Authors:Godwin Ihemeje, Godwin Ihemeje Abstract: A representative democracy can be achieved through a free and fair electoral environment. It is at the instance of ensuring free and fair election that observation has emerged as a fundamental principle in restoring people’s confidence, trust and appraising electoral integrity for democratic development. The participation and involvement of international election observers in electoral matters aim to ensure that elections are conducted in accordance with conventional democratic ethical standards across the globe. Premised on this background, this paper seeks to examine the role of international election observers in major elections conducted in Nigeria’s fourth republic. Six international election observation bodies were sampled: National Democratic Institute (NDI), The Commonwealth Secretariat (CS), European Commission (EC), International Republican Institute (IRI), Human Right Watch (HRW) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The study unravels the essential roles of international election observers in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections in Nigeria. The paper therefore avers that international election observers have performed more than expectation in correcting previous electoral malfeasances through their dynamic reports and recommendations. Their monumental roles discerned the 2011 general election from the preceding 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections which were marred by miscellaneous electoral flaws in Nigeria. Thus, the paper recommends ultimate cooperation of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society, security agency and electorate with International Electoral Observers for the realization of sustainable democracy in Nigeria. PubDate: 2019-11-10 DOI: 10.18533/journal.v8i11.1660 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 11 (2019)
Authors:Muhsin Yanar First page: 01 Abstract: This paper examines the commodification of Bucky Wunderlick, a rock 'n' roll star, in Don DeLillo’s Great Jones Street (1998). One meaning once ascribed was 'Hell' or 'the capital of Hell'that John Milton attributed in Paradise Lost (1667). However, the meaningI will use in this paper refers to chaos or a state of extreme confusion and disorder, and the noise related to chaos. It is more specifically the noise from the loud crowds, hysterical teenagers and other groups of people crying, screaming in the stadiums, on the streets, and in the concert areas.In Great Jones Street (1998), this appears to be the crowds crave for a famous rock 'n' roll star, Wunderlick. These crowds make a chaotic noise as their worshipping to their favorite music star. They prefer not to praise his music as a form of art; instead, they champion his imageand reduce him to a worshiped sign or symbol. The paper will study why and howWunderlick, as an image, is transformed into a commodity by the crowds and market economy. PubDate: 2019-11-10 DOI: 10.18533/journal.v8i11.1759 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 11 (2019)
Authors:J. Jamaludin, Edwin Widia, Novrizal Primayudha First page: 09 Abstract: A new interior design trend is emerging in various commercial spaces such as cafes in the city of Bandung. This trend looks retro-style from the 1970s with interior features dominated by metal materials which in terms of design style are also known as industrial look. This phenomenon raises the question of what is happening in the city of Bandung in particular that is driving the interior designers to reuse the industrial look style, this is the subject matter of this paper, associated with the phenomenon of urban society today. The urban sociology and transcultural approach is used as a method to discuss existing phenomena. With the emergence of an industrial style look in the city of Bandung in particular, raised a reality regarding the integration of industrial aspects in the lives of urban people even for cafes spaces that generally display a relaxed atmosphere. The use of industrial style styles in commercial spaces such as cafes, raises the main aspects of the machine in the modern life of city residents, which is efficient and effective even for a relaxed atmosphere. The development of the city seems to have forced its citizens to compromise with problems of comfort even in spaces with entertainment and relaxed nuances. PubDate: 2019-11-10 DOI: 10.18533/journal.v8i11.1778 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 11 (2019)
Authors:Yiou Guo, Jianhua Li First page: 18 Abstract: Lin Hwai-min, one of the most prestigious East Asian choreographers in the world, established the first contemporary dance company in Taiwan, the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, which created a unique impression of Asian modern dance. Since his earliest dance works, unique balance is struck between literature and dance texts, mainland China and Taiwan, the East and the West, dance and humanities. This thesis begins from the perspectives of literary, eastern symbols, body language and music. It analyzes the artistic characteristics of Lin Hwai-min’s dance works, aiming to reveal the essence of choreographs. PubDate: 2019-11-12 DOI: 10.18533/journal.v8i11.1754 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 11 (2019)
Authors:Omobola Olufunto Badejo, Ndukaku Okorie First page: 26 Abstract: Semanticism, often using the problem of persistence as its flagship, had argued that metaphysics disputes are merely verbal and can be resolved by appeal to ordinary language. Hence, metaphysics is not a substantive discipline. This position threatens the importance of metaphysics as the basis of all rational activities. This paper identified the absurdity and inconsistencies in semanticism. This is with the aim of showing that metaphysics is a substantive branch of philosophy. The paper made use of relevant texts. Data collected from these texts were subjected to close reading. The paper used the methods of conceptual analysis, critical analysis and philosophical argumentation to acheive its objective. The paper concludes that, contrary to the position of Semanticism, there is no sufficient evidence that metaphysical disputes are mere verbal disputes, as Semanticism fails to show that ordinary language can resolve metaphysical disputes. Subsequently, metaphysics is a substantive branch of philosophy. PubDate: 2019-11-22 DOI: 10.18533/journal.v8i11.1768 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 11 (2019)
Authors:Ranran ZHANG First page: 35 Abstract: Adapted from Li Bihua’s novel, Tian Qinxin’s play Green Snake, has actually not only struck an emotional chord with contemporary audience in China, but surprisingly touched audience in Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Kennedy Center American Theater Festival as well. This paper attempts to examine why this drama, with irrevocable historical attachment and distinct nationality, moves beyond its border to reach the whole world under globalization and becomes a promising part of world literature. In particular, it argues that Green Snake, deriving its fundamental uniqueness and enchantment from a traditional folk saga that involves three worlds—human, Buddha and demon, bridges the nationality and universality by not merely presenting humanistic concern on emotional predicament in contemporary world, but also performing this play in a modern and international stage art. PubDate: 2019-11-22 DOI: 10.18533/journal.v8i11.1771 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 11 (2019)
Authors:Jhonni Sinaga First page: 40 Abstract: The goals of this study are to test and obtain the empirical evidences of the impacts of capital structure, firm growth, and profitability on firm value with dividend policy as moderator. This study uses the data from quarterly financial statements, annual reports, sustainability reports, and other reports of oil palm plantation companies listed in the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) in the years of 2009 - 2017. There are only 5 companies from the 16 companies listed that meet the given criteria for the analysis. The research results confirm that the negative and highly significant influence of capital structure on the company value during the instable global economy pointed out by the downward trend sales price of crude palm oil (CPO) can be mitigated to be positive and significant by increasing the dividend payment consistently toward the optimal stage. The weakly significant indirect impact of capital structure on the firm value through the company growth can also be leveraged into significant by implementing the same approach. This approach can also leverage the insignificant impact of company growth on the company value into significant. Taking into account the marginal benefits and costs of using the long term bank loan or bond in financing the company operation becomes more and more decisive as a result of the long investment period. The company growth’s stimulation on the profitability is not responded by the investors and makes the influence of the profitability on the company value negative and highly significant. The company growth and profitability mediate the direct effect of capital structure on the company value weakly significantly and the both function as partial mediation. The company growth does not mediate the direct influence of capital structure on the profitability and the profitability does not mediate the direct effect of company growth on the company value. PubDate: 2019-11-10 DOI: 10.18533/journal.v8i11.1770 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 11 (2019)
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