China Report, Volume 59, Issue 3, Page 229-242, August 2023.
‘Nei Juan (内卷)’, translated as ‘involution’, was the ‘buzzword’ in Chinese social media in the year 2020. With ‘involution’, two more phenomena widely known as the ‘Sang Wenhua (丧文化)’, loosely translated as the ‘culture of dispiritedness’ and ‘Tangping Zhuyi (躺平主义)’, loosely translated as ‘lying flat-ism’, gained currency. If ‘involution’ is the issue the urban youth of China is facing in a commercialised and competitive China of today, then ‘dispiritedness’ seems to be its symptom, and ‘lying flat-ism’ its cure being adopted by the ‘dispirited’ youth. As a result, a few questions naturally arise. Is ‘involution’ a new issue that the Chinese urban youth is encountering today? Or is ‘involution’ in itself yet another symptom of a larger issue, ‘alienation’? My inquiry into these questions makes me turn towards films. To find the answers, I take up the works of Jia Zhangke, the central theme of whose works I describe as ‘the desultory wanderings of the alienated souls’. I argue that a critical and close reading of his ‘Hometown Trilogy’, will present us with such youth, who in the face of the rapid changes brought by the post-1979 economic reforms, were filled with a sense of powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, isolation and self-estrangement, all forms of alienation as proposed by Melvin Seeman. I also look into the genesis of ‘involution’ and its manifestation to argue that the Chinese urban youth experiencing ‘involution’ and thereby ‘dispiritedness’, are experiencing the same subjective feelings of alienation as experienced by the youth in the Jia’a ‘Hometown Trilogy’.
Utilization of Maternal Healthcare Services Among Tribal Women in Empowered Action Group States in India
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) care services mainly focusing on the utilization among tribal women in Empowered Action Group (EAG) states in India. For this study, the (NFHS-4, 2015–2016) data were used. Analysis was performed with 54,448 women aged (15–49) who, have a current child below 5 years of age by using bivariate logistics regression, chi-squared test and the Moran-I (Univariate) statistical techniques. Results show that only 11% of tribal women accessed full Antenatal Care (ANC), and 54% of women received Postnatal Care (PNC) in EAG states. More than one-third (34%) of tribal women delivered in their homes compared to institutional delivery (66%). Women with higher education are significantly more likely to utilize ANC and have institutional delivery compared to the women with no-education. Also, mothers from the most abundant wealth status are significantly more likely to receive ANC and PNC and have institutional delivery compared to women with poorest wealth quintile. Considering the inter-EAG states comparison, state like Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are performing poorly. Hence, out of all EAG states districts almost 3–7 districts from (low–high) and 8–11 districts from (high–low) groups show negative autocorrelation or outliers to received MCH care services. Despite continuous and improving efforts of the government, the utilization of MCH services is very low among tribal women in the EAG states of India.
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) care services mainly focusing on the utilization among tribal women in Empowered Action Group (EAG) states in India. For this study, the (NFHS-4, 2015–2016) data were used. Analysis was performed with 54,448 women aged (15–49) who, have a current child below 5 years of age by using bivariate logistics regression, chi-squared test and the Moran-I (Univariate) statistical techniques. Results show that only 11% of tribal women accessed full Antenatal Care (ANC), and 54% of women received Postnatal Care (PNC) in EAG states. More than one-third (34%) of tribal women delivered in their homes compared to institutional delivery (66%). Women with higher education are significantly more likely to utilize ANC and have institutional delivery compared to the women with no-education. Also, mothers from the most abundant wealth status are significantly more likely to receive ANC and PNC and have institutional delivery compared to women with poorest wealth quintile. Considering the inter-EAG states comparison, state like Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are performing poorly. Hence, out of all EAG states districts almost 3–7 districts from (low–high) and 8–11 districts from (high–low) groups show negative autocorrelation or outliers to received MCH care services. Despite continuous and improving efforts of the government, the utilization of MCH services is very low among tribal women in the EAG states of India.
Karnan: Film Review
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
The Tamil film Karnan calls for Dalits to rise up and resist against the caste system. The movie employed a number of metaphorical devices to illustrate how caste binds Dalits’ hands and feet. Additionally, it shows how the younger generation wants to rebel and fight for what has been denied for years, but the elder Dalit villagers are resistant to change and merely want to survive. The plot centres on Karnan (Dhanush) who rises to become the protector of his people. It also explores how tyranny may be sneaky and how the bureaucracy supports the oppressor and takes part in the oppression. The final takeaway from the film is that the only way to challenge oppression is through resistance.
The Tamil film Karnan calls for Dalits to rise up and resist against the caste system. The movie employed a number of metaphorical devices to illustrate how caste binds Dalits’ hands and feet. Additionally, it shows how the younger generation wants to rebel and fight for what has been denied for years, but the elder Dalit villagers are resistant to change and merely want to survive. The plot centres on Karnan (Dhanush) who rises to become the protector of his people. It also explores how tyranny may be sneaky and how the bureaucracy supports the oppressor and takes part in the oppression. The final takeaway from the film is that the only way to challenge oppression is through resistance.
Theorizing a Dalit Language: The Parayans’ Language in Kerala, Some Ethnographic Observations
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Language is a prerequisite for quotidian human life. For the most part, it plays an instrumental role in defining national, ethnocultural, and caste identifications in a polyglot society like India. Language shapes our views and bestows meanings to our thoughts. However, the analysis of language’s roles, functions, and usefulness, especially in studies grappling with Dalits life in Kerala, has been considerably overlooked by vernacular Dalit scholarship. Against this backdrop, the present article attempts to delve into one of the Dalit languages in Kerala, the Parayans’ language. Drawing insights from two-year-long ethnographic fieldwork, this article sheds light upon the unfolding of Parayans’ everyday life and the process of self-identification besides explicating the ontic properties of the Parayans’ language. In a subtle manner, the article adopts the methodology of ‘linguistic turn’ and urges Dalit scholarship to attune itself to afresh conceptual orientation so that it can bring the linguistic question as the central a priori of discussions in relation to life, identification, and subjectivity of Dalit beings.
Language is a prerequisite for quotidian human life. For the most part, it plays an instrumental role in defining national, ethnocultural, and caste identifications in a polyglot society like India. Language shapes our views and bestows meanings to our thoughts. However, the analysis of language’s roles, functions, and usefulness, especially in studies grappling with Dalits life in Kerala, has been considerably overlooked by vernacular Dalit scholarship. Against this backdrop, the present article attempts to delve into one of the Dalit languages in Kerala, the Parayans’ language. Drawing insights from two-year-long ethnographic fieldwork, this article sheds light upon the unfolding of Parayans’ everyday life and the process of self-identification besides explicating the ontic properties of the Parayans’ language. In a subtle manner, the article adopts the methodology of ‘linguistic turn’ and urges Dalit scholarship to attune itself to afresh conceptual orientation so that it can bring the linguistic question as the central a priori of discussions in relation to life, identification, and subjectivity of Dalit beings.
Does ‘Caste Matters’ in School Education: A Preliminary Study in Uttar Pradesh
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
This article aims to examine the relationship between the caste background of the students and the school choice, access to cultural and educational resources, and the prevalence of caste-based discrimination within the schools in the Kushinagar District of Uttar Pradesh. Using mixed methods of data collection, the study finds that the share of scheduled caste (SC) students successively declines while moving from public to private schools, at the same time, it increases for the general category students. Further, although the access to capital/educational resources exhibits caste characteristics as it is skewed in favour of forward caste students, it is collectively the students from rural backgrounds who face the resource crunch underscoring the regional and class inequalities as well. As such, caste hierarchy and inequality continue to shape and determine inequality and unequal outcomes in school education in India.
This article aims to examine the relationship between the caste background of the students and the school choice, access to cultural and educational resources, and the prevalence of caste-based discrimination within the schools in the Kushinagar District of Uttar Pradesh. Using mixed methods of data collection, the study finds that the share of scheduled caste (SC) students successively declines while moving from public to private schools, at the same time, it increases for the general category students. Further, although the access to capital/educational resources exhibits caste characteristics as it is skewed in favour of forward caste students, it is collectively the students from rural backgrounds who face the resource crunch underscoring the regional and class inequalities as well. As such, caste hierarchy and inequality continue to shape and determine inequality and unequal outcomes in school education in India.
Dr. Ambedkar’s Concept of Dhamma: Transforming Global Human
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Dr. Ambedkar’s concept of Dhamma aims to address the chief source of conflict in human life and helps provide long-lasting solutions. It also aims to remove multiple obstructions created by human being against another human being. Thus, Dhamma proposes to ensure conflict resolution, ecological balance, social inclusion, material–spiritual gains, universal brotherhood and unity among global human. Emancipation is sought and assured in this life only. It does not talk of issues pertaining to life after death. The article tries to explain how Dr. Ambedkar makes an entirely novel interpretation of Religion whom he calls Dhamma. He exercises to discover and invent a Dhamma easily understood and acceptable to everyone globally. His biggest contribution was to liberate Dhamma from Religion— Mazhab narratives. He wanted to set Dhamma free from ignorance and blind faith. In the process, he aimed to unshackle Dhamma from the concepts of God, soul and absolute idea. His Dhamma is a means to realize the fullness of human life. It is ever changing, lively and full of hopes and aspirations. It generates inquisitiveness and yearning for knowledge. Dhamma is a complete programme of transformation and change. Dhamma is a science of spiritualism which can be perceived, felt and achieved in this life only.
Dr. Ambedkar’s concept of Dhamma aims to address the chief source of conflict in human life and helps provide long-lasting solutions. It also aims to remove multiple obstructions created by human being against another human being. Thus, Dhamma proposes to ensure conflict resolution, ecological balance, social inclusion, material–spiritual gains, universal brotherhood and unity among global human. Emancipation is sought and assured in this life only. It does not talk of issues pertaining to life after death. The article tries to explain how Dr. Ambedkar makes an entirely novel interpretation of Religion whom he calls Dhamma. He exercises to discover and invent a Dhamma easily understood and acceptable to everyone globally. His biggest contribution was to liberate Dhamma from Religion— Mazhab narratives. He wanted to set Dhamma free from ignorance and blind faith. In the process, he aimed to unshackle Dhamma from the concepts of God, soul and absolute idea. His Dhamma is a means to realize the fullness of human life. It is ever changing, lively and full of hopes and aspirations. It generates inquisitiveness and yearning for knowledge. Dhamma is a complete programme of transformation and change. Dhamma is a science of spiritualism which can be perceived, felt and achieved in this life only.
Determinants of Social Inclusion of Agricultural Labourers in Rural Haryana, India
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
In the discourse of the sustainable development goals, the idea of ‘leave no one behind’ has a critical role. Social inclusion is an important dimension in the discourse of sustainable development. This dimension ensures inclusiveness at various levels of society. In the Indian context, this concept is highly useful to understand the multi-layered problem of agricultural labour. The study’s objectives were to understand the status of social inclusion and evaluate the influence of socio-economic factors on social inclusion. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the ordered regression analysis method. The study was conducted in Haryana, and the total sample size was 401. Study found that agricultural labourers live in deplorable conditions and face significant social exclusion in society. They experience exclusion in the labour market, on the financial front, and on the social relations front. Furthermore, the study revealed that socio-economic characteristics play a central role in determining the social inclusion. Based on the findings, the study advocates that the multi-layered problem of agriculture can be understood by using the multi-dimensional concept. Government assistance at multi-level to agricultural labour force can ratify their empowerment and inclusion.
In the discourse of the sustainable development goals, the idea of ‘leave no one behind’ has a critical role. Social inclusion is an important dimension in the discourse of sustainable development. This dimension ensures inclusiveness at various levels of society. In the Indian context, this concept is highly useful to understand the multi-layered problem of agricultural labour. The study’s objectives were to understand the status of social inclusion and evaluate the influence of socio-economic factors on social inclusion. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the ordered regression analysis method. The study was conducted in Haryana, and the total sample size was 401. Study found that agricultural labourers live in deplorable conditions and face significant social exclusion in society. They experience exclusion in the labour market, on the financial front, and on the social relations front. Furthermore, the study revealed that socio-economic characteristics play a central role in determining the social inclusion. Based on the findings, the study advocates that the multi-layered problem of agriculture can be understood by using the multi-dimensional concept. Government assistance at multi-level to agricultural labour force can ratify their empowerment and inclusion.
Mental pictures, structural constraints: Kenneth N. Waltz’s approach to theory
Journal of International Political Theory, Ahead of Print.
The aim of this article is to develop Kenneth N. Waltz’s conceptualization of system structures based on the distribution of capabilities to those described by two traits at system-level: the distribution of capabilities across states and states’ geographic positions with respect to each other, that is, the contiguity configuration. The development generates taxonomies of structures evaluated as mental pictures that guide, organize, and channel thoughts by identifying the ways system structures constrain international interactions. Mental pictures are argued to derive from a multiplicity of interrelated neurophysiological processes of the brain according to functionalism which is a monist doctrine of the philosophy of mind. Mental pictures establish structural constraints as products of an algorithm based on realism and system theory depicting a neo-Kantian view of how our minds impose order on sensory data.
The aim of this article is to develop Kenneth N. Waltz’s conceptualization of system structures based on the distribution of capabilities to those described by two traits at system-level: the distribution of capabilities across states and states’ geographic positions with respect to each other, that is, the contiguity configuration. The development generates taxonomies of structures evaluated as mental pictures that guide, organize, and channel thoughts by identifying the ways system structures constrain international interactions. Mental pictures are argued to derive from a multiplicity of interrelated neurophysiological processes of the brain according to functionalism which is a monist doctrine of the philosophy of mind. Mental pictures establish structural constraints as products of an algorithm based on realism and system theory depicting a neo-Kantian view of how our minds impose order on sensory data.
Women in leadership in the party: Women’s representation in intra-party leadership and party positions on gender equality in employment
Party Politics, Ahead of Print.
Labour policies have large impacts on gender equality in the workplace. While political parties play critical roles in policy making, it remains unclear if party-level women’s representation impacts labour policies. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between women’s representation in intra-party leadership and party policy positions on gender equality in employment. The analyses of 1,955 political parties in 169 countries from 1970 to 2019 find that a higher proportion of women in intra-party leadership results in the party taking stances more likely to favor gender equality in employment. Even among the parties we would expect to be the least women-friendly, a greater representation of women in intra-party leadership has positive influence. More women in leadership means stronger party support for gender equality regardless of ideological party placement. Furthermore, the findings also suggest that women party leaders have greater impacts on labour policies when a party leadership has greater decision-making power.
Labour policies have large impacts on gender equality in the workplace. While political parties play critical roles in policy making, it remains unclear if party-level women’s representation impacts labour policies. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between women’s representation in intra-party leadership and party policy positions on gender equality in employment. The analyses of 1,955 political parties in 169 countries from 1970 to 2019 find that a higher proportion of women in intra-party leadership results in the party taking stances more likely to favor gender equality in employment. Even among the parties we would expect to be the least women-friendly, a greater representation of women in intra-party leadership has positive influence. More women in leadership means stronger party support for gender equality regardless of ideological party placement. Furthermore, the findings also suggest that women party leaders have greater impacts on labour policies when a party leadership has greater decision-making power.
Trends in the Development of US–China Relations After the 2020 Presidential Election in the Context of the Information and Political Discourse of American Elites
China Report, Ahead of Print.
In a short period, from 2016 to 2020, China has transformed from the main trade and economic partner of the United States, during the years of Barack Obama’s presidency, to one of the leading opponents of the US administration. This article analyses the reasons for the growing tension in US–China relations and the trade war as the apogee of this confrontation considers the discourse of American political elites in the media regarding China’s participation and role in the demarcation between states and assesses the prospects of relations between the two countries under the Democratic administration of Joe Biden, with a focus on the information agenda in the United States. The quantitative results of the topic modelling analysis show that the ongoing ideological shift of discourse from the Democrats and lack of any discussion of trade negotiations resulted in 2022 demonstrate that the shift from the economic sphere to ideology has been completed. The tensions between China and the United States have transferred to the political-diplomatic stage with a new danger for the United States and NATO interests coming to the surface—Russia and its policy in Eastern Europe.
In a short period, from 2016 to 2020, China has transformed from the main trade and economic partner of the United States, during the years of Barack Obama’s presidency, to one of the leading opponents of the US administration. This article analyses the reasons for the growing tension in US–China relations and the trade war as the apogee of this confrontation considers the discourse of American political elites in the media regarding China’s participation and role in the demarcation between states and assesses the prospects of relations between the two countries under the Democratic administration of Joe Biden, with a focus on the information agenda in the United States. The quantitative results of the topic modelling analysis show that the ongoing ideological shift of discourse from the Democrats and lack of any discussion of trade negotiations resulted in 2022 demonstrate that the shift from the economic sphere to ideology has been completed. The tensions between China and the United States have transferred to the political-diplomatic stage with a new danger for the United States and NATO interests coming to the surface—Russia and its policy in Eastern Europe.