Socio-political Theory Research Articles

THE DANCE OF JUSTICE: A RAWLSIAN PERSPECTIVE IN SRIVIDYA NATARAJAN’S THE UNDOING DANCE

This article delves into the role of Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance, as a transformative force for Kalyani, the protagonist in the novel The Undoing Dance (2018). It investigates how Bharatanatyam serves not only as a form of artistic expression but also as a means of transcending caste boundaries and societal expectations. By applying the concept of the difference principle, a framework within socio-political theory, the study examines how caste-based discrimination is confronted and reimagined through the medium of dance. Natarajan's narrative, which alternates between past and present, underscores the significance of Bharatanatyam in conveying Kalyani’s inner turmoil, struggles, and ultimate empowerment. Kalyani’s journey is marked by her revaluation of her Devadasi roots—a lineage steeped in both cultural richness and societal stigmatisation. As she reconnects with her heritage, she gains a deeper understanding of the matriarchal traditions within her community and begins to reinterpret them through her dance. This exploration leads to a redefined sense of identity and womanhood, where Bharatanatyam becomes a vessel for Kalyani’s self-expression and liberation. This study argues that classical dance, particularly Bharatanatyam, provides a unique lens through which the complexities of the Indian caste system can be viewed, offering Devadasi women in South India a powerful tool for reclaiming their narratives and challenging the entrenched social hierarchies. Through dance, Kalyani not only reclaims her heritage but also transforms her pain and suffering into a powerful statement of resilience and identity.

America Has Fallen: Critical Race Theory & Low-Intensity Conflict

This article aims to enlighten the business community on socio-political theory, specifically Critical Theory (CT) and Critical Race Theory (CRT), which evolved from Marxist principles. While CT focuses on economics, CRT applies a Marxist lens to race, gender, and intersectionality. The research discussion transitions from theory to application of Low Intensity Conflict (LIC) as defined by U.S. military doctrine. LIC Phase 1 involves organizing, educating, and infiltrating government; Phase 2 includes initiating low level violence and propaganda, expanding to insurrection and guerrilla attacks, and consolidating power through increased attacks and political activities. With Phases 1 and 2 completed, Phase 3 was initiated with an attempted assassination of former President Trump, and is exacerbated by unchecked immigration of military-aged men and fentanyl proliferation. This study advocates for counter-insurgency measures and emphasizes the urgent need for politicians to uphold their constitutional oaths and safeguard the nation.

Aberrant Shakespeare: Ron Athey’s Excesses, Bataille’s Solar Anus, Becomings-Macbeth

l In this article we argue that Ron Athey’s performance Solar Anus is an aberrant adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in which the parodic world of abundant excess that the witches catalyze is redemptively captured and transformed through the playful, androgynous, and excessive performance of Athey, who fulfills the witches’ prophecy and continues to live on sovereignly as both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Athey is a Los Angeles-based performance artist who practices what is sometimes called “extreme performance,” exploring the limits of aesthetics and the capabilities of the human body to express both beauty and pain. His work Solar Anus draws on the works of Georges Bataille, especially his short essay-poem, Solar Anus, as well as Paul Molinier, a queer French painter and visual artist who worked on the fringes of the surrealist movement. We work through the combined sociopolitical theory, performance aesthetics, and research methodology of transversal poetics and engage especially with the theories and explorations of aesthetics and sovereignty by Georges Bataille and Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari in order to explore the ways in which Athey is capable of realizing the witches’ prophecy of sovereignty without being destroyed by the parodic world that they create and inhabit. Alongside the concepts of sovereignty, we examine how Bataille’s ideas of parody, sacrifice, and excess offer new ways of understanding the world of Macbeth and how excess and sovereignty both function within its porous borders.

Концепт terrenus в трактатах блаженного Августина Аврелия «Об истинной религии» и «О Книге Бытия буквально»

This article offers a contextual study of the concept of terrenus in the treatises of Blessed Aurelius Augustine "On True Religion" and "On the Book of Genesis Literally". Based on the analysis of the use of the adjective "terrenus" in the above treatises, the author concludes that, although all the basic provisions of the concept have already been set out in the treatise "On True Religion", in the treatise "On the Book of Genesis Literally" they, appearing in a new context, clarify some provisions implicitly contained already at an early stage of the development of this concept. Thus, in the sociopolitical theory of St. Augustine, a number of key concepts and terms are highlighted, one of the most important is the noun "civitas", which has several semantic meanings — "commune", "community" or "city", and the corresponding definitions associated with it are Dei — "Divine", caelestis — "heavenly", or diaboli — "diabolical" and, of direct interest, terrena — "earthly".

Концепция устойчивого развития в теории левого альтерглобализма: теоретические источники и ограничения

The concept of sustainable development has garnered significant attention in political discourse, particularly within left-wing alterglobalism. This article examines the formation of the concept of sustainable development and its key tenets through the lens of Marxist and neo-Marxist political theory within the framework of left-wing alterglobalism. Special emphasis is placed on the specificity of the left-wing alterglobalism position on issues pertaining to the possibility and necessity of sustainable development worldwide. A historical overview of the development of the concept under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) is provided. It is noted that the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a refined version of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were in effect until 2015. The complexity of implementing the SDGs due to the differing initial levels of states is discussed. The specificity of the theory of sustainable development in left socio-political theory is defined, along with the prospects for its utilization in shaping the paradigm of development in post-capitalist society. Despite its theoretical appeal, the implementation of sustainable development faces numerous challenges, including political resistance, vested interests, and unequal power dynamics among nations. The heterogeneity of states’ development levels complicates efforts to achieve global consensus and cooperation in pursuing sustainability goals. In conclusion, the concept of sustainable development within left-wing alterglobalism offers a compelling vision for addressing the interconnected challenges of environmental degradation, social injustice, and economic inequality. By grounding sustainability efforts in Marxist and neo-Marxist principles, this perspective provides a robust framework for envisioning a post-capitalist society based on democratic governance, social equity, and ecological resilience.

“The A.M. Kovalev’s Conception of ‘Just Society’ in the Context of Current Political and Philosophical Discussions”

In modern political and theoretical discourse, the concept of a ‘ just society’ is usually perceived as a normative idea that expresses the notion of what society “should be”. Nowadays, social justice as a political slogan is becoming an increasingly universal requirement made by social movements, political parties and groups regarding the ways of social organization and its functions. Regardless of the different interpretations, it is inseparable from other related concepts, such as ‘equality’, ‘ freedom’ and many others. It also represents the projection of various concepts of justice on social relations in individual countries, regions, and, finally, throughout the world (‘global justice’ on the scale of all mankind). Comparative analysis of the A.M. Kovalev’s concept of a just society and the main trends in the interpretation of this idea in modern Western socio-political theory indicate that the methodology developed by an outstanding Russian scientist can rightfully be considered one of the most promising. Its distinguishing feature is the creative interpretation of a set of ideas about a just society, dating back to the early works of Marx. It is combined with the analysis of the ideas of the Western European Enlightenment, the philosophy of Kant, Hegel and Fichte, the evolution of the social philosophy of the Frankfurt School and other equally influential areas of modern political theory (R. Aron and others). An analysis of modern political theories shows that the dyad “ justice / state” constitutes the ontological core of the political and philosophical discourse, in the structure of which the ideas of Marxism play an important role. In the A.M. Kovalev’s theory of a just society, the various assessments of the heuristic potential of Marxism acquire additional incentives, opening the way to new creative discussions. The article is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of A.M. Kovalev.

Social Control of Everyday Life and Political Construction of (Montenegrin) Identity

Abstract The research problem is the influence of global crisis on identity and daily life of Montenegrin people. The subject is the political construction of (Montenegrin) identity, as a result of social control on everyday life, where identities are born. For the purpose of researching this relation, the starting point is the explanatory potential of J. Habermas’s contemporary socio-political theory about the colonization of the lifeworld by an expansionist logic of the political-economic constellation (system). Scientific goals are: 1) description of the colonization of the lifeworld and the construction of (Montenegrin) identity, as an indicator of social crisis (in Montenegro); 2) understanding the causal factors (causes, motives) of (Montenegrin) identity construction; 3) generic explanation of the political construction of (Montenegrin) identity, through strategies, policies, educational and media influences. Social goals refer to: 1) expansion of the fund of knowledge about contemporary (Montenegrin) society and its problematic aspects; 2) pragmatic explanations of the problem of social control of everyday life through the re-actualization of socio-political concepts; 3) indication of guidelines for possible changes for the better in the sphere of everyday life in the foreseeable future. The methodology concerns the main hypothesis that by constructing the identity of people in the post-industrial society, social control of everyday life is realized. Auxiliary hypotheses are: 1) Identity construction takes place through strategies, policies, educational and media influences as segments of social control aimed at managing social resources from the local to the global level. 2) With instruments of social control, a desirable system of values of individuals and social groups is established with the aim of preventing, delaying, compensating, and transforming their potential subversive action (undermining the system from within). The independent or causal variable is the social control of everyday life, while the dependent or consequential variable is the constructed identity. Making final findings will be facilitated by the synthesis, inductive and deductive methods of reasoning, as well as the method of comparison with a case study. The results refer to the achieved goals and the general conclusion that the system’s power logic reduces the sphere of free and open communication of individuals, thus their identity becomes a place of permanent crisis due to the threat of the meaning of everyday life within which identity is formulated. This crisis is the reason that identities will remain endangered until the question of alienation of life is raised, in accordance with the capitalist imperatives of unlimited economic growth and consumption, and instrumental-rational interaction. As a reaction to the system dominance, the forces of resistance are strengthening, in the form of new alternative grassroots social movements, such as Civil Movement United Reform Action (URA), in Montenegro, which is pro-European green political party of the left center and social-liberal ideological provenance.

Taxation and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria

The study examined the linkage between taxation and socio-economic development in Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive research design using secondary data collected from various issues of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Planning, Research and Statistics Department, National Bureau of Statistics and Federal Inland Revenue Service bulletins. The study focused on a five year time series study from 2017 – 2021. The study was anchored on the socio-political theory of taxation and the study methodology involved the review of extant literature on two groups of taxes: oil and non-oil taxes and how they are used to bring about socio-economic development proxied by GDP expenditure at constant purchase prices. The review revealed that tax revenue had positive relationships with socio-economic development, but they are grossly inadequate to meet up with GDP expenditures. The study concluded that tax revenues are under generated in relation to crude sales. It was recommended that among others that the government should engage in a complete re-organization of tax administrative machinery to reduce poor documentation of tax receipts, incidence of tax evasion and avoidance to the barest minimum to improve tax revenue and bring more taxpayers into the tax radial in order to enhance socio-economic development.

THE IDEOLOGY OF THE UKRAINIAN WOMEN'S MOVEMENT AT THE TURN OF THE NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH CENTURIES

Abstract
 The purpose of the study is to identify the peculiarities of the ideology of the Ukrainian women's movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, analyze the relationship between feminism and the classical ideologies of nationalism, liberalism, and socialism.
 Methodology. The study uses general scientific and special historical (historical-genetic, historical-comparative, historical-systemic) research methods that allowed to reveal the peculiarities of the ideology of the Ukrainian women's movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, to determine the influence of Western European feminist thought on the Ukrainian public space. The methodology of intellectual history and gender studies is also used.
 Scientific novelty. The paper generalizes and refines the definition of the concept of «feminism» as a socio-political theory, demonstrates the interconnection between the ideology of feminism and socio-political currents of nationalism, liberalism, and socialism. It highlights the priority of national-patriotic ideals in the Ukrainian women's movement over gender issues, influenced by the colonial oppression of Ukrainian lands.
 Conclusions. Summarizing the research on the ideology of the Ukrainian women's movement at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the importance of considering feminism in the context of national and gender studies is emphasized. The study underscores the relationship between feminism and nationalism, as well as points out the similarity in the perception of feminism in third-world countries and Ukrainian lands. Liberal feminism played a key role in the development of the First Wave of feminism in Ukrainian lands at the end of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century. The ideas of liberal feminism found expression in the analytical works of Natalia Kobrynska, defining the direction of Ukrainian feminist ideology. Supporters of socialist feminism at the end of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century, such as Mykhailo Pavlyk and Ivan Franko, argued that the development of society and the resolution of women's issues are linked to changes in social structure. Further study of the influence of classical ideologies on the formation of Ukrainian feminist ideology at the end of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century is crucial.

Ideas, Ideologies and Public Consent: Introducing the Issue

The concept of consent is essential for every society society, affecting almost all its spheres - from everyday life to socio-political bases. Therefore, it cannot be considered accidental that both the idea itself and the diverse directions of its interpretation, dating back to the era of early modernity, today constitute one of the most priorities, intellectually saturated segments in modern socio-political theory. It is impossible to deny the appeal of the doctrine of personal consent (and the parallel thesis that no government is legitimate unless it acts without the consent of the governed). It has had a great influence on the political institutions of many modern states and has been a major factor in the direction that political theory has taken since 1600. In the second half of the 20th century, two approaches prevailed in political theory, within the framework of which the process of formation of the consensus tradition: personal and historical ones. The most impact to the theory is made by criticism of the unilinear model of consent analysis in the works of George Klosko, analysis by R.D. Bernstein of the problem of consent in the form of critical remarks on the philosophical position of R. Rorty, the concept of socialist “consent strategy” developed in the 1980s by E. Laclau and Sh. Mouffe, the controversy of the Canadian political philosopher James Tully with neo-Marxist theorists, the philosophical interpretation of consent by Jürgen Habermas as part of his analysis of the “rationalization paradox” etc. This theoretical and methodological frame becomes a basis for the thematic volume, where the articles on the history of socio-political thought are followed by the chapter devoted to the problems of Russia between cleavages and social harmony. Russian problems are blended with an international context, and the issue ends with an attempt to understand the ideological attitudes of modern youth.

Qabyo

Maandeeq, or she-camel, is the most recognizable and dominant metaphor for the Somali nation-state, a symbol conceived and institutionalized through classical pastoral poetry. This article examines how Somali poets of the twentieth century made use of another metaphor to consider the anxieties of independence and the founding paradoxes of the Somali state: the metaphor of qabyo. Unlike the binary offered by the stable figure of maandeeq—she’s either dead or alive, stolen or reclaimed, shared or contested—qabyo attends to the incongruent, overlapping, and cyclical forms of ruination and repair that subtend the makings of the Somali state. Moreover, by contesting the determinism of failure narratives and instead focusing on the daily labor required to conduct a life in the ruins of history, qabyo poetics, I argue, advances a sociopolitical theory of the Somali subject as one who must learn to survive ruinous time.

A Study Of Naqsh Faryadi In The Context Of "Spiral Of Silence Theory"

The spiral of silence theory is a political science theory proposed by the German political scientist Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann. According to the spiral of silence theory, individuals will be more confident and outward with their opinion when they notice that their personal opinion is shared throughout a group. But if the individual notices that their opinion is unpopular with the group they will be more inclined to be reserved and remain silent. During the mid-20th century, there was a series of social oppressions everywhere in the subcontinent which resulted in a terrible culture of silence, During this turbulent time Faiz Ahmad Faiz a renovated urdu poet joined The Indian progressive writer’s movement and gradually started raising his voice against social oppression, In his poetry different gradations can be observed in this regard, This article will present an in-depth analysis of these graduations under the light of upper mentioned socio-political theory.

The concept of national security in the light of Aristotle’s philosophy of Politics

Purpose: to present the main assumptions of Aristotleʼs Politics through the prism of the category of national security. Also, to reflect on the characteristics of political systems presented by Aristotle as the basis for the search for the essence of the functioning of the state, as well as an attempt to describe the perfect state (politeia).
 Method: the research was conducted using the following general scientific and special methods: the historical method during the study of the development of the political systems by Aristotle in chronological order; the method of analysis and synthesis related to the functioning of the state by Aristotle, abstract-logical method – for formulating theoretical generalizations and research conclusions.
 The results of the study: in the history of socio-political thought, Politics should be perceived as an important work that was the first to scientifically deal with the entire spectrum of issues of internal and external politics, tasks faced by rulers and citizens, goals of the state, and factors of its stability and development.
 Theoretical implications: deepened unique perception of the state, in line with the spirit of antiquity, in which the boundary between politics and ethics is not clearly drawn. It really matters, as seen from the current approaches to the roles the state is able or supposed to play. That’s why it is worth treating the research as a good starting point for analyzing the tasks of the state, including national security.
 Практична цінність дослідження: the results of the research can be considered, while analyzing the socio-political theory of Aristotle, as a supporter of the democratic system - looking for inspiration and parallel solutions for the political culture of current liberal democratic societies.
 Papertype: theoretical.

기업의 환경적 노력과 재무적 성과의 관계

Environmental disclosures entail costs, yet increasingly, large listed firms are making higher and better quality disclosures. The purpose of this study is to examine the link between a firm’s environmental effort and financial performance. Specifically, this study investigates the direction of the casual relationship between the environmental disclosures and return on sales in logistics industry. Drawing on literature streams in socio-political theory, legitimacy theory, resource-based view, and voluntary disclosure theory, this study develops and tests the Ganger casualty model of relationships between constructs that form the basis of the proposed theories. Conducting an empirical study of 154 Korean listed firms in logistics industry, this study provides empirical evidences for the direction of the casual relationship between environmental effort and financial performance. Empirical results of this study show that past profitability drives current environmental disclosures. Further analysis reveals that firms that make higher financial performance have higher environmental effort. These findings are consistent with the voluntary disclosure theory and the resource based view of the firm, suggesting that firms with greater economic resources make more extensive environmental disclosures which yield net positive profitability.

GENERAL HISTORICAL IMPERATIVES OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND RUSSIAN CIVILIZATION

The article is a summary of the author’s report on May 19, 2022 at the round table “Russia and the World: between East and West” within the framework of the permanent seminar “Global Factors of Modern Public Policy” organized by the Departments of Public Policy and Russian Politics of the Faculty of Political Science of Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Academy of Political Science. The various interpretations of the concept of civilization in the scientific literature are analyzed, the conclusion is substantiated that it is necessary to combine the principles and mechanisms of interaction of the immutable logic of the general historical imperatives and the requirements of the domestic political tradition. The task of developing a socio-political theory of space, characteristics and features of the civilizational path of Russia is identified as urgent priorities.

Interpretation of Communism and Post-Communist Transformations in Russia: Modern Theoretical Discussions

The analysis of discussions on various aspects of the evolution of the modern state, the specifics of post-communist transformations and the role that Marxism and the tradition of radical socialist thought can play in the near future in their search for a way out of the crisis generated by the agony of the neoliberal global world order. As a starting point for the analysis, theoretical articles published in the second edition of the collection Communism, Anticommunism, Russophobia in post-Soviet Russia. 2nd ed., Add. / Auth.: P.P. Apryshko et al. - Moscow: World of Philosophy, Algorithm, 2021 (607 p.) were selected. A comparative analysis of the polemical works of domestic scientists, political theorists and philosophers with those discussions that for many decades have been conducted by their colleagues abroad clearly indicates that today none of the existing ideologies, as well as the paradigms of economic and socio-political theory, can pretend to be the only recourse. The experience of recent decades clearly excludes the very possibility of transforming the economy and society on the basis of a certain universal synthetic model. In post-communist Russia, the heat of political passions, which stimulates the extreme polarization of political programs for overcoming the crisis, also hinders the achievement of agreement and the search for a solution acceptable to all.

Constructivist approach and relevant alternatives within the modern theory of ideology: problems and solutions

The subject of this research is the history of the development of the concept of “ideology” in the European sociopolitical theory. Emphasis is placed on constructivism as the general concept that incorporates a range of methodological approaches towards tracing the evolution of the phenomenon of ideology in the XX –XXI centuries. The study of the latest methodologies is part of the project of returning the concept of ideology to the modern sociopolitical discourse, which complies with the current standards of political knowledge. The used methodological approaches employ cultural-historical, comparative, critical-analytical and narrative methods. Special attention is given to narrative approach as an object of study and method used in the course of research. The conclusion is made on the dependence of certain aspects of the concept of ideology depend on the cultural-historical circumstances of its origin (i.e. the specificity of the Western European civilizational context). Substantiation is given to the special role of the principle of individualism as a fundamental characteristic, which distinguishes between the Western European ideology and its Russian alternative. The author determines the theoretical source that has the capacity for the development of relevant (corresponding to the theoretical inquiry of the XXI century) Russian project of ideology. The aforementioned statements define the scientific contribution and novelty of this work.

The Socio-Political Theory of Crises (SPTC)

Crises are difficult to predict with the most recent and notable examples being the failure of the profession to see the 2007-2008 Credit Crunch. The failure of quantitative approaches to crises is due to the relative non-comparability of crises when using large-N methods that leave out context – social, political, and institutional. This led to a search for an alternative approach. The theory development research strategies of abduction/retroduction were used to develop a process-oriented theory of financial crises. The process of how a crisis unfolds happens through a 4-step macro-level process: Social, Trigger, Disruption and Psychological. Embedded within the Socio-Political Theory of Crises (SPTC) are three mechanisms: macro-level, disruption, and micro-level. This theory, which now has at its core the social, political, and institutional context, can be used to understand and to explain a variety of financial crises and to compare crises based on the process of how they unfold.

Bernard Bolzano’s philosophical conception of education from a modern standpoint

Aim. The aim of the article is to analyse Bernard Bolzano’s philosophico-educational approach, given the importance of his pedagogical legacy for further progress in the field of education and training. Methods. The research uses methods of historico-philosophical reconstruction (to determine the foundations and features of Bolzano’s pedagogico-philosophical work), interpretation (to characterise the still relevant ideas of the thinker in the field of education) and critical analysis (to assess the significance of Bolzano’s legacy from the standpoint of modern educational theory and to point out what remained out of the researchers’ attention). Results. The study showed that Bolzano’s pedagogical ideas were not only in demand in the context of European culture of the early XIX century, but also proved relevant today, especially given the need for harmonious personal development, finding sources of intrinsic motivation in students and improving their logical thinking skills, the importance of the spiritual qualities of the teacher and – in general – the assistance of the state in the direction of the progress of education as the most effective means of qualitative change in society. Conclusion. Bernardo Bolzano’s philosophical conception of education was strongly influenced by religion, the ideas of the late Enlightenment and the late Josefinist. This conception was an integral part of his socio-political theory. Bolzano attached great importance to the study of philosophy and the acquisition of logical skills in education. He considered writing textbooks to be one of the cornerstones of the educational process. This made it possible to intensify communication between teachers and students, to gradually involve everyone in education, and thus to promote social progress in general.

Social workers, critical theory and the political sphere: addressing political misrecognition and marginalisation in the Republic of Ireland

Despite the traditional social justice mandate of social work, and critical and radical theoretical traditions that pursue egalitarian and just societies, the engagement of the social work academy with Irish politics has been underwhelming at best. While there are abstract analyses that address sociopolitical theory and ideological wrongdoings related to neoliberalist rationality, attention in social work academia to the nuts and bolts of everyday political life in Ireland, such as democratic party politics and electoral representation, leaves much to the imagination. This article therefore pursues a more grounded reading of social justice in Irish politics for social workers. The supporting proposition is that to effectively interject in political misrecognition and marginalisation, social workers must understand the present political state of play. Towards achieving this, Axel Honneth’s theory of recognition aids thematic critical commentary on the literature.