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2026 Volume 20 Issue 1
Published: 31 March 2026
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2026, 20(1): 1-29. https://doi.org/10.58664/mustjournal.2026.03.001This paper explores the issue of developing countries catching up with developed nations. It points out that most developing countries have fallen into the poverty trap or middle-income trap since World War II due to the influence of mainstream theories such as structuralism and neo-liberalism, while some East Asian economies and China have achieved rapid development. The paper proposes the theory of New Structural Economics, emphasizing that economic structure is endogenous to factor endowment structure. Development should follow comparative advantages, requiring the coordination of an effective market and a proactive government, supplemented by appropriate industrial policies. This theory not only explains the failure of previous mainstream development ideas but also aligns with the common characteristics of successful economies, providing new theoretical guidance and practical paths for developing countries to achieve sustainable growth and catch-up by leveraging their own endowments and latecomer advantages.
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2026, 20(1): 33-60. https://doi.org/10.58664/mustjournal.2026.03.002To date, research on second language reading ability has predominantly employed qualitative analysis methods, with relatively insufficient attention to quantitative analysis. This study establishes a descriptor corpus based on nine domestic and international language proficiency standards. Through term frequency statistics, n-gram extraction, and word position analysis, we reveal the characteristics of the descriptor corpus and construct a fundamental framework for second language reading ability. The framework comprises 6 dimensions with 83 indicators: scope of reading materials, range of topics, cognitive level, linguistic elements, reading speed, and degree of comprehension. The construction of this second language reading ability framework yields three key insights: emphasizing the description of learners' cognitive levels, prioritizing the specification of linguistic element scopes, and enhancing quantitative and level-based descriptions in reading ability descriptors. This study actively explores the application of language information processing techniques in the development of standards for International Chinese Language Education, offering new perspectives for research on various standards in this field.
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2026, 20(1): 61-79. https://doi.org/10.58664/mustjournal.2026.03.003Teacher's identity is the core and important driving force in teacher's professional development. Employing a narrative inquiry approach, and drawing on reflective journals, classroom observations, and in-depth interviews, this study explores the trajectory of identity transformation experienced by an international Chinese teacher within the multilingual-teaching-reform virtual teaching-research community. It is found that teacher identity changes from marginal participants to active participants, from theoretical adherents to theory-informed practitioners, from skilled teachers to teaching researchers. The construction of teacher identity was shaped by teachers' development needs and agency, the environment of virtual teaching-research community, and the interaction between teaching theory and practice. The conclusions of the study offer insights for the construction of virtual teaching-research community and for the professional development of international Chinese language teachers.
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2026, 20(1): 81-103. https://doi.org/10.58664/mustjournal.2026.03.004The imminence and necessity requirements are common conundrums in the adjudication of self-defense, both of which are prominently manifested in the context of defense within dwellings. The Castle Doctrine is a doctrinal achievement that addresses these two issues. Originating from the Anglo-American legal system, the Castle Doctrine had the broadest defensive right in the common law period, but was progressively limited in the statute period, yet both phases pertain to the interpretation of criminal law rather than its amendment. The Castle Doctrine is also reflected in the cases in China, and while drawing from it, we should distill indigenous expressions within the context of Chinese law. In terms of legal doctrines, the “reasonable belief” of the Castle Doctrine is equivalent to the “ordinary person standard” in China. In specific application, the imminence requirement for self-defense is satisfied upon an illegal entry into the dwelling, while the necessity requirement for the use of deadly force is met when the occupants' personal safety is threatened with serious violence.
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2026, 20(1): 105-126. https://doi.org/10.58664/mustjournal.2026.03.005Before the mid-20th century, the Macao Peninsula faced a scarcity of freshwater resources, making wells the core infrastructure that sustained the functioning of society and influenced the urban industrial layout and community patterns of Macao. This article elucidates the reliance on wells in certain social and civil industries, such as the water-carrying vendors, tea houses and eateries, slaughterhouses, and laundry services. It also illustrates that wells were not only a source of daily water for the populace at the time but also the foundational guarantee for the social and industrial development of the Macao Peninsula during the pre-industrialization period. The traditional well system in Macao underwent a triple value transformation, evolving from a means of livelihood to a factor of production, and ultimately into a cultural symbol. This approach to sustainable utilization of historical spaces through functional repurposing rather than simple preservation can serve as a paradigm for the conservation of cultural industrial heritage in micro-cities.
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2026, 20(1): 127-149. https://doi.org/10.58664/mustjournal.2026.03.006The May Poetry Society is the first literary group in Macau to actively champion modernism, disseminate modern poetic theories, and promote the practice of modernist composition. When reflecting on the historical position of the May Poetry Society, discussions often focus on its role in introducing and disseminating modernist trends, while rarely delving deep into how its members, who carried different cultural backgrounds, incorporated their unique poetic pursuits into a shared literary ideal. The members of the May Poetry Society often wandered between “encouraging creativity” and “pursuing avant-garde”. Although caught in this paradox, they remained unshaken due to their passionate pursuit towards Macau's literary image. Through the efforts of the May Poetry Society, the “City of Poetry” gradually took shape. By describing the literary practices of the May Poetry Society, this article seeks to highlight the overlooked aspects of the modernist poetry movement in Macau.
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2026, 20(1): 151-166. https://doi.org/10.58664/mustjournal.2026.03.007Contemporary cross-media Intellectual Property (IP)-based creative practices have posed significant challenges to traditional paradigms of literary criticism, chiefly because IP creation links textual works with commercial product chains, thereby requiring criticism to confront non-textual yet literature-related creative outputs. In response to these new forms of criticism, non-textual phenomena may be reconceptualized as forms of narrative phenomena that remain semantically affiliated with the textual work. This non-textual narrative phenomenon may be interpreted through the concept of “narrative performance”. However, the concept only summarizes the non-textual narrative of a single segment within an IP production chain. A comprehensive understanding of the entire chain necessitates the perspective of “narrative event combination”, which integrates non-textual narrative processes with textual creation. Building upon this framework, this article proposes the notion of Dynamic Narrative Aesthetic. This idea not only constitutes a critical response to IP literature creation, but also offers a forward-looking reflection on AI-generated art as an emergent technological and aesthetic trend.
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2026, 20(1): 167-198. https://doi.org/10.58664/mustjournal.2026.03.008In modern society, travel and video games serve as important means for alleviating life stress. This study aims to explore whether players' gaming experiences can transcend virtual boundaries and extend into the real world, thereby triggering travel intentions to visit the real-world prototypes of game settings. Taking the phenomenal game Black Myth: Wukong as the research object, this game not only draws inspiration from the natural landscapes of multiple Chinese provinces, but also deeply integrates elements of traditional Chinese culture into its game design. Based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) theoretical framework, this study systematically examines the influence mechanisms of spatial presence and social presence as stimulus variables, and cognitive image and affective image as mediating variables, on players' travel intentions. Analysis of 459 valid questionnaires revealed that presence positively influences players' cognitive and affective images, with cognitive image significantly driving travel intention. This study not only verifies the intrinsic mechanisms through which video games enhance tourism intent, but also provides crucial insights for the development of various cultural IP tourism initiatives. The findings offer empirical support for destination marketing strategies while proposing concrete pathways for cross-sector collaboration between game companies and tourism authorities, thereby providing universal guidance for deepening the integration of digital entertainment with the real economy.
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2026, 20(1): 199-252. https://doi.org/10.58664/mustjournal.2026.03.009As centers of economic activity, cities face pressures from population growth, resource depletion, and pollution. The Circular Economy (CE) provides a greener alternative to the traditional model, facilitating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, blindly pursuing circularity may undermine long-term sustainability. Compared to advanced economies, the CE remains sparsely implemented in emerging economies. There is still controversy surrounding the relationship between urban CE and sustainability. This study analysed the CE principles adopted in developing countries, aiming to monitor and assess the consistency between urban circularity and the SDGs. The findings suggest that the number of CE principles mentioned in definitions has increased over time. Environmental indicators closely align with various SDGs, while economic indicators are linked to SDGs 8 and 9, and social indicators to SDGs 2 and 3. Furthermore, the study notes that digital technologies have great potential to improve efficiency and advocates a multi-dimensional approach. The novelty of the research lies in deepening the insight of urban circularity, identifying linkages between indicators and SDGs in emerging economies, and spotlighting the key role of digital technologies.
