In ‘no man’s land’: the im/mobility of Serb NGO workers in Kosovo

While the technical dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade proceeds, inter-ethnic tensions in the city of Mitrovica in north Kosovo continue to instil uncertainty and insecurity among its inhabitants. This article delves into the im/mobilities for NGO work that the ethnic and conflict related division of the town poses for local Serb NGO workers. The division of the city into a Serbian north and a Kosovo Albanian south, with separate political systems and influence from the international peacebuilding mission, poses obstacles for inter-ethnic cooperation between north and south NGOs. The article explores the ways in which Serb NGO workers navigate these obstacles in order to create physical, social and economic mobility for themselves. It identifies two interrelated dynamics essential to understanding the impact on NGO workers of the conflict reality: one is between national identity and ethno-political space in the context of the specific community; the other, between the local moral order of being ‘good Serbs’ and internationally formulated aims to engage the locals in peace and reconciliation work. The paper argues that the focus of international peacebuilding missions on inter-ethnic cooperation and policy influencing activities, at least for Serb NGO workers in Mitrovica, impedes the mobility of local NGOs.

Md Saidul Islam. 2014. <i>Confronting the Blue Revolution: Industrial Aquaculture and Sustainability in the Global South.</i> Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

In the context of the recent years’ events, the problem of Catalonia’s national identity is relevant not only for Spain but for Europe in general. The long-lasting academic debate between supporters of Catalonia’s independence and those who advocate its integration with the titular people of Spain has led to emergence of a large number of researches and journalistic works that analyze nationalism, inter-ethnic cooperation, public relations, features of propaganda and crowd manipulation, and other important issues. The article describes and analyzes the various approaches to studying the problem of the Catalans’ national identity, the dynamic of the thought and its national features in Spanish academic discourse in the period from early 2000s to the present. In that period, Spanish academic community formed several schools of thought focusing on the problem of national identity of particular regions. Although the schools have opposing views on the problem, they all take into account political, economic, social, cultural and linguistic factors that are able to generate scenarios of the nation’s development and face modern challenges. What makes the approaches different is interpretation of the ways and models of people unification, and analysis of the centuries-old traditions. The division of the research works on Catalan’s nationalism by the language criteria into Spanish-written and Catalan-written ones is almost equal. However, there is a stable trend to political or ideological biasing of academic texts, which results in them acquiring elements of journalistic style.

Disaster management strategies often emphasize technical and structural solutions, overlooking the sociocultural factors that shape community resilience and disaster response. In Malaysia, a multiethnic and multireligious country frequently affected by floods and monsoon storms, cultural beliefs, social networks, and traditional practices play a pivotal role in shaping disaster preparedness and recovery. This study examines how religious beliefs, community cohesion, gender roles, and traditional knowledge influence disaster management in Malaysia. A qualitative research approach was employed, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 15 stakeholders from diverse ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds. Participants, represented various religious groups and geographic areas. Their roles included local leaders, government officials, NGO workers, and community members, providing insights into how sociocultural factors influence disaster response and policy. Religious beliefs serve as both a source of resilience and a potential barrier, shaping community attitudes toward disaster preparedness. Community cohesion, particularly through gotong-royong (mutual aid), plays a crucial role in mobilizing resources and support, though it often excludes marginalized groups. Gender roles significantly influence disaster response, with women taking on caregiving responsibilities yet remaining underrepresented in decision-making processes. Traditional knowledge remains valuable, particularly in rural communities, but faces challenges as younger generations increasingly rely on modern technologies. This study highlights the need for culturally sensitive, gender-inclusive, and community-driven disaster management policies in Malaysia.Integrating sociocultural dimensions into formal frameworks can foster more adaptive and inclusive strategies. Enhancing community participation and gender inclusivity will be key to improving disaster resilience in Malaysia.

Parched landscapes, biodiversity loss, encroaching deserts and deforestation are some of the environmental crises taking place in tropical savanna and dry forests throughout the world. To date, much research into these regions has treated humans as 'outside' or as an 'impact' only. However, over and over again, examples show that in fact, humans are not external factors, but integral components of these systems. Unless we understand the human-environment relationship in these regions, we will never truly identify the causes or be able to provide solutions. This book focuses on the roles of the past, present and future human perceptions and actions on savannas and dry forests. It examines how the views of local farmers, NGO workers, government officials and international scientists differ on the links between the social and ecological components of savannas. It deals with these multiple perspectives by using systems thinking and conceptual modelling to provide a clearer and more explicit understanding and to promote better communication between the various actors concerned.

Parched landscapes, biodiversity loss, encroaching deserts and deforestation are some of the environmental crises taking place in tropical savannas and dry forests throughout the world. To date, much research into these regions has treated humans as 'outside' or as an 'impact' only. However, over and over again, examples show that, in fact, humans are not external factors, but integral components of these systems. Humans are key determinants of savannas and dry forests, affecting patterns and processes, as well as impacts on natural resources. Unless we understand the human-environment relationship in these regions, we will never truly identify the causes or be able to provide solutions. This book therefore focuses on the roles of the past, present and future human perceptions and actions on savannas and dry forests. It examines how the views of local farmers, NGO workers, government officials and international scientists differ on the links between the social and ecological components of savannas. It deals with these multiple perspectives by using systems diagramming and conceptual modelling to provide a clearer and more explicit understanding and to promote better communication between the various actors concerned.

The event was hosted and organised by IAIS Malaysia in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Malaysia and Alliance Francaise de Kuala Lumpur. The public talk is part of the French Talks series aimed at creating a space for dialogue and a bridge between French and Malaysian cultures. The event featured Abdennour Bidar, French philosopher and author of L'Islam sans soumission (Islam without Submission), and IAIS Deputy CEO, Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil, as the moderator. The event brought together a healthy crowd of 150 attendees, which included local activists, NGO workers, and representatives from the French community in Malaysia.

Many ecosystem valuation studies are conducted at regional and global scales without consideration of local values.Accordingly, the incorporation of research results into policy decisions faces implementation challenges at the local level. We examined communities’ values and perceptions of ecosystem services provided by old-growth oak forests by using qualitative approaches, including focus group discussions, household questionnaires, participant observation and key informant interviews. Our survey consisted of people from 84 households in seven villages of Western Bhutan, who live next to the forests and utilize ecosystem services. Nine key informants, comprising local forest managers, NGO workers and researchers, were interviewed about the status of forest conservation and management in the study area. Our results revealed that these forests serve as a pool of essential resources and a natural incubator for spiritual wellbeing and cultural services. While forest grazing and livestock farming dominate these forests as important livelihood activities, fresh water and non-wood forest products of high commercial value were identified by all stakeholders as the most important ecosystem services for rural subsistence and income generation. Local communities believe that these forest resources and services will decline sharply in the future, becoming scarcer due to pressures from an increasing population and forest degradation caused by climate change. This is the first in-depth study on the ecosystem services from old-growth oak forests in Bhutan to document people’s perceptions of ecosystem services, trends and management options that are imperative for developing management guidelines, strategies and policies. The study has wider implications for managing old-growth forests to maintain ecosystem services and the wellbeing of Bhutanese people and others in the Eastern Himalayas.

This article discusses the mediating role of service providers between citizens and refugee reception policies. Based on an analysis of interviews with local government officials and NGO workers and observations in two districts of Istanbul, I examine the ‘street-level justifications’ that service providers use to counter anti-refugee resentments expressed by the citizens. The article suggests that as street-level bureaucrats endeavour to justify their work with refugees through three types discursive strategies; cultural similarity, call for empathy, and pragmatic explanations. Such strategies by constantly re-defining us and them, bear implications for social cohesion. The article offers a meso-level analysis of refugee reception policies in the Turkish context and highlights the limits of initial hospitality. The findings have wider implications for other contexts where the settlement of displaced or migrant populations is rather nascent, policies are top-down and where bureaucratic structures mediate among displaced populations, citizens, and the resources available to them.

The event was hosted and organised by IAIS Malaysia in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Malaysia and Alliance Francaise de Kuala Lumpur. The public talk is part of the French Talks series aimed at creating a space for dialogue and a bridge between French and Malaysian cultures. The event featured Abdennour Bidar, French philosopher and author of L-Islam sans soumission (Islam without Submission), and IAIS Deputy CEO, Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil, as the moderator. The event brought together a healthy crowd of 150 attendees, which included local activists, NGO workers, and representatives from the French community in Malaysia.

This paper deals with the public perceptions of the national identity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has been in flux throughout history. Hence, the common national identity was replaced by exclusive ethnic national identities and ideologies of Bosnians, Serbs, and Croats. In particular, the post-war period, marked by unrest and ethnic tension as well as the socio-political and economic challenges, contributed to exclusive ethnic national identification. The research examined the level and importance of national identity to Bosnians, Serbs and Croats and the way they express their national identity through loyalty to the country and national identity markers while recognizing current socio-political and economic challenges. The research indicated that the main ethnic groups maintain their radical and exclusive ethnic national identities, which significantly affected state functioning, stability, security and prosperity of the country. Therefore, the Bosnian society should put emphasis on diversity, dialogue and trust, whereby exclusive ethnic national identities of Bosnians, Serbs and Croats are countered and balanced by civic, nation-state and institution-based identity models.

A powerful, uncompromising explanation of how subtle sources of hatred contained throughout our media and culture have resulted in a tolerance for hate crimes in America. How is hate engendered, and what causes hatred to manifest as criminal behavior? Hate Crime in the Media: A History considers how in America, perceived threats on national, physical, and/or personal space have been created by mediated understandings of different peoples, and describes how these understandings have then played out in hate crimes based on ethnicity, religious identity, or sexual identity. The work reveals the origins of hate in American culture found in the media; political rhetoric; the entertainment industry, including national sports; and the legal system. Each chapter addresses historical questions of representation and documents the response to those considered intruders. The book also examines trends in hate crimes, the resulting changes in our legal code, and the specific victims of hate crimes. Provides readers with an understanding of how deeply embedded in daily cultural practices the roots of hatred are in American culture Spotlights the role of cultural institutions such as the media, political rhetoric, and the entertainment industry in fostering an atmosphere of hate Portrays hate crime as unexceptional in American culture rather than isolated acts of deviant individuals Examines media depictions of those considered Other throughout American history, including enemies during war, immigrants, different racial and religious groups, and those whose sexual identities have been deemed Other

This article discusses a new study of moral values of equality in a multi-ethnic society in Kazakhstan, which has not yet been considered in the state. The research shows the level of progressive moral principles, in the period of pronounced ethnic paradox of modernity of Kazakh society in the inter-ethnic cooperation both inside and beyond the country and that ethnic prejudices are the result of forming and development of specific semantic barriers, arising up in the conditions of interethnic co-operation and people’s communication. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12731/2227-930X-2012-1-3

This article explores the social structure, administrative system, and economic development of Al-Andalus during the period of Muslim rule. Al-Andalus experienced significant cultural, scientific, and economic growth, driven by interethnic cooperation, an effective governance model, and a thriving economy. Goals and objectives – The primary aim of this research is to analyze the composition of social groups, their interactions, the administrative framework, and the factors influencing economic progress in Al-Andalus. The study seeks to determine the role of ethnic groups in society, evaluate the efficiency of the governance system, and examine economic development trends using historical sources. Despite ethnic tensions between Arabs and Berbers, cultural integration continued. The administrative system was well-structured, ensuring stability and military strength. Economic growth was fueled by urban prosperity, trade expansion, and agricultural advancements. The flourishing of Islamic sciences and the Arabic language further enriched society. The combination of cultural exchange, strong governance, and economic success made Al-Andalus one of the most prosperous regions of the medieval Islamic world. This study also contributes to the development of national historiography.

The research is based on the features of the influence of interethnic relations on the development of cross-border cooperation. It is noted that, provided effective ethno-national policies are implemented, multi-ethnic border regions have the advantage that national communities facilitate cross-border cooperation, and they often act as intermediaries in inter-regional relations. It has been proven that interethnic relations have a significant impact on the development of cross-border cooperation, in particular the importance of local authorities and national governments, which have a significant role to play in the issues of inter-ethnic relations in the region. It is argued that in the development of cross-border cooperation, greater emphasis should be placed on programs and projects aimed at improving the coexistence and development of national minorities in the border regions where they are most often living compactly, in particular representatives of national minorities; as a factor of European integration. For the successful development of cross-border cooperation, it is important to understand the needs and interests of the ethnic communities of a particular region, and to take into account historical, cultural factors. It is noted that the integration model is effective in the development of cross-border cooperation, since it enables different ethnic groups and national minorities to maintain their national identity, as well as to participate in regional and inter-state cooperation. Each interethnic community in Europe has its own peculiarities, and therefore the general list of recommendations included in the European Charter does not list the granting of large permits to municipal regions. However, these documents formed the basis for cross-border cooperation in European regions, and the provisions contained therein strengthened activities in this field. An important fact is that most inter-ethnic cooperation activities are within the structures of the European Union. The most common term is "territorial cooperation" or "cross-border cooperation", which are understood as different types of cooperation programs. These programs support the promotion and implementation of joint projects of an international nature throughout the European Union and its neighbors. A specific form of cross-border cooperation is Euroregional. Its characteristic feature is the institutionalization of cross-border cooperation structures. These structures may be: interethnic associations, councils, secretariats, committees, working groups, etc. Euroregional cooperation is carried out within the Euroregion. The Euroregion can be seen as a formal structure of cooperation, adopted on the basis of agreements between interethnic local and regional authorities in order to deepen economic and social cooperation. It is emphasized that the European experience of using the opportunities of cooperation with national minorities in multiethnic regions is of great importance for Ukraine, in particular, the work of the Council of Europe, the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), the Association of European Border Regions, which receive considerable attention, is useful. national minorities in the development of cross-border cooperation. European experience demonstrates that, with proper organization of state policy and historical experience, the involvement of ethnic groups in cross-border cooperation can have a positive impact. Interethnic cooperation promotes political stability and reduces tensions in border areas, and has a positive impact on economic cooperation, development of education, science and culture. It is proved that cross-border cooperation must take into account the nature of ethno-political relations in the border regions, promote the provision of conditions for the development of ethno-cultural characteristics of national minorities and develop mechanisms of interethnic interaction, cooperation of local authorities and public organizations of national minorities.