Cultural Opportunity and Social Movements

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-260
Author(s):  
Arash Reisinezhad ◽  
Parisa Farhadi
Keyword(s):  
Social Movement ◽  
Rational Choice Theory ◽  
Choice Theory ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Shared Meanings ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
The Arab Spring ◽  
Cross National

The emergence of the Arab Spring in 2010 heralded a deep transformation within Muslim societies as well as the geopolitical arrangement of the region. These movements emerged after a non-Arab movement, the Iranian Green Movement in 2009, with which they shared various characteristics, ranging from its broad use of virtual space to movement without a classic leadership. While a large body of movement literature links the formation of social movement to either the structural opportunities or rational choice theory, the present paper addresses the cultural opportunity as a main facilitator-constraint in the movement formation. Given this fact that mediating between opportunities and mobilization are the shared meanings, the article seeks to empirically investigate cultural factors that construct and drive protests. From this perspective, the present study argues that movements tend to cluster in time and space because they are not independent of one another. Thus, it goes deep down in the way that different movements have had tremendous impacts on each other through examining the presence of the Master of Protest Frame (mpf). Transgressing the geographical borders and chronological phases, this factor has shaped movements strategies. Finally and to place recent events in a generalizable analysis, the paper employs a cross-national analysis, with focusing on Iran in 2009 and Egypt in 2010.

Crime Witnesses' Non-Cooperation in Police Investigations

2019 ◽  
pp. 150-157
Author(s):  
Usman Adekunle Ojedokun
Keyword(s):  
Rational Choice Theory ◽  
Choice Theory ◽  
Crime Control ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Police Force ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Police Investigations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Crime Investigation

The importance of crime witnesses in policing and crime control cannot be overemphasized. In Nigeria, a constant impediment in the effective operation of the criminal justice system machineries is the non-cooperation of crime witnesses with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force. Against this background, this paper examines the causes and consequences of crime witnesses' non-cooperation in police investigations in Nigeria. Rational choice theory was employed for its theoretical anchorage. A wide range of socio-cultural factors were identified as sustaining the traditional communication gap between the Police and crime witnesses that possess vital information which can aid their crime investigation. The Nigeria Police Force is urged to develop a holistic road-map through which the level of public confidence in its operation can be boosted.

A Social Movement Society?: A Cross-National Analysis of Protest Potential

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 12-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Craig Jenkins ◽  
Michael Wallace ◽  
Andrew S. Fullerton
Keyword(s):  
Social Movement ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Cross National

Crime Witnesses' Non-Cooperation in Police Investigations

2016 ◽  
pp. 89-99
Author(s):  
Usman Adekunle Ojedokun
Keyword(s):  
Rational Choice Theory ◽  
Choice Theory ◽  
Crime Control ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Police Force ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Police Investigations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Crime Investigation

The importance of crime witnesses in policing and crime control cannot be overemphasized. In Nigeria, a constant impediment in the effective operation of the criminal justice system machineries is the non-cooperation of crime witnesses with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force. Against this background, this paper examines the causes and consequences of crime witnesses' non-cooperation in police investigations in Nigeria. Rational choice theory was employed for its theoretical anchorage. A wide range of socio-cultural factors were identified as sustaining the traditional communication gap between the Police and crime witnesses that possess vital information which can aid their crime investigation. The Nigeria Police Force is urged to develop a holistic road-map through which the level of public confidence in its operation can be boosted.

Comparative politics: stages of development and problems of methodology

10.12737/5252 ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-82
Author(s):  
Андрей Рыбаков ◽  
Andrey Rybakov
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Comparative Politics ◽  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Rational Choice Theory ◽  
Choice Theory ◽  
Cognitive Tools ◽  
Methodological Problems ◽  
Comparative Political Science ◽  
Cross National

This article discusses the main stages of a comparative methodology in political science. Special attention is paid to the analysis of methodological problems of modern comparative studies revealed heuristic possibilities and limitations of research methods. The evolution of the number of stages included comparative reflecting the dominance of one or another method, strategy. Comparative studies have been used in various combinations and neoinstitutional institutional, behavioral, structural-functional, historical and comparative methods, rational choice theory, and so on. Today largely formed a new comparative analysis tools, including the types of research such as the "case-study", binary, regional, thematic, cross-national and cross-temporal comparisons. Important for the researcher has knowledge and understanding of the constraints that can be encountered in their work. In connection with this article analyzes the problems of comparative studies, which can be divided into qualitative (the problem of "comparability", "failure cases", "many variables", "Galton’s problem") and quantitative (measurement problems, interpretation and equivalence studied political phenomena and institutions). Concludes, that there are many kinds of comparative studies depending on the characteristics of the object of research, which shows the development of comparative political science and the search for new areas of research as well as effective cognitive tools. Theoretical and methodological base articles constitute the most famous work of foreign and Russian comparativists.

Rational Choice Theory and the 1990 Party Merger in South Korea

OUGHTOPIA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-282
Author(s):  
In-Kyun Kim ◽  
Myeong-Geon Koh
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Rational Choice ◽  
Rational Choice Theory ◽  
Choice Theory

POLITICS-LAW CONVERGENCE OR DIVERGENCE? 'SMALL' POLITICAL PARTIES, REALPOLITIKAND SOUTH AFRICA'S 20 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kealeboga J Maphunye
Keyword(s):  
Game Theory ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Rational Choice ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Rational Choice Theory ◽  
Choice Theory ◽  
Democratic Consolidation ◽  
Secondary Research ◽  
Extant Literature ◽  
African Charter

This article examines South Africa's 20-year democracy by contextualising the roles of the 'small' political parties that contested South Africa's 2014 elections. Through the  prism  of South  Africa's  Constitution,  electoral legislation  and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, it examines these parties' roles in South Africa's democratisation; their influence,  if any, in parliament, and whether they play any role in South Africa's continental or international engagements. Based on a review of the extant literature, official documents,  legislation, media, secondary research, reports and the results of South Africa's elections, the article relies on game theory, rational choice theory and theories of democracy and democratic consolidation to examine 'small' political parties' roles in the country's political and legal systems. It concludes that the roles of 'small' parties in governance and democracy deserve greater recognition than is currently the case, but acknowledges the extreme difficulty experienced by the 'small'  parties in playing a significant role in democratic consolidation, given their formidable opponent in a one-party dominant system.

Nuclear Weapons, South Asia and Morality

Think India ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-546
Author(s):  
ABHISHEK CHOUDHARY
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Rational Choice Theory ◽  
Choice Theory ◽  
Great Powers ◽  
Moral Perspective ◽  
The Us ◽  
Positive Duties ◽  
Nuclear Development ◽  
Asian Context

The paper analyses the concerns arising from a moral perspective in the context of a renewed arms race in South Asia. It challenges the idea that possession of nuclear power could in any way contribute to any sort of balance. The emulation of so-called great powers and expecting that balance would arrive as it did in the case of the US and the erstwhile-USSR during cold war is detrimental to the temporal and spatial uniqueness of South Asia. Deterrence, based on rational choice theory, does not apply to the South Asian context due to ambiguity owing to mutual mistrust especially in the case of India and Pakistan. Also, it no longer only sates that are sole actors in the international arena. One cannot expect the non-state actors to behave in a rational manner. Furthermore, the idea of ‘credible minimum deterrence’ itself is questionable as it is a flexible posture adjusted to relative prowess and ambiguity in policy further aggravates the situation. The paper argues from a consequentialist notion of ethics and argues that the principles of harm and equity ought be part of nuclear decision-making. Another aspect that the paper uncovers relates to the ‘reification’ of nuclear power. Using a neo-Marxist framework and concept of Lukács, the paper argues that it is no longer the state as a repository of power that decides the trajectory of nuclear development. Rather the nuclear technology has started to dictate the way states are looking at regional and international relations. This inverted relationship has been created due to neglect of any ethical toolkit. The paper thus proposes an ethical toolkit that focuses on the negative duties of not to harm and also the positive duties to create conditions that would avoid harm being done to people.

Nowe podejście do harmonizacji technicznej w Unii Europejskiej a swoboda przepływu towarów

2016 ◽  
pp. 70-86
Author(s):  
Iwona Miedzińska
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Consumer Protection ◽  
Rational Choice Theory ◽  
Choice Theory ◽  
Single Market ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Primary Method ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Free Movement Of Goods

This article is about the new approach directives and their impact on ensuring the free movement of goods in the single market. The author analysed the relevant legislation of the European Union adopted in the field of technical harmonisation: regulations and directives. The primary method of research used in this article is the legal and institutional analysis. Neofunctionalism and rational choice theory were also helpful to explain the processes of integration in this area. The analysis shows that the new approach directives affect the streamlining of procedures for the movement of goods in the single market. However, despite the simplification of procedures for the movement of goods, an adequate level of safety and consumer protection is ensured. The member states and the European Commission have effective response mechanisms when a product endangers life, health or safety of consumers.

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