http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/power Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:51:39 -0400 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:51:39 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1915/performance-of-class-in-the-socioeconomic-institutions-of-early-medieval-ireland By Jack R.T. Corp - Early medieval Irish society operated on an elaborate power structure formalized by law, practiced through social interaction, and maintained by tacit exploitation of the lower orders. This paper investigates the materialization of class hierarchies through the lived experiences of rural communities and the transient classifications of authority between peasants and commoners enforced by elite groups. Early Ireland’s hierarchical system refers to rank, a “perceived” construct perpetuated through expressions of prestige and ritual performance, but not to political authority, which... Fri, 08 Oct 2021 10:58 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1915/performance-of-class-in-the-socioeconomic-institutions-of-early-medieval-ireland http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1902/biologization-of-capital-and-capitalization-of-biopower-connecting-foucault-and-marx By Tianhao Hou - Foucault raised the concept of biopower in the first volume of The History of Sexuality and placed its emergence in the context of capitalism, but he did not fully tackle the relationship between biopower and capitalism. In this article, the author fills this gap through a careful reading of Foucault and Marx, arguing that perpetual spirals are formed between biopower and capitalism and their techniques intersected on the human body. The author first traces the definitions of each concept in order to show that they can be discussed and drawn connection with each other. After that, he expands upon... Tue, 25 May 2021 09:33 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1902/biologization-of-capital-and-capitalization-of-biopower-connecting-foucault-and-marx http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1742/a-state-of-illegitimacy-the-dynamics-of-criminal-and-state-legitimacy-in-mexico By Benjamin J. Mackey - The following paper seeks to elucidate the complex processes involved in the Mexican State’s loss of authority and the subsequent acquisition of this authority by armed criminal groups operating in that country. In theoretical terms, this authority is termed the monopoly on the legitimate use of violence, and its transfer from the State to criminal groups carries profound implications - both quantifiable and otherwise - that are explored here. In order to detail the first half of this process, wherein the Mexican State has lost its authority, this paper presents a framework based on the... Mon, 08 Oct 2018 08:15 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1742/a-state-of-illegitimacy-the-dynamics-of-criminal-and-state-legitimacy-in-mexico http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1665/pederasty-and-power-in-platos-mythological-dialogues By Paul Regan - As a topic of philosophical interest the Socratic dialogues play a pivotal role in many of Plato’s works of more than thirty authentic dialogues. This paper discusses pederasty and power through myth and story-telling to teach Ancient Greek communities about the soul, morality and character through three of Plato’s mythological dialogues on Socrates: Symposium, Phaedrus and the Republic. Each work falls within several categories of investigation, speculation and argumentation. The re-telling of a story suggests that myth offers an economical framework from which to balance the soul... Thu, 26 Oct 2017 05:18 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1665/pederasty-and-power-in-platos-mythological-dialogues http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1659/tracing-the-success-of-soft-power-in-the-us-state-departments-future-leaders-exchange-program By Leyla R. Latypova - The United States government started exploring the soft power potential of student and scholar exchange programs as early as 1908, with the establishment of the Boxer Indemnity Scholarship Program.[1] The father of the theory of soft power, Joseph Nye, was not even born when Edmund James, then president of the University of Illinois, outlined precisely the soft power benefits of the student exchange in his letter to president Franklin D. Roosevelt. James wrote, “The nation which succeeds in educating the young Chinese of the present generation will be the nation which, for a given expenditure... Mon, 23 Oct 2017 11:42 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1659/tracing-the-success-of-soft-power-in-the-us-state-departments-future-leaders-exchange-program http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1627/hegemonic-overreach-in-the-british-empire-economic-distress-strategic-imperative-and-the-fall-of-singapore By Peter Bennett-Koufie - Since the end of the Second World War, scholars of British military history have busied themselves with attempts to explain the British defeat at Singapore to Japan in February 1942. Research reveals that there existed what Peden has called an “imbalance between limited military power and extensive commitments” in the interwar era.[1] Put simply, the economic and military resources at Britain’s disposal were incommensurate with the scale of effort required to adequately defend her empire. This raises the question of why such an imbalance existed. One prominent explanation is... Wed, 19 Apr 2017 09:13 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1627/hegemonic-overreach-in-the-british-empire-economic-distress-strategic-imperative-and-the-fall-of-singapore http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1617/a-theory-of-vernacular-rhetoric-reading-dantes-de-vulgari-eloquentia By Joseph P. Zompetti - The relationships between power and rhetoric have been the subject of many recent studies, most notably from the conversation concerning “critical rhetoric” (McKerrow, 1989; Murphy, 1995; Ono & Sloop, 1992; Shugart, 2003; Zompetti, 1997). Recent discussions have also occurred regarding the nature of vernacular discourse and how it affects disempowered groups (Berkowitz, 1997; Cheshire & Stein, 1997; Delgado, 1998; Hauser, 1998; 1999; McLaughlin, 1996; Ono & Sloop, 1995). Reflecting on the contemporary nexus between power and rhetoric certainly has its value, but we would... Thu, 06 Apr 2017 10:13 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1617/a-theory-of-vernacular-rhetoric-reading-dantes-de-vulgari-eloquentia http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1489/isis-and-the-global-image-war-an-archival-perspective-on-iconoclastic-performance-and-bio-political-authority By Christian Rossipal - The so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) – also known as ISIL, IS and Daesh – has during the last years disseminated videos throughout the Internet in a new recruitment and media strategy focusing on the destruction of cultural heritage. This phenomenon will be used as a point of departure to reflect on the related global image war and the accompanying dissemination of moving images through multimedia archives and pseudo-archives on the Internet. Drawing mainly from Pasi Väliaho – but also Wolfgang Ernst, Ömür Harmanșah and Charles Merewether &ndash... Wed, 02 Nov 2016 10:36 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1489/isis-and-the-global-image-war-an-archival-perspective-on-iconoclastic-performance-and-bio-political-authority http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1410/defining-the-legitimacy-and-power-of-the-state-through-weber-and-foucault By Rocco A. Astore - As a founder of sociology, Max Weber influenced the social sciences immensely. In his “Politics as a Vocation,” Weber claims that one of the definitions of the state is its ability to employ legitimate violence as a means of control in a given territory.[1] He also claims that one can define the state as being a human community where people struggle with one another for what is ultimately a greater share of the power to apply legitimate force.[2] But, should one only support Weber’s claims despite the fact that states also employ knowledge as a means to preserve their power?[... Tue, 24 May 2016 11:11 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1410/defining-the-legitimacy-and-power-of-the-state-through-weber-and-foucault http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1353/book-review-a-brief-history-of-neoliberalism-by-david-harvey-2005 By Florence Lee - Michael Thompson, reviewing A Brief History of Neoliberalism by David Harvey, calls it ‘the world according to David Harvey’ (2005). This is an accurate remark: although erring slightly on the side of conspiracy, the book is a breathtaking overview of the ‘neoliberal world’ through Harvey’s neo-Marxist and anti-capitalist lens. The book is aimed at the general reader and is a non-technical, concise introduction to many of the key features of neoliberal theory: the economic practices proposing that human wellbeing can be attained by reducing state intervention, promoting... Fri, 12 Feb 2016 03:11 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1353/book-review-a-brief-history-of-neoliberalism-by-david-harvey-2005 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1247/neither-can-live-while-the-other-survives-how-the-representation-of-the-syrian-conflict-neglects-the-citizen By Jessica C. Bridges - The power of heads of state and government officials is indisputable. The many faults of overreliance on the ‘demi-Gods’ of modern world politics could be listed and detailed with great delight, yet an ignorance of ‘real-world’ psychology would be remiss in the context. The major hazard to highlight, and add to the jumble of opinions already distributed, is this: a blind acceptance of a narrative provided by the two leading competitors for the prize of… (peace?) in Syria leads one down a dangerous path that bolsters a bellicose Waltzian ‘balance of power&rsquo... Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:01 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1247/neither-can-live-while-the-other-survives-how-the-representation-of-the-syrian-conflict-neglects-the-citizen http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1176/factors-that-limit-regulatory-response-in-the-wake-of-the-global-financial-crisis-ideology-regulatory-capture-and-power-dynamics By Frank Wang - The second set of causes lie within an increasingly interconnected capitalist economic system. These factors include the dominance of market fundamentalist ideology, easy access to credit in the US due to globalization, and economic instability due to excess fictitious capital and irrational exuberance. Finally, I argue that systemic risks inherent in an increasingly interconnected capitalist world economy are insufficiently addressed by regulatory reactions to the global financial crisis due to three factors: theoretical neglect of systemic risk by macro-prudential regulation, regulatory capture... Wed, 23 Sep 2015 12:44 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1176/factors-that-limit-regulatory-response-in-the-wake-of-the-global-financial-crisis-ideology-regulatory-capture-and-power-dynamics http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1093/an-explanation-of-self-censorship-in-china-the-enforcement-of-social-control-through-a-panoptic-infrastructure By Simon K. Zhen - In contemporary China, as a result of centuries of censorship, major dissent at the domestic level has become rather rare. This research paper examines the mechanics of censorship in China. It will explore the evolution of censorship over time as well as the specifics of how the Chinese government manages to censor its citizens on the Internet and in the media. Scholars have generally accredited the success of the government’s endeavors to the infrastructure that is used for censorship as well as the hierarchical control that the government exercises. However, I will argue that these explanations... Thu, 03 Sep 2015 11:36 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1093/an-explanation-of-self-censorship-in-china-the-enforcement-of-social-control-through-a-panoptic-infrastructure http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1060/discussing-refugee-women-speechlessness-helplessness-and-bodies-as-facts By Marion Provencher Langlois - “Not all silences are equal,” writes Michel-Rolph Trouillot (1997, p.27). Not everyone, I add, possesses the power to silence a person or a group of people. In this research paper, I use gender as an analytical tool to examine the way refugee women are silenced through the transformation of their bodies into facts, which as a result turns them into the most helpless and speechless of all refugees. In the first part of this essay, I give an overview of the creation of the Convention relating to the status of Refugees, adopted in 1951. I briefly comment on how it has been introduced... Tue, 25 Aug 2015 05:17 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1060/discussing-refugee-women-speechlessness-helplessness-and-bodies-as-facts http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1033/the-source-and-nature-of-power-comparing-noumenal-and-structural-power-according-to-forst-and-strange By Shaun Docherty - Their protest challenged the paradigm of power as it existed at the time, specifically by revealing the limitations of the state's ability to exercise its will even in a situation where the state wielded seemingly absolute authority.[1] Power, as Rainer Forst argues, is "noumenal" and as such it can only exist when recognized by the subject.[2] The hunger strikers' symbolic act of defiance against the British state demonstrates how it is the subject who is empowered by their choice of whether or not to recognize the sovereignty of an outside authority. Even while imprisoned and in solitary confinement... Fri, 15 May 2015 09:35 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1033/the-source-and-nature-of-power-comparing-noumenal-and-structural-power-according-to-forst-and-strange http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/953/opportunities-and-challenges-of-allocation-of-alternative-energy-resources-in-japan By Karin Snyder - In the case of Japan, which lacks any significant fossil fuel reserves (Gasparatos & Gadda, 2009, pp. 4038-4048) some alternative forms of energy production have been implemented. Japan has implemented alternative energy options such as nuclear power, photovoltaic power, hydroelectric power, and other various energy alternatives and renewable resources. These alternatives have the potential to lessen climate change. Japan is becoming an example of the economic and environmental outcomes associated with alternative energy sources. Following the Fukushima disaster, the Japanese government addressed... Fri, 19 Dec 2014 08:47 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/953/opportunities-and-challenges-of-allocation-of-alternative-energy-resources-in-japan http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/900/hiv-positive-youth-empowerment-in-swaziland-an-evaluation-of-the-social-stigma-surrounding-hiv By Sahil Aggarwal - UNAIDS reports the antenatal HIV prevalence rate—the prevalence of HIV in unborn children—to be approximately 38% in Swaziland, Africa (UNAIDS 2012), the highest rate in the world (Root 2010). Diagnosed through an HIV antibody test or virological analysis, clinical progression of HIV infection is often divided into four stages based on symptoms observed in children (Table 1) (World Health Organization 2007). Disease progression through the stages into AIDS or death is reduced through antiretroviral medications, which have shown long term reversals in the infection’s effects on... Wed, 04 Jun 2014 09:57 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/900/hiv-positive-youth-empowerment-in-swaziland-an-evaluation-of-the-social-stigma-surrounding-hiv http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/836/anime-from-cult-following-to-pop-culture-phenomenon By Samantha Nicole Inëz Chambers - This study examined the scope of influence that Japanese anime had on American people born in the '80s and '90s. Relying on secondary research and a survey using a convenience sample of 107 students and young adults, this study found that anime conveys a negative image associated with violence and fringe culture, but people see anime as more of an art form than tasteless violent film. The study also found that piracy, though not overly common, was still practiced in the case of Japanese media, but some major studios are not impeding these fansubbing (fan-made subtitles) movements. They believe... Sat, 14 Dec 2013 11:24 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/836/anime-from-cult-following-to-pop-culture-phenomenon http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1482/soft-power-deployment-on-the-korean-peninsula By Oleksandr Shykov - South Korea, also known as the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a remarkable country in many ways. It survived the Korean War, supported by American military assistance. It successfully transitioned to democracy after nearly 40 years of authoritarian government. South Korea now boasts a strong economy that joined the trillion-dollar club of world economies in 2004.i The South Korean wave (hullyah) looks unstoppable with its success in Asia and around the globe. But in spite of its impressive résumé, the ROK has been criticized for its handling of diplomatic relations with the Democratic... Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1482/soft-power-deployment-on-the-korean-peninsula http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/864/barriers-for-women-to-positions-of-power-how-societal-and-corporate-structures-perceptions-of-leadership-and-discrimination-restrict-womens-advancement-to-authority By Dee-Ann Schwanke - Women’s advancement in the corporate workplace has taken significant strides over the last century. Research demonstrates, however, that despite an increased presence of female employees in mid-management positions, executive positions continue to be male dominated. Women are underrepresented in areas of governance, directorship, and executive leadership. This seems to contradict the apparent momentum of the promotion of women. This paper will unveil some of the hidden barriers that stubbornly exist for women in business. It will review research that demonstrates why gender inequality is... Mon, 30 Sep 2013 04:36 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/864/barriers-for-women-to-positions-of-power-how-societal-and-corporate-structures-perceptions-of-leadership-and-discrimination-restrict-womens-advancement-to-authority http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/758/the-barents-sea-conflict-russia-and-norway-competing-over-fossil-fuel-riches-in-the-arctic By Niklas Witte - This article aims to investigate the effects of moderators such as culture, power dynamics and political factors on the negotiation behavior and processes displayed in a dyadic, geopolitical negotiation scenario by using a hybrid model of well-established negotiation frameworks. In addition, it evaluates if and to what extent media attention and (third-party) political coalitions influence this negotiation scenario and the resulting bilateral negotiation outcomes.The majority of existing negotiation research on the Barents Sea conflict focuses on agreements regulating the fishing industry only... Mon, 16 Sep 2013 10:53 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/758/the-barents-sea-conflict-russia-and-norway-competing-over-fossil-fuel-riches-in-the-arctic http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1674/sexual-relations-between-elite-white-women-and-enslaved-men-in-the-antebellum-south-a-socio-historical-analysis By Anon S. Anon - There is ample evidence of sexual relations, from rapes to what appear to be relatively symbiotic romantic partnerships, between white slave masters and black women in the Antebellum South. Much rarer were sexual relations between white women and black slave men, yet they too occurred. Using an intersectional socio-historical analysis, this paper explores the factors that contributed or may have contributed to the incidence of sexual encounters between elite white women and slave men, the power dynamics embedded in them, and their implications in terms of sexual consent. The paper demonstrates... Sun, 18 Aug 2013 04:44 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1674/sexual-relations-between-elite-white-women-and-enslaved-men-in-the-antebellum-south-a-socio-historical-analysis http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/730/the-apparition-of-fading-apartheid-racialized-vision-khaya-mthethwa-and-idols-sa By David W. Synyard - This essay examines the first black winner in 2012 on Idols SA, Khaya Mthethwa (Appendix 1), the TV format of the Idol brand, and the social construction of racialized vision in the context of South Africa as a post-colonial nation from a visual culture perspective. Theoretically, this essay presents an interdisciplinary approach of Marxist political economy, Debord’s concept of the spectacle (1983, p. 13), and Foucauldian biopower (2013, p. 134). Although somewhat contradictory, these theories present a nuanced understanding of how Mthethwa’s spectacle is encased in a racialized form... Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:40 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/730/the-apparition-of-fading-apartheid-racialized-vision-khaya-mthethwa-and-idols-sa http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/725/regime-change-processes-in-the-republic-of-georgia-challenges-to-stability-and-democracy By Salvatore J. Freni - Of the three states in the South Caucasus, Georgia has experienced the most political instability since the collapse of the USSR. Some scholars even described the country in the immediate aftermath of independence as a failed state. Despite the political elites’ denunciation of the Soviet authoritarian regime, it seems that the nature of political power in the Republic of Georgia still closely resembles that of its predecessor. In its twenty years of existence, Georgia has experienced three regime changes. The first was the struggle for independence, led by Zviad Gamsakhurdia who in turn... Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:33 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/725/regime-change-processes-in-the-republic-of-georgia-challenges-to-stability-and-democracy http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1610/the-states-struggle-to-master-asymmetrical-warfare By Joe Wisniewski - The only way to truly study asymmetrical warfare is to take into account its long history. Thus, this paper utilizes a dataset that contains almost two hundred wars fought since 1817 in order to measure the relationship between the duration of asymmetrical war and the state's chances of victory. The results showcased little difference in the state's percentage of victory for short and medium length wars. For wars over three years, the chances of victory for the state plunged by thirty-one percent. This "three year switch" fits into existing models on how terrorism is effectively evolving to combat... Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1610/the-states-struggle-to-master-asymmetrical-warfare http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1614/the-weakest-link-credible-deterrence-threats-and-alliance-entrapment By Elizabeth Calos - Over the past 20 years, the international order has been characterized by the conflict between the United States' desire for isolationism and its desire to maintain hegemony. While the United States has initiated and continued wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that are increasingly unpopular with alliance members, it has also focused on increasing NATO buy-in and has become involved in conflicts, like the one in Libya, at the insistence of its NATO partners. These contradictory trends raise interesting questions about the importance of defensive alliances as a method of deterring conflict. The United... Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1614/the-weakest-link-credible-deterrence-threats-and-alliance-entrapment http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/702/from-proto-state-to-para-state-accountability-russian-political-regimes-under-yeltsin-putin-and-medvedev By Moritz A. Pieper - When on September 24th,  2011 Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin announced his bid to run for president in the presidential elections in March 2012, a supposition in Russia's political regime was confirmed that many observers suspected would come true ever since the assumption of office of president Dmitri Medvedev in May 2008. With a constitutionally correct departure from the presidency, Putin still remained the influential political heavy weight in Russian politics, making Medvedev appear to be merely a pale place holder for Putin's return to the presidential driver's seat in 2012,... Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:12 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/702/from-proto-state-to-para-state-accountability-russian-political-regimes-under-yeltsin-putin-and-medvedev http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/698/limiting-values-of-democracy-and-competing-views-on-materialism-in-american-society-comparing-kirk-and-nedelsky By Brian D. Blankenship - Limits lie at the heart of the American political system. No governmental body or figure has unlimited authority—all are checked by the others. However, beyond this, political thinkers are divided over how best to mitigate majoritarian influence in American society—to constrain the power of “the people” from encroaching on the rights of individuals. Two such scholars, Jennifer Nedelsky and Russell Kirk, agree that laws and institutions by themselves are insufficient to check the power of America’s democracy, and that American society needs (and has) “limiting... Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:03 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/698/limiting-values-of-democracy-and-competing-views-on-materialism-in-american-society-comparing-kirk-and-nedelsky http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/678/seeking-sustainability-adopting-sustainable-and-renewable-energy-sources-to-create-a-maintable-world By Kelton T. Busby - While this is a broad concept for one word to contain, it is an excellent representation of how we refer to sustainability. The next important concept is the difference between energy and power. There is a simple way to think about the difference between the two as long as one has a basic understanding of the concept of work, which is a force that displaces an object over a distance. With that in mind, energy is the ability to do work, whereas power is work over a specific time. Another important concept is that of a primary energy source. All of the energy we use comes from primary energy sources... Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/678/seeking-sustainability-adopting-sustainable-and-renewable-energy-sources-to-create-a-maintable-world http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1075/european-enlargement-a-normative-perspective By Benjamin Walton - It was commonplace among academics of the 1970s to share an understanding of the frozen nature of international relations during the Cold War period, and to hold similar assumptions about the fixed character of the nation-state and the importance of direct military power in strengthening the international society.1 However, the Cold War, which structured many of these assumptions, ended with the collapse of norms across Central Europe rather than through the employment of force.2 Therefore, a better understanding of the European Union’s (EU) role today might be attained by reflecting on... Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1075/european-enlargement-a-normative-perspective