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Background: Working in inpatient mental health settings is often characterised by highly emotive work and staff shortages. Despite the suggested benefits of reflective practice groups on staff well-being and clinical practice across healthcare settings, to date, there have been limited empirical studies on reflective practice groups in inpatient mental health settings, especially on group engagement and improvement. Methods: We interviewed fifteen participants, including both facilitators and attendees of reflective practice groups. Participants were from eight inpatient mental health wards across two National Health Service settings in the UK. We analysed interview transcripts using thematic analysis. Result: We deductively organised the data into themes and subthemes under three overarching domains–"Impact", "Factors on Engagement", and "Improvement". Theme development was generated inductively from the data. For impacts, we found reflective practice groups may bolster staff reflective capacity and team cohesion. The groups may help attendees create appropriate distance from their emotions and overcome power hierarchies. We discovered that the availability of reflective practice, sense of containment in groups, and team composition may influence group facilitation and engagement. For improvements, different measures could be adopted to improve access and engagement of staff with difficulties attending. Facilitators may benefit from more support to establish a reflective culture and experiment with new ways of facilitating. Discussion: Our findings add to the growing evidence base of the potential value of reflective practice groups in inpatient settings and elaborate on novel mechanisms of their potential impact. This study highlights changeable factors for engagement, concrete recommendations for improvements, and opportunities for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concept of epistemic injustice in the neglected tropical disease (NTD) knowledge ecosystem, highlighting how power dynamics and biases influence scientific research and policies. It explores testimonial and hermeneutical injustices, emphasizing the marginalization of local knowledge and experts from endemic countries in global health research. The piece calls for reforms to address epistemic injustice, advocating for diversifying leadership, enhancing transparency, and promoting anti-oppressive teaching to create a more just NTD knowledge ecosystem. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding diverse knowledge systems and supporting a critical mass of thinkers to disarm injustice in the global knowledge ecosystem. [Extracted from the article]

Christianity's political prominence in Ghana has attracted the attention of scholars interested in the wider issues of religion and politics in sub-Saharan Africa. Analyses of the political influence of Christianity in Ghana generally focus on domestic factors, without considering external actors' involvement. This article examines the political impact of the leading form of Christianity in Ghana, Pentecostalism, in relation to both domestic and external factors. The aims of the article are, first, to explain and account for Pentecostals' political impact in Ghana. The second aim is to explain and account for the links between elements of the American Christian Right and prominent Pentecostals in Ghana. Both support normatively conservative, even regressive, policies which, the article argues, encourages the breakdown of Ghana's civil religion. Ghana is the first west African nation to be subject to sustained attention from elements of the US Christian Right, following similar efforts in east Africa, particularly in relation to Kenya and Uganda. This novelty makes the American Christian Right's focus on Ghana both noteworthy and an important topic of research in the context of the internationalisation of the former. The article is divided into four sections. The introductory section presents the main sections of the article, and provides a thorough account of the background of the study. The second section surveys what has been called the 'pentecostalisation' of Christianity in Ghana, which aligns with similar processes in other sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria. The third section examines the links between Ghana's Pentecostals and elements of the American Christian Right and explains how this helps to fuel a breakdown Ghana's longstanding allegiance to civil religion. The final section describes the main political result: the scapegoating and criminalisation of Ghana's numerically small, beleaguered gay community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social power can activate behavior toward goal attainment. In the context of romantic and sexual relationships, social power may facilitate competitor derogation tactics and self-promotion tactics to attract a partner. We hypothesized that perceived invulnerability to harm would provide a pathway linking social power to competitor derogation, whereas self-perceived mate value would provide a pathway linking social power to self-promotion. Findings from 218 participants (Mage = 38 years) revealed that experimentally manipulated social power enhanced perceived invulnerability, which in turn was positively associated with competitor derogation. Social power did not affect ratings of self-perceived mate value. Women more strongly endorsed self-promotion in pursuit of a short-term (vs. long-term) relationship, whereas men's ratings did not vary by relationship goal. Our findings suggested that social power may influence goal-directed thinking and behavior in the context of romantic and sexual relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a political perspective, 1928 marks the beginning of a new period in the history of democracy in the U.K., this being when universal full suffrage was achieved via the Representation of the People Act. Taking into consideration this and other social and political factors, the main aim of the present paper is to investigate how the process of democratisation influenced the language employed by Members of Parliament between 1930 and 2005. For this purpose, we examine the use of markers of authority and power. Specifically, the evolution and use of gender-neutral occupational titles are analysed. The corpus used for this investigation is the Hansard Corpus (Alexander and Davies 2022), which includes written records of British parliamentary debates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has developed an unlikely but pragmatic ally in expanding his hold on state power: the armed forces. This article shows how Erdoğan fundamentally restructured and curbed the military's power after the failed coup attempt of 2016. These reforms divided the army, empowered the police‐like gendarmerie, and placed civilian authorities squarely in control of both. The study analyzes the use of the gendarmerie inside Turkey, and the army outside, as the government battled the Covid‐19 outbreak and tried to assist foreign countries in their fights against the pandemic. This use of hard power bolstered the government's soft power, strengthening the Erdoğan regime. The case demonstrates the effectiveness of Turkey's new civil‐military relations and indicates that we should expect to see the state continue to leverage its military capacity to solve problems at home and abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Richard Saull's two-volume work, "Capital, Race and Space," which examines the far-right from Bonapartism to Fascism through a Marxist lens. Saull's analysis covers a wide historical span, emphasizing the international dynamics and ideological underpinnings of far-right movements. The text critiques prevailing paradigms in fascist studies and highlights the influence of leftist thinkers on understanding fascism in the 20th and 21st centuries. Saull's work delves into the complexities of far-right ideologies, historical materialism, and the impact of capitalism, imperialism, and race on the development of far-right movements. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the key aspects that contribute to Qatar's influence and soft power and investigates how Qatar strategically utilizes culture, economics, sports diplomacy, and media influence to shape perceptions of Qatar. A focal point of Qatar's soft power tool is Al Jazeera, which serves not only as a media giant but also as a dynamic force to amplify Qatar's influence. The article focuses on the resonance of Qatar's cultural initiatives, tourism sector, and sports and how these elements together contribute to soft power. Against the backdrop of regional challenges, Qatar's strategic posture emerges as a resilient force that positions the country as a key player in shaping regional dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on infrastructure studies in Latin America, specifically on the collapse of the Talavera bridge in Lima, Peru, in 2017. The social, political, and cultural implications of infrastructure in the region are discussed, highlighting inequality, failures, and associated violence. It analyzes how infrastructure generates power relations and affects different social groups, as well as its role in the transformation of landscapes and social relationships. The importance of studying infrastructure from an anthropological perspective to understand its complexity and its effects on society is addressed. [Extracted from the article]

Participatory Budget, as a process for democratic decision-making in allocating public funds, has gained traction globally since the initial experiences in Porto Alegre, Brazil in the 1980s. This article analyses the 2022 and 2023 experiences of participatory budget (PB) in the city of Monterrey, Mexico. Based on a comparative analysis of secondary data of Monterrey's two-year programme, the study illustrates the obstacles and potentialities of implementing PB. Some of the limitations revolve around intergovernmental coordination, spatial limitations and limited impact on changing power relations concerning urban interventions. In assessing the programme's implementation, we seek to highlight that while participation indeed increased from 2022 to 2023, the conceptualisation of the programme differs from the original one in Porto Alegre, and distribution of projects and resources remains uneven. By critically evaluating Monterrey's PB initiatives, the article aims to contribute to the broader discourse on the complexities and challenges of participatory budget implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating diverse disciplines and knowledge practices into conservation offers new insights into the complex socioecological dynamics of conservation challenges and how to address them. Integration, however, is not simple; disciplines differ widely in their epistemic and professional commitments, theories, methods, applications, practices, and codes of ethics. Using an epistemic justice approach, we examined how and why different forms of disciplinary and social diversity are connected and offer a framework for promoting disciplinary diversity for conservation science and practice. This framework draws on a literature review and open‐ended responses from surveys of Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) members (n = 577) and nonmembers (n = 213) on experiences of professional and disciplinary exclusion and inclusion collected by SCB's Disciplinary Inclusion Task Force. We propose 4 steps conservation organizations and projects can take to promote disciplinary diversity and inclusion: know your history; understand power dynamics; listen to underrepresented voices; and operationalize disciplinary diversity and inclusion. As members of a highly interdisciplinary and diverse task force, we illustrated this framework through reflections on our shared experiences working together and the challenges and opportunities we faced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social and economic position and power shape everyone, including scientists and researchers. The way researchers do conservation science and the voices centered in the process are a result of researcher upbringing, experiences, access to resources, and values and are a manifestation of positionality. Positionality is a concept that can help one think about one's position and power in one's work. Creating a successful research partnership requires careful thinking about how equity, diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility are accounted for in the research environment. We drew on our own experiences as early career, mid‐career, and Indigenous researchers to explore researcher positionality and how understanding one's positionality can bring to the fore power dynamics in conservation science and research. We focused on the use of reflexive practice to recognize diverse roles and responsibilities, build strong project governance, and enrich relationships. We considered 2 large research partnerships, Apoqnmatulti'k (Mi'kmaw for we help each other) and the SakKijânginnaniattut Nunatsiavut Sivunitsangit (Inuttitut for Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures) project, to examine moments of tension and interrogation of power and the ways in which this interrogation led to stronger relationships and better research. We advise that large transdisciplinary and cross‐cultural research teams use positionality and reflexivity to explicitly make choices about power dynamics in the context of executing partnership‐driven work. This can be accomplished through personal and collective interrogation of the power dynamics at play in project administration, research questions, and interpersonal relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how students across the hemisphere rose up in solidarity with Palestine, creating encampments on college campuses in various countries to condemn the genocide in Gaza. The encampments aimed to demand divestment from the U.S. and Israeli war machine while also addressing broader issues related to collective control of universities and society. Participants faced repression from university administrators, police, and Zionists, but navigated these challenges through security measures and unity. The movements aim to strengthen solidarity with Palestine and other struggles in the coming year, focusing on decolonization, international collaboration, and raising awareness about ongoing genocides. [Extracted from the article]

The role of elite coalitions, violence and social orders in the development process has recently resurfaced in economic literature. In this article, we mobilize some of the literature on elite coalition, elite circulation and institutional change and provide a framework for understanding institutional change as the result of major misalignment between rent-seeking and rank-keeping. We also analyse how lock-in systems implemented by the elite in place provoke political instability. This framework is then applied to Thailand, which has experienced political instability in the past decades. The rapid empowerment of an ascending elite provoked a major misalignment between its growing economic power and the legitimacy of the established political order, i.e. a major contradiction between a rent-seeking and a rank-keeping conception of the legitimacy of elites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Effective communication is a key element of medical care; it can foster a warm interpersonal relationship, facilitate the exchange of information, and enable shared decision-making. In the context of obstetric care, it is associated with a range of positive clinical and social outcomes for mother and baby. Extant communication frameworks and respectful maternity care (RMC) guidelines emphasize the importance of effective communication during intrapartum care. Yet, studies conducted in Indian public health settings suggest that there are gaps in the implementation of RMC guidelines. Methods: As part of a larger study on disrespect and abuse in Indian public hospitals, we studied the nature of communication in the intrapartum context and the extent to which it is respectful. The study is based on interviews with 29 providers across different levels of public health facilities. Interviews were translated, transcribed, and thematically coded. We examined codes related to communication to understand what kinds of communication occur during intrapartum care and the role played by knowledge and power hierarchies. We then considered their implications for RMC. Results: We identified four types of communication that occurred in the context of intrapartum care: (a) compassionate, to comfort and support the laboring woman, (b) factual, to obtain or provide information or updates, (c) prescriptive, to obtain consent and cooperation from the woman and her family members, and (d) defensive, to protect against accusations of poor care. Knowledge and power hierarchies operated differently in each type of communication, with prescriptive and defensive communication more likely to be disrespectful than others. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that successful implementation of RMC guidelines requires greater attention to knowledge and power hierarchies, and an understanding of the ways in which they operate in a clinical setting. Integrating this understanding into guidelines, medical education, training programmes, and interventions will facilitate effective and respectful communication during maternity care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political skill facilitates political influence, enabling individuals to distinguish themselves within an organization. The influence of political skill operates through three primary processes: interpersonal, behavioural and intrapsychic. These processes provide a comprehensive understanding of how political skill functions within an organizational context. According to political influence theory, we propose that political skill can promote informal leader emergence through its interpersonal process, which enhances team member relationship quality, and its behavioural process, which demonstrates peer‐perceived competence. Furthermore, by integrating political influence theory with social interdependence theory, we identify outcome interdependence as a mechanism that elicits intrapsychic processes, specifically as a moderator that influences the indirect effect of political skill on informal leader emergence. Results from two multi‐wave, multi‐sourced studies provide empirical support for the notion that political skill encourages employees to emerge as informal leaders within a team by increasing team member relationship quality and peer‐perceived competence. Additionally, outcome interdependence amplifies the indirect and positive effects of political skill on informal leader emergence. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article outlines ethical principles for ‘participant-centred linguistic research’ (PCLR), a term we coin to incorporate a range of linguistic research approaches that place importance on the involvement of participants. Linguistics, as a field, has strengthened its focus on participant-centred and socially situated research, recognising the value of better understanding our participants’ practices and linguistic knowledge. However, this also brings ethical challenges for our research practice. Drawing on three differing UK-based case studies from the authors’ own work, the article explores complex issues that can arise during PCLR and establishes four key principles that cut across our varied experiences. Firstly, we address participant consent and confidentiality, establishing the principles: 1. Informed consent and ethics protocols are dialogic processes and 2. Expectations around confidentiality and anonymity can shift during a project. Secondly, we address our research relationships with participants, our key principles being: 3. The researcher-participant relationship is complex and variable and 4. Close attention must be paid to power dynamics within the research setting. Ultimately, we argue that the human interactions and relationships involved in PCLR mean research may inevitably be somewhat unpredictable; researchers therefore need an understanding of the ethical parameters of their practice to navigate these complexities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a time of elation and sublime emotions which are also reflected in partner relationships, within a context characterised by materialism and social structures in which gender relations are affected by the domination/subordination model. This paper analyses the affective-sexual relationships of adolescents as a place of violence, power relations, domination and submission. It also studies the importance of social networks in their way of interacting and learning. The methodology used was, on the one hand, the review of bibliographic material regarding romance, partner relationships, gender violence and using of networks, and, on the other hand, the analysis of the results obtained from two studies carried out by the University of Granada, with quantitative and qualitative information on adolescents in Andalusia. The results of this research indicate that relationships are permeated by the idealisation of romantic love and by stereotypes leading to practices of control and possession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Lost in Translation: Vietnam, the Paris Talks, and the Chennault Affair" explores the intricate diplomatic negotiations during the Vietnam War in 1968, focusing on President Thiệu's reluctance to engage in peace talks due to concerns about the NLF and Hanoi's intentions. The narrative challenges traditional depictions of Anna Chennault's role in the affair, highlighting the complexities of South Vietnamese politics and the influence of key figures like Averell Harriman. By examining Vietnamese sources and U.S. archives, the text sheds light on the intersection of diplomacy and domestic politics, emphasizing the importance of a nuanced understanding of historical events. [Extracted from the article]

The article delves into the complexities of U.S. military advisors' role in Korea during the Korean War, focusing on cultural differences, power dynamics, and the challenges of implementing U.S. military standards in a different cultural context. It highlights instances of corporal punishment and physical abuse within the ROK Army, shedding light on the legacy of imperialism in shaping military practices. The investigation into Captain Paul Thornton's involvement in an assault on Korean National Railroad employees underscores the cultural clashes and concerns about discipline in the ROK Army, revealing the limits of American influence and the selective application of cultural norms in postcolonial contexts. [Extracted from the article]

Most scholarly work concludes that leader humor positively affects emotional outcomes for followers. However, two interrelated issues with past research make this view incomplete: (a) studies often conflate the act of expressing humor with the humor's effectiveness, and (b) existing research overlooks follower emotion regulation. In addressing these issues, we generate and test new theory that challenges the theoretical consensus, highlighting why and when leader humor expression has emotional costs for followers. Specifically, we theorize that leader humor quantity, irrespective of its quality, puts pressure on followers to engage in "surface acting" to fake or exaggerate positive emotions. We further propose that these surface acting responses are more likely to occur when followers hold high power distance values, such that followers more willingly comply with expectations to display positive emotions in response to leader humor expression. This increase in surface acting then leads to more emotional exhaustion and less job satisfaction for followers. Results from three studies—incorporating a field experiment, a laboratory experiment, and a multi-wave field study—provide support for these hypotheses. We close with a discussion of how our findings provide a unique counterpoint regarding the effects of leader humor on follower emotional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rise in racism, racial violence, and hate crimes has catalyzed the implementation of workplace allyship initiatives as a mechanism for creating equity and inclusion in organizations. Yet, these allyship initiatives can evoke leader anxiety because they make power dynamics salient. Extant allyship literature has not considered the implications of leader anxiety for allyship and power dynamics that contribute to inequality in the workplace. Thus, in this paper, I reveal how allyship initiatives may trigger different types of leader anxiety (i.e., preventive, promotive, and mixed preventive–promotive) and motivate different leader allyship actions, which I refer to as "LEAP" behavior. As a conceptual framework, LEAP categorizes four broad allyship actions theorized in prior research: Locating oneself, Engaging in discussions, Asking probing questions, and Providing support. LEAP also acknowledges nuances in leader anxiety that can lead to different types of LEAP behavior (i.e., restricted, responsive, or radical). Lastly, I posit that leaders' LEAP behavior can reinforce power imbalances, challenge power imbalances, or change power structures in the workplace. Ultimately, this paper contributes a more nuanced conceptualization of leader allyship behavior to the allyship literature, and provides a foundation for identifying strategies for increasing equity and inclusion in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, a proliferation of research has supported the "business case" for diversity, in which scholars collect empirical data to demonstrate a relationship between the demographics of employees and organizational financial performance. However, the business case is only one way—and, we argue, the wrong way—of valuing the presence of women in business. In this manuscript, we focus on gender lens impact investing to interrogate the epistemic assumptions underlying the business case for diversity, and suggest that these assumptions have the potential to strengthen the very power structures that have historically excluded and marginalized many women. We then present an alternative: an intersectional theory of gender diversity. We argue that intersectionality requires diversity initiatives in organizations to include both the recognition of the interactions of multiple forms of identity and marginalization and as well as the goal of dismantling the structures and practices that contribute to marginalization. This approach can be adapted to a range of organizational and industry contexts, and it will need to be thoughtfully applied in order to be effective in promoting gender equitable workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As customized artistic commodities, export paintings mirrored Guangzhou's unique overseas trade culture and social power in a microscopic view, nevertheless, few researchers have delved into the cultural relationship between the use of the painting techniques and the characters of the export paintings. Based on an iconographic approach, this article aims to analyze the historical iconography information of the Qing dynasty export paintings from the perspective of the trade development and cultural exchange between the East and West during the 18th century by the study of the export paintings' characters expressions and costumes colors, providing insights into the exploration of the value of tangible cultural heritage. In the process of our research, shows that: 1) the dominant laboring characters in the export paintings present standing postures, and most of them demonstrate negative emotions; 2) many of the characters of the export paintings show high similarities due to the assembly-line mode of painting during manufacture; 3) the portrayal of the characters in the export paintings reflects a return of a sense of humanity. This is evident in the fact that the subject of the paintings abounds in the scenes showing local folklore, working views, and daily life in Guangzhou. Meanwhile, the characters in the painting are vividly portrayed in a realistic style. The use of mixed colors on the costumes of different characters reflects a universal value of having regard for the equality of all men; 4) Guangzhou export painting decorative art evolution of the development of the dual development of Chinese and Western fusion of veins. Guangzhou export paintings of the Qing dynasty satisfied the customers' reverie for 'Oriental Civilization' and their purpose of seeking novelty of foreign cultures. It also revealed the subtle dynamics of the interplay between Guangzhou's social power, trading capital, and blending art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peasant women are at the center of the struggle for land and resistance to the hegemonic model of agriculture. This article refers to a qualitative study carried out with peasant women from the Quilombo Campo Grande, located in the state of Minas Gerais, in Brazil. It is a territory whose history is rooted in land occupation processes organized by the MST (Landless Rural Workers Movement). The objective of this study was to analyze the strategies adopted by women regarding seeds and their relationship with the development of agroecology. Data for this article was collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. We have noticed that agribusiness and financialization are central to understanding power relations in the current food system. On the other hand, agroecology has provided the basis for several strategies that go against the hegemonic model. When fighting daily for agroecology, the strategies adopted by peasant women constitute an important reference in the fight against the financialization and commodification of the agri-food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the importance of Korean cultural diplomacy, as an important soft power tool through which the Asian state consolidates the positive image of the Korean peninsula in the world. Similar to the soft power of the United States of America and Japan, the Republic of Korea also has an indirect and private cultural diplomacy enforced by K-Pop singers and Korean movie stars, and a direct cultural diplomacy financed by various agencies of the Korean government or even Korean universities. The “Korean Wave” phenomenon will be briefly introduced in the first part of the article. It appeared in East Asia in the 1990s and afterwards spread to the Middle East, North America and Europe. The influence of this private cultural diplomacy in Romania is discussed, as well as how Korean culture became more widespread with the help of three important Romanian universities. In the last part of the paper, we will concentrate on the way in which Korean cultural diplomacy influences Romanian public libraries. In order to better illustrate the spread of Korean culture in libraries we used the example provided by the “Petre Dulfu” County Library and “Octavian Goga” Cluj County Library. Although the Korean influence is only at the beginning in Romania, we see that the funding offered by Korean entities improve the Korean book resources in libraries, which assists the dedicated librarians in preparing better programs to promote Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's state of deterrence vis-a-vis China has significantly weakened over the last two decades. This has occurred in the backdrop of asymmetries that are both natural (geographic) as well as institutional – economic growth rates, defense production and preparedness. India's attempts to restore deterrence starting since 2009 has failed to serve its objectives owing to imperfect strategic assessments, over-reliance on non-deterrence measures to ensure stability, and under-investment in military power. Such conditions had led to a deterrence posture that was high on assertiveness but low on credibility. India continues to under-invest in military capabilities and neglect deterrence, even while undertaking significant steps toward creating a military-industrial complex primed for the future. Hence, India needs to restore deterrence – of a kind that is generalized, credible, and based on the buildup of war fighting capabilities. In order to escape the decadal land dilemma, India needs to emphasize its strengths in terms of air power (instead of sea power); and in terms of external options, India could adopt a more flexible version of strategic autonomy. The paper further argues that such a deterrence posture needs to be complemented by a high-level political approach toward a final resolution of the border dispute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the complex dynamics between India and China, particularly their positional and spatial rivalries in the Indo-Pacific region. Since the late 1940s, the two nations have engaged in territorial conflicts along the disputed border, culminating in the 1962 war. China's quest for preeminence in the Indo-Pacific prompted India to strengthen ties with the US, join the Quad, and enhance regional partnerships. This paper argues that China's intrusions along the Line of Actual Control in May 2020 aimed to teach India a lesson reminiscent of the 1962 war, diminish its influence, and force acceptance of China as the preeminent power. Analyzing China's ambitions, and India's strategic responses, the article assesses India's inclination to recognize China's dominance in the Indo-Pacific. As the two nations grapple with historical baggage and contemporary geopolitical shifts, the article explores the implications of their strategic choices on regional stability and global power dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legal frameworks are important for institutionalising and strengthening social protection systems. Two states in Nigeria, Jigawa and Zamfara, have enacted social protection laws. This article explores how the process of enacting such a law is influenced by state-level politics and local contexts, and how the activities of a project financed by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) contributed to much greater understanding and acceptance of social protection in both states. Primary data collected through in-depth interviews with state and non-state stakeholders and project staff was analysed to tease out the political, cultural, and power dynamics involved in enacting the laws. Findings show that a range of factors aimed at building the case for, and understanding of, social protection across a range of stakeholders was critical, and that a fairly standard package of tools employed in advocating for institutionalising social protection was influenced considerably by domestic political dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional embroidery of tehuana costumes is a central economic activity for many families in Juchitán Oaxaca, primarily carried out by women. Zapotec embroiderers weave threads of history by reproducing ancestral techniques, generating income that allows economic self-sufficiency and improves living conditions in their homes; this activity also energizes other local economic sectors by promoting the sale of textile materials; they are proud guardians of the cultural preservation of their ancestral traditions by promoting the use of the tehuana dress in religious commemorations and traditional dances. The objective of this research is to analyze the social, economic and cultural contributions of women who embroider tehuana costumes in Juchitán, Oaxaca, to understand their influence on the comprehensive development of the community, a quantitative methodology was used to evaluate cultural identity, and empowerment social, 80 women embroiderers were surveyed. The results show the importance of autonomy, commitment to your family and the community through your work regardless of the challenges. The result of this research shows that the artisanal work of the embroiderers is transcendental in the cultural preservation of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The hospital discharge process poses significant safety risks for older patients due to complexities in communication and coordination among stakeholders, leading to potential drug‐related problems post‐discharge. Adopting a person‐centred care (PCC) approach in medication communication by healthcare professionals (HCPs) is crucial to ensure positive health outcomes. This study aimed to explore the practice of PCC in medication communication between older patients and HCPs during the hospital discharge process. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using non‐participatory direct observations of patient–HCP consultations during hospital discharge, followed by semi‐structured interviews with observed patients and, when applicable, their informal caregivers. Data collection occurred from October 2020 to May 2021 at two Swedish hospitals. We gathered data using an observational form and audio‐recorded all consultations and interviews. The data were analysed thematically using the systematic text condensation method. Results: Twenty patients were included (median age: 81 years [range: 65–94]; 9 female) in observations and 13 of them participated in interviews. Two patients were accompanied by an informal caregiver during the interviews. Three main themes were identified: (1) The impact of traditional authoritarian structures, depicts power dynamics between patients and their HCPs, showing how traditional structures influence the practice of PCC in medication communication during hospital discharge; (2) Consultation timing and mode not on patients' terms, describes suboptimal times and settings for consultations, along with the use of complex language that hinders effective communication; and (3) Discrepancy in expectations of self‐care ability, illustrates a mismatch between the self‐care guidance provided by HCPs during hospital discharge and the actual needs and preferences of patients and informal caregivers. Conclusion: Medication communication between older patients and HCPs during hospital discharge is frequently inconsistent with the practice of PCC. Not only must HCPs improve their communication strategies, but patients and their informal caregivers should also be better prepared for discharge communication and encouraged to participate in their care. This involvement would give them relevant knowledge and tailor communication to their individual needs, preventing problems in managing their medications after discharge. Patient or Public Contribution: An advisory group of six patients and/or informal caregiver contributors provided input on the study design, edited the consent forms, and helped develop the interview guide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Guidance on co‐production between researchers and people with lived experience was published in 2018 by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) advisory group, previously known as INVOLVE. This guidance described sharing power as a key principle within co‐production. Authentic sharing of power within co‐produced mental health research does not always occur however and remains a challenge to achieve within many projects. Objectives: To explore what has been learned about the sharing of power in co‐production within mental health research since the publication of these guidelines, by synthesising qualitative literature relating to power within co‐produced mental health research. Methods: We carried out a systematic review with thematic synthesis. We searched CINHAL, Embase and PubMed databases to identify qualitative or mixed‐method studies relating to power within co‐produced mental health research. Studies were independently screened by two reviewers for inclusion and appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool (CASP) for qualitative research. Results: We identified nine papers that met the criteria for inclusion and were included in the synthesis. Three themes were generated: (1) Battling to share power against a more powerful system, (2) Empowerment through relationships and (3) The journey is turbulent, but it is not supposed to be smooth. Conclusions: Results highlight that power is pervasive, especially within the hierarchical systems research is often conducted within. Sharing power within co‐produced mental health research is an ongoing complex process that is not intended to be easy. Respectful trusting relationships can help facilitate power sharing. However, ultimately meaningful change needs to come from research funders, universities and NHS providers. Patient or Public Contribution: The study authors include a lived experience researcher who contributed to the review design, analysis and write‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The judgment of Eve in Genesis 3:16 has traditionally been construed as an etiological curse on the relationship dynamics between genders, garnering scholarly scrutiny on the terms for desire and rule. Many exegetes regard this verse as the biblical rationale for patriarchal cultures throughout history. Despite attempts to ameliorate the notion of husbandly rule to protectorship, guidance, and loving servant-leadership, the power asymmetry between genders hinges on the interpretation of a simple Hebrew preposition be, commonly translated as "over" at the end of Genesis 3:16 as "he shall rule over you". This article re-examines the semantics of the linguistic pairing of the particular ruling verb māšal followed by the preposition be through three verses in close proximity: Genesis 1:18, Genesis 3:16, and Genesis 4:7. Given the contextual sensitivity inherent in flexible prepositions, a theocentric reinterpretation of the surrounding narrative opens the possibility for a new redemptive reading by rendering the preposition as "with," a meaning well within its semantic spectrum. In that case, to a woman hurt by betrayals from the animal, botanical, and human realms of her new existence, God promises help in healing her damaged marriage by intensifying her emotional desire for her husband, then chiding Eve to include him in her future decisions: "and he must rule with you". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the conflict between liberal egalitarianism and the principles of liberalism, arguing that the former's commitment to distributive justice undermines the latter's respect for personal property and occupational choice. Topics include a reinterpretation of Robert Nozick's critique of distributive justice, the argument against the notion that Nozick's critique is question-begging, and the implications for the state's role in enforcing egalitarian distribution.

This article provides a cross-case study of three studies that utilized anti-adultist approaches to collaborating with youth as co-researchers. Drawing on reflections from both adults and youth, we present an analysis of three case studies of adult and youth experiences in planning, implementing, and conducting research studies aimed at centering youth perspectives. Findings include what adults and youth learned about the co-researching process and highlight the need for careful consideration of how both adults and youth can disrupt adultist power dynamics. We argue that amplifying youth co-researcher perspectives in research can create a mutually meaningful and empowering research process for both adults and youth by promoting more equitable relationships and participatory practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What constitutes an ethical analytical response to Black living? This manuscript thinks with theories of Blackness to explicate how the question of the human, specifically, what it means to be human, interrupts traditional methodological discourse, and requires a critical form of labor to account for the breadth and depth of Black liveliness and living. Diverging from traditional distance-oriented research practices, the author puts forth "Black methodological intonations" as methodological praxes. Unlike conventional methods that prioritize detachment, this manuscript advocates for a transformative attunement that actively engages with and alongside Black liveliness. Grounded in the embodied and relational concept of hapticity, the manuscript outlines the theoretical framework of Black methodological intonations, emphasizing the necessity of transcending mere spectatorship in research on Black life. In conversation with Arthur Jafa's film, "Love is the Message, the Message is Death" (2016), the manuscript employs haptic reflexivity to consider profound listening, viewing, and feeling experiences in connection with the Black quotidian. Jafa's film serves as a compelling example of reshaping the white gaze's racialized power dynamics. The analysis of the film through the lens of hapticity yields valuable insights, culminating in essential considerations for Black methodological intonations as methodological response-making. Key themes include attunement, impressions, slowness, and emanation, contributing to a nuanced understanding of methodological practices that engage with the precarity of Black liveliness and living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of migration research, the frequency of employing qualitative walking interviews has risen in recent years to delve into the construction, evolution, and negotiation mechanisms of migrant identities within everyday spatial practices. This novel mobile method emphasizes the interaction between micro-experience and macro-structure. It facilitates a shift away from viewing migrants as passive outsiders, empowering them with increased agency, and allow researchers to gain deeper insights into migrants' emotional dynamics, life experiences, and self-identification within new social landscapes and power configurations. This systematic review aims to evaluate, integrate, and analyse the current empirical evidence in qualitative migration research using walking/go-along interviews for different types of migrants (defined as an individual who moves away from his or her place of usual residence, whether within a country or across an international border, temporarily or permanently, and for a variety of reasons). This review brings together for the first time the knowledge and insights from migration research that involves walking interviews. This review employs framework synthesis to analyse the 24 included articles, identifying five major themes: (1) synergising diverse research methods within different research designs; (2) adjustment of power dynamics; (3) migrants' place-based threefold agency; (4) migrants' identity construction; (5) place-based sense of belonging or exclusion. By integrating these themes, the methodological contribution of this review lies in recognizing the advantages of combining walking interviews with other research methods, which lies in capturing the multidimensional aspects of mobility, allowing researchers to flexibly switch between methodological strategies and spatial scales. Additionally, this paper recommends a deeper exploration of migratory experiences to transcend prevailing practical knowledge and pay sensitive attention to potential ethical issues throughout the research. Such investigation has the potential to uncover the dynamic evolution of agency, identity construction, and the fluctuating sense of belonging among various migrants throughout their journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present essay seeks to understand the relationship between religion and modernity in the Qajar period. The lack of awareness of modernity on the one hand and the modernization of the society on the other hand, set the conditions in such a way that the components of modernity are needed so that the society moves from the traditional state to modernity. In this period, which was the origin of modernity in the West and the flow of development naturally took place in the advanced industrial countries, and the industrial and advanced countries of that time were led to development from the many conflicts between the three centers of political, religious and economic power, after the war In the second world, when the flow of development tried to enter the non-developed countries and they were faced with structural and territorial barriers and the lack of legal and legal guarantees, they turned into countries against the flow of development. In the country of Iran, the process of development started with the constitution, but at the same time, many factors were the main obstacles for this development by fueling social, religious and political discontinuity. In the present essay, which was written using the method of library and content analysis, it tries to explore the components of modernity and their relationship with religion in the Qajar period. The results show that industry and technology, new schools, freedom, law, parliament and constitution, equality and modern army are among the most important and necessary components of modernity for the Iranian society of the Qajar period, and on the other hand, aspects such as thinking Religion in Iran during the Qajar period, tyranny of the Qajar period, fatalism and economy were the most important obstacles to the entry of modernity into Iran during the Qajar period. Method: The present research is based on the library and content analysis method and seeks to understand the relationship between religion and modernity in Iran during the Qajar period. Results: Law, freedom and constitutional revolution can be mentioned as the most basic components of modernity. Law is the basis of every concept that exists in modernity. Freedom, democracy, equality, citizenship rights, religious and religious reforms, and the like all come back to the five-letter word law. Law in its modern sense relies on the will of the people and arises from their will. And on the other hand, during the Qajar period, there were obstacles on the way to freedom in its new meaning. These obstacles were not limited to royal tyranny, but religious tyranny and intellectual petrification were also other obstacles. The tactic of excommunication and apostasy of freedom seekers by some mujtahids and scholars of the Qajar period is a clear example of this fundamental obstacle to freedom. The constitutional revolution is considered one of the other components of modernity, and although the constitutional revolution did not seem to have failed and after the conquest of Tehran and even during the Pahlavi era, the country was always called constitutional, but inwardly, the constitutional movement had suffered a severe defeat. Also, the main losers of the constitutional revolution have been considered by the clerics. During the Qajar era, the clergy was the most powerful and influential political force after the rulers, but after the constitution, during the Reza Shah era, it was severely weakened and went to the point of complete elimination from the Iranian society. Conclusions: From the results of this research, including the opposition to freedom who believed that there is no such thing as freedom in Islam. Also, the establishment of schools was a point of discussion and strongly opposed. In general, in the constitutional conflict, the question of constitutional legitimacy was raised and the path of constitutionalism changed. The word legitimate created a privilege for the opponents of modernity to monitor the laws of the Constitutional Assembly, although this situation did not last long and led to serious opposition in the issue of constitutional legitimacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines South Korean propaganda aimed at influencing the public towards North Korea through the military-themed drama series Crash Landing on You interspersed with romantic stories typical of Korean dramas. The propaganda techniques used in the drama use glorification and demonization techniques. The purpose of this paper is to analyze South Korean soft power propaganda in the drama series Crash Landing on You. Propaganda in international relations is used as an analytical tool in this study, as well as the meaning of propaganda and propaganda techniques as supporting concepts for this study. The method used is a qualitative method, observations are made by observing the contents of the drama. The type of data used in this study is secondary data in the form of document studies, and the validity of the data is obtained by observing the drama series which is the research instrument. Based on the results of the study, it is concluded that South Korea uses popular culture as propaganda which contains elements of glorification and demonization. Korean dramas are the most easily accepted media and are easier to influence public perception. So through the drama series Crash Landing on You as a propaganda medium and wrapped in romantic stories, which have a significant influence in shaping public opinion about North Korea as a "backward" country and creating a positive image of South Korea. The broadcast of the drama had a negative impact on North Korea because the public increasingly viewed North Korea negatively as a country with a cruel dictator leader. This certainly benefited South Korea because the drama series was quite popular, but it also harmed North Korea because the country's image became worse in the eyes of the world. So from this propaganda, the relationship between the two countries became heated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the center of developments on local, regional, national, and global scales, and the site of influential actors, Tehran's metropolitan area has long been a stage for political power dynamics. Additionally, the presence of geopolitical drivers has further elevated its position in power relations. The central question of this research was this: What are the drivers and future scenarios of power relations in Tehran Metropolis? This was an applied research study with an exploratory nature. To answer the research question, indicators were extracted through a multi-stage interview process involving 30 elite experts and an elite panel. The Delphi method was also used to screen the propellants. The data were analyzed using the MicMac and Scenario Wizard software. The research results revealed 45 possible situations across 7 scenarios with strong and likely compatibilities. Based on the scenario table of geopolitical drivers affecting the future of power relations in Tehran Metropolis, 33.33% were in a favorable situation, 41.6% were in a semi-favorable situation, and 25% were in a static situation. The 1st and 2nd scenario boards were the most prominent in terms of position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indo-Pacific is a geopolitical construct that combines the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, representing the new strategic reality of the twenty-first century. Indo-Pacific is also considered significant for countries as it is a strategic and economic domain with a critical role in maritime security and cooperation. With a strategic location in the Indo-Pacific region, India is now a theatre of opportunity to increase its role regionally and globally. The Indian Ocean carries 90 per cent of India's trade and its energy sources, and nearly 50 per cent of India's trade is centred in the Indo- Pacific region. India's relations with incredible powers, island nations, and smaller littoral states will significantly shape India's Indo-Pacific strategy. Increasing non-traditional threats and growing challenges from rising China are significant drivers of India's policy options in the post-pandemic world. India's soft power diplomacy and bilateral and multilateral partnerships in the region continue to be decisive factors for security and balance of power in the post-pandemic scenario. Thus, the geo-strategic environment of the Indo-Pacific in the post-pandemic era is crucial for India and the countries in the Indo-Pacific region as a whole for their growth, development, and security. Thus, this paper explores India's crucial role in ensuring the security and equilibrium of the post-pandemic Indo-Pacific through a comprehensive analysis of its strategic initiatives and regional dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essay indicates the main antecedents for the organization of the health system in Chile that is presently in force, with transformations following the country's coup d'état 50 years ago. It describes the recent debate over, and resistance to, the transformation and strengthening of the public system, with regard to controlling the health industry in the post-dictatorship, from the point of view of the sectors of economic power as well as the important viewpoint of the population, which in the face of a discouraged public health sector, seems to overlook the collective meaning of health care and the role of a state guarantor and protector of minimum social rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnic identities often solidify in response to perceived or actual injustices endured by groups. Historically, Amharic-speaking people in Ethiopia have resisted ethnic identification, aligning instead with broader Ethiopian nationalism. However, the rise of extreme ethnonationalist forces in the country has subjected the group to negative narratives, violence, and marginalisation, associating them with past state domination. In response, the Amhara have increasingly embraced ethnic identity as a form of self-defence. This study employs thematic analysis to explore the experiences of the Amhara people and the subsequent emergence of their collective identity, including the rise of resistance movements. Despite this new alignment, Amhara elites and activists paradoxically maintain a strong commitment to Ethiopian unity, reflecting a complex duality in their socio-political stance. This balancing act illustrates their struggle to survive while remaining loyal to national unity. The article argues that sustained violence and marginalisation have catalysed the rise of Amhara group consciousness, transforming Ethiopia's political landscape. This study offers broader insights into how group mentality can emerge as a response to systematic and sustained injustice and the implications this has for redefining power politics in Ethiopia and beyond, providing insights for policymaking and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study published in the Journal of General Physiology introduces a new tool for estimating the subcellular distribution of glycogen in skeletal muscle. Traditionally, glycogen content has been measured using chemical methods that provide an average measurement, but this overlooks the uneven distribution of glycogen granules within muscle fibers. The study demonstrates how artificial intelligence can be used to quantify the subcellular distribution of glycogen granules, which could provide valuable insights into the relationship between glycogen content and glucose uptake in muscle cells. The article also discusses the need for further research into the subcellular distribution and regulation of glycogen in skeletal muscle, suggesting the use of transmission electron microscopy and artificial intelligence for quantitative image analysis. [Extracted from the article]

This work signifies an attempt to elaborate on the concrete workings of fiscal policy in today's Turkey through the notion of primitive accumulation. The subject matter is a political regime that constitutes itself increasingly through coercion. And to understand the political regime's constitution in its wholeness, its concrete existence in its relations with the economic life surrounding it, primitive accumulation – the notion that construes coercion as an economic power – is necessary. Furthermore, since the notion of class struggle is inherent to primitive accumulation, the latter notion also elicits to reflect on the formation of the state as it hinges on the class society. The notion of primitive accumulation reveals the class power that the state predicates and the concrete ends that this predicate sights. Political coercion can't be comprehended separately from the capitalist accumulation, and in the case of Turkey, their unity finds expression most clearly in the practices of fiscal expropriation. Throughout the work, fiscal expropriation is examined through three specific forms it takes: the unity of over-taxation with growing indebtedness of the state, public procurement regime, and public–private partnerships. All of them signify the proletarianisation and further impoverishment of the people just as in the era when Karl Marx has drawn up the notion of primitive accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health system responsiveness to public priorities and needs is a broad, multi-faceted and complex health system goal thought to be important in promoting inclusivity and reducing system inequity in participation. Power dynamics underlie the complexity of responsiveness but are rarely considered. This paper presents an analysis of various manifestations of power within the responsiveness practices of Health Facility Committees (HFCs) and Sub-county Health Management Teams (SCHMTs) operating at the subnational level in Kenya. Kenyan policy documents identify responsiveness as an important policy goal. Methods: Our analysis draws on qualitative data (35 interviews with health managers and local politicians, four focus group discussions with HFC members, observations of SCHMT meetings, and document review) from a study conducted at the Kenyan Coast. We applied a combination of two power frameworks to interpret our findings: Gaventa's power cube and Long's actor interface analysis. Results: We observed a weakly responsive health system in which system-wide and equity in responsiveness were frequently undermined by varied forms and practices of power. The public were commonly dominated in their interactions with other health system actors: invisible and hidden power interacted to limit their sharing of feedback; while the visible power of organisational hierarchy constrained HFCs' and SCHMTs' capacity both to support public feedback mechanisms and to respond to concerns raised. These power practices were underpinned by positional power relationships, personal characteristics, and world views. Nonetheless, HFCs, SCHMTs and the public creatively exercised some power to influence responsiveness, for example through collaborations with political actors. However, most resulting responses were unsustainable, and sometimes undermined equity as politicians sought unfair advantage for their constituents. Conclusion: Our findings illuminate the structures and mechanisms that contribute to weak health system responsiveness even in contexts where it is prioritised in policy documents. Supporting inclusion and participation of the public in feedback mechanisms can strengthen receipt of public feedback; however, measures to enhance public agency to participate are also needed. In addition, an organisational environment and culture that empowers health managers to respond to public inputs is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In both Australia and New Zealand, Indigenous peoples have called for alternative non-colonial political arrangements. In October 2023, Australians voted in a referendum against distinctive Indigenous participation in public policymaking, which had been proposed as a step toward a more inclusive political system. On the same day, New Zealand elected a new Parliament, leading to the formation of a government comprising three parties that had campaigned against what they saw as excessive Māori political influence. Comparing these developments and the histories of the two countries raises questions about liberal equality, democratic citizenship, and whether all or just some citizens should own the liberal democratic state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]