An analysis of Islamic State’s Dabiq magazine

This article analyses Dabiq magazine to explore the strategic logic of Islamic State (IS) appeals to English-speaking Muslims. It offers the field a conceptual framework through which to analyse IS’s communications strategy and a top-down empirical study of Dabiq’s contents. This paper argues that Dabiq appeals to its audiences by strategically designing in-group identity, Other, solution and crisis constructs which it leverages via value-, crisis- and dichotomy-reinforcing narratives. By fusing identity- and rational-choice appeals, IS provides its audiences with a powerful ‘competitive system of meaning’ that is designed to shape its readership’s perceptions, polarise their support and drive their radicalisation.     

Elite‐nonelite linkages in Australia: An empirical analysis

Research conducted in Europe and the United States has shown that the nature of the linkage between the elite and the non‐elite is crucial in modern democratic societies. With data drawn from matched samples of the workforce, and of leaders in government, business and trade unions, this paper uses multivariate analysis to examine attitudinal linkages between the elite and the non‐elite in Australia. The results show, firstly, that there is little variation in the belief structures of the two groups, though this may be partly a consequence of the questions that were asked. Secondly, there are significant variations in where the elite and mass are distributed in these attitudes, and some additional variations within the elite itself. Finally, three hypotheses are tested to explain the differences in elite‐nonelite attitudes. Two hypotheses — that the variations can be attributed to socioeconomic status or elite networks — have little empirical foundation, while the third hypothesis — that variations in levels of information and political interest account for the differences — gains more substantial empirical support.     

‘Looked-after’ young people's voices an actor-network theory analysis

This article offers an empirical case study of ways in which ‘looked-after’ young people responded in focus groups about taking part in a survey task. These research participants are deemed by the state as in need of protection. We demonstrate that despite their vulnerable status, they are immensely resilient and capable of contributing to debates about research participation. Through the application of actor-network theory, we outline conglomerations of actor-networks involved with the materiality of their agency.     

What is network analysis,and what is it good for?

Jeremy Boissevain and J. Clyde Mitchell, eds. Network Analysis: Studies In Human Interaction. The Hague: Mouton, 1973. xiii + 271 pp. Tables, figures, bibliography, and index. $11.00 (Dutch Guilders: 29).     

The chemical analysis of oriental ceramic body compositions: Part 2—Greenwares

The results of over 130 chemical analyses of Chinese Greenware bodies are presented, obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry. A clear chemical difference is seen between the earlier Northern Zhejiang Yue wares and the later Longquan celadons. Interesting connections are observed between Northern Celadons (assumed to be from Yaozhou), Hangzhou Guan wares and early Jingdezhen Greenwares, which are tentatively explained by the flight of the Song court to Hangzhou in AD 1127, perhaps taking Imperial potters with them. The Longquan celadons contained a substantial number of kiln sherds, obtained by Nils Palmgren on his visit to the area in 1936. The availability of authentic kiln material is very unusual in Western studies of this kind, and particular attention is paid to these data. It was hoped to discriminate between the named kilns around Longquan (Lishui, Qikou, Yuankou, Longfeng, Jincun, Dayao, Anfu, Baoding and Wenzhou), and it proved possible to distinguish chemically the Baoding and Wenzhou products. These kilns are geographically slightly removed from Longquan itself, are probably earlier in date, and their composition appears to be intermediate between the Yue wares of Zhejiang province and the true Longquan celadons. The other kilns proved difficult to distinguish, and observed small differences are probably due to differences in date or fabric quality.     

Large-scale content analysis of historical newspapers in the town of Gorizia 1873–1914

We have digitised a corpus of Italian newspapers published in 1873–1914 in Gorizia, the county town of an area in the North Adriatic at the crossroad of the Latin, Slavic and Germanic civilizations, then part of the Habsburg Empire and now divided between Italy and Slovenia. This new corpus (of 47,466 pages) is analysed along with a comparable set of local Slovenian newspapers, already digitised by the Slovenian National Library. This large and multilingual effort in digital humanities reveals the statistical traces of events and ideas that shaped a remarkable place and period. The emerging picture is one of rapid cultural, social and technological transformation, and of rising national awareness, combining the larger European pattern with uniquely local aspects.     

Why are cut mark frequencies in archaeofaunal assemblages so variable? A multivariate analysis

Cut mark frequencies in archaeological faunal assemblages are so variable that their use has recently created some skepticism. The present study analyses this variability using multivariate statistics on a set of 14 variables that involve differential skeletal element representation, fragmentation processes, carnivore ravaging impact, carcass size and tool type. All these variables affect the resulting cut mark frequencies reported in archaeological sites. A large sample of archaeofaunal assemblages has been used for this study. It was concluded that the best estimator of cut mark frequency in any given assemblage is the percentage of cut-marked long bone specimens (probably due to its better preservation than other anatomical areas), which is determined by fragmentation and carnivore ravaging. Carcass size and tool type also play a major role in differences in cut mark frequencies. Fragmentation is also a key variable determining the abundance of cut-marked specimens. It is argued that general cut mark percentages are of limited value, given the number of variables that determine them, and that a more heuristic approach involves quantifying cut marks in a qualitative manner.     

Sasanian glass from Veh Ardašīr: new evidences by ICP-MS analysis

Forty-seven glass fragments excavated at Veh Ardašīr, in central Iraq, were analysed by ICP-MS, determining 38 chemical elements; the samples represented finished objects as well as waste and raw glass. The obtained data point to the use of sodic plant ash for the production of glass in the entire Sasanian period (third–seventh century AD), strengthening previous results from another set of fragments from the same site. Magnesium and phosphorus contents give further evidence of the possible use of different kinds of plant ash, while trace element levels and some element correlations suggest the recourse to different silica sources. As a whole, the obtained results allow one to recognize three main glass compositions, related to the use of different silica sources combined with different kinds of plant ash. The occurrence of waste and raw glass in all groups of composition confirms that at least glass working took place in Veh Ardašīr.     

A missing link? Network analysis as an empirical approach for critical physical geography

Critical physical geography (CPG) calls for integrative research on material landscapes and the socio-political dynamics of scientific knowledge production. Network analysis, a rich tradition of tools and approaches for analyzing relational information, has seen little use in the CPG literature to date. This represents a fruitful opportunity, as many of CPG's core interests—knowledge politics, histories of scientific concepts, and ecosocial relations—can be effectively analyzed using network techniques. In this article, I argue for adapting network approaches to CPG. First, I provide an overview of various network concepts, approaches, and their origins. I then discuss bibliometric network techniques for “science mapping” including co-word, co-authorship, and citation analyses. Next, I describe discourse network analysis, a recent mixed-method approach from political science. Finally, I discuss overlaps with emerging approaches from qualitative and visual network analysis. In each section, I provide existing and hypothetical examples, as well as software and visualization techniques, that demonstrate how network approaches could add new insights to CPG and related scholarship. Linking CPG with the diverse traditions of network analysis has the potential to produce new empirical understandings and bring the field into conversation with a growing body of research that spans the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities.     

Do behaviours in cultural markets affect economic resilience? An analysis of Italian regions

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relation between the economic resilience and cultural behaviour, resorting to the evidence provided by 20 Italian regions at the time of Great Recession. We consider specific cultural behaviours, which provide a specific meaning of culture; its relation with the economic resilience of regions is analysed. We document that higher levels of supplied and demanded quantity of cultural goods in a region are associated with higher regional economic resilience as measured by the ability of limiting employment drop; the relation with the considered cultural behaviours is weaker in the case of economic resilience as measured by the ability of limiting income drop. We propose possible explanations for this asymmetry.     

Roman blue-green bottle glass: chemical–optical analysis and high temperature viscosity modelling

Chemical analysis, optical absorption spectroscopy and mathematical modelling of high temperature viscosity have been carried out on five 1st–2nd century AD Roman blue-green bottle glass fragments from Coppergate, York. Modelled viscosities indicate remarkable consistency within the sample set studied and support the suggestion that temperatures of ∼1000–1150 °C were required to remelt these glasses and to provide suitable viscosities for forming articles. Iron redox ratios (Fe²⁺/ΣFe), analysed SO₃ contents and the absence of characteristic Fe³⁺–S²⁻ amber absorption bands suggest that melting conditions for all studied glasses were mildly, rather than strongly, reducing (estimated pO₂ ≈ 10⁻¹–10⁻⁶ bar). These furnace conditions are consistent with the effects of combustion gases and carbonaceous matter contained in the raw materials.     

Made in the Nene Valley? Identifying the origins of mortaria using ICP analysis

The Nene Valley, in eastern central England, was a major pottery production centre in the Roman period. Many kiln sites have been identified in the Lower Nene Valley region and, although comparatively less is known about production in the Upper Nene Valley, substantial amounts of mortaria and other coarse wares have been recovered during excavations at Roman sites in the area, and much of it is thought to be locally made. However mortaria made in the Upper and Lower Nene Valley can be difficult to tell apart, and many also have similar forms and fabrics to mortaria produced in Mancetter–Hartshill, Warwickshire. Therefore ICP analysis was used in an attempt to identify the products of different regions.     

A geographical analysis of the sea‐salt industry of North‐East England

This paper traces the evolution of the environmental implications. Future prospects for tourism in Malta since 1955. Data derived from a questionnaire survey of tourists are used to demonstrate the problems of the industry: discussion focuses on its uneven impact on the Maltese islands, the over‐dependence on British visitors, the seasonality problem, the inadequacies of the infrastructure and the industry are briefly assessed along with marketing strategies.     

Shifts in the world science centre:space–time characteristics and disciplinary analysis

Abstract

Based on 4087 data records derived from two chronological tables relating to the history of science and technology, this paper explores geographical and chronological characteristics of shifts in the centre of world scientific activity (‘world science centre’). We then go on to compare the timing of shifts in world discipline centres with shifts in the world science centre, analyse the relationship through time between dominant disciplines in Italy, Britain, France, Germany, and the USA on the one hand and ‘excavation worthy’ disciplines on the other, and attempt to discover an internal mechanism governing shifts in the world science centre related to states of development of individual scientific disciplines.