Universal Perspective Research Articles

The platformization of Chinese Society: infrastructure, governance, and practice

By adopting a universal perspective, several scholars have called upon governments and other regulatory bodies to intervene in the emerging platform society, not leaving its development solely to the dynamics of the market (Khan, 2017; Pasquale, 2018; Srnicek, 2017; Van Dijck, Poell, & de Waal, 2018). Although this call for increased regulation is particularly welcome in the US and Europe, it seems problematic, if not ironic, in the Chinese context. We are currently witnessing the fast process of the platformization of Chinese society. The ubiquity of WeChat in everyday Chinese life presents the best example as Plantin and De Seta demonstrate in this special issue. However, in the context of omnipresent government regulation and intervention in China, platformization generates a set of problems and issues that differ from those in in the West. Similarly, we need to critically interrogate the seemingly “natural” connection between the platform society and “global capitalism,” which has been theorized as “platform capitalism” (Srnicek, 2016). China presents an odd case, as it is hard to consider China a capitalist society (Nonini, 2008). Hence, our aim is to engage critically with the platformization of Chinese society by applying the case of China as a method (Chen, 2010) to interrogate, complicate, and complement current research on the global rise of the platform society. We thus ask the following question: What does the platform society mean for China, and what does China mean for our thinking about the platform society?

Research progress on evaluation tools for post-intensive care syndrome

With advances in intensive care, more patients are surviving from critical illness, and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) began to get people's attention. Early detection and intervention of PICS can improve the quality of life of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and reduce the rate of re-hospitalization. However, effective, reliable, and easy-to-use assessment tools are the basis for early detection and evaluation of intervention outcomes. Thus, we introduce the evaluation tools for PICS from the perspective of universality or specificity, aim to provide reference for doctors or nurses to choose suitable assessment tools for PICS, and to provide reference for the development of localized assessment tools for PICS in China, so as to promote the related research of PICS.

Tectonic in Architecture in Capability of Capturing Epoch

Globalization excludes territory, carries out universal spirit as more emphasizing univalence rather than multivalence. In architectural context, universal perspective is just at doubt in its capacity to respond epoch challenge. Modernity proliferating into diversity of life aspects causes architecture attaint to hegemonic status not rich of colours, texture, ornament, and not rationalistic. Tectonic aspect in architecture is expected to be able to uplift locality dignity rooted from existing culture, nature, and material resource. This research is done with a qualitative, deductive and verificative method with study object of architectural work already available. Field observation result refers to a theory setup deductively from journal collections studies; expert is opinion so that it results in tectonic variable formulation in architecture. Research object selected is architectural work to explore tectonic architecture, known adept at exploring natural potency and local cultural riches as well as material usage of local building. A result obtained is a comprehension on tectonic in architecture and all aspects constituting it. A comprehension gained is tested to architectural work with perspective up to their implementation in the field. Finally, it concludes that tectonic aspect in architecture can be a creation alternative of locality architecture in Indonesia.

Examination on the Influential Factors of the disabled person’s Social Participation from the Universalistic Perspectives Using the Hierarchical Linear Model

본 연구의 목적은 보편주의 관점에서 장애인의 사회참여에 영향을 미치는 개인과 지역환경 요인을 규명하는 것이다. 이에 ICF 모델을 기반으로 사회참여 영향요인을 장애인고용패널조사 1차 자료(2016년)와 2017년도 전국 시ㆍ도별 장애인 복지ㆍ교육 비교자료를 활용하여 다층모형으로 분석하였다. 분석결과 첫째, 장애인의 사회참여 수준에서 영화관람과 국내여행, 종교활동, 등산ㆍ낚시 등 단순한 활동에 대한 참여수준이 높았다. 둘째, 장애인의 일상생활참여에는 개인특성의 연령, 학력, 장애정도와 지원환경의 소득 및 경제지원 환경이 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 장애인의 경제활동참여에는 개인특성의 성별, 연령, 학력, 장애정도와 지원환경의 보건 및 자립, 복지서비스, 이동 및 문화여가 지원이 이 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 이는 장애인의 사회참여를 높이기 위해서는 개인적 특성도 중요하지만, 지역의 지원환경도 중요한 요인으로 장애인에 대한 지역자치단체의 정책적 지원을 강화해야 할 것이다.

Local and National Memories of WWII in a Transnational Age: the Case of Norway

This article discusses how the “unbound” and “multidirectional” memory of the Holocaust has contested, challenged, and reformed existing frames of memorialization of WWII in Norway. Through an analysis of the discussion on restitution, on Norwegian collaboration, on the establishment of Holocaust memorials and memorial sites, as well as an analysis of commemorative speeches, I show how the transnational memory of the Holocaust has transformed existing remembrance practices, however, without erasing or lifting national memory frames. For more than 50 years, Norway suffered from a “national consensus syndrome” in which the memory of the heroic Norwegian resistance during the 5 years of German occupation played a hegemonic role in Norwegian memory politics. The “global memory” of the Holocaust and the establishment of transnational memory networks such as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), however, have contested national memory practices, pushed to uncover Norwegian participation in the crimes of the past and for the incorporation of Holocaust remembrance into a wider concept of fighting for democracy and human rights. The site of the Akershus harbor and nearby fortress in Oslo is a striking example of that, as this article demonstrates. Moreover, adopting the transnational memory of the Holocaust and the universalistic perspectives of human rights and democratic values was not only a matter of memory politics. Adopting Holocaust memory and transforming existing remembrance practices became an essential part of Norwegian foreign policy and a legitimation of Norway’s moral integrity as an international actor.

Epistemologías locales y universalidad: un diálogo posible y necesario

La educación intercultural en América Latina solicita una reflexión epistemológica sobre la relación entre el conocimiento lógico-científico y los saberes tradicionales de las poblaciones indígenas. Las propuestas actuales reflejan diferentes modelos de interacción, que subyacen a distintas perspectivas ideológicas. Por un lado, los tentativos de inclusión, de traducción y de hibridación de los saberes tradicionales “bajo la égida” del paradigma lógico-científico; por el otro, la perspectiva intercultural crítica, que exige problematizar el concepto de diálogo y de las categorías epistémicas que lo condicionan.En el marco de esta perspectiva, se propone una reflexión que gira alrededor de tres elementos: los límites del sistema de conocimiento occidental; lo sagrado como experiencia integradora de la realidad y constitutiva de los saberes tradicionales; y el valor gnoseológico y formativo que éstos guardan en una perspectiva universal.El objetivo es identificar claves interpretativas útiles para reflexionar sobre el diálogo intercultural e inter-epistemológico entre sistemas de conocimientos.

The implicit meaning of TIMSS: Exploring ethics in teachers’ practice

This study explored whether the TIMSS 2015 teacher questionnaires reflects shared perceptions of ethics in teachers' practice. Quantitative analysis of teachers' responses to TIMSS questionnaires, from 45 countries, yielded a four-dimensional structure of the concept “ethics in teachers' practice”: caring about students' learning, interacting with colleagues, respecting the rules, and teacher professionalism. Our results support the idea that perceived ethical behavior among teachers exhibits both universal perspectives, as well as particularistic, national ones. The findings can help teachers develop awareness concerning ethics in their profession, and may encourage assessment of ethics in teachers’ practice by using TIMSS teacher questionnaires.

How Is Science Universal?

I investigate the universality of science as perceived in epistemological conceptions and in sociology of science, as well as claims about the anti-universal character of science. In this, I distinguish two kinds of universality of science: epistemic and global cultural/social, and in the latter also the global universality of the basic level of science. I attempt to show that epistemology views science as universal in its basic aspects relating to knowledge, its object, subject and cognitive values as well as methods, which, according to the epistemological meta-theses, are necessary for scientific validity and autonomy. I also draw attention to the fact that sociologised, multiculturally-oriented approaches to science are wrong to hold it for irrevocably anti-universal and exclusively a part of Western culture. I suggest instead the perspective of basic-level global universalism, where science is seen to grow out of a cultural base common to all cultures, which provides the criteria for weak rationality, weak empiricism and methodology and determines the nomological character of cognition. Finally, I trace the evolution of universality from a property of science to a value, and ask about the meaning of this property-cum-value for the human world.

Пам'ять про Бабин Яр: загальнолюдський та персональний вимір (на прикладі родини Рабіновичів)

У статті розглядається характер формування колективної пам’яті / непам’ятання про Голокост у Радянському Союзі протягом 1940-х-1960-х рр. Аналізуються особливості вшанування й увічнення пам’яті про Бабин Яр у післявоєнний період (на рівні громадських ініціатив), та причини й наслідки посилення дискримінації та антисемітизму на побутовому і державному рівні щодо євреїв. Висвітлено діяльність Єврейського Антифашистського Комітету по захисту прав єврейського населення після закінчення Другої світової війни. Закцентовано увагу на діяльності В. Некрасова та Л. Волинського (Рабіновича) з увічнення пам’яті загиблих у Бабиному Яру.

A novel particle swarm optimisation with search space tuning parameter to avoid premature convergence

Particle swarm optimisation is a trendy optimisation technique that is inhaled from the space navigational intelligence of birds. The optimisation technique is popular among the researchers for several decades because of the fact that it is inspired by the zonal and universal best members in all the generations. The optimisation by PSO is found better than few other optimisation techniques, in several trials with the optimisation of the mathematical benchmarks and real-time applications. But the more-than-modest orientation style of the algorithm often leads the population to premature convergence. Inertia weight parameter is used to tune the explorability of the population. In this paper, a zonal monitor (based on success in the recent iterations)-based inertia weight tuning is redressed by including universal monitors (based on the success with a universal fitness perspective). The proposed algorithm excels the conventional PSO, the PSO with zonal monitors alone. The inertia weight of the PSO with zonal monitor is also not dynamic whereas the proposed PSO's inertia weight are found to be more dynamic with tuning the explore ability with regard to zonal and universal context of fitness.

«Si versa del sangue per un futuro migliore». La stella rossa di Aleksandr Bogdanov

Often considered the earliest book of Soviet science fiction, Red Star (Bogdanov 1906-8) is a complex utopia set on Mars which deals with crucial issues regarding its times in a universal perspective. Focusing on some of the major themes taken into consideration by the author both in the novel and in his entire scientific and philosophical research (strife, suffering, death), this essay provides new points of reflection with innovative and surprising conclusions.

O welfare-state brasileiro em seu labirinto. Dívida fiscal, dívida social, universalização, focalização, proteção e incentivos

Neste artigo analisamos a configuração institucional/legal do atual Estado de Bem-Estar Brasileiro, sua história e avaliação em termos de sua eficiência/eficácia na redução da indigência/pobreza e desigualdades. Veremos que o desenho atual é resultado de uma acumulação de perspectivas (que chamamos de “camadas geológicas”) com pouca articulação e funcionalidade entre elas. Perspectivas universalistas convivem com programas focalizados e de discriminação positiva. A dinâmica do sistema contém um desequilíbrio estrutural entre receitas e gastos e a proteção social está no centro do debate sobre as alternativas para reestabelecer o equilíbrio nas finanças públicas. O Brasil vive hoje um amplo debate sobre como redesenhar o sistema para outorga-lhe equilíbrio financeiro.

O papel do programa nacional de assessoria técnica, social e ambiental (ATES) a luz da abordagem pró-market extension: Um estudo da cadeia do leite de Santana do Livramento (RS)

In the context of neoliberalism and the process of globalization, the Rural Extension was also influenced by the reduction of the state in the economy and, consequently, a greater participation of the private sector and civil society, and in Rural Extension and a discussion of different approaches, the extensive pro-market model. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the Technical, Social and Environmental Assessment Program (ATES) as an extension of the market extension, using a dairy production chain from Santana do Livramento (RS) as a case study. It is verified from a study that there is operational and managerial vulnerability because the ATES program has a universal perspective, unlike what is seen in the extension of the pro-extension of the market. However, we can see some specific actions of ATES services that corroborate with an analysis, such as a large number of voltages aimed at the activity of making the market, as a promise of the other agents of the production chain municipality of milk.

Humanistic Management: a Universalist Perspective Based on a World Ethos

Humanistic Management: a Universalist Perspective Based on a World Ethos

Pashto Border Literature as Geopolitical Knowledge

ABSTRACTIn this article I read a selection of Pashto literatures against the grain of world history, as critical thought about geopolitics. Drawing on Michael Shapiro’s concept of aesthetic subjects, as well as on border theory, I argue that the authors, the content, and the literary networks of these works all critically comment on global relations of power, ranging from the local bordering effects of geopolitics, to systems of knowledge embedded in the spatiality and temporality of empire. I argue that past and current imperial processes have led to fragmenting effects in Afghan society, and literature both reflects and analyses this. More than that, though, I argue – using the lives of authors as well as their work – that literary activity in Pashto has actively negotiated such processes throughout its recent history, and offers strategies for different notions of global connectivity. The decentralized and multiperspective images of life in these works sit in counterpoint not only to the systems-oriented views that drive military and other policy in Afghanistan during the on-going US moment, but also to universalist perspectives upon which disciplines like world history and geopolitics have traditionally relied. This contributes to the aesthetic turn in IR by arguing that it is not only the aesthetic vision in works that can challenge dominant forms of knowledge: the shape of the Pashto literary formation itself, organic with its contents, is an alternate form of knowledge-in-practice about the contemporary world.

Benefits and Success of an Interdisciplinary Wellness Interest Group (iWIG) at a Modern Jesuit University

Aim: To highlight the early achievements and discuss the benefits of forming an Interdisciplinary Wellness Interest Group (iWIG) on a modern Jesuit University campus.Background: While wellness programs have a place in academic communities, universal perspectives on the best way to lead Wellness initiatives is lacking. An iWIG gives a common platform to share ideas, communicate across audiences, and provide important information to the campus community about health promotion and health patterns of the campus community.Methods: After assembling the iWIG team, on-campus meetings were held with members of the interdisciplinary group. These meetings include faculty, staff, and students from various departments. The iWIG continues to meet regularly to expand and develop wellness initiatives, research opportunities and to ensure a presence on campus.Results: The iWIG has impacted many initiatives on campus, a select few which are profiled in this manuscript. The group is involved in funded research studies, has received a "Healthy Workplace" designation, and continues to expand health and wellness into various departments on campus.Conclusions: The interdisciplinary group has provided those with an interest in health and wellness with a formal platform to express ideas and implement initiatives for all individuals to better the overall well-being of the university community.

The Effect of HR Practices on Business Performance in Morocco: An Application of the Universalist Approach

The role of HRM in improving business competitiveness is recognized. The scientific literature has several theoretical approaches through which some authors have attempted to validate this hypothesis. The objective of this study is to verify if the companies most successful in Morocco are distinguished by their HR practices under the Universalist approach. We quantitatively analyze the returns of a panel of 92 national and multinational companies in Morocco. A context far unexplored by management researchers. These companies operate, since the 80s, in a context of strong competition due to the globalization of markets. The results are used to validate the Universalist perspective and argue the scope of certain HR practices in this context.

The rise of new Dalit women in Indian historiography

AbstractEspecially since the political turmoil of the 1990s, scholars have focused on the marginalized histories of Dalit (“Untouchable”) communities in India. Yet these investigations also concentrated exclusively on the male Dalit community. Only recently, however, scholars have focused their attention on Dalit women as “subjects” of study. Dalits are dominated and dominating at the same time. My article examines Dalit women's lifeworlds under double patriarchy in colonial and post‐colonial India to highlight the contributions of scholars in understanding how different Dalit women are negotiating, challenging, politicizing, and transforming conditions of their discriminated Dalit status: as sexed women and caste Dalit. I theorize and focus on ways “new” Dalit women engaged with the incremental intersecting technologies of caste, class, gender, sexuality, and community to carve out their subjectivity, agency, respectability, and honor in modern India. To this end, I dwell on a variety of themes—generative gender and “new” Dalit women, upper‐caste prejudice, community, patriarchy, honor, and formal education to illuminate the changing sociality and complexities of Dalit women's worlds. My review article demonstrates that Dalit women's universal perspectives and historical and political practices are deeply democratic and as such have the potential of engaging in inclusive and productive politics, building solidarities, and actually reshaping the larger fields of South Asian Studies, India Studies, Dalit Studies, and Gender Studies.

Que educação é pública? A privatização de um direito.

Em seu livro 1984, George Orwell apresenta uma distopia que denuncia as mazelas do totalitarismo e a restrição da liberdade, na figura do ‘Grande Irmão’. Sob essa inspiração, este artigo constitui um ensaio teórico que tem por objetivo discutir o avanço dos processos de privatização no campo da educação e a relação atual entre o público e o privado. A partir das pesquisas realizadas pela autora no âmbito do Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Política Educacional (GREPPE), desenvolvemos o ensaio em resposta à questão originariamente formulada por Atria (2009) para o contexto chileno, qual seja: Que educação é pública? Como considerações finais, aponta-se que o atual ‘Grande Irmão’ é o Mercado e que os processos de privatização vêm se dando em um contexto de expropriação do direito à educação e colocando em cheque a perspectiva e o ideal de universalidade da educação. A questão ‘Que educação é pública?’ está hoje em disputa.

The Asian Examples and Perspectives

In this special issue we address how modern education crosses the borders of states, cultures and ethnicities towards developing universalistic perspectives. The Present Special Issue consists of 6 articles, 5 of them are on modernization of education in Japan and the remaining one discusses the issues concerning school education in Malaysia. Each paper illustrates the readers some of the typical phases of educational transitions which have been commonly observed in Asia. They represent reflexively and historically the educational situations which have been surrounding us all.