Time Of Major Change Research Articles

Longitudinal associations between sense of belonging, imposter syndrome, and first-year college students’ mental health

Objective: The first year of college is a time of major changes in social dynamics, raising questions about ways to promote students’ mental health. We examined longitudinal associations between students’ sense of belonging, imposter syndrome, depressive symptoms, and well-being. Participants: Fifty-eight first-year college students at a university in the United States participated in the study. Methods: Students completed questionnaires during the first 6 months of college (T1) and at the end of the academic year (T2). Results: Greater sense of social and academic belonging was correlated with lower imposter syndrome, depression, and greater well-being at T1. Accounting for T1 measures, lower imposter syndrome predicted greater well-being but not depression at T2. Accounting for T1 mental health, belonging was not a significant predictor of depression or well-being at T2. Conclusion: Increasing sense of belonging and addressing imposter syndrome early in the transition to college may be critical in promoting mental health.

Predicting the number of lifetime divisions for hematopoietic stem cells from telomere length measurements

How many times does a typical hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) divide to maintain a daily production of over blood cells over a human lifetime? It has been predicted that relatively few, slowly dividing HSCs occupy the top of the hematopoietic hierarchy. However, tracking HSCs directly is extremely challenging due to their rarity. Here, we utilize previously published data documenting the loss of telomeric DNA repeats in granulocytes, to draw inferences about HSC division rates, the timing of major changes in those rates, as well as lifetime division totals. Our method uses segmented regression to identify the best candidate representations of the telomere length data. Our method predicts that, on average, an HSC divides 56 times over an 85-year lifespan (with lower and upper bounds of 36 and 120, respectively), with half of these divisions during the first 24 years of life.

Primary health care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative exploration of the challenges and changes in practice experienced by GPs and GP trainees.

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly changed general practice in the UK. Research is required to understand how General Practitioners (GPs) and GP trainees adjusted to these changes, so that beneficial changes might be sustained, and Primary Health Care (PHC) can be prepared for future challenges. This study explored the experiences and perspectives of GP and GP trainees during the pandemic. Remote, semi-structured interviews (n = 21) were conducted with GPs (n = 11) and GP trainees (n = 10), recruited from across the UK using convenience and purposive sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview data were analysed with an inductive thematic approach. Five overarching themes were identified: (1) 'Thrown in at the deep end'; (2) Telemedicine: 'it needs to be a happy balance'; (3) Delayed referrals and 'holding' patients; (4) The Covid Cohort-training in Covid; (5) Suggestions and lessons for the future of general practice'. GPs reported a turbulent and uncertain time of major changes to PHC. They described the benefits of technology in general medicine, particularly telemedicine, when used in a balanced manner, highlighting the need for accompanying teaching and guidelines, and the importance of patient preferences. Key tools to help GPs manage patients with delayed referrals to Secondary Care were also identified. Several key changes to general practice occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a rapid uptake of telemedicine. The pandemic exposed the strengths and limitations of normal general practice and highlighted the importance of workplace camaraderie. These findings contribute to the evidence base used to adapt PHC infrastructures as we emerge from the pandemic.

Geothermal Potential of Hot Dry Rock in South-East Baltic Basin Countries—A Review

The beginning of 2022 was a time of major changes in the perception of energy availability and security in European countries. The aggression of Russia against Ukraine destabilizing the European energy economy, combined with the withdrawal from fossil fuels which has been going on for a dozen years, has strengthened activities to introduce new energy technologies based on renewable energy sources. One of the most promising and stable sources of renewable energy is geothermal energy, in particular enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) in hot dry rocks (HDR). These deposits occur at a great depth in almost every place on Earth, but due to their low permeability, they require hydraulic fracturing, which results in high investment costs. This technology has been developed for several decades. The current situation in Europe seems to confirm that its rapid development to a level that guarantees stable and profitable operation is crucial. This is of particular importance in the case of former member states of the economic zone of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, which until recently were heavily dependent on Russian energy. This review, based on the latest available data, covers potential HDR prospective areas in the countries of the south-eastern Baltic basin, including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland. It is specific to this region that the original heat flux density is lower as a result of the paleoclimatic effect associated with the youngest ice age; however, thermal conditions do not deviate too much compared to western Europe, especially Rhine Graben, and significantly exceed the conditions of Finland, where an EGS project is currently being operated. In Lithuania, the most prospective area is the ZNI intrusion (south of Klaipeda), characterized by a geothermal gradient of up to 40 °C/1000 m. In addition, the Precambrian batholith south of Liepāja (Latvia) and the Rapakivi granites in the north and center of Estonia are promising EGS sites. Poland has relatively the most explored EGS potential, in both volcanic, crystalline and sedimentary rocks, especially in the area of the Szczecin Trough, Gorzów Block, Moglino-Łódź Trough and Karkonosze Mountains. Unfortunately, local tectonic conditions, in particular the development of faults and natural fracture zones that affect the directions of fracture propagation during hydraulic fracturing, have not been sufficiently recognized, which is one of the main barriers to the expansion of EGS pilot projects in these countries. These issues present challenges for the researchers, especially in terms of petrophysical analyses of rocks in target zones and local stress conditions, which have a key impact on fracturing operations and profitability of the systems. Despite high investment costs on the one hand and a significant slowdown in the global economy in 2022 on the other, it remains hopeful that the authorities of individual countries will decide to accelerate research work, leading to the implementation of pilot projects of EGS installations, and that this technology will be further improved to ensure a stable clean energy supply.

Managing the heart of the university: Dean’s offices in the process of changes. New legal and organizational reality

A major reform of the higher education system began with the entry into force of the Law on higher education and science act (from October 1, 2018), aimed at improving conditions for practicing scientific and didactic excellence in Polisch universities. The changes in the regulations concerned the organization of universities and ensuring the sustainable development of academic centers across the country, which influenced the model of university management after 2018. The edited volume entitled Dean’s offices in the process of changes. New legal and organizational reality was written at this critical time of major changes in Polish higher education, and it provides a timely and thorough overview of the implications of the reform, especially regarding the management practices.

Abstract 2712: Establishing the early genetic progression of cancers with unobtainable premalignant disease

Abstract Premalignant tissue samples collected at different timepoints along the path to invasive tumors have been used to establish the typical order of somatic genetic events in several cancer types. For many other cancer types, however, precancer tissue is unobtainable, leaving the genetic progression unknown. Here, we demonstrate an approach that can reconstruct progression histories for such cancers from exome sequencing of primary tumors. We validated our recent computational method, PhylogicNDT, on classic, HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), recapitulating the previous experimentally determined sequence of genetic events that occur during progression. We uncovered progression of HPV-positive HNSCC tumors, which lack premalignant tissue, identifying subtype specific early drivers. We associated the timing of major changes in ploidy with the development of intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity and shorter overall survival. In cancers with unobtainable premalignant tissue, our approach can fill the knowledge gap about early progression, providing the basis for development of experimental models and methods for early detection, interception, and prognostication. Citation Format: Ignaty Leshchiner, Edmund A. Mroz, Justin Cha, Daniel Rosebrock, Oliver Spiro, Juliana Bonilla-Velez, William Faquin, Armida Lefranc-Torres, Derrick Lin, William Michaud, Gad Getz, James W. Rocco. Establishing the early genetic progression of cancers with unobtainable premalignant disease [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 2712.

The Religious Toleration Policy of the Mongols and its Diplomatic Significance for Relations with the Holy See in the Thirteenth Century

The appearance of the Mongols on the international arena was met with mixed reactions. The Catholic world was no exception. In the West, the fact that the Mongols put an end to the Muslim, Khwarazm Shahs state was positive towards the new people, and they thought about creating a joint anti-Muslim coalition. Nevertheless, of course, there were serious doubts about the identity and intentions of the Mongols. In this article, we will try to find out what is the phenomenon of "Pax Mongolica" and its causes are. What is the role of religious tolerance policy for Mongols, in relations with the Catholic world? In addition, the purpose of the article is to explain the mission of Georgia in regulational process of the Union between Vatican and the Mongol Empire. XIII century is time of major changes in the international politics. We believe that its fundamental study, especially in the context of such a special issue for the modern society, as a religious tolerance is, will be useful not only for Georgian, but also for non-Georgian historiography. For the purposes of the article, the research used mainly the historical-system method. In addition, historical-comparative and critical methods of analyzing sources will be used. Using the hermeneutical method, we studied the reliability of the information provided in the source, the mentality of the authors of the source and the purpose of its creation. The scientific novelty of the article can be considered not only a new interpretation of the reason for religious tolerance of the Mongols, but also the definition and assessment of the role of Georgia in relations between the Tatars and the Vatican. The study concludes that the religious tolerance of the Mongols was dictated not only by religious, but also by political, trade and economic motives. Their tolerant policy confused the Catholic world: the West hoped to eventually practice the Catholic religion in the Ilkhan and the Golden Horde. At the same time, the Vatican and Hulaguians had a common enemy - the Sultanate of Egypt. Accordingly, these factors contributed to the establishment of friendly relations between them. As for the second Mongol state, the Ulus of Jochi, the peaceful coexistence between them and the Catholic world was mainly due to economic factors. Georgia- a vassal of the Ilkhanate, which, despite its split, maintained good relations with the Vatican, automatically became a mediator between the two allies. Thus, the religious policy of the Mongols further simplified relations with the West and the conquered people. "Pax Mongolica" contributed not only to the long existence of the conquered people in the Empire, but also to the deepening of trade and economic relations between the West and the East.

Testing the backlash argument: voter responses to (pro-)immigration reforms

ABSTRACT Do significant pro-immigration reforms – that open legal pathways for labor and family immigration – increase populist voting? Despite the common assumption that such reforms would lead to counter-productive voter backlash informed by the literature on immigrant group threat, the extent to which immigration policy itself influences voters has been unclear. To address this question, this paper estimates the impact of immigration policies on (right-wing) populist voting and immigration attitudes by exploiting the timing of major changes to immigration legislation in a new dataset linking the best available public opinion and policy data across the last 40 years in 24 European countries. My analysis shows that while the absolute levels of immigration policy openness are associated with slightly higher populist voting across countries in a naive cross-sectional analysis, pro-immigration (or anti-immigration) policy changes do not affect populist voting or immigration concerns within countries. This suggests that pro-immigration reforms do not backfire due to voter backlash.

Mental health nurses should influence what data are gathered for service users

Data and mental health nursing One of the many cultural impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a global fascination with data, and its meaning. Data has been used to clarify and, at times, to obfuscate the complexities of the global spread of the virus. Whether used for good or ill, data has rarely been studied so avidly by so many. COVID19’s impact on healthcare has also made this a time of major change in clinical services, a time when good data is absolutely essential to support future service planning. Daniel Keys Moran points out “You can have data without information, but you cannot have information without data.” Currently collected data rarely seems to impact on clinical nursing practice, but when it is translated into useful information it can do so, for example service user experience and staffing levels data. Technology offers new forms of data, although its use is still rare in mental health services. Analysis of thousands of clinical records may identify behavioural patterns predictive of health outcomes, whilst bio-data, from personal monitors and other electronic systems, may identify early signs of individual physical and mental deterioration or help prevent incidents such as falls or self-harm. Such developments also carry risks which need careful management, such as a diminution of personal interactions between staff and service users. Privacy and self-determination may be compromised by routine electronic observation of service users, applied to all regardless of need. Recent events demonstrate the power of data and nursing insights should influence decisions as to what data is needed, and how it can be used. For nurses to contribute in this way also requires them to receive suitable education in interpreting, challenging and using data effectively. Nursing skills need to reflect the changing world in which we practice.

Spiraling work engagement and change appraisals: A three-wave longitudinal study during organizational change.

In this longitudinal field study, we examine reciprocal relationships between within-person changes in work engagement and cognitive appraisals of change (threat and challenge) across an organizational merger. Examination of these cyclical relationships provides a more accurate understanding of the complexity of employees' experience of change and a new test of spiraling work engagement and cognitive appraisals. Latent change score modeling is used to analyze 3 waves of longitudinal survey data (N = 623). Our findings showed that engagement mitigated threat appraisals and enhanced challenge appraisals through pre- and postmerger phases. A reciprocal relationship between threat appraisal and engagement was also observed, such that threat fueled decreases in engagement throughout the merger. Challenge appraisal was associated with enhanced work engagement during the first merger phase. This examination advocates managers of change to foster employees' work engagement already prior to change endeavors, along with mitigating threat appraisals throughout organizational change events. Fostering positive challenge appraisals appears to be particularly important for employees' work engagement during times of major changes. Findings suggest that upward spiral of work engagement, as postulated on the basis of the broaden-and-build theory, may be more likely to occur through engagement mitigating negative cognitions (threat) than promoting positive cognitions (challenge). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

“We talked about our hookups”: A diary study of sexual communication among U.S. college women

For many young women, college is a time of major changes in sexual behavior and attitudes, driven in part by their social environment. Yet little is known about how young women actually talk about sex day-to-day. To understand daily sexual communication, 96 U.S. college students who identify as women kept a sexual communication diary for 7 days, generating 1,211 records. A content analysis revealed that women talked about sex an average of 13 times per week. Most conversations were with friends, face-to-face, and mostly about previous sexual encounters, dating, and potential sexual activity. The underlying function of most conversations was exchanging opinions, recapping, and gossiping. Sex appears to be a somewhat regularly discussed topic for college women and a way of socializing and exploring attitudes. The results have important implications for health promotion efforts targeted at college women.

A tiny new Middle Triassic stem-lepidosauromorph from Germany: implications for the early evolution of lepidosauromorphs and the Vellberg fauna

The Middle Triassic was a time of major changes in tetrapod faunas worldwide, but the fossil record for this interval is largely obscure for terrestrial faunas. This poses a severe limitation to our understanding on the earliest stages of diversification of lineages representing some of the most diverse faunas in the world today, such as lepidosauromorphs (e.g., lizards and tuataras). Here, we report a tiny new lepidosauromorph from the Middle Triassic from Vellberg (Germany), which combines a mosaic of features from both early evolving squamates and rhynchocephalians, such as the simultaneous occurrence of a splenial bone and partial development of acrodonty. Phylogenetic analyses applying different optimality criteria, and combined morphological and molecular data, consistently recover the new taxon as a stem-lepidosauromorph, implying stem-lepidosauromorph species coinhabited areas comprising today’s central Europe at the same time as the earliest known rhynchocephalians and squamates. It further demonstrates a more complex evolutionary scenario for dental evolution in early lepidosauromorphs, with independent acquisitions of acrodonty early in their evolutionary history. The small size of most terrestrial vertebrates from Vellberg is conspicuous, contrasting to younger Triassic deposits worldwide, but comparable to Early Triassic faunas, suggesting a potential long-lasting Lilliput effect in this fauna.

The origins and evolutionary history of xerophytic vegetation in Australia

The xeromorphic vegetation is a significant component of the Australian flora and phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis of xeromorphic plants provides a basis for understanding the origins and evolutionary history of the Australian vegetation. Here we expand on previous reviews of the origins and maintenance of the Australian flora with an emphasis on the xeromorphic component. Phylogenetic evidence supports fossil evidence for evolution of sclerophyll and xeromorphic vegetation from the Eocene with lineages becoming more common in the Oligocene and Miocene, a time of major change in climate and vegetation in Australia. Phylogenetic evidence supports the mesic biome as ancestral to the arid zone biome in Australia in phylogenies of key groups. The diversification and radiation of Australian species shows single origins of xeromorphic group mainly at deeper levels in phylogenies as well as multiple origins of arid occurring species at shallower levels. Divergence across the Nullarbor is also evident and speciation rates in south-western Australia were higher than in the south-east in several plant families. Estimates of timing of diversification generally show either constant rates of diversification or increased diversification from the mid to late Miocene. Phylogeographic studies consistently demonstrate high localised genetic diversity and geographic structure in xeromorphic species occupying both mesic and arid biomes.

Medieval Climate Variability in the eastern Amazon-Cerrado regions and its archeological implications

The South American Monsoon System is responsible for the majority of precipitation in the continent, especially over the Amazon and the tropical savannah, known as ‘Cerrado’. Compared to the extensively studied subtropical and temperate regions the effect of the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) on the precipitation over the tropics is still poorly understood. Here, we present a multiproxy paleoprecipitation reconstruction showing a consistent change in the hydrologic regime during the MCA in the eastern Amazon and ‘Cerrado’, characterized by a substantial transition from humid to drier conditions during the Early (925-1150 C.E.) to Late-MCA (1150-1350 C.E.). We compare the timing of major changes in the monsoon precipitation with the expansion and abandonment of settlements reported in the archeological record. Our results show that important cultural successions in the pre-Columbian Central Amazon, the transition from Paredão to Guarita phase, are in agreement with major changes in the hydrologic regime. Phases of expansion and, subsequent abandonment, of large settlements from Paredão during the Early to Late-MCA are coherent with a reduction in water supply. In this context we argue that the sustained drier conditions during the latter period may have triggered territorial disputes with Guarita leading to the Paredão demise.

Seismic stratigraphy and depositional architecture of Neogene intraslope basins, offshore western Niger Delta

Abstract Located on a divergent margin dominated by gravity tectonics above overpressured marine shales, the Niger Delta slope has been described as having a stepped profile characterized by ‘filled ponded basins’ that are prone to erosion and sediment bypass. Previous studies based on 3D seismic data have described the depositional architecture of the western Niger Delta's upper slope, but calibration of the seismic facies is lacking and the timing of major changes in sedimentary record remains elusive. In this study, seismic sequence-stratigraphy, 3D geomorphological analyses of high-resolution 3D seismic data, and bio/chronostratigraphic analyses from four boreholes, enabled the identification and characterization of the depositional architecture in Neogene ‘filled ponded basins’. Seven major seismic units were dated as Chattian, Burdigalian, Serravallian, Tortonian, Middle Pliocene and Middle Pleistocene to the present day. Major changes in the sedimentary record occurred in the Plio-Pleistocene, with the onset of erosive channel levee systems (CLSs) and mass-transport deposits (MTDs) generally capped by a hemipelagic drape. Amalgamated CLSs characterize the Tortonian-Late Miocene while erosive MTDs and CLSs characterize the Plio-Pleistocene units. Thick, laterally extensive MTDs are associated with regional slope instability, while active mobile shale triggered local spatially confined MTDs. Submarine channels evolved from moderate to highly sinuous. The degree of channel confinement generally decreases downstream where they are characterized by abandoned meander loops and avulsion resulting from levee breaching. Channel fills and levees/overbank deposits topped by hemipelagic drapes provide effective reservoir/seal (traps) for hydrocarbons. The alternation of channel deposits and hemipelagic layers indicate that eustasy controlled depositional patterns at a regional scale, while the spatio-temporal switches in submarine channel courses show that shale tectonics locally controlled deposition in intraslope basins.

Coral-based high-resolution rare earth element proxy for terrestrial sediment discharge affecting coastal seawater quality, Great Barrier Reef

Abstract Modern water quality gradients on the inner-shelf of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are influenced by catchment modification and increased terrigenous suspended sediment delivery. Proxy-based reconstructions of terrestrial sediment discharge are critical to trace the environmental drivers that modulate inshore water quality and to quantify the magnitude and timing of major changes. In this study we present high-resolution Porites coral rare earth element (REE) data over the period 1987–2012 from inshore Magnetic Island, GBR. Shale-normalized REE distributions in coral samples effectively captured the major features of seawater. Terrigenous sediment derived characteristics of shale-normalised REE and Y (e.g., higher ΣREE, reduced LREE depletion, and lower Y/Ho ratios) show linear relationships with each other on annual to multi-annual timescales thus providing a specific fingerprint for terrestrially derived turbidity. Temporal variation of the proxies generally shows spikes associated with increased water turbidity during strong summer floods. However, anomalous spikes coinciding with negligible river discharge during dry periods were also observed and highlight that data from non-flood year summers and winters show less predictable relationships possibly related to wind driven resuspension events, channel dredging and other as yet undetermined factors. Regardless, temporal variability of the proxies show synchronicity with tested environmental drivers (e.g., river discharge and rainfall) on multi-annual timescales with greater terrigenous influence during wet periods from the late-1980s to early-1990s, late-1990s to early 2000s and late 2000s to early-2010s, consistent with increased delivery of terrestrial sediment at those times. Cerium (Ce) anomalies showed complex behaviour during lower discharge seasons but have enhanced negative anomalies during strong flood-year summers when large flood plumes enriched in terrigenous nutrients were likely to reach waters around Magnetic Island. We speculate that higher abundance of Ce-oxidizing bacteria during strong flood events modulate local nearshore marine Ce anomalies. Based on these findings, we demonstrate that robust, time-resolved shale-normalized REE distributions in coral skeletons, not just elemental concentrations, provide very useful proxies for monitoring terrigenous sediment discharge related changes in inshore water quality and for tracing coastal biological activities, particularly at annual and multi-annual timescales.

METHODS OF RECRUITMENT IN THE CHAIN OF STORES

We are living in the time of major changes. To survive and develop the companies need to respond in time and be flexible about change. Which are very dynamic nowadays?The demands stemming from these changes have helped companies build their capital with extensive, profound and flexible skills (Salas and Kozlowski, 2010), thus creating competitive advantages in this dynamic environment. They can increase or maintain success in business only if they attract the high quality of individuals through the recruitment of young peopleManagers are always looking for staff that, in addition to having the right skills and qualifications, also possesses experience for that job as the firm intends not to invest further in various trainings whereby the costs would increase. If a company wants to be competitive in the market and reduce recruitment costs it should use more appropriate and more efficient methods depending on the workplace in order to find the right people with the right skills at the right place, also in a timely manner.

The existence of archery in Early Bronze Age southern Levant warfare: a note

ABSTRACT The Early Bronze Age was a time of major changes in southern Levantine regions. The spread of urbanisation in the course of the third millennium BC was accompanied by various socio-political transformations, tensions and also violent encounters, even if the evidence for the latter is hard to detect in the archaeological record. The almost complete absence of arrowheads from settlements and tombs in the southern Levant from this period has led to the assumption that combat archery was not employed during the Early Bronze Age. This paper challenges this orthodoxy using evidence from the southern Levant and beyond, and it concludes that archery was employed in combat activities during the Early Bronze Age, albeit on a small scale that was determined by military considerations.

Coalition and co-creation: the genesis of Archive Service Accreditation

The recent creation of Archive Service Accreditation as a new standard for UK archives (2008–2013) is a major development in the archive and museum sectors, involving strategic and professional bodies across the home nations. This article explores the making of the new standard, revealing its close relationship with the UK’s long-running Museum Accreditation standard and the debate and deliberation that went into building a complementary scheme. The article revisits the original aims of Archive Service Accreditation, setting the context and chronology for the standard’s development during a time of major change for the archive and museum sectors. The innovative co-creation approach to writing the standard is explored, reflecting how this process shaped subsequent approaches to archives developments and what it revealed about professional worldviews. Most importantly, the article discusses key decisions and areas of difference which shaped the eventual approach to the standard, highlighting those areas of discussion which emerged through co-creation and the learning from Museum Accreditation in the design of the programme. The implementation of Archive Service Accreditation in the years following co-creation allows for a long view, reflecting on where areas of debate remain and which elements of Accreditation have become core to archive work.

Facing forwards, looking backwards: Coming to terms with continuing uneven development in Europe

At a time of major changes in the geography of the global economy, and following the major financial and economic crises of 2007/2008, the European Union (EU) is marked by deepening uneven economic development, between and within the territories of its 28 (for now) member states. This is one expression of neo-liberalisation as the dominant political force in the EU, combined with deep austerity policies in response to the crises of 2007/2008. Within the Eurozone, a common currency without a common fiscal policy further intensified inequalities, especially between the economies of the north and south of the EU. These developments had profound political ramifications as the promise of increasing economic growth and material well-being has been rudely shattered for many people and unemployment, poverty and ill-being have burgeoned in many parts of the EU. The political response to this – in ways reminiscent of the 1930s – has been a resurgence of regressive virulent right-wing nationalisms, sometimes with fascistic tendencies, as people have come to see the EU, and neoliberal globalisation, as inimical to their interests. This tendency has been further intensified by inflows of migrants and refugees, many in response to neo-imperialist ventures in the Middle East. This is most starkly (so far) the case in the UK, leading to the British Exit from the European Community (BREXIT) vote to leave the EU. There are counter-tendencies, locally based political movements that espouse a more humane social democratic model of the EU, but there seems little chance of these cohering politically to challenge the dominant view.