War Studies

Nel profondissimo tema delle relazioni umane più strette e viscerali (tema che la civiltà occidentale coltiva sin dai tempi dei miti della Grecia classica e della relativa letteratura), il dileguo del maschile non ha comportato la fine dei conflitti per una prevalenza tribale, in periodi di scarsità. Spazzato via quello tra i generi, viene allo scoperto quello, del resto mai scomparso e sempre serpeggiante, interno al genere.

Sport in ancient Athens was much more than the Olympics

David. M. Pritchard 

It is true that the Olympic Games were also a really big deal in ancient Athens. The Athenians followed how sports stars performed at the Olympics as obsessively as we do. They likewise swelled with national pride when one of their own was proclaimed an Olympic victor. In the fifth and fourth centuries BC, they gave such a victor their topmost public honours. These were free daily banquets and free front-row seats at local games – both for life. 

Yet, sport in ancient Athens was much more than the Olympics. Physical education was a well-established discipline of the education of Athenian boys. Ancient Athens actually had more local games than any other Greek state. 

Every day, there, schoolboys went to the classes of a paidotribes or athletics teacher. Today, physical education during schooltime usually does not focus on competitive sports. Instead, serious training for such sports takes place outside school hours. By contrast, Athenian physical education was all about the sports common to the Olympics and other games.

An athletics teacher, who was often a former Olympic victor (figure 1), owned his own palaistra or wrestling school. There, he taught his classes in wrestling, boxing and the pankration, which was like our kickboxing (figure 2). For the other common competitive sports, a paidotribes took his students out to a gumnasion or sports field. Democratic Athens had three such public sporting facilities just outside the city-walls. These open spaces were ideal for training in the pentathlon as well as the four common footraces (figure 3).

The two other disciplines of male education were music and grammata or letters. Music included lessons in lyre playing and singing poetry. The grammatistes or letter teacher taught basic reading and writing as well as arithmetic.

The Athenian state never subsidised this traditional education. Therefore, it was always difficult for poor families to cover private school fees. Such families often also relied on their boys to keep farms or businesses going. The end result was that poor families could afford to educate their sons only in a single discipline.

The one that they chose was letters because it was of greater practical value for working people. Consequently, rich boys were the only ones in the classes of the paidotribes. In ancient Athens, about 5 percent of male citizens were rich. This meant that it was only a tiny elite that got serious training in competitive sports.

Competition at games in ancient Greece was truly fierce. There were 1000 Greek microstates in the Mediterranean basin. The sports stars in them all made a beeline for the Olympic Games. Even the local games that each Greek state put on attracted international competitors. A good example is the Great Panathenaea in which 50 percent of sportsmen were non-Athenian.

In the face of such fierce competition, an athlete who had not seriously trained would come in dead last. Poor Athenians, who had missed out on such school-based training, understandably decided not to enter games. Therefore, competing in sport was also a preserve of the social elite.

Ninety-five percent of ancient Athenians might have missed out on participation in sport. Nevertheless, they still considered athletics to be unambiguously good. The poor agreed that every boy should ideally go to the classes of an athletics teacher. In their eyes, such sports classes helped to turn boys into just and temperate adults. Poor Athenians felt no less positively about local games, seeing victory at them as commendable. The demos or people even made sure that no one criticised sports stars in public (figure 1). 

In democratic Athens, soldiers who did their duty were seen as the ultimate role models. In battles, they endured ponoi or toils as well as kindunoi or dangers. In accepting the possibility of death, soldiers proved their arete or courage. Another aspect of the high regard in which sportsmen were held is that they were judged to be comparable to such role models. Like soldiers, they, it was thought, also bore toils and dangers, always putting their courage beyond doubt. 

Ancient Athens was, famously, a direct democracy, in which poor citizens set the political agenda. This made it possible for the demos to turn their high regard of sport into pro-sport policies. Consequently, they voted to create the largest program of local games in ancient Greece. Festival-based contests could be athletic, musical or equestrian. In these 15 Athenian festivals, athletics featured much more often than musical or horse-based events. On this program, the demos spent a truly staggering 2.6 tons of silver each year.

The biggest games that the Athenians staged were the Great Panathenaea. This festival honoured Athena, who was their chief goddess, and was staged, like the Olympics, every 4 years. On it, the demos spent an incredible 650 kilograms of silver each time. This explains why the Great Panathenaea had twice as many contests as the Olympics. The Athenians awarded victors and placegetters huge amounts of olive oil in beautifully painted amphoras. Each Panathenaic amphora depicted Athena as a warrior on one side and a sporting event on the other (figure 2). 

The Great Panathenaea had all the common competitive sports for men and horses. But it had too surprising numbers of events for musicians and dancers as well as for soldiers and sailors. A good example of such war-related contests was the race for ten warships (figure 4). Athenian soldiers were also a big part of the Panathenaic procession, which was depicted on the Parthenon frieze.

Most years saw the ancient Athenians also stage at Eleusis local games for Demeter and Persephone. These two goddesses were considered to be most responsible for good harvests. It was thus quite appropriate that athletes there competed for sacks of grain. At Marathon, every four years, there were games for Heracles, who, it was thought, had founded the Olympics.

The Athenian demos actually considered those fellow citizens who had died in war to be demi-gods (figure 5). Contests were a standard act of worship for demi-gods and gods alike. Each year, Athens thus staged local games for the war dead, for which the prizes were bronze pots.

Today, the torch relay is a cherished ritual of our Olympics. But there was never any such relay at the ancient Games. The closest ancient parallel is a contest that took place at 4 Athenian festivals: the relay race for runners carrying a torch.

It is truly remarkable that poor Athenians were so pro-sport in spite of never being sportsmen. A big reason was that local games brought them much terpsis or delight. As a games spectator, an Athenian got a holiday, watched gripping races or bouts, and enjoyed a free picnic. For the sake of such picnics, the demos constantly voted to expand sacrifices at local games. By the 320s BC, the state was sacrificing 1300 cows each year.

However, the biggest reason for this pro-sport stance was the close association of sport and war. The ancient Athenians waged almost nonstop wars. In their eyes, war was unambiguously good and always brought huge benefits. Sport being closely associated with war could thus only increase the regard that the demos had for it. Nonelite Athenians believed that sportsmen bore toils as much as they did when fighting wars. This meant that they also had a strong personal affinity for what sportsmen did.

David M. Pritchard is an ancient historian at the University of Queensland in Australia and the author of Sport, Democracy and War in Classical Athens (Cambridge University Press). These are excerpts from a public lecture that he will be delivering at the Brisbane Greek Festival on 17 May 2025.

Figure captions:

Figure 1: This is the thanks offering that an Olympic victory from Athens left for Athena at her sanctuary at Sunium (National Archaeological Museum [Athens], inv. no. 3344). Photo courtesy of Hans Goette.

Figure 2: Depicted on this Panathenaic amphora is an athlothetes or games-organiser umpiring the kickboxing contest at the Great Panathenaea (Metropolitan Museum of Art [New York], inv. no. 16.71).

Figure 3: This Athenian wine cup depicts an athletics teacher training students in two events of the pentathlon (Powerhouse Museum [Sydney], inv. no. 99/117/1). Photo: Ryan Hernandez.

Figure 4: Athenian rowers are depicted on this victory monument for the race of warships at the Great Panathenaea (Acropolis Museum [Athens], inv. no. 1339). Photo courtesy of Hans Goette.

Figure 5: This was part of the public tomb for Athenian war dead from the Corinthian War (National Archaeological Museum [Athens], inv. no. 2744). Photo courtesy of Hans Goette.

In 1993, Zabid in Yemen was inscribed by the World Heritage Committee as a World Heritage Site. Its urban heritage is related to the environmental features and the culture of the society. However, it lacks the capabilities necessary for proper conservation and management.
In 2000, UNESCO inscribed Zabid on the list of “World Heritage in Danger” to underline the poor urban planning policies that had led to the destruction of the city’s traditional houses on the behest of the Yemeni government due to poor upkeep and conservation.
This study describes the urban heritage in the Historic Town of Zabid and discusses the major challenges and risks in the town. In other hand this study also explores the preservation requirements to protecting the urban heritage in the city.
Keywords: Conservation, Historic Town of Zabid, Universal Value, Urban Heritage.

In a society in which the importance of military experience was beyond doubt for the Roman elite, military service was of utmost importance – an obligatory prerequisite, according to Polybius – for anyone wanting to pursue a political career.

Todos los derechos reservados. No se permite la reproducción total o parcial de este libro, ni su incorporación a un sistema informático, ni su transmisión en cualquier forma o por cualquier medio, sea este electrónico, mecánico, por fotocopia, por grabación o por otros medios, sin el permiso por escrito del editor. La infracción de los derechos mencionados puede ser constitutiva de delito contra la propiedad intelectual (Ar. 270 y siguientes del Código Penal).

I. DÜNYA SAVAŞI'NDA İNGİLİZ İSTİHBARATININ OSMANLI SAVAŞ FAALİYETLERİNE DAİR KAYNAKLARI VE DR. PARODİ ÖZ: Bu çalışmada I. Dünya Savaşı'nda İngiliz istihbaratının Osmanlı coğrafyasına dair haber kaynakları ele alınacak ardından da Osmanlı Devleti'nin Avrupa'da özellikle tarafsız ülkelerdeki faaliyetlerinde etkili olan bir ismin Dr. Parodi'nin (Dr. Humbert Denis Parodi, 1878-1953) kimliği ve girişimleri üzerinde durulacaktır. Çalışmada öncelikle İngiltere'nin I. Dünya Savaşı patlak verdiği andan itibaren istihbarat yönetimi irdelenmektedir. İstihbarat kaynaklarının çeşitliliğini arşiv kaynakları üzerinden takip eden çalışma bu kaynakları kendi içerisinde tasnif etmektedir. Çalışmanın ikinci kısmı sayılabilecek olan bölüm ise İngiltere'nin haber kaynağı ve propaganda faaliyetlerinde etkili olan bir ismi; yaygın ismiyle Dr. Parodi'yi odak noktasına almaktadır. Savaş sırasında Avrupa'da çok sayıda Türk ve Mısırlı ile iletişim halinde olan Dr. Parodi'nin Osmanlı Devleti içerisinde Talat Paşa'ya suikast girişiminde bulunması ihtimali olabilecek derecede tehlikeli bir isim olarak görmekle beraber savaş sonu gayri resmi mütareke arayışlarında bir kontak noktası olarak görüldüğü tespit edilmektedir. Yine Dr. Parodi'nin girişimlerinde Türkler kadar Avrupa'da olan Mısırlılar olduğu görülmektedir. Hıdivviyet ailesi ile olan temasları dikkat çekicidir. Çalışmanın amacı Osmanlı Devleti'nin savaştığı ülkelerle diplomatik ve istihbarati ilişkilerinin açık aktörlerinden birisi olmayan Dr. Parodi kimliğini bu genel çerçeve içerisinde bir yere konumlandırmaktır. Parodi'nin I. Dünya Savaşı'nın sonunu getiren temaslarda da etkili bir isim olduğu anlaşıldığından onun gibi bir aktörün daha açığa çıkarılması savaşın sonunda ortaya çıkan mütareke sürecinin daha anlaşılabilir kılacaktır. Çalışmanın kaynaklarını arşiv belgeleri, telif-tetkik eserler oluşturmaktadır

האנושות מקבלת את רעיון האין-סוף, אך מתקשה לקבל את רעיון ה״אין התחלה״
נהוג לטעון כי אתיאיסט הוא אדם אשר הסיר מעליו את האמונה בקיומה של ישות אלוהית. התחילית "אַ" מציינת שלילה או הסרה – ולפיכך, אתיאיסט הוא מי ששחרר את עצמו מן הזיקה האישית לתֵיאוֹס (האל).  ברור אפוא כי ניתן להסיר רק את מה שנתפס כקיים. האתיאיסט שולל את הקביעה שלפיה האל ברא את העולם, ומעדיף לדייק ולומר כי האדם הוא שיצר את מושג האל. אין להתכחש לכך שלאורך ההיסטוריה נזקק האדם לאלוהות: בעבר בשל הפחד מהמוות ומהבלתי-נודע, וכיום – בשל החרדה מהכאוס ומהעדר חוקיותהאנושות מקבלת את רעיון האין-סוף, אך מתקשה לקבל את רעיון ה״אין התחלה״
מרגיעה בטבע, וכן בשל כמיהה לממד המטאפיזי, המיסטי והניסי, המופלא והשכלי כאחד. אפילו החוקר הרציונלי, המונע בידי עקרונות אמפיריים, עוסק בשאלת ראשית הבריאה, מוכן לקבל את רעיון האין-סוף אך מתקשה לעכל את רעיון ה״אין התחלה״.  האם מתוך קושי זה צמחה תיאוריית המפץ הגדול?
מן המאה השישית לפנה"ס החלה מהפכה תודעתית רדיקלית בהובלת הפילוסופים הקדם-סוקרטיים. בעוד שבעבר תרבויות שומר, מצרים, אשור, בבל ופרס ואחרות עסקו בדמויות מיתיות של אלים וגיבורים על-אנושיים, הפילוסופים ההלניסטיים ביצעו מהפך מחשבתי רדיקלי.  הם בזו למסורת המיתולוגית, המירו את נרטיבי האלים בהתבוננות אמפירית בעולם הפיזי, והתמקדו בטבע, במרכיביו, ובמבנה המציאות – החומר, התחושות, היש והרִיק. האל הודר לטובת החשיבה הרציונלית והחקר המדעי. בעולם הקדום, המושג "דת" לא היה קיים במובנו המודרני. הפולחן לא נגע באדם הפרטי אלא שימש בעיקר כלי שלטוני ליצירת זהות קהילתית אחידה סביב פנתאון משותף. בעולם ההלני-הרומי הפולחן התקיים ברובו בזירה הממלכתית־אזרחית, וייעודו היה לאחד את נתיני האימפריה תחת מערכת סמלית אחידה שהבטיחה את יציבות שלטון הקיסר. המהפכה הפולחנית קדמה לחקלאות, לכתב ואולי אף לביות האש.  האם הייתה כרוכה גם באמונה באלוהות? סביר להניח שכן.

The ongoing war in Gaza has generated extensive polemic among scholars and the general public. Some have described this conflict as a novel form of warfare. The deeply asymmetric character of this war and the vast number of Palestinian civilian casualties have prompted some analysts to described Gaza as a “new urban warfare.” Others have used similar descriptions such as “new war of attrition” or “Israel’s new wars,” while Kaldor argues that her theory of “new wars” is fully applicable to the violent conflict in Gaza...

Trabalho originalmente proposto como dissertação de mestrado, trata-se de um dos mais importantes estudos sobre a formação social do Piauí, tomando como cerne a questão do trabalho escravo na Capitania do Piauí. A autora estuda a economia e a demografia escrava no Piauí durante o século XVIII. Mostrando como a atividade criatória permitiu a consolidação do regime de trabalho escravo, com perfil socioeconômico semelhante ao restante do Brasil. Ela baseou-se num rico leque de fontes documentais, como, por exemplo, inventários e correspondências. O trabalho de dissertação de mestrado da autora foi defendido na UFPE em 1984 sob orientação do Prof. Armando Souto Maior. A notável pesquisadora pode ser tida como uma apaixonada pelos problemas da história notadamente da história do Piauí, nesse trabalho mergulha numa tentativa de desvendar a formação de uma sociedade em constituição de um Piauí distante e remoto do século XVII, a presença do escravo e a sua participação na construção desse universo, Professora e pesquisadora de longa experiência leva o leitor a refletir com rigor sobre a história do Piauí colonial.

Reestruturação administrativa O governo imperial, em meados do século XIX, caracterizou-se por promover consideráveis conquistas utilizando uma postura embasada na diplomacia. A partir da conquista de plausível estabilidade, sentiu-se em condições de implementar estratégias administrativas voltadas ao crescimento econômico. Isso, em decorrência de estar vivenciando um momento de plena autonomia e, assim, consolidando de forma incondicional os embasamentos propícios ao seu desenvolvimento. Nesse encaminhamento, Dom Pedro II, tratou de estabelecer e fortalecer medidas de incentivo aos setores produtivos, mesmo que ainda se ressentisse de implicações ligadas a vários problemas passados, os quais findaram por atingir o desempenho das finanças do Império. Dessa forma, não apresentava suficientes transformações, capazes de ampliar a diversificação de produtos geradores de riquezas. Assim, decidiu manter posturas conservadoras, pois não intencionava causar uma melhor distribuição de renda,...

RESUMO: O presente artigo pretende analisar como se deu o alistamento (designação) dos guardas nacionais do Piauí para a guerra do Paraguai em fins de 1865. O artigo busca ainda mostrar como os referidos guardas nacionais haviam se tornado vitimas da perseguição política partidária na Província e como elaboraram estratégias de resistência para fugirem a perseguição e convocação do Exército com auxílio e proteção de senhores e fazendeiros locais.

This paper argues that attack helicopters are losing relevance in conventional continental warfare. While not yet obsolete, their traditional roles—close combat attack, deep strikes, and anti-tank operations—are increasingly threatened by advanced air defence systems, evolving doctrines, and cheaper or more versatile alternatives like loitering munitions and artillery. Most NATO and like-minded nations are adopting partial measures toward their attack helicopter fleets to reduce risks. The analysis traces the historical evolution of attack helicopters and assesses their competitivity in contemporary near-peer continental conflicts. The study concludes that their future viability hinges on integration within broader multi-domain operational frameworks rather than on stand-alone capabilities exposing them to competition from other weapon systems.

Los monarcas aragoneses del final de la Edad Media debieron solicitar a los representantes de sus territorios reunidos en Cortes la financiación de su proyecto mediterráneo. En este trabajo nos ocupamos de un caso en el que Martín I eludió este mecanismo y negoció en Aragón acuerdos puntuales para financiar la última gran armada sobre Cerdeña (1409). De manera singular, cedió la administración de estas cuantías a Benvenist de la Caballería y Ramón de Casaldáguila, dos grandes financieros asentados en Zaragoza acreedores de las instituciones aragonesas.
                                                *      *      *
In  the  late  Middle  Ages,  Aragonese  monarchs  often  sought  financial  aid  from  the  representatives  of  their  territories  gathered  in  parliaments  to  fund  their  Mediterranean endeavours. This study examines a case in which King Martin I avoided this mechanism and negotiated specific agreements in Aragon to finance the  last  major  fleet  to  Sardinia  in  1409.  In  a  unique  move,  the  king  entrusted  the administration of these funds to Benvenist de la Caballería and Ramón de Casaldáguila, two prominent financiers based in Zaragoza who were creditors to the Aragonese institutions. This delegation of extraordinary fiscal management illustrates the inclusion of a financial sector within the power structure of the Crown of Aragon through its involvement in the royal administration. Additionally, the existence of a booklet of accounts allows for an analysis of the human capital mobilized  by  the  collaboration  between  a  Jew  and  a  Christian,  as  well  as  the  financial  mechanisms  used  to  secure  liquidity  at  a  critical  time,  following  the  collapse of the large private banks.

K. Modirzadeh (licence en droit, Harvard ; BA en sciences politiques, Berkeley) est Fellow du HLS-Brookings Project on Law and Security. Dustin A. Lewis (mastère en droit, Utrecht ; BA en histoire, Harvard) est Program Associate du Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR) de Harvard. Claude Bruderlein (mastère en droit, Harvard ; licence en droit, Genève ; BA sciences économiques, McGill) est directeur du HPCR. * Les auteurs tiennent à remercier Elizabeth Holland et Brian Itami. Le présent article est basé sur un document de travail du Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research ou HPCR (programme sur la politique humanitaire et recherche en matière de conflits) de l'Université Harvard, disponible en anglais sur http: / / www.hpcrresearch.org / research / criminalizing-humanitarian-engagement (dernière consultation le 4 décembre 2011). Depuis juillet 2010, le HPCR conduit un projet de recherche et d'étude politique traitant de l'impact sur l'action humanitaire des diverses lois et politiques adoptées dans le cadre de la lutte contre le terrorisme. Intitulé « Humanitarian Action Under Scrutiny : Criminalizing Humanitarian Engagement » (titre qui pourrait se traduire par : « L'action humanitaire sous surveillance -Criminalisation de l'engagement d'un dialogue humanitaire »), ce projet a bénéficié des recherches approfondies menées par le « Working Group on Criminalizing Humanitarian Engagement », groupe de travail sur la criminalisation de l'engagement d'un dialogue humanitaire. Toute erreur est à attribuer aux auteurs. La version originale en anglais de cet article a été publiée sous le titre « Humanitarian engagement under counter-terrorism : a conflict of norms and the emerging policy landscape », dans International

Human security has recently emerged as an innovative approach to help us address, in a holistic manner, the sources of insecurity affecting people worldwide. The security of the individual is no longer defined exclusively within the realm of states or of state security. The origins of today's insecurities are diverse, relating to social, economic, environmental, health and other factors. These insecurities increasingly transcend state borders and have global consequences. The term human security may be new, but the ideas that inspired it have developed over the last century and a half, from the founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1864 to the acceptance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Conventions of 1949. Human security takes the safety of people as its point of reference. For humans to be secure, their lives must be free from pervasive threats, violent or otherwise, to their rights and safety. The human security approach addresses those non-traditional threats to people's security that are related to economic, food, health and environmental factors as well as issues such as drugs, terrorism, organized crime, landmines and gender-based violence. It does not offer a single definition of human security, but aims to bring a more diversified perspective to security interests. Human security is about recognizing the importance of the security needs of people along-side those of states. It is about minimizing risks, taking preventive measures to reduce human vulnerabilities and carrying out remedial action when preventive measures fail. 1 The ICRC created a website to help re-establish contact between family members in the former Yugoslavia. To assist persons wishing to locate their relatives, computers were installed in ICRC offices in Albania, Macedonia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. See . Moreover, a team assembled by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) provided Internet service to Kosovo barely 100 days after the arrival of UN peacekeepers. The project offered free, reliable and inexpensive communications to local organizations and was instrumental in efforts to reunite families. See the Kosovo Internet Project's website .

Since the economic development has arisen as a model, some critical positions have emerged, both from theoretical aspects and in its terms of measurement. A non worthless set of indexes and indicators, so called alternatives, has been produced, building up an important basis of quantitative information. Examples of them are: Genuine Progress Index, Social Progress Index, Human Development Index, Basic Capacities Index, Gender Inequality Index, and Happy Planet Index. Each proposal contains innovative elements: new approaches or social components as gender and environmental issues, and more recently include also subjective aspects. This paper contains a critical systematization of indicators and indexes of objective/ subjective nature. A comparison is made and also statistical correlation for Latin-American countries.

How can we talk about urban sustainability in the presence of conflict and war? This chapter discusses dimensions of sustainability and horizons of possibilities in urban situations that are affected by warfare. In a brief first part, the chapter interrogates categories such as fragile cities, feral cities, and conflict cities, which have been used to highlight the increasing presence of violence in cities.  It then focuses on the experience of cities having witnessed war in the last decades, examining the impact on cities of what Mary Kaldor called the “new wars”.  It specifically discusses the predicaments of urban development in the aftermath of such wars, arguing that sustainability of peace and that of reconstruction are related. The chapter thus differentiates security-based approaches on violence and cities – mostly prevalent in Latin America, Africa and parts of Asia -  with those related to conflict transformation in situations of ethnic/religious conflict. It refers to experiences from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Lebanon on approaching reconstructions in relationship to sustainability and resilience, discussing the challenges and frictions which emerged through reconstruction. In a final part, the chapter looks at how initiatives and practice in conflict cities highlight configurations of spaces of hopes and new horizons of possibilities. It brings examples of practice and approaches in which difference is seen not as faultlines fomenting conflict, but as a source of creativity and advancement, a source of inspiration for better cities.  The chapter thus refers to practice and activism from Balkan and Middle Eastern cities that create horizons of hope. As such, it conceptualizes alternative modes of engagement with conflict, from agonistic urbanism to syncretic place-making.

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the declaration of war speech delivered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, utilizing three distinct yet complementary analytical frameworks: Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Narrative Analysis (NA), and Propaganda Analysis (PA). Through the application of these methods, the research aims to examine the linguistic features, narrative structures, and propagandistic elements within the speech to better understand the persuasive tactics employed by Putin and the socio-political implications of his rhetoric. The findings of this study contribute to the growing body of literature on political discourse analysis and highlight the value of combining multiple analytical approaches for a more nuanced understanding of political rhetoric. Ultimately, this research emphasizes the significant role that language and narrative play in shaping public opinion and promoting specific political agendas.

In this article Irena Selišnik address the question of democratisation of public and political sphere by women's movement  in Carniola. She discususses factors that in the Slovenian case delayed and contributed to this process and influenced the politicisation of women, especially their demand for women’s suffrage.

The talk outlines my framework of Inverted Lifeworld Phenomenology, which starts with disruption rather than stability. It introduces the figure of the Stayer – someone who remains in place while their world collapses – to explore collective estrangement as a shared and lived horizon of experience.

Cet article analyse le Mōkotaiji Hatamandara, ou « Mandala bannière pour repousser les Mongols », en tant qu’objet rituel et symbolique au sein de la culture visuelle de l’école Nichiren durant l’époque d’Edo. Peu connu dans les recherches non japonaises, ce mandala est examiné non pas principalement comme une relique historique, mais comme un artefact mythopoïétique. Dans la lignée des études précédentes sur le Shiken Daimandara et le Daigohonzon du Honmon Kaidan, l’accent est mis ici sur deux versions du Hatamandara — le hi-no-maru et le tsuki-no-maru — en explorant leur genèse, leur réception dévotionnelle et leur déconstruction critique dans le climat rationaliste de la Restauration Meiji. Une attention particulière est portée à la fonction iconologique du mandala en lien avec les invasions mongoles, le mythe du kamikaze et les travaux de penseurs tels que Mochizuki Shinchō et Inoue Enryō. L’objectif est de proposer une lecture qui dépasse la dichotomie entre histoire et légende, en plaidant pour une approche contextuelle des symboles religieux dans la formation de l’identité collective.

Girls and women who bear children owing to wartime sexual violence committed by armed actors face challenges in gaining acceptance on return to their families and societies. This study analyses the lives of women survivors and their children born of wartime sexual violence in Uganda. It draws on a population-based survey of 1,844 households in the Acholi and Lango sub-regions of northern Uganda, as well as on in-depth qualitative interviews conducted in 2014 and 2015 with 67 purposefully selected women survivors of wartime sexual violence. The study finds that: stigma is linked to broader gender discriminatory sociocultural norms and practices and changes under different circumstances; women's economic agency is essential to reducing stigma; households with members who suffered war-related sexual violence experienced significantly higher rates of violence post conflict than did other households; and the passage of time is less of a determining factor in their acceptance and rein...

The topic of terrorism has sparked discussions among scholars, government officials, and non-governmental organisations regarding its meaning, origins, causes, expressions, and consequences. It is commonly linked with religious extremism, especially Islam, but this overlooks its historical context, as terrorism has existed since the dawn of human civilisation. Terrorist groups of different genres have sometimes been identified as global actors that have impacted the course of history, particularly about peace and security. This paper analyses the evolution of terrorism by examining various regional examples, demonstrating how it is one of the oldest and most persistent global challenges, constantly increasing in complexity and sophistication.

Stublla e Epërme, është një fshat në Komunën e Vitisë, i njohur jo vetëm në Kosovë, por edhe më gjerë, për historinë e tij të bujshme. Popullsia e këtij vendi është shqiptare dhe të gjithë janë katolikë. Nga Stublla janë rreth 30 meshtarë katolikë dhe rreth 70 murgesha kishtare, të cilat shërbejnë në shumë vende të botës. Në Stubëll gjenden dy kisha, të njohura si kisha e vjetër (të cilën stubllasit e quajnë kisha e Shën Gjergjit, meqë ky është pajtor i fisit gash, fis të cilit i takojnë banorët e Stubllës) dhe kisha e re (kisha e Shën Jozefit). Stublla ishte deri më 1905 pjesë përbërëse e famullisë së Letnicës, e njohur edhe si "Montenegro di Scopia", që përbëhej prej disa fshatrave, si: Letnica, Shasharë, Vërnakolla, Stublla dhe Binça. Në kohën e Pjetër Bogdanit, pjesë e kësaj famullie ishte edhe Lubishta. Kjo famulli, me këto fshatra, ka një pasuri të madhe historike që pjesërisht është hulumtuar dhe shkruar, por ka ende shumë gjëra të panjohura për këto vende. Relacionet dhe dokumentet, sidomos nga arkivat e Vatikanit dhe Vjenës për këtë famulli, janë publikuar pjesërisht, por ka edhe të pa publikuara, të cilat do të sjellin të reja për këtë famulli dhe fshatrat përkatëse. Këto ditë pritet të publikohen dokumentet nga Arkivi i Vatikanit, të përgatitura nga Albert Ramaj dhe Frok Zefi, në kuadër të projektit për publikimin e dokumenteve të Arkivit të Vatikanit mbi Ipeshkvinë Shkup-Prizren, projekt i cili tashmë është përfunduar.

l 24 de febrero de 1813, el descontento que existía en Hamburgo contra el dominio francés estalló en forma de rebelión abierta. La oficina de aduanas de la puerta de Altona fue asaltada, y muchos funcionarios y civiles perdieron sus vidas. Cuando un destacamento de la guardia de la prefectura formado por hijos de los ciudadanos de Hamburgo, que inicialmente solo debía desplegarse en el departement del Elba, iba a ser embarcado en el puerto hacia Bremen para unirse al contingente principal del ejército, la población hizo uso de la fuerza para evitarlo. Emblemas nacionales franceses y águilas imperiales fueron derriba-das… Para prevenir futuros disturbios por parte de la muchedumbre, especialmente saqueos, la «vieja guardia ciudadana fue reunida. Mauke y yo nos unimos e hicimos guardia por la noche». 1 Este es el comienzo de las memorias de Wilhelm Perthes sobre las "Guerras Alemanas de Liberación" contra la ocupación francesa entre 1813 y 1815, quien escribió este manuscrito para su familia en 1844 a partir de su diario de guerra. 2 Perthes (1793-1853) era el hijo de Justus Perthes, librero originario de Gotha. Tras completar sus estudios en el Gymnasium de su propia ciudad comenzó como aprendiz, y posteriormente trabajó como asistente en la tienda regentada por su primo, el también reputado librero, publicista y patriota Friedrich Perthes (1770-1843). En marzo de 1813, Wilhelm Perthes se unió a la "Legión Hanseática" (una de de las diversas formaciones de voluntarios creadas ese mismo mes en el norte de Alemania y Prusia) y como teniente tomó parte en sus campañas en Mecklemburgo y Holstein. Al final de la guerra, inicialmente regresó con su unidad a Hamburgo, donde se desposó con Agnes Perthes (1798-1868), la hija mayor de Friedrich y Karoline Perthes (1774-1821). Las memorias sobre los años

The historical region around the town of Hlučín (Hultschin, Hulczyn), today in the Czech Republic and previously in Germany, is a space in which representations of national indifference as a principle of social organization are still discernible on many levels. One of the most obvious examples is the celebration of Veterans Day (11 November), including a multilayered commemorative ceremony and a military reenactment performance which defy the usual allegiance to discourses of 1945 "liberation" and the Czech-German historical antagonism. The current oral history project on the contemporary history and culture of military reenactment in the Czech lands, carried out at the Faculty of Humanities at Charles University in Prague, has, among other things, explored the military reenactment in the Hlučín region. This article reveals the complex context and structures of meaning of the annual Veterans Day performance in the region, which refers to various historical and contemporary cultural discourses.

The thematic book "The Future of the Western Balkans after Russian Aggression in Ukraine: What's Next" offers a comprehensive exploration of the geopolitical, economic, and social dynamics reshaping the Western Balkans in the wake of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Through a multidisciplinary approach, this collection of essays and analyses examines the ripple effects of the conflict on the region's stability, European integration prospects, security frameworks, and internal challenges such as migration, governance, and ethnic tensions. Prominent scholars, policymakers, and regional experts provide insights into the shifting alliances, the role of NATO and the European Union, and the renewed importance of the Western Balkans in global geopolitics. The book also delves into how the war has prompted a reassessment of energy security, disinformation campaigns, and democratic resilience across the region. This volume not only identifies the risks and opportunities that lie ahead for the Western Balkans but also serves as a call to action for fostering peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in a fragile yet pivotal part of Europe. It is an essential resource for academics, decision-makers, and anyone seeking to understand the future trajectory of the region in an increasingly interconnected and volatile world.

Uluslararası İlişkilerin ana kuramları zaman ve mekân açısından istisnailik kabul etmeyen genellenebilir bir bilgi üretmeyi amaçlar. Ne var ki, bazı aktörler ve vakaları açıklamakta her zaman başarılı olamaz. Benjamin Most ve Harvey Starr'a göre, genellenebilir ve evrensel modeller hususi olarak belirlenmiş koşullar üzerine kurulmuştur ve bu yüzden dış politika yapımı ve uluslararası ilişkiler olguları ile ilgili sistemik bir anlayış geliştirmekte yetersiz kalabilirler. Bu yüzden dünya meselelerini daha tutarlı ve genel bir model vasıtasıyla açıklayabilmek için "fırsat ve isteklilik" ön kuramsal çerçevesini önermişlerdir. Bu çerçeve, uluslararası ilişkileri analiz ederken kuvvet üstünlüğü, rejim şekli, sistemin yapısı veya elit kompozisyonu gibi somut değişkenleri özellikle vurgulamaz. Bunun yerine, "fırsat ve isteklilik" bu koşulların neyi temsil ettiğiyle ve devlet davranışlarını nasıl şekillendirdiğiyle daha fazla ilgilidir. Diğer bir ifadeyle, genelleme yaparken istisnai vakaları açıklama gücünü yitirmeyen bir model tavsiye eder.

Юлий Африкан (ок. 170 — после 244 гг.) является одним из ранних христианских писателей, автором как религиозных, так и светских сочинений. Для его творчества, как и для всей эпохи императорской династии Северов в целом (193–235 гг.), характерно смешение античных и восточных представлений, мистицизма, философии и магии. Предлагаемое читателю сочинение «Кесты», написанное на древнегреческом языке около 230 г., вполне соответствует данным характеристикам. Это была энциклопедия в 24-х книгах, каждая из которых была посвящена определенной теме, из которых практически полностью сохранилась лишь седьмая книга о военном деле. В настоящем издании — первом переводе трактата на русский язык — наиболее полно представлены сохранившееся фрагменты данного произведения, где также рассказывается о земледелии, ветеринарии, метрологии, геометрии, магии, медицине и т. д. Также в настоящую книгу вошел первый перевод на русский язык небольшого трактата византийского эрудита XI в. Михаила Пселла «Рассказы о чудесах», пересказывающего текст Африкана. Перевод текста снабжен обширными комментариями. Перевод А.К. Нефёдкина; комментарии Е.С. Данилова, И.Ф. Каюмова, А.А. Клейменова, П.В. Ковалёва, А.В. Козленко, А.К. Нефёдкина, С.Р. Тимир-Булатовой; статьи У. Адлера, Э.Л. Уилера, А.К. Нефёдкина. / Julius Africanus (c. 170—after 244) was one of the early Christian writers, the author of both religious and secular works. His writings, as well as the entire era of the Severan imperial dynasty as a whole (193—235), are characterized by a mixture of classical and oriental ideas, mysticism, philosophy, and magic. The work “Cesti”, written in Ancient Greek ca. 230, presented to the reader here, fully corresponds to these characteristics. It was an encyclopedia in 24 books, each dedicated to a specific topic, though only the seventh book—on military matters—has survived almost completely. This edition—the first translation of the treatise into Russian—most fully presents the surviving fragments of this work that also talks about agriculture, veterinary science, metrology, geometry, magic, medicine, etc. This book also includes the first Russian translation of a small treatise “Stories of Miracles” by the 11th-century Byzantine scholar Michael Psellus, which retells the text of Africanus. The Russian translation of the text is provided with extensive commentary. Translation by A. Nefedkin; commentaries by E. Danilov, I. Kayumov, A. Kleymeonov, P. Kovaleov, A. Kozlenko, A. Nefedkin, S. Timir-Bulatova; articles by W. Adler, E. Wheeler, A. Nefedkin.

In this volatile context, diplomacy must take center stage. Major powers such as the United States and China, both of whom have strategic interests in South Asia, should leverage their influence to defuse tensions and facilitate a platform for dialogue. Washington, with its historical ties to both countries and its experience in back-channel diplomacy, can play a key mediating role. Beijing, given its close partnership with Islamabad and growing economic leverage with New Delhi, is also well-placed to promote restraint. Furthermore, middle powers such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, both of whom seek regional stability and enjoy diplomatic channels with Pakistan and India, can act as quiet facilitators to bridge trust deficits. The combined efforts of these actors, working through multilateral forums or regional initiatives, could help chart a diplomatic off-ramp and restore a fragile peace in South Asia.

Classification: LCC DF595.5 .N54 2025 (print) | LCC DF595.5 (ebook) | DDC 949.5/02-dc23/eng/20250402 LC record available at LC ebook record available at Typeface for the Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic scripts: "Brill". See and download: brill.com/brill-typeface.

In 2009, I was a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University in Atlanta. I was invited to Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC, to respond to the former Secretary for Africa, Mr. Herman Cohen. Cohen advocated that the Congolese government should let Rwanda exploit Congo's minerals and pay royalties. He even took a dig at former President Nicolas Sarkozy, whom he accused of stealing his idea. Indeed, the French president had said the same thing a few months earlier. My response to Mr. Cohen was simple and clear. Your proposal is economically more profitable and more effective than the current conflictual status quo. Unfortunately, the Congo is not just an economic space-an extractive space-but rather a political and social space. The way to organize an extractive entity is completely different from the way to organize a political space. Political effectiveness concerns the management of social ambitions, the training of young people, and the peaceful rest of the elderly. Economic effectiveness boils down to increasing revenues and profits or the gross domestic product (GDP). My answer didn't please Mr. Herman Cohen. He retorted that I was only a postdoc. That is to say, my answer didn't have much value because, according to him, I didn't have the necessary qualifications to contradict him. For him, it was a way of sidestepping the issue and avoiding looking at the reflection in the mirror I was holding up.

This article aims to demonstrate the urgent need to restructure the UN so that this organization can play the role of World Government, not only to ensure the ordering of the chaotic global economic system, the unsustainable environment of planet Earth, and international relations characterized by endless wars between nations, but also to face the threats to the survival of humanity, whether they exist on planet Earth or come from outer space. To this end, this article presents: 1) how the world evolved from the primitive village to the constitution of nation-states and economic blocs; 2) how to establish a World Government to build a world of peace and progress for all humanity; and, 3) how the World Government would act to face the threats to the survival of humanity.

Cet article vise à démontrer le besoin urgent de restructurer l'ONU afin que cette organisation puisse jouer le rôle de gouvernement mondial, et non pas seulement assurer l'ordre du système économique mondial chaotique, de l'environnement non durable de la planète Terre et des relations internationales caractérisées par des guerres sans fin entre les nations, mais aussi, de faire face aux menaces à la survie de l'humanité, qu'elles existent sur la planète Terre ou qu'elles viennent de l'espace. À cette fin, cet article présente : 1) comment le monde a évolué du village primitif à la constitution d'Étatsnations et de blocs économiques; 2) comment établir un gouvernement mondial pour construire un monde de paix et de progrès pour toute l'humanité; et, 3) comment le gouvernement mondial agirait face aux menaces à la survie de l'humanité.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has attracted widespread international attention and condemnation, especially from Western countries. While Ukraine has received waves of assistance, Russia has been sanctioned and isolated by Western countries and their allies. Nevertheless, most countries in Africa have neither supported nor condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine. A growing number of literatures has explained the drivers of this and other related behaviours by African countries, but such attempts remain inadequate and incoherent. This article examines the influence of Russia in Africa within the analytical framework of soft power and employs some enduring historical bounds and contemporary dynamics to explain the dispositions of many African states towards Russia, sometimes against Western pressure on the Ukraine War, especially at the United Nations (UN). Embedded in these complex historical and emerging relationships are variables that qualify as ingredients of soft power, which keeps Russia attractive to some African countries, thereby influencing their positions on issues concerning the country in the international arena.

Since its inception in the late 1980s, the Turkish black metal scene has gone through significant changes. Whereas earlier black metal bands in Turkey avoided references to Islam in their cultural production, this is no longer the case. Rather, during the last decade and a half, Islamic semiotic resources (ISRs) have started to become a noticeable feature of the scene’s cultural production. A contextual understanding of the scene’s new relationship to ISRs is the primary aim of this dissertation. Based on six years of fieldwork in Turkey, including interviews with scene participants, observations at numerous black metal concerts, combined with an analysis of albums, concert posters, and other subcultural artefacts, this dissertation explores the utilisation of Islamic themes in words, imagery, and sound within Turkish black metal and the meanings ascribed to them.

It demonstrates that blasphemous expressions targeting Islam have not only increased over time but have become more prominent than might at first seem warranted because of what will be called the ‘transferability of affordance’. Furthermore, in its aim to comprehend the utilisation of ISRs, this dissertation explores how Turkish and transnational developments along with discourses of authenticity and identity have informed and shaped blasphemous expression towards Islam, arguing the latter may aid Turkish bands in claiming subcultural capital and partaking in a global scene. It furthermore investigates how the religio-political realities of contemporary Turkey have impacted blasphemous expression towards Islam. In contrast to much research arguing that the epithet ‘blasphemous’ is rarely a label with which individuals or groups self-identify, this dissertation shows that, while it may be self-sought and actively pursued, it is an identity that needs to be carefully navigated.

This dissertation contributes to the fields of Turkish studies, religious semiotics, metal music studies, and apostasy studies by exploring how the concept of blasphemy acquires meaning in various contexts, as well as the influences shaping individuals’ willingness to blaspheme. While there is a significant body of research on black metal within Christian cultural contexts, this dissertation on Turkish black metal constitutes the first monograph dealing with this type of music in a Muslim majority society.

This submission offers a comprehensive operational framework for ethical AI, anchored in universal moral principles and operationalised through advanced methodologies such as Inverse Reinforcement Learning (IRL), Multi-Objective Optimisation (MOO), and Symbolic Reasoning. Our framework aligns with the core values established by UNESCO, which prioritise protecting human life, the pursuit of truth, and the respect for individual freedom.

The framework showcases a variety of applications, including:

Ethical AI in Diplomacy: We explore how AI can facilitate diplomatic relations and negotiations, enhance refugee policy decision-making, and optimise international trade agreements while ensuring adherence to ethical standards.

AI-Human Co-Development for Governance: The concept of AI-human co-development (AICHMW) emphasises collaborative governance models that promote peace, sustainability, and democratic engagement, allowing for inclusive participation in decision-making processes.

Educational Integration through Literature: The Aviidil youth book series is an engaging tool for integrating AI ethics into educational curricula. These narratives illustrate complex ethical dilemmas related to artificial intelligence in a format accessible to younger audiences.

Moral Crisis Simulations: We delve into simulations designed to tackle critical moral crises, such as climate change, nuclear proliferation, and social inclusion. These simulations provide a platform for stakeholders to engage in ethical reasoning and collaborative problem-solving.
The project faced several key challenges, notably in the translation of abstract ethical principles into a format that machines could understand and execute. This required navigating the intricate task of aligning conflicting values during real-time decision-making processes, while also ensuring that diverse cultural contexts were adequately represented and respected. To tackle these issues effectively, we designed a comprehensive ethical framework that integrates several advanced methodologies. This framework prominently features data-driven learning techniques, specifically Inverse Reinforcement Learning (IRL) for understanding human preferences, optimization strategies such as Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO) to balance competing objectives, and the principles of symbolic logic to enforce stringent moral constraints.

Another significant hurdle was engaging stakeholders from both technical and non-technical backgrounds. We addressed this challenge through the establishment of AICHMW—a collaborative workflow that brings together a diverse group of participants, including educators who provide pedagogical insights, diplomats who understand global ethical standards, developers who can implement technical solutions, and youth who represent the perspectives of future generations.

Furthermore, to effectively communicate themes of AI ethics to young audiences and the broader global community, we resorted to innovative mediums such as fictional narratives exemplified by the Aviidil series, alongside interactive experiences like the gamified simulation called Tariff Titans. These creative approaches not only helped demystify the complexities of AI ethics but also encouraged active participation, thereby ensuring that AI technologies are developed in harmony with fundamental human values and collective societal aspirations.