, ideological and spiritual principles, and the peculiarities of the stage of development. Key words: welfare, state, models of the welfare state, social justice, social security.

Intricacies of French engagement in Sahel with peace prospects

The Sahel region faces an extreme human security crisis with complex security challenges rooted in historical, ethnic, and geopolitical ties. Decades of armed violence and unstable socio-political systems have led to deteriorating security conditions, with crisis hotspots diversifying across the region. The mobilization of destabilizing actors has necessitated external support, yet outcomes have proven inadequate. This research explores France's engagement in the region, transitioning with dynamic policy shifts towards a more “Sahelian solutions for Sahelian problems” oriented approach. However, externally led peacebuilding exercises have fallen short due to lack of coherence, worsening conditions in the region, leading to adverse effects like the emergence of a 'coup belt'. Thus, this study aims to identify sustainable peace alternatives by investigating key questions like: How has France's role in the Sahel transformed, particularly in response to policy shifts and troop withdrawals? Why does France remain a prominent security provider despite changes in its military posture? What are the limitations and outcomes of peacebuilding processes employed in the region by various actors? How effectively can peacebuilding discourses translate into tangible security improvements for the Sahelian people? Thus, this paper aims to demystify conflict dynamics in the region, analyzing France’s evolving role in the Sahel and evaluating collaborative efforts to address security threats and promote development, empowering local actors. Additionally, it explores peacebuilding theoretically to understand Sahel's ground realities. Through a review of past interventions, it highlights limitations in fostering positive peace, offering recommendations for coherent policies and collaboration in the Sahel. In this regard, the paper explores contemporary events through peace, security, and policy lenses.

Конституционный процесс в Республике немцев Поволжья в 1920–1930-е гг.: содержание и сущность

The article examines the constitutional policy of the Soviet state in relation to the autonomous republic of Volga Germans that existed in 1924–1941 as part of the RSFSR, shows this policy as an integral part of the general national-state policy towards national minorities, to whom the Bolshevik government was granted a certain form of statehood. The characteristic of the two constitutions of the Non–Republic of 1926 and 1937 is given – as octroated, i.e. granted from above and therefore contained as much independence as allowed by the center. The state policy related to the implementation of the content of these constitutions is described. The principle of octroism unified and strictly regulated national life, giving it a rather limited place and thus allowing the authorities to quickly implement the process of integrating peoples into a new socio-political system.

Perceived social mobility and system justification predict greater well‐being, but less prosocial behaviour

AbstractIn the present research, we propose that perceptions of social mobility (PSM) are beneficial for oneself but costly to others. Supporting this idea, people who were led to think that social mobility in society is probable (vs. improbable) (Study 1a/b, N = 754; Study 3a/b, N = 938) or held this belief at a dispositional level (Study 2a/b, N = 877) showed greater endorsement of system justifying beliefs, which was related to greater happiness and life satisfaction. However, the more people perceived social mobility and justified the system, the less willing they were to help others in need, and this was especially true for those who thought the current economic system was fair and legitimate. Thus, while greater perceived social mobility is related to increased personal well‐being through justification of the sociopolitical system, it predicts less desire to help others due to increased support of the economic status quo.

Incarcerated youth and their siblings: A review of historical and current context, and future directions

AbstractThe 2020 Juvenile Residential Facility Census reports that roughly 25,000 youth in the United States (U.S.) are incarcerated—placing the United States as the leading nation in number of juveniles in correctional facilities worldwide. This paper aims to highlight an overlooked population impacted by this issue: not the incarcerated youth themselves, but their siblings. This paper first grounds historical trends, the effects of racialized sociopolitical systems on disparate rates of incarceration, and the current state of youth incarceration, with a specific focus on impacts on families. This paper reviews the literature on how families are affected by the juvenile justice system in terms of their well‐being, education, and other outcomes—drawing from the small body of research directly on siblings and hypothesizing impacts in need of further study based on families' experiences in the criminal justice system. We present historical and current issues/limitations to understanding and addressing the impacts of youth incarceration on siblings, concluding with areas of future research needed to address the impacts that a youth's incarceration has on their siblings and family.

Reflecting the Cold War in “Atomic Heart”

Introduction. The present study is devoted to the study of the influence of artifacts of the symbolic politics of the USA and the USSR on the positioning of the respective socio-political systems in modern video games. The article includes the content of the “Atomic Heart” video game studies and analysis from the point of view of the theory of social memory and symbolic politics. Methods and materials. A certain number of methods were used to solve the actual tasks in the article. In particular, case-study methods and elements of structural and comparative analysis were used. Analysis. The game “Atomic Heart” was chosen as a research case. The choice of the case is due to the high popularity of this game both within Russia and internationally, as well as the connection of the plot to the topic of the confrontation between the USSR and the United States after World War II and the presence of a wide representation of the symbolism of this conflict inside the game (up to the reproduction of real campaign materials). On the one hand, the ways of representing the USA in Soviet propaganda and their interpretation by video game developers are studied. On the other hand, the positioning of the Soviet Union by game designers and screenwriters by exploiting the images and stereotypes of perception that were formed in Western culture during the Cold War is examined. Results. The author concludes that, when forming the in-game symbols, the developers actively exploited the resource of Soviet aesthetics; however, Cold War narratives in Western mass culture works played a significant role in shaping the project’s emotional, semantic, and value content. The main reason for this decision was most likely economic, as the game was created with the expectation of generating the main profit in foreign markets as a commercial product. However, this decision actually contributed to the resuscitation of the functional qualities of the symbolic legacy of the Cold War and the use of its narratives to correct the perceptions of the target audience about the USSR and its role in the confrontation between the two blocs.

Community Service Workers’ Experiences Following Australia’s Black Summer: Contextualising Rural Service Provision

ABSTRACT The Australian Black Summer season of 2019–2020 caused widespread social, economic, and environmental impacts for affected rural communities. In this article, the authors report on a small study exploring postdisaster service provision from the perspectives of community service workers following the Australian Black Summer season. Using a qualitative, semistructured design, six community service workers were interviewed about their experiences delivering postdisaster services to affected rural communities. Three themes emerged from a thematic analysis. These themes were impacts of rurality, accounting for diversity, and the influencing policy context. The Findings underscore rurality as a context-specific characteristic intersecting with social identities in a broader sociopolitical system. Implications suggest the need to address persisting rural inequities that cause cumulative disadvantage and advocate for policy change to address service system gaps. IMPLICATIONS Structural inequities in rural communities continue to shape the experiences of residents impacted by disasters causing cumulative disadvantage. Diversity within and between neighbouring communities and population groups requires consideration of the heterogeneity of rural contexts. The policy context constrains aspects of rural service provision causing adverse impacts on affected residents’ experiences.