Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB)
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Global Partnerships and Neocolonialism
No full textThis open access book points at some of the problematic aspects of international partnerships that continue to be shaped by colonialism. A “global partnership for sustainable development” is the 17th of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, research points to shortcomings and problematic aspects of international partnerships that have been shaped by colonialism and continue to reflect unequal power relations between the global North and South. Hence, the chapters of this edited volume explore how global partnerships can be established in a neocolonial environment in the fields of development cooperation, the global economy and knowledge production. The contributions were written by members of the Global Partnership Network (GPN), one of the Centres of Excellence for Exchange and Development funded by the German Ministry for Development Cooperation, which has been working intensively and critically on the topic of partnerships and North-South relations over the past four years
Artificial Humanities
No full textArtificial Humanities explores how literature, history, and art can deepen our understanding of artificial intelligence and its development. By examining fictional representations of AI in parallel with actual technological developments, Nina Beguš presents a novel interdisciplinary framework for understanding the cultural, philosophical, and ethical dimensions of AI. She traces connections from Eliza Doolittle to ELIZA the chatbot and current language models, incorporates Slavic fictional examples from the Pygmalion paradigm, and compares mid-century science fiction and recent Hollywood films with contemporary developments in social robotics and virtual beings. Highlighting the impact of human-like AI design, from gendered virtual assistants to romanticized social robots, the book shows how these technologies intersect with longstanding humanistic questions about the concepts of creativity and language as well as the relations between humans and machines. Additionally, the book explores AI’s applications in medical fields, particularly psychiatry and neurotechnology, including how AI interacts with the human body and mind to address conditions like paralysis. By emphasizing the philosophical and cultural implications of these technologies, Beguš highlights the need for responsible innovation that prioritizes human well-being as well as machine potential outside of human imitation. Accessible and thought-provoking, Artificial Humanities offers tools for analyzing and assessing technologies while they are being developed and invites readers to see how the humanities can guide us toward a more thoughtful future for AI
Storie di voci collettive
No full textPublishedNel sistema culturale contemporaneo, sempre più caratterizzato da transmedialità e ipermediazione, emerge il graphic novel di reportage. Genere ibrido nato dalla convergenza tra reportage e graphic novel, è ancora spesso incluso indistintamente nel più ampio campo del comics journalism. Gli autori sono artisti-reporter che, consapevoli del proprio ruolo culturale, scelgono di confrontarsi con le crisi del nostro tempo, difendendo una verità diversa attraverso il loro mestiere: raccontare storie. Ma che valore ha oggi, in una società segnata dalla saturazione mediatica e informativa, raccontare storie?
«Raise the voice up», scrive Joe Sacco in War on Gaza (2024). «Dare voce e, se possibile, […] dare una piccola luce a storie che altrimenti rimarrebbero invisibili. Sepolte nel fragore delle bombe», aggiunge Igort in Quaderni ucraini (2022). Si tratta di narrazioni che hanno al centro le piccole storie private dei testimoni, a cui si vuole restituire dignità sottraendole all’oblio della memoria. Storie di voci collettive si propone, da un lato, di analizzare la funzione conoscitiva e l’impegno critico che distinguono queste opere dai media informativi tradizionali. Dall’altro, intende affrontare il vasto campo del comics journalism delineando una morfologia di genere del graphic novel di reportage. In questo libro viene individuata una linea storica e formale finora non sistematizzata, che consente di riconoscere in tale forma narrativa un genere autonomo. Il volume propone un’architettura teorica fondata sui concetti di collettività e coralità, utile all’interpretazione delle opere riconducibili alla famiglia del graphic novel di reportage
Thermoviscoelastic Modeling of Thermoplastic Polymers
No full textThis work presents the theory of linear thermoviscoelasticity. Mechanical and calorical part of the model are formulated by using an analogy. The corresponding parts of the model are applied regarding two specific problems. First, the modeling of the viscoelastic behavior of polyamide 6 under hydrothermal influences is considered. In addition, the process-dependent calorical behavior of polystyrene in the vicinity of the glass transition is modeled
Sustainable Logistics Services of Food Provisions on Merchant Ships
No full textIn the context of the maritime industry, sustainable logistics for ship provisioning represents an underexplored yet critical area for innovation and development. Existing literature predominantly focuses on general logistics practices, supply chain efficiency, and sustainability in terrestrial environments. However, there is a noticeable gap in research addressing the unique challenges of maritime provisioning logistics, particularly in terms of food security, crew well-being, and long-term sustainability in isolated environments. This monograph fills that gap by offering a comprehensive analysis of current practices, identifying challenges, and proposing innovative solutions tailored to the maritime context. By employing frameworks such as the Sustainable Balanced Scorecard (SBSC) and advanced statistical methodologies, the book provides practical solutions for improving provisioning efficiency while reducing the ecological footprint and enhancing crew well-being. The novelty of this work lies in its specific approach to sustainability in maritime food provisioning, combining empirical research, regulatory analysis, and strategic development. It not only addresses the technical aspects of logistics but also delves into the social and environmental dimensions that are increasingly prioritised by the maritime industry
Verleiblichte Geschichte
No full textTo trace the loss of plausibility of the Christian faith in the West during the 21st century, a mere examination of historical shifts in ideas is insufficient. Rather, a deeper understanding of the complex figurational dynamics of the somatonarrative constitution of the human being and its role in the generation of world access is necessary. This work represents an attempt to systematize the contributions of Charles Taylor, Wilhelm Schapp, Paul Ricoeur, Pierre Bourdieu, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Thomas Fuchs, and others with regard to the aforementioned figurational dynamics, while more closely interlinking individual themes from these prior works. Dimensions such as corporeality, narratives, language, habitus, sociality, practices, imagination, liturgicality, and ascetic techniques are related hermeneutically and phenomenologically to one another, in order to both address the question of the underlying causes of the shifts in plausibility and to render the findings productive for the question of the possibility of Christian existence in the 21st century
The Rise of Nationalist Populism
No full textThe Rise of Nationalist Populism explores the intersection between populism and nationalism, conducted through the discursive analysis of three Populist Radical Right parties that have gained prominence during the 2010s: Rassemblement National (France), Lega (Italy) and Vox (Spain). Due to its rise in Europe, the United States, and further afield, there is a growing interest in right-wing populism, an exclusionary and illiberal form of populism that has been able to attain success in several countries. This book contributes to the analysis of how populism, understood as a way of constructing the political, is shaped by the ideologies that permeate it. It examines how a certain form of nationalism is shaped by populist dynamics, that is by a certain form of identity-building. The book analyses the intersection between nationalism and populism in right-wing populist parties by using a discourse analysis methodology based on Ernesto Laclau’s works, thus conducting an examination similar to the ones presented by the Essex School of Discourse Analysis. The empirical analysis focuses on party literature and carefully selected candidate speeches at a national level for its three case studies, as well as providing an overarching comparison. The book shows how the economic crisis and the irruption of issues related to sovereignty and national identity arising in France, Italy and Spain paved the way for the emergence of their respective right-wing populist forces. The book will appeal to researchers and students of political science, especially those with an interest in populism, discourse analysis, identity and the far right
Chapter Introduction
No full textThis book explores how postmillennial Anglophone women writers use romantic narrativisations of history to explore, revise, repurpose and challenge the past in their novels, exposing the extent to which past societies were damaging to women by instead imagining alternative histories. The novelists discussed employ the generic conventions of romance to narrate their understanding of historical and contemporary injustice and to reflect upon women’s achievements and the price they paid for autonomy and a life of public purpose. The volume seeks, firstly, to discuss the work of revision or reparation being performed by romantic historical fiction and, secondly, to analyse how the past is being repurposed for use in the present. It contends that the discourses and genre of romance work to provide a reparative reading of the past, but there are limitations and entrenched problems in such readings
Contemporary Bioethics
No full textContemporary Bioethics: Themes and Dilemmas by Željko Kaluđerović is a thought-provoking exploration of the ethical challenges posed by modern science and technology. From genetic modifications and human cloning to the rights of non-human living beings and the impact of globalization, the book tackles pressing issues that shape our future. With a blend of philosophical insight and practical analysis, Kaluđerović invites readers to reflect on the moral complexities of scientific advancements and their implications for humanity, society, and the environment. Perfect for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the intersection of ethics and innovation, this book offers a compelling guide to navigating the dilemmas of our rapidly changing world.Publishe
Ukraine’s Thorny Path to the EU
No full textThis interdisciplinary book takes stock of Ukraine’s thorny European integration path in the last two decades. Engaging many Ukrainian academics and practitioners, the book seeks to offer a first-hand insight into how Ukraine moves towards EU membership, while in war with Russia, and which ‘stumbling blocks’ it encounters