How can authoritarianism and spectacle relate in gameplay groups? Through a case study of DOJRP (Department of Justice Roleplay), a Grand Theft Auto V player organization using the FiveM server framework, I develop a theory of ludocracy, describing situations where expanding administration of a game becomes central to playing the game. Textual analyses of DOJRP’s governance documents find legalistic norms that extract work from players, enroll players in mutual surveillance, and allocate capital hierarchically within a system whose members demonstrate increasing social standing through rules enforcement upon each other. Tracing both a process through which players advance in rank, and a history through which DOJRP first originated in a small scene then inspired profuse imitators, I argue that what relationships a roleplay group encultures follow what images the group emulates.

A document by Adaeze Ejike-Alieji. Click on the document to view its contents.

A document by Norzelatun Rodhiah Hazmi. Click on the document to view its contents.

This article introduces the US Aid to Security Sector Actors (USASSA) dataset, the product of a collaboration between academic researchers and the nonprofit Security Assistance Monitor. In addition to providing the most comprehensive source of data on US security assistance, the USASSA dataset transforms detailed information about how security assistance funds are spent into aid and recipient typologies that can be used to conduct more sophisticated analyses of how this foreign policy tool is employed, its utility, and its limitations. Our data clearly show not only the magnitude and geographic reach of US SSA, but also its diversity. While some SSA is akin to humanitarian aid, other types of assistance blur the line between foreign aid and proxy warfare. We demonstrate the utility of the dataset’s typology of aid types with an analysis of factors affecting variation in the amount and type of aid provided to different states.

Wu Lien-teh was born in 1879 on the island of Penang in Malaya (four days before Einstein). He hailed from Taishan, Guangdong. In 1896, at the age of 17, Dr. Wu excelled and was awarded the Queen’s Scholarship by Queen Victoria to study at the University of Cambridge in London. During his research, he successively studied at St. Mary’s Hospital in the UK, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Hygiene Institute at the University of Halle in Germany, and the Pasteur Institute in France. He was mentored by Nobel laureates Professor Elie Metchnikoff and Professor Frederick Gowland Hopkins. Dr. Wu pursued his studies abroad for seven years, earning a total of five degrees from the University of Cambridge: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Surgery, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Medicine. He obtained his doctorate at the young age of 24. He was also the first Chinese person in the world to be awarded a doctorate from the University of Cambridge

This research uses key actor interviews to construct a theoretical model with which we examine the impacts of foreign direct investment (FDI) from secrecy jurisdictions into Liverpool’s private rental real estate sector. We found that the key actors in our interviews were informed to different degrees about the role of secrecy jurisdictions and did not differentiate between the different types of FDI. All of the interviewees identified FDI as a major factor influencing urban regeneration trajectories and their impact on communities and the city. Thus, while we sought to focus attention on offshore financial flows, the key actors focussed our attention on the several regeneration projects that have been undertaken in the city. The model encompasses economic, housing, and community dynamics, highlighting the tensions and concerns raised by different actors.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine have continued. The Orthodox Church has often been given a unique role in the conflicts and, to some extent, has become “complicit” in escalating the situation. Over the past two decades, religion has become increasingly present in Russian domestic and foreign policy. From the introduction of the concept of the “Russian world” to the recovery of the “sacred place” of Crimea, religious and nationalist narratives have been carefully fused to justify the Russian government’s “expansionist policy” under the integration of the “Holy Rus” civilizational space. In this context, Ukrainian nationalists have actively pursued a “church indigenization” program to break away from Russian control in the spiritual sphere. Ukrainian church activists have proposed a “Kyivan Christianity” distinct from the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). Politicians have responded positively with the slogan “Independent state - independent church” and promoted the formation of the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) in 2018. The interaction between religion and politics has emerged in the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, which provides a new starting point for understanding the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine since the 21st century. The proposed study was conducted using the methods of discursive and narrative analysis and allowed to identify similarities and differences in the religious narratives of Russian and Ukrainian political and spiritual leaders.

This article summarizes a literature review focused on urban quality of life and public perceptions. The review evaluates six articles that investigate different aspects related to this important urban planning topic, highlighting varied perspectives.The selected articles are distinguished by their research methods and data analyses. Some researchers rely on quantitative data, while others prefer qualitative data, or a combination of both. These various methodologies enable researchers to approach urban quality of life from diverse perspectives.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether e-governance measures such as implementing common service centers (CSCs) helped in contributing to the technological knowledge, advancement, and awareness of the rural population especially in the case of rural Kerala. This research uses a qualitative approach for collecting primary data by using questionnaire from respondents belonging to the study. Also, the study uses secondary data from government reports on e-governance, journals, books, websites, and others as main sources to define e-governance and to familiarize in what ways and how the ICT-driven e-governance initiatives are providing services to rural populations. This paper focuses on CSCs and its contribution to technological advancement in rural Kerala.

In this article we examine the effect of Taylor Swift’s hypothetical endorsement of a Public policy position. We examine this in the context of not just the expanding literature on the effects of celebrity endorsements, but also through the lens of Robert Cialdini’s work on the seven factors of influence. Through a post-test only experimental survey design we test Swift’s endorsement of a policy position, compared with the effects of social proof, scarcity, and authority. We find that Swift’s endorsement is at least as influential as these other elements of influence, and possibly more so. We conclude with informed speculation about why Swift’s value as an endorser may be particularly high. The survey was approved by BGSU’s Institutional Review Board (IRBNet ID Number: 2072943-2).

It is about how a researcher can prepare a document which can be shared with expert for assessing the content validation of an instrument.

This paper offers a scoping review of literature on mixed reality frameworks and the use of mixed reality environments in initial teacher education to simulate classroom interactions and conversations with parents and colleagues. It synthesises findings on mixed reality across 4 key articles and conference proceedings on mixed reality frameworks and across 42 peer-reviewed journal articles on mixed reality simulations in initial teacher education. The findings inform the development of a conceptual framework, Teacher-Identity- Discourse-Efficacy (TIDE). TIDE presents a teacher-oriented view of using mixed reality simulations to prepare pre-service teachers for real-world practice and interactions. The framework highlights key areas requiring further research. Investigations triangulating mixed reality simulation data on pre-service teachers’ evolving identity, discourse and efficacy as teachers are recommended.

Service quality in the Malaysian telecom sector has been a major concern for consumers, who continue to inundate the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) with complaints about service providers. A suggested solution to this problem is the adoption of an automatic compensation scheme (ACS) in the Malaysian communications sector. Under the ACS, service providers will be required to compensate consumers, who receive poor service quality, without the requirement of a formal claim. This scheme already exists in other jurisdictions, particularly the UK, where it has been used since 2019. Nevertheless, the adoption of the ACS in Malaysia would likely contend with a number of obstacles. This article provides a pathway for Malaysia to overcome the legal obstacles that would likely undermine the adoption of the ACS in the country. The article combines a qualitative, library-based doctrinal research approach exploring laws and regulations applicable to the ACS, with a quantitative approach involving the use of questionnaire directed at telecom service providers. The aim of the questionnaire was to elicit feedback from the telecom sector with a view to devising an appropriate framework. The article concludes with recommendations to harmonise the ACS with the Malaysian legal system, including the objectives to be served, when to apply the scheme, methods of implementing it, as well as issues of force majeure.

Purpose The study aims to determine the effect of legal systems and property rights enforcement on developing financial markets, institutions, and overall financial development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Design/methodology/approach Data for this study were extracted from the Financial Development Index of the World Bank Global financial database, the Economic Freedom database of the Fraiser Institute, and the World Bank Development Indicators database covering 41 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2000 to 2020. The models were estimated using the System GMM and the SURE model as robustness checks to address cross-equation correlations and linkages between financial markets and institutions. Results Results showed that legal systems and property rights enforcement have an effect on the growth of financial markets, institutions, and overall financial development, regardless of the measure of financial development used. Moreover, trade and GDP positively affect financial development and financial markets, while stringent regulatory trade barriers have a negative effect. Conclusions The need for governments to prioritise strengthening legal systems and ensuring the enforcement of property rights protection to create a predictable and stable environment for businesses and investors is key. Reducing trade barriers and eliminating restrictions that may discourage foreign investment to increase trade volumes and capital inflows into SSA is also important.

This work expands on Yosso’s (2005) community cultural wealth model and Pérez Huber’s (2009) conceptualization of spiritual capital to frame spiritual capital within the lives of Black women early educators and care providers. Through a narrative case study, the author discusses how Black women family childcare providers understood spirituality as internal guidance through life choices and daily experiences; as divine sustainment for themselves and their businesses; and as pedagogy in their work with children and families. Findings support the need to nurture the spiritual development of Children of Color toward fostering a sense of wholeness and belonging in educational spaces.

The idea of “Moscow – Third Rome” is a unique phenomenon in Russian religious culture. It is the idea that the Russian state, represented by Moscow, is the “Third Rome” that succeeded Rome and Constantinople and has a mission to save the world. Although this idea was initially a religious doctrine, the consciousness of Russian nationalism and the universalist mission of salvation extended from this idea have been deeply embedded in the Russian national character and way of thinking through the efforts of Russian intellectuals. Since the 21st century, the thought of “Moscow – Third Rome” has been closely integrated with politics and gradually became one of the primary ideological sources of contemporary Russian geopolitical theory. The purpose of this study is to investigate the concept of “Moscow - the Third Rome” in relation to the genesis of Russian civilization. Because of that, traditional methods of historical research were used along with the theory of civilizations, the development of systems, and national archetypes. The article reconstructs the main components of the theory “Moscow—the Third Rome” and its contextualization is carried out within the framework of various periods of Russian and world history. The author concludes that the special messianic role and significance of Russia in world history may be seen as the archetype of Russian national identity.

Abstract The study investigates policies regarding the regulation and control of citizens’ content  published by the Trinidad Express Newspaper. A qualitative approach was adopted for the  undertaking of this study, which consisted of eight (8) individual semi-structured interviews  inclusive of editors and journalists/reporters from the traditional newsroom. The study aimed  to answer the following research questions (RQs):  RQ1.What are the steps/procedures taken by traditional journalists/reporters in handling of citizen journalism?  RQ 2. In what ways have the steps/procedures taken influenced the publishing of  citizens’ information? Findings reveal while there are no specific policies geared toward the control of information  shared by citizens, the Newspaper has been controlling the flow of information received from  the public by implementing the official One Caribbean Media (OCM) Statement of Editorial  Principles and Operational Guidelines which inform the work and conduct of those who are  part of the production and delivery of news and other content across varying media platforms. More significantly, the study found the free flow of information by citizens negatively  impacted the traditional print media. Further, the free flow of information on various media  platforms encouraged traditional media (newspapers) to embark on the digitization of  newspapers in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Limited research has examined the impact of weighted student funding policy on urban student achievement. This equity-based model allocates dollars to schools instead of staff. Existing studies suggest correlations between this model and improved outcomes like test scores and graduation rates. This research will fill the gap by exploring a grassroots approach to policy creation and implementation to enhance student achievement. Research data on districts adopting this approach show positive correlations between model implementation and quantitative factors like test scores, graduation rates, and college acceptance across districts. This research can guide districts considering the shift towards equity in education.