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1. Methodological Nationalism in International Relations: A Quantitative Assessment of Academia in Turkey (2015-2019)

Author:
Mustafa Onur Tetik
Publication Date:
01-2022
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
All Azimuth: A Journal of Foreign Policy and Peace
Institution:
Center for Foreign Policy and Peace Research
Abstract:
This article seeks to expand the discussion on Methodological Nationalism (MN)within the discipline of International Relations (IR), to contribute to MN literature from the perspective of IR studies and to evaluate the prevalence of MN in the field by the quantification of selected works. To achieve these goals, the article, firstly, recapitulates the general MN literature and critically evaluates this discussion in IR. Later, it identifies the forms of MN as they appear in IR with two faces: Level of analysis (nation-as-arena) and unit of analysis (nation-as-actor). Secondly, the article proposes a method to assess the prevalence of MN through quantification. Finally, the article applies its method to IR works to address the question of how widespread MN is in academia in Turkey. The findings demonstrate the proportional pervasiveness of MN within the IR community of Turkey, which is part of the “periphery” in the discipline. The findings also let us draw some hypothetical conclusions.
Topic:
International Relations, Nationalism, Quantitative, Academia, and Methodology
Political Geography:
Turkey and Global Focus

2. An Overview of Child Sexual Abuse Research Conducted in Low and Middle Income Countries Between 2011–2021

Author:
Nicole Gonzalez, Anik Gevers, and Elizabeth Dartnall
Publication Date:
05-2022
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI)
Abstract:
To strengthen our understanding of what kinds of child sexual abuse research is coming from low and middle income countries we conducted a brief scoping review of studies published over the past 10 years. One hundred and ninety four studies were included in this review based on a search of the MEDLINE (PubMed) database. The majority of articles were epidemiological studies (n=146) and the remaining articles included intervention studies, methodology and ethics work, and theory and frameworks articles. Most publications were based on research conducted in the SubSaharan Africa region (n=98) and the fewest publications were from the East Asia and Pacific region. The review revealed that there is no cohesive body of evidence and that there seems little connection between, for example, epidemiological research and intervention research. Further, very little of the epidemiological research focused on identifying the risk and protective factors for child sexual abuse including the drivers of perpetration and more analysis of the norms, systems, and social structures that impact and influence child sexual abuse. The review found several methodological gaps in the evidence base as studies utilized different definitions of child sexual abuse, a variety of measurements for child sexual abuse, and at times grounding in ethics was not clear. Few studies were intersectional (n=25). More priority-driven child sexual abuse research is needed from low and middle income countries with clear links to policy and practice. A clear, shared research agenda is needed to guide the field toward building a cohesive evidence base as well as capacity strengthening to address methodological and ethics issues of this research. This research should be intersectional in order to build a nuanced understanding of child sexual abuse across diverse and particularly marginalised or vulnerabilised groups. There is evidence on the mental health impact of child sexual abuse but few studies evaluated interventions that addressed these outcomes among survivors. Research that will improve our understanding of the drivers, risk factors, and protective factors for different forms of child sexual abuse – including perpetration of this violence – is needed to inform prevention intervention strategies.
Topic:
Ethics, Research, Sexual Violence, Methodology, and Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)
Political Geography:
Global Focus

3. Can Panel Data Methodologies Determine the Impact of Climate Change on Economic Growth?

Author:
Richard A. Rosen
Publication Date:
12-2021
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET)
Abstract:
Several major papers have been published over the last ten years claiming to have detected the impact of either annual variations in weather or climate change on the GDPs of most countries in the world using panel data-based statistical methodologies. These papers rely on various multivariate regression equations which include the annual average temperatures for most countries in the world as one or more of the independent variables, where the usual dependent variable is the change in annual GDP for each country from one year to the next year over 30-50 year time periods. Unfortunately, the quantitative estimates derived in these papers are misleading because the equations from which they are calculated are wrong. The major reason the resulting regression equations are wrong is because they do not include any of the appropriate and usual economic factors or variables which are likely to be able to explain changes in GDP/economic growth whether or not climate change has already impacted each country’s economy. These equations, in short, exhibit suffer from “omitted variable bias,” to use statistical terminology.
Topic:
Climate Change, Economics, Economic Growth, and Methodology
Political Geography:
Global Focus

4. Vulnerability analysis in critical infrastructures: A methodology

Author:
António Ferreira
Publication Date:
06-2019
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:
War Studies University
Abstract:
Vulnerability assessment is a crucial aspect for the development of methodologies to define the levels of protection in critical infrastructures. Throughout this research, we discussed the concept of vulnerability and methodologies and processes for its assessment in critical infrastructures due to a terrorist threat. The research focused on the development of an analysis model, exploring a multi-criteria decision method, in order to limit the risks to the maximum extent possible. Through a qualitative research methodology, in which we applied an analysis model based on the Threat and Infrastructure dimensions and their respective factors, we verified that the vulnerability of a critical infrastructure consists in the probability of the success of an attack, conducted by a threat - properly identifi ed, characterised, analysed and categorised - against an infrastructure with certain characteristics, which value is defi ned by the user and aggressor’s point of view. The construction of an algorithmic model for vulnerability assessment, complemented by tools to support the calculations and records, allows, through a rational, scientific and algebraic process, a qualitative analysis of factors to be transformed into measurable and quantifi able values, whose algebraic operation integrates them into a final result that expresses, as a percentage, the degree of vulnerability of a critical infrastructure facing a terrorist threat.
Topic:
Terrorism, Infrastructure, Methodology, Vulnerability, and Threat Assessment
Political Geography:
Global Focus

5. 10 tips to make the most of context tools

Author:
ALNAP
Publication Date:
07-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
This brief list of dos and don'ts draws key findings from ALNAP's latest study - 'What's missing? Adding context to the urban response toolbox', and includes 10 quick tips to bear in mind when using any context tool.
Topic:
Urban, Methodology, Guidelines, Humanitarian Response, and Context
Political Geography:
Global Focus

6. 8 steps to get you started: Using context tools in urban response

Author:
ALNAP
Publication Date:
09-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
Would you like to better understand the context you’re operating in, but aren’t sure where to start? ‘What’s Missing? Adding Context to the Urban Response Toolbox’ is a new study from ALNAP, part of a broader research initiative exploring how humanitarian response can be more effective in complex urban areas. This resources sets out 8 simple steps, on how you can begin using context tools in humanitarian response, by drawing key findings from the study.
Topic:
Urban, Methodology, Guidelines, Humanitarian Response, and Context
Political Geography:
Global Focus