Democracy : from theory to dictatorial dyspraxia to anarchist eupraxia

In theory: Democracy is the “rule of the people by the people and for the people” (Lincoln, 1863). In practice: “Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few” (Shaw, 1903). This paper addresses the gap between democratic theory and practice by attempting to analyse “democracy’s crisis of meaning” (Trend, 1996:7). It examines the processes through which the theoretical ideal of rule by the people is despoiled to dictatorial practices, typified by regimes of democratic dictatorship arising from the authoritarian rule of representative forms of democracy resulting in the tyranny of the powerful, to regimes of dictatorial democracy arising from the totalitarian rule of global neo-liberal capitalism. These contradictions indeed suggest “more than a simple gap between theory and practice” (Trend, 1996:9) and demand a new praxis for democracy. Despite the hegemonic dyspraxia of these kleptocratic and corporatocratic regimes on both a local and global level, the eupraxia of anarchism through co-operative forms of self-governance offers a glimpse of hope for democratising democracy by closing the gap between theory and practice.peer-reviewe

Non-voting : disconnecting from partisan politics

Through the issue of electoral abstention, this paper examines partisan disconnections arising from demobilization and dealignment trends in Malta: a country characterized by ‘near universal turnout’ and strong party loyalties. This socio-political understanding of turnout is examined within a triangular framework, addressing the macro-institutional and micro-individual dimensions of abstention. Apart from the wider socio-political and cultural milieu, several demographic, institutional, and psychological variables are related to turnout. A typology based on the regularity and rationale of abstention proposes four main types of non-voters: ideological, antagonistic, indifferent, and circumstantial. The typology further differentiates between passive and active non-voters and insiders and outsiders to the political system. Despite their vast heterogeneity, non-voters tend to be younger, better-educated, more liberal, and more supportive of left-wing ideology. Non-voting is largely typified by voluntary, strategic, and rational forms of political expression, arising from cognitive mobilization and political protest against present modes of governance. There are some signs that Maltese citizens are becoming more critical and distrustful of political parties and representative forms of democracy. This is also reflected in a more rational assessment of parties through increased floating and cross-party voting, as well as increases in non-electoral forms of political participation. These non-traditional patterns of behaviour present both evidence of partisan dealignment, as well underlying calls for political realignments.peer-reviewe

Early school leaving and wellbeing in Malta and beyond : a statistical analysis

Early school leaving is a complex educational, economic, and social issue with significant negative consequences for individuals, societies, and national economies. While Malta has been applauded for its fast declining rates of early school leaving, the country is still significantly above the EU average and above the rate of early school leaving in all other EU countries, bar one. Due to inherited educational structures and prevailing social, economic, and labour market conditions, Malta is recently experiencing slower rates in decline of early school leaving and a slight increase in the number of females in the early school leaving bracket. One hopes that recent comprehensive measures included in the Malta National Reform Programme and Education policies of recent years will contribute to the further decrease of the early school leaving rate in Malta, hopefully close to the ambitious target of halving the ESL rate from 20.4% to 10% by 2020. This study aims to contribute to the ongoing analysis, debate, and efforts focused on the reduction of the early school leaving rate by providing relevant evidence for understanding potential links between early school leaving and various aspects of wellbeing. The study also sets out to identify the knowledge gaps that exist in this domain and to prepare background information for a potential second phase of the study, which would focus on conversations with early school leavers around issues flagged by the present study. Ultimately, we intend for this research to prepare the way for future applied studies of early school leaving.peer-reviewe

Usury : causes and impact on wellbeing

As neo-liberalism became the accepted way of life, profit on interest has lost its negative and unethical connotations and has become a social norm. Usury however is considered an economic crime since the lender is not an authorised financial institution and is charging in excess of the interest rate restrictions of 8% established under Maltese Civil and Criminal Law. Despite its criminalisation, usury remains a widespread though hidden phenomenon within the Maltese Islands. Usury flourishes in corrupt settings driven by extortion, fear and violence. Yet, it is not considered a vital issue in terms of policy development and evidence-based practice. The research shows that there are various factors which may lead one to turn to usury, varying from structural factors to personal circumstances. Moreover, usury has a wide-ranging negative impact on all spheres of the victim’s life, financially, socially, psychologically and emotionally. Usury is indeed a vicious cycle which perpetuates itself on both the macro-community as well as on the personal level, leading to ever-increasing traps of over-indebtedness. Soundly based on qualitative research with stakeholders involved in the field, this exposition aims to raise awareness of the causes of usury and the impact that it has on both personal and social wellbeing, whilst setting forth vital policy recommendations.peer-reviewe

Necrophilia : notorious yet obscure

Since time immemorial, necrophilia has presented itself both as a horrifying and a fascinating subject. Its taboo and perversion make it a compelling subject matter for stories, novels and movies. Yet, in spite of its notoriety, it remains relatively under-documented and under-researched within various academic spheres. Given its idiosyncratic association with the bizarre, the issue has been primarily explored from a psychiatric and psychological dimension. The issue has been largely overlooked from a legal and criminological perspective. This paper aims to address this lacuna and contribute towards a more inter-and multi-disciplinary analysis of the subject by focussing on the legal aspects of necrophilia. The study utilises comparative and documentary content analysis to examine existing legal frameworks governing sexual offences with a specific focus on necrophilia. The analysis presents the ambiguous findings that despite its unorthodoxy, necrophilia is rarely addressed as an offence on its own right and contrary to expectations, it is generally meted out a more lenient punishment than other forms of sexual offences. The paper highlights that necrophilia, both in its notoriety and ambiguity, presents us with a deviant paraphilia which, although having a far-reaching impact on perpetrators, victims and society in general, still needs to be critically re-examined and adequately addressed.peer-reviewe

The environment’s contribution for neighbourhood liveability and wellbeing in the Maltese islands

The Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549) defines the environment as including the natural and man-made elements and conditions of the air, water, land, soil and sea, layers of the atmosphere, biodiversity and landscape (Government of Malta, 2019). In the process of protecting our environment, and as part of its remit, the Environment & Resources Authority (ERA), drafted the National Strategy for the Environment (NSE). The NSE aims to provide a strategic policy for Malta’s environment until 2050 by protecting the environment, and improving our quality of life, based on the recognition that the environment is essential for the existence of society itself, whilst creating economic activity to ensure sustainability (ERA, 2022 and 2020). Underpinned by the concept of sustainability, the NSE posits that the environmental, social and economic dimensions are considered in tandem, in the recognition of the value that each contributes to the balance and healthy maintenance of society and the wellbeing of people.peer-reviewe

Abortion : breaking the barriers of patriarchy

Abortion in Malta is a taboo. Abortion in Malta is a crime. Abortion in Malta is a sin. Women who perform abortion in Malta are breaking barriers, the barriers of patriarchy. Historically, birth control has always been socially regulated. Radical feminists have indeed emphasised the control of women’s reproductive role and how this is defined and controlled as being the root of patriarchal oppression. Since the emergence of the feminist movement, the right of access to effective and safe contraception, including the right to abortion on demand, has been a focal point around which many campaigns have been fought. There has however been strong resistance to demands for women’s right to control their own bodies, with abortion on demand as of right. Traditionally, the state, religion, and the medical profession have been pivotal agents in controlling access to safe abortion and instilling the discourse that it is criminal, sinful and abnormal. Nonetheless, women have always performed abortions by any means necessary regardless of restrictive legislation, religious dogma, and medical provision, often at considerable risk to their own health and lives. Consequently, this paper will provide an analysis of the social control of abortion in Malta through examining the medico-legal-moral discourse on the issue and the experiences of women who defied and broke through the barriers of this patriarchal control.peer-reviewe

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

The human body in sculpture : from glorified idealism, stark realism to pathological nihilism

From the glorified idealism of Classical Antiquity and the perfect proportions of the Renaissance, to the stark realism and bio-morphic surrealism of the Modern period, and the blood-stained nihilism of contemporary body-pain art, the human figure has been the subject and inspiration of art works from time immemorial. The human figure offers a common vehicle for the expression of aesthetic judgement alluding to how humans are, and should be, both inwardly and outwardly. Apart from its depiction of physical attributes, the human body provides a vehicle for deliberation on the human condition and the existential nature of reality. This paper explores the representation of the human figure throughout the history of sculpture by tracing its metamorphosis and transmutation from its former glorified idealism to its contemporary distortion and disfiguration. This historical analysis questions conventional conceptions of beauty which to a large extent still pervade aesthetic taste and judgement through idealised representations of the human body and romanticised views of the human condition. This idealisation, envisioning aesthetics as to what is pleasing to the senses hinders us from the full acknowledgement and realisation of the fragility of our bodies and the precarious conditions of reality; the bleak reality that after all; “we are born and we die, and that’s it... we are potential carcasses” (Bacon, 1966).peer-reviewe

Students' participation in collaborative research should be recognised

Letter to the editor