Sociocultural Roots Research Articles

Galicia and Donbass as Ideal models of regional identity: sociocultural roots of the confrontation between Western and Eastern Ukraine

The article examines ideal models of regional identity in Ukraine – Galicia and Donbass. It is emphasised that Ukraine, having become a sovereign state and appeared on the political map of the world in 1991, faced the problem of a pronounced mosaic of regions. Individual regions were included in Ukraine already formed as distinctive entities with stable features of culture and way of life of the population. The authors emphasise that on the territory of Ukraine there coexisted a number of territorial complexes that were rather weakly connected with each other, and their subordination to various states due to frequent changes in borders determined their complex interaction. The processes of changing the political affiliation of regions actualise the identification issue, and identity in such conditions turns into a kind of demiurge of reality and can act as the main, and sometimes the only source of meanings. The declaration of independence by Ukraine actualised historically formed contradictions, previously existing mainly latently. The article proves the existence of socio-cultural regions, unique ethno-territorial communities, creating a continuum with a clearly expressed dichotomy - Donbass and Galicia. Beginning from the first years of Ukraine's independence, the image of the new independent country as a great European power, the formation of which has always been hindered and continues to be hindered by Russia, was actively introduced into the consciousness of citizens. That is, a project was promoted based on Galician nationalism (with an emphatically Russophobic basis) and the concept of the "titular Ukrainian nation". In turn, regionalist sentiments in the Eastern Ukraine showed that regional identity can have great potential for the social integration of citizens. Since the 1990s, Donbass has often acted as an object of deliberate "otherness" on the part of the Ukrainian political and cultural elite, which was a contrasting background in the context of the practices of national construction in Ukraine. The authors conclude that the formation of Ukrainian national identity was carried out in a very contradictory manner and was characterised by a clear dominance of regional identity in the Eastern Ukraine against the background of the total promotion of the Galician project, and since 2014, its promotion has been carried out by armed means. However, the violent desire to level the regional identity of the inhabitants of the Eastern Ukraine launched the process of secession of the region - the self-proclamation of the DPR and LPR and their subsequent inclusion in the Russian Federation in 2022.

Moral attitudes towards effort and efficiency: a comparison between American and Chinese history

In some cultures, merely exerting effort is considered virtuous, even when the effort is inefficient. Our study examines how this moral attitude towards effort (relative to efficiency) has evolved historically across two distinct sociopolitical and linguistic contexts: the People’s Republic of China and the United States, using natural language processing techniques. Specifically, two formal political corpora were used—the People’s Daily (1950–2021) and the Congressional speeches for the U.S. (1873–2011). We developed dictionaries for each concept based on pre-trained word embedding models in both languages. Moral attitudes towards effort and efficiency were calculated on a year-by-year basis as the cosine similarity between the dictionaries of these concepts and an existing dictionary of morality. We benchmarked the fluctuations of moral attitude towards inefficient effort against critical historical events in the two countries. Additional time series analysis and Granger tests revealed the association and potential directionality between the evolution of moral attitude towards inefficient effort and critical socio-cultural variables such as collectivism and cultural looseness. Our research sheds light on the historical and socio-cultural roots of moralization of effort and has implications for historical psychology research on moral attitudes.

Breast ironing: A Clandestine Variant of Gender-based Violence in Africa

Breast ironing, a clandestine practice prevalent in several African countries, represents a covert form of gender-based violence (GBV) with profound implications for the physical, psychological, and social well-being of girls. The practice involves pressing or massaging a girl's developing breasts with heated objects like grinding stones and pestles to arrest breast development, thereby making the girl less attractive to men; and reducing the chances of her having sexual intercourse. This review article examines the phenomenon of breast ironing within the broader context of GBV in Africa, exploring its prevalence, sociocultural roots, health consequences and societal implications, prevention challenges and strategies for intervention. A key aspect emphasized is the need to recognize and address the potential medicalization of breast ironing, similar to efforts seen in combating female genital mutilation (FGM). Preventive strategies must include maintaining a high index of suspicion for medicalization, ensuring that healthcare providers are educated about the dangers of this practice and empowered to intervene effectively. Addressing breast ironing requires a multifaceted approach that acknowledges its sociocultural complexities, prioritizes preventive measures and leverages the power of research. By integrating these elements into comprehensive prevention strategies, we can work towards ending the harmful practice of breast ironing and safeguarding the health and well-being of African girls. Political will and action are paramount in preventing breast ironing in Africa. Leaders must prioritize legislation, allocate resources, and collaborate with stakeholders to eradicate this harmful practice and protect vulnerable individuals.

Sociopolitical Genealogy of Populist Conspiracy Theories in the Context of Hyperpolitics

The wide circulation of conspiracy narratives and their frequent intertwining with populist rhetoric is both an element of concern and a topic of intense scientific and philosophical debate. The depth of the link between conspiracy theories and populism represents a crucial issue whose comprehension can facilitate understanding their specific nature and the factors behind their diffusion in public communication. To this end, it is necessary to cultivate an interdisciplinary approach and great critical attention, eschewing monocausal explanations. This paper addresses the question of the essentially political nature of conspiracism, confronting the recent epistemological debate that, by putting the positivist paradigm aside, has sought to explore and understand the socio-cultural roots of conspiracy rhetoric, with its sceptical, antagonistic and hermetic traits. By integrating the reflections of epistemologists such as Cassam or Harris with the considerations of political scientists such as Taggart and with Schmitt’s radical reflections on politics, it is perhaps possible to reintegrate the different approaches to populist conspiracism into an overall social genealogical perspective, thanks also to recent demographic elaborations. Thus, we could ascribe the spread of conspiracism to the prevalence in societies of a hyperpolitical discursive regime, i.e., founded on the principle of opposition, without the possibility of compromise, between different groups and interests. At the basis of such Manichaeism, it is plausible to place in the first place the growing inequalities and related social disintegration, which hinder the circulation of trust and recognition between individuals and groups, thus ending up undermining democracy at its roots, as a political system that legitimises and thus peacefully regulates conflict.

Australian Football Coaches’ Tales of Mental Toughness: Exploring the Sociocultural Roots

The present study explored how three professional Australian football coaches learned and understood mental toughness. Participants shared stories regarding mental toughness through semistructured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. Creative nonfiction was employed to develop a composite story. All participants’ voices contributed equally to the narrative, which follows Sam (our composite coach) through three periods in his career: as a junior player, an elite footballer, and, finally, a coach in the professional football environment. Mental toughness was fundamentally determined by the sociocultural environment in which one was immersed. Athletes and coaches were expected to internalize dominant understandings of mental toughness and reinforce ideals and were punished if they deviated from mentally tough standards set up in their clubs. Mental toughness was defined by various values, beliefs, and norms that originated from the sociocultural environment, indicating the importance of context in understanding the roots of being mentally tough.

Biblioclasm :A Sociocultural Study of Knowledge Destruction and Prevention Through Legal Mechanisms

‘Biblioclasm: A Sociocultural Study of Knowledge Destruction and Prevention Through Legal Mechanisms’ explores the complex and multifaceted phenomenon of biblioclasm, the deliberate destruction of books and knowledge repositories, from a sociocultural perspective. This paper explores the causes of biblioclasm, its historical and modern expressions, and the function of legislative safeguards in preserving intellectual variety and cultural heritage. The study explores the sociocultural roots of biblioclasm and considers the different ideological, political, religious, or cultural motivations that people or groups may have for wanting to eliminate information. The study offers insights into the destructive forces that have affected human history by using historical examples like the burning of the Library of Alexandria and contemporary examples like the destruction of cultural artifacts by terrorist organisations. This study also emphasises the value of legislative safeguards in preventing biblioclasm and safeguarding the world's cultural heritage. It examines the efficiency of international treaties and conventions, such as the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, in averting the loss of knowledge and fostering cultural preservation. The study also looks at how domestic legal systems in particular areas or countries deal with biblioclasm. Keywords - Book Burning, Biblioclam, Iconoclasm, Destruction of Knowledge, Information Censorship, Destruction of Information

Technological Adaptation and Cultural Contradictions: An Analysis of the Socio-Cultural Roots of Teacher Anxiety in the Intelligent Era

In the era of intelligence, teachers are facing the challenges of new educational technologies, and technological anxiety has become an issue that cannot be ignored. Existing research often starts from the perspective of the technology acceptance model, neglecting the impact of diverse factors such as individual adaptation of teachers, socio-cultural environment, and cultural differences on technological anxiety. However, the emotional state of teachers will affect the effectiveness of their use of technological tools. This study attempts to apply theories of cross-cultural adaptation, postmodern social theory, Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory, social constructivism theory, and combine representative empirical research to deeply explore the socio-cultural factors and mechanisms behind the formation of teachers' technological anxiety, and propose suggestions from various social levels. From the perspective of socio-cultural contradictions, teachers' technological anxiety is mainly caused by differences in teachers' ability to adapt to technology, the impact of technology on educational practices, attitudes towards technology in different cultural backgrounds, and obstacles in the construction of technological cognition. To balance the contradiction between teachers' technological adaptation and socio-culture in the intelligent era, it is necessary to enhance the individual technological adaptability of teachers; construct a technology-friendly socio-cultural environment; pay attention to cultural differences, promote equal acceptance of technology; guide the social construction of positive technological cognition, and cultivate teachers' positive attitude and motivation for using technology.

Cultivation of Cross-cultural Awareness and Cross-cultural Ability in the New Era

As we all know, various factors are hindering people's effective cross-cultural communication. An understanding of the self, socio-cultural roots, inherent concepts and prejudices, as well as the local and global dimensions of culture, helps to be faithful to the practice of communication, but they may also be shackles that fetter people's effective communication. Personal appreciation orientation and empathy are the main factors of personal cross-cultural management ability. On this basis, the construction of cross-cultural competence needs to go through a gradual process from recognition to transcendence. The skills needed to adapt to a new culture will eventually be developed in this process. As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era, China is facing huge challenges and opportunities. Intercultural communication is increasingly frequent, and the role of intercultural communication ability is prominent. In order to make young people in the new era aware of the positive impact of cultural values and enjoy the joy of multiculturalism, it is necessary to create a cross-cultural "third space" in foreign language teaching in the new era, and achieve the goal of cultivating cross-cultural communicative competence by building a cross-cultural foreign language teaching system.

Dualistic Rethinking of the Christian Myth by Philip Pullman

Referring to a part of the Canongate project Myth, Ph. Pullman’s book The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (2010), this article examines the correlation of myth and literature, specific to twenty-first-century culture, mediated by the influence of postmodernism and mass culture. Pullman’s book is considered within a more general framework of using myth as a tool of the author’s polemic with the influential ideological trends of our time (cf. The Penelopiad by M. Atwood and her polemic with feminism). Together with the author’s essays, the novel is not only perceived as an instance of apocryphal literature, so characteristic of twentieth-century authors when referring to Christianity, but also as a document of the main ideological stance — Pullman’s anti-clericalism and atheism. The ardent polemic message, bordering on blasphemy, finds its most original expression in the character reduplication (the person of Jesus Christ is split in two). This article aims to explore the ideological and socio-cultural roots of this device, the degree of its intellectual and artistic originality, its individual author’s premises. Pullman’s work with canonical and non-canonical gospels leads him to problematise their fictionality, genre nature, and narrative structure. Onomastic statistical analysis leads the writer to put forward an artistic hypothesis about the possible reduplication of a historical character, thus modelling a counterfactual situation, by means of which not only does he question religious dogma, but also makes each of his readers feel responsible for the shape that the history of the God-man has assumed. Using the methodology of historical-literary, comparative-typological, narratological and intermedial analysis, the author of the article concludes that the dualism of the image of Jesus Christ can be traced to the problematic nature of his anthroponym, and is undoubtedly associated with the state of postmodern knowledge, with the erosion of religious dogmas within intellectual and ethical pluralism, as well as with the influence of Gnosticism and mass culture (films, comics).

Ioannikii Malynovskyi as an Enlightener of the History of Law

Aim. The purpose of the study is to research the career of Professor Ioannikii Malynovskyi in higher education, his contribution to its development, the goals of the university education. Methods. In the study several different methods were used in the system and interaction. A dialectical method, which boils down to the fact that all phenomena in society have a beginning and an end. The historical method was used to take into account historical traditions, socio-cultural roots of the state and law. A logical-semantic method was also used to help define the conceptual apparatus used in the study. Formal-legal method was used to analyse and disclose legal concepts. Results. The research showed that Malynovskyi conducted scientific researches in the chosen field and by getting acquainted with the heritage of national and world culture. The professor made considerable efforts in education to democratise higher education, in particular, by admitting women to higher education in Western Siberia. He defined the goals of university teaching: 1) to learn to acquire knowledge, the method of scientific research and, 2) to get acquainted with the current state of science. The scientist was the first to create a chronologically consistent, comprehensive subject course on the history of Rus’ law. Conclusions. Malynovskyi’s contribution to the democratisation of higher education already belongs to history, but his scientifically based recommendations on the goals of university education and means of achieving it are not without relevance today, but especially on the practical side in training future legal practitioners which are topical for today.

Genealogy of Conflict among Bone and Luwu Students in Makassar City

The phenomenon of conflict among students that have occurred recently raises several questions. Is this conflict in accordance with the specific factors of each case or has certain socio-cultural roots. If that so, why do conflicts occur more often against certain areas. Why does the conflict always recur even though reconciliation has been carried out every time the conflict occurs. This research has some purposes: firstly, finding out the social and cultural roots of conflict among Bone and Luwu students. Secondly; finding how to handle regional conflicts among students. This research is descriptive qualitative by using knowledge geneaology approach from Michel Foucault. Research data obtained through observation, in-depth interviews and documentations. The results showed that a) the phenomenon of conflict among Bone and Luwu students had socio-cultural roots that were produced in the form of internal knowledge from generation to generation. The birth of the local organization of commissariat on campus marked a period of significant discontinuity producing inter-regional conflict. In addition, the functional of regional organizations as regeneration spaces that perpetuate fanaticism; b) regional organizations need to encourage an inclusive regeneration curriculum. In addition, it is very important to carry out social and spatial engineering that allows inclusive activities to live on campus by strengthening student institutions.

Desigualdad de género y medicalización de la salud mental: factores socioculturales determinantes desde el análisis de percepciones expertas

To identify the sociocultural roots that explain the higher frequency of diagnoses of depression and/or anxiety and the prescription of psychotropic drugs in women, in order to propose a preliminary explanatory framework for the investigation of gender inequalities in mental health and its medicalization. Qualitative study with a descriptive–interpretive design, through in-depth interviews conducted in January and February 2021. Interviews were held in various cities of the Basque Country, Barcelona and Madrid. 12 experts in gender and mental health from the clinical (Primary Care and Mental Health), academic and associative fields. Intentional sampling, following the snowball technique, until covering the diversity of previously identified profiles and the saturation of the discourse. An analysis of thematic content was carried out starting from a critical-realistic epistemological perspective. The main dimensions to explain gender inequalities in diagnoses of depression or anxiety and prescription of psychoactive drugs were: 1) the material and symbolic subordination of women, 2) the role of «psi» sciences in the pathologization of the feminine identity, 3) the epistemological and androcentric biases of biomedicine, and 4) the active agency of women in medicalization processes. The reduction of gender inequalities in the diagnoses and prescription of psychotropic drugs will require joint intervention at the clinical, community and structural levels that, from a feminist perspective, manage to reverse the socioeconomic, symbolic and epistemic vulnerability of women.

The shock value of infantilism: AB/DL practices in porn, documentaries and public perception

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the niche pornography produced by and addressed to the ABDL (Adult Baby/Diaper Lover) community, comparing it to documentaries and other categories of porn, in order to understand the sociocultural routes and roots of AB/DL practices and to inscribe such a community in broader sociocultural trends. Through a phenomenological analysis of said media and empirical online research, the article questions the stigma associated with AB/DL, arguing that, while the eroticization of childhood is a constant of Western culture, the most shocking aspect of AB/DL sexual fantasies resides in the pleasure associated with regression and passivity. This is culturally perceived as different according to gender binarism. The second part of the article explores, therefore, the ways in which AB/DL fantasies challenge normative gender roles, and argues that their study might even have important implications in the conceptualization of sexuality and especially of sexual identities.

Irakskij opyt mezharabskoj integracii: mezhdu teoriej i praktikoj

The problem of the inter-Arab integration, the important component of which is the concept of the Arab unity, has deep historical and socio-cultural roots and is closely connected to the history of the emergence of modern statehood in the Arab world. The article discusses the main phases of the inter-Arab integration, touches upon the specific features of each of these phases, along with analyzing some of the most significant unification projects. There is a special focus on the concept of the Arab unity based on the case of one of the leading Arab countries, Iraq, in this article. It is noted that during the reign of the Baath Party in Iraq (1963, 1968-2003) the concept of Arab unity rose to become the state policy. But under the influence of various objective and subjective factors it endured significant evolution - from full unification and federation to cooperation within the frameworks of sub-regional alliances narrower in their scope.

China's imaginary of ecological civilization: A resonance between the state-led discourse and sociocultural dynamics

The field of science, technology and society (STS) calls for greater geographical diversity that draws attention to ‘the rich mosaic of non-Western cultures.’ This perspective provides cultural insights into the construction of the imaginary of ecological civilization in China. From the lens of sociotechnical theory, this perspective presents the discourses and practices constitutive of ecological civilization. We argue that ecological civilization operates as an imaginary that builds on both state-led environmental narratives and sociocultural traditions. In particular, the Chinese perception of human-nature relationships, represented by the principle of “Unity of Man and Nature,” constitutes a key cultural feature in the collective vision of a desirable life of Chinese people. The perspective piece shows how sociocultural roots might mediate or antagonize relations between national and community aspirations. Moreover, ecological civilization extends beyond any single sector or technology, and the unified diversity projected by the imaginary is a co-production of local knowledge with the normativity embedded in ecological civilization.

Ovwuvwe Festival Songs: Context and Performance

This article focuses on the context and performance of Ovwuvwe festival songs performed during the Ovwuvwe festival celebration among the Abraka people in Delta State, Nigeria. The songs, used at different stages of the festival, serve entertainment and ritualistic purposes. With its deep socio-cultural roots, the songs’ text gives the audience entertaining mental pictures that convey meanings simply and effectively. This article enumerates the various stages of the songs’ performance during the festival. It further examines the role of the songs in the festival culture. Oral interviews were the primary source for data collection. Secondary sources included publications and recordings. Unstructured research questions formed the basis for the study. A brief note on the Ovwuvwe festival and the Abraka people is provided, and the texts of some of the festival songs were transcribed and translated into English for analysis and discussion.

Renewable Energy in Russia: System Analysis of Barriers

Considering the current ecological situation in the modern world, the quality of life depends not so much on a stable energy supply as on an environmentally friendly way of producing and consuming energy, which has turned social and research attention to the opportunities of renewable energy systems (RES). In spite of the vital necessity of transitioning to environmentally friendly energy production, the implementation and development of renewable energy technologies face a range of barriers: socio-cultural, technological, economic, institutional and environmental. To overcome these barriers, the authors of this article use the systems approach to gain deeper understanding of RES interconnection and interdependence. They apply STEEP analysis for classification and qualitative analysis of RES development barriers in Russia. The article proposes the analytical methodology, which reveals system specifications of the national RES development barriers and predicts the chain reaction of overcoming particular barriers. Using this methodology, the authors identify the main socio-cultural roots of RES development barriers in Russia: state control of the development of the energy sector, the political stake in hydrocarbons and the lack of consistent policies on RES development. The authors’ suggested analysis methodology is appropriate for identifying the root problems in energy socio-economic systems and for effective decision-making process in the energy sector.

A Historical Perspective from Folklorist Henry Glassie: Roots of Folk Songs in Music Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the sociocultural roots of folk songs from the perspective of renowned folklorist Henry Glassie. Dr. Henry Glassie holds the rank of Professor Emeritus at Indiana University, where he previously served on the faculty for the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology. Primary sources included Glassie’s archived collection of folk song transcriptions, recordings, and field notes from the Appalachian region between 1961-1967, housed at the Archives of Traditional Music at Indiana University. A total of 1,665 titles from elementary general music sources were cross-referenced with Glassie’s collection, 26 of which appeared in the archived account. Two oral history interviews with Glassie revealed that folk songs that are commonly used in elementary general music classrooms have historical roots of which teachers may be unaware. The songs in this study raise ethical and moral questions regarding their use in the general music classroom and suggest that teachers carefully research folk songs and their related meanings.

Sobre la imposición del sistema de género y la transfobia: historias de niñxs creativxs con el género y jóvenes trans*

La situación de niñxs, adolescentes y jóvenes con expresiones o identidades de género no tradicionales comporta un problema social dentro de entornos educativos debido a la alta presencia de casos de transfobia dentro de escuelas e institutos en España. A partir de entrevistas, redacciones, líneas de vida y mapas corporales de niñxs creativos con el género y jóvenes trans* andaluces, en este artículo identificamos formas de violencias que son claves para entender la raíz socio-cultural de la violencia transfóbica. Además, profundizamos en las formas de contestación y transformación social y política que niñxs y jóvenes desarrollan para resistir al sistema de sexo y género.

STRATEGIC THINKING: SOCIO-CULTURAL FRAMES AND CONTEXTS

The aim of the article is to reconceptualize the term/phenomenon “strategic thinking”. First of all, it discusses socio-cultural roots and contexts of strategic thinking. Although strategic thinking rests on the neuro-psychical thinking mechanisms of an individual, it is a peculiar process as it is a competence mastered through practical and educational activities (in a specific socio-cultural context), which requires an appropriate conceptual-intellectual training. The article is of the viewpoint-conceptual nature. On the basis of the review and critical analysis of the theoretical interpretations of strategic thinking, the author of this article presents his own system of defining, structuring or enumerating the basic socio-cultural frames. The main result is the conceptualization of strategic thinking culture. Owing to the increasing worldwide significance of strategic thinking – in various areas of human activity – the considerations included in the article may considerably contribute to the progress of the universal theory of strategy. The content can facilitate the development of human perception of reality and their effective performance within the reality.