Work History Research Articles

RUSSIAN ÉMIGRÉ LITERATURE AND THE “RUSSIAN HELP ACTION” OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK GOVERNMENT

The article is devoted to the features of the phenomenon that was formed in the early 1920s in Prague, the Russian émigré literary centre. It is emphasised that thanks to the government support provided within the framework of “The Russian Help Action” dozens of émigré institutions and organisations were founded, which considered their main task to satisfy the cultural, including literary, needs of the exiles. The exile work of writers, critics, historians and publicists was directly connected with Prague, as their heritage had made the important contribution not only to Russian but also to the world culture. Many writers settled there and the significant part of them remained in Czechoslovakia until the end of their lives. Among them were Arkady Averchenko, Alfred Bem, Valentin Bulgakov, Boris Yevreinov, Daniil Ratgauz, Pyotr Kozhevnikov, Vasily Nemirovich-Danchenko, Marina Tsvetaeva, Evgeny Chirikov, Konstantin Chkheidze, Roman Jacobson. Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, being an expert on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s creative activity, had no doubt that Soviet power would become a thing of the past, therefore in his opinion it was necessary to preserve Russian intelligentsia in exile, which he considered the main bearer and propagator of democratic ideas.

Iron Deficiency and Restless Sleep/Wake Behaviors in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Mental Health Conditions.

Iron deficiency (ID) and restlessness are associated with sleep/wake-disorders (e.g., restless legs syndrome (RLS)) and neurodevelopmental disorders (attention deficit/hyperactivity and autism spectrum disorders (ADHD; ASD)). However, a standardized approach to assessing ID and restlessness is missing. We reviewed iron status and family sleep/ID history data collected at a sleep/wake behavior clinic under a quality improvement/quality assurance project. Restlessness was explored through patient and parental narratives and a 'suggested clinical immobilization test'. Of 199 patients, 94% had ID, with 43% having a family history of ID. ADHD (46%) and ASD (45%) were common conditions, along with chronic insomnia (61%), sleep-disordered breathing (50%), and parasomnias (22%). In unadjusted analysis, a family history of ID increased the odds (95% CI) of familial RLS (OR: 5.98, p = 0.0002, [2.35-15.2]), insomnia/DIMS (OR: 3.44, p = 0.0084, [1.37-8.64]), and RLS (OR: 7.00, p = 0.01, [1.49-32.93]) in patients with ADHD, and of insomnia/DIMS (OR: 4.77, p = 0.0014, [1.82-12.5]), RLS/PLMS (OR: 5.83, p = 0.009, [1.54-22.1]), RLS (OR: 4.05, p = 0.01, [1.33-12.3]), and familial RLS (OR: 2.82, p = 0.02, [1.17-6.81]) in patients with ASD. ID and restlessness were characteristics of ADHD and ASD, and a family history of ID increased the risk of sleep/wake-disorders. These findings highlight the need to integrate comprehensive blood work and family history to capture ID in children and adolescents with restless behaviors.

Night Shift Work Associates with All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Large Prospective Cohort Study.

Health problems associated with shift work and night shift work are gaining increasing public attention. To investigate the association between night shift work and the hazard of mortality. Prospective cohort study. A total of 283,579 individuals with paid employment or self-employment aged 37-73years were included from the UK Biobank with a median follow-up period of 14.0years. Participants were divided into day workers and shift workers, including the frequency of night shifts, to evaluate the association between baseline work schedules and all-cause and cause-specific mortality using the Cox proportional hazards model. Additionally, 75,760 participants with work histories were assessed for the association between average frequency and cumulative years of exposure to night shift work and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Compared with that of day workers, the adjusted hazard of all-cause mortality was increased by 12.0% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.18) in shift workers, particularly in those with no or rare night shifts (approximately 16.1%; HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.25) and those with irregular night shifts (approximately 9.2%; HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.00-1.19). Moreover, a non-linear relationship was identified between cumulative night shift years and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Only individuals who worked night shifts for 20-30years exhibited a substantially increased hazard of all-cause (HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.15-2.00) and cardiovascular disease (CVD; HR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.16-3.71) mortality. Shift workers, particularly those with rare or irregular night shifts, exhibited an increased hazard of mortality. Additionally, participants who worked night shifts for 20-30years exhibited a substantially increased hazard of all-cause and CVD mortality.

The quest for the ukrainian “Araucana”. The case for the humanization of the Orc

The decade-long armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine (2014-2024) has been characterized legally and politically in different ways, such as a war of self-defense against external aggression to uphold the rules-based international order, or a war of national liberation against occupation and full-scale invasion by an imperialist power. On a social level, the rhetoric or language used by the immediately affected parties reveals the need to construct the conflict also as an existential fight between good and evil whereby the enemy is dehumanized by referring to them as “orcs.” Yet, this rhetoric could prove counter-productive as both a matter of principle and expediency. As a matter of principle, the same rules-based international order for which this just war of self-defense is being fought requires the humane treatment of the enemy. As a matter of expediency, the demeaning label “orc” risks being reclaimed by the enemy as a source of national pride and cultural identity, thus bolstering their will to fight and making a return to peace more difficult. The humanization of the enemy as both the right thing to do and the more convenient course of action is the best approach not only to win the war, but to fight and win well. The methodology used consists of textual analysis and philosophical argument drawing on primary and secondary sources. The former include historical works from both Hispanic and Ukrainian literature, namely the epic poem “La Araucana” (1569-1578-1590) by Alonso de Ercilla, and “Eneida” (1798) by Ivan Kotlyarevsky, a parody of the epic poem written by Virgil. Secondary sources include works of history, sociology, philosophy, law and ethics, as well as epic fantasy, namely J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” and Kirill Eskov’s “The Last Ringbearer”.

Informing the ontologies of organizational histories: the critical conceptualization of events and actualization in organizing

ABSTRACT Critical Organizational History (COH) lacks a reflexive discussion about its ontological possibilities. This article fills this gap through a comparative analysis of Foucault’s and Deleuze’s late philosophies of history. It offers a reflexive analysis about the ontological possibilities for COH by translating Foucault’s and Deleuze’s views of actualization and events in ways that inform COH. First, the ‘new metaphysics of history’ developed by Foucault stresses the importance of the continuous reopening of the present through events, which then defines specific attitudes, subjectivation, and care as ethics as the focus of historical work. Second, a ‘post-historical metaphysics,’ as elaborated by Deleuze, reflects a more asubjective stance, in which the post-historical move remains metaphysical. Images, aberrant movements, machines and agencements mediate the fluid becoming of experience, which is primary locus of history and critique. Both routes emphasize the role of critique as actualization and eventalization, thus continuously opening and bordering the present. An example of worker surveillance illustrates Foucault’s and Deleuze’s views on actualization, eventalization, and their approach of history. This article uncovers an interesting confluence of these approaches for organization scholars, namely, through the combination of events with non-events stressing the importance of absences and silences in critical descriptions.

VISUAL AND ARTISTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRAGEDY "NAJMIDDIN KUBRO" (ABOUT THE TRAGEDY OF AMON MATJON)

This article focuses on the bright examples of innovation and tradition in the tragedy "Najmiddin Kubro" by Amon Matjon. It is shown through analysis that along with the work of Alisher Navoi and the influence of folklore, the original image, plot and expressions of the poet are sufficiently manifested.Historical works of Amon Matjon can provide important facts and conclusions for studying the issue of historical interpretation in dramaturgy. In it, the poet tries to maintain a balance between historical reality and creative freedom. It was impossible not to reflect the spirit, ideology, and views of the time in the poet's historical works. At the same time, attention is paid to the fact that the artist was able to place his important socio-political thoughts and, importantly, opinions that are completelycontrary to the environment of his time, in the lines that reflect the ideology of the time and are adapted to it.

Church and State relations in Lesotho: A historical review locating the voice of the church in Lesotho’s political and mainstream history

The year 2024 sees Lesotho celebrate 200 years since the formation of Basotho as a nation. In these 200 years, the church has played a significant role in nation building and development. This article explores and seeks to locate the voice and presence of the church both as an ecumenical body and as a prophetic voice within the tumultuous history of Lesotho’s politics with a specific timeframe from 1833-2002. A literature review of relevant academic articles as well as historical works is used to ensure that the accounts recorded are factually correct. The formation of Basotho in the 18th century is a direct result of violence and war in the form of Lifaqane. King Moshoeshoe I, founder of the Basotho nation believed that peace could be procured via the presence of missionaries, therefore denoting the establishment of the church as an important factor. Within Lesotho’s mainstream history, the role played by the church has often been referred to in passing. Common sayings like “Baruti ba Moshoeshoe (Moshoeshoe’s pastors/ministers), and Lesotho ke naha ea Bokresete (Lesotho is a Christian nation)” are often quoted, and yet the actual role that the church has played and continues to play in Lesotho’s history and development has been an after-thought. In light of this, this article locates the role that the church has played in different eras of Lesotho’s history. From the establishment of the 1 st church (Protestant Church) in Morija, to the formation of ecumenical bodies such as The Heads of the Churches and Church Council of Lesotho to the current emerging coalition democracies under the constitutional monarchy.

ELEMENTS OF ANCIENT BELIEFS IN BASHKIR MATERNITY RITUALS

The article deals with some customs and rituals associated with childbirth. The relevance of the conducted research is conditioned by the growing interest in the role of ethno-cultural values in modern society and increasing attention to the previously underexplored phenomena of everyday life. The study of folk customs, rituals and representations related to childbirth will contribute to the understanding of the deep layers of Bashkir spiritual culture. Maternity rituals represent an important aspect of Bashkir cultural tradition. It encompasses prenatal, as well as birth and postnatal rituals, which to this day play an important role in the formation of family and social ties. The aim of the study is to identify elements of ancient beliefs in the Bashkirs' maternity rituals. An integrated approach, involving the analysis of ethnographic, historical, philosophical and folklore scientific works, was applied to achieve this goal. The research was based on a wide range of published and unpublished sources. The research revealed that the Bashkirs' maternity ritual is based on the ancient beliefs and ideas of the Bashkirs about man, nature and the world as a whole. It includes elements of animism, totemism, fetishism and magic. Important aspects of ritualism are connected with the protection of the child and the woman in labor, as well as with the first 40 days and the first year of the child's life. The elements of ancient beliefs revealed in the course of the research are manifested in the belief in the existence of spirits and souls, totem, in the ancestor worship, and are connected with beliefs in the protective properties of certain objects of the material world. The Bashkirs' maternity rituals include components of apotropaic, procreative and sympathetic magic. The study made it possible to study more deeply the mythology, ancient religious beliefs and traditional culture of the Bashkirs, to trace the evolution of the Bashkirs' maternity ritual and their transformation in modern conditions, to reveal the general regularities of the development of ritual culture, as well as the specific features characterizing particular nations. The preserved actions of magical rituals connected with childbirth refers to their stability and ability to adapt to new changing conditions of life.

Atypical Presentation of Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome.

Hypothenar hammer syndrome (HHS) is a rare vascular disease caused by repetitive trauma to the hypothenar eminence, leading to thrombi and sometimes aneurysm development in the ulnar artery. This case report presents an atypical presentation of HHS with pathology extending distally into the digital arteries, complicated by an unclear history and unique genetic contributions. The patient, a 58-year-old male with a distant history of jackhammer work, presented with progressive pain in his fourth and fifth digits. CT angiography revealed patchy vascular lesions in the palmar arch. He developed another thrombi despite being treated initially with heparin. Genetic analysis revealed that he was heterozygous for Factor V Leiden with decreased protein C levels. Following surgical intervention, he recovered well. The author report a case of HHS in which medical management was superior to surgical treatment due to combined occupational and genetic predisposition for vascular pathology with findings extending beyond the ulnar artery.

Life outcomes in adults living with FASD in a rural South African community: A follow-up study.

Even though adults with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are at risk of negative life outcomes, there is no published evidence of this in South Africa, which has the highest estimated FASD prevalence rate globally. The purpose of the study was to describe and compare the life outcomes of adults with FASD and adults without FASD in a South African rural community, 16 years after diagnosis. Participants were examined and interviewed regarding their biographical information, knowledge of FASD, information on their family, relationships, home circumstances, education, work and medical history. Adults with FASD were less likely to be in a relationship and more likely to have poor educational outcomes and to be exposed to violence as victim or perpetrator than their peers who did not have FASD. None of the participants with FASD completed secondary school successfully. No differences were found for independent living, employment, health, substance use and legal outcomes, between the foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or partial foetal alcohol syndrome (PFAS) and control group. While significant differences existed in certain aspects, differences are not as stark as one would expect between individuals with FASD and controls. This study highlights the importance of considering the social context in which a FASD diagnosis is made. The comparative negative impact of an FASD diagnosis and the associated challenges on life outcomes may be less pronounced in rural communities where everyone has fewer opportunities and resources. This can also make the unique needs of persons with disabilities less visible.

Japanese spotted fever in an area endemic to SFTS virus: Case report and review of the literature.

The geographic spread of Japanese spotted fever (JSF) in China is gradually expanding, particularly in regions where severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is highly prevalent, with both diseases sharing similarities in epidemiology and clinical presentation. The microbiological diagnosis of JSF is challenging, compounded by low awareness among healthcare professionals in newly affected areas. Moreover, primary healthcare facilities without polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing capabilities for SFTS often misdiagnose JSF as SFTS. All 3 patients had a history of working in the fields, with cold like symptoms in the early fever stages, but the fever did not improve after a few days. The accompanying symptoms were also very different. Physical examination revealed enlarged lymph nodes, different forms of rash, with or without eschar. Laboratory tests showed thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and transaminase, with 1 patient experiencing renal damage. It is worth noting that these 3 patients reside in an area where SFTS is endemic, and there have been no prior reports of JSF. They exhibited clinical symptoms and laboratory test results closely resembling those of SFTS. Therefore, they were initially misdiagnosed with SFTS in their local hospitals. The 3 patients who arrived at our hospital 7 days after symptom onset and were subsequently diagnosed with JSF by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Doxycycline treatment for 1 week. The patients' symptoms quickly improved with no side effects, and the results of laboratory tests went back to normal. By comparing the clinical characteristics of JSF patients and SFTS patients comprehensively, we found that APTT and procalcitonin levels may be valuable in assisting in the identification of SFTS and JSF. In all areas where tick-borne diseases are endemic, include SFTS-epidemic areas, we recommend using the Weil-Felix test to screen for potential rickettsiosis in patients presenting with fever and thrombocytopenia with or without rash in primary healthcare settings, as well as simultaneous testing for the SFTS virus and spotted fever group rickettsioses sequence. Additionally, mNGS sequencing should be used to confirm the diagnosis and provide information for epidemiological investigations in patients who are suspected of having spotted fever group rickettsiosis.

Pandemic Times and Health Care Exclusion: Attitudes Toward Health Care Exclusion of Undocumented Immigrants.

Most of the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States are excluded from government healthcare programs. Yet, healthcare inequities pose significant dangers to all members of society during a pandemic. This project explores to what extent undocumented immigrants, in the context of a pandemic, can be seen as deserving of access to government healthcare programs. The first survey experiment explores whether work ethic can affect perceptions of undocumented immigrants as deserving of government healthcare programs. The second survey experiment tests to what extent appeals to fairness and self-interest, during a pandemic, shape healthcare deservingness attitudes. The results show that respondents view undocumented immigrants as less deserving of healthcare than citizens, even when undocumented immigrants have a solid work history. The second survey experiment, however, shows that appeals to fairness and self-interest trigger substantial increases in support for undocumented immigrants, both among Republicans and Democrats. The results suggest that while undocumented immigrants are seen as less deserving of access, appeals to fairness and self-interest can trigger increased support.

Decades of monitoring plastic pollution in seabirds in Canada: Spatial, temporal, and methodological insights

Plastic ingestion by seabirds is an increasing issue worldwide, yet species can vary in ingestion based on ecological and morphological differences. This provokes the ecological question of which species are better suited to monitor plastic ingestion across regions and time. In Canada, we examined plastic ingestion in sympatric northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis), black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia), and black guillemots (Cepphus grylle). Here, we present new data and compare to historical work to inform plastic pollution monitoring in Canada. In 2021, 51 % of fulmars, 7 % of kittiwakes and 7 % of murres contained plastic, whereas guillemots had no pieces >1 mm. Regardless of the methods used to collect and process samples, fulmars continue to have low levels of ingestion compared to the European Arctic, but high levels compared to other species in the Canadian Arctic, emphasizing their continued utility as a monitoring tool for plastic pollution in Canada.

ASTM International Subcommittee E07.02 on Reference Radiological Images: A brief history and update of recent work

Radiographic interpretation is a combination of art and science. The radiograph interpreter must be well versed in x-ray physics, conditions of the exposure, characteristics of the source and image detector, the design of the part, its specifications, and potential flaws. But there is also an art to interpretation that is gained over years of looking at many radiographs taken in many different conditions. As an aid to interpretation, reference radiographs have been developed and well accepted as means of identifying different types of indications and grading those indications for accept/reject decisions. Industrial radiography began in 1922 under the direction of HH Lester at the US Army Watertown Arsenal. The first radiography standards and reference radiographs appeared in the 1930s. ASTM International Committee E07 on Nondestructive Testing was formed out of Committee E04 on Metallography X-ray Methods subcommittee in 1938 when ASTM was the American Society for Testing Materials. An ASTM Subcommittee on Reference Radiographs was formed in 1950 and immediately adopted some of these first reference films as consensus standards. Since those first reference radiograph standards ASTM has developed both film and digital radiograph standards for 11 types of castings and 3 types of welds, several radiographic parameter demonstration films, a standard film for measuring film digitization performance, and films for evaluating visual acuity of radiograph interpreters. This paper discusses the history of reference films and the recent development of digital reference images, film digitizer performance film, and the visual acuity standard. The just-approved ASTM E3168 Standard Practice for Determining Low-Contrast Visual Acuity of Radiographic Interpreters is the first standard containing actual radiographic images of varying sharpness, contrast, and noise that can be used to evaluate interpreters and/or interpretation environments. This paper documents the initial statistical study performed on the visual acuity standard films.

Prisoner Health and Well-Being in Historical Perspective, 1850–1900: Exploring Experiences of Illness and Disability in the Victorian Convict System

Using historical and archival methodological approaches, this article provides an interdisciplinary empirical study of health experiences of prisoners in the Victorian convict prison in England and Wales. It explores the challenges of doing historical criminological work on prisoner health and disability. The article examines the health of long-term prisoners, those serving sentences of penal servitude and their interactions and treatment by the Prison Medical Officers in the system. Reflecting society outside, the prison population was drawn from populations that had experienced childhood illness, workplace accidents and war and therefore had to accommodate those suffering from both short- and long-term health issues. Using historical documentation and case studies of individual prisoners, this article highlights not only the deep scepticism the system had for those they saw as ‘malingerers’, but also the recognition that some people could not endure the full force of the prison labour regime.

Resisting racial police warfare through radical history

This piece foregrounds the critical role of historical knowledge in animating and determining contemporary strategies to resist institutional racism and militarised policing. Modern (neo)liberal myths about the post-racial and non-martial character of policing in Britain rely heavily on historical erasure. This is evidenced by recent policy‐based drives to enforce ‘impartiality’ and ‘inclusion’ when teaching history in schools. A resulting politics of forgetting renders invisible the routinised and normalised status of racially determined forms of militarised policing, thus enabling contemporary expression of racial police warfare to be downplayed as exceptional, marginal and aberrational. Southall Resists 40 (SR40), a community-led project in Southall, West London, challenged such forgetting by publicly narrating Southall’s history of racism and resistance in a way that showed how it speaks to the now. The historical work of SR40 unsettles hegemonic myths about the police as an ‘impartial service’.

Retirement preparedness: A study of gender, marital status, and motivation factors by using a theory of planned behavior model

Although working men and women share common retirement concerns, women encounter unique challenges in securing their retirement. These challenges arise from factors such as part-time work, intermittent work histories, and potential wealth disparities. Marital status also exerts a profound influence on retirement decisions. Marital status significantly impacts their financial security as they approach retirement. This study investigates the intricate relationship between gender, marital status, and theory of planned behavior factors that influence retirement planning among older adults. Utilizing data from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and RAND, the research analyzed 2,657 participants aged 50 to 62, all of whom reported full or part-time employment. Also, the research leveraged the theory of planned behavior to examine motivational factors affecting retirement planning. The study’s findings highlight the significant association of gender with expected retirement timing, revealing that married women typically anticipate retiring earlier than both unmarried women and men. In addition, older adults who secure retirement resources tend to retire earlier. It is important to develop tailored policies and initiatives to address the specific retirement challenges women face. It is imperative to develop retirement support systems that consider the gender, marital statuses, and retirement resources of older adults, and to give special attention to those who are vulnerable. This study provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay of gender, marital status, retirement motivation factors and retirement planning among older adults.

Loneliness Trajectories and Chronic Loneliness Around the World.

We examine cross-national variation in (a) loneliness trajectories and (b) the association between common social risk factors and chronic loneliness in middle and older adulthood. Using longitudinal data, we assess the country-level prevalence of loneliness trajectories (chronic, transitory, and no loneliness) and the extent of common social risk factors for loneliness (living alone, widowhood, divorce, no grandchildren, having chronic conditions, and never working) among adults 50 and older in 20 countries covering 47% of the global population in this age bracket. Additionally, we compare how the associations between social risk factors and chronic loneliness vary across countries. We find considerable variation in the prevalence of chronic loneliness cross-nationally, ranging between 4% (Denmark) and 15% (Greece) of adults 50 and older. Living arrangements have the most consistent association with the likelihood of chronic loneliness across countries, with those ever living alone having an 8% higher likelihood of chronic loneliness on average across countries, with a range of 2%-25%. Additionally, those who never report working and those with chronic conditions have a higher likelihood of chronic loneliness across more than a third of the countries. These results suggest that policies and interventions targeted to middle age and older adults living alone and with limited work histories or with chronic conditions are critical in reducing the public health challenges of chronic loneliness.

Emotion regulation reduces victim blaming of vulnerable sex trafficking survivors.

This research applied emotion regulation to negative emotions felt toward a sex trafficking victim so that judgments were made to offer her services rather than to favor her arrest for prostitution. We predicted that participants would favor police not arresting a trafficking survivor for prostitution when she was vulnerable (Hypothesis 1) or she showed no sex work history (Hypothesis 2). We predicted a moderated mediation model (Hypothesis 3), in which emotion regulation training to reduce feelings of contempt, anger, and disgust (CAD) toward the survivor interacted with vulnerability and prior sex work such that the effects of the latter two manipulations were the strongest in the successful emotion regulation conditions (i.e., cognitive reappraisal and cognitive reappraisal with motivation), with CAD emotions mediating those relationships. Participants (N = 421, 54% women, Mage = 42.63 years, 75% White) read a modified version of a sex trafficking case and decided whether the police should arrest the survivor for prostitution. Each participant was randomly assigned to one of 16 conditions in a 4 (emotion regulation: control vs. cognitive reappraisal vs. motivation vs. cognitive reappraisal plus motivation) × 2 (vulnerability: vulnerable background vs. nonvulnerable background) × 2 (prior prostitution history: engaged in prostitution before the trafficking incident vs. not engaged in prostitution before the incident) factorial design. Participants with cognitive reappraisal training, but not controls, who read about a vulnerable survivor were less likely to favor arrest. Moreover, those who trained with cognitive reappraisal plus motivation to decrease their CAD emotions, compared with the controls, showed weaker CAD feelings toward the vulnerable survivor, which in turn predicted a lower probability of favoring arrest. Reducing CAD emotions through emotion regulation supported the impact of emotions on culpability judgments and showed how emotion regulation can be used to support a victim-centered approach to fighting sex trafficking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Almost Happiness, But Not Quite: Reluctant Rule by Law and Thai Legal History in Seni Pramoj’s Legal Autobiography

This article engages with Thongchai Winichakul’s intellectual history of “Rule by Law” by using Greta Olson’s law and affect approach as a departure from the traditional field of law and literature, which focuses solely on discursive practices. It foregrounds the non-cathartic affect of reluctance, a less canonized emotion in Seni Pramoj’s autobiography as a meta-feeling that underpins all emotions such as pride, happiness, and shame in the meta-narrative of conservative Thai legal history. Introducing the concept of “Reluctant Rule by Law” and applying Sianne Ngai’s concept of ugly feelings, Lorianne York’s notion of reluctant celebrity, and postcolonial studies as a main framework, this article argues that Seni’s Janus-faced characteristic, navigating between Western legal modernity and Thai tradition, infused a reluctant tone into his historical works. This autobiographical reluctance reveals how the conservative Thai jurist upheld royalist nationalism while addressing semi-colonial ambiguities, perpetuating a semi-colonial reluctance that shapes the meta-narrative of conservative Thai legal history and constitutionalism based on royalist nationalism.