State Capitalism Research Articles

EXPLORING CLIMATIC PATTERNS AMONG BRAZILIAN CAPITALS

This study aims to examine the patterns of climatic variables and delineate climatically homogeneous regions among Brazilian capitals using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and clustering techniques. Annual climate data from 26 state capitals and the Federal District of Brazil were analyzed, covering the period from 1958 to 2022, representing different regions of the country. The PCA results revealed that the first three principal components accounted for 91.8% of the total data variability. Four climatically homogeneous regions were identified: the East region, the Northeast region, the North region and another region that comprises the rest of the country. Cluster Analysis (CA) also confirmed the formation of four homogeneous groups among municipalities based on climatic variables. The analysis of spatial distribution showed significant variations in annual climate variables between Brazilian capitals, with maximum values observed for maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation, wind speed, relative humidity, evapotranspiration and soil moisture. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of climate variability in Brazilian capitals and provide a basis for future studies on climate dynamics and regional impacts. Keywords: Principal Component Analysis, Cluster Analysis, Multivariate Analysis; Biplot

Política social de Assistência Social e a garantia de direitos sociais: entre ambiguidades e contradições

The field of Social Policies, with special attention to Social Assistance, continues to be a subject of investigation in the peripheral areas of capitalist centers. This study aims to explore the contradictions present in the interaction between social assistance policies and social rights. To this end, it adopts an approach that conceives of social policy as a process influenced by the historical conditions of capitalism and class struggles. It highlights the determining role of the state and capitalism in the formulation of social policies and their incorporation into the realm of social rights, especially in the Brazilian context, where only since the 1988 Federal Constitution has social assistance become a state policy, assuming responsibility for guaranteeing and providing social rights and social protection. The aim of the article is to problematize the perspective of rights in the Brazilian capitalist state and in the National Social Assistance Policy (PNAS), proposing an analysis of a materialist-historical-dialectical nature. The text adopts the structure of a theoretical essay, beginning with a reflection on the capitalist state and social policies, and then addressing the interrelationship between the state, law and social policies, characterized by contradictions inherent to the preservation and perpetuation of capitalism. The conclusion is that the reasons for the state's difficulty in guaranteeing social rights lie in the fact that the relationship between the state, law and social policies is marked by contradictions, since social assistance seeks to guarantee rights in the legal system, which, in turn, are also geared towards the maintenance and reproduction of capitalism.

The cost of obesity and related NCDs in Brazil: An analysis of hospital admissions, disability retirement benefits, and statutory sick pay

ObjectivesThis study analyses the prevalence of overweight/obesity in Brazil, and its costs regarding hospital admissions (HA), disability retirement benefits (DRB), and statutory sick pay (SSP) associated with obesity-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Study designTime-series study. MethodsThis study analyses data from the VIGITEL system (2010–2019) to calculate the body-mass index (BMI) of adult residents in Brazil's state capitals. Data on HA, DRB, and SSP were obtained from Brazil's SIH/SUS and AEPS Infologo systems. Pearson's correlation and linear regression models were applied. The study selected 23 diseases of the International Classification of Disease (ICDs) belonging to chapters C; E; I; and K. Cost values in BRL were deflated using IPCA. ResultsThe results showed a significant increase in overweight and obesity rates in Brazil, with BMI rising by 0.09 kg/m2 annually. Regression analysis revealed that each 1-point increase in the average BMI of the population is associated with an increase of 81,772 (BRL 237.51 million/year) new HA per year, 5541 (BRL 18.8 million/year) new DRB granted per year, and 42,360 (BRL 131 million/year) new SSP per year. Also, every 1 % increase in the share of the Brazilian population with obesity is associated with an increase of 16,973 (BRL 48.8 million/year) new HA per year, 1202 (BRL 3.97 million/year) new DRB granted per year, and 8686 (BRL 26.8 million/year) new SSP per year. Regressions for deflated values showed lower significance, suggesting a strong impact of inflation on health costs in Brazil. ConclusionsObesity prevalence in Brazil implies high direct and indirect costs for the Brazilian government, especially considering circulatory system diseases.

China, geoeconomics and the ‘new’ state capitalism

In contributing to a critical examination of geoeconomics, this article challenges the prevalent phenomenon of ‘geoeconomic othering’ ingrained within certain mainstream International Relations (IR) analyses. Focusing on the case of state capitalism in China, we argue that in typical orientalist fashion, some predominantly Anglo-American analyses tend to disproportionally emphasise China’s distinctiveness at the expense of glaring similarities with Western polities, and use this construct to normalise the neoliberal project and the geopolitical behaviours of the Global North. The task of a critical geoeconomics is to unpack these geographical imaginaries, to transcend essentialising depictions of the state and to explore the dialectic entanglements between state and corporate power.

Socialism, Democracy, Bureaucracy, and Umbrella Organizations

Abstract Among the dilemmas faced by labor, socialist, and other movements of the subaltern classes striving to change society over the past two centuries, three are discussed here: forms of ownership, bureaucracy and “big tent” formulas for both unity of the working class broadly defined, and alliances with movements of independent owners or undefined class status. Examples are drawn from various countries (France, Italy, Britain, the USA, Brazil, Korea) and from international programmatic discussions. Socialists, notably Marxists, shared the radical republican goal of a true democracy of equals, but differed on the extent of collective ownership (state, local, cooperative) needed in the economy, and the definition of privately owned personal goods that insured an individual’s dignity and independence. The rise and contraction of capitalist states with social services (“welfare states”) complicated the issue. Such movements also accumulated experiences with the growth of experts and/or bureaucrats, and the means to limit their privileges and transformation into a caste-type elite. Three environments which generate such phenomena are identified: social-democratic and big labor, post-capitalist states and, more recently, nongovernmental organizations. Finally, the author discusses alliances with broader social forces which include working-class and non-working-class interests, and the management of cross-class ideologies such as certain varieties of nationalism, feminism, environmentalism, and anti-tax movements.

Where was Gustavus Vassa, also Known as Olaudah Equiano, Born? Revisiting an Old Question

ABSTRACT Considerable controversy has prevailed over where the person usually known as Olaudah Equiano, but virtually always referred to as Gustavus Vassa in his own time, was born: whether in Africa as he claimed, or in South Carolina, which two documents seem to suggest. Following his own stated preference and virtually all references, he is referred to here as Gustavus Vassa. It is argued that ‘Essaka’, which he said was his home, is to be identified with Usaka in Abia State, Nigeria. Confirmation comes from the fact that Usaka was the home of the Ariam clan, which was one of four clans in a confederation known as Ikwuano, the other three clans being Oboro, Ibere, and Oloko. Vassa’s first name Olaudah is a name found elsewhere in Igboland, meaning ‘loud voice’, while his second name relates to the confederation where his father appears to have been a senator which Vassa wrote as Equiano. The location of Usaka 40 km west of Arochukwu, 30 km south of Bende, and 25 km from Umuahia, now the capital of Abia State, appears to be in the charming vale to which Vassa alludes in The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.

Foreign investment screening mechanisms and emergent geographies of (post)globalization

Technologically advanced states and large emerging economies increasingly use foreign investment screening mechanisms (FISM) to block inward foreign investment targeting sectors considered critical. Is the proliferation of FISM auguring an era of deglobalization, a re-assertion of national-state sovereignty over globalized economic ties, and the end of neoliberal orthodoxies of liberalized investment regimes? To answer these questions, the article draws upon geographic political economy and legal geographies. It argues that the multiplication of FISM is a response to a strategic context defined by three macrogeographic trends: (1) contemporary industrial restructuring and the salience of intellectual property-based monopolies; (2) a historic episode of centralization of capital driven by strategic mergers and acquisitions; and (3) evolving landscapes of state capitalism under conditions of intensified geoeconomic competition. Although FISM reproduce the fiction of state power as expressing the will of the sovereign nation to defend itself against foreign interference, market distortion, and technology theft, they consist of legally enshrining state authority to support national champions, and making sure they engage favorably with competitive dynamics of capital centralization, notably by conserving their monopoly over key intangible assets and strategic resources. FISM are best seen as tools that explicitly mobilize state power and coercion to aggressively (re)negotiate globalization.

Acute kidney injury developed in the intensive care unit: a population-based prospective cohort study in the Brazilian Amazon

The Brazilian Amazon is a vast area with limited health care resources. To assess the epidemiology of critically ill acute kidney injury (AKI) patients in this area, a prospective cohort study of 1029 adult patients of the three intensive care units (ICUs) of Rio Branco city, the capital of Acre state, were evaluated from February 2014 to February 2016. The incidence of AKI was 53.3%. Risk factors for AKI included higher age, nonsurgical patients, admission to the ICU from the ward, higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores at ICU admission, and positive fluid balance > 1500 ml/24 hours in the days before AKI development in the ICU, with aOR of 1.3 (95% CI 1.03–1.23), 1.47 (95% CI 1.07–2.03), 1.96 (95% CI 1.40–2.74), 1.05 (95% CI 1.03–1.08) for each unit increase, and 1.62 (95% CI 1.16–2.26), respectively. AKI was associated with higher ICU mortality (aOR 2.03, 95% CI 1.29–3.18). AKI mortality was independently associated with higher age, nonsurgical patients, sepsis at ICU admission, presence of shock or use of vasoactive drugs, mechanical ventilation and mean positive fluid balance in the ICU > 1500 ml/24 hours, both during ICU follow-up, with aOR 1.27 (95% CI 1.14–1.43) for each 10-year increase, 1.64 (95% CI 1.07–2.52), 2.35 (95% CI 1.14–4.83), 1.88 (95% CI 1.03–3.44), 6.73 (95% CI 4.08–11.09), 2.31 (95% CI 1.52–3.53), respectively. Adjusted hazard ratios for AKI mortality 30 and 31–180 days after ICU discharge were 3.13 (95% CI 1.84–5.31) and 1.69 (95% CI 0.99–2.90), respectively. AKI incidence was strikingly high among critically ill patients in the Brazilian Amazon. The AKI etiology, risk factors and outcomes were similar to those described in high-income countries, but mortality rates were higher.

Prevalence of and factors associated with pre-diabetes among adolescents in Eastern Sudan: a community-based cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThere is an increasing trend of pre-diabetes and diabetes mellitus (DM) among adolescents, and sub-Saharan Africa is no exception. However, few published data on pre-diabetes among adolescents in Sudan exist....

Одеська школа політичної економії і проблема розвитку промислового капіталізму в Україні

The scientific traditions of the Odesa school of political economy, which was created by Professor A.K. Pokrytan, can play a significant role in the further development of the logical-historical approach to the analysis of economic development. The purpose of the article is to consider the scientific traditions of the Odesa school in the context of a kind of historical paradox. This paradox consists in the fact that the most fundamental problem of Ukraine's economy in the 21st century, related to the development of industrial capitalism here, has remained unresolved and, in principle, has not changed since the end of the 19th century. For analyzing this historical paradox, the methodology of the Odesa school of political economy is used, which is based on the consistent distinction between the legal form and the economic content of property, formal and real socialization, genetic and structural foundations of the economic system, its initial and main economic relationship, market economy and industrial capitalism, production relations and institutional forms of management, etc. On the basis of this methodology it is proved, that the main problem of the Ukrainian economy is that the transition to the market does not mean the transition to industrial capitalism, but, on the contrary, is accompanied by the deindustrialization of the national economy. This analysis substantiates the objective necessity of both the new industrialization of the Ukrainian economy and the economic relations of state capitalism as an adequate economic form of this transformational process. This historical necessity is considered in the broad international context of the crisis of globalization and the tendency to localization of production in the world economy. In this way, the article reveals the relevance of the Odesa school methodology in the analysis of both the transitional economy of Ukraine and the modern process of development of the world economy.

Assessment of Shallow Wells of Public Importance in Selected Areas of Ekiti State Capital City, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

ABSTRACTGroundwater is one of the main sources of public water supply all over the world. This study assessed hand‐dug wells of economic importance in selected areas of Ado Ekiti in relation to terrain characteristics. A total of 15 wells were randomly sampled with replicates from 5 densely populated parts of the study area. Water samples collected were processed and analyzed in the laboratory using established scientific methods. Results showed that physicochemical characteristics of the sampled groundwater compared favorably with the standard for drinking water, except for phosphate (PO43−) concentration, which was above the permissible limit of 0.1 mg/L. Moreover, while lead (Pb2+) was within the acceptable limits of 0.001 mg/L, cadmium (Cd2+) and iron (Fe2+) mean values of 0.01 and 16.723 mg/L were above the permissible limits of 0.003 and 0.03 mg/L, respectively. All the samples analyzed were found to contain total coliforms. Piper diagram indicates prevalence of chloride anion facies and a small portion of sulfate with no carbonate ions. There was no dominant water type among the cations. The chemical makeup mainly showed the prevalence of strong acids (Cl−) and slightly alkaline earth elements (Ca2+). The Schoeller plot suggests the dominance of calcium and elevated chloride concentrations in comparison to other ions. The water quality index indicated widespread pollution in most of the sampled water, showing that the shallow wells are not suitable for drinking purposes except in Adebayo and Erifun axis as expected. The study revealed terrain's influence and unprofessional construction of wells. A holistic water safety plan is imperative in the area and thus recommended.

Monasteries in the City of Samarra

The city of Samarra is one of the major cities of Iraq that Yaqout al-Hamwi described in the dictionary of countries by saying (it became the greatest country of God) and Al-Qazwini told about it in the monuments of the country (a great city located on the outskirts of the east of the Tigris between Baghdad and Tikrit) built by the Abbasid Caliph Al -Mu'tasim in God in 221 AH/ 835 M, and it is originally a monastery for the Christians, who bought it for 5,000 dinars, and took it as a capital for its succession, and reached its prosperity and its glory is the days of the caliph Al -Mutawakkil, 247 AH / 861 AD / 892. However, after 58 years, it was left as the capital of the Abbasids when the Abbasid Caliph, Al-Mutamid Allah, abandoned it in the year 279 AH / 892 AD, and took Baghdad, the old capital, as his headquarters, which maintained its position as the capital of the Arab Islamic state until the fall of the Abbasid Caliphate at the hands of the Mongols in the year 656 AH / 1258 AD.Al-Mu'tasim and the caliphs and princes who came after him built palaces, houses, mosques, and other things in Samarra. Samarra was famous for its Great Mosque, distinguished by its high, twisted minaret. It also contained the shrine of the two imams, Ali al-Hadi 254 AH/868 AD and Hasan al-Askari 260 AH/873 AD.

Tracks of change: The rise and fall of Bolivia's National Railway Company (ENFE): 1965–1995

This article examines the Bolivian State Railway Company (ENFE) from its inception in 1965 to its privatisation in 1995, focusing on its structural evolution, growth, and modernisation in the context of Bolivian state capitalism. It underscores ENFE's substantial contribution to Bolivia's economy, particularly in freight and passenger transport. By comparing ENFE’s labour productivity and financial ratios with other Latin American state railways, this study reveals ENFE's distinct capability for revenue generation due to limited road competition. Key primary sources include ENFE annual reports, World Bank loan documents, archival correspondence, transport studies, and the local press. This article argues that ENFE successfully addressed transportation challenges and contributed to Bolivian economic development. These findings provide valuable insights into Bolivian economic history and Latin American railway historiography through a case study of a strategic state-owned enterprise, illustrating the potential of leveraging World Bank sources for future comparative research on Latin American railways.

Generation and Composition of Medical Waste in Lafia

Background: Effective management of medical waste is a prerequisite for efficient delivery of healthcare services, human health and environmental protection; and the availability of adequate data with regard to medical waste generation and composition is generally considered to be fundamental in the development of efficient medical waste management. However, in Lafia, the state capital of Nasarawa State, Nigeria and a rapidly developing town, there is inadequate information on the medical waste generation and composition. This study thus sets to evaluate the medical waste composition and generation in Lafia by direct observation during both rainy and dry seasons Methodology: The study involved the survey of a cross section of three (3) tertiary health institution. Findings: The study showed that there is significant variation in healthcare waste management practices and sustainability factors (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) (3Rs). The test showed that there prominent method of healthcare waste management at the studied institution was practice of incineration, pit burning and burying and frequency of waste disposal, leaving out other new and improved technologies for proper waste managements. This study aims to evaluate the medical waste generation and composition in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria across public and private hospitals. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: It is anticipated that the outcome of this research will avail resourceful data that will be needed for effective hospital waste management and other planning and design works.

Indomitable Sacramentans: A Social History of Catholics in the State Capital by Steven M. Avella (review)

Indomitable Sacramentans: A Social History of Catholics in the State Capital by Steven M. Avella (review)

Developmental Logic and Resurgence of New State Capitalism in India

Developmental Logic and Resurgence of New State Capitalism in India

A behavioral micro simulation case study: Distribution center location

The potential negative externalities that can be produced by urban freight transportation make it critical to investigate the impact of urban freight and land use-related decisions on energy efficiency, congestion, and emissions. To advance such investigation, the authors developed a Behavioral Microsimulation Software (BMS) that simulates freight vehicle tours generated in a study area. At the most general level, the BMS provides aggregate performance metrics. At the detailed level, it outputs the freight vehicle tours and their corresponding characteristics. This study sheds light on the impact of the location of logistic facilities on the delivery operation to businesses in metropolitan areas. Thus, the goal of this research is to quantify the impacts of three scenarios in a metropolitan area: (i) location of a new distribution center in the outskirts, (ii) location of a new distribution center in the core, (iii) relocation of an existing distribution center from the outskirts to the core. The impacts discussed are vehicle miles traveled, deliveries per tour, and the number of tours. The authors developed a case study on the New York State Capital Region (USA). The results indicate a reduction in total vehicle miles traveled when locating distribution centers closer to the area's urban core, where demand is concentrated, compared to when located in the outskirts.

The Return of the State and Its Alla Turca Version

Economic nationalism and state intervention recently gained attraction in many countries including Turkey. This paper questions whether Turkey has changed its economic policy framework towards a statecentric model and, if so, whether these changes are well thought-out and sustainable. The examination of key areas of state capitalism, that is the monetary, industrial, trade, financial, and state economic enterprise (SEE) policies put forward in the officially adopted five-year plans and annual programs, suggests that the changes in the economic policy framework began after the 2008 global crisis and accelerated after the transition to a presidential system. Upon examination, the policy framework does not reflect a definitive, coherent, and wholistic approach but rather a pragmatic attitude that swings back and forth, which exposes the country to swings in the global system.

Analyzing India's National Civil Aviation Policy and Global Trends in Contemporary Civil Aviation Policies

The expansion of the Indian economy is expected to extend to remote regions, and while market-driven processes are ideal for regional air connectivity, there is recognition of the valuable role of public policy in this endeavor. The UDAN Scheme follows a market-oriented approach where operators assess demand, propose routes, and navigate variables like traffic rights, slot allocation, regulatory restrictions, and infrastructure limitations. Global airline industry deregulation has introduced healthy competition, enhancing efficiency and service quality, leading to increased passenger traffic. Studies have highlighted the constructive impact of improved air connectivity on the economic development of regions. Efficient airports are vital economic catalysts, but research suggests that some regional airports operate inefficiently, missing opportunities for profitability. Government subsidies and policies for enhancing regional and remote air connectivity are common practices worldwide, with schemes like EAS in the United State and PSO in Europe bridging the accessibility gap. Research is crucial to understand policy effects on air connectivity and identify factors that improve outcomes. Route dispersal guidelines, such as those in India, can create financial redistribution between route categories, affecting airlines' profitability and serving state capitals over remote regions. Policymakers must find effective ways to enhance air transport to underserved areas where market dynamics might not naturally establish viable transportation links. In summary, this study emphasizes the importance of government-supported policies like UDAN and the role of market-oriented approaches in promoting regional air connectivity. It underlines the need for research to assess policy impacts and identifies the challenges and opportunities in enhancing air connectivity to remote and underserved regions.

Assessing Urban Neighbourhood Resilience to Covid 19 Pandemic in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

The sudden incidence of COVID-19 at Wuhan in China in December 2019 with its significant death globally and other negative socio-economic impacts has awakened the need to make human settlements resilient to unforeseen tragedy. Nigeria and Jos the capital of Plateau State have had negative experiences with the incidence of covid 19. Considering this, the study aims at assessing the resilience of urban neighbourhoods in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State to COVID-19 pandemic. The study objective is to examine the pattern and characteristics of some selected neighborhoods within Jos the study area. In addition to examining the characterisation of infrastructural facilities and to evaluate the environmental challenges that impede adherence to non-pharmaceutical protocols to COVID-19. Two neighbourhoods, Angwan Rukuba and Fudawa were selected to represent the entire Jos North Local Government Area. Relevant literature related to the study was reviewed. The study adopted a direct observation method of the physical characteristics of the neighborhoods and a simple sampling technique of survey where a structured questionnaire was administered to 138 respondents in the two neighborhoods. Descriptive analysis using percentages and tables in relation to the data obtained was used to draw inferences and conclusions. The results obtained shows that the sampled neighborhoods are densely congested informal settlements with unorganized settlement pattern, lacking in basic neighbourhoods’ infrastructure, and poor circulation, among others. These findings imply that the environmental setting of the study area makes compliance with non-pharmaceutical protocols during COVID-19. pandemic difficult. By implication, the neighborhoods lack the resilience capability to cope with the COVID-19. pandemic. The study recommends the need for planning and upgrading of the neighbourhoods’ facilities along with stakeholder public enlightenment on the need to comply to COVID-19. non-pharmaceutical protocols as a step toward building resilient neighbourhoods in Jos North Local Government Area and the metropolis at large.