Prelates and Politicians in Bosnia: The Role of Religion in Nationalist Mobilisation

1997 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 481-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenard J. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Identity ◽  
Paradise Lost ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Former Yugoslavia ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
Historical Factors ◽  
Considerable Debate ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Role Of Religion

The role of historical and cultural influences in recent Balkan warfare has been the subject of considerable debate among commentators both within and outside the former Yugoslavia. For example, some observers, who might be considered members of the primordial hatred school, have emphasized the cyclical role of “ancient enmities” and atavistic impulses in the Balkans. In contrast, another group of analysts, who have subscribed to the paradise lost approach, focus on the long periods during which populations of different languages, religions, and other facets of Balkan ethnic identity, managed to peacefully co-exist. This second perspective downplays historical factors and attributes the violence and savagery of recent years to nationalist leaders who whipped up antagonisms to suit their own political agendas.

scholarly journals Driven into Suicide by the East German Regime? Reflections on the Persistence of a Misleading Perception

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (02) ◽  
pp. 310-332
Author(s):  
Udo Grashoff
Keyword(s):  
Public Discourse ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
East German ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Role Of Religion

AbstractThe assumption that the communist dictatorship in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) drove many people to suicide has persisted for decades, and it is still evident in academic and public discourse. Yet, high suicide rates in eastern Germany, which can be traced back to the nineteenth century, cannot be a result of a particular political system. Be it monarchy, democracy, fascism, or socialism, the frequency of suicide there did not change significantly. In fact, the share of politically motivated suicides in the GDR amounts to only 1–2 percent of the total. Political, economic, or sociocultural factors did not have a significant impact on suicide rates. An analysis of two subsets of GDR society that were more likely to be affected by repression—prisoners and army recruits—further corroborates this: there is no evidence of a higher suicide rate in either case. Complimentary to a quantitative approach “from above,” a qualitative analysis “from below” not only underlines the limited importance of repression, but also points to a regional pattern of behavior linked to cultural influences and to the role of religion—specifically, to Protestantism. Several factors nevertheless fostered the persistence of an overly politicized interpretation of suicide in the GDR: the bereaved in the East, the media in the West, and a few victims of suicide themselves blamed the regime and downplayed important individual and pathological aspects. Moreover, state and party officials in the GDR unintentionally reinforced the politicization of suicide by imposing a taboo on the subject, which only fueled the flames of speculation about its root causes.

Ivan Ozhienko about the role of religion in Ukrainian national life

2001 ◽  
pp. 54-61
Author(s):  
K. Nedzelsky
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Identity ◽  
Spiritual Life ◽  
Human Soul ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Terrestrial Life ◽  
Dedicated Service ◽  
National Life ◽  
Role Of Religion ◽  
Spiritual Unity

Ivan Ogienko (1882-1972), also known as Metropolitan Hilarion, devoted much attention to the role and place of religion in the national life of Ukrainians and their ethnic identity in their scholarly and theological works. Without exaggeration it can be argued that the problem of national unity of the Ukrainian people is one of the key principles of all historiosophical considerations of the famous scholar and theologian. If the purpose of the spiritual life of a Ukrainian, according to his views, is to serve God, then the purpose of state or terrestrial life is the dedicated service to his people. The purpose of heaven and the purpose of the earthly paths, intersecting in the life of a certain group of people through the lives of its individual representatives, give rise to a unique alliance of spiritual unity, the name of which is "people" or "nation." Religion (faith) in the process of transforming the anarchist crowd into a spiritually integrated and orderly national integrity serves as the transformer of the imperfect nature of the human soul into perfect.

On the Asphalt Path to Divinity

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Kołczyńska
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
Micro Scale ◽  
Asphalt Road ◽  
Societal Changes ◽  
The Many ◽  
Role Of Religion ◽  
Religious Landscape ◽  
Globalising World

This article presents one of the many faces of contemporary Islam in the Balkans, that of the Bektashi community in Albania, and specifically the Sari Saltik teqe (sanctuary) on Kruja mountain. In so doing, it sheds light on the role of religion in 'post-atheist' Albania, while taking into account major changes to the religious landscape in the post-communist, and arguably post-transformation context. The essay ethnographically examines the challenges posed by societal changes for the Kruja teqe, which is undergoing its own micro-scale technological revolution in the form of a newly constructed asphalt road to the top of the mountain, which will likely have far-reaching consequences for the shrine and the whole local community. The essay thus illustrates how Albanian society has become entangled with the turbulent processes of modernisation, increased mobility and the globalising world.

Religion and Politics: The Case of Northern Ireland

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Walker
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Religion And Politics ◽  
Independent Factor ◽  
Considerable Influence ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Role Of Religion

This article looks at the role of religion in politics. Northern Ireland provides not only a good case study for this issue but also an opportunity to see how the subject has been approached in academic literature over the last forty years. It is argued here that religion can be a modern day, independent factor of considerable influence in politics. This has been important not only in Northern Ireland but also elsewhere in Western Europe in the twentieth century. This reality has been largely ignored until recently, partly because the situation in Northern Ireland has often been studied in a limited comparative context, and partly because of restrictive intellectual assumptions about the role of religion in politics.

scholarly journals New Representations of Religion and Belief in Schools

Religions ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Religious Education ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Alternative Representation ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Nuanced Understanding ◽  
Global Affairs ◽  
Role Of Religion

Discussions around the future of Religious Education (RE) in England have focused on the need to address the diversity of religion and belief in contemporary society. Issues of the representation of religion and belief in Religious Education are central to the future of the subject. This article draws on research into key stakeholders’ views and aspirations for RE to map an alternative representation of religion and belief to that found in existing approaches that universalise, sanitise and privatise religion. The data reveal a thirst for the study of a broader range and a more nuanced understanding of religion and belief. This incorporates a focus on religion and belief as identity as well as tradition, the study of the role of religion in global affairs as well as the controversies and challenges it can pose for individuals and the exploration of religion and belief as fluid and contested categories. What may be described as a contemporaneous and sociological turn, moves beyond the existing binaries of religious/secular, public/private, good/bad, fluid/static that shape much existing representation, towards a representation of the ‘real religion and belief landscape’ in all its complexity.

1. Inventing the Presidency

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles O. Jones
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Creative Work ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
Trial And Error ◽  
Considerable Debate ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Law Making

The creative work involved in writing the Constitution of the United States in Philadelphia in 1787 has been interpreted and analysed in political and policy debate ever since. ‘Inventing the Presidency’ considers how the Founders of the United States tried to create unity in a separated system. Why was the title of president selected? What was the role of president going to look like? How long should the single executive serve? Should the person be term-limited? Providing a legislative or law-making role for the president was the subject of considerable debate at the beginning. Inventors solve problems: they tinker until they have a workable device. The creation of the presidency was a process of trial and error.

Intellectual Property and Economic Development

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Property ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Research Review ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Technology Markets ◽  
Considerable Debate ◽  
Recognition And Enforcement ◽  
The Subject ◽  
National Economies

The economic impact of intellectual property rights has been the subject of considerable debate and research. This engaging research review discusses literature by distinguished scholars who have addressed, from different perspectives and in different contexts, how such rights help to shape goods and technology markets. The economic effects of intellectual property vary depending on the sectors involved, the level of development of the countries where they apply, and the policies implemented to govern their recognition and enforcement. Written by an expert in the field, this review is essential reading for academics, students, professionals and policy makers interested in understanding the role of intellectual property in national economies as well as in an international dimension.

scholarly journals Interplay of a Ligand Sensor and an Enzyme in Controlling Expression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GAL Genes

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Abramczyk ◽  
Stacey Holden ◽  
Christopher J. Page ◽  
Richard J. Reece
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Considerable Debate ◽  
Active Transcription ◽  
Gal Genes ◽  
The Subject

ABSTRACT The regulation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GAL genes in response to galactose as a source of carbon has served as a paradigm for eukaryotic transcriptional control over the last 50 years. Three proteins—a transcriptional activator (Gal4p), an inhibitor (Gal80p), and a ligand sensor (Gal3p)—control the switch between inert and active gene expression. The molecular mechanism by which the recognition of galactose within the cell is converted into a transcriptional response has been the subject of considerable debate. In this study, using a novel and powerful method of localizing active transcription factors within the nuclei of cells, we show that a short-lived complex between Gal4p, Gal80p, and Gal3p occurs soon after the addition of galactose to cells to activate GAL gene expression. Gal3p is subsequently replaced in this complex by Gal1p, and a Gal4p-Gal80p-Gal1p complex is responsible for the continued expression of the GAL genes. The transient role of the ligand sensor indicates that current models for the induction and continued expression of the yeast GAL genes need to be reevaluated.

scholarly journals Russian Orthodoxy and Political Culture Transformation

1993 ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
James W. Warhola
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Orthodox ◽  
Russian Orthodox ◽  
Orthodox Christianity ◽  
Russian Orthodoxy ◽  
Political Role ◽  
Culture Transformation ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Role Of Religion ◽  
Changing Role

Russian Orthodox Christianity has served as a major if not principal taproot of Russian culture, and has done so in varying forms and to varying degrees since the formal adoption of the Eastern Orthodox rites as official religion by Prince Vladimir of the Kievan Rus' in June of 988 A.D.1 The specific role of Russian Orthodoxy in the governance of Russia has been closely investigated.2 In addition, the political role of religion, particularly Russian Orthodoxy, during the Soviet era has been the subject of close scholarly examination.3 This paper focuses on the changing role of Orthodoxy under current conditions.

Politics-Administration Relations and the Effect on Local Governance and Development

2017 ◽  
pp. 256-279
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sayadur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Democratic Governance ◽  
Partisan Politics ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
Considerable Debate ◽  
The Subject

This study explores the politico-bureaucratic dynamics within the local government of Bangladesh, focusing on the policy role while explaining the governance role of politicians and bureaucrats. Particular emphasis is placed on the politics-bureaucracy relationship and its impact on local governance and development, given that the nature of this relationship and the appropriate role of political leaders and administrators have been the subject of considerable debate. During the last two decades of democratic governance in Bangladesh, politicians have been the dominant forces in governance due to their role in aggregating interests and values; however, bureaucrats are similarly influential, given their role as initiators and implementers of policies. The bureaucracy has emerged as a dominant institution in both local and central governments. The bureaucracy is directly or indirectly involved in partisan politics, which negatively impacts local governance and development.

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