Masyarakat, Kebudayaan dan Politik

Leadership dynamics, administrative efficiency, leadership abilities & approaches among department heads in Ifugao Province, Philippines: Implications for effective governance

Fernando G. Hernando — 2025-03-13

The efficacy of government is mainly dependent on public service leaders, who are top civil officials who oversee and enhance key government operations. They convert political direction into programs and policies that maintain citizens’ economic productivity, safety, and well-being. As such, this study determines the administrative capabilities, the level of program implementation, leadership qualities, and the styles of the department heads in the 11 municipalities in Ifugao Province. Using a descriptive-comparative research design, data were gathered from the 106 department heads and validated by the 92 elected officials and 449 employees. Using descriptive statistics and an F-test, findings revealed that the department heads are perceived to be capable of performing core management functions. Regarding program implementation, respondents concurred on moderately effective program execution. All groups agreed that the office heads possess the qualities of a leader who envisions the future and inspires members. On the leadership styles, the participative style of leadership, which ushered in the inclusion of employees in decision-making, was agreed upon by all respondents. The perceptions of the three groups were not significantly different regarding management functions, leadership qualities, and leadership styles of the department heads. Results map the strengths and gaps in the department heads’ leadership styles and administrative capability, outlining helpful information for policy formulation and capacity-building initiatives.

“Is there peace?”: Discrimination and the refugee experience in Malaysia

Atika Shafinaz Nazri — 2025-04-28

Many factors, such as societal neglect, issues related to UNHCR, non-traditional legal frameworks, and international laws, contribute to the difficulties refugees face in Malaysia. However, in Malaysia, identify government discrimination as the primary factor contributing to the imbalance in refugees’ lives. Based on the experiences of refugees living in Malaysia, this research explores rights often denied by the government, regardless of their age, community background, or duration of stay. The study continues to delve into refugee challenges as long as they hold UNHCR cards. The method used in this study utilizes a qualitative approach. As a result of these challenges, this study presents the lived experiences of refugees as types of government discrimination based on their refugee status. This aspect has not been extensively explored in previous research. In conclusion, the study argues that those not involved in refugee management may perceive Malaysia as a country that practices democracy and upholds humanitarian values due to hosting nearly 180,000 refugees. However, the reality reveals existing shortcomings, including unrecognized UNHCR cards, fragility and susceptibility to detention, deprivation of the right to work, exposure to persecution, legal aid barriers, lack of access to healthcare treatment, and restricted access to formal education.

Exploration of doctoral students’ supervisory experiences in Pakistani universities

Muhammad Zahid — 2025-06-17

Doctoral education and PhD completion are influenced by various factors, including student-related, institution, and supervisor. This study explores PhD scholars’ considerations in selecting supervisors and documents their experiences regarding accessibility, supervisory meetings, and feedback. PhD scholars from four universities were interviewed. The data were analyzed using the Braun and Clarke thematic analysis approach. The findings reveal that Pakistani PhD scholars meticulously select their PhD supervisor keeping in view research related factors, professional and personal factors of supervisors. Findings also show that PhD scholars emphasized alignment of research area, good fit, and accessibility for good and timely feedback particularly in cases where supervisory relationships may be characterized as toxic. PhD scholars had mixed supervisory experiences during their PhD study. Some PhD scholars deemed their supervisors as “ideal”; however, there were cases of toxic supervision. The study emphasizes the need for universities to provide academic assistance and guidelines, as well as to create a conducive environment for PhD scholars and supervisors by enhancing communication, support systems, and training opportunities. The study contributes to the understanding of these challenges and aims to provide insights for improving the doctoral education process in and beyond Pakistan.

ASEAN membership expansion, spatial construction and ASEAN normative power: A comparative study of Brunei and Timor-Leste

Yuhong Li — 2025-06-17

As the most powerful organization in Southeast Asia, ASEAN’s normative power has become an important regional order for its member countries, and its primary task is to maintain the survival of Southeast Asian countries. However, in the process of forming the normative power of ASEAN, Brunei and Timor-Leste, two smaller countries, were treated differently. Therefore, this article attempts to use Brunei and Timor-Leste as examples to explore the impact of their accession to ASEAN on the normative power of ASEAN. This article uses historical analysis methods to compare the differences in interactions between ASEAN, Brunei, and Timor-Leste. This study finds that “trust” is the key to the differences in interaction between ASEAN and Brunei and Timor Leste. The normative power of ASEAN will only come into play when member states have ‘trust’ in its identity. At the same time, the state, which is trusted by other member states, can also shape the direction and strength of norms, strengthen the integration of the community, and thus drive the expansion of the space for order. This study concluded that although economic and security factors are important, the fundamental reason for the expansion and integration of ASEAN lies in ‘trust’.

Exploring the efficacy of media literacy on online political participation of learners in adult and vocational education in Nigeria

Ekaette Okon Okop — 2025-06-17

The benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in societal growth are well-documented; however, its application in developing countries such as Nigeria has been limited due to a lack of knowledge. This study investigates media literacy’s impact on learners’ online political participation in adult and vocational education in Nigeria. It adopted a non-equivalent control type of quasi-experimental research design involving experimental and control groups. The sample consisted of 196 learners selected from public adult and vocational education centers across Nigeria. The “Online Political Participation Test” (OPPT) was the data collection instrument. The findings indicate that the mean online political participation scores of learners trained in media literacy did not differ significantly from those trained in basic literacy. Additionally, the mean online political participation scores of learners using cooperative learning styles were not significantly different from those using solitary learning styles. Regarding the interaction effects, there were no significant differences in the mean online political participation scores based on the learning styles adopted by the learners. The study concluded that basic literacy had a more positive impact than media literacy in informal learning environments in developing countries.

Grassroots perspectives of Javanese Muslims on local kyai figures versus Islamic preachers in religious television broadcasts

Arief Hidayat — 2025-06-17

This study examines the views of grassroots Javanese Muslims in Wukirsari, Imogiri, and Yogyakarta toward the authority of local kyai and television preachers (ustadz/ustadzah on the screen). This study aims to analyze how advances in media technology change the pattern of Islamic knowledge transmission and challenge traditional religious authority. Using a critical phenomenological approach, this study examines how media exposure shapes public perception, elevating celebrity preachers through the appeal of popularity while marginalizing traditional kyai rooted in local pesantren and social relations. The findings show that television creates a form of hyperreality that simulates religious legitimacy through visual performance, so the boundaries between ulama based on scientific sanad and media-constructed religious figures become blurred. However, many local kyai demonstrate adaptability to the digital shift without losing their traditional authority or social closeness to the community. The novelty of this study lies in the understanding that the contestation between traditional and modern Islamic authority is not simply a change in the pattern of preaching but also a complex identity struggle in the digital landscape. This study shows that symbolic authority in Islam is increasingly mediated, negotiated, and contested at the grassroots level, influenced by cultural and technological heritage.

Hashtag activism: Analysing linking discourse markers in #ArewaMeToo conversations on X platform

Lily Chimuanya — 2025-06-17

Hashtag activism has emerged as a powerful tool for online advocacy, enabling marginalized individuals to gain visibility and foster collective action. In the absence of physical cues, users rely on linguistic elements to express engagement and support through linking discourse markers. Therefore, the subject of this study focuses on how connecting discourse markers are used in the #ArewaMeToo online conversation to express stance and inclusivity, on sexual violence. The study also explores how discourse markers function as substitutes for physical conversational cues in online activism. The study was conducted in 2024 using a qualitative method. Data were purposively selected from #ArewaMeToo conversations on X platform in Nigeria and grouped through discourse analysis. The database was collected from 300 tweets, with 63 tweets selected for analysis and reproduced in this study as representative examples. The findings of the study revealed that the discourse markers employed in the #ArewaMeToo movement such as cohesive devices, punctuation and capitalization have emerged as crucial tools for conveying engagement, support, emotional intensity and reinforcing advocacy. The study concludes that linking discourse markers substitute for vocal differences and serve as linguistic resources that signal solidarity, emotion, and resistance in the fight against sexual violence.