This article examines the role of status in the life of Venezuelan migrants (asylum seekers and refugees) living in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). The non-compliance by T&T with international obligations toward the protection of asylum seekers and refugees, places these Venezuelan migrants in a precarious situation due to the intersectional and layered nature of their status in T&T. The consequence of their legal status results in the targeting of Venezuelan migrants for having irregularly entered T&T. Racial and ethnic markers of status, along with sociocultural status are linked to attitudes of xenophobia by T&T nationals toward Venezuelan migrants and reinforce challenges of integration. The totality of these consequences of status on the reality for Venezuelan migrants in T&T undergirds a persistent state of fear. In an attempt to facilitate acceptance in T&T, they hide their accent, primary language spoken, and other aspects of their culture. Their voice is silenced but their stories are told through the advocates who work with them in T&T. In the midst of a hostile environment, these advocates use their status as T&T nationals to illuminate the fear-filled realities of Venezuelan migrants in T&T.

We conducted two studies using the concentration grid exercise to assess the effects of practice in silence (Study 1) and practice with loud music on the background (Study 2) on performance, attention, core affective states (arousal and pleasantness), and alpha, beta, and theta brain waves. In Study 1, we recruited 12 participants, 6 males and 6 females ( M = 27.50, SD = 8.27). In Study 2, we recruited 12 participants, 6 males and 6 females ( M = 26.36, SD = 6.67). For both Study 1 and Study 2, no significant effects were observed for performance, attention, and core affect. Marginal significant effects were observed for attention and arousal, suggesting loud music was a distraction to at least some participants. Across both studies, the electroencephalogram data revealed significant differences in alpha, beta, and theta power across pre-test and post-test trials. Collectively, these findings support the neural efficiency hypothesis; in that practice leads to a more quiescent brain state in both silent-practice and music distraction conditions. These findings also suggest that the concentration grid exercise can be an appropriate tool for research and practice.

Published research on the predictors of police officer life satisfaction in terms of workplace variables is important but limited; research concerning police officers in China (despite the large number of officers employed there) is even more limited. This study tests the hypotheses that perceptions of procedural and distributive justice would be related to the life satisfaction of Chinese police officers in three major Chinese areas: southern, central, and western China. Both procedural justice and distributive justice were significantly associated with higher life satisfaction. These results indicate that enhancing police life satisfaction likely involves enhancing procedural and/or distributive justice.

The demands and occupational hazards of urban police work are well-researched, particularly concerning officer exposure to traumatic events and high-pressure situations and its implications on officer well-being. However, often overlooked is the need to examine policing and its impact on the well-being of police officers within rural landscapes. This article considers the unique contours of officer well-being in rural Australia, assessing how it is uniquely shaped by “place and space” and contrasts with urban policing challenges. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with police officers serving in rural Australia ( N = 19). Our findings reveal a complex dynamic within rural police work regarding officer well-being. A predominant sentiment was the allure of rural policing, which many officers lauded as “the best job in the cops.” However, beneath this appealing facade lies a unique set of challenges. Officers find themselves deeply integrated within the community, making them perpetually accessible. This lack of distinction between personal and professional roles, combined with the inevitable loss of anonymity, has implications for officer well-being and law enforcement through police discretion as a place-based relational skill. We argue that policymakers and police command must recognize and address these unique dynamics to ensure the well-being of officers and foster healthier community-police engagements in rural areas.

Police officers operate in one of the most demanding and high-stress professions. Frequent exposure to critical incidents, coupled with a general reluctance to seek mental health support, contributes to elevated rates of adverse psychological outcomes among police officers. While prior research has examined the impact of critical incident exposure, less is known about how specific types of exposure relate to occupational burnout, and how mental health help-seeking attitudes may influence occupational burnout. This study addresses the knowledge gaps by analyzing survey data from 734 police officers in Taiwan. Results from ordinary least squares regression indicate that exposure to personal threats and secondary trauma significantly predicts higher levels of occupational burnout. In contrast, more positive attitudes toward mental health help-seeking are associated with lower burnout levels. These findings highlight the need for mental health interventions tailored to officers’ exposure profiles and underscore the importance of fostering a supportive organizational culture that normalizes and encourages help-seeking behavior.

The effects of a single stroboscopic training session on anticipating tennis serve direction were explored. Intermediate tennis players in both the stroboscopic training ( n = 16) and control ( n = 16) conditions completed 40 pretest and 40 post-test service video clips, prompting them to indicate the serve trajectory direction. Identical on-court training was provided for both conditions after the pretest, in which each participant was asked to return 40 tennis serve shots. In the experimental condition, participants performed the task wearing stroboscopic glasses, whereas those in the control condition performed the task naturally, without any glasses. Response accuracy and reaction time (RT) were measured. Results revealed that stroboscopic training significantly improved response accuracy. However, there were no significant differences in RT between conditions. The present study indicates that a single training session can improve the anticipation of serve trajectory detection in tennis. Further research must examine the transfer to the natural environment and investigate anticipation in other types of tasks, such as during play in tennis and in other sports.

Traditional explanations of Major League Baseball (MLB) historical episodes (e.g., designated hitter rule introduction; lowering of mound; steroid era) tend to presume that attendance (gate demand) is positively impacted by increased league-wide offense. Previous economics studies find some supporting evidence. We employ concepts related to the relatively advanced concept of Wins Above Replacement (WAR) to test these findings. Using WAR components related to offense, defense, and pitching and conditioning upon team fixed effects, we find that the marginal attendance effects of wins from each category are statistically identical in models that use actual team wins as an explanatory variable. However, when we employ expected team wins taken from Vegas over/under season win predictions as an explanatory variable, we estimate that more offensively oriented teams experience a statistically significant decrease in attendance. Therefore, we find some evidence that fans might dislike offense relative to defense and pitching. At the least, we find no evidence that fans prefer offense. Given the present results and those of Ehrlich et al. (2020) showing a salary premium paid to MLB offensive production, we conclude that neither equilibrium win nor profit-maximizing behavior—nor any strict mix of the two—could be driving MLB labor market outcomes.

Since its introduction in 1990, the Soft Power paradigm impacted how states secure their interests and obtain their foreign policy goals. In this article, we assert that the world is undergoing a process of profound structural change that will culminate in a modern-day Triumvirate as global power will be held by three giants—China, India, and the USA. In such a world, the relative power of individual states will diminish, leading to new forms of collective bargaining, which we term Strategic Alliances. Collectively, Alliance members may alter the behavior of a Giant. To introduce the theoretical foundations of Strategic Alliances, we use the case studies of the Abraham Accords and China-Pakistan ties. Key to our work is the realization that the Soft Power paradigm can no longer account for how states obtain foreign policy goals. In a world of Giants, the role of norms and values is being supplanted by shared interests and shared threats, while states with opposing sets of ideals are joining to secure their interests. The concept of Strategic Alliances can help policymakers understand and navigate this new world. Specifically, policymakers can seek to position their state as a beneficial member of different Strategic Alliances.

Uganda possesses one of Africa’s most comprehensive integrity toolkits, yet corruption indicators have shown minimal improvement since the National Resistance Movement assumed power in 1986. This paper reassesses the country’s reform efforts using a convergent mixed-methods approach that integrates time-series analysis of the Corruption Perceptions Index, World Bank Control of Corruption scores, and Afrobarometer bribery data; thematic analysis of 14 elite interviews and media stories; and documentary review of laws and agencies established since 1986. Applying lenses of institutional isomorphism, neo-patrimonial political economy, institutional multiplicity, and reactive versus proactive approaches, the study identifies a persistent “reform misfit.” Corruption Perceptions Index scores remain stagnant below 30, the World Bank percentile has declined from 27 to 18, and self-reported bribery has risen to 38%. Flagship initiatives, including the 2010 Whistle-Blower Act and the 2018 State House Anti-Corruption Unit, have produced only temporary improvements. Joint-display matrices show that while sensational “naming-and-shaming” tactics spike following scandals, they rarely lead to prosecutions, fueling public disillusionment. The evidence highlights six failure mechanisms: isomorphic mimicry, neo-patrimonial incentives, overlapping mandates, reactive bias, regional illicit-finance gaps, and a contested media space. The paper recommends mandate rationalization, preventive risk mapping, cross-border asset recovery, stronger whistle-blower and media protections, and the creation of citizen audit panels. Without such realignment, Uganda’s anti-corruption efforts will continue to struggle against systemic challenges.

This research aims to explore individual-level reactions to protest and counter-protest interactions in Georgia. Since gaining independence, societal polarization has been a defining aspect of Georgian society. While earlier divisions centered around government support, recent issues—such as LGBTQ rights—have intensified both protests and counter-protests. The literature has documented the dynamics of protests and counter-protests in various contexts, highlighting their impact on each other and on public discourse. However, the influence of these dynamics on public support—particularly through the lens of emotional and cognitive shifts—remains relatively unexplored, especially in the Georgian context. Based on 66 in-depth interviews, this article examines how the dynamics of protests and counter-protests affect bystanders’ perceptions. Three narratives of judgment were identified to depict sequences capturing the development of these attitudes. These narratives reflect shared emotional tones that shape the trajectories of individual perceptions. This research contributes to the literature on social movements by demonstrating that the presence of counter-protests can fundamentally alter the emotional landscape and cognitive (moral) judgments of bystanders. It also details the argumentative basis of such changes. Furthermore, it extends the theoretical framework of protest–counter-protest dynamics by showing how these interactions create new emotional fields for identity alignment and public discourse in polarized societies.