IIUM Journal of Human Sciences (IJOHS)
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The Power of Multinational Corporations in the Global Food System: A Critical Analysis of Neoliberal Food Policies
Get PDFIn the closing decades of the 20th century, capitalism emerged as a dominant political belief, advocating for deregulation, commercialisation, privatisation and liberalisation in multiple sectors, including the food industry. This sets a favourable condition for multinational corporations (MNCs), altering the traditional food supply chain into a modern, profit-driven global food system. Using neoliberalism as the theoretical framework, this paper finds that neoliberal food policies have fundamentally shifted our food system. The study seeks to analyse (1) how neoliberal food policies have changed and increased corporate power in the global food scene, (2) the benefits that MNCs have brought about in the food industry, and (3) whether these corporate companies’ finances and technologies have helped to address the world food crisis. Even if MNCs have advanced the technological sector, diversified supply chains and developed the economy in host countries, their presence also leads to significant drawbacks, such as land grabbing, widened social inequalities, increased technological dependency, and changed food consumption patterns. This research further discusses the complexities of the neoliberal food framework from a critical perspective, addressing the controversies revolving around globalisation’s potential to end world hunger and ensure food security, the flaws of the food pyramid and the influence exerted by MNCs via regulatory bodies. This paper concludes that liberalisation measures significantly impact what is produced and eaten worldwide.
Exploring Environment Communication Messages for Forest Preservation in West Sulawesi, Indonesia
Get PDFThis study explores environmental communication messages used to support forest preservation in West Sulawesi, Indonesia. Forests in West Sulawesi face grave threats from illegal activities such as illegal logging, forest fires, and land conversion, driven by a lack of public awareness regarding the importance of forest ecosystems. This research aims to analyse environmental communication messages used in forest conservation efforts in West Sulawesi and the effectiveness of these messages in raising awareness and changing people's behaviour. Considering the importance of forests as vital ecosystems that support human life and biodiversity, as well as balancing the global climate, preserving forests in this area is a priority. This research uses a qualitative approach with ethnographic communication methods to understand how environmental messages are conveyed, received, and interpreted by stakeholders, including local communities, government, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Data collection was carried out through non-participatory observation, in-depth interviews with key informants, and analysis of documents related to forest conservation campaigns. The research results show that effective environmental communication messages in preserving forests in West Sulawesi must consider the local cultural context, prioritise active community participation, and use relevant and easily accessible media. Other findings also show that messages conveyed through folklore and community-based educational activities are more effective in building awareness and changing behaviour than formal or bureaucratic messages. Additionally, support and collaboration between governments, NGOs, and local communities have proven crucial in strengthening and expanding the reach of forest conservation campaigns. This research provides strategic recommendations for increasing the effectiveness of environmental communication in forest conservation, including using participatory approaches, strengthening local communication capacity, and increasing access to relevant and accurate information
The Role of Information Processing in Vaccine Acceptance: A Study of Malaysian Facebook Comments on COVID-19 Boosters
Get PDFVaccines are biological preparations that provide immunity to specific infectious diseases, playing a crucial role in public health by preventing the spread of illnesses. Given the rapid widespread transmission of COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to employ an effective vaccination strategy. In early 2021, the Malaysian government launched the National COVID-19 Immunisation Program (NIP) to combat the coronavirus. By mid-2021, the government began promoting heterologous vaccines, urging recipients to take booster shots of a different brand from their initial doses. This study investigates whether the perceptions of Malaysians on COVID-19 vaccination, as expressed on Facebook by the end of 2021, align with the findings of previous studies. Utilising a qualitative content analysis, user-generated comments were collected and analyzed from the top three most popular Malaysian online news media: Malaysiakini, The Star, and New Straits Times, during October and November 2021. The study reveals that a majority of Malaysians were reluctant to receive heterologous vaccines as booster shots due to concerns over safety, efficacy, side effects, and long-term impacts. Additionally, political stances influenced distrust in the healthcare system and fostered conspiracy theories regarding heterologous vaccines. The theoretical implication of this study highlights that information processing significantly affects vaccine acceptance. Clinically, the study contributes to policy-making in vaccine programs and the design of effective awareness campaigns to encourage vaccine uptake
Coping with Exploitative Labour Market: A Case of Sri Lankan migrants in Bahrain
No full textThis study is a detailed description of the experience of Sri Lankan migrant workers in Bahrain, exploring the labour market exploitation after arriving in Bahrain and coping strategies. These migrants’ labour market experiences show contrasting and negative experiences after arriving at their destinations. The qualitative research method was utilised, drawing descriptive analysis (thematic analysis technique) of compiling data through semi-structured interviews. Thirty in-depth interviews with Sri Lankan migrant workers, who stayed with their families in Bahrain for more than six months, were conducted using a purposive sampling technique. The study has identified negative experiences of relationships with employers and co-workers in which migrants went through a range of exploitations. The study revealed that the power exercised by employers and co-workers was the prominent cause behind this exploitation. The findings have confirmed that the foremost goal of migration, earning through productive employment, has collapsed due to wage exploitation. Finally, the study highlights acceptance of exploitation as a coping strategy that the migrants had adopted to endure with their exploitative labour market. The information explored on the exploitation of migrant workers in Bahrain enriches the literature with a new sociological and empirical study which provides new evidence about the serious challenges that they had faced.
 
A Phenomenological Study on the Lives of Low-Income Working Mothers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDFThis study explores the lived experience of low-income (B40) working mothers in Klang Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic. It sheds light on their mental health struggles and unexpected silver linings. Eight participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. A seven-day diary-writing exercise followed by individual interviews was conducted. Data analysis is based on descriptive phenomenology, allowing in-depth exploration of participants' experiences. Three main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Multitasking is too taxing, highlighting the intensified role conflict faced by some mothers; (2) Struggling to regulate emotions, revealing the guilt and emotional challenges these mothers experienced as they juggled multiple roles; and (3) The upside of COVID-19, demonstrating how some participants found unexpected benefits in increased family bonding during lockdowns. In sum, low-income working mothers faced significant mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated by their unique circumstances. The findings underscore the importance of recognising their struggles and the need for interventions that promote their mental well-being. Additionally, providing training in emotional resilience and self-regulation could prove beneficial. This study contributes to the understanding of the nuanced experiences of low-income working mothers and calls for continued attention to their mental health needs, particularly in times of crisis
The Thoughts of Shaykh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilorī (1917-1992) on Islam and Cultural Practices among Yoruba Muslims in Nigeria
Get PDFThe practice of Islam in Yorubaland has posed serious challenges to many Muslims who find navigating between Islamic rules and Yoruba customary practices difficult. It has led many to Shirk (polytheism), Bidcah (heretical innovation), and Takhlīṭ (syncretism) among others with perilous effects in Islam. Unfortunately, many Muslims are unaware of these but adopted a free attitude to Islam. Shaykh Adam is one of the foremost scholars whose views are sought and relied upon by either Yoruba Muslims in their practice of Islam or by researchers who intend an assessment of the practice of Islam in Yorubaland, thus the crux of this paper is to examine his views on selected areas that are paramount to caqīdah (creed) and the general practice of Islam. Historical and exegetical methods are adopted in achieving the objectives of this paper. The former enabled the paper to assess historical facts that are related to the personality that the paper focused on, while the exegetical allowed the interpretation of relevant texts to the discourse of the paper. It is discovered that the interaction between Islam and culture in Yorubaland has necessitated both fine-tuning and abandonment of some customs. Social events like the naming ceremony, Islamic titles, and burial among others are fine-tuned, while magic, Ifa divination, bending or kneeling while greeting and a host of others are condemned and to be abandoned. The paper, therefore, concluded that Shaykh Adam remains a prominent personality whose views are driven by scholarship to liberate Muslims from the shackle of ignorance and perdition.
 
Viewing Person-Centred Counselling from an Islamic Perspective
No full textStudies have shown that person-centred approach to counselling is effective in helping various groups of clients. It has been almost thirty years after the departure of Carl Rogers, yet, the approach remains influential in counselling profession. In Malaysia, it becomes one of the most practised counselling approaches among counselling practitioners. As the theory was developed in the United States and represents the Western secular worldview, there is a need to look into its philosophy and concepts from the Islamic perspectives. This is due the reason that many counselling practitioners and clients in Malaysia are Muslims. Hence, the article aims to discuss the main features of the person-centred theory such as its philosophy, view of human nature, origin of individual’s problem and counsellor’s personal qualities and review them from an Islamic perspective.
 
Coping Strategies in Response to Riverine Floods During Pandemic Time: A Household Study in Kurigram, Bangladesh
Get PDFBangladesh is one of the countries at risk of COVID-19 and climate change. The lockdown efforts failed to flatten the curve and needed to be more effective. As a result, the significant risk of transmission is obvious, given the rising incidence of cases. Due to climate risks like cyclones, floods, landslides, and heat waves, a multiple hazards scenario could arise in this country. This study sought to evaluate the potential vulnerabilities of a confluence of infectious disease epidemics and natural hazards like floods. This study used a mixed methodological approach to examine the multi-hazard scenario in a resource-constrained area with a high population density. This study used a questionnaire survey with 150 respondents and in-depth interviews with 20 villagers. The findings showed a high likelihood of worsening the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic if a climatic disaster like a flood occurs. This nation's inadequate and frail healthcare system cannot handle the extraordinary load. A lack of sectoral collaboration, communication and risk assessment could limit the government's contingency strategy. A strict strategic plan for emergency response and short-term and long-term management should be developed in light of the unprecedented worst-case scenarios
Necmettin Erbakan's Views on Turkey's Modernisation Process
Get PDFThis paper highlights Necmettin Erbakan’s views on Turkey’s modernisation process. Erbakan, the prime minister of the Republic of Turkey from 1996 to 1997, is an influential politician, engineer, academic, and intellectual. Also, Erbakan is the first devout president in the history of the Republic of Turkey. He examined Turkish modernisation, which he saw as one of Turkey's most important problems, and made important studies on this subject. He thought that the main mistake made in the Turkish modernisation process was to “imitate the West”. Therefore, he thought that while Turkey wanted to modernise, it became Westernised, that is, modernisation and Westernisation were confused with each other in Turkey. This idea of his reveals that Turkey has taken very concrete steps towards Westernisation and, as a result, has lost the characteristics of traditional Turkish and Islamic culture. Trying to modernise by imitating the West, based on Erbakan's ideas, is a foreign model for the Turkish people who adhere to Islamic identity and values. Therefore, this study suggests that there should be a more inclusive alternative modernisation model for the Turkish nation based on Erbakan's ideas
The Role of ‘Stage Theory of Bereavement,’ ‘Dual Process Model (DPM)’ and Spirituality in Dealing with Grief During Illness Experience in Cancer Patients
Get PDFWhen individuals experience terminal illness based on their internalization of the illness, the construction of meaning and the adjustments made by the individual to accommodate changes that has occurred due to the illness, influences their cognitive and emotional representations based on the illness perception (Leventhal et al., 2001). The illness experience of some individuals leads them to experiences different types of losses and grief. According to Kubler Ross’ theory of loss and grief (2009), there are five stages of bereavement to cope with the grief experiences. Kubler Ross states that the individual goes through 5 stages of bereavement or grief while the Dual Process Model states the individual oscillates between the loss-oriented stressor and the restoration-oriented stressor. In addition, some researchers have found that spirituality is also a mechanism used to cope with loss and grief experiences. The aim of this paper is to examine an evaluate the theoretical frame works of The Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement (DPM) (Stroebe & Schut, 1999) the 5 Stages of Bereavement by Kubler Ross (Martin & Privette,1989), along with trying to understand the role of religion or spirituality to deal with loss and grief experiences among terminally ill patients such as patients with cancer.
Key words: illness experience, loss and grief, Stage theory, Dual Process Model, Spiritualit