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Context: The extent to which health care reforms affect health remains understudied. Health care reforms result in policy outputs that determine provision of medical services, which have consequences for the health of the population. The authors scrutinize this relationship between health policy outputs and population health by focusing on legislative changes implying privatization of health care delivery and finance. They ask the following question: What is the relationship between reforms that privatize health care provision and population health in terms of health outcomes and inequalities? Methods: They answer this question by relying on fixed-effects time-series cross-section models. The authors use an original dataset of health care reforms passed in 36 European countries from 1989 to 2019. Health outcomes are operationalized with measures of subjective health status, unmet health needs, and resulting health inequalities. Findings: Their results show that privatization of health care is associated with higher rates of bad subjective health and unmet health needs several years after the passing of reforms. These effects are stronger for individuals in the lower tiers of income and education, resulting in greater socioeconomic inequalities. Conclusions: The article contributes to conceptualization of the political determinants of health as health policy outputs and a better understanding of the relationship between policy outputs and population health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore why a country with significant under-investment in water infrastructure has not successfully imposed domestic water charges. Drawing on an economization lens, it examines how an economy emerged in the imposition of water charges but was subsequently hidden due to their politically motivated suspension. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on documentary evidence, a theoretically informed examination of the "economization" process is set out. This examination recognizes the central role sustainability plays in water management but illustrates how sustainability must be integrated with environmental, social, economic, cultural and political factors. Findings: The findings set out the challenges experienced by a state-owned water company as they attempt to manage domestic water charges. The paper reveals that while the suspension of water charges has hidden the "economy" within government subvention, the economic and sustainable imperative to invest in and pay for water remains, but is enveloped within a political "hot potato" bringing about a quasi-political/quasi-economic landscape. Practical implications: The findings demonstrate how the effective and sustainable management of domestic water supply requires collaboration between multiple participants, including the government, the European Union, private citizens and the water protest movement. Social implications: While highlighting the challenges faced by a country that has seriously under-invested in its water resources, the paper reflects the societal consequences of charging individuals for water, raising important questions about what water actually is – a right, a product or a political object. Originality/value: Showing how an economy around domestic water supply in Ireland was revealed, but subsequently hidden in "the political", the paper illustrates how sustainability is as much about economics and politics as it is about ecological balance and natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays a critical role in economic growth and development. It is imperative to examine factors such as socioeconomic, political, and environmental factors that are responsible for determining the potential to attract foreign investment. The paper attempts to evaluate the attractiveness of FDI in India in other words, the potential of India to attract foreign direct investment. Secondly, the study investigates the role of FDI potential in the real FDI inflow in the country. The paper constructs a comprehensive index for the attractiveness of foreign direct investment for India, which reflects the preparedness or potential of the country to provide a conducive environment for foreign investments. The study adopts principal component analysis (PCA) to formulate an index that reflects socioeconomic, political, and environmental aspects of FDI. Appropriate indicators are used to reflect all the dimensions, such as social, political, environmental, economic, infrastructure, and human capital. By regressing the FDI potential index on the interest rate, final consumption, public–private partnership, and potential for FDI on actual FDI inflow, the role of FDI potential is highlighted. It is revealed that FDI potential and FDI inflows are significantly positively correlated as well as significantly positively determine the FDI inflows as revealed by the regression results. Therefore, infrastructure, socioeconomic factors, and human capital also ensure political stability and governance are favorable in promoting more FDI inflow. In addition, the policies favoring public–private partnership and supporting all dimensions of FDI potential index must be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terms "politics" and "political" have become so overdetermined that it is difficult to use them in any effective manner. We argue that this has dangerous political consequences, and that this could be addressed by providing a new, sounder, notion of politics. This paper argues that defining politics in relation to the notion of play can provide a notion both intuitively appealing and able to withstand the problematic overdeterminations. We argue that politics is the set of practices through which the indeterminate of Spielraum is made more determinate. This suggests that politics is always partly a matter of play: it is about instituting values without making any claims about the legitimacy of this instituting act. With reference to Huizinga and Nietzsche's analyses of play, we define play as the living unity of seriousness and frivolity, and non-play as either seriousness without frivolity or frivolity without seriousness. In order to illustrate this, we comparatively analyse the attitudes of Barack Obama and Donald Trump in the single context of the well-known yearly White House Correspondent's Dinner. There, we see two opposed attitudes to playfulness. Our analysis allows us to apply our Spielraum model of politics to show that the thrust of Obama's attitude involves an embrace of the non-foundational nature of politics as play, whereas Trump's attitude is politicidal: it is animated by a refusal to acknowledge its own lack of foundation, leading to an oscillation between over-seriousness and over-frivolity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although vaccination requirements have been a mainstay of university admissions, the recent shift in vaccination and other preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 has been met with resistance. Reviewing the vaccination literature, there has been an apparent shift in support for university vaccinations, which is largely a result of the politicized climate surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a mixed-methods analysis, this study examines how type of institution and location variables affect public and private universities implementation of vaccination mandates and other preventative measures. Data indicate that, similar to other studies, politics matter and higher institutions are finding themselves at odds with state governments in which campus and community safety is not the primary concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although popular discourse around environmental issues – including environmental education (EE) – is often dominated by the idea that politically progressive places are pro-environment and politically conservative places resist environmental protection, the reality is more complex. This research, which is grounded in interviews with 31 environmental educators in Kentucky, investigates: 1) how environmental educators in a state whose politics is often at odds with environmental protection navigate their work; and 2) how the ways these educators navigate their work illuminates the potential for EE to thrive in diverse places. By taking a stance toward EE that is 'apolitical' and oriented toward finding common ground with all participants regardless of their personal politics, Kentucky's environmental educators offer an alternative to the seemingly intractable acrimony that can characterize discussions of many educational and environmental issues – including EE. Since our ability to develop and implement solutions to environmental problems hinges in part on political factors, it is imperative to develop a fuller understanding of how EE and politics intersect and how EE can help develop a citizenry capable of both making sound environmental decisions and bridging partisan divides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current research is to investigate the position of NGOs in improving the economic, political and social conditions of citizens in Tehran Municipality between 2010 and 2018. The statistical population of this research is the managers and senior experts of the 22 districts of Tehran and their related 121 districts, of which 220 people including the mayors of each district and its districts and senior managers will be selected as a statistical sample in the order of position priority. The required information was also collected through a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed, and the results were obtained based on Friedman’s test, quadratic factor analysis method, and using SPSS and Lisrel software. The obtained results indicate a significant difference in the components of urban management and confirm NGOs’ role in improving urban management (urban social sciences, urban economics and urban politics) in Tehran Municipality from 2018 to 2019. Based on the Friedman test, the significant difference in the components has been investigated. The result of the ranking shows that the urban economy component has the highest rank and is the component in which NGOs play a more effective role. Finally, after performing the exploratory factor analysis, the fitting of the model and second-degree confirmatory analysis were done, the findings of which show that NGOs played an influential role in the component of social sciences, urban economy and urban policy improvement in Tehran Municipality between 2010 and 2018. has it. The main role of NGOs is related to the urban economy component. Considering that providing citizens’ needs, and providing welfare services, are basically infrastructures that are established by municipalities. All of them ultimately lead to the dynamism of the city’s economy and the improvement of the citizens’ well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobilizing a distinction between "politics," understood as the socio-symbolic reality as it is already acknowledged, and "the political," which instead has to do with the establishment of a particular social order that delineates what counts as politics in the first place, this article considers the COVID-19 global pandemic to assert that care is not only about politics or doing politics differently. Rather, following the work of Estelle Ferrarese, Tiina Vaittinen, Hanna-Kaisa Hoppania, and Kristin Cloyes, the article highlights three aspects of care that are political in the most robust sense: (1) the ways in which care is always implicated in a social order, (2) the ongoing challenge posed to any order by the vulnerability of our material being, and (3) the agonizing and iterative process of disagreeing over different versions of care. This article then considers these three points in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic to argue that this global health crisis has clearly revealed these aspects of care and to conclude that care is, therefore, undeniably political. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essential component of any nation's development is higher education. A nation must first establish a strong foundation for its higher education system before it can establish a strong foundation for its political, social and economic institutions. If the current issues in higher education are not resolved, quality development in the sector will never be achieved. India's higher education system is dealing with a number of difficulties as a result of these issues in the country's higher education sector. If these issues related to higher education cannot be effectively resolved, then there will never be an opportunity to raise the standard of education in the nation. This research work is an attempt to highlight the issues and challenges higher education in India is currently facing as well as potential solutions which can address these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes how the socio-economic development of an industry co-evolves with the articulation of imaginaries of emancipation and domination. Drawing on political discourse theory, I analyze the US' interracial porn movie industry (1916–2022) from its early, illicit beginnings through its commercial mainstreaming. Organized agents have developed this industry by articulating imaginaries that evoke economic emancipation, but provide new political and fantasmatic relevance to origin myths of racial and gendered superiority. The articulations of each generation of organized agents transgressed prior episodes' limits to visualizing interracial sex. Yet, transgression remained firmly within the bounds of the disciplinary and security power apparatus of white patriarchical domination. In particular, successive imaginaries modernized the stereotypical myths of black Jezebels, black Brutes, pure white women, and civilized white men. Modernization of myths, technological democratization and mainstreaming went hand in hand. I provide critical explanations for these findings that contribute to the organizational literature on imaginaries. This includes the entrepreneurship-as-emancipation literature, and scholarship on myths, feminism and prefigurative organizing. Emancipatory imagining requires challenging the disciplinary and security limits of origin myths. By default of political and fantasmatic challenging of these mythical limits, they function as empty signifiers that are easily adapted to contemporary imagining. As a result, entrepreneurs' and performers' socio-economic emancipation discourse effectively re-articulates an imaginary of domination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Teología y Vida is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Facultad de Teologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In universities, research on Autobiography has not only clarified the general requirements of this genre but also made it much easier to determine the boundaries and restrictions of this sort. Initial research in universities was limited to the intellectual and technical examination of Autobiographies. A reader takes interest in the genre of Autobiography not only because of his attachment to the personality of Autobiography, but also because of the political, social, cultural and cultural elements of the era of Autobiography. The Article examines the Thesis, written in Pakistani universities on Urdu Autobiography at the PhD level so that the techniques and tradition of Autobiography can be further improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of MEMLEKET: Politics & Administration / Siyaset Yönetim is the property of Local Governments Research, Assistance & Education Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: Similar to global literary traditions, Persian literature frequently features animals as symbolic devices used by poets and writers to articulate their messages. This technique enhances the appeal of the text and facilitates easier comprehension of its themes. Adib al-Mamalek Farahani is notable among poets for his use of animal symbolism to express socio-political ideas. Living during the era of the Constitutional Revolution and Neo-classical Persian literature (Bazgasht-e adabi), he employed these symbols within his works to express societal and political aims. Existing studies on Farahani have predominantly analyzed his critical, humorous, nationalistic, and religious poetry, with a lack of independent studies examining the use of animal symbolism in his socio-political works. Method and Research: This research is descriptive-analytical, theoretical, and library-based, compiling data from Adib al-Mamalek Farahani's poetry collections and other pertinent resources. Findings and Conclusions: Adib al-Mamalek Farahani creatively used symbolic animal imagery in his poetry, reflecting on the social and political upheavals of his era. He incorporated contemporary ideas such as unity, lack of meritocracy, nationalism, liberty, activism, opposition to foreign domination, and anti-colonial sentiment, thereby innovating within the realm of symbolic expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, an exponential increase in the usage of social network services has been observed. These community services are typically used through different applications including personal computers, multiple applications of modern smartphones and wearable technologies. Proper identification and separation of different languages text, topic-based classification of text and classification of active users based on their published comments and posts are major challenges. In this research, our primary focus is to deal with English text collected through different IoT applications to analyse posts/comments to categorise people's opinion in politics. We have developed an IoT framework model for collecting data from social media especially Facebook, preprocessed and clean data to be used for analysis, and separation of data based on different languages. Sentiment analysis techniques are used to detect polarisation of the individual user. The proposed system clustered IoT individuals based on their comments and posts and successfully detected political polarisation. The proposed approach obtained encouraging results with a precision of 66.7%, a recall of 71.4%, and an F-measure of 69.0% in the case of annotated data of 50 users and a precision of 75.0%, a recall of 87.1%, and F-measure of 80.6% in the case of annotated data of 100 users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This opinion piece, written by ethnobiologists from different parts of the world, emphasizes the importance of ethnobiology research in advancing contemporary biology, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and, especially, contributing to the ecological transition and more just and inclusive world. To achieve these goals, it is essential to develop research and collaborate with social groups that live in close relationship with nature in research activities, such as Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC), as well as Afro-descendants and other Marginalized, Minority or Minoritized Communities (AMMC). Ethnobiology can identify and provide locally appropriate solutions to local problems, enabling sustainable resource management at the landscape level. The text explores important aspects that need to be considered to guide the future of ethnobiology in the next 20 years, aiming to integrate and amplify previous discussions held in the discipline and identify points that demand ongoing attention. This paper highlights reflections from diverse researchers, emphasizing how ethnobiology can embrace different perspectives and employ rigorous analysis of complex phenomena toward effective policies and practices. This approach holds the potential to address the challenges the planet is currently facing in the coming decades.

AbstractThe research aimed to assess the implications of Ethiopia`s foreign policy dynamics towards the Horn of Africa. Qualitative research has been employed and relevant data were collected through unstructured and semi-structured interviews from purposively selected key informants consisting of IGAD, MoFA, and diplomats from Djibouti, South Sudan, Kenya, and Somalia. For secondary sources, previous works on the area were reviewed. The findings of the study revealed that Ethiopia influences regional security, economic, and political agendas through sub-regional and regional organizations. Ethiopia as a chair of IGAD has played an important role in the successful implementation of the CPA and the resulting South Sudanese referendum. Largely, Ethiopia’s role through diplomatic engagement, military intervention, mediation, and peacekeeping activities in the region particularly in Somalia, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Sudan is a good example. The current Ethiopian foreign policy stresses sustained economic development, promotion of democracy, and peace as the main objectives in the region and elsewhere. Accordingly, Ethiopia is constructing railways, roads, and electricity, to connect with Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, and Eritrea. Thus, since 1991, Ethiopia`s national interests towards the Horn have been completely redefined to focus on mutual gain. Nevertheless, it should also be noted that the efforts have been greatly determined by a multitude of factors such as; domestic politics, the need for port service, security, refugees, preserving its regional hegemony, border, proxy war, and terrorism. Indeed, those factors are stimulating the current Ethiopian foreign policy through economic interdependence, cooperation, and securitization of the HoA.

This study presents empirical research examining how economic and political imperatives impact prospects for successful use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to deliver projects in Saudi Arabia. A conceptual model and several hypotheses are developed. A questionnaire survey obtains data from two hundred and fifty-seven (257) project management practitioners involved in projects being procured using PPP within Saudi Arabia. Data is analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The conclusion is that economic, but not political imperatives moderate the relationship between Critical Success Factors (CSFs) and PPP project success in Saudi Arabia. To an extent, these findings offer a risk-focussed typology for exploring conditions for PPP project success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relying on a political pastoral perspective, this article considers the issue of dwelling in the Anthropocene Age with a particular focus on climate migration and climate refugees. I begin with the question "What does it mean to dwell?" relying first on a psychosocial developmental perspective as a response. This sets the stage for depicting the movement from the pre-political space of parents and children speaking and acting together—embodied-relational dwelling—to dwelling in the public-political sphere, wherein a decent society manifests sufficient civic care and civic faith for experiences of being at home in the political-social world. Indecent societies, by contrast, demonstrate a lack of civic care (e.g., racism, classism, sexism) for some residents and immigrant/refugee groups and, through varied disciplinary regimes, evict and deport people as well as contribute to overall psychosocial-political experiences of homelessness. These two sections provide the foundation for moving to a political pastoral theological perspective that focuses on vulnerability vis-à-vis dwelling, relying on Giorgi Agamben's use of the terms "inoperativity" and "coming community"—ideas that are, in my view, connected to Christian mythoi, kenosis, and the kingdom of God. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though Geography began as a tool of empire and war, now some of us are using this master's tool to dismantle the master's house. But we are tweaking the tool in various ways to make it more liberatory. People's geography aims to take Geography to the streets, and the streets to the ivory tower. It works to popularize radical geography, and radicalize popular geography. Community geographies focus on collaborations between academics and public scholars to co-produce knowledge that serves social change. This term has grown in use recently in the US, where there is a new community geographies specialty group. The term public geography has perhaps been more often used in the UK, where the focus on "impact" by the REF has given it more weight. That sort of push from funding agencies is a growing trend internationally, though the terms used vary. Participatory research aims to foster civic engagement and look alongside research subjects, rather than looking at them. It is a strong influence on both community and public geographies, though the overlap is not exact. Other terms used are engaged research and reciprocal research. This work takes longer and is often undervalued as simply service, rather than research. Too often it has been done despite, rather than with support from, academic policies. That is beginning to change. Some terms and traditions have more resonance in some contexts than in others, but whatever the label used, it is important that we organize to honor and nurture this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the research aim was to reconstruct the political characteristics of the discourses of four youth organizations operating in Poland in three intertwined dimensions: content, structure and time. In the content dimension, by using the analysis of the discursive strategies, the focus was on political goals and political features of collective identities. In the structure dimension, by using the analytical tool provided by discursive institutionalism, the internal dynamics of discourses were explored. In the dimensions of structure and time, an attempt was made to capture the discursive change as a reaction to the war in Ukraine. Over 700 texts posted by the organizations' websites or Facebook pages were analysed. Three types of discourses were identified, which show various ways of representing political objectives and collective identities. Furthermore, all of the discourses reacted to the war in Ukraine. The results show the scope and dynamics of such changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of The L N Gumilyov Eurasian National University Political Science Regional Studies Oriental Studies Turkology Series is the property of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Kırıkkale Law Journal (KLJ) is the property of Kirikkale Law Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The 2024 elections will be politic year in Indonesia, indicating a democratic process for its citizens. It encourages candidate pairs to seek figures known to the community, one of whom is a religious figure whose authority to the society is highly respected by the society, especially in Indonesia. This paper aims to explore how religious figures, as public figures, possess extensive knowledge, particularly in religion. This study, in the process of data analysis, employs a descriptive qualitative approach. The primary data source are several religious figures in Central Kalimantan, with the criteria of clerical figures who have a congregation/followers, at least 10 years in preaching in the community and have broad insights from various aspects and mastery of the main Islamic teachings. Based on the observations, it is evident that religious leaders, in carrying out their functions in the realm of politics/political literacy, are still few. This is evidenced by some existing religious leaders who still speak at the level of Islamic law, family/marriage issues and personal practices. Based on the observations conducted, it was shown that religious figures, in carrying out their functions in the political/literary sphere, are still few, as evidenced by some religious characters still speaking on the subject of Islamic law, family/marriage issues and practices of a personal nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted on the ground of the reason for the increasingly widespread use of narratives on various social media platforms. Narrative is an event whereby someone represents an event aiming to influence the understanding, emotions and values of others. This study qualitatively aims to capture the most common elements of narrative structure focusing on political, economic, and socio-cultural rhetorical narratives data originated from social media platforms. The theoretical model of narrative structure consisting of Abstract, Orientation, Complicating Actions, Resolution, Evaluation and Coda, as proposed by Labov and Waletzky was used to analyze the narrative data collected during the first four months of 2022. On the ground of social situated meanings, the findings show that the most common model of narrative structure is fully used whenever greater details of events, facts, or information are needed to be emphasized. For such reasons, all the elements of narrative structure are held to be obligatory. The findings show that some elements of narrative structure are left out and held to be optional as such elements are not considered necessary to convey the main content. In addition, the findings also show that some particular element allows it to be further developed with more embedded events, facts, opinion, or information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thematic areas of journalism have a significant impact on the formation of a common agenda. However, the mechanisms of their formation, development, and mutual influence in modern conditions have not systematically presented in media studies. Special attention should be paid to the question of the impact on the thematic agenda of current public challenges. In this study, the first step has been taken in the direction of this work: a conclusion has been drawn regarding the relevance of topics in the headings of leading media, a brief overview of the dynamics of mentions and the proportions of the combination of agendas has been made, and directions for further development have been outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Anbar University for Languages & Literature / Magallat Gami'at Al-Anbar Li-Lugat Wa-al-Adabl is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper adds to the existing literature by examining the macroeconomic, political and institutional determinants of tax policy cyclicality conditional on financial development. We find that an increase in trade and financial openness leads to pro-cyclical VAT and counter-cyclical CIT rate response in high financially developed economies, while an increase in financial openness is associated with counter-cyclical VAT and PIT responses when the levels of financial development are low. A high public debt ratio leads to a counter-cyclical VAT rate response in economies with low financial development. Political power and fiscal institutions are factors that affect the tax policy cyclicality only in less financially developed economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This opinion piece, written by ethnobiologists from different parts of the world, emphasizes the importance of ethnobiology research in advancing contemporary biology, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and, especially, contributing to the ecological transition and more just and inclusive world. To achieve these goals, it is essential to develop research and collaborate with social groups that live in close relationship with nature in research activities, such as Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC), as well as Afro-descendants and other Marginalized, Minority or Minoritized Communities (AMMC). Ethnobiology can identify and provide locally appropriate solutions to local problems, enabling sustainable resource management at the landscape level. The text explores important aspects that need to be considered to guide the future of ethnobiology in the next 20 years, aiming to integrate and amplify previous discussions held in the discipline and identify points that demand ongoing attention. This paper highlights reflections from diverse researchers, emphasizing how ethnobiology can embrace different perspectives and employ rigorous analysis of complex phenomena toward effective policies and practices. This approach holds the potential to address the challenges the planet is currently facing in the coming decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the potential utilization of forest biomass in bioenergy production in Europe, taking into account limiting and developmental factors. The methodology includes a strategic analysis and the use of PEST analysis to evaluate the market for wood biomass. In the context of the current geopolitical situation and the decarbonization goals of the EU, the authors recommend accelerating energy transformation and highlighting forest biomass as an alternative within renewable energy sources. A literature review indicates the need to revise EU assumptions to enable the use of wood for bioenergy production, taking into account the needs of the wood industry. The analysis of economic factors shows competitiveness of forest biomass against coal, yet challenges arise regarding resource availability and competition with other energy sources. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of sustainable forest resource management and technological innovation. In the context of an energy crisis, the article underscores the role of innovation and recycling in alleviating shortages in energy markets. Conclusions highlight the imperative to develop a sustainable energy strategy for forest resource management and engage EU countries in the development of new biofuel and renewable energy sources for energy security and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his 1985 lecture, Geschlecht III, Derrida sought to 'situate Geschlecht within Heidegger's path of thought'. Having identified a political disclosure of sorts in Heidegger's discussion of the significance of Trakl's poetic invocation of the polysemic, German word 'Geschlecht', Derrida intimates that Heidegger betrays ideas and presumptions concerning the 'problematic of philosophical nationalism'. Given the contentious political context of Heideggerian thought, some scholars might hope that Derrida's intervention here would bear upon the divisive scholarly concern referred to as the 'Heidegger Question'. While Geschlecht III does not provide a resolution, a close reading betrays productive political implications to his manner of engagement. In this brief study, I will survey the political stakes of various methodological approaches to reading Heidegger, with Derrida's manner of reading Heidegger's 'Language in the Poem' at the centre. Ultimately, I argue that Derrida and Heidegger both appeal to a particular sense of the political that must be respected, though not necessarily accepted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interracial conflict and cultural divisions have been a serious challenge in the church globally. Through the years there has been vast available literature about the phenomenon as it happens and this study will specifically explore it in the Methodist church at the Moreleta circuit in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. This article seeks to explore factors affecting developing an inclusive missional church. It aims to contribute to research in this area and suggests developing an inclusive missional church. It is presented as a qualitative study conducted in the churches of the circuit based on semi-structured interviews with some church leaders and pastors in the circuit. The study reveals some factors of interracial conflict and cultural divisions that contributed to the article. It shows that there are various factors affecting developing an inclusive missional in the above-mentioned circuit. This results in a generally unsatisfactory level of relationships. Contribution: This article aims to contribute to research in the practice of developing an inclusive missional church in the Methodist church at Moreleta circuit. It hopes to also contribute to the Methodist church of Southern Africa as a whole.

This article adopts a socio-economic and political lens to elucidate the interplay of factors that heighten the vulnerability of Syrian refugee agricultural workers and their exposure to pesticides in Lebanon. It provides a comprehensive understanding for the interconnected social, political and economic factors at the global, regional, national and local levels and how they increase the vulnerability of Syrian refugee agricultural workers, particularly their exposure to pesticides. The global factors highlight the shifts from colonialism to state-controlled economies to neoliberal policies. These changes have prioritized the interests of large agricultural schemes and multinationals at the expense of small and medium-sized agriculture. Consequently, there has been a boost in pesticides demand, coupled with weak regulations and less investment in agriculture in the countries of the Global South. The article explains how the dynamic interaction of climate change and conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa region has negatively impacted the agriculture sector and food production, which led to an increased potential for pesticide use. At the national and local levels, Lebanon’s social, political and economic policies have resulted in the weakening of the agricultural sector, the overuse of pesticides, and the intensification of the Syrian refugee agricultural workers’ vulnerability and exposure to pesticides. The article recommends that researchers, policymakers, and practitioners adopt a political-economic-social lens to analyze and address the full dynamic situation facing migrant and refugee workers in Lebanon and other countries and promote equity in the agricultural sector globally.

Objectives: In the United States, a federal emergency program has made SARS-CoV-2 self-test kits available at no cost. It is unclear how widely free tests are preferred. We conducted a survey to estimate the proportion of respondents who do not prefer a free test. We hypothesized that free tests would not be preferred universally, and that a preference for paying would be more common among those with conservative politics than with liberal politics, regardless of income. Design: Observational study design. Methods: A national sample of US adults completed an online survey. To reduce potential enrollment bias, the survey’s focus was not specified beforehand. To prioritize a high-risk group, participation was limited to those who were unvaccinated or were incompletely vaccinated in the primary series against COVID-19. Participants reported their testing preferences and socio-demographic characteristics, including political affiliation. The main outcome assessed if a participant preferred to pay for a self-test or receive a free one (subsidized by the US government). Results: Among 1215 participants, (73%, n = 886) preferred free self-testing, while 27% (n = 329) preferred to pay for the same testing. After adjusting for income, the odds of preferring to pay for self-testing were 66% higher in “strong” Republicans compared to “strong” Democrats (odds ratio = 1.66, 95% confidence interval = 1.07–2.62). Conclusions: More than a quarter of individuals preferred paying for these tests. This preference was more likely among those with right-wing politics. Policy implications are discussed, along with future research directions.

Political fiction is a genre in which political ideas and events play a dominant role throughout the context, in the form of a literary treatment of the politics, economics, social issues and culture of a nation. Its objective is to reform wrong politics, and expose corrupt and misleading politicians. In most of his works, the political novelist addresses pressing issues such as racism, discrimination, human rights, terrorism, elections, strikes, demonstrations and unjustified wars. This article discusses 'Political Fiction' in brief as a literary genre, citing some of its definitions, historical background showing some of its main figures. It examines national symbols, fake slogans of liberty and free expression, and the alleged war on terrorism and the intervention in the affairs of other countries. Political fiction also examines political references, criticizing politics, racial discrimination, causes of terrorism, and the decline of the American Dream.يستعرض هذا المقال أحد أهم الألوان الأدبية المعاصرة وهو الأدب السياسي وتأثيره المباشر على حياة الناس وذلك من خلال تقديم نماذج أدبية تعكس الواقع والأحداث التاريخية والسياسية اليومية والتي يتم استعراضها بشكل روائي قصصي مثير وذلك للإستفادة منها في الحاضر وتفادى سلبياتها في المستقبل. ويهدف النقاد لهذا النوع الأدبي بغض النظر عن تسليط الضوء على الجوانب السياسية في كتابات الروائيين وإبراز الأساليب الأدبية التي استخدموها لنقل وجهات نظرهم المتعلقة بالأحداث السياسية التي كتبوا عنها إلى نشر الوعي السياسي لدى القارئ من خلال تلك الدراما القصصية المثيرة. وقد ركزت هذه المقالة على الأدب السياسي بشكل عام وأهم رواده، مع ذكر بعض تعريفاته ونشأته وتطوره.

In the field of political theory and philosophy, the concept of political has undergone a complex evolution over the past century. Since its inception in the pioneering work of K. Schmitt in 1927, this term has become a deeply controversial concept, the interpretation of which was carried out by the most significant political theorists and philosophers of the twentieth century. However, Carl Schmitt, Hannah Arendt, Jürgen Habermas, and John Rawls made notable contributions to understanding the term. This article aims to reveal and analyze the three main approaches to the conceptualization of the political and to identify the differences/similarities between the three formulations. Each conceptualization of the political is explored through the prism of three components: the perception of the other; the principle of building political relationships in society; and the nature of the conflict and the forms of its resolution. Based on the comparative method and cognitive analysis, the essence laid down by each author is derived: political as an existential confrontation between friend/enemy of K. Schmitt; political as an activity that realizes human freedom in the interpretation of H. Arendt; and political as the space of rational consensus in J. Habermas and J. Rawls. Nevertheless, common elements or consequences can be traced even in radical different formulations. The critical importance of the dynamic and evolving nature of the concept of the political is recognized, however, the explanatory power of each concept of the political reality of the present is questioned. In conclusion, a new level of conceptualization of the political is proposed, which considers the instability and uncertainty of the modern world.

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the prevailing Rohingya refugee crisis from political and humanitarian perspectives and explores the political and humanitarian aspects of the Rohingya refugee crisis. Design/methodology/approach – Relevant literature has been reviewed for conceptual understanding. This study is descriptive and qualitative in nature and based on secondary sources of data. Findings – The main causes of the Rohingya crisis such as political and humanitarian aspects. Issues such as discrimination and homelessness, and national security concerns that regional politics scapegoated the Rohingya to exacerbate regional tensions. Moreover, armed conflicts, political radicalization, security concerns, human rights violations and low media attention compared to other displaced families have made the future of the Rohingyas very uncertain. Practical implications – The Rohingya crisis has far-reaching implications for domestic and regional politics as well as for relations with major world powers. In the context of regional security and geopolitics, this study provides insight into the polarization and politicization of the Rohingya minority. Originality/value – This research offers a vital exploration of the Rohingya refugee crisis, delving into its multifaceted political and humanitarian dimensions, contributing fresh insights to address a pressing global concern.

Abstract Background Factors influencing the health of populations are subjects of interdisciplinary study. However, datasets relevant to public health often lack interdisciplinary breath. It is difficult to combine data on health outcomes with datasets on potentially important contextual factors, like political violence or development, due to incompatible levels of geographic support; differing data formats and structures; differences in sampling procedures and wording; and the stability of temporal trends. We present a computational package to combine spatially misaligned datasets, and provide an illustrative analysis of multi-dimensional factors in health outcomes. Methods We rely on a new software toolkit, Sub-National Geospatial Data Archive (SUNGEO), to combine data across disciplinary domains and demonstrate a use case on vaccine hesitancy in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). We use data from the World Bank’s High Frequency Phone Surveys (HFPS) from Kenya, Indonesia, and Malawi. We curate and combine these surveys with data on political violence, elections, economic development, and other contextual factors, using SUNGEO. We then develop a stochastic model to analyze the integrated data and evaluate 1) the stability of vaccination preferences in all three countries over time, and 2) the association between local contextual factors and vaccination preferences. Results In all three countries, vaccine-acceptance is more persistent than vaccine-hesitancy from round to round: the long-run probability of staying vaccine-acceptant (hesitant) was 0.96 (0.65) in Indonesia, 0.89 (0.21) in Kenya, and 0.76 (0.40) in Malawi. However, vaccine acceptance was significantly less durable in areas exposed to political violence, with percentage point differences (ppd) in vaccine acceptance of -10 (Indonesia), -5 (Kenya), and -64 (Malawi). In Indonesia and Kenya, although not Malawi, vaccine acceptance was also significantly less durable in locations without competitive elections (-19 and -6 ppd, respectively) and in locations with more limited transportation infrastructure (-11 and -8 ppd). Conclusion With SUNGEO, researchers can combine spatially misaligned and incompatible datasets. As an illustrative example, we find that vaccination hesitancy is correlated with political violence, electoral uncompetitiveness and limited access to public goods, consistent with past results that vaccination hesitancy is associated with government distrust.