Social factors as the catalyst of emigration

The objective of the study is to address the factors contributing to emigration from Latvia, in particular by highlighting the importance of social factors in the emigration decision, using the theory of push and pull factors of migration as a theoretical basis. The role of the family and the desire to improve not only the economical, but also the social and psychological conditions of families are important factors in the decision-making process, while maintaining links with Latvia. The authors argue that social factors are essential to the migration decision alongside economic factors, and in particular the family situation. The family is a resource that helps to settle in the new country of residence. The family relationship is addressed in terms of both “ontological security” and a feeling of “social anchoring”. The family remains important in maintaining links with relatives in Latvia.

Ontological (In)Security and the Kurdish Issue in Turkey: The Use of Security Discourse (1925‒1984)

How could one account for the discourse of security used by the Turkish state considering the Kurdish issue before 1984, when the terrorist attacks of the Partiya Karkaren Kurdistani (PKK) had not yet started, and hence there was no physical security threat against the state? This article aims to answer this question from the perspective of ontological (in)security. Based on Critical Discourse Analysis of state discourse, the article argues that the political, social and cultural traits of Kurdish identity created uncertainty in the Turkish self after the Sheikh Said rebellion in 1925. Tribal/religious structures that were influential among Kurds and the expression of Kurdishness as a distinct identity disrupted the autobiographical narratives about Turkishness, hence generating ontological insecurity for the Turkish state. To overcome this problem, the state relied on security discourse and securitized the traits of Kurdish identity, by which it felt threatened. As a result of this securitization, the state was able to legitimize the extraordinary measures taken against Kurds, such as forced resettlements. Securitization, in this sense, regenerated ontological security for the state, because the extraordinary measures served to suppress the Kurdish identity that threatened the certainty and continuity of the Turkish self.

ONTOLOGICAL SECURITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACTIVITY OF A SUBJECT OF LIFE

The article discusses the results of empirical research aiming to study ontological security of actors with low and high activity in life. Ontological security is seen as a life being which permanently embodies independent “I” in real-life contacts with people around and the world. Empirical research engages 119 first-year students at medical college. To study actor’s life activity, the authors applied A.A. Volochkov and A.Yu. Popov’s method of “Diagnostics of student activity” DAS 2, which is based on the theoretical model of actor’s life and includes three components of activity: need in interactions, self-regulation, and satisfaction. N.V. Kopteva’s psychometric method of studying ontological security "OS (PM)" and the method of studying ontological security, built on the principle of the semantic differential "OS (SD)" that were designed on the basis of the ontological security concept, and R. Laing’s alternative clinical conception of ontological insecurity, were also used in the research. To process the data the authors applied methods of mathematical statistics: descriptive statistics, cluster analysis (k-means method), Mann-Whitney U-test, correlation analysis (r-Pearson correlation coefficient). It is stated that students with higher activity differ from students with lower activity and show high ontological security resting on the ontological ground inside and beyond their own “I”, which takes place at two levels of its reflection - less differentiated experiences: confidence in mental “I”, in the body, in the world, in people, in individual value and more differentiated experiences: autonomy and vital contacts with the world.

Skazana na imperium? Lęki i dyskurs imperialny w procesie samoidentyfikacji Rosji poradzieckiej

The goal of the article is to indicate the reasons why formulating a new Russian non-imperial identity has failed. Applying the Ontological Security Theory shows the fall of the USSR as a critical situation that undermined the so-called fundamental questions of the Russian identity. The return of the imperial discourse was triggered by ontological anxiety connected to two fundamental questions: social relations with the significant Other and the finitude. The article discusses in detail the latter. Pending anxiety has activated imperial habitus, which is illustrated by the case of the Russian Geographical Association.

Recognition through dialogue: How transatlantic relations anchor the EU’s identity

In spite of being criticised as ‘talking shops’ and easily replaced by technological innovations, dialogues – defined as face-to-face interactions in an institutionalised framework – remain a staple of international politics. While prevailing accounts have shown that dialogues help states advance their quest for security and profit, the key role dialogues play in the quest for recognition has been overlooked and remains undertheorised. Emphasising the socio-psychological need for ontological security, this article argues that institutions relentlessly engage in dialogues because it allows them to seek, gain and anchor the recognition of their identity. The significance for international relations is illustrated through the emblematic case of the European Union–US dialogues, specifically the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue. The multi-method qualitative analysis based on original interviews, participant observations, visuals and official documents demonstrates how the European Union exploits these dialogues with its ‘Significant Other’ to seek, gain and anchor the recognition of its complex institutional identity.

An Ontological Security Framework to Secure the SDN based IoT Networks

The IoT (Internet of Things) is now a trendy technology with its numerous apps in multiple areas. It includes a heterogeneous amount of Internet and mutually linked devices. Since the IoT network is characterized by tiny assets that produce less energy and are more flexible, this number of machines is difficult to monitor. SDN (Software Defined Network) is a new network model that facilitates the creation and introduction of fresh networking abstractions, simplifies the management of network and facilitates network development. In this paper, by leveraging the fundamental characteristics represented by Software Defined Networks (SDN), we present an ontological security architecture for IoT networks. Our security architecture restricts access to independently verified IoT devices via the network. To secure the flows in the IoT network infrastructure, we introduced an extra layer and provide a lightweight protocol to authenticate IoT systems. Such an advanced strategy to protection containing IoT device authentication and allowing approved flows can assist secure IoT networks against malicious IoT devices and threats.

Anerkennung und ontologische (Un-)Sicherheit von migrantischen Care-Arbeiterinnen in Singapur: Zur Bedeutung von Sichtbarkeit und Zugehörigkeit

Migrant domestic workers in Singapore are situated in a highly hierarchical environment, requiring them to live and work in the same place. This spatial situation leads to a lack of space and time for the female workers which challenges their psychosocial well-being. We ask how the women, nevertheless, develop psychosocial well-being, based on their recognition and subjective embodied positioning, analytically grasped through the concept of ontological (in)security. Based on qualitative interviews, we show how the workers perceive and produce ontological (in)security through spatial dimensions of visibility and belonging. These dimensions are subjectively embodied in multiple places and networks. On behalf of multiple visibilities and belongings outside the domestic realm, domestic care workers in Singapore are able to actively produce ontological security and strengthen their psychosocial well-being. The results show the relevance of implementing regulations for the women to have more possibilities in choosing their whereabouts.