Journal of Special Treatment, 2025.11.(SI) - full text

This study investigates the role of religion in shaping inter-ethnic marriages in the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan, specifically focusing on five rural villages: Zhana Iqan, Shornak, Turki Poselkasy, Hantagy, and Sayram. With a historically diverse population composed of various ethnic groups—such as Kazakhs, Uzbeks, and Tatars—the region presents a unique case for examining how religious practices influence family life, marriage dynamics, and ethnic integration. Based on 45 semi-structured interviews conducted during the first phase and 40 interviews and observations during the second phase of fieldwork, the study reveals that religion is a central component in everyday family interactions, impacting child-rearing, marital relations, sexual education, and broader social integration. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative data from interviews and participant observations with quantitative data from structured questionnaires, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of religious practices. The findings highlight that religion not only informs inter-ethnic marital dynamics but also reinforces cultural and familial roles within the broader social fabric. The study contributes to discussions on the intersection of religion, ethnicity, and family life, emphasizing how religious flexibility and adaptation occur in response to practical life challenges. Additionally, the study underscores the role of women within these marriages, particularly in negotiating religious and cultural expectations, thus contributing to the understanding of "lived religion" in diverse social settings.

This study investigates the impact of organizational culture on ethical leadership and employee performance within the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in Jordan. The research uses a qualitative methodology comprising semi-structured interviews and direct observation to examine how core cultural values such as integrity, accountability, and collaboration influence leadership behaviors and operational outcomes. Findings reveal that the Ministry's culture significantly promotes ethical decision-making and fosters employee motivation; yet hierarchical rigidity poses challenges to creativity and inclusivity. The study highlights the interplay between cultural values, ethical leadership, and performance, emphasizing the need for structural reforms to align operational practices with cultural ideals. 

Nomads are a group whose axis of social communication is organized based on relative, causal, real, or ideal kinship. Shahsun lived in parts of northwestern Iran, especially Mughan and Ardabil. Shahsuns are one of the most important and famous nomads of Eastern Azerbaijan province and have a long history. Shahsun nomads have special customs and traditions. Their life is mostly based on the animal husbandry economy, and agricultural activities are at the next stage of importance. They had special local clothes such as Petawa and Charuq, which are indicators of Ilat Shahsun's clothing. Among the special arts of Shahsun, I can mention handicrafts, the most important of which is Varnish weaving, as well as music and the use of various instruments such as Reeds, Tutak, Tar, and Garman, which are popular among these nomads. They live in the region of The beauty of Arsbaran is that in their way of accommodation, it is possible to mention the use of pavilions, Kome, and Chatma. Apart from field research and objective observations and experiences, the present article is an analytical study and review of texts and documents related to the history of Shahsuns. This research is based on the opinion of the French anthropologist Marcel Moss, who believes in the in-depth research method, that is deep observation and study about a limited community like nomads. What is followed in this research is to investigate and analyze the culture, beliefs, religious practices, and social behavioral patterns of the Shahsun nomads.

Studies on social movements underwent a prominent shift from the rigid division between the ‘personal’ and the ‘political’ into the feminist perspective from the renowned concept and slogan popularised by second-wave feminism in the 60s’ and 70s’ “the personal is political”, that served and was used by many movements of the time. This shift aimed to illuminate the strong link between these concepts focusing on lifestyle and the effects on culture. Following the concept of prefigurative politics (Boggs, 1997), where the embodiment of the different forms of socialties and human experiences is the ultimate goal within the political practice of a movement, this paper is based on an ethnographic case study that examines a network of five organised communities – Toestand (Brussels, Belgium), Termokiss (Prishtina, Kosova), Space Tetova (Tetova, North Macedonia), DKC Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Pomorandza (Podgorica, Montenegro). The findings show how members of these communities, who besides their respective communities are part of a joint network, engage in lifestyle choices and adopt cooperative practices as acts of resistance and transformation, challenging contemporary capitalist values and their surrounding sociocultural realities.

This paper aims to explore how indigenous communities in Indonesia play an important role in environmental management based on local wisdom that has been passed down through generations. The method used in this study is descriptive qualitative research. The data for this study were obtained through a literature review. The method employed is descriptive qualitative analysis, examined through various social, anthropological, and environmental theories. These theories highlight the close relationship between social norms, ecological knowledge, and environmental sustainability. The results of the literature study indicate that various indigenous communities in Indonesia implement sustainable ecological systems through traditional conservation practices, such as the subak system in Bali, sasi for marine and terrestrial resources in Maluku, and prohibitions on indiscriminate tree cutting in Waerebo and among the Baduy community. This system is based on cultural and spiritual values that emphasize the balance between humans and nature. However, the continuity of this indigenous system faces challenges from modernization, the exploitation of natural resources, as well as changes in land use policies and marine environmental pollution. Therefore, this study emphasizes the importance of legal protection and inclusive policies that recognize the rights of indigenous communities in environmental management. Integrating local wisdom with modern conservation policies is a strategic step towards achieving sustainable development based on the participation of indigenous communities. This study contribute to social cultural and environment areas.

The legal status of larvul ngabal represents a customary legal system that serves as the fundamental framework governing the social, political, and cultural life of the Kei Islands community. This legal system functions not only as a normative regulatory framework but also as a repository of moral values and a mechanism for conflict resolution that has been passed down through generations. This study aims to examine the contemporary relevance of larvul ngabal within Kei society and explore the ways in which this customary legal system interacts with modern legal frameworks. Employing a qualitative methodology with a historical and cultural analytical approach, this research investigates the role of larvul ngabal law in shaping social structures, resolving conflicts, and preserving customary and cultural values. The findings reveal that larvul ngabal law continues to be a central pillar in maintaining social equilibrium within the Kei community, despite the increasing integration of positive law as part of the formal legal system. The seven principal articles within larvul ngabal law are categorized into three primary legal domains, namely nevnev (criminal law), hanilit (family law), and hawear balwirin (property law). This customary legal framework fundamentally asserts that blood symbolizes life, thereby designating violence and murder as grave offenses that necessitate resolution not only through state law but also through customary legal mechanisms. In instances of disputes or customary law violations, the Kei people predominantly favor resolution through customary legal assemblies rather than formal judicial proceedings, as customary law is perceived to be more culturally congruent and socially integrative. This research contributes to the scholarly discourse on customary law and socio-legal studies, offering insights into the continued significance of indigenous legal systems in fostering social cohesion, regulating communal interactions, and preserving traditional governance structures within indigenous societies at a global level.

The research was conducted to explore how the connection between the Sabaragamuwa region and the Vedda, as identified through a literature review, is reflected in the Vedda Dance and the Sabaragamuwa Dance. Data was collected mainly through studying relevant literature, interviews, and field visits. Consequently, the data analysis of the research revealed that the diffusionism that occurred between Sri Lankan indigenous culture and Sabaragamuwa province was the root cause for the identified correlation between Vedda dance and Sabaragamu Dance. Moreover, the diffusionism of the two cultures highlighted the shared cultural influences and the interconnectedness of the two.

Descendants of slaves from the Sub-Saharan countries brought to Morocco, characterized by their special music with unique rhythms accompanied with spiritual traditions and practices for healing purposes. The Gnawa community represents an intangible cultural heritage in Morocco due to its special rituals and traditions in healing the sick from various diseases by practicing syncretic rituals, trance dances and spiritual music that makes the participant left up with ecstasy. These practices are centred in a ceremony called ‘lila’ in which women play a significant role by leading the healing rituals and communicating with the spirits that possess the participant in order to reach God.

 This article examines the connection between cultural heritage, migration, and architecture, highlighting how immigrant communities navigate identity and memory through built environments. The study investigates the reflection of the built environment in response to new environmental and social conditions. Through a theoretical analysis of heritage, assimilation, national architecture, and vernacular architecture, the findings aim to contribute to broader discussions on multicultural inclusivity and immigrant architecture's role in shaping national and local identities.

This study undertakes an anthropological analysis of Kuwaiti National celebrations. It examines the construction and reinforcement of national identity, the development of the nation-state, and how these are expressed within the local community. Through an examination of historical narratives, governmental influence, and public performative expressions, this paper aims to identify the mechanisms by which these national commemorations function as tools for collective memory, social integration, and the processing of historical trauma within Kuwait’s diverse demographic landscape. The anthropological investigation also considers the historical evolution of these commemorations, the role of governmental influence in the construction of collective memory, and the performative aspects of public participation, particularly concerning the processing of transgenerational war trauma and intergroup relational dynamics. The study's objective is to provide a nuanced understanding of how these traditions function to construct identity, facilitate social integration, and shape historical narratives within the local group context. Examining the development and historical changes of Kuwait’s National and Liberation Days reveals a dynamic interplay between official commemoration and popular expression.

Special education has shifted from a position of delivering professional services to students with disabilities to a system that seeks to encompass the broad concept of promoting quality education for students. This study examined the self-concept as correlate of academic achievement of special needs students in Kwara State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research type. Special needs students in the three local government areas in Ilorin, Ilorin South, East and West Local Governments Area constituted the total population for this research.  The researchers designed a questionnaire entitled: self-concept as a correlate of academic achievement of special needs students’ questionnaire” (SCCASNSQ). 200 questionnaire forms were administered. Research questions were answered using mean score, while inferential statistics of mean, standard deviation and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) were used to test the formulated hypotheses. The finding of the study revealed that academic ability, physical ability, social ability, emotional ability, general self-worth ability and scholastic ability influence self-concept as correlate of academic achievement of special needs students in Kwara State. More so, there was no significant relationship between self-concept and academic achievement of special needs students in Kwara state in Kwara state. There was significant relationship between religion, school type, age and self-concept and academic achievement of special needs students in Kwara State. The findings concluded that while self-concept may not directly influence academic achievement among special needs students in Kwara State, factors such as religion, school type, and age significantly impact both self-concept and academic performance. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that parents and other stakeholders in the education sector should enhance adolescents’ interpersonal relationship by strengthening their physical, social and emotional self-concepts through relevant social skills training.

From existing scholarly sources, the traditional Bukusu community in western Kenya existed on a structured socio-economic, political, and cultural framework. Gender roles were played out distinctively by men and women, boys and girls. However, external factors continue to influence the contemporary community, creating a fluid and blurry distinction of roles. This paper focuses on women's roles in the traditional Bukusu community to uncover their cultural significance and impact on social structures. This article analyzes how these roles shaped the community's identity and influenced interpersonal and generational dynamics. To achieve this objective, the study uses a comprehensive literature review methodology and authors’ observations from the Bukusu community to identify patterns, contradictions, and gaps in the current body of knowledge. The literature review synthesizes data from ethnographic studies, historical texts, and relevant scholarly works; hence, this article provides a basis for understanding the historical and cultural significance of the roles of Bukusu women. We establish that women's traditional roles in the Bukusu community were based on the community's patrilineal structure, some of which continue to be reinforced. These included marriage, fecundity, childbearing, caregiving, food security, home management, ownership and wealth sources, and craftsmanship. In contrast, others continue to undergo significant transformations due to underlying factors that are not the focal point of this paper for now. Further, women's roles are deeply rooted in Bukusu cultural values and practices, which are critical in maintaining social cohesion and transmitting cultural heritage. This work is a foundation for further scholarly work on women, culture, and change.

The brand of Catholicism that exists in the Philippines blends both Christian and folk traditions. During the precolonial period, sponsoring community rituals was obligatory for the datu (chieftain) and the local aristocracy, as these events consumed significant resources. The Christianization of the country through Spanish colonization transformed precolonial sponsorship traditions as new sponsorship practices emerged among the local elites, aligning them with the veneration of the santo (images of saints) and the fiesta (the feast of the town’s patron saint). This article explores a distinct Catholic sponsorship system in the Southern Tagalog region called sayaw ng bati or bati, a dance ritual performed in Angono, Rizal, during Easter. Based on in-depth interviews conducted with three performers, the article provided an overview of bati as a sponsorship system, focusing on the process of becoming a performer and the corresponding motivations, the material and economic aspects of the practice, and the positioning of bati within the context of panata (devotional pledge).

The way Vietnamese immigrants in Budapest negotiate their multiple identities is by all means but simple. It is a mix of personal belongings, culture, and how society sees them. In today’s more and more globalized world, people move between different cultures all the time, adjusting themselves to new social rules and expectations. Identity is not something fixed—it changes all the time, influenced by both a person’s background and the pressure to fit into the new society. For Vietnamese immigrants in Budapest, this idea means trying to keep their traditions and connections to their community while also finding a place in Hungarian society. In this process, big questions come up: Where do they belong? Are they accepted or excluded? How do they define themselves? The immigrant experience is often full of mixed feelings—sometimes they feel close to both cultures, sometimes they feel distant from both. They are always rethinking where they stand between their old home and their new. This paper attempts to explore the ways Vietnamese immigrants in Budapest navigate through the host society while balancing their multiple identities in a multicultural context.

As the study of human cultures, traditions, and the way communities develop their cultural identities, cultural anthropology analyzes how various groups develop and evolve in different socio-cultural environments. The primary focus of this scientific field of studies is the investigation of migration, diasporas, and cultural exchanges which represent the main factors contributing to identity creation and adaptability within heterogeneous contexts. Within this framework, this paper explores inter-diasporic relations. More specifically, the Tunisian diaspora in Hungary and its contacts with other Arab and Muslim populations, particularly Turkish, Moroccan, and Syrian groups, in addition to their interactions with locals and other different groups.

 Invitation to the 10th ’Special Treatment” International Interdisciplinary Conference

Call for TéT-2025/LandS-2025 Conference