Liberal Views Research Articles

The political economy of gender mainstreaming in energy access in Sierra Leone

Abstract In 2017, the Economic Community of West African States launched its Policy for Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access with each member state tasked to create a National Action Plan (NAP). This study explores the case of Sierra Leone, to understand how stakeholders have influenced the NAP process, and what that might mean for implementation. Using the Actor-Objective-Context framework with interview data from key gender and energy actors. We find elements that make Sierra Leone’s NAP unique; such as addressing systematic barriers, explicitly promoting solar energy and heavily relying on civil society. The study finds that a policy focus on gender reflects both a push from international donor organisations and the national efforts of civil society. Sierra Leone’s NAP reflects the tension between the high priority of gender politics at the national and international level and more immediate interest from the Ministry of Energy and government actors on economic development. It affirms the uneasy co-existence of the liberal and liberating view of women in international development with some evidence that the liberal view prevails. Still, despite the government focus on economic development, poor engagement with the private sector and cultural barriers are likely to hamper the inclusion of women into the energy industry.

Representation of Gender Dominants in the Russian Language. Diachronic Aspect

The article speaks about gender dominants in the Russian language. In Russian linguistics the problem of studying gender becomes especially relevant in the beginning of the 21st century, although the studies of peculiarities and differences in the speech of men and women were conducted throughout the 20th century. Gender studies make it possible to analyze language taking into account the multifactorial influence of gender, with the binary opposition «male / female», «masculine / feminine» largely representing the value orientations of any ethnos. In modern society, linguistic gender dominants are associated with the activation of the feminist movement around the world, as well as with the spread of variously interpreted liberal views. In general, femininity and masculinity as part of modern linguoculture are related to the essential characteristic of an individual and are determined by the qualities considered «feminine» or «masculine» in Russian ethnoculture. That is why the phraseosemantic group of feminine and masculine lexicon is actively replenished in the modern Russian language. However, in general, it should be stated that in Russian linguoculture, first of all, the gender dominants, preserved since ancient times, which are based on the binary opposition of mother / father, man / woman.

‘Where else can they go?’: Violence, resistance and the socio‐cultural trajectories of Kashmiri women in Freny Manecksha's Behold I Shine: Narratives of Kashmir's Women and Children

AbstractIn the armed conflict between Kashmiri militancy and the Indian state forces, Kashmiri women have been relentless victims of abduction, rape, molestation, and cruel objectification by the militaristic patriarchs of both sides. In the context of the state's unaccountability, the rebuttal of justice is horrific in Kashmir. Consequently, due to predominant masculine, state‐centric, absolutist, and neo‐realist perceptions, the majority of atrocities against Kashmiri women have gone unregistered and unreported, failing to reach the pan‐Indian masses through the dominant media and literary narratives. This article explicates Freny Manecksha's book Behold I Shine: Narratives of Kashmir's Women and Children (2017) as a unique retelling of Kashmiri women's physical violence, fears, trauma, and, most importantly, their fortitude and recuperation. Drawing on feminist views on rape and repression, it exposes how rape in Kashmir incessantly functions as a weapon of suppression, relegating women to the most precarious position. Simultaneously, the discussion demonstrates how rape and oppression render Kashmiri women docile and vulnerable to cultural and collective trauma by employing the Foucauldian notion of docility. The article further addresses how Kashmiri women repudiate the traditional divides of private and public, overturn the social expectations of womanhood, contest the patriarchal excesses of militaristic Kashmir vis‐à‐vis their resilience, and protest against state‐sponsored violence. Thus, the article posits Manecksha's writing as a counter‐historiographic narrative for the marginalized voices of Kashmiri women, whose ways of redressing their grievances constitute subversive modes of resistance.

The Immigration‐Related Political Ideology Scale: Development, factor structure, and validity evidence

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to develop and validate the Immigration‐Related Political Ideology Scale (IRPIS), designed to measure diverse political perspectives on immigration among US voters. The IRPIS was developed following a series of focus groups and refined through a systematic item‐generation process involving expert panels. The scale was validated using a two‐step factor analysis with a nationally representative sample of 1292 US voters, divided into exploratory (n = 632) and confirmatory (n = 660) sub‐samples. The exploratory factor analysis identified seven distinct factors: conservative views, welcoming attitudes, world regions, flexibility, assimilationist expectations, multicultural expectations, and undocumented immigrant rights. Confirmatory factor analysis provided an acceptable fit (CFI = .901; RMSEA = .050), and the scale demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas ranging from .89 to .97). Inter‐factor correlations varied, with strong links observed among welcoming attitudes, flexibility, and multicultural expectations (r’s > .80), confirming a polarization between liberal and conservative stances on immigration. These findings suggest that the IRPIS is the first scale specifically designed to assess immigration‐related political orientations in a polarized US context. This tool has important implications for political strategy and policymaking, especially in the context of rising immigration rates and political polarization.Public Significance StatementThe present study validates the Immigration‐Related Political Ideology Scale (IRPIS) using a nationally representative sample of 1292 US voters. Immigration remains a highly polarizing issue, with deeply entrenched ideological differences influencing policy preferences and public discourse. Exploratory factor analysis identified seven distinct factors and confirmed a clear polarization between liberal and conservative views on immigration. The IRPIS represents a critical tool for research, political strategy, and policymaking.

Svenska narkotikapolisföreningens tidskrift - polisens bild av ett problem?

Aim: To analyze how the Police in Sweden perceives the drug problem and how it relates to changes in drug politics in the direction of liberalization. Method: The material analyzed consists of a content-analysis of the magazine of the Swedish Narcotic Police Association, covering 145 issues since the start in 1988, concentrating on lead articles, editorials and other articles on principles and politics. Results: The magazine demonstrate an alarmistic view of the drug problem, criticize government agencies and the media for liberal views, question the motives of proponents of decriminalization and legalization, leaves the costs of control of drug interventions aside, and sees the Police as guardian of status quo and as the defender of the goal of Swedish drug policy: "a drug-free society".

Post-conservative: A proposal for theological polarisation in Indonesia

Indonesia, as a country with rich diversity, faces a significant challenge in the form of polarisation, which occurs not only in the political sphere but also in religion and belief. In the context of Christian theological education in Indonesia, polarisation also occurs between conservative and liberal views. Conservatives adhere to literal interpretations and established doctrines, while liberals are more flexible and open to contextual interpretations. To address this polarisation, an approach that transcends both extremes is needed. This article proposes post-conservative thought as a conceptual solution for theological education in Indonesia. Postconservatism positions itself in the middle between conservative and liberal, recognising the importance of fundamental principles of faith while also being open to change and dialogue. This article employs a literature review method to analyse and develop a theoretical framework supporting the application of post-conservatism in Christian theological education in Indonesia. The analysis shows that postconservative theological education needs to be transformative, constructive-creative and liberating to break down polarisation and create inclusive, relevant and impactful education for society.Contribution: This study helps in integrating postconservative theology within theological education, fostering a more nuanced and transformative approach to interpreting Scriptures and addressing ethical and social issues. Interdisciplinary implications involve collaboration with social sciences, education, peace studies and health sciences to develop comprehensive strategies for community engagement, conflict resolution and holistic well-being.

“Childless cat ladies” and the 2024 US presidential election

Abstract Introduction : This study, part of a larger research project assessing the political views of people with pets (dogs and cats), investigates the political views and life satisfaction of women without children who own cats. The research aims to provide insights into this group’s perspectives on current issues, including abortion rights and voting intentions for the 2024 US presidential election. Methods : A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in August 2024, involving 236 American women cat owners without children, recruited through Prolific, an online marketplace for survey respondents. The survey assessed the sample’s demographics, life satisfaction using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), concerns about current events, views on abortion, political affiliation, and voting intentions. Results : Participants mean SWLS score was 18.64 (SD = 7.74), comparable to other adult populations. The majority identified as liberal (71%) and Democrat (54%). This population’s top concerns included healthcare, abortion rights, climate change and environment, and government ethics. A total of 88.1% believed abortion should be legal in all or most circumstances. Regarding the 2024 election, 86.4% plan to vote, with 72.9% of those planning to vote indicating they support the Harris/Walz ticket. Discussion/Conclusion : The findings suggest that childless women with cats are a politically engaged population with predominantly liberal views. While study limitations include lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the sample, this research provides valuable insights into the political leanings and life satisfaction of an often-stereotyped group.

Mental time travel in animals: the 'when' of mental time travel.

While many aspects of cognition have been shown to be shared between humans and non-human animals, there remains controversy regarding whether the capacity to mentally time travel is a uniquely human one. In this paper, we argue that there are four ways of representing when some event happened: four kinds of temporal representation. Distinguishing these four kinds of temporal representation has five benefits. First, it puts us in a position to determine the particular benefits these distinct temporal representations afford an organism. Second, it provides the conceptual resources to foster a discussion about which of these representations is necessary for an organism to count as having the capacity to mentally time travel. Third, it enables us to distinguish stricter from more liberal views of mental time travel that differ regarding which kind(s) of temporal representation is taken to be necessary for mental time travel. Fourth, it allows us to determine the benefits of taking a stricter or more liberal view of mental time travel. Finally, it ensures that disagreement about whether some species can mentally time travel is not merely the product of unrecognized disagreement about which temporal representation is necessary for mental time travel. We argue for a more liberal view, on the grounds that it allows us to view mental time travel as an evolutionarily continuous phenomenon and to recognize that differences in the ways that organisms mentally time travel might reflect different temporal representations, or combinations thereof, that they employ. Our ultimate aim, however, is to create a conceptual framework for further discussion regarding what sorts of temporal representations are required for mental time travel.This article is part of the theme issue 'Elements of episodic memory: lessons from 40 years of research'.

Бенжамен Констан как философ религиозного чувства

The paper deals with Benjamin Constant’s philosophy of religious sentiment. Constant is known primarily as political philosopher defender of Liberalism; at the same time, during his life Constant was interested in religion. The paper follows development of Constant’s views till his Athenaeum Lectures of 1818 and mature opus magnum “On Religion” (5 vols., 1824–1831). Constant’s philosophy of religious sentiment in many traits differs of the similar projects that were elaborated in the German-speaking space. Constant visited Germany for a long time, accordingly, he was acquainted with German-speaking philosophy and theology (Semler, Kant, Schleiermacher and many others); however, it did not shape Constant’s worldview. Rather, Constant used German ideas to answer on his own questions. Hence, Constant’s views are original in some traits. Firstly, unlike German colleagues he does not concentrate on epistemology of religious sentiment, but on the political and ideological aspects of religious feeling. Secondly, Constant opposes the sentiment itself to its forms changing in history as well as illustrates the latter by materials of ethnology and anthropology. Thirdly, this opposition represents the key scheme of phenomenology of religion, that is why Constant influenced not German but Dutch researchers, more precisely C. P. Tiele and G. van der Leeuw. Fourthly, Constant unlike German thinkers due to his explicite liberal views strongly criticizes church institutions. In general, despite of considerable distance between Constant’s and his German collеagues philosophers’ views, Constant is one of the closest to the German philosophy French thinkers. Constant's philosophy of religion is known primarily because of his political fame.

Feminist view in Emily Dickinson's selected poems

Feminist view in Emily Dickinson's selected poems

RAJA RAMMOHAN ROY: AN ANALYSIS OF HIS LIBERAL THINKING

Liberalism is one of the dominant political ideologies in the Nineteenth Century in Europe and today globally. Locke, Bentham, Mill, and all other liberalists seek to establish individual liberty and rights of the individuals. These are the core political values of liberalism. However, in the history of Indian political thought, Raja Rammohan Roy was a social reformer, the father of India’s Renaissance, the inaugurator of Modern India, and the ‘prophet of humanity’, had provided his liberal political views and argued it was the best ideology for the development and progress of India and its societies. He also speaks for individual liberty, freedom of the nations, rights of the individuals and their education, faith in democracy and constitutionalism, international coexistence, liberal perception of law and legislation, etc. All these made him a truly liberal thinker in India.

LATE MODERN ANXIETY AND DIGITAL JIHADIST ALTERNATIVE IN ANNA ERELLE’S IN THE SKIN OF A JIHADIST AND TIMUR BEKMAMBETOV’S PROFILE

For almost a decade, ISIS has held the status of the West’s radical other, its symbolic and real challenge to the western idea of modernity becoming ever more prominent and threatening with a growing accessibility of online propaganda content and recruitment via social media platforms in a largely unregulated social networking environment. In that context, the paper discusses Anna Erelle’s book In the Skin of a Jihadist and its film adaptation Profile as two distinct but complementary visions of the West and its other. My argument is that Timur Bekmambetov’s adaptation, as a Baumanesque critical reading of the West’s late modernity, is supplemental to the original text and its liberal views of jihadist otherness. Profile thus views the West and ISIS as two universalist visions of the world so that by facing the dangerous alterity on the computer screen, the West should not only see the morally inferior enemy to be exposed, transformed or eventually defeated but the reflection of its own late modern failures, disappointments and frustrations.

Short-term mindsets show co-development with adolescent delinquency, but not with adolescent cannabis use.

Guided by General Theory of Crime and Psychosocial Maturity Hypothesis, we investigated co-development between short-term mindsets (impulsivity and future orientation) and risk behaviors (cannabis use and delinquency). Parallel process latent growth modeling on three-wave data from ethnically diverse Swiss adolescents (N = 1365; Mage 13.67 years, 48.6% female), showed baseline-level associations between short-term mindsets and risk behaviors, and between the two risk behaviors. Additionally, correlated change (co-development) existed between short-term mindsets-particularly impulsivity-and delinquency, but not between short-term mindsets and cannabis use. These results support the above-mentioned theories and emphasize the importance of investigating the correlates of change in delinquency and cannabis use separately, as divergent findings might emerge. These divergent findings could partially stem from Switzerland's liberal views on cannabis use.

What is the Relationship between Islam and Liberalism in the Qur'anic Perspective?

This study examines the relationship between Islam and liberalism, reviews the concept of liberalism, its history, and the perspective of the Qur'an. Liberalism, which emphasizes individual freedom, is often seen as contrary to Islamic principles centered on Sharia. Rooted in the European Renaissance period, liberalism developed in response to the domination of religion and monarchy, encouraging democracy and a free economy. The Qur'an, in verses such as Sura Al-Baqarah, Ar-ra'ad and Al-Isra affirms the importance of obeying the Shari'a and staying away from lust. This research method uses an interpretive approach. Researchers analyze the text and interpretation of the Qur'an to understand the Islamic view of liberalism, with the aim of providing insight into contemporary liberalism discourse.

The Impact of Theology on Disaffiliation, Disengagement, and Disbelief

Abstract While the reasons for the differences in the growth rates of conservative and liberal churches are well studied, one important potential reason for this difference has received little attention. The argument that liberal theology undermines the basis of belief implies that those with liberal theological views may be more likely to lose faith and disaffiliate than those holding conservative theologies that reinforce adherents’ religious faith and practice. Using a nationally representative panel survey of the American public, the analysis performed here shows that those with liberal theologies were significantly more likely to disaffiliate from Christianity, attend church less often, and cease believing in God between the two waves of the survey than those with more conservative theologies. On the basis of these findings, more attention should be given to the role that theology may play in understanding patterns of secularization.

Justifying Limitations on Freedom of Expression for Contempt of Religion

In the recent past, there have been the cases of making abusive remarks against Prophet Muhammad, drawing cartoons of him, and burning the Holy Quran in public. These incidents no doubt outrage the religious feelings of people belonging to the religion of Islam. Besides this, they also contribute to violence and riot and the consequential deaths of people around the world. There are, however, literatures which seek to justify these conducts having a very liberal and extended view of the right to freedom of expression. They argue as if there should not be any limitation on freedom of expression so far that relates to contempt of any religion. I argue that freedom of expression howsoever valuable that might be, is a qualified as opposed to an unqualified human right. Hence, its exercise cannot extend to making abusive remarks against religious personages or defiling or burning the Holy Book(s) of any religion. If it is acknowledged by all including the relevant stakeholders of the United Nations, this might help reducing the chances of human casualties and deaths of people caused by alleged blasphemous conducts with respect to any religion. Foreseeing this significance, I aim to revisit the justification and limits of freedom of expression in the backdrop of contempt of religion.
 Dhaka University Law Journal, 2023, 34 (2), 43-65

Phycian assisted suicide: A Swiss perspective - a liberal view

Abstract Switzerland is a country in which the liberal tradition is cultivated and every citizen’s free decision is honoured. Associations such as EXIT or Dignitas, which advocate the right to self-determined death, were formed here early on. They see themselves as completing the Age of Enlightenment, where the end result is an individually self-determined death. The Swiss federal government is therefore reluctant to define criminal offences. However, it is regulated that active euthanasia is prohibited. The organisations mentioned are also not allowed to act for their own benefit.Meanwhile, the number of assisted suicides is higher than the number of suicides. The extent to which the one phenomenon is related to the other is open to debate.The topic is controversial among the general public and the medical profession. Nevertheless, the Swiss Academy of Medical Science has published guidelines on dealing with dying and death, which also deal with physician-assisted suicide.Various associations, including the umbrella organisation for suicide prevention in Switzerland, Ipsilon, are in favour of special protection for vulnerable groups. Some of them also recommend that civil law provisions be made for the process of assisted suicide.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

WHAT KIND OF HISTORY IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WRITING?

The purpose of the article is to find out the capabilities of public versions of modern artificial intelligence in the field of creating historical texts, their quality, theoretical orientation and the possibility of using them as a tool for historical research, as well as auxiliary material for students and anyone interested in history. To achieve the goal of the study, a comparison was made of texts on historical topics created by domestic (GigaChat from Sberbank) and foreign (ChatGPT 3.5 from OpenAI) artificial intelligence. Analyzing the test results, it was noted that both AIs make factual errors, including crucial ones. A comparison of foreign and domestic AI showed that the knowledge base used is much wider and richer in ChatGPT 3.5 from OpenAI, so it gives more detailed, extensive and balanced answers. GigaChat from Sberbank, as well as ChatGPT 3.5 from OpenAI, «adheres» to mainly liberal views on Russian history, which is explained by the predominance of Western liberal theories in domestic historical literature, used as an AI knowledge base. Assessing AI responses in general, the author believes that both versions of artificial intelligence give a mostly negative assessment of Russian history. The author considers it inappropriate to recommend both AIs for use by schoolchildren and students as an auxiliary tool for studying Russian history.

Exploring the Impact of Socio-Demographic, Health, and Political Factors on COVID-19 Vaccination Attitudes

This study examines the influence of socio-demographic, health, and political factors on attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination during 2021-2022. Utilizing data from the General Social Survey (GSS), the research explores the relationships between COVID-19 vaccination status and variables such as confidence in medicine, political views, general health condition, income, education level, and marital status. The analysis employs logistic regression models and Chi-Square tests to assess these relationships. Key findings indicate that higher income and education levels, as well as more liberal political views, are positively associated with vaccination uptake. In contrast, marital status presents a more complex picture, suggesting further exploration is needed. The study highlights the multifaceted nature of vaccination decisions and underscores the importance of tailored public health strategies that address the specific needs and concerns of different demographic groups. The research also acknowledges challenges and limitations, including issues related to causality, confounding factors, data quality, generalizability, response bias, and multicollinearity. Overall, the study contributes valuable insights for policymakers and public health practitioners aiming to enhance vaccination campaigns and policies.

The Limits of ‘Opportunity’: Is There a Clear Labour or Conservative View of Social Mobility?

AbstractThis article considers the relationship between views of social mobility in British politics, identifying four competing views in government statements, political news stories and opinion pieces. The two established views are the Blairite liberal view, which seeks to widen entry into the ‘playing field’ of educational ‘opportunity’, and its companion bourgeois view, protecting the acclaim given to elite educational experiences. Against these established views are two insurgent views: a (politically ignored) socialist view and a ‘postliberal’ view introduced into the Social Mobility Commission under the chairship of the loosely Conservative‐aligned Katharine Birbalsingh. On the right, the postliberal and bourgeois views explicitly clash. On the left, with the socialist view dormant, the postliberal view is assimilated by Labour almost as a socialism substitute, appearing in turn with the Blairite liberal view in Labour rhetoric. The result is, respectively on right and left, disharmony and incoherence in the meaning of social mobility.