scholarly journals Political discourse of President Bashar Al-Assad after the Syrian revolution (analytical vision)

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shireen Gaber

Purpose There is no doubt that the political speech of the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is of exceptional importance in understanding the developments of the war in Syria, and clarifies the position of all parties involved in the war, whether local, regional or international. Accordingly, and based on the dismantling of political discourse, the identification of its core, as well as its variables and major themes of this discourse, this study aims to understand the levels of complexity, paths and the fate of the war in Syria that certainly does not come free of charge, the hardest of which is the human cost whether for the victims or the displaced persons. Design/methodology/approach After a careful study of all the resilient factors in the literature review to categorize the primary data based on Assad’s discourses in the media, through a “qualitative research study” of his “interviews and discourses,” it is found that the Assad’s rhetoric is highly relevant to his tenacious presidency. The research reveals the themes that dominated Assad’s interview responses and speeches and his strategy of framing the revolution as a foreign insurgency against his government. In fact, Assad delegitimizes any semblance of the uprisings as a “pro-democracy movement” or “revolution,” denying the presence of a rebellion against his government. Findings By the analysis the study found out that Bashar Al-Assad continued to focus on certain reasons and issues that led to the crisis and the continuation of the war, such as the Muslim Brotherhood’s involvement, considering the Syrian opposition abroad as agents of Western countries, Syria is subject to a regional and international conspiracy, terrorism is a major scourge that must be fought and that the army is essential in resolving the battles taking place there. Likewise, emphasizing the internal dialogue with all stakeholders and involved parties is the way to solve the crisis.The Syrian President’s speeches do not focus much on the accusations against his regime from the opposition or the international parties involved in the conflict. Originality/value Assad’s resiliency has made him a distinct leader in the region. This paper analyzes the factors contributing to Assad’s resiliency. The literature review consists of the existing theories on authoritarian persistence and Assad’s power base in particular. The literature review discusses the factors that helped Assad adopts his resiliency strategies to the conflict environment. The research focuses on how Assad used the media as a platform for displaying his own manipulative narrative of the conflict. It concludes that Assad’s use of the media as his propaganda tool legitimized his rule, making it highly relevant to his persistence.

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terrence H. Witkowski

Purpose This paper aims to present a visually documented brand history of Winchester Repeating Arms through a cultural analysis of iconic Western images featuring its lever action rifles. Design/methodology/approach The study applies visual culture perspectives and methods to the research and writing of brand history. Iconic Western images featuring Winchester rifles have been selected, examined, and used as points of departure for gathering and interpreting additional data about the brand. The primary sources consist chiefly of photographs from the nineteenth century and films and television shows from the twentieth century. Most visual source materials were obtained from the US Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the Internet Movie Firearms Database. These have been augmented by written sources. Findings Within a few years of the launch of the Winchester brand in 1866, visual images outside company control associated its repeating rifles with the settlement of the American West and with the colorful people involved. Some of these images were reproduced in books and others sold to consumers in the form of cartes de visite, cabinet cards and stereographs made from albumen prints. Starting in the 1880s, the live Wild West shows of William F. Cody and his stars entertained audiences with a heroic narrative of the period that included numerous Winchesters. During the twentieth century and into the present, Winchesters have been featured in motion pictures and television series with Western themes. Research limitations/implications Historical research is an ongoing process. The discovery of new primary data, both written and visual, may lead to a revised interpretation of the selected images. Originality/value Based largely on images as primary data sources, this study approaches brand history from the perspective of visual culture theory and data. The research shows how brands acquire meaning not just from the companies that own them but also from consumers, the media and other producers of popular culture.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianke Sun ◽  
Gaoliang Wang ◽  
Liuyang Xu ◽  
Honglei Yuan

PurposeIn data grids, replication has been regarded as a crucial optimization strategy. Computing tasks are performed on IoT gateways at the cloud edges to obtain a prompt response. So, investigating the data replication mechanisms in the IoT is necessary. Henceforth, a systematic survey of data replication strategies in IoT techniques is presented in this paper, and some suggestions are offered for the upcoming works. In two key classifications, various parameters dependent on the analysis of the prevalent approaches are considered. The pros and cons associated with chosen strategies have been explored, and the essential problems of them have been presented to boost the future of more effective data replication strategies. We have also discovered gaps in papers and provided solutions for them.Design/methodology/approachProgress in Information Technology (IT) growth has brought the Internet of Things (IoT) into life to take a vital role in our everyday lifestyles. Big IoT-generated data brings tremendous data processing challenges. One of the most challenging problems is data replication to improve fault-tolerance, reliability, and accessibility. In this way, if the primary data source fails, a replica can be swapped in immediately. There is a significant influence on the IoT created by data replication techniques, but no extensive and systematic research exists in this area. There is still no systematic and full way to address the relevant methods and evaluate them. Hence, in the present investigation, a literature review is indicated on the IoT-based data replication from papers published until 2021. Based on the given guidelines, chosen papers are reviewed. After establishing exclusion and inclusion criteria, an independent systematic search in Google Scholar, ACM, Scopus, Eric, Science Direct, Springer link, Emerald, Global ProQuest, and IEEE for relevant studies has been performed, and 21(6 paper analyzed in section 1 and 15 paper analyzed in section 3) papers have been analyzed.FindingsThe results showed that data replication mechanisms in the IoT algorithms outperform other algorithms regarding impressive network utilization, job implementation time, hit ratio, total replication number, and the portion of utilized storage in percentage. Although a few ideas have been suggested that fix different facets of IoT data management, we predict that there is still space for development and more study. Thus, in order to design innovative and more effective methods for future IoT-based structures, we explored open research directions in the domain of efficient data processing.Research limitations/implicationsThe present investigation encountered some drawbacks. First of all, only certain papers published in English were included. It is evident that some papers exist on data replication processes in the IoT written in other languages, but they were not included in our research. Next, the current report has only analyzed the mined based on data replication processes and IoT keyword discovery. The methods for data replication in the IoT would not be printed with keywords specified. In this review, the papers presented in national conferences and journals are neglected. In order to achieve the highest ability, this analysis contains papers from major global academic journals.Practical implicationsTo appreciate the significance and accuracy of the data often produced by different entities, the article illustrates that data provenance is essential. The results contribute to providing strong suggestions for future IoT studies. To be able to view the data, administrators have to modify novel abilities. The current analysis will deal with the speed of publications and suggest the findings of research and experience as a future path for IoT data replication decision-makers.Social implicationsIn general, the rise in the knowledge degree of scientists, academics, and managers will enhance administrators' positive and consciously behavioral actions in handling IoT environments. We anticipate that the consequences of the present report could lead investigators to produce more efficient data replication methods in IoT regarding the data type and data volume.Originality/valueThis report provides a detailed literature review on data replication strategies relying on IoT. The lack of such papers increases the importance of this paper. Utilizing the responses to the study queries, data replication's primary purpose, current problems, study concepts, and processes in IoT are summarized exclusively. This approach will allow investigators to establish a more reliable IoT technique for data replication in the future. To the best of our understanding, our research is the first to provide a thorough overview and evaluation of the current solutions by categorizing them into static/dynamic replication and distributed replication subcategories. By outlining possible future study paths, we conclude the article.


2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbie Iveson ◽  
Magnus Hultman ◽  
Vasileios Davvetas

Purpose This paper aims to respond to calls in academia for an update of the product lifecycle (PLC). Through a systematic literature review, the authors provide an updated agenda, which aims to advance the PLC concept in research, teaching and practice. Design/methodology/approach The authors started by surveying 101 marketing academics globally to ascertain whether a PLC update was viewed necessary and beneficial in the marketing community and thereafter conducted citation analysis of marketing research papers and textbooks to ascertain PLC usage. The subsequent literature review methodology was split into two sections. First, 97 empirical articles were reviewed based on an evaluative framework. Second, research pertaining to the PLC determinants were assessed and discussed. Findings From the results of this review and primary data from marketing academics, the authors find that the method of predicting the PLC based on past sales has been largely unsuccessful and perceived as somewhat outdated. However, a new stream of PLC literature is emerging, which takes a consumer-centric perspective to the PLC and has seen more success at modeling lifecycles in various industries. Research limitations/implications First, the study outlines the most contemporary and successful methodological approaches to modeling the PLC. Namely, the use of artificial intelligence, big data, demand modeling and consumer psychological mechanisms. Second, it provides several future research avenues using modern market trends such as sustainability, globalization, digitization and Covid-19 to push the PLC into the 21st century. Originality/value The PLC has shown to be resolutely popular in management application and education. However, without a continued effort in academic PLC research to update the knowledge around the concept, its use as a productive management tool will likely become outdated. This study provides a necessary and comprehensive literature update resulting in actionable future research and teaching agendas intended to advance the PLC concept into the modern market context.


2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 671-680
Author(s):  
Priyanka Chaudhary ◽  
Radha Krishan Lodhwal

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the organizational role stress (ORS) in employees of Allahabad Bank posted at Guwahati city serving at scale 1 and above up to the deputy general manager (DGM). Design/methodology/approach This study was carried out at different branches of Allahabad Bank located in the city of Guwahati, Assam. The respondents included assistant managers and DGM. The sampling technique used for data collection was non-probability sampling; the method used was convenience sampling. This study is exploratory as well as descriptive in nature. A questionnaire was distributed and collected personally by the researcher. Findings After an extensive literature review, it was the belief of the researchers that the employees of Allahabad Bank could be experiencing the effects of stress. On using the tools (mean, ANOVA, Correlation) on the dimensions of stress and demographic factors, the results were almost identical. Research limitations/implications In the banking industry, every constituent of the occupational stress can be studied more thoroughly. More insight into the factors of stress can be brought into the spotlight through more research work. Academicians may shed light on new factors that are creating stress, but still remain unidentified. Practical implications This study can be extensively used in fields other than the banking industry such as hospitality, healthcare, insurance, etc. Stress gives rise to physical problems and health problems. It may also lead to psychological, behavioral and organizational problems. Stress adversely affects the productivity of the organization as employees experiencing stress may not perform up to their capability and according to the requirements of the organization. Awareness among people of stress and the reasons for its occurrence is a must to keep them healthy, happy and competitive. Originality/value This research is based on primary data collected from Udai Pareek’s ORS scale. The target sample was scale 1-5 employees of Allahabad Bank posted at Guwahati city. The literature review information and the work of other researchers are supported by due reference.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-127
Author(s):  
Bob Spires ◽  
Eric Howington ◽  
Jay Rojewski

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into the generalized self-efficacy (GSE) of youth in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Youth issues have been at the forefront of political discourse in the region and often youth are presented in the media as having fundamental deficits, which are tied to growing inequality and lack of social mobility. This study offers more perspective of the characteristics of Hong Kong youth to contribute to the literature as well as influence the discourse on youth and youth issues. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on a community survey of youth in the New Territories of Hong Kong with over 2000 respondents. The survey was based on a valid and reliable instrument on GSE to measure the GSE of youth in the region. GSE characteristics are analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s α for internal consistency, factor analysis to verify the dimensional nature of the scale. The relationships between GSE and age and gender were analyzed using multiple linear regression model. Findings Findings indicated that despite a slightly higher, yet statistically significant GSE scores for females, and little impact of age on GSE, Hong Kong youth have normal levels of GSE. This finding offers a counter to the pathologizing of youth’s individual characteristics, and implies the need for a shift in discourse toward more targeted examination of the structural issues that act as barriers to social mobility of today’s young people in Hong Kong. Research limitations/implications The study focused on GSE, which is correlated with other constructs such as confidence, but not established in causal relationships with other variables. More research is needed to link GSE and confidence in these groups, as well as links to structural issues that may impact various youth characteristics. Practical implications The study offers insight, which could be used to inform Non-Governmental Organizations and educational programs targeting disadvantaged youth. Programs that pathologize youth characteristics may be able to employ the findings to shift approaches toward more targeted skills-building as well as programming addressing structural barriers. Social implications The study offers a counter-narrative to the contemporary deficit view of today’s youth in Hong Kong. This study provides basis for shifting the discourse away from situating social issues in Hong Kong at the individual level with youth, and toward structural, societal level influences on inequality and social mobility of younger generations. Originality/value Although GSE has been measured across the globe, this study sought to target the GSE of a group that has been framed in the media and political discourse as lacking in a variety of important characteristics. This study’s findings offer a counter-narrative to the generally negative attitudes toward youth as shy, lacking in confidence, antisocial and without a strong work ethic.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raju Majumdar

PurposeAs the world tries to come to terms with the exact economic and human cost of the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses are trying to discern and act on the implications of the “new normal” in order to survive and grow. Amongst all the industries impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, travel and tourism has been the hardest hit. Operators across the value chain are trying to innovate and improvise in order to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on cash flows and working capital. The primary purpose of this paper then is to take a closer look at the measures adopted by the Indian hotel industry to restore revenues, conserve resources and attain greater operational and cost efficiencies in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis. The article also brings to the fore the growth-enhancing measures adopted by the industry in anticipation of a “new normal” in the post-Covid world.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on primary data collected via a survey, followed by a series of interviews with a select group of senior finance managers from a wide spectrum of hotels based in India.FindingsOur findings suggest that Indian hotels have adopted several measures to enhance cash flows/revenues, reduce operating costs and cash outflows and conserve resources in order to tide themselves over during the crisis. Prominent cash flow–enhancing measures include price drops on special offers and reductions on list prices. Cost-cutting measures include economizing on energy consumption, reductions in labour costs and the postponement of maintenance expenses and discretionary spending. Resource conservation measures that have been adopted focus on postponement of capital expenditure and an increasing shift to localizing supply chains. Growth-enhancing measures adopted by the industry in anticipation of the long-term “new normal” include restructuring of the workforce and measures aimed at attracting domestic tourists and increasing product diversity.Originality/valueThis study attempts to understand the short-term and long-term financial management strategies adopted by Indian hotels in the face of unprecedented disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first of its kind in the Indian context.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 581-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuwan Tharanga Dias ◽  
Kaushal Keraminiyage ◽  
Kushani Kulasthri DeSilva

Purpose After tsunami 2004, it was estimated that more than 98,000 permanent houses had to be rebuilt. However, ten years on, as communities, are they satisfied in their new homes? What are the indicators affecting the long-term satisfaction of resettled communities in relation to their new permanent houses. The purpose of this paper is to qualitatively evaluate the level of long-term satisfaction of two tsunami affected resettled communities in Sri Lanka in a bid to identify the indicators affecting the long-term satisfaction of post disaster resettled communities in relation to permanent housing. Design/methodology/approach In addition to the thorough literature review conducted to evaluate the state of the art in the subject area, a series of interviews were conducted with experts and tsunami affected communities in Sri Lanka to gather primary data for this research. The literature review is used to establish the initial list of indicators of long-term satisfaction of resettlements. The expert interviews and the community interviews were used to verify and refine the initially identified indicators. Findings A sustainable resettlement programme is just not merely reconstruction of a set of houses. A resettlement programme should re-establish the socio-economic and cultural life of people. Reconstruction of a house does not solve the housing issue; it is vital to look in to the indicators which can convert a house into a home and the surrounding into a neighbourhood. Originality/value This paper makes a significant contribution in terms of identifying indicators affecting the long-term community satisfaction with resettlement programmes taking into account economic, social and cultural factors with a special emphasis on post tsunami resettlements in Sri Lanka.


Author(s):  
Jeeyun Oh ◽  
Mun-Young Chung ◽  
Sangyong Han

Despite of the popularity of interactive movie trailers, rigorous research on one of the most apparent features of these interfaces – the level of user control – has been scarce. This study explored the effects of user control on users’ immersion and enjoyment of the movie trailers, moderated by the content type. We conducted a 2 (high user control versus low user control) × 2 (drama film trailer versus documentary film trailer) mixed-design factorial experiment. The results showed that the level of user control over movie trailer interfaces decreased users’ immersion when the trailer had an element of traditional story structure, such as a drama film trailer. Participants in the high user control condition answered that they were less fascinated with, absorbed in, focused on, mentally involved with, and emotionally affected by the movie trailer than participants in the low user control condition only with the drama movie trailer. The negative effects of user control on the level of immersion for the drama trailer translated into users’ enjoyment. The impact of user control over interfaces on immersion and enjoyment varies depending on the nature of the media content, which suggests a possible trade-off between the level of user control and entertainment outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 90
Author(s):  
Dian Septiandani ◽  
Abd. Shomad

Zakat is one of principal worship requiring every individual (<em>mukallaf</em>) with considerable property to spend some of the wealth for zakat under several conditions applied within. On the other hand, tax is an obligation assigned to taxpayers and should be deposited into the state based on policies applied, with no direct return as reward, for financing the national general expense. In their development, both zakat and tax had quite attention from Islamic economic thought. Nevertheless, we, at first, wanted to identify the principles of zakat and tax at the time of Rasulullah SAW. Therefore, this study referred to normative research. The primary data was collected through library/document research and the secondary one was collected through literature review by inventorying and collecting textbooks and other documents related to the studied issue.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-133

Since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, attacks on the media have been relentless. “Fake news” has become a household term, and repeated attempts to break the trust between reporters and the American people have threatened the validity of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In this article, the authors trace the development of fake news and its impact on contemporary political discourse. They also outline cutting-edge pedagogies designed to assist students in critically evaluating the veracity of various news sources and social media sites.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document