University of St Andrews Research Portal
Not a member yet
81329 research outputs found
Sort by
Beyond the pendulum:situating Adam Watson in International Relations and the English School
No full textAmong the founding figures of the English School of International Relations (ES) and the British Committee (BC), Adam Watson is perhaps the least studied and researched. How, for example, did his past as diplomat informed his Weltanschauung and his understanding of combining theory and practice? How did his academic relationship and friendship with other members of the BC and colleagues shaped his outlook on international politics? What was his political theory and philosophy? And what have his contributions been, not simply to the ES, but to IR writ large? This paper offers an intellectual portrait of Adam Watson and his persona, making use not only of his published written production, but also of so far unexplored archives and materials. Specifically, the paper situates Adam Watson within the ES and the broader IR panorama, taking into account the professional, academic, and human material that the extensive research for this paper has uncovered
War through an intersectional lens:female combatants and the Maoist insurgency in Nepal
No full textThe exponential growth in literature on female combatants in rebel groups so far has explored “why” women rebel, “where” women rebel, and “when” women rebel. Yet, existing literature largely assume women combatants as homogenous universal category having similar experiences of war and “post-war.” In this milieu, this book focuses on “how” women rebel given their multiple intersecting identities and social subjectivities. It looks how female combatants experience war and “post-war” in public and private spheres by using intersectionality both as a theoretical framework and a methodological tool inspired by feminist research methodology to explore complex experiences of women combatants during and after the war. This book is based on thirty-nine in-depth interviews with Maoist female ex-combatants, their leaders, and experts in Nepal between 2017 and 2018, complemented by wide-ranging primary and secondary sources, such as key Maoist statements and policy documents from the war era, women ex-combatants’ memoires, media sources, and academic literature. The book finds that female combatants’ experiences of war and “post-war,” both in public and private spheres, are conditioned by their interlocking systems of oppression and identities, such as class, caste, ethnicity, social status, educational status, and geographical location. The book makes an important contribution to the feminist International Relations literature, feminist security studies, and it has significant policy implications, particularly concerning reintegration of female combatants, peacebuilding, and the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda
Researching identity in the imposed boundaries of the nation-state:a meta-analytical review of identity and intergroup relations between Kurds and Turks
No full textWe conducted three meta-analyses on 28 studies examining the role of ethnic and national identity in outgroup attitudes, perception of discrimination against Kurds, and support for minority rights within the context of Turkish–Kurdish conflict (e.g., state oppression against Kurds and Kurdish resistance in Turkey). Results revealed a negative relationship between identity and outgroup attitudes. The role of identity in perceived discrimination and support for minority rights was inconsistent and mostly dependent on ethnic group status. We found a negative relationship between identity and perceived discrimination against Kurds among Turks and a positive relationship among Kurds. Additionally, there was a negative relationship between Turkish identity and support for minority rights, while the relationship among Kurds was not significant. Overall, our study demonstrates that intergroup relations in this context are far more complex (and different from others) than often assumed, and it can be harmful to presume symmetrical associations across different groups
Looking inside the ‘black box’ of digital firm scaling:an ethnographically informed conceptualisation
No full textIn recent years there has been an upsurge of interest in firm scaling. Owing to the fact our conceptual and theoretical grasp of this phenomenon remains under-developed, this paper offers a novel conceptualisation of the scaling process based on an in-depth ethnographic study of a London-based digital Fintech. Scaling involves deliberately enacting and surmounting a series of managerial challenges such as human capital re-positioning, business model reconfiguration, customer acquisition and the acquisition of external growth capital. Our theoretical contribution views the micro-foundations of scaling as a distinctive relational process-based phenomenon. Under the conceptual framework posited, entrepreneurial human capital and successful scaling are inextricably interwoven. Entrepreneurial founders and managers are pivotal for orchestrating scaling and our conceptualisation builds upon the trigger point model of firm development, which reinforces the primacy of entrepreneurial agency for optimising growth triggers
The Oxford handbook of Restoration literature
No full textThe Oxford Handbook of Restoration Literature takes as its theme the great variety of Restoration literary cultures: the drama; the scandals and lyrics of the court; the political turbulence across these decades of Stuart rule; and the great achievements of satire and epic, of the writings of John Milton, Lord Rochester, and John Dryden. But the Handbook looks beyond these wonderful and familiar territories to explore relations between natural philosophy and the literary imagination, the fashioning of the self in diaries and letters, the nature of the book trade, manuscript circulation, the fortunes of the playhouse, and the influence of empire and trade in this republic of letters. The Oxford Handbook of Restoration Literature delves into and reimagines the experience embodied by the writing of the late Stuart world and invites readers new to this world and those who have often read its literatures to the challenges and discomforts of its texts, and to its manifold pleasures
Feminist research on men and masculinity(ies):dilemma and discomfort
No full textKnowledge production in social science is beset with androcentric biases. Given the pervasive androcentrism in conflict and peacebuilding research, how can men and masculinity(ies) be studied in feminist knowledge production that seeks to produce research that aims to question, challenge, and dismantle patriarchy and end oppressive power hierarchies? This chapter emphasises how masculinities as gendered relations of power can be brought to light when men engage in research as gendered actors. In doing so, the chapter explores how existing feminist epistemologies, such as feminist standpoint theory, situated knowledge, and intersectionality, address the inclusion of men and masculinity(ies) in feminist research. Particularly, situated knowledge and intersectionality help researchers confront the question of coloniality and masculinity(ies) in conflict and peacebuilding through a foundational commitment to reflexive practice. Importantly, this chapter recommends men and masculinity(ies) in conflict and peacebuilding to adopt feminist research principles, such as critical self-reflexivity, ethics of care, and accountability to emancipatory politics
Robustness and sensitivity of Gd(III)-Gd(III) double electron electron resonance (DEER) measurements:comparative study of high-frequency EPR spectrometer designs and spin label variants
No full textIn this paper we explore the robustness and sensitivity of Gd(III)-Gd(III) double electron-electron resonance (DEER) distance measurements in proteins for different spectrometer designs and a three spin labels. To do this a protein was labelled at the same two positions with Gd(III) spin labels and measurements were performed on two home-built high-frequency (W-band, ~95 GHz) EPR spectrometers with different design approaches, and a commercial Q-band spectrometer. The first W-band measurement approach uses a conventional, narrow band single mode cavity, while the second approach uses a broad band non-resonant induction mode sample holder. Both systems incorporate advanced arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs) that give flexibility over excitation bandwidth. We use three DOTA-like Gd(III) spin labels, Gd.C12, Gd.DO3A and the new Gd.L1, conjugated to the model protein calmodulin. We compare measurements taken by including or excluding the excitation of the Gd(III) central transition. The advantages and disadvantages of the EPR spectrometers for the measurement of Gd(III)-Gd(III) DEER are discussed in terms of the robustness of the resulting distance distribution width, absolute and concentration sensitivity, sample handling, ease of use, and flexibility of measurement
Concluding remarks:<i>Faraday Discussion</i> on NMR crystallography
No full textThis Faraday Discussion explored the field of NMR crystallography, and considered recent developments in experimental and theoretical approaches, new advances in machine learning and in the generation and handling of large amounts of data. Applications to a wide range of disordered, amorphous and dynamic systems demonstrated the range and quality of information available from this approach and the challenges that are faced in exploiting automation and developing best practice. In these closing remarks I will reflect on the discussions on the current state of the art, questions about what we want from these studies, how accurate we need results to be, how we best generate models for complex materials and what machine learning approaches can offer. These remarks close with thoughts about the future direction of the field, who will be carrying out this type of research, how they might be doing it and what their focus will be, along with likely possible challenges and opportunities. <br/
Insights from feature tracking of optical satellite data for studying rock glacier kinematics in the Northern Tien Shan
No full textRock glaciers are prevalent across the Tien Shan and exhibit complex, but poorly understood kinematics linked to climate and environmental fluctuations. This study employed a frequency domain cross-correlation method to investigate rock glacier velocities in the Northern Tien Shan. We compared different sources of satellite imagery, including 0.5m Pléiades, 3m Planet, 10m Sentinel-2 and 15m Landsat-8 data. Analysis of high-resolution Pléiades imagery in the Central Ile Alatau showed considerable spatial heterogeneity in flow. The highest median velocity of 0.65 m/yr was observed on Timofeyeva rock glacier, with an upper quartile value of 0.90 m/yr. Ordzhonikidze and Morennyi rock glaciers also exhibited high activity, with upper quartile values of 1.91 m/yr and 0.96 m/yr, respectively, despite considerably lower mean and median values than Timofeyeva. We observed bimodal velocity distributions on a number of rock glaciers, highlighting the limitations of using mean and median statistics for characterising rock glacier activity. Sentinel-2 data was capable of detecting kinematic patterns that closely reflected those identified by high-resolution Pléiades data. Velocities were derived from Sentinel-2 imagery for 672 rock glaciers across the Northern Tien Shan over a 7-year period (2016–2023). Many of the larger rock glaciers in the regional inventory exhibited active areas with velocities that exceeded 2 m per year. Topographic analysis in the Central Ile Alatau and visual inspection showed the fastest velocities to generally occur on lower, flatter areas near the rock glacier front. However, topography did not entirely explain the spatial flow heterogeneity. We interpret that these spatial patterns in activity are related to individual rock glacier’s internal structure
Solid-state lithium metal batteries for electric vehicles:critical single cell level assessment of capacity and lithium necessity
No full textIn pursuing advanced clean energy storage technologies, all-solid-state Li metal batteries (ASSMBs) emerge as promising alternatives to conventional organic liquid electrolyte-based batteries due to their reduced flammability risks, increased energy densities, extended lifespan, and design flexibility. Here, we estimate lithium requirements per unit of energy, cathode loading, and the amount of electrolyte required at a single-layer cell level ASSMB utilizing garnet-type, NASICON-type, and sulfide solid electrolytes and LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811), LiCoO2, and LiFePO4 cathodes for Li metal anode and in situ anode configurations. To enable advanced batteries suitable for long-range and fast-charging electric vehicles, the electrodes (anode and cathode) must achieve a practical areal capacity of at least 7 mAh cm-2 and support rapid charging rates of 4C (15 min). Furthermore, we also present the key requirements for mechanical properties and strategic design considerations in ASSMB architecture to effectively address the challenges posed by the volume expansion of the electrodes