International Journal of Social Inquiry

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Accountability through the annual reports of state universities in Turkey
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2017-10-20) Engin, Rıdvan; Demirbaş, Tolga; İktisadi İdari Bilimler Fakültesi; Maliye Bölümü
State universities in Turkey have been implementing performance-based budgeting system for about ten years. The system aims to improve the effectiveness of service delivery by enabling universities to allocate their resources according to their own specific objectives taking into account the views of their stakeholders. This system, which is based on outputs and results, requires state universities to disclose their performance level to the public through annual reports. The evidence on the accountability level of state universities in Turkey is very scarce. Therefore, this study aims to demonstrate to what extent the state universities in Turkey can account for their stakeholders through the annual reports they published. The authors conducted a content analysis of performance audit reports on 59 state universities published by the Turkish Court of Accounts, the external audit body, to achieve this goal.
Acting together for another world? Anti-globalisation and labour organisations
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2008) Queux, Stéphane Le
This article considers the extent to which the anti-globalisation movement might contribute to a revival of labour politics. The starting point is an awareness that trade unions and anti-globalists do not necessarily see eye to eye so that any assumption that they can readily join forces becomes problematical. Four fault lines are identified in relation to key areas of concern: i) political alternatives; ii) participatory democracy; iii) organic cohesion and inclusion; and iv) the renewal of activism. It is pointed out that while – in the view of leading analysts in this field of inquiry – the anti-globalisation movement does indeed offer a potential source and impetus for a revitalisation, this is no tame option, especially in the context of labour corporatism. However, a sensible shift in the way in which the international trade union organisations have recently been approaching these issues may signal a repositioning of labour as a catalyst of solidarity.
An exploratory study of female juvenile offenders: Harris County, Texas, 1993-2004
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2009) Jackson, Valerie D.; Foster, Jennifer N.; Taranath-Sanghavi, Moni; Walker, Bonnie J.
Female offenders are the fastest growing population in the criminal justice system. The purpose of this study is to determine the month or months that most female juvenile offenses occur in Harris County (the largest county in the State of Texas), identify the average age of the offender, investigate the possibility of a relationship between ethnicity and referrals for offense of females identified in this population, evaluate the rate of increase/decrease of female juvenile referrals to the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department annually and over an 11-year period. The researchers obtained system information (offense date, age, date of birth and race) for 18,790 female juvenile offenders that were referred to the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD) from 1993-2004. The results indicated that during the 11-year time frame, the profile of juvenile offender became older (average age being 10 in 1993 and 14.5 by 2004) and more likely to be a minority (Latina or African American). Also, the month in which female juvenile offenders were most frequently referred to HCJD was December, followed by March and April. An evaluation of female juveniles referred between 1993 – 2004 to HCJPD compared to the Harris County female juvenile population showed a disproportionate representation of African American females entering the juvenile justice system for the first time. Finally, there was a significant increase in referrals seen from 1999 (878 referrals) to 2000 (3,408 referrals). Factors that may have contributed to these findings included: sexual, emotional, and physical abuse; mental illness, societal trends′, and juvenile laws and regulations.
Approaching Huxley’s prognosis: The subjugation of science to propaganda
(Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2024-06-29) Krupa, Henrieta
In the previous century, Sigmund Freud developed a method called psychoanalysis. By analyzing dreams, exploring the unconscious processes of the mind, and practicing the free association method, he came up with theories about human nature. According to Freud, powerful instinctual drives govern individuals and masses. He was called the archeologist of mind and argued that these primitive drives are remnants of the human’s animalistic past. If not repressed and controlled, they would have led societies into destruction and chaos. The article offers a historical overview and reflects on how authorities used psychoanalytic and scientific findings on group behavior to manipulate and control masses and eventually, to foster consumerism. The article also discusses the reasons why the Freudian theory of repression, initially serving the system of power, gradually failed to do so and thus, discusses the historical context that explains the transition into the ideology of the liberated self to serve financial purposes. Finally, the article suggests that consumerism, governing many contemporary societies, is a political ideology, not much different from types of mass control generally associated with totalitarianism.
An Aristotelian approach to Aristophanes’ Lysistrata
(Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2018-10-12) Ayyıldız, Nilay Erdem
Comedy, which developed as a literary genre after tragedy, is a popular dramatic form in ancient Greek literature. In accordance with the periods of time through which it differs, comedy as a genre is divided into three types; Old Comedy, Middle Comedy and New Comedy. Regarded as a surviving manuscript of Old Comedy, Aristophanes’ Lysistrata provides evidence about the features of Old Comedy. Therefore, the aim of the study is to examine the play by focusing on the features which Aristotle seeks in a tragedy, which he regards as the best dramatic form. Through an Aristotelian reading of the play, the study reveals that although the play as comedy shares a lot of features with tragedy, it differs from tragedy in terms of content, language and characters.
Article 2 of Double Taxation Agreements and the Fate of Digital Service Taxes. International Journal of Social Inquiry
(Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2024-04-28) Kara, Mustafa Cemil
Article 2 of double taxation agreements (DTAs) is intended to ensure covered taxes under a DTA. Article 2 is significant since the legal protection provided by DTAs is limited only to the scope of DTAs. However, the wording of Article 2 may lead to confusion and uncertainty for taxpayers in terms of taxes within the scope of DTAs. In recent years, there has been a widespread trend of excluding digital service taxes (DSTs) from DTAs due to the lack of a global consensus on a common solution. This has refocused attention on Article 2. The fact that there is a scarcity of research on Article 2 raises concerns about what will happen if different types of taxes emerge over time. In this article, some important points and Türkiye’s approach related to Article 2 and Türkiye’s DST law which sometimes causes ambiguities and uncertainties for taxpayers were highlighted. This article also aimed to enhance a common understanding of the logic of the term ‟taxes covered.” The research employed the descriptive research method, primarily utilizing the OECD Model Tax Convention (MTC) and its commentary, as well as prominent academic studies in the field and the Turkish DST law
The birth of modernity: The influence of the Renaissance, the enlightenment and the French Revolution
(Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2023-12-19) Çolak, Zeynep; Mumcu, Yasemin
While the emergence and global spread of modernity is a complex phenomenon, it is known that certain political, economic, and social developments led to its rise and spread. Looking closely at these factors, it is possible to say that the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and capitalism in the Western world are the five main historical developments that shaped modernity. On a historical continuum, these developments are interrelated. Some of them gave modernity its soul. Others made it much more influential and global. In this regard, it is arguable that the first three developments gave modernity its soul, while the last two gave it a much more effective scope. This study examines the first three historical developments using the descriptive research method based on these premises. It considers the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the French Revolution as the developments that gave birth to modernity and gave it its soul. At the same time, this study argues that these are moments or developments that are intrinsically supportive of each other, seeing these historical moments as moments of rupture and crisis in the Western world. These moments and developments are crucial components of the problems and phenomena we currently discuss today. No literary, aesthetic, philosophical, or political criticism of the 20th century can be analyzed without taking these developments into account. In this respect, this study reconsiders, within a historical continuum, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the French Revolution, which shaped modernity and its philosophy, modernism.
Blockchain-based E-commerce: An evaluation
(Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2022-12-09) Aydoğan, Ebru; Aydemir, Muhammed Fatih; Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi; Dış Ticaret Bölümü; 0000-0003-4377-712X; 0000-0002-4248-9057
The e-commerce sector has grown beyond predictions with the help of the most recent technological developments, changes in consumer preferences, and the COVID-19 pandemic. E-commerce activities assume a subsidiary role of brick-and-mortar shops with the benefits it offers to all parties, which have also resulted in new problems such as privacy, security, transparency, and costs, unlike traditional businesses. Blockchain technology is among the promising technologies in solving the problems of the e-commerce sector with its decentralized structure that does not require third-party intermediaries, and its features (such as privacy, immutability, security, transparency, and auditability). In this study—which examines, under five titles, the benefits that blockchain can offer to e-commerce—it is concluded that blockchain can reshape e-commerce activities by enabling integrated e-commerce systems that include all parties and offering low transaction costs, high transaction speed, traceability of transactions, strong security standards, and low risks. In this direction, blockchain-based ecommerce platforms can push existing e-commerce platforms into the background.
Blood donation and community: Exploring the influence of social capital
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2011) Smith, André; Matthews, Ralph; Fiddler, Jay
Previous social research on blood donation has found that altruistic personality traits are associated with a higher likelihood of donation. However, such research does not adequately explain why campaigns appealing to altruism have had limited success in significantly increasing blood donation rates. Using the concept of social capital, this study conceptualizes blood donation as a social phenomenon that is embedded in the context of community. It reports on the activities of Canada’s national blood donation agency in two cities with substantially above-average rates of blood donation. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with staff and selected donors and non-donors in each city and from ethnographic observation of blood collection and donor recruitment activities. These activities eschewed conventional appeals to altruism, instead emphasizing how individuals could meaningfully enhance their profiles in their community and workplace through blood donation. This study offers valuable insights into the influence of social capital on blood donation.
The budget of the European Union and green energy: Perceptions, actions, and challenges
(Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2021-05-20) Cengiz, Çağdaş; Kutlu, Erdi
The European Green Deal has expanded the climate perspective of the European Union (EU) and put a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy strategy at the centre. For the first time in the history of the EU integration, the EU budget has been designed for prioritizing the climate strategy and conditioned in accordance with the climate targets. Within this context, in this study, the common budget priorities, Green Deal targets and internal/external challenges of the EU are addressed together, aiming to answer the questions to what extent the global climate change is perceived as an emergency by the EU and whether the EU’s green transformation approach is sufficient and applicable. The study is conducted in the light of current literature and data on the EU’s climate approach and financing instruments in order to answer these questions. The study concludes that although the climate model reflected in the EU’s new budget is an important step in combating the climate crisis, difficulties could not be overcome due to the intra-EU dynamics/lack of consensus, and unless a systemic transition in a global sense takes place, the dramatic transformation targeted by the Green Deal would remain discursively assertive, but actionally ambiguous.
Building social capital and education: The experiences of Pakistani Muslims in the UK
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2010) Thapar, Suruchi; Sanghera, Gurchathen S.
By critically engaging with relevant debates on social capital, socio-economic mobility and educational aspirations amongst minority ethnic groups, the focus of this paper is to examine the processes and mechanisms in the accumulation of social capital, to demonstrate how, in particular, two sets of interpersonal relationships (between siblings and between co-ethnic peers) facilitate educational aspirations amongst an ethnic group that has traditionally been perceived to be underachieving. It highlights the complex interplay within the home and between the home and the community, and the potential implications that these have for shaping the educational aspirations of young Pakistani Muslim men and women. This paper draws on empirical research conducted with the Pakistani Muslim ‘community’ in inner-city Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK; a northern-English city that has experienced large scale public disturbances in 1995 and 2001.
The capital use of social capital or how social capital is used to keep capital concentrated
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2010) Glascock, Anthony P.; Kutzik, David M.
This paper addresses the role of social capital networks in the accumulation of large sums of money for investment. In particular, the study undertakes an analysis at the micro level of individual actions involved in the actual process by which social capital is converted into capital, i.e. money. This analysis highlights the socialfacilitating functions and processes of social capital networks, while focusing attention on the essential relationship between social capital and money. Our analysis clearly indicates that social capital is the means of production in a type of venture capitalism and is the real means by which the accumulation of capital itself is controlled. Perhaps even more importantly, our findings show that these networks exist to ensure that any profit made by the members of the network remains within the network and does not flow to other networks of financially elite individuals nor trickle down to individuals who are not financially elite.
The causal nexus between social capital and local development in mountain rural Greece
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2010) Karametou, Panagiota; Constantine, Apostolopoulos
The primary aim of this paper is to analyze the components of individual social capital in two rural mountain areas in Greece. The paper also aims to develop an empirical model to investigate the causal relationship between social capital‟s different dimensions and the “quality” of local socio-economic development in Greece‟s rural mountain areas. Due to the complex nature of the social capital concept, the scope of inquiry was based on two different case study areas, in order to enable a more compelling and robust interpretation of the information collected. A questionnaire containing 100 items was administered to approximately 318 citizens in these areas. Our results overall indicate a significant influence by the strength of family ties on the nature of social capital and socio-economic outcomes in Greek rural areas.
Children after earthquake: Maraş Earthquake in Türkiye.
(Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2023-12-01) Polatgil, Mesut; Yıldız, Ensar
Türkiye has experienced the most destructive earthquake disaster in recent years. On February 6, 2023, two earthquakes of more than seven magnitudes occurred in Türkiye, first in Pazarcık and then in Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş province. These earthquakes caused the deaths of more than 50 thousand people and billions of dollars in damage. The earthquakes had serious effects on every segment of society, including children. This study, which aimed to examine the opinions of individuals about children in such a big earthquake, examined 3.450 tweets sent in February 2023. While the researchers used Maxqda to analyze tweets regarding hashtags, likes, retweets, and source devices, they used Python for sentiment analysis. The findings highlighted that the words AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency), education, and psychology were frequently used as hashtags in tweets about children. In addition, the study observed that tweets with very few likes and retweets did not arouse much interest in people. The findings of the sentiment analysis indicated that the tweets were quite negatively oriented. The study’s findings can guide future actions and plans concerning the earthquake and children.
Commentary on “The meaning maintenance model: On the coherence of social motivations”
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2017-06-27) Küçükömürler, Sanem; Özkan, Türker
Meaning Maintenance Model (MMM) was proposed by Heine, Proulx, and Vohs (2006) in the article named “The Meaning Maintenance Model: On the Coherence of Social Motivations”. Additionally, writers were interested in four different motivations and suggested MMM as the underlying motivation among them. However, there is a questionable point in the article. The authors actually selected meaning maintenance motivation as the primary motivation, while it is still possible to select another one as the primary. Thus, questions related with the primary motivation claim are needed to be examined. Is meaning maintenance a primary motive? Is there any other triggering mechanism for meaning maintenance? Or is it possible to track the supports for meaning maintenance as demonstrating another mechanism? In this paper, specifically, the aim is to analyze the claim of ‘basic motivation’ made by Heine, Proulx, and Vohs (2006) from a different perspective within literature about uncertainty reduction.
The contributions of female independence and gender equality to rape in metropolitan areas
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2009) Lee, Daniel R.; Hilinski, Carly M.; Clevenger, Shelly
Recent examinations have placed importance on gender equality and women’s independence as determinants of violence against women. These examinations have resulted in mixed results about the importance of different theoretical constructs and levels of analysis. This examination integrates macro strain constructs with the feminist perspective and utilizes the Uniform Crime Reports U.S Census data from year 2000 to determine how gender differences in social and economic status can be used to explain rape rates in the 75 most populated Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs). Implications for future research based on these results are presented and discussed.
The correlation between middle school 8th-grade students’ reflective thinking skill towards problem-solving and their mathematics anxieties
(Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2023-06-09) Erdem, Süruri Selim; Arıkan, Elif Esra
This research aims to explore the potential correlation between the reflective thinking skills of 8th-grade students in secondary education and their level of math anxiety. The study also intends to investigate potential discrepancies in students' reflective thinking abilities for problem-solving and mathematics anxiety, considering factors such as gender, parental education level, and the type of games played. One of the quantitative research designs, the relational survey model, was employed in this study. There were 779 8th-grade students in the study group, comprising 415 females and 364 males. The researchers collected data using three tools: the reflective thinking skills in problem-solving scale developed by Kızılkaya and Aşkar (2009), the mathematics anxiety scale developed by Bindak (2005), and a personal information form created by the researchers. The data obtained from the scales were analyzed using statistical methods such as arithmetic mean, t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Scheffe test. A noteworthy finding is that the math anxiety scale score and the reflective thinking skills scale score for problem-solving exhibit a significant difference based on the type of game played by the students. An important finding is that the reflective thinking skill scale for problem-solving reasoning sub-dimension accounts for 10% of the total variance in mathematics anxiety, as revealed by the multiple regression analysis.
Crimes of globalization: Health care, HIV and the poverty of neoliberalism in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2008) Ezeonu, Ifeanyi
This paper contributes to the growing body of literature on crimes of globalization. Following a broader conceptualization of crime which goes beyond the proscriptions of the criminal law, it argues that the dynamics of market economics has criminogenic (social harm) effects, especially in economically-challenged regions like the sub-Saharan Africa. The paper challenges the hegemony of law in the criminalization process by locating social harm at the epicentre of criminological inquiry.
Critical evaluation of promoting participation of NGOs in the un Security Council
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2017-06-11) Bektaş, Mehmet Halil Mustafa; İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi; Uluslararası İlişkiler Bölümü
Informal relationships have been developed between the UN Security Council (SC) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Some scholars and politicians have suggested that these informal relationships should be strengthened through the provision of more formal access mechanisms such as consultative status. On the other hand, increasing participation by NGOs on the SC is questioned by others on the grounds of accountability, fairness and objectivity, the purported threat to international legal order of such participation, and the undermining of the SC’s effectiveness. The current study critically evaluates these reservations regarding the promotion of access for NGOs to the SC. It examines whether or not the provision of formal access justifies these concerns, concluding that while some reservations might be valid, they should not be considered as insuperable obstacles. This is firstly because the SC could develop a mechanism for granting formal access to NGOs that could address these concerns, and secondly that, given that the SC itself already suffers from a lack of accountability, fairness, objectivity and effectiveness, such access by NGOs could help enhance the SC’s capacities in these areas. There is a limited amount of literature on increasing access for NGOs to the SC, but to the best of the author’s knowledge no study has evaluated criticisms of such access in particular, as opposed to NGO’s participation in international organizations in general. The present paper would therefore contribute to the literature in this regard.
The debate over recent recorded crime in Turkey
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2008) Bahar, Halil İbrahim; Fert, İsmail
Publication of official recorded crime figures is a new practice in Turkey. The recording of crime figures in a professional and unbiased fashion has led to the publication of a range of tables in the context of crime and criminal justice. Since the first figures were published, in 2004, it has been possible to track increases in crime and this has placed the criminal justice system firmly on the political agenda. The debate over the recorded crime statistics has raged, with the government, the opposition, media and the general public all becoming involved. In the case of society at large it would appear that the fear of becoming a victim of crime has increased. Throughout this debate, law and order has become a political issue. At the same time in Turkey the concept of social support mechanisms is also being widely debated. What role do crime statistics play in the individual’s right to a sense of personal security? To what degree can the figures be considered accurate? This work attempts to pull together the changes in recorded crimes which affect the public for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006. Specifically murder, theft, all forms of immoral behavior, assault and fraud which, taken together, constitute a significant portion of the recorded crime figures. It will be seen that for some crimes there would appear to have been a dramatic increase. Exactly what is increasing in the measurement of recorded crime in Turkey?

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