Search Results (24)

Situated within the field of modern Chinese political history, this study investigates the Late Qing New Policies (1901–1911) as a pivotal transition from a traditional tributary empire to a modern multi-ethnic nation-state. A critical limitation in current scholarship is the tendency to reduce these reforms to mere expedients for dynastic preservation, thereby overlooking the complex mechanisms by which they fundamentally reconstructed national identity and interethnic power structures amidst the “triple crisis” of territory, sovereignty, and nationality. To address this, the article employs a comprehensive historical analysis to explore how institutional restructuring in administration, military, and ideology catalyzed the transformation from imperial autocracy toward a “responsible government” framework. The research is distinguished by its innovative application of Anthony D. Smith’s theories of “ethnic” versus “civic” nationalism to deconstruct the “myth-symbol complex” of the Chinese nation, bridging the theoretical divide between the “New Qing History” paradigm and empirical modernization narratives. Findings demonstrate that while the Manchu leadership aimed to secure formal primacy, the practical implementation of reforms engendered a de facto Han-supported power structure, compelling the reconceptualization of the state as a “multi-ethnic constitutional monarchy” and establishing the institutional logic for the “Five Races Under One Union” model. Consequently, this study offers significant academic value by redefining the New Policies as the foundational phase of modern China, providing a crucial theoretical framework for understanding the continuity of China’s multi-ethnic statehood and national identity beyond the dynastic collapse. Full article

This study presents a sociotechnical framework for mitigating ethnic violent conflicts by integrating information and communication technologies (ICTs) with community-based social capital. Drawing on longitudinal case studies from three conflict-prone regions in Kenya, Mt. Elgon, Muhoroni, and the Turkana–West Pokot borderlands, the research examines how ICT-enabled peace networks, particularly the Early Warning and Early Response System (EWERS), mobilize bonding, bridging, and linking social capital to reduce violence. The study employs a multi-phase qualitative design, combining retrospective analysis, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, action participation, and thematic coding of EWERS data collected between 2009 and 2021. This approach enabled the reconstruction of system evolution, stakeholder dynamics, and community responses across diverse socio-political contexts. Findings demonstrate that embedding ICTs within trusted social structures fosters inter-ethnic collaboration, inclusive decision-making, and trust-building. EWERS facilitated confidential reporting, timely alerts, and coordinated interventions, leading to reductions in livestock theft, improved leadership accountability, emergence of inter-ethnic business networks, and enhanced visibility and response to gender-based violence. The system’s effectiveness was amplified by faith-based legitimacy, local governance integration, and adaptive training strategies. The study argues that ICTs can become effective enablers of peace when sensitively contextualized within local norms, relationships, and community trust. Operationalizing social capital through digital infrastructure strengthens community resilience and supports inclusive, sustainale peacebuilding. These insights offer a scalable model for ICT-integrated violence mitigation in low- and middle-income countries. This is among the first studies to operationalize bonding, bridging, and linking social capital within ICT-enabled peace networks in rural African contexts. By embedding digital infrastructure into trusted community relationships, the framework offers an analytical approach that can inform inclusive violence mitigation strategies across low- and middle-income settings. While the framework demonstrates potential for scalability, its outcomes depend on contextual adaptation and cannot be assumed to replicate uniformly across all environments. Full article

This article examines the murals of Dabaoji Palace in Lijiang during the Ming Dynasty, analyzing their tripartite religious spatial configuration to elucidate how the Mu chieftains visualized and asserted their political and cultural agency as local elites operating at the empire’s south-western frontier within the framework of imperial authority. Through an interdisciplinary methodology that combines textual research, spatial analysis, and iconographic interpretation, the study identifies and theorizes a threefold religious spatial model in Dabaoji Palace: a Daoist facade symbolizing allegiance to the Ming court, a Han Buddhist-dominated central hybrid space asserting political authority and local agency in cultural mediation, and a secluded Tibetan esoteric sanctum providing sacral legitimacy for frontier governance. This tripartite spatial configuration is interpreted as a strategic localization of religious space that embodies the Mu chieftains’ response to Ming frontier administration. By highlighting the Sino-Tibetan artistic synthesis in the murals, the paper argues that the Mu chieftains, as Naxi elites in a borderland context, crafted a visual narrative of frontier rule that both reinforced their ties to the Ming court and forged a distinctive local identity. In doing so, their initiatives contributed to the cultural integration of multi-ethnic communities in northwest Yunnan and laid the foundation for the formation of a shared national identity. Full article

Under global warming, the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events have markedly increased. As one of the most climate-sensitive and ecologically fragile regions in the world, the Tibetan Plateau faces mounting environmental and demographic challenges. This study integrates multi-model ensemble simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) with population projection data from the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) under the high-emission scenario (SSP5-8.5). Three extreme climate indices—very wet days precipitation (R95p), warm days (TX90p), and consecutive dry days (CDDs)—were analyzed to assess future changes in climate extremes (2021–2100) and their relationships with demographic dynamics across Tibetan ethnic areas. The results indicate that, under high-emission conditions, both R95p and TX90p increase significantly, while CDDs slightly decreases, though drought risks remain pronounced in central regions. Over the same period, the total population is projected to decline by nearly 60%, with substantial differences in climate risk exposure across groups: working-age adults and less-educated individuals experience the highest exposure before mid-century, followed by a decline, whereas the elderly and highly educated populations will show continuously increasing exposure, stabilizing by the end of the century. The transformation of population patterns is reshaping socio-cultural structures, highlighting the need for culturally adaptive governance to ensure the sustainability of Tibetan ethnic communities. These findings enhance our understanding of the coupled interactions among climate change, population dynamics, and cultural transitions, providing a scientific basis for integrated adaptation strategies to promote sustainable development across the Tibetan Plateau. Full article

Understanding the spatial patterns of ethnic inter-embeddedness is essential for promoting sustainable development in multi-ethnic regions. This study develops a novel “Clustered-Boundary-Cellular” typological model to interpret the spatial differentiation of traditional villages in China’s Hehuang region. Using an integrated approach that combines GIS spatial analysis (Kernel Density Estimation, Ripley’s K-function, and Standard Deviational Ellipse), spatial statistics (Global Moran’s I), and other statistical tests (Kruskal–Wallis tests and multinomial logistic regression), we categorized and analyzed 153 nationally designated traditional villages. The results indicate the following: (1) The villages exhibit significant spatial differentiation, falling into three distinct scenarios. Clustered–Isolation villages (107/153, 69.9%) are predominantly located in topographically constrained areas and display strong spatial clustering; Boundary–Permeation villages (24/153, 15.7%) are distributed along transport corridors and show the highest road density (0.55 km/km²); Cellular–Symbiosis villages (22/153, 14.4%) occur in multi-ethnic cores areas and exhibit a relatively random spatial distribution. (2) This differentiation results from the synergistic effects of multidimensional drivers: natural environmental constraints (notably elevation and proximity to rivers), religious–cultural adaptation (Global Moran’s I analysis confirms the strong clustering of Tibetan and Salar groups, reflecting distinct religious spatial logics), and economic transition dynamics (transportation infrastructure serves as a key catalyst). This study demonstrates the value of the proposed model as an analytical tool for diagnosing ethnic spatial relations. The findings offer important insights and spatial guidance for formulating context-sensitive strategies for sustainable governance, cultural heritage preservation, and ethnic integration. Full article

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly applied in endurance sports to optimize performance, enhance recovery, and personalize nutrition and supplementation. This review synthesizes current knowledge on AI applications in endurance sports, emphasizing implications for metabolic health, nutritional strategies, and recovery optimization, while also addressing ethical considerations and future directions. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using targeted searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science with cross-referencing. Extracted items included sport/context, data sources, AI methods including machine learning (ML), validation type (internal vs. external/field), performance metrics, comparators, and key limitations to support a structured synthesis; no formal risk-of-bias assessment or meta-analysis was undertaken due to heterogeneity. Results: AI systems effectively integrate multimodal physiological, environmental, and behavioral data to enhance metabolic health monitoring, predict recovery states, and personalize nutrition. Continuous glucose monitoring combined with AI algorithms allows precise carbohydrate management during prolonged events, improving performance outcomes. AI-driven supplementation strategies, informed by genetic polymorphisms and individual metabolic responses, have demonstrated enhanced ergogenic effectiveness. However, significant challenges persist, including measurement validity and reliability of sensor-derived signals and overall dataset quality (e.g., noise, missingness, labeling error), model performance and generalizability, algorithmic transparency, and equitable access. Furthermore, limited generalizability due to homogenous training datasets restricts widespread applicability across diverse athletic populations. Conclusions: The integration of AI in endurance sports offers substantial promise for improving performance, recovery, and nutritional strategies through personalized approaches. Realizing this potential requires addressing existing limitations in model performance and generalizability, ethical transparency, and equitable accessibility. Future research should prioritize diverse, representative, multi-site data collection across sex/gender, age, and race/ethnicity. Coverage should include performance level (elite to recreational), sport discipline, environmental conditions (e.g., heat, altitude), and device platforms (multi-vendor/multi-sensor). Equally important are rigorous external and field validation, transparent and explainable deployment with appropriate governance, and equitable access to ensure scientifically robust, ethically sound, and practically relevant AI solutions. Full article

This study focuses on the systematic conservation of historical architectural heritage in Heilongjiang Province, particularly addressing the challenges of point-based protection and spatial fragmentation. It explores the construction of a connected and conductive heritage corridor network, using historical building clusters across the province as empirical cases. A comprehensive analytical framework is established by integrating the nearest neighbor index, kernel density estimation, minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model, entropy weighting, circuit theory, and network structure metrics. Kernel density analysis reveals a distinct spatial aggregation pattern, characterized by “one core, multiple zones.” Seven resistance factors—including elevation, slope, land use, road networks, and service accessibility—are constructed, with weights assigned through an entropy-based method to generate an integrated resistance surface and suitability map. Circuit theory is employed to simulate cultural “current” flows, identifying 401 potential corridors at the provincial, municipal, and district levels. A hierarchical station system is further developed based on current density, forming a coordinated structure of primary trunks, secondary branches, and complementary nodes. The corridor network’s connectivity is evaluated using graph-theoretic indices (α, β, and γ), which indicate high levels of closure, structural complexity, and accessibility. The results yield the following key findings: (1) Historical architectural resources in Heilongjiang demonstrate significant coupling with the Chinese Eastern Railway and multi-ethnic cultural corridors, forming a “one horizontal, three vertical” spatial configuration. The horizontal axis (Qiqihar–Harbin–Mudanjiang) aligns with the core cultural route of the railway, while the three vertical axes (Qiqihar–Heihe, Harbin–Heihe, and Mudanjiang–Luobei) correspond to ethnic cultural pathways. This forms a framework of “railway as backbone, ethnicity as wings.” (2) Comparative analysis of corridor paths, railways, and highways reveals structural mismatches in certain regions, including absent high-speed connections along northern trunk lines, insufficient feeder lines in secondary corridors, sparse terminal links, and missing ecological stations near regional boundaries. To address these gaps, a three-tier transportation coordination strategy is recommended: it comprises provincial corridors linked to high-speed rail, municipal corridors aligned with conventional rail, and district corridors connected via highway systems. Key enhancement zones include Yichun–Heihe, Youyi–Hulin, and Hegang–Wuying, where targeted infrastructure upgrades and integrated station hubs are proposed. Based on these findings, this study proposes a comprehensive governance paradigm for heritage corridors that balances multi-level coordination (provincial–municipal–district) with ecological planning. A closed-loop strategy of “identification–analysis–optimization” is developed, featuring tiered collaboration, cultural–ecological synergy, and multi-agent dynamic evaluation. The framework provides a replicable methodology for integrated protection and spatial sustainability of historical architecture in Heilongjiang and other cold-region contexts. Full article

Inheriting a tradition of religious tolerance from the Inner Asian Steppe, the Mongol Yuan Empire elevated Buddhism to a pivotal role in unifying its multiethnic and culturally diverse domain, with Tengriist ideology serving as the political foundation for these Buddhist veneration policies. The ruling class of the Yuan dynasty practiced a complex interaction between religion and political unity through the institutionalization of the cult of writing, printing, and reading the Buddhist Canon. Specifically, the Yuan dynasty established specialized government offices to mobilize elites from Mongolian, Han Chinese, Goryeo, and other ethnic groups for the construction of a multilingual Buddhist Canon. They copied the scriptures with gold and silver ink in Chinese, Tibetan, Uyghur, and other languages. Participants in scripture copying were rewarded or granted official positions. In this way, they achieved the goal of enlisting local elites, the cohesion of the community’s beliefs, and enhanced the unity of the local elites. By subsidizing the writing and reading of Buddhist classics, the Yuan rulers succeeded in constructing a space of identity at the level of material culture and facilitated cultural interaction and political integration among various social groups such as the Mongols, ethnic groups, and Han Chinese. Through state-sponsored scripture carving and recitation activities, the Yuan rulers cultivated a shared identity in the material culture sphere, facilitating cultural exchange and political integration across the Mongolians, the Han Chinese, and other ethnic communities. However, the effectiveness of state unification was significantly constrained by the Mongolian rulers’ policy of ethnic segregation, central–local conflict, and the high concentration of social wealth in the Buddhist communities. Full article

The Han-Zhao state (also known as “Former Zhao”, 304–329 AD), founded by Liú Yuán, the Left Wise King of the Xiongnu, is one of the earliest examples of a dual monarchy in global history. Its structure represents not only the fusion of the cultures of the Sinicized Xiongnu rulers and the Han Chinese of the Central Plains, but also the joint governance of a minority regime and the Han Chinese civilization. As an early dual monarchy, the Han-Zhao state implemented a political, military, and cultural system that maintained the coexistence of the Xiongnu traditions and Han Chinese dominance, thereby making it a “dual monarchy”. Thus, while Han-Zhao preserved the traditional governance model of the Xiongnu, it was deeply influenced by Han Chinese rituals and principles of governance. This study analyzes the ethnic and cultural institutions of the Han-Zhao state to explore its uniqueness as a dual monarchy and its influence on the integration of multi-ethnic regimes in later periods. It seeks to enrich the global understanding of the concept of dual monarchy and provide a new perspective on ethnic integration and cultural governance in Chinese history. Full article

In this article, I argue that Eurafricans’ invisibility in Zambia’s national census, history, and social framework is an echo of colonial whiteness stemming from the destructive legacy of illegitimacy perpetuated by British officials in Northern Rhodesia (present-day Zambia) during the colonial era (1924–64), which continues to the present day. This is evidenced by the absence of Eurafricans in the Zambia national censuses. This contribution calls for the British government to apologise to the Eurafrican community for the legacy of illegitimacy and intergenerational racial trauma it bestowed on the community. Zambia’s tribal ‘ethnic’ and ‘linguistics’ census classification options prevent a comprehensive understanding of Zambia’s multi-racial history and the development of a hybrid space that embraces a ‘mixed-race’ Eurafrican (of European and African heritage) Zambian identity. Through an autoethnographic account of my Eurafrican uncle Aaron Milner, I reflect on Zambian Eurafricans’ historical racial positioning as ‘inferior interlopers’, which has contributed to their obscurity in Zambia’s national history and census. However, my reflection goes beyond Milner’s story in Zambia. It is my entryway to highlight how race and colonial whiteness interconnected and underpinned racial ideology in the wider British Empire, and to draw attention to its echoes in various contemporary sociopolitical contexts, including census terminology in Australia and Zambia and Western nations’ anti-Black immigration policies. Full article

Situated in the mountainous and gorge-ridden region at the junction of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Sichuan Province, and Yunnan Province, the Tibetan–Yi Corridor is home to the Kham Tibetan area, one of China’s three traditional Tibetan areas. Tibetan Buddhism and the establishment of its temples in this region have evolved and propagated from nothing to a diverse landscape since the 8th century. Existing studies, however, have paid little attention to the intricate interplay between the formation of this sacred religious landscape and the specific geographic and sociocultural contexts in which it is situated. By taking temple architecture as a research vehicle, this study begins by extracting spatial data from historical GIS network data resources and 276 local gazetteers of 45 counties in the Tibetan–Yi Corridor. Secondly, it digitalizes and quantifies the geographic information, construction dates, sectarian affiliations, and sizes of 1479 Tibetan Buddhist temples in the region, establishing a database covering four historical periods. Finally, it employs GIS technology to visualize the spatial distribution of these temples, revealing their spatial and temporal patterns and evolution. From a religious geographical perspective, this study reconstructs the historical trajectories and diffusion patterns of the Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Gelug, Jonang, and Bon sects in the Tibetan–Yi Corridor, revealing the complex interplay, succession, and ebb and flow of these sects over time. The research results show that the historical spread and development of Tibetan Buddhism in the Tibetan–Yi Corridor were influenced by a complex interplay of geographical, social, political, and economic factors, including the unique topography of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and Hengduan Mountains, the complex interplay of agriculture and pastoralism, the historical influence of dynastic changes and central government policies on border regions, and ancient pilgrimage and trade routes. At the same time, as a multi-ethnic region inhabited by over 20 minorities, including Tibetans, Yi, Qiang, Naxi, and Nu, the Tibetan–Yi Corridor has a cultural identity dominated by religion, which has become an important factor in maintaining multi-ethnic symbiosis throughout its history, highlighting the unique historical status and role of the Tibetan–Yi Corridor in the entire Tibetan Buddhist cultural circle. Full article

This article critically examines the Islamic Religious Community (IRC) in North Macedonia, focusing on its significant role in influencing religious practices, socio-political dynamics, and interfaith relations within the country. Since its inception following the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the IRC has been central to redefining the public role of Islam, advocating for religious freedoms, and supporting the development of democratic values. Through a mixed-methods approach, this research traces the historical evolution of the IRC, analyzes its constitutional and legal framework, and assesses its impact on North Macedonia’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. While the IRC’s contributions to promoting interfaith understanding and national stability are highlighted, the study also critically engages with the institution’s shortcomings, particularly the controversies related to its leadership and the challenges posed by its political entanglements. These issues have, at times, compromised the IRC’s efforts in fostering social cohesion and interfaith harmony. The findings provide valuable insights into the complex role of religious institutions in enhancing social stability and democratic governance in diverse societies, positioning the IRC as a significant case study with implications for similar contexts globally. Full article

Objective: The study was designed to compare intentions to receive COVID-19 vaccination by race–ethnicity, to identify beliefs that may mediate the association between race–ethnicity and intention to receive the vaccine and to identify the demographic factors and beliefs most strongly predictive of intention to receive a vaccine. Design: Cross-sectional survey conducted from November 2020 to January 2021, nested within a longitudinal cohort study of the prevalence and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 among a general population-based sample of adults in six San Francisco Bay Area counties (called TrackCOVID). Study Cohort: In total, 3161 participants among the 3935 in the TrackCOVID parent cohort responded. Results: Rates of high vaccine willingness were significantly lower among Black (41%), Latinx (55%), Asian (58%), Multi-racial (59%), and Other race (58%) respondents than among White respondents (72%). Black, Latinx, and Asian respondents were significantly more likely than White respondents to endorse lack of trust of government and health agencies as a reason not to get vaccinated. Participants’ motivations and concerns about COVID-19 vaccination only partially explained racial–ethnic differences in vaccination willingness. Concerns about a rushed government vaccine approval process and potential bad reactions to the vaccine were the two most important factors predicting vaccination intention. Conclusions: Vaccine outreach campaigns must ensure that the disproportionate toll of COVID-19 on historically marginalized racial–ethnic communities is not compounded by inequities in vaccination. Efforts must emphasize messages that speak to the motivations and concerns of groups suffering most from health inequities to earn their trust to support informed decision making. Full article

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to numerous tragic deaths all over the world. Great efforts have been made by worldwide nations for COVID-19 targeted vaccine development since the disease outbreak. In January 2021, the Chinese government started to provide free vaccination among nationwide communities, which was optional for citizens. As no evidence has been provided so far regarding COVID-19 vaccination acceptance since the initiation of nationwide vaccination, this study aims to investigate COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among Chinese citizens as well as its associated factors as an attempt to bridge such gap embedded in the current literature. An anonymous cross-sectional study was conducted online in March and April 2021 among adults, with the survey questionnaire designed based on the framework of the health belief model (HBM). Information on socio-demographics, risk perception, past pandemic-related experience, awareness of vaccination as well as acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination were collected. Chi-squared test and multi-level regression were performed to distinguish the acceptance between different groups as well as to identify the significant predictors. A total of 3940 participants completed the survey, with 90.6% of the participants reporting strong willingness to get vaccinated. A list of factors were found to be significantly associated with individuals’ acceptance of vaccination, including the region of residence, ethnicity, annual income, whether or not they had experienced a major pandemic event in the past, risk perception of the COVID-19 as well as the awareness of receiving vaccination. Safety concerns about the vaccine (27.7%), concerns about receiving vaccination immediately after newly developed vaccines were released into the market (22.4%) as well as concerns about the potential side effects induced by vaccination (22.1%) were identified as the primary reasons of residents’ resistance against vaccination. Overall, residents demonstrated strong willingness to receive vaccination against COVID-19 in China. However, the improvement of vaccination-related knowledge among Chinese residents should be highlighted as a critical strategy to facilitate the penetration of nationwide vaccination in order to ultimately achieve the establishment of herd immunity in China. Full article

Singapore is a multi-ethnic country with a great variety of traditional ethnic cuisines. In this modern society where there is an increasing prevalence of obesity, it is important to know the nutritional content and energy density of our foods. However, there have been little data on the nutritional content of our local foods. The energy density and nutrient content of 45 commonly consumed meals by three ethnic groups in Singapore (Chinese, Malay, and Indian) were assessed in this study. Chinese, Malay, and Indian cuisines had an average energy density of 661, 652, and 723 kJ/100 g, respectively. Moreover, the macronutrient content is different between the different ethnic groups. Compared to Chinese and Malay cuisines, Indian cuisine contained lower protein but higher fat and carbohydrate content (p = 0.03). From the mineral analysis of the ethnic foods, we found out that Chinese cuisines contain significantly higher sodium (average of 238 mg/100 g) than Malay cuisines (p = 0.006) and Indian cuisines (p = 0.03). Knowing the caloric density and nutrition content of local ethnic foods may aid hawkers and government officials in developing healthier options to tackle Singapore’s obesity epidemic. Full article