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Liberal and Deliberative Democracy in the Global South: Models, Functions, Practices
Full text linkDeliberative democracy is a consolidated strand of political theory, its current expansion sustained by ongoing experiments in political practice. Initially, model-based theories framed deliberation as a corrective to shortcomings in liberal democracy. More recent approaches shift the focus away from theoretical models and towards the political problems that deliberation can solve. Yet these approaches, too, suffer from a "Global North bias," centering theories and cases predominantly from wealthy Western countries. This article turns the gaze towards the Global South to counter this bias. I bring Mark Warren's problem-based approach into dialogue with evidence from Demo.Reset, a project that documented deliberative practices by 105 practitioners across 22 countries in the Global South, to provide a situated and differential account of the functions of deliberation across global contexts: foster pluralism, develop coalitions, and enable collective action. This category-building effort aims to inform democratic theory with global, plural reflections
Weaponizing Wedge Issues: Strategies of Populism and Illiberalism in European Election Campaigning on Facebook
Full text linkThe 2024 European Parliament elections took place against a backdrop of overlapping crises, including climate change, migration, and the Russian war against Ukraine, all of which have the potential to drive political polarization. These wedge issues can be strategically used in campaign communication to activate strong emotional and moral responses, exploit societal divisions, and fracture opposing coalitions. When combined with populist communication and illiberal rhetoric, they align closely with the attention dynamics of social media but also carry potential dangers for democratic discourse. However, research on how these elements are combined in parties' campaign communication remains limited. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive manual quantitative content analysis of 8,748 Facebook posts from parties in 13 EU member states, examining how wedge issues were communicated and combined with populism and illiberalism during the 2024 European Parliament elections. Our analyses reveal that populist parties relied more heavily on wedge issues and combined them with populist communication and illiberal rhetoric more often than non-populist parties. Certain wedge issues appeared more conducive to these elements than others. The combination of wedge issues with populist communication and illiberal rhetoric as exclusionary rhetorical strategies thus emerges as a defining feature of populist digital campaigning. These elements can be seen as mutually reinforcing tools that structure harmful political interpretation patterns, particularly in times of polycrises. This underscores how digital platforms can be used to redefine the contours of democratic debate, making it even more essential to understand the communicative mechanisms through which parties influence public discourse in order to defend democracy
Unequal Turnout Among the Newly Enfranchised: The Role of Political Efficacy
Full text linkUnequal political participation increasingly challenges democracies. The turnout gap is particularly large among younger voters, with severe implications for future developments of democratic representation, legitimacy, and quality. This article focuses on the role of political efficacy beliefs in explaining unequal turnout among newly enfranchised citizens. We argue that internal political efficacy beliefs are particularly important for turnout among the newly enfranchised from lower-class backgrounds, as they lack alternative mobilizing factors such as politically aware and active parents, political knowledge, and mobilizing networks. Furthermore, we argue that once these voters successfully turn out in their first election, they are as likely as those from higher-class backgrounds to turn out in their second election. We empirically test these arguments using original longitudinal data on newly enfranchised citizens from three German federal states (Bundesländer). Overall, our results support the argument: Political efficacy beliefs are a stronger predictor of first turnout among young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds compared to those from more advantaged backgrounds, and those who do turn out are as likely as those with higher-class backgrounds to turn out in their second election. This highlights the relevance of political efficacy beliefs in the (re)production of persisting political inequality
"I Feel Like I'm Swallowing Stones": Qualitative Research in the Field of Addiction as Emotionally Challenging Work
Full text linkDie Durchführung qualitativer Untersuchungen im Feld der Sucht stellt einen herausfordernden Prozess dar und erfordert von den Forschenden emotionale Arbeit. In diesem Artikel diskutieren wir Ergebnisse einer explorativen qualitativen Studie in Griechenland. Die Auswertung der Daten aus Fokusgruppen mit den teilnehmenden Suchtforschenden hat ergeben, dass emotionale Arbeit in allen Phasen eines Projekts stattfindet: beim Zugang zum Feld, während der Feldforschung, bei der Analyse der Daten und der Verbreitung der Ergebnisse. Emotionale Arbeit ist insbesondere erforderlich, um die Grenzen zwischen Interviewenden und Befragten zu bewältigen und mit dem Risiko einer Re-Traumatisierung der erzählenden Person durch das Aufrufen traumatischer Erfahrungen und der Offenlegung von Informationen, die Forschende nicht zu hören bereit sind, umzugehen. Eine starke emotionale Belastung kann auch durch die Angst entstehen, bei der Datenanalyse die Aussagen der Interviewten falsch zu interpretieren. Diejenigen, die an unserer Studie teilgenommen haben, berichteten über Techniken der emotionalen Arbeit, um mit den skizzierten Herausforderungen angemessen umzugehen. Die explizite Auseinandersetzung mit emotionaler Arbeit im Forschungsprozess ermöglicht es, das emotionale Bewusstsein als integrativen Bestandteil der Reflexivität zu fördern.Conducting qualitative research in the field of addiction is a demanding process that requires researchers to engage in emotional labor. In this article, we discuss this issue by presenting the findings of an exploratory qualitative study we carried out in Greece with addiction researchers. As revealed by the analysis of the data from focus groups we held with those who took part in our study, emotion management was identified at all stages of an investigative project: During the attempt to gain access to the field, the fieldwork, the data analysis and in the dissemination of the results. Emotional labor is required, in particular, to manage researcher-interviewee boundaries, the risk of retraumatizing the narrator through the recall of traumatic memories, and the disclosure of information that the investigator is not prepared to hear. The latter's fear of misinterpreting the interviewees' meaning during data analysis can also generate intense emotional charge. Participants in our study reported techniques that mitigated the above-mentioned challenges. By highlighting these issues, we aim to promote emotional awareness as an integral component of wider researcher reflexivity
Is It Really (All) About Empathy? - A Strong Reflexivity Approach to Emotionally Charged Research Experiences
Full text linkIn this article, we seek to deepen the understanding and reflexive analysis of emotionally charged situations in the research process. Through a nuanced and critically evaluative approach, we explore the complex meanings of empathy as presented in the qualitative methods discourse. We argue that empathy is an overstretched concept that can be more profoundly defined when situationally contextualized. For instance, empathy may refer to solidarity in political aspirations, humanity and compassion in research ethics, or affective resonance in methodological contexts. Focusing on the latter, we examine instances of seemingly "unsuccessful "or "failed" empathy in two of our projects. Utilizing the framework of "strong reflexivity" (KUEHNER, PLODER & LANGER, 2016), we discuss methodological strategies for analyzing and interpreting emotionally challenging research encounters. We argue that situational "failures" can yield invaluable insights for critical knowledge production when examined and communicated through a reflexive lens.Mit diesem Artikel möchten wir das Verständnis und die reflektierende Analyse emotional aufgeladener Situationen im Forschungsprozess vertiefen. Dazu gehen wir zunächst den komplexen Bedeutungen von Empathie im qualitativen Methodendiskurs nach. Wir argumentieren, dass Empathie ein überstrapaziertes Konzept ist, das präziser definiert werden kann, wenn es innerhalb spezifischer Hinsichten kontextualisiert wird. So kann es sich beispielsweise auf Solidarität in politischen Absichten, Mitgefühl in der Forschungsethik oder affektive Resonanz auf methodologischer Ebene beziehen. Mit Schwerpunkt auf letztere untersuchen wir in dem Artikel Fälle "scheinbar erfolgsloser" oder "gescheiterter" Empathie in zwei unserer Projekte. Unter Bezug auf den Rahmen einer "starken Reflexivität" (KUEHNER, PLODER & LANGER 2016) diskutieren wir methodische Strategien zur Analyse und Interpretation emotional herausfordernder Forschungssituationen. Wir argumentieren, dass situative "Fehlschläge" wertvolle Einblicke für die kritische Wissensproduktion liefern können, wenn sie durch eine reflektierende Linse untersucht und kommuniziert werde
Leave No One Behind? Analysing Sport Inclusion Policy‐Implementation for Persons With Disabilities in Ghana
Full text linkSport inclusion policies for persons with disabilities are prevalent in many countries; however, actual support in local communities is lacking or inadequately addressed. In this article, we analyse the implementation of sport inclusion policies and the extent to which they exclude or include disabled sport associations in Ghana's District Sports Units. Using document analysis, focus group discussions, and semi‐structured interviews, we collected data from representatives of state and non‐state organisations, drawing theoretical insights from ableism and policy networks to analyse the implementation of sport inclusion policies. The findings reveal that despite inclusion provisions at the local level, the policy implementation process presents challenges for District Sports Units. These challenges include the lack of funding, conflicts among network actors, deliberate disregard, membership gaps, and the absence of an integrated programme for disabled sport associations. These findings further inform our understanding of collaborative alliances, local autonomy, and the implication of ableism for policy networks
Overshadowed By Royal Roads: Vocationally Oriented Middle Schools as Pathways to Higher Education in Switzerland
Full text linkIn Switzerland, four different educational pathways lead to higher education (HE): baccalaureate schools, upper‐secondary specialized middle schools, vocational middle schools, and dual vocational education and training (VET) combined with a federal vocational baccalaureate. The four pathways are not equally supported by Swiss education policy: Baccalaureate schools and dual VET plus a federal vocational baccalaureate are politically treated as the two royal roads to HE, while specialized middle schools and vocational middle schools, in this study grouped under the term vocationally oriented middle schools (VOMS), receive only little political attention. This holds true even though VOMS have a high transition rate to HE and are considered to have the potential to bring young women into male‐typical HE programs and attract high‐achieving youths with a migration background. The study investigates from a governance perspective how (in practices and processes) the conception of the royal roads to HE is constructed and reproduced as well as how this affects the positioning of VOMS as pathways to HE in Switzerland. The study refers to the theoretical framework of the sociology of conventions and the concept of valuation practices. The data basis consists of publicly available documents and qualitative interviews. The findings show that commensurations, categorizations, visualizations, and the interplay between a variety of human and non‐human actors reinforce two highly stable and powerful cognitive formats of royal roads to HE. At the same time, these same practices construct an image of VOMS as less significant additional pathways to HE by rendering their qualities and potentials as such pathways comparatively invisible or tabooing them in the service of educational policy interests. With these findings, the present study contributes to the international scholarly discussion on permeability between VET and HE
Фактори впливу на ефективність антикризових PR-кампаній Factors influencing the effectiveness of a crisis PR campaign
Full text linkThis research aims to identify and characterise key influencing factors that impact the effectiveness of crisis communication campaigns. This study has identified and characterised key factors influencing the effectiveness of crisis communication campaigns, namely the speed of the company's response to a crisis, clearly defined roles and responsibilities of the company's crisis management team, the nature of the crisis, understanding public sentiment, and the choice of communication channels. Factors influencing the presence of a crisis management team within a company have been characterised. This study has shown that a company's consideration of the nature of a crisis will impact the definition of the crisis communication campaign's objectives, understanding of stakeholder needs, and considering their specific characteristics and values when conveying messages into the information space, which will facilitate the application of appropriate crisis communication measures to achieve the stated goal. It has been determined that understanding public sentiment will enable companies to employ crisis communication tools that can effectively shape public opinion regarding the company's crisis and/or influence its trajectory. The importance of selecting communication channels for crisis communication campaigns has been substantiated, as each audience has its specific communication channels that depend on the speed of information delivery, the level of trust in communication channels, the interaction of communication channels, and other factors.The conducted research has demonstrated the importance of considering factors influencing the effectiveness of crisis communication campaigns for modern companies that constantly face the threat of crises in their operations. Understanding the specific characteristics of factors affecting the effectiveness of crisis communication campaigns will not only enable the minimisation of negative consequences of a situation but also provide opportunities for the company's growth and resilience.Метою дослідження статті є визначення ключових факторів впливу та їх характеристик, врахування особливостей яких позначаються на ефективності антикризових PR-кампаній. Було визначено та охарактеризовано ключові фактори, від впливу яких буде залежати ефективність антикризових PR-кампаній, а саме: швидкість реакції компанії на виникнення кризи, чітко визначені ролі та відповідальність членів антикризової команди компанії, характер кризи, розуміння настроїв в суспільстві та вибір комунікаційних каналів. Охарактеризовано чинники, від яких залежить наявність антикризової команди в компанії. Доведено, що врахування компанією характеру кризи впливатиме на визначення мети антикризової PR-кампанії, розуміння потреб стейкхолдерів, врахування їх особливостей та цінностей при донесенні меседжів в інформаційний простір, що допоможе в застосуванні відповідних заходів антикризових PR-кампанії для досягнення поставленої мети. Визначено, що розуміння настроїв в суспільстві допоможе компаніям застосовувати такі інструменти антикризових PR-кампаній, які зможуть слушно формувати думку суспільства щодо кризи компанії та/або впливати на її зміни. Обґрунтовано важливість вибору комунікаційних каналів для антикризової PR-кампанії тим, що кожна аудиторія має свої притаманні її вимогам канали комунікації, що залежать від швидкості донесення інформації, рівня довіри до комунікаційних каналів, взаємодії комунікаційних каналів та ін.Проведене дослідження показало важливість врахування факторів впливу на ефективність антикризової PR-кампанії для сучасних компаній, які в своїй діяльності постійно знаходяться під загрозою наставання криз. Від розуміння особливостей факторів впливу на ефективність антикризової PR-кампанії буде залежати не тільки можливість мінімізувати негативні наслідки кризи, а й перспектива зростання та стійкості компанії
Voices in the Margins: Exploring the Link Between Discrimination and Adolescents' Political Involvement
Full text linkPolitical interest is one of the main determinants of political participation. Understanding the development and the mechanisms involved in forming this crucial cognitive orientation is necessary for an enhanced understanding and a successful political integration of young people. We know that political interest starts forming at an early age and that this process depends on several social characteristics, i.e., socioeconomic and immigration background have proven to be a significant element. However, the direction of the differences in the political interest of adolescents with an immigrant background compared to native adolescents is disputed. At the same time, some studies present lower political interest levels for immigrant youth, and others found higher political interest levels. Our article explores whether these inconsistent findings are related to (a) different discrimination experiences and (b) the moderation effects of these discrimination experiences on one important correlate of political interest - social participation. We expect that experiences of discrimination represent an important determinant of political interest. Despite its importance, little attention has been paid to the mechanisms by which discrimination fosters political interest. We rely on data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries (CILS4EU), allowing us to account for a wide range of discrimination experiences of youth. We use linear regression models to examine the effect of discrimination experience on political interest. From our results, both discrimination experience and social participation positively affect youth's political interest, but neither amplifies the other effect through suggested moderation
Gender Rhetoric for Sale: Ferragni and the Platformization of the Female Body That Crushes Ideologies
Full text linkThis article aims to make a contribution to the study of liberal feminism, social media, and influencer culture, especially in the Italian context. The feminism of Chiara Ferragni, Italian fashion influencer with over 29 million followers, is an interesting case study that questions the relations, as well as the interaction, between activism, gender, and influencer culture. Ferragni's body simulacrum, exhibited through numerous social media advertising images, was displayed at Sanremo, a renowned Italian song festival, watched by 12 million people in 2023. At Sanremo, that body carried on the feminist battle through the wearing of manifesto luxury designer dresses together with the reading of a letter addressed to herself, a vector of a rhetorically powerful message that was, however, directed to the single woman rather than to women as a collectivity. This neoliberal discourse is emblematic of the instrumental use of gender issues for self-promotion, which often leads to the dilution of feminist meanings and the trivialization of social movements