Interrelations between North Korean Policy and Public opinion according to Regime change: A Case Study on Park(2015) and Moon(2017) Regimes

Abstract This article analyzes how and why foreign policy (FP)-makers use dialogue and participation processes (DPPs) with (groups of) individual citizens as a source of public opinion. Taking Germany as a case study and drawing on DPP initiatives by the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt, AA) since 2014, we analyze the officials’ motivation for establishing such processes and find four different sets of motivation: (1) image campaigning, (2) educating citizens, (3) listening to citizens, and (4) changing the citizens’ role in FP. Our article makes three contributions. First, we provide a novel typology of the sources of public opinion upon which FP-makers can draw. Second, our study points to the importance of, and provides a framework for, analyzing how officials engage with public opinion at the micro-level, which has so far been understudied in FP analysis. Finally, our empirical analysis suggests that both carefully assessing and influencing public opinion feature prominently in motivation, whereas PR purposes are of minor importance. Recasting the citizens’ role in FP gains in importance over time and may mirror the increased need to legitimize FP in Western democracies vis-à-vis their publics.

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New Sacred Places in Contemporary Poland: Ethnographic Case Study of Two Miracles in Sokółka and Legnica

Journal of Religion in Europe ◽

10.1163/18748929-20211419 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1-2) ◽

pp. 55-79

Author(s):

Tomasz Kalniuk

Keyword(s):

Public Opinion ◽

Ethnographic Research ◽

Ethnographic Case Study ◽

Sacred Places ◽

Holy Places ◽

Religious Worldviews

Abstract Events that happened in Poland in 2008 and 2013 related to the alleged miracles in Sokółka (in the Podlasie region) and Legnica (in the Silesia region) seriously affected the native ‘sacrosphere.’ Sensational information about the unusual events polarized public opinion by confronting secular and religious worldviews. At the same time, the increase in the devotion of the faithful was accompanied by folklore-forming mechanisms, adding new threads to the ‘miraculous story.’ Ethnographic research performed in the newly founded sanctuaries reveals elements of sensuality specific to folk religiosity. Miracles displaying the motif of blood build the reputation of Sokółka and Legnica as new holy places, attracting pilgrims and tourists from Poland and abroad. Contrary to pessimistic predictions of widespread secularization, there was a revival of the so-called ‘traditional piety.’ Folk religiosity revealed its vitality.

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An Emerging Online Public

The Contentious Public Sphere ◽

10.23943/princeton/9780691196145.003.0006 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 129-170

Author(s):

Ya-Wen Lei

Keyword(s):

Public Opinion ◽

Public Sphere ◽

Political Behavior ◽

Everyday Practices ◽

Media Institutions ◽

Comprehensive Picture ◽

Demographic Background ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Party State

This chapter focuses on the emergence of an online public in China and delves into its relationship with the party-state and various intermediary actors, as well as its interaction with legal and media institutions. It argues that netizens' everyday practices and participation in public opinion incidents facilitated the rise of contentious culture and China's contentious public sphere. Because the late 2000s were critical to the rise of an online public and the contentious public sphere, the analysis focuses mostly on this period. To depict a more comprehensive picture of Chinese netizens, the chapter first draws on statistical data to describe their demographic background, social networks, political attitudes, and political behavior. Next, it describes their everyday practices and participation in public opinion incidents. It then examines the case study of a public opinion incident involving food safety, and shows how netizens interacted with the Chinese party-state and various intermediary actors to make what happened a “public opinion incident.” Finally, the chapter draws on in-depth interviews with ordinary citizens to understand how netizens' everyday practices and participation in public opinion incidents contribute to politicization.

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Unity or Identity? European Disintegration and WWI Culture Conflict

Inquiry@Queen's Undergraduate Research Conference Proceedings ◽

10.24908/iqurcp.10224 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Conor Hannigan

Keyword(s):

Public Opinion ◽

World War I ◽

Group Identity ◽

Academic Research ◽

Historical Case Study ◽

Culture Conflict ◽

Historical Case ◽

Secondary Sources ◽

Anglo American

A resurgence of nationalism in Europe risks undermining the European integration project. Social Psychology and International Relations (IR) literature have explored how identities are created and strengthened through a process called ‘othering’ in which groups define themselves in opposition to others. Several variables contributing to this resurgence of nationalism exist, but ‘othering’ as a means of strengthening group identity appears to be among the most salient factors. This paper draws on previous academic research and uses a historical case study to argue that ‘othering’ in times of trouble and insecurity is not a new phenomenon. My research has focused on the changing public opinion among American citizens of English, German, and Irish descent during World War I. The methodology for this research required surveying primary and secondary sources published during the period August 1914 – April 1917 in order to glean evidence of changing public opinion of specifically the English diaspora. Throughout this process, it became apparent that a resurfacing of cultural and civilizational identities among the diasporas were often the source of changing opinion. Moreover, attempts by Irish and German-Americans to discredit English civilization and the Entente cause during the war actually served to strengthen Anglo-American ties and identities. This case study illustrates how the process of ‘othering’ may be used to bolster a sense of group identity in times of insecurity. This is something that appears to be occurring in Europe and has begun a process of European disintegration.

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