bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulating Identities: The Silences of Critical Caretaking
Authors: Simmons K. Merinda
Published: February 2014

Abstract

This essay provides a critical response to Atalia Omer’sJAARarticle in which she claims that Russell McCutcheon’s work stacks up a false dichotomy between critics and caretakers. Using a context of peace and conflict studies, Omer suggests that critical caretaking would give conversations in religious studies a “real world” relevance and would allow scholars to recuperate the voices of marginalized groups. In response to her call for recuperating silences, this essay looks at what silences are present within Omer’s essay itself and argues that notions like peace and conflict, as well as the margins themselves, are always identified and regulated, despite scholarly presentations of them as self-evident and naturally existing.
Islam and the Sui-generis Discourse: Representations of Islam in Textbooks Used in Introductory Courses of Religious Studies in Sweden
Authors: Emanuelsson Jimmy
Published: February 2014

Abstract

After the attacks of September 11, 2001, some professional scholars of Islam argued that the terrorists involved in the attacks were not really Muslims, but hijackers of Islam. According to other scholars, such arguments reflect a commonsui-generisdiscourse in religious studies which stresses the autonomy of religious phenomena and the priority of faith over cultural production. The scholars in favor for a naturalistic approach in religious studies argues that, in order to approach religion in a naturalistic way, we have to be critical of representations of religion—and in this case representations of Islam—drawing on a sui-generis discourse. The aim of this article is to investigate how Islam is represented in textbooks used in religious studies introductory courses in Sweden. The article shows how the texts and textbooks are drawing on sui-generis discourses to invent consensus in favor of difference, when representing Islam and Muslims.
Establishing a Beachhead or Kicking up Sand?
Authors: Ingersoll Julie
Published: February 2014

Abstract

NAASR President William Arnal invited several members to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the future direction of the organization, as part of a Presidential Panel at the 2012 annual meeting. My assessment, in the essay that follows, is that, since its founding NAASR and its related publications, have continued to play an important role in differentiating the academic study of religion from the more theologically minded work with which it is often confused. In my view, what makes the academic study of religion a discipline, as opposed to merely a field of study, is a shared sustained scholarly conversation on theoretical and methodological issues; NAASR is an important home to that conversation.
Response to Donald Wiebe, “Religions as Hazard-Precaution Systems,” and Luther Martin, “The Ecology of Threat Detection and Precautionary Response” Trying to Explain Religion (Again)
Authors: Oviedo Lluis
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Religion is a multifaceted phenomenon calling for a multidisciplinary approach. Research programs ignoring such level of complexity could incur in forms of reductionism, becoming unable to account for many aspects of religious mind and behavior. The thesis exposed in the articles of Wiebe and Martin awake that suspicion: the first one because of the many ways different religions cope with illness and contagion; the second, as a consequence of the stress and anxiety linked to several religious forms, becoming functional aspects to their implementation.
No sexual dimorphism in limb muscles of a frog not engaging in amplexus
Authors: Zhang Lixia , Zhao Yunyun , Yang Jie , Lu Xin , Chen Xiaohong
Published: February 2014

Sexual dimorphism in limb muscles is widespread among anurans, with males having stronger limbs than females. This phenomenon has been interpreted in the context of intrasexual selection: 1) the robust forelimb muscles in males are associated with amplexus, in which the male tries to grasp the female tightly, and also with rejection of rivals’ attempts at taking over, and 2) massive hindlimb muscles favor the ability to kick away rivals during scramble competition. However, in a few species, fertilization occurs without any form of amplexus and in these species the limb muscle dimorphism is expected to be absent. We tested this prediction inFeirana taihangnicus: a species without amplexus. As expected, we detected non-significant sexual differences in the mass of both forelimb and hindlimb muscles after accounting for body size and age. Our findings represent an interesting example of coevolution of form and function.
Requirements for Amicus Curiae Participation in International Investment ArbitrationA Deconstruction of the Procedural Wall Erected in Joint ICSID Cases ARB/10/25 and ARB/10/15
Authors: Schliemann Christian
Published: February 2014

Abstract

The legal standard on amicus curiae participation in international investment arbitration has been forged by the judicial development of legal rules and, in parallel, the modification of normative sources, such as the ICSID Arbitration Rules. Current and future decisions by arbitral tribunals on the participation of amicus curiae in a given dispute must abide by this consolidated standard. In June 2012, the arbitral tribunal in Joint ICSID Cases No. ARB/10/15 and No. ARB/10/25 released a procedural order, rejecting an amicus petition. This Order contains various deviations from the applicable legal standard and severely restricts the options for amicus participation. The recent attempt to strengthen the legitimacy of international investment arbitration by allowing for greater amicus participation and the acknowledgement of the interdependence of investment law and other areas of international law is thereby put in peril.
The Status of the Disputed Waters Surrounding Gibraltar
Authors: Naldi Gino
Published: February 2014

Abstract

The long-standing dispute between Spain and the United Kingdom over the British overseas territory of Gibraltar was characterized in 2012 by repeated Spanish incursions into Gibraltar’s territorial sea. Spain claims these waters as Spanish historic waters that were never ceded to Great Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht 1713, and therefore insists that Gibraltar has no territorial sea. The United Kingdom maintains that Gibraltar’s entitlement to a territorial sea is in keeping with international law. Although the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht are open to interpretation, the Spanish position does not appear to be compatible with the law of the sea.
Decentralisation and the Provision of Primary and Secondary Education in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Authors: Lyon Aisling
Published: February 2014

This article examines whether devolving responsibility for the provision of public services such as education in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia can satisfy the demands of non-majority groups for greater autonomy over their own affairs. How education systems are designed and delivered is of particular importance to minority ethnic communities since education is crucial for reproducing (and re-creating) the identity of a group. Without the transmission of the aspects of their identity through education, non-majority cultures may disappear. The review begins with the principal arguments in favour of and against devolving responsibility for the provision of education to local communities. An assessment of the Macedonian education system prior to decentralisation follows, accompanied by a discussion of the decentralisation reforms introduced in 2005. Three key theoretical arguments will then be considered within the Macedonian context: (a) whether decentralisation facilitates the provision of heterogeneous local public services; (b) decentralisation’s ability to enhance participation and transparency in decision-making regarding the delivery of services; and (c) whether decentralisation ensures a more equitable and transparent distribution of public resources. The article argues that the decentralisation of primary and secondary education to the municipal level in Macedonia has enabled local communities to more effectively meet the diverse needs of citizens. Persistent challenges, unless adequately addressed, may however undermine the benefits of reform in the longer term.
“Undue” Gifts for Public Employees: An Administrative and Criminal Law Analysis
Authors: Bønsing Sten , Langsted Lars Bo
Published: February 2014

Both administrative law and criminal law set limits on public employees’ acceptance of gifts or other privileges. The core rules in these two areas of the law are the same. The elements of the crime of bribery refer essentially to the administrative law’s rules on the acceptance of gifts. It is probably the same underlying standard that constitutes the measure for the extent to which public employees can accept gifts. However, criminal law may require additional security and clarification in the cause of action for liability. Acceptance of gifts in a number of cases can only be sanctioned under administrative law and not criminal law. This article will analyse these issues and will attempt to define the criteria for determining when the acceptance of gifts is impermissible under both administrative law and criminal law.
Criminalizing Waste Management Activities in Albania in the Light of the European Union Legislation
Authors: Turkeshi Enkelejda
Published: February 2014

Illegal waste management activities violate specific rules that aim at preventing or reducing the negative effects they may have on the environment and human health. For the purpose of providing a more effective protection of the environment, in many countries and since 2008 even at the European Union (EU) level, besides the relevant administrative offences, it is also provided for a specific criminal offence against environment concerning serious infringements of the waste management legislation. This paper examines the current legal framework in Albania concerning waste-related criminal offences, against the minimum standard set forth by the EU in the Directive 2008/99/EC on the protection of environment through criminal law. While the adoption of the new framework law on Integrated Waste Management in 2011 as part of Albania’s efforts in aligning its legislation to that of the EU, has been a positive step towards more stringent rules concerning waste management, thus helping in tackling the serious and constantly evolving problems that the country has been facing in this field for years, the paper suggests that certain amendments to the Criminal Code are also necessary, as the minimum standard of the EU requires that criminal law applies at least in the case of particularly serious infringements of the new waste management legislation. These amendments would increase the protection of the environment and further the alignment of the Albanian legislation with that of the EU, while the country is seeking to fulfill obligations for EU membership.
Building the ‘Big Society’: Exploring representations of young people and citizenship in the National Citizen Service
Authors: Bacon Kate , Frankel Sam , Faulks Keith
Published: February 2014

The Big Society agenda of the UK Coalition government aims to develop a more participative and responsible society. In a children’s rights context this sounds progressive, inviting it might be hoped, some appreciation of the contributions that children and young people make to society. Yet, in the light of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UK government still remains cautious in the extent to which it seems prepared to recognise children and young people as citizens. This paper explores one Coalition government initiative which is intended to promote citizenship and the building of the ‘Big Society’ – the National Citizen Service. By examining some official NCS documentation and website content we start to unpick the images of childhood and citizenship which underpin it. Central to our analysis is the question of how far young people are considered to be citizens.
Reflections on the UNCRC’s Future from a Transdisciplinary Bricoleur
Authors: Mitchell Richard C.
Published: February 2014

The paper argues two main points. First, there remain vast untapped potentials for implementing children’s rights within both present and coming generations, and second, that transdisciplinary theorising and local application can create and exploit such new opportunities. The paper begins with a theoretical analysis of the cross-cutting nature of the UNCRC, and its continued civilising impact as part of the globalised ‘rights revolutions’ reported by controversial Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker (2011: 378-481). I then move to a methodological reflection on how the treaty might be applied as a bricoleur in the lived experiences of children, families, caregivers and communities. The final section outlines a case study from the grape and wine industry located within the Niagara Region of Canada that applied these theoretical and methodological resources as a form of critical praxis in the lives of migrant agricultural workers temporarily employed there through the growing season year after year.
The child’s voice in adoption proceedings: A European perspective
Authors: Fenton-Glynn Claire
Published: February 2014

The right of the child to be heard in adoption proceedings flows directly from the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by almost every country in the world. In this paper, the interpretation of this principle across European jurisdictions will be analysed, both in terms of children who are old enough to make a determinative decision concerning their future, and those who are younger yet still possess the right to be heard. The wide variety of practices in Europe highlight the lack of progress in this field of law, which is not assisted by the conservative jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.
Critical reflection in the secondary classroom: incorporating indigenous content in an anti-oppression framework
Authors: Stock Rhonda , Grover Sonja C.
Published: February 2014

This paper presents the major findings of a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education at Lakehead University (Stock, 2011).1 An anti-oppressive pedagogical approach in a secondary classroom in Northwest Ontario was used to incorporate Indigenous rights education into the existing Civics curriculum. This research was modeled after a participatory action research framework allowing flexibility and input from participants. A curriculum unit based on the UNDRIPs was developed and implemented in the Civics classroom. The research findings support the integration of Indigenous content in the Ontario public school system at the ministry, board, teacher education, and school levels.

(Baskin 2008) (Bishop 2002)
The Impact of Inscriptions on the Interpretation of Early Śaiva Literature
Authors: Sanderson Alexis
Published: February 2014

This paper considers the limitations of the Śaivas’ prescriptive literature as evidence of the reality of their religion and stresses the benefits of reading it in the light of inscriptions and other forms of non-prescriptive evidence. It utilizes these other sources to address a number of questions that the prescriptive texts do not or cannot address. The first is that of the early history of Śaivism between the Mauryas and the Guptas. It concludes that when initiatory Śaivism achieved its dominance, as it did after the Gupta period, it did so on the basis of a widespread tradition of popular devotion that goes back at least to the second century bc, and that while the ingenuity and adaptability of the emerging Śaiva traditions were instrumental in this rise, a more fundamental cause may have been that in investing in these traditions their patrons were adopting an idiom of self-promotion that would be efficacious in the eyes of an already predominantly Śaiva population. It then presents evidence of this rise to dominance, explains the contradiction between the power and wealth of the Atimārga’s pontiffs seen in inscriptions and the ascetic disciplines prescribed in its literature, shows that the Āmardakamaṭha, the Mantramārga’s earliest monastic centre, at Auṇḍhā, was already active in the sixth century, argues that it was the initiation of rulers, seen in inscriptions from the seventh century on, that enabled the Mantramārga to spread throughout the subcontinent, and demonstrates that already in the seventh century Śaiva initiation had become routinized as a calendrically fixed duty imposed on temple-attached officiants as a condition of their tenure, thus illustrating how inscriptions can reveal mundane realities that the high-minded prescriptive literature is designed to conceal and transcend.
“Favoured by the Venerable Lord Paśupati” Tracing the Rise of a New Tutelary Deity in Epigraphic Expressions of Power in Early Medieval Nepal
Authors: Mirnig Nina
Published: February 2014

The Paśupatināth temple in Kathmandu, dedicated to the deity Śiva Paśupati, is Nepal’s national shrine. The existence of this site and local Śaiva religious activities can be traced back to as early as the fifth century ce, but it was the ruler Aṃśuvarman (fl. 605–621) who first publicly declared his allegiance to the god of the main shrine by styling himself as “favoured by the Venerable Lord Paśupati” in his inscriptions. This allegiance would remain deeply implanted in the religio-political discourse of Nepal thenceforth. Mainly on the basis of the epigraphical record, this article investigates some historical and political processes responsible for shaping the links between Śiva Paśupati as a religious symbol and the ruling elite of Nepal in this early phase, a period in which powerful ministers gradually supplanted the royal elite. Thus, in the wake of Aṃśuvarman’s reign the Paśupatināth shrine had also risen to enough prominence to be included in the list of sacred Śaiva sites in the Indic religious scripture Skandapurāṇa.
Mushārakah—A Realistic Approach to the Concept in Islamic Finance and its Application to the Agricultural Sector in Pakistan
Authors: Saqib Lutfullah , Roberts Kellie W. , Zafar Mueen A. , Khan Khurram , Zafar Aliya
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Food is one of the basic necessities that is imperative for human survival. The majority of farmers related to agriculture belong to the lower class and are hence not in a position to fulfil their agricultural needs. Therefore, they must borrow from various sources, e.g., from individuals, organizations, and/or banks, using interest-based lending, which Muslims are prohibited from doing according to the Sharīʿah. Here the concept of mushārakah (participatory mode of finance) is the best option. The present work discusses the application of such transactions to overcome farmers’ financial problems. In this article, the concept of mushārakah is first elaborated in light of classical/contemporary Islamic law literature referring to its rules and regulations followed by a discussion on how mushārakah can be effectively applied to the agricultural sector. The concepts of muzāraʿah (temporary sharecropping contract), musāqah, diminishing mushārakah (al-mushārakah al-mutanāqisah), and customer agency are critically analyzed in such away to make these fit and viable for farmers and Islamic financial institutions.
Ijtihād and Ikhtilāf: Re-interpreting Islamic Principles in Contemporary Times
Authors: Aljloud Saad A.
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Islamic law has emerged from a range of highly religious treaties to highly practical methods, which have resulted in its practices established on a worldwide level. There are several interpretations of the Qurʾān and Sunnah, which in turn have led to differences in methodological practices and opinion. In relation to Islamic financial law, this article will investigate how each opinion derives and coincides with Shariʿah law in its own way, thoroughly explaining why differences (ikhtilāf) have occurred and exist. In the author’s opinion, differences in schools of thought (ikhtilāf) are valid in that they each follow the principles and processes of forming opinions within Shariʿah law (ijtihād) which will be elucidated in this article. From reading this article, one can also derive how Shariʿah law is actually flexible and open to progression in all times, whereas common intellectual stereotypes and partial understanding of the text often negates this.
Of Snails and Horsetails
Authors: Bertoloni Meli Domenico
Published: February 2014

The problem of generalization was a vexing one in anatomical investigations: when was it legitimate to generalize from one individual observed or dissected at a given time to the same individual at different times, or to individuals of the same species, or even to individuals from different species altogether? Views on these matters varied widely from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment and guided different research programs based on opposite assumptions. A growing basis of empirical results made anatomists aware of the dangers of hasty generalizations. The problem of reproduction in animals and plants led to especially startling findings that shattered naïve assumptions about the uniformity of nature. Yet, from a multitude of seemingly unpredictable results, new, equally unpredictable patterns and analogies emerged, leading to the discovery of sexual reproduction in plants, for example. Snails and horsetails proved especially challenging in this context.
To the Resolution of Intractable Conflicts: Nagorno-Karabakh and Kosovo
Authors: Torosyan Tigran
Published: February 2014

Self-determination conflicts remain among the most complicated issues of the international negotiations, and they require long-term efforts. They often transform into intractable conflicts, the theory of which plays more informative role rather than contributes to their solution. The solution is difficult not only because it is a complex inter-disciplinary task, but also because very often it is necessary to involve mediation. The mediators, carrying out often their direct mission, create also new problems due to the interests of related countries. In order to reveal the reasons behind the current problems comparative analysis of Nagorno-Karabakh and Kosovo conflicts has been done. A new paradigm and based on it a new strategy of international negotiations over conflict resolution are proposed, which will allow to significantly increase the efficiency of negotiations, to find solutions for intractable conflicts and prevent the emergence of new ones.
A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Intrinsic Religiosity and Locus of Control
Authors: Coursey Lauren E. , Kenworthy Jared B. , Jones Jennifer R.
Published: February 2014

The authors meta-analytically examined the relationship between intrinsic religiosity and internal locus of control. Thirty-seven independent samples, comprising 9,924 participants, yielded an average effect size of r = .06, which was small, but significant, indicating a positive correlation between intrinsic religiosity and internal locus of control. Moderation analyses showed a significant trend of effects becoming weaker over time (from 1971 to 2011). The judged religiousness of samples significantly predicted the strength of the correlation, such that more religious samples showed stronger effect sizes.
Obligating Reasons, Moral Laws, and Moral Dispositions
Authors: Robinson Luke
Published: February 2014

Moral obligations rest on circumstances (events, states of affairs, etc.). But what are these obligating reasons and in virtue of what are they such reasons? Nomological conceptions define such reasons in terms of moral laws. I argue that one such conception cannot be correct and that others do not support the familiar and plausible view that obligating reasons are pro tanto (or contributory) reasons, either because they entail that this view is false or else because they cannot explain – or even help to explain – how it could be true. I also argue that a particular dispositional conception of obligating reasons does support this view of obligating reasons by enabling an explanation of how it could be true. Moreover, my arguments show that the dispositional moral metaphysic on which this conception is predicated can do something that nomological alternatives cannot: explain why obligating reasons and moral obligations are pro tanto reasons and obligations.
The Transformative Effect of Australian Experience on the Life of Ho A Mei, 1838–1901, Hong Kong Community Leader and Entrepreneur
Authors: Rule Pauline
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Ho A Mei, one of the earliest young Chinese to receive a thorough English education in the colony of Hong Kong, spent ten difficult years from 1858 to 1868, striving to make a fortune in the gold rush Australian colony of Victoria. Here he learnt much about modern business practices and ventures and also protested against the racial hostility that the Chinese encountered. Eventually after his retreat back to Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, he was successful partly because of his experiences in the advanced capitalist economy of colonial Victoria. This led him to move beyond the mercantile enterprises and property buying, which were key activities of many Hong Kong Chinese businessmen, into the areas of modern financial and telegraph services and mining ventures. He also spoke out frequently in a provocative manner against the colonial government over injustices and discrimination that limited the rights and freedom of the Chinese in Hong Kong. During the 1880s and 1890s, he was a recognized Chinese community leader, one whose assertiveness on behalf of Chinese interests was not always appreciated by the Hong Kong authorities.
Law as Politics: Chinese Litigants in Australian Colonial Courts
Authors: Finnane Mark
Published: February 2014

Abstract

The recent historiography of Chinese in Australia has emphasised their vigorous formation of a local identity and community even in the face of recurrent and expanding threats of exclusion from colonial life. In their ready embrace of legal remedies to redress what they saw as discrimination or other harms, the Chinese were exemplar colonial settlers who looked to the law to protect them. In colonial appeal courts, Chinese litigants challenged migration controls, contested convictions under opium restriction and gambling laws, sought equitable outcomes in property inheritance and challenged exclusionary regulation under the Factory Acts. In contrast to another kind of history of the Chinese in Australian law, as defendants in criminal prosecution, this article draws attention to the Chinese engagement in legal remedies as an assertion of their entitlement to recognition and fair play.
The Rise of Labor: A Chinese-Australian Participates in Bendigo Local Politics at a Formative Moment, 1904–1905
Authors: Rasmussen Amanda
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Chinese-Australian and son of an entrepreneur, Edward Ni Gan, a successful lawyer and would-be politician, was, in 1904, the first candidate in a Bendigo municipal election to tie his campaign to the Labor Party platform. Labor had just achieved the significant victory of three months in power at a federal level, and, although Ni Gan did not win in 1904, his support for the movement was well-received in Bendigo. When he tried to stand the following year as the endorsed Labor candidate, however, he was quickly disillusioned by procedural rules and his inadequate trade union networks. His speeches as an independent candidate showed his political position recast as a radical liberal in the Deakinite mode. In both campaigns, Ni Gan’s colour was a difference which could be accommodated since he otherwise so happily embodied the young, white, “fair and square” sportsman who was an ideal progressive Bendigonian. His engagement with Labor politics in the first decade of the twentieth century shows that the drive for “White Australia” which often dominated the national conversation, could be less powerful at local levels.
Eye, Mind, Hand: Filippo Pacini’s Microscopy
Authors: Pogliano Claudio
Published: February 2014

Filippo Pacini (1812-1883) remained throughout his life a somewhat isolated researcher, constantly struggling against obstacles of all kinds – and hindered by his own difficult character – but a solemn celebration was held post mortem in his honor. At that time his many merits were praised by a number of distinguished colleagues, and his reputation was redeemed. This essay will attempt to show how his work as an anatomist and microscopist was always based on the primacy of the visual, which enabled him to identify specific entities – such as the tactile corpuscles and the Vibrio cholerae bacterium – and divine their essential significance.
The Critic as Patron and Mediator: Max Brod, Modern Art, and Jewish Identity in Early Twentieth-Century Prague
Authors: Sawicki Nicholas
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Early in his career the critic Max Brod (1884–1968) distinguished himself as a patron of modern art and a mediator among competing ethnic and religious groups. Beginning in 1907, Brod became one of the foremost supporters of Jewish artists in Prague, and an advocate for their alliance with non-Jewish contemporaries, both German and Czech. He promoted them in his critical writing and editorial work, collected their art, and introduced them to other sponsors of modernism. Through his patronage work, he shaped how the identities of these artists were presented to the public, positioned their art in contexts that endorsed acculturation and integration, and minimized perceptions of artistic and national difference. Yet Brod's outlook on Jewish artistic identity changed over time. During the First World War, as Brod became active in the Zionist movement, he began to consider that Jewish identity might productively be marked and expressed in modern art, although he remained reluctant to designate specific artistic forms and subjects as distinctly Jewish.
The Necessity of History for Philosophy – Even Analytic Philosophy
Authors: Redding Paul
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Analytic philosophers are often said to be indifferent or even hostile to the history of philosophy – that is, not to the idea of history of philosophy as such, but regarded as a species of the genus philosophy rather than the genus history. Here it is argued that such an attitude is actually inconsistent with approaches within the philosophies of mind that are typical within analytic philosophy. It is suggested that the common “argument rather than pedigree” claim – that is, that claim that philosophical ideas should be evaluated only in the context of the reasons for or against them, and not in terms of historical conditions that brought them about – presupposes an early modern “egological” conception of the mind as normatively autonomous, and that such a view is in contradiction with the deeply held naturalistic predispositions of most contemporary philosophers of mind. Using the example of Wilfrid Sellars, who attempted to combine “naturalist” and “normative” considerations in his philosophy of mind, it is argued that only by treating the mind as having an artifactual dimension can these opposing considerations be accommodated. And, if the mind is at least partly understood as artifactual, then, to that extent, like all artifacts, it is to be understood via a narrative about the particular human activities in which those artifacts are produced and in which they function.
Using Goodman to Explore Historical Representation
Authors: Zeleňák Eugen
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Several authors argue that historical works should be viewed as relatively complex and autonomous constructions that are of interest in their own right. In the paper I follow this general approach to history and provide an analysis of historical representation inspired mainly by Nelson Goodman’s observations about symbols. In Languages of Art, Goodman makes a number of interesting claims regarding pictorial representation, exemplification and expression, which could be employed to clarify certain semantic questions of history. He convincingly shows that there are two important questions about any representation: What is the representation about and what kind of representation is it? In the paper I make use of this two-questions point in order to explore the semantics of historical representation. In particular, this point helps to emphasize that historical works are not simple reports about past events but rather symbols revealing what kinds of representations they are, i.e. what they exemplify or express.
“Making Teachers . . . Who do not Treat Their Profession As an Occasional Business”: Leopold Zunz and the Modernization of the Jewish Teacher Training in Prussia
Authors: Brämer Andreas
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Although Leopold Zunz has spent most of his years in Berlin, he had led an active life. German-Jewish history rightly remembers him first and foremost as the iconic figure of the Wissenschaft des Judentums (the Science of Judaism) whose inspiring charisma has lasted to this day. However, Zunz has also left influential traces in the German and German-Jewish history as a preacher, pedagogue, and political contemporary. This essay ponders a facet of his biography which thus far has rather eluded further attention. When the entire educational system of German Jewry underwent a modernization process of transformation, Zunz had not only given fresh impetus for the momentary education at his Gemeinde-Knabenschule (Berlin’s former Jewish Freischule where Zunz served as principal). In addition, Zunz was among the most significant advocates of a Jewish faculty at schools. He sought their professionalization through raising the general level of qualification. Zunz’s efforts in this are the subject of the following discussion. The focal point will be set on Zunz’s years as principal of the Jewish Lehrerseminarium (Teachers’ Seminary) in Berlin which offered training to young prospective Jewish teachers between 1840 and 1850.1
Leopold Zunz and Jewish Hymnology
Authors: van Bekkum Wout
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Modern studies of Jewish hymnology are greatly indebted to the works of Leopold Zunz. This article deals with a number of questions with regard to Zunz’s oeuvre. How can we evaluate Zunz’s contribution to this particular research field after almost two centuries?
Mediating Racism
Authors: Kumar Deepa
Published: February 2014

The far right in the United States has ratcheted up anti-Muslim racism in the twenty-first century. However, they are not alone in creating and circulating the discourses of Islamophobia. In this paper, I set out to situate the far right, who I call the ‘new McCarthyites’, within the broader context in which they operate. I argue that they are part of a larger matrix of Islamophobia which includes the liberal establishment. I start with a concrete case study of the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ controversy, in order to demonstrate how various discourses of Islamophobia co-exist and fuel one another. I contend that even while the new McCarthyites were responsible for the hysteria generated, their arguments were enabled by liberals/realists. I then unpack the various agents who make up a coalition of the new McCarthyites and outline how they propagate their troglodyte racism. Finally, I offer a matrix that illustrates where Islamophobic ideologies are produced and how they are circulated in the mainstream. Such a structural analysis necessarily decenters the mainstream media since the media are one set of institutions, among others, that serve both as conduit and creator of anti-Muslim racism.
Tolstoyans on a Mountain: From New Practices of Asceticism to the Deconstruction of the Myths of Monte Verità
Authors: Kuiper Yme B.
Published: February 2014

The decades before the Great War were a period of exciting cultural creativity and great social upheaval. Both men and women cultivated a great range of interests in ethical, feminist, mystical, spiritualist and sexual ideas and practices. Max Weber referred to this diversity as a ‘department store for worldviews’. Recent historiography has dubbed this period ‘the age of nervousness’ or ‘the quest for purity’. New fascinations held many people in their thrall: the culture of the body and, more specifically, the Life Reform movement. Some felt inspired by their ethical hero Count Leo Tolstoy, the famous Russian writer and pacifist. Tolstoyan colonies based on his philosophy of back-to-nature simplicity were founded in several European countries. One of the places where Tolstoyans experimented with new practices of asceticism was the Monte Verità near Ascona, a village on the Lago Maggiore in the Swiss region of Ticino. This article deals with the transformation of this Tolstoyan colony into a nature cure sanatorium, inspired by ethical and aesthetic values. As a case study it addresses crucial, but ambivalent, aspects of modernity in the ‘natural’ life of nude sunbathing, vegetarian meals, walking barefoot, living in wooden light-and-air cabins and free love marriages. However, this microcosm of Belle Époque Europe has also been the subject of much mythification. The article argues that these forms of myth-making reveal different narratives and models of identification. Deconstruction of Monte Verità myths reveals their popularity as counter-culture narrative (discourse) in the historiography of the 1970s. During the last decade, a comparison between the elitist, artistic lifestyle experiments on Monte Verità and trends in our modern, mass culture (referring to ‘personal authenticity’ or to Foucault’s ‘technologies of the self’) seems to be gaining in influence.
Central Asia: Contemporary Security Challenges and Sources of State Resilience
Authors: Frigerio Alessandro , Kassenova Nargis
Published: February 2014

Taking a deliberately narrow conception of security, defined as the organizational effectiveness of regimes, this paper considers recent incidents of violence in Central Asia (the second revolution in Kyrgyzstan; events in Osh, Zhanaozen and Pamir; and various “terrorist” incidents) to ask which factors have shown their potential to cause conflict and destabilization. In light of this, the paper discusses the sources of legitimacy and state capacity in Central Asian states, concluding that they are “Machiavellian principalities”.
The Effects on Tajikistan of Security Developments in Afghanistan since 2001
Authors: Usmanov Jafar
Published: February 2014

How have the decades of conflict and instability in Afghanistan affected its closest Central Asian neighbour? This paper discusses the threats to security in Tajikistan that have emanated from Afghanistan, with a focus on drug-trafficking and religious extremism. It also considers the “other side of the coin”: benefits that have arisen from international efforts in the region, including “border management” efforts.
When Security Threatens Human Rights: Reviewing the Case of Central Asia
Authors: Axyonova Vera
Published: February 2014

On joining the OSCE, states undertake comprehensive human-rights commitments. How have the states of Central Asia, whose regimes are not known for their progressive character in such matters, balanced concerns for security with human rights? The paper examines four incidents of human-rights abuses by state security forces. It further critically considers the efforts of the EU and the OSCE to pursue a security agenda while also promoting human rights in Central Asia; the latter have often suffered at the hands of the former. This looks set to continue as the focus on “hard security” issues remains.
Incomplete and Imperfect Institutionalisation of Empathy and Altruism in the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ Doctrine
Authors: Marlier Grant , C. Crawford Neta
Published: February 2014

This paper argues the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine institutionalised empathy and altruism, however incompletely and imperfectly, and began a transformation of the UN Security Council’s ‘organisational responsibility’ by shifting the organisation’s moral frame of reference from state to individual security. Second, the twin dangers associated with the misuse of the R2P doctrine—namely paternalistic interventions or the cynical use of R2P language and reasoning to justify interventions taken primarily to promote the interests of the interveners – can be ameliorated by even greater institutionalisation of empathy, a process that is already underway.
The Antipolitical Theory of Responsibility to Protect
Authors: Brown Chris
Published: February 2014

The doctrine of Responsibility to Protect, as initially set out in the Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty of 2001, is difficult to place within the usual framework of IR theories (liberal internationalist, realist or radical) or International Political Theories (communitarian, cosmopolitan). This is primarily because by framing the issue of intervention in terms of the protection of civilians, the devisers of the doctrine attempted to de-politicise the act of intervention. An examination of the ICISS Report, the UN’s World Summit Outcome Document of 2005 and the experience of the application of the doctrine to the Libyan crisis of 2011 demonstrates that this attempt has not succeeded, and that the ‘antipolitical’ nature of Responsibility to Protect is a weakness not a strength. Still, the doctrine has had considerable success in changing the terms under which intervention is discussed at the UN and elsewhere.
WHY BOTHER ABOUT HISTORICAL REGIONS?: DEBATES OVER CENTRAL EUROPE IN HUNGARY, POLAND AND ROMANIA
Authors: Janowski Maciej , Iordachi Constantin , Trencsényi Balázs
Published: February 2014

The article analyzes the ways in which the concept of Central Europe and related regional classifications were instrumentalized in historical research in Hungary, Poland and Romania. While Hungarian and Polish historians employed the discourse of Central Europe as a central means to contextualize and often relativize established national historical narratives, their geographical frameworks of comparison were nevertheless fairly divergent. the Hungarian one relating to the former Habsburg and Austro-Hungarian lands while the Polish one revolving around the tradition of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. Romanian historians approached the issue from the perspective of local history, debating two alternative regional frameworks: the Old Kingdom, treated as part ofthe Byzantine and Ottoman legacies, and Transylvania, Bukovina and the Banat that were shaped by the Habsburg project of modemity. In the Romanian context the debate on Central Europe reached its peak at a time when it lost re1evance in the Polish and Hungarian contexts. While conceding to recent critiques on the constructed and often exclusivist nature of symbolic geographical catcgories, the authors maintain the heuristic valuc of regional frameworks of interpretation as models of historical explanation transcending the nation-state at sub-national or trans-national level.
Promoting Democracy in the Western Balkans after the Global Financial Crisis: Good Intentions Badly Executed?
Authors: Fagan Adam
Published: February 2014

International donors got involved in the Western Balkans during the last two decades, mainly through civil society organisations (CSOs), with the initial aim of providing emergency relief, and then to promote democracy and broadly support the Europeanization agenda. The intention has also been to contribute to the spread of western values and norms, as well as advance notions of ‘good governance’ and state reform. However, most local CSOs in receipt of such assistance have not developed high capacities and remain dependent on donor funding. They are also vulnerable to political pressures and have become detached from their local constituencies. Through a survey of donors that have operated across the region, this article seeks to examine why the long-term provision of aid and attempts to promote democracy via civil society have seemingly not delivered a sufficient dividend. What is examined here is whether donor conceptualization of ‘civil society development’ is the critical variable determining success. If we acknowledge that how donors view civil society and its contribution to democracy and state building is the basis from which aid is provided, projects are supported, and objectives set and measured, then better understanding the donors’ perspective is an important basis for trying to understand limited success. This, combined with poor co-ordination and collaboration amongst donors and between them and local stakeholders, arguably compounds the problem. The article concludes that although it has long been recognised that donor strategies are contentious and determine the impact of assistance, the economic crisis is exerting a significant impact in terms of priorities, exit strategies and co-ordination, the outcome of which is by no means certain.
Godzilla vs. the Egghead: Negotiating the Cultures of Fandom and Academe
Authors: Tsutsui William M.
Published: February 2014

Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters (2004) was my attempt to write an intelligent but accessible study of an enduring film icon for non-academic audiences. Although the volume has sold far better than any of my traditional scholarly monographs (by a factor of ten) and was praised in the New York Times as a “cult classic,” it generated very mixed responses from both the Godzilla fan community and professional historians. This article explores the rewards and challenges of being a “scholar-fan,” an academic studying a personal obsession in pop culture as well as his fellow fans. I discuss the path I took to writing Godzilla on My Mind and the ways that the book departed from standard scholarly conventions. After reviewing the volume’s reception by a generally bemused academic community, I consider how both committed Godzilla admirers and more casual fans reacted to the book, the former often with suspicion, resentment, and hostility, the latter frequently with enthusiasm, relief, and a sense of validation. Despite jibes in fan blogs and flippant comments in academic journals, I conclude that writing for popular audiences and embracing the “scholar-fan” subject position can be gratifying and valuable intellectually.