Participation Of Actors Research Articles

Towards understanding SFSC and the pillars of its conceptualisation: Building upon the Community of Practice approach

Short Food Supply Chains (SFSC) has drawn scholarly attention for its innovative features, such as the emergence of new associational forms, proximal relations and new quality conventions. A better understanding of SFSC is attained when looking at it as alternative food networks structured around organizational relationships. Aiming toward a comprehensive conceptualization of SFSC, this paper presents the findings of a transnational empirical investigation of different cases in a search of their central and most typical features. Building upon the Community of Practice (CoP) concept, SFSC are conceptualized as co-creative processes and as constructed realities with their traits being shaped by the interaction of participating multiple-actors. The sample of this study involves nine CoPs which are located in different parts of Europe and which were studied through open space discussions (World Café) with the participation of the various actors involved in the chain from production to consumption, services, research and policy areas. The identification of the most typical and ubiquitous attributes of SFSC as they appear across different contexts is based on an exploratory analysis which defines the main frames of SFSC and identifies on their basis the pillars of the conceptualization of SFSC. These pillars are sharing, authenticity and sustainability, the first one referring to the relational aspect, the second referring to the commercialization process and the third relating to the rationale or underlying logic of SFSC. The identified pillars signify their competitive advantage because SFSC develop as dynamic alternative networks to conventional, large-scale food systems. It is envisaged that the suggested conceptualization of SFSC would contribute to a better understanding of SFSC and foster future research in this field.

On a long, narrow road: The mental health law in Turkey

This article presents the historical transformation of the mental health system and policies in the case of Turkey and discusses the challenges to their effective implementation. The mental health system in Turkey has undergone a series of reforms in three periods, namely, the institutionalization of psychiatry and hospital-based mental health services in the mid-19th century, the introduction of first-generation community-based mental healthcare services in the 1960s, and the policy of deinstitutionalization after the 1980s. In this transformation process, certain initiatives have been implemented with the participation of interested actors across periods and small but important improvements. A draft has been prepared after a series of studies were conducted with regard to mental health policies and plans. However, no results have been obtained. The necessity of the mental health law has been clear. A notion that has been known is that the mental health law, which offers a holistic perspective, positively influences the functioning of the mental health system in terms of service users and providers. However, whether or not it actually pursues these intended improvements has been subject to doubt. Until now, no mental health law has been effectively implemented in Turkey, and measuring and evaluating in which aspects the law will be successful and where it will fail have been impossible. Turkey continues to be in need of a mental health law is practical and in line with international standards for the rights of patients and supervision against coercive measures.

Assessing farmer field schools process to improve the participation of local actors: a case study in Tunisia

Assessing farmer field schools process to improve the participation of local actors: a case study in Tunisia

¿Qué mueve a confiar en la gobernanza colaborativa? Análisis de un programa gubernamental en el País Vasco

Collaborative governance constitutes an aspiration in both the study and practice of public management. In this endeavour, trust is an intangible resource that gets of special relevance, because it is assumed that in order to foster the participation of different actors in public policies it is necessary to acknowledge the value of their contributions. While the literature on citizen trust on collaborative government programs is large, works about both intra-organizational trust (between politicians and civil servants) and inter-organizational trust (from the latter to societal organizations) are scarce. This article explores the dynamics of trust between actors (politicians, civil servants and citizens) who participate in a governmental program of collaborative governance (Etorkizuna Eraikiz, Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa), and it focuses on the sources or drivers of trust.Based on the grounded theory for the thematic analysis of in depth semi-structured interviews with actors involved in the program (politicians, civil servants and civil organizations), the article explores the sources and drivers of trust by applying a typology that distinguishes formal sources (structures and rules) from informal ones (interactions). The analysis reveals that the spaces of interaction created by collaboration develop normative frameworks with strongly shared values that suggest the existence of some typical group orientation leading to trust. Based on these findings, some challenges are identified for the advancement of the study and practice of collaborative governance.

Success in agenda setting through failure in policymaking: Exploring a new policy venue in the Polish European Semester 2012–2022

AbstractThe article presents the results of a case study based on participant observation of a policy venue which was established in Poland as part of the implementation of the European Semester (ES) in 2012. The long period (2012–2022) and the rich material collected by the insider in the studied venue (as a representative of over 30 civil society organisations affiliated to EAPN Poland) provide a unique opportunity to gain insight into the participation of social actors in the coordination of economic and social policy in the European Union after 2010. The main research question addressed in the article is: why did social actors gain influence on the agenda of the policy venue, but not on national social policy? Social actors participating in the European Semester in Poland, despite strong and competent representation in the policy venue under consideration, and despite their collaboration with other stakeholders, did not directly influence national poverty reduction policies. However, they strongly influenced the agenda of the policy venue, establishing poverty as a permanent item in the agenda of the subsequent ES cycles 2014–2019. The explanation of this course of action is the institutional framework of the policy venue studied in this article, the policy advocacy strategy adopted by the social actors within it in 2013–2015 and the institutional events triggered by the pandemic in 2020–2022.

Mediaciones sociales y burocráticas en la era digital. La política social argentina en tiempos de pandemia

This article discusses the assumption that the digitalization of social policies entails a reduction in the participation of bureaucratic, social and political actors in their distribution and management. It draws on an empirical research on the implementation of the Emergency Family Income (ife) during the covid‑19 pandemic in Argentina, a massive cash transfer policy that constitutes an exceptional case of digitization. The article shows the unexpected activities of social, political and state mediators in the implementation process. Particularly, it analyses their role as operators, providers and translators of the technological devices necessary to process the policy. Thus, the article provides clues about the bureaucratic and political implications of digitization, beyond the context of the pandemic and the socio‑assistance policy.

Conceptual and Analytical Diversity of Environmental Governance in Latin America: A Systematic Review.

The analysis of environmental governance and the analytical frameworks used to study this concept in Latin America show that the term is diffuse and polysemic. The term governance refers to democratic societies that theoretically encourage the plural participation of actors in decision making to solve public or collective socioenvironmental problems. However, in Latin America, there is a broad social perception of a democratic deficit that affects the socioenvironmental sphere. The objective of this work is to determine the main trends in studies on environmental governance in Latin America, the most commonly used analytical frameworks and the predominant approaches to characterize the scientific and political uses of the concept. A systematic literature review is carried out on databases in English and Spanish, and 140 articles that consider environmental governance using various analytical frameworks are analyzed. The main finding is the predominance of a critical perspective on the effectiveness of environmental governance, as well as the associated institutional components and social organizations, because the democratic practices that should support it are questionable.

Fairtrade as a Social Innovation: Brazilian Experience of Rural Organisations

The objective of this article is to describe the dynamics of fair trade in organisations that adhered to the Fair Trade International system, based on the principles of fair trade and the dimensions of social innovation, and to identify why there was a disruption in commercial transactions. Four organisations from the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, which won the fair trade seal, were analysed. Primary data collection occurred through semi-structured interviews and simultaneous annotations and, later, secondary data were collected from official documents, articles, academic works and websites. The results show that the experiences of organisations with Fair Trade International have numerous properties of the dimensions of social innovation. There was the emergence of an emerging development model with the opportunity to work collaboratively and collectively. These changes required adaptation and new practices, as producers underwent a period of changes in their working and production. The formation of cooperatives and fair trade certification had the mobilisation and participation of various actors, who also provided collective learning, both in technical terms and in terms of civic and interpersonal management, especially for rural producers.

A Reflection on the Chinese Education System’s Responses, Problems, and Experiences during the Pandemic

The sudden outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a profound impact on the operations of education systems. China’s education system accumulated a wealth of experience from its responses to the pandemic, but it has also exposed many problems. In terms of the responses in education, timely and systematic policy actions have provided specific guidance for the smooth operation of education systems at all levels; the coordination and participation of multiple actors across different levels of government, government departments, and social organizations have effectively ensured the provision of online teaching. At the same time, however, a number of problems have appeared, including: insufficient range and systematization of courses taught online; teachers’ weak understanding of online learning and an inadequate ability to implement it; and a lack of continuity and initiative in students’ classroom participation. Moreover, online teaching has highlighted the “information gap” between urban and rural areas. Therefore, online teaching should be improved both internally and externally, focusing not only on the application of technology but also on the transformation of ideas about teaching itself; it should gradually make full use of the rich and varied structure and content of online teaching resources; it should focus on improving the “hard power” and “soft power” of rural students’ online learning in order to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas.

Service Delivery as an Outcome of Political Environment: A Perspective of State Corporations in the Energy Sector in Kenya

State corporations in the energy sector are a major foundation upon which economic, social, and political development strategies are anchored. All over the world, these institutions perform a complementary infrastructural role in facilitating economic sectors to deliver on their mandate and consequently contribute to the general welfare of societies. Extant literature presents strong empirical evidence that speedy, efficient, and responsive service delivery is imperative for the success of state enterprises and other organizations in a dynamic environment. However, despite the various government-initiated reforms and interventions and the vast commitment of resources, there are unending public concerns over the delivery of services in state corporations in Kenya. This study, therefore, sought to examine the effect of the political environment on service delivery in state corporations in the energy sector in Kenya. The target population was 124 suppliers, 5,107 end-user consumers, 1,817 employees in KPLC plus 480 employees in REREC, and 30 employees in the Energy regulator (EPRA). A sample of 380 individuals/households was selected using a two-stage random sampling procedure comprising proportionate stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Empirical data for this analysis were gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the data collection tool were assessed to confirm the suitability of the tool for use in the study. Descriptive analysis and inferential analysis were conducted on the data set that had been gathered from the field. The findings of the study demonstrated that the political environment positively contributes to service delivery among the surveyed state corporations. It is recommended that the policy framework be developed to promote activities relating to actors' participation, decision-making, and efficient flow of information in state corporations. It is apparent that the level of participation of actors in advisory boards, project initiation, and project execution is not optimal. These aspects should form the basis for policy review and development seeking to enhance the extent of actors' engagement in the affairs of state enterprises. Deliberate effort should be made to align decisions with the consensual perspectives of actors.

Interculturalidad en el nivel superior de nuestra América: algunas notas sobre la Argentina

Qualitative research was carried out under the tradition of ethnography in a case study, in which universities from America, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico participated. To have an approach to the training processes with an intercultural approach, the participation of the different educational actors (students, teachers, and researchers) proceeded to interpret the experiences, affirmative actions, projects, and collaborative community processes through intercultural dialogues under the virtual and face-to-face modality. It is concluded that within the substantive actions of teaching, research, and extension, universities have made significant progress, although only in two countries have some actions been institutionalized, autonomous efforts and self-training processes have a situated and experiential character. Likewise, attention to the diversity of students from native peoples depends on institutional policies and inclusion programs of different levels of progress for their interculturalization; as well as the dialogue of knowledge and the recognition of diverse epistemologies for the validation of local knowledge.

Assessing the water security effectiveness of integrated river basin management: Comparative case study analysis for lesson-drawing

Climate change, population growth, over-abstraction and industrial pollution are impacting the security of water resources globally, raising policy relevant questions over the optimality of institutional arrangements for their management. This paper seeks to add to this debate by assessing the effectiveness of integrated river basin management for achieving water security, in two case studies: the Konya Closed Basin in Turkey, and the Kern County Subbasin in California. A modified Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework is employed to compare biophysical, community and governance factors in these cases to show how they influence water security, measured through a dedicated set of indicators. Results show that differentials in water security outcomes between the cases is, in part, related to how organizational rules compel actor participation in planning processes and the degree of coherence between multi-level institutions, particularly inter-agency collaboration. On this basis, the paper then engages with the public policy theory literature on lesson-drawing to assess the potential for policy learning for these specific contexts and other countries. The significance of the study therefore relates to its holistic integration of governance analysis, comparative case design and lesson-drawing for informing future river basin institutional design in achieving effective water security.

Expertise and Participation in the Facebook Oversight Board: From Reason to Will

This paper explores two strategies that the Facebook Oversight Board has available to build its own legitimacy. It argues that the Board's members perform as apolitical decision-makers. With that goal, the Board has portrayed international human rights law as a set of exogenous and universal principles that human rights experts can translate and implement on social media. The paper suggests that, instead of hiding its power behind alleged translations of higher principles, the Board could try to build its legitimacy by promoting the wider involvement of civil society. The Board could wield its power to strengthen civil society's participation in Facebook's drafting of content moderation rules. The Board could then present itself as a legitimate body not because it applies international law but because it encourages the participation of more actors and defers to their judgment. Despite the many limitations of this proposal, it would include more actors in the governance of online speech instead of shielding experts from participatory politics.

A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY VIEW FOR UNDERSTANDING THE DELIVERY OF CITY-SCALE DIGITAL TWINS

Abstract. This paper presents a novel conceptualisation for how city-scale digital twins (CDTs) can be better understood through the social construction of technology (SCOT) lens. This is achieved by drawing inspiration from sociotechnical studies of CDTs, and specifically the SCOT approach. Following a discussion of the shortcomings of technocentrism and techno-optimism bias in the CDT literature, a sociotechnical understanding of their delivery (i.e., conceptualisation, design, development, and implementation) is put forward. Delivering CDTs entails interactions between multiple stakeholders across sectoral boundaries and involve a confluence of business, social and technological dimensions which will engender several multifaceted and evolving complexities. Using the SCOT approach, the paper highlights how a CDT is not a static technical artefact, but rather a transient outcome from a technological network which co-evolves with the actors involved and the goals set in a place. Implications for understanding how an iterative approach for CDT development emerges in a place as part of city smartification agenda, the role of contextual factors in the social shaping of CDTs, actor participation and (ex/in)clusion are identified and discussed as potential future research directions to expand existing knowledge.

Making science-based natural hazard risk management work within power networks –from co-production models of knowledge transfer to the Research-Integration-Utilisation (RIU) model

Decisions and measures in natural hazard risk management (NHRM) should be based on relevant current scientific information, developed within a high-quality scientific research process, to mitigate risks arising from natural hazards. Though the purportedly most advanced co-production models of knowledge transfer have been applied in many research projects dealing with NHRM, the resulting scientific information has seldom reached practitioners on the ground or political actors at the decision-making level. To overcome these limitations, this study strives first to identify additional factors beyond those factors for success that the co-production model claims. Such claims include “multi-stakeholder involvement”, assurance of actor participation, and enhancement of communication between actors, or maximisation of information sharing with them. Secondly, we want to identify concrete places where knowledge transfer indeed takes place. To do this, the novel Research-Integration-Utilisation (RIU) model for knowledge transfer was applied to the analysis of the case study of the EU Interreg Alpine Space project, GreenRisk4Alps (GR4A), which conducts research on ecosystem-based NHRM strategies. The RIU model assumes that the scientific information must be retrieved actively from practitioners or political actors and integrated into their practices, something which happens in a specific actor setting, namely, that of interest-driven actors in existing power relations. The study's first hypothesis is that the co-production model's intense focus on the multi-stakeholder aspect is inadequate for the integration of actors who are both interested and powerful, and who could implement science-based solutions effectively. It was checked against the GR4A project and its Working Plan, which originate in the co-production models of knowledge transfer. Our results clearly demonstrate that the interests and power of actors, as well as other indicators, were widely ignored by that knowledge transfer model. In contrast, the RIU model builds on these indicators and the related data to characterise actors. Actor settings can then be used to address actors selectively. This takes place in very specific places where practitioners and political actors meet to exchange science-based information. These places were identified in all the case study areas of the GR4A project, and called “integration forums” confirming our second hypothesis, i.e., that the bridges between scientific information and the powerful and interested actors are built upon these integration forums.

A multilayered network analysis of social participation in the management of Marine Protected Areas in Brazil

Effective implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) networks depends on social participation into management. In this study, a multilayered network analysis was used to understand patterns of social participation in MPA management in Brazil. To this end, managers were invited to answer an online questionnaire about interaction with social actors in 7 management activities. Engagement in management activities was represented as interactions between social actors and MPAs. Different types of management activity were represented as separate layers. All responding MPAs (n = 22) reported interactions with social actors, resulting in a network with 141 nodes connected by 182 edges. Governmental Organizations (GO) prevailed in surveillance and formal training activities, research was dominated by universities, monitoring activities were shared mainly by universities and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and community groups only had strong participation in environmental education activities. The network had low “edge loss” resilience with dependency on the participation of social actors in the management councils to maintain its current levels of connectivity. GOs that have important roles in the protection of terrestrial ecosystems have a restricted impact as higher-level coordinators of MPAs activities. Thus, the capacity building falls mainly on individual MPAs. Management councils are supposed to be the “town halls” where the different social sectors come together to discuss environmental problems in Brazil. However, some constraints must still exist, since only 51 % of Brazilian MPAs have legally instituted their councils. We suggest that their effective implementation, as ordered by law, is the best starting point to improve the dismal situation of Brazilian MPAs.

Ökologische Langzeitverantwortung im Verfassungswandel

Ecological Long-Term Responsibility in Constitutional Change In its “Windenergie”-decision, the BVerfG declared the legal obligation of wind turbine operators to involve citizens and communities in the vicinity of new wind farms in the projects essentially to be constitutional. The intention of the discussed provisions to promote acceptance for the expansion of wind energy serves the climate protection requirement under Article 20a Grundgesetz. The decision continues the line of the “Klimaschutz”-decision. The legal obligation of private persons is based on the factual necessity of the participation of all social actors to prevent climate change. The ecological long-term responsibility in Article 20a Grundgesetz is moved into the private sphere and thus, to a certain extent, subjectivized. These decisions pave the way for a constitutional change. They open up new perspectives for taking account of Article 20a Grundgesetz when weighing up the interests of freedom. Following the logic of the BVerfG, not only companies but also individuals would have to be obliged. In light of the decision, this article examines the possibilities of an emerging constitutional change toward a basic obligation (Grundpflicht) to use freedom in a sustainable manner. Thus, the discussed decision has a fundamental significance that has been too little appreciated and underestimated so far.

Governance in teaching: student participation to improve learning

This article proposes to analyze governance in teaching as another form of organizational that promotes student participation in decision-making for the improvement of learning. The category of governance in teaching emerges from the research work "The systematization of a transforming experience of teaching practice", at a doctoral level, which is in process at the Higher Institute of Educational Sciences of the State of Mexico. This category arises from the critical interpretation derived from the systematization of experiences, Latin American´s theoretical and methodological proposal developed by popular education. A method that gives voice to experiential knowledge, the transformation of practices and local knowledge. It is supported by qualitative, comprehensive, interpretive and reflective research. Governance in teaching is the result of a teaching that finds support critical pedagogy.
 This article critically dialogues with the neoliberal perspective that places governance from a market logic. This notion has been incorporated into educational policy and has been objectified in the regulations that govern the School Councils for Social Participation (Consejos Escolares de Participación Social) and in the 2017 Syllabus (Plan y Programa, 2017) particularly in the third component called curricular autonomy. The policy of social participation of educational actors proposed to improve the quality of the educational service; however, the voice of the students has been absent since its implementation. For this reason, an alternative practice of governance is introduced, derived from the experience´s critical interpretation of the research project, which is based on a teaching experience, with which findings of a new model of organization and social participation are exposed, where the students have a leading role.

Service-, needs-, and quality-based hospital capacity planning – The evolution of a revolution in Switzerland

Most developed countries spend a large amount of their health budget on hospital capacities and inpatient services. However, those capacities and services are often not comprehensively planned what leads to vague service delivery steering and non-need driven hospital facilities. Switzerland is different as the planning procedure was completely reformed in 2012 and is further refined in 2021/2022. The Canton of Zurich, the frontrunner in Switzerland, has made a comprehensive update of its hospital capacity planning model for acute, psychiatric, and rehabilitative care. The result of this model is the hospital list. This list includes all hospitals which fulfill predefined quality, efficiency, and need requirements. Hospitals on the list receive a mandate to provide inpatient treatments for specific and selected service groups (n = 196), clustered in three areas (acute care, psychiatry, rehabilitation). The underlying health care policy process is transparent and is characterized by a high participation of all relevant actors. The building blocks of the planning model are a classification system of service groups, different quality and efficiency requirements attached to these groups, and an analysis of current and future need for health care. Hospitals which are willing to perform services must apply and demonstrate that the requirements are fulfilled. The canton then decides needs-based which hospital can deliver which services.

How smart senior care can achieve value co-creation: Evidence from China.

With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, smart senior care has become a new trend for future development. The collection of “Typical Cases of Chinese Elderly Service Industry Development” is selected by the script materials. The main purpose of this article is to investigate how smart senior care can achieve value co-creation by grounded theory. This study explores the phenomenon of value co-creation in the participation of multiple actors in smart senior care services. Findings show that institutional guarantee, technical intake, market empowerment, emotional support, service interaction, and reciprocity norm are identified as the driving factors for value co-creation. In addition, the behavioral processes of value co-creation include multi-actor value consensus, co-creation environment establishment, practical value co-creation, public value sharing, and diffusion of service added value in smart senior care. Finally, this study constructs a practical logic model of achieving value co-creation. It extends and enriches the scope of the value co-creation theory. This study confirms that value co-creation can be effectively achieved in smart senior care by the above-mentioned ways, revealing its driving factors and behavioral processes. The article expands on the application of value co-creation in the field of public healthcare. The results have important theoretical and practical significance for narrowing the public service equalization gap.