Of Power and Peril

2021 ◽  
pp. 12-27
Author(s):  
Scott Radnitz
Keyword(s):  
Political Competition ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Explanatory Framework ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
The World ◽  
Conspiracy Narratives ◽  
Over Time

This chapter provides an explanatory framework for why regimes promote conspiracy claims, based on the insight that because conspiracy theories are theories about power, it makes sense to foreground politics—the opportunities and constraints facing politicians as they consider what stories to tell about the world. It conceptualizes conspiracy theories as a form of propaganda and summarizes theories about conspiracism in politics. The author argues that claiming conspiracy can signal knowledge and prescience, and details three factors associated with the production and circulation of conspiracy claims: destabilizing events, political competition, and cross-border connections and alignments. Regimes may use conspiracy claims intermittently or may construct broad conspiracy narratives and strategically disseminate them over time, but there are potential hazards for regimes that rely excessively on conspiracism. Finally, the chapter outlines the features of three conspiratorial modes: sporadic official conspiracism, competitive conspiracism, and sustained official conspiracism.

Revealing Schemes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Radnitz
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Political Competition ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
The World

Conspiracy theories have come to play an increasingly prominent role in political systems around the world. In Revealing Schemes, Scott Radnitz moves beyond psychological explanations for why people believe conspiracy theories to explore the politics surrounding them, placing two questions at the center of his account: What leads regimes to promote conspiracy claims? And what effects do those claims have on politics and society? Focusing on the former Soviet Union—a region of the world where such theories have long thrived—he shows that incumbent politicians tend to make conspiracy claims to demonstrate their knowledge and authority at moments of uncertainty and threat. They emerge more often where there is serious political competition rather than unbridled autocracy and in response to events that challenge a regime’s ability to rule. Yet conspiracy theories can also be habit-forming and persist as part of an official narrative even where immediate threats have subsided—a strategy intended to strengthen regimes, but that may inadvertently undermine them.

The Logic of Conspiracy Thought

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 542-569
Author(s):  
Luis Roniger ◽  
Leonardo Senkman ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Information Diffusion ◽  
Scientific Discourse ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
The World ◽  
Conspiracy Narratives

This article analyzes the logic of conspiracy theories, stressing that it would be erroneous to assume that such theories about collusions and intrigues are irrational in nature. On the contrary, they operate on a logic that is no less coherent than scientific discourse, although it differs from the latter in its verification and discard methodology as well as in its mobilizing role. Being part of a larger research that explains the recurrent spread of conspiracy narratives in one region of the world, elucidating their historical and contemporary conditions of crystallization, the article claims that such research agenda has universal appeal, particularly in an era of institutional distrust and changes in the structure of information diffusion.

Introduction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Scott Radnitz
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Political Context ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
National Surveys ◽  
The World ◽  
Over Time

This chapter introduces the book. It notes the rising prominence of conspiracy theories globally and argues that when governments weaponize conspiracy claims, there are important implications for democracy and stability. It explains the importance of examining conspiracy claims in their political context. The book explores the reasons that regimes make conspiracy claims, how they sustain them over time, and what effects those claims have on politics and society. The chapter then summarizes the theoretical framework and introduces the data: an original collection of over 1,500 conspiracy claims from across the former Soviet Union, two national surveys, and 12 focus groups. It discusses the definition and coding of conspiracy claims. Finally, it argues that the lessons from this book, which explain how conspiracy theories are used in a part of the world where democracy came late—or never arrived—can be instructive for concerned citizens everywhere.

Globalization and interconfessional communications

2001 ◽  
pp. 13-17
Author(s):  
Serhii Viktorovych Svystunov
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Modern World ◽  
The World ◽  
Target Set ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Rapid Appearance

In the 21st century, the world became a sign of globalization: global conflicts, global disasters, global economy, global Internet, etc. The Polish researcher Casimir Zhigulsky defines globalization as a kind of process, that is, the target set of characteristic changes that develop over time and occur in the modern world. These changes in general are reduced to mutual rapprochement, reduction of distances, the rapid appearance of a large number of different connections, contacts, exchanges, and to increase the dependence of society in almost all spheres of his life from what is happening in other, often very remote regions of the world.

The Language of Global Success

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsedal Neeley
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Global Organizations ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Language ◽  
Language Strategies ◽  
Native Tongue

For nearly three decades, English has been the lingua franca of cross-border business, yet studies on global language strategies have been scarce. Providing a rare behind-the-scenes look at the high-tech giant Rakuten in the five years following its English mandate, this book explores how language shapes the ways in which employees in global organizations communicate and negotiate linguistic and cultural differences. Drawing on 650 interviews conducted across Rakuten's locations around the world, the book argues that an organization's lingua franca is the catalyst by which all employees become some kind of “expat”—detached from their native tongue or culture. Demonstrating that language can serve as the conduit for an unfamiliar culture, often in unexpected ways, the book uncovers how all organizations might integrate language effectively to tap into the promise of globalization.

The Values and Norms of Islam

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Ahmed Akgunduz
Keyword(s):  
Islamic Law ◽  
Legal Theory ◽  
The Other ◽  
Moral Norms ◽  
Simple Fact ◽  
Value System ◽  
Legal Norms ◽  
Islamic Legal Theory ◽  
The World ◽  
Over Time

AbstractIslamic Law is one of the broadest and most comprehensive systems of legislation in the world. It was applied, through various schools of thought, from one end of the Muslim world to the other. It also had a great impact on other nations and cultures. We will focus in this article on values and norms in Islamic law. The value system of Islam is immutable and does not tolerate change over time for the simple fact that human nature does not change. The basic values and needs (which can be called maṣlaḥa) are classified hierarchically into three levels: (1) necessities (Ḍarūriyyāt), (2) convenience (Ḥājiyyāt), and (3) refinements (Kamāliyyāt=Taḥsīniyyāt). In Islamic legal theory (Uṣūl al‐fiqh) the general aim of legislation is to realize values through protecting and guaranteeing their necessities (al-Ḍarūriyyāt) as well as stressing their importance (al‐ Ḥājiyyāt) and their refinements (taḥsīniyyāt).In the second part of this article we will draw attention to Islamic norms. Islam has paid great attention to norms that protect basic values. We cannot explain all the Islamic norms that relate to basic values, but we will classify them categorically. We will focus on four kinds of norms: 1) norms (rules) concerned with belief (I’tiqādiyyāt), 2) norms (rules) concerned with law (ʿAmaliyyāt); 3) general legal norms (Qawā‘id al‐ Kulliyya al‐Fiqhiyya); 4) norms (rules) concerned with ethics (Wijdāniyyāt = Aḵlāqiyyāt = Ādāb = social and moral norms).

Use of Phosphatidylcholine in the Treatment of Localized Fat Deposits. Results and expectations

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 1438-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sorin Berbece ◽  
Dan Iliescu ◽  
Valeriu Ardeleanu ◽  
Alexandru Nicolau ◽  
Radu Cristian Jecan
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
World Health ◽  
Basic Substance ◽  
Physical Exercises ◽  
Fat Deposits ◽  
The World ◽  
The Common ◽  
Global Health Problem ◽  
Over Time

Obesity represents a global health problem. According to the latest studies released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), 1.7 billion currently in excess of normal weight individuals, of which approx. 75% are overweight (body mass index - BMI 25 to 30). The common form of excess adipose tissue manifestation in overweight individuals is localized fat deposits with high (abdominal) or low (buttocks and thighs) disposition. Although the overweight can be corrected relatively easy by changing behavioral habits or food, a constant physical exercises program or following a diet food are not accessible to all through the efforts of will, financial and time involved. Several methods have been studied and tested over time to eliminate more or less invasive fat deposits with varying efficacy and adverse effects. Chemical lipolysis using phosphatidylcholine as the basic substance was initially used in hypercholesterolemia and its complications and was rapidly adopted in mesotherapy techniques for the treatment of fat deposits. This study reveals the results obtained using Dermastabilon on a sample of 16 patients, the time allocated to treatment and discomfort being minimal, and rapid and notable results. There were no side effects.

The Staging of Large Wastewater Treatment Plants - A “Modular” Approach

1992 ◽  
Vol 25 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 67-73
Author(s):  
H. Fleckseder ◽  
L. Prendl ◽  
H. Meulenbroek
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Aeration Tank ◽  
Modular Approach ◽  
Central European ◽  
Plant Hydraulics ◽  
The World ◽  
Whole Life Cycle ◽  
Over Time

The primary driving force for re-investments in wastewater treatment plants in Austria - and also other countries in Central Europe - is at present not an increase in load to treatment but a marked increase in effluent requirements to be fulfilled. (The re-investments necessary for sludge handling and treatment remain outside this paper.) Within a period of 20 years, the load specific requirements on aeration tank volume rose five- to tenfold, when Lv = 2.0 kg BOD5/(m3d) was the starting value, and roughly doubled for final clarifiers. In addition, the importance of the application and expansion of primary sedimentation decreased as well. This development over time in Central European countries as well as the need to utilize previous investments as long as possible - 35 to 60 years for civil works are common as periods of depreciation - indicate that investments in new plant at any location in the world have to consider the possible whole life cycle of a plant and that plant hydraulics becomes the “key hook” for expandability.

scholarly journals Just world beliefs, personal success and beliefs in conspiracy theories

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Furnham
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Composite Measure ◽  
Just World Beliefs ◽  
Just World ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
The World ◽  
Personal Ideology ◽  
Personal Success

AbstractDo those who believe in conspiracy theories feel less happy and healthy than others? Do they believe the world is simply unjust? This study was concerned with how demographic factors, personal ratings of success, personal ideology (political and religious beliefs) and Just World Beliefs are related to Conspiracy Theories. In total, 406 participants completed two questionnaires: Just World scale (Rubin & Peplau, 1975) and Conspiracy Theories Inventory (Swami et al., 2010) and provided various personal details. The Just World Scale yielded two scores: Just and Unjust beliefs. Participants also reported on their health, happiness and success and a reliable composite measure of well-being was computed. A regression showed younger males, with Unjust World beliefs and politically right-wing views, were more likely to endorse Conspiracy Theories. The discussion revolved around explaining individual differences in accepting these theories. Implications and limitations are discussed.

scholarly journals Factors associated with professional identity formation within psychiatry residency training: A longitudinal study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Hui Chew ◽  
Yvonne Steinert ◽  
Kang Sim
Keyword(s):  
Professional Identity ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Psychiatry Residency ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Psychiatry Residents ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Introduction Conceptual frameworks for professional identity (PI) formation highlight the importance of developmental stages and socialization as the learner progresses from legitimate peripheral to full participation. Based on extant literature and clinical impressions, the authors aimed to explore factors associated with PI formation in psychiatry residents over time, and hypothesized that time in training, seniority status, and duration of exposure to psychiatry prior to residency would be associated with PI formation. Methods Eighty out of 96 psychiatry residents (response rate, 83.3%) from the National Psychiatry Residency Program in Singapore participated and rated their PI development using the Professional Self Identity Questionnaire (PSIQ) across four timepoints from January 2016–December 2019. The residents were classified as junior (first 3 years) or senior residents (years 4–5). Linear mixed model analyses were conducted, with time in training, seniority status (junior versus senior residents), duration of psychiatry postings prior to residency, and their interaction as associated factors with PI over time. Results Time in training, seniority, and duration of psychiatry postings before residency (all p < 0.01) were significantly associated with higher PSIQ scores at baseline. Over time, although all residents had increases in PSIQ scores, this rate of change did not differ significantly between junior and senior residents. Discussion Exposure to psychiatry postings before residency, time in learning, and seniority are factors which influence PI development in residents. This has implications for psychiatry residency selection and training, adequate clinical exposure during training rotations, and continual support for new and senior residents to foster PI formation over time.

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