In contemporary society, the technological landscape has been profoundly transformed by the rapid and continuous evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), which is attracting increasing attention in a variety of contexts. For these reasons, this phenomenon has stimulated considerable reflection on various fronts, making a multidisciplinary approach to its study necessary. This article offers a critical-theoretical reflection, analysing the use of AI in international politics in recent years. This provides a privileged vantage point from which to question how this situation, and the nascent “synthetic propaganda,” can influence and shape social dynamics. Political communication itself has taken on a new dimension in the digital society, changing its principles and influencing the way citizens are addressed. The analysis examines the risks of a drift towards forms of manipulation that can have a negative influence on society and on the relationship with political institutions themselves. The aim of the document is to provide an original contribution to the study of the dynamics that arise from the interaction between AI and political power, analysing both the opportunities offered and the risks arising from the use of this technology.
This paper, which focuses on a review of contemporary scientific literature, examines the impact of incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the teaching of Mathematics in Primary education. The research data reveal that the use of ICT overturns the ‘traditional’ pedagogical code, favouring open and inquiry based approaches to learning. ICT strengthens cognitive development through the visualizing of mathematical concepts, promotes student autonomy and teamwork and contributes to a significant improvement in their learning outcomes. At the same time, critical challenges in the educational field are highlighted, such as the lack of adequate teacher training, as well as the need to adapt the pedagogical practices implemented. The study concludes that the teachers’ systematic professional development is a necessary prerequisite for meaningful and innovative utilization of ICT in mathematics education.
The paper aims to investigate, through a theoretical-critical methodology based on qualitative analysis. Disability, historically conceived as a clinical condition, is now recognized as a social construct shaped by cultural norms and environmental barriers. Therefore, reinterpreting the paradigm of the “social model of disability,” disability does not stem so much from physical decline as from social organization that tends to exclude or devalue physical diversity. The introduction of transhuman technologies, such as artificial intelligence, neural prosthetics, and brain-computer interfaces, is redefining the concept of disability and body enhancement, blurring the boundaries between what is natural and what is artificial. These innovations offer extraordinary opportunities to overcome physical limitations, but they also raise ethical and sociological questions related to the dignity, autonomy, and inclusion of people with disabilities. Although transhuman technologies can promote empowerment, they also risk amplifying pre-existing inequalities, reinforcing forms of exclusion based on economic access or an ideal of technologically assisted “ability.” This study explores how such technologies influence the construction of dignity and social inclusion for people with disabilities, analyzing their impact on social recognition, participation, and identity construction. Through a critical sociological perspective, the work investigates the challenges and opportunities arising from the interaction between technological innovation, social justice, and disability, offering an analysis of disability as an intersectional social construct that interacts with the dynamics of power, access, and recognition.
The rapid development of neuroscience and emerging technologies is opening new horizons where the distinction between the natural and the artificial becomes increasingly blurred. In this context, projects like Neuralink raise fundamental questions about our identity, human consciousness, and the potential social transformations. The idea of a direct interface between the human brain and technological devices not only opens extraordinary possibilities for treating neurological diseases but also raises important ethical and moral dilemmas. The fusion between human and machine could lead to a redefinition of the human condition itself, altering our relationship with the body, knowledge, and society. While the prospect of "enhancing" human cognitive abilities may seem appealing, the need to cautiously address the risks associated with these technologies—such as social control, surveillance, or economic inequalities—becomes apparent. Ultimately, the convergence between artificial intelligence and human biology could mark the beginning of a new era, one that demands a profound reflection on how we want humanity to evolve in an increasingly technological world.
The study examined the longitudinal development of coal mine disasters reported in news media in China. Around Issue Attention Cycle, issue competition (Issue Competition) and issue fatigue (Issue Fatigue) provides a way to analyze and explain the periodic changes in coal mine disaster reporting. The study indicates that media attention on coal mine disasters is low. The empirical results reveal that media attention goes through four stages of issue attention cycle model: the pre-problem stage, alarmed discovery and euphoric enthusiasm stage, decline in intensity of interest stage as well as post-problem stage. Applying scan statistics approach issue competition and issue fatigue are confirmed as the factors driving the fluctuation of media attention on coal mine disasters. Implications related to media agenda setting and public opinion on safety production were discussed based on the conclusions.
Water insecurity, characterized by poor water quality and limited access to safe water, is a leading contributor to health hazards globally, yet its specific impacts remain underexplored in Pakistan. This qualitative study investigates the perceived health consequences of water insecurity in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, focusing on the communities of New Lalazar and Gorakhpur. Using ethnographic methods, including participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 80 purposively sampled individuals, the study uncovers prevalent perceptions of waterborne diseases, primarily gastrointestinal disorders like dysentery, diarrhea, and cholera, alongside dermatological issues such as rashes and itching. The high salt concentration in the local water is believed to cause premature aging symptoms, including grey hair, hair loss, high blood pressure, kidney stones, and excessive phlegm production. Psychological stress stemming from the financial and time burden of securing water further exacerbates the community’s challenges. This research highlights the dual impact of physical illness and psychological distress, both intensified by water insecurity in the region.
This study examines the dimension of poverty among women in the resettled indigenous community in Sri Lanka. The present study investigates how the dimension of poverty exists and is improving among resettled indigenous women in Sri Lanka. The objective of the study was to identify the poverty dimensions among indigenous women. The study adopted a qualitative approach by interviewing 30 Women (n=30 [resettled indigenous women], conducting three focus group interviews involving the young, adult and elderly women’s groups through empirical observation and document reviews. Open-ended questions were used to explore respondents’ experiences of poverty that they have faced in their community. The Research approach incorporated the qualitative explorative approach. Thematic data analyses were performed using the Granheim approach. The research findings indicate that indigenous women experience multiple dimensions of poverty. The notable dimensions are social, economic, food, energy, ageing, cultural, and societal poverty, which were emphasised by prominent chronic poverty experts. Poverty dimensions vary over different generations. The older generation lacked tactics for dealing with poverty, while the younger generation has effectively managed to overcome it. The middle generation has only partially succeeded in coping with poverty, with some individuals managing to do so while others have not. The various aspects of poverty have contributed to the precarious situation of women in the community. Notwithstanding the presence of policies, institutions, and processes aimed at poverty alleviation, these women remain highly vulnerable to extreme poverty as a community. Despite being resettled 35 years ago; these women continue to occupy rare positions in all aspects of development.
This study aims to delve into communicative interactions within the realm of online politics, with a specific emphasis on the increasingly significant role of artificial intelligence (AI). In an era where digital technologies are radically transforming communication flows, the introduction of AI into political processes opens new prospects, but also presents numerous challenges. The research seeks to understand how these technologies are influencing political language and user engagement strategies, with profound repercussions on social and political dynamics. The methodology employed combines both qualitative and quantitative analysis. On the one hand, a qualitative analysis was conducted on AI-generated content within online political discussions, examining how this content influences political narratives and shape’s public opinion. On the other hand, a quantitative analysis evaluated the dynamics of engagement and interaction across various digital platforms, measuring the impact of AI on user behaviour and information dissemination. The findings of this research reveal that AI is not only transforming the language of politics but also altering the ways individuals participate in public debate. Artificial intelligences not only facilitate new forms of communication but can also influence power dynamics, either reinforcing or destabilizing existing structures. Based on these results, it is essential to balance technological innovation with the protection of democratic processes, ensuring that the use of AI is transparent, ethical, and oriented toward the common good. In conclusion, this contribution highlights the need for public debate and ongoing research on the social and political implications of AI, so that these technologies can positively contribute to the future of democracy.
Flood victims face a complicated set of emotional, social, and mental challenges that require advanced knowledge and personalized treatments. The July 2010 flood severely disrupted Pakistani society, inflicting chaos and structural damage and needing a new framework for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This research investigates the social and psychological effects of the floods on residents of Charsadda, Pakistan. The information was gathered from people affected by floods in Charsadda, Pakistan. Purposive sampling methods were used to choose responders. N = 377 flood victims were selected from four villages in Union Council Agra. The data for this research was gathered from flood victims using a closed-ended questionnaire. The study emphasizes the enormous social and emotional hardship that flood victims experience, extensive property destruction and health issues. They lacked zeal for their well-being and exhibited excessive emotional reactions. The study suggests focusing social rehabilitation on financial aid and interest-free loans, conducting training sessions and building adequate therapy programs for future calamities. Psychological treatment can offer comfort and support to those impacted. Those who are impacted can find comfort via psychological treatment.
The juvenile crimes and problem behaviors discussed above tend to come to a head within the local communities where juvenile crimes are often committed. Gaining a community-level appreciation of juvenile crime is essential because national statistics often make readers feel that their neighborhood might be exempt. Drug abuse is undoubtedly a global issue. American experts have monitored and published critical drug prevention studies conducted in other continents and nations outside of the Americas for more than a decade. Thus, the main goal of this current research study is to provide insights into the cost of preventing juvenile delinquency through a willingness survey of college-educated adults for communities that care and proffer policy solutions. One such study is a co-twin controls study conducted in Australia (Lynskey et al., 2003). The study conclusions and recommendations are an essential foundation for future studies relating to this WITS4CTC perspective. While the tone in this study discussion may seem to imply that colleges have done little to support CTC, it remains impossible to know whether some have tried, however secretly, to support CTC outside the radar of CTC researchers and social scientists. Even more importantly, there may be some, amongst the thousands, who sincerely wish to help with CTC but lack a model that can remotely serve as a guide. If any such latent supportive CEAs and colleges exist already, then this work could not have come a moment too soon. Therefore, It is hoped that this would benefit many CEAs and CTC stakeholders.
This study intends to conceptualize the conglomeration of cultures between the villagers of a Zambian community and the missionary-educators. With the missionary-educators extending their activities in the village for more than a decade, the village people were positively responding. Thus, there was a gradual cultural adaptation. With the constant challenges in basic needs, language -communication between missionary educators and the villagers, cultural differences, and education. The missionary educators strategically intervened the incumbent lives of the villagers in order to update them with the world trends. The activities and effort of the missionary educators were designed formally through projects and programs intervention. The researchers conceptualized the theoretical abstract of the merging cultural practices between villagers and the missionary-educators. Though strategically intentional programmed and created, the missionary learned and the adapted particular cultures of the villagers which maximize their realization about cross-culture.
Since the 2014 killing of Eric Garner, the number of social media posts involving police officers engaging in unethical behavior has increased, and the videos and images posted have had a strong influence on the public's perception of law enforcement officers. This paper explores the associations between the variables of social media usage, police legitimacy, and police cooperation while discussing how they intersect. In addition, this paper investigates whether these variables are still associated, after controlling for age, gender, and education. This research was conducted using a multiple regression analysis of the data collected from a quantitative survey completed by 80 participants. The participants were aged 18 and older, had an active social media account, lived in the United States, and were not former military or police officers.
Teenagers hold the future of society in terms of the provision of societal functions differentiated by their gender roles and parity. Consequently, the excellence of teenagers places society in a better sustaining status. The successful transition of teenagers to adulthood depends on mentorship. Research reports that the female gender is prone to a pathway with more challenges than male teenagers. Girls are challenged with sexual reproductive health and pregnancy issues, which may eventually disorient their social, economic cultural and health outcomes. In light of this, the importance of establishing the teenage pregnancy landscape and the associated health knowledge could not be underscored. This research, therefore, sought to determine the contributions of sexual and reproductive health knowledge to adolescent pregnancies among students in Kitui township, Kitui County. The study involved a target population of 467 from which a sample size of 140 was enumerated using a mixed-method cross-sectional research design. Ten (10) female teachers were involved in the study as key informants. The data collected using FGDs, questionnaires and key informant guides show that over half (66%) of the girls' population was knowledgeable and the larger source of their knowledge was teachers. The study findings give the current teenage pregnancies landscape and can be used for regulatory and advisory purposes by bodies, which deal with girl child welfare like UNICEF.
In recent decades, the incorporation of video games into the political context has sparked growing interest among scholars, politicians, and activists. This article proposes an analysis of the social dynamics and participatory processes that emerge from the interaction between video games and the political sphere. Through an interdisciplinary investigation that combines perspectives from political science, sociology, and media studies, this study explores how video games can influence the contemporary political landscape. It examines how video games have the ability to mobilize and engage a wide range of individuals, transforming how people approach politics and participate in public discourse. The analysis focuses on understanding the mechanisms that make video games a fertile ground for political expression and democratic engagement. It explores the ways in which video games can facilitate political discussion, promote social awareness, and foster active political participation. The article highlights the potential and challenges of using video games as political tools and explores possible future trajectories for this phenomenon.
The decisions that male/female students should make regarding their schooling, are believed to be extremely important, since these decisions will affect the future life of students. Therefore, we attempted to explore the factors that affect students in making education and career related decisions, and which specifically apply to General High School students from various areas in mainland and insular Greece. The research objective is to study the reasons that cause students in Greek secondary education and their parents to decide for students to go to university after finishing school. In more specific, it is attempted to study the following: The factors affecting male and female students in choosing to go on into university, along with the reasons why parents believe that their children want to study, parents' aspirations regarding the career future of their children, factors that determine the students' chances of going to university, as well as factors affecting the future career choices of students according to their attitude.In the first, theoretical, part, the concept of education and career related decision-making is presented. Following that, the factors are presented that underpin both the education and career related decisions of students. Specific reference is made to personal factors, such as biological factors, e.g. gender, physical characteristics, aptitudes, etc., acquired factors, e.g. skills, values, interests, etc., and social factors, which determine education and career related decision-making, such as family, school, etc. This is followed by the second part of the article, which is the research part. In order to inquire into the factors that affect adolescents, when it comes to decisions referring to their education and career, quantitative research was conducted. More specifically, 670 questionnaires were collected from male and female students attending the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grades of High School. The research data are analyzed, and to sum up, in the end of the article, the research conclusions will be listed.
The purpose of this study is to discover and narrate our experience as a volunteer missionary educator on the process of acculturation that have helped the Women Villagers (WV). This described the learning strategies, integration in the new culture, and poverty alleviation. Women’s empowerment has been advocated as a way not only to reduce poverty risk but also a way to improve a woman’s overall well-being. To be able to draw conclusions about the women’s learning strategies and what has made them work, We have looked at the experiences of five selected informants whose experiences successfully acculturated. The study employed a qualitative methodology, where information has been collected through semi-structured interviews, which were interpreted and analyzed using the study adopted from Spradley. The key findings were acculturation through education, specifically through projects and programs implemented. The goal was to teach outsiders about culture through both personal and empirical and help people within their culture better understand themselves. Done in an ethnographic way, an ethnographer “depicts people struggling to overcome adversity” and shows “people in the process of figuring out what to do, how to live, and the meaning of their struggles” (to borrow a phrase of Bochner and Ellis (2006). These findings can be put into practice to form better strategies and actions steps in organizational programs, school linkages or any Non-Government Organization. This can also be brought to the knowledge of any educators or missionary volunteers looking to successfully integrate, to make them aware of how their choices and goals, even those apparently unrelated, can impact the outcome of their integrated efforts.
Along with the Covid-19 pandemic, a new type of 'disease' has spread just as rapidly, affecting the world of journalism and information. In addition to the concept of 'infodemic', first proposed by David J. Rothkopf in 2003 in relation to SARS, then taken up by a World Economic Forum study in 2006 to explain the fairness of information in emergencies, and finally used by the World Health Organisation itself to refer to the spread of false, tendentious or incorrect information during the Covid-19 pandemic. 2020 was also the year of a new word: doom scrolling.This term refers to when a person constantly reads and searches for negative news online, and the consequences this has on our mental health. It is still a relatively new phenomenon, but several experts have already pointed out that doom scrolling is predictably detrimental to a person's mental well-being.The pandemic has thus confirmed the already known risks of overexposure to a constant flow of information, a problem that affects media professionals, their audiences and institutions, and that can trigger social and psychophysical pathologies such as depression, mood swings, isolation and paranoia.An attempt will be made here to discuss the issue from a critical point of view and to reconstruct the phenomenon of 'doom scrolling'. Finally, an attempt will be made to define the main lines of public discussion based on the most recent literature available in this period of global crisis.
The aim of this paper is to explore the consequences resulting from global emergencies cases, such as the current Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on the perceptions toward the future in a gender perspective. To this end, the analysis investigates results obtained from a web-survey, conducted in 2021, whose target group is characterized by all the Sapienza University of Rome students’ that, during the last three years, have spent an academic mobility period outside Italy or inside Rome. The results obtained show how, generally, women have a more pessimistic view of the present and post pandemic with more clear implications on the emotional relationships and the working life; on the other side, men seem to be more optimistic about the imminent end of the pandemic, believing that Covid-19 period helped them in managing their time and in strengthening the relationship with own family members. This gender perspective is also confirmed by a comparison on the prevailing attitudes and feelings that people declared they experienced during the 2020 pandemic period with respect to the perception of the near future: more in detail, women claim to be more demoralized, depressed and nervous than men that, on the contrary, define themselves proactive and confident.
The first part of this article theorises predatory governance in general and acmes some exceptions to the process. Subsequently, it reviews the characteristics of predatory governance literature in Africa and East Asia with emphasis on Uganda and Indonesia. The study shows how leaders utilise state resources and institutions for their self-interest and exclude the masses or tax payers who sustain such regimes. We show that, the extent to which regimes, influence policies on the general population politically or otherwise, creates inequality, poverty, unemployment, and bad governance. We, therefore, theorise that predatory governance is hinged on the idea that the state usually has limited capacity to protect citizen rights, the political and socio-economic spaces are usually controlled by the elites either through coercion, corruption or the use of violence. The impact of predatory governance and the developmental state as an approach for economic development has been discussed and we observe practical realities of vote-buying to win elections being a common practice in Uganda and Indonesia. In this understanding, both case scenarios portray an image of predatory behaviour. The study utilised secondary data to evaluate what predatory governance, its characteristics and impact. Findings show that predatory governance affects economic outcomes of a country, produces corruption, violence, nepotism, poverty, unemployment and shrinking democratic space and deficiencies to name but few.
Rural poverty in India is linked with agricultural earnings, which can be assessed with Farm Net Income (FNI). This study identified the parameters significantly affecting the FNI for Yavatmal, India, during 2016-17 and 2017-18. The R 2 values computed by Multivariable Linear Regression Analysis for explaining FNI are 73% and 79% for 2016-17 and 2017-18. In 2017-18, the FNI was influenced by household (HH) head education, working population in HH, operating farmland, agriculture machine usage, and livestock sale. This study can help farmers in their farm-decisions for improving FNI and policy makers for designing and implementation of farm policies and schemes.
