Active Citizenship Research Articles

Energy Citizenship in Energy Transition: The Case of the Baltic States

The governance of energy systems is undergoing a transformative shift, vital to advancing the energy transition. Understanding the dynamics of energy citizenship and the factors that influence citizen engagement in energy matters is critical for driving social and institutional change. This paper informs on the key results of a comprehensive analysis of 54 energy citizenship cases in the Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania). The study explores the role of citizens in the energy transition and characterizes the socio-economic and geopolitical factors shaping energy citizenship activities in the region. The governance of energy systems represents a significant transformational shift that is essential for energy transition. A more comprehensive understanding of the current state of energy citizenship and the factors influencing the energy transition process could inform the social and institutional changes necessary for the involvement of citizens in energy matters. This desk study represents a crucial element of the EU Horizon 2000 EnergyPROSPECTS project, which aims to map the landscape of energy citizenship in Europe. This paper presents an in-depth analysis of 54 cases from the Baltic states. The findings provide insight into the role of citizens in the transition process and the underlying factors and conditions that shape energy citizenship activities within the specific socio-economic and geopolitical context of the region. In general, energy citizenship in the Baltic states can be seen to exist on a spectrum between reformative and transformative practices. Overall, progress is being made toward systemic changes in the energy sector, with a focus on the democratization of processes. Nevertheless, additional measures to enhance and reinforce energy citizenship, coupled with the advancement of enabling conditions, are imperative at all levels of governance and across all energy transition scenarios.

ANCIENT GREEK EXPERIENCE OF POLITICAL AND LEGAL REGULATION OF OIKONOMIA AS A BALANCE OF INDIVIDUAL AND GENERAL

The paper examines the political and legal means and ethical principles of harmonizing the interests of the individual and the general in the economic activity of ancient Greek society in the 8th–4th centuries BC. Explore the reform of the economic sphere, reveal the meaning of oikonomia, its structural components in the imagination and state legal practice of the ancient Greeks, highlight the shortcomings of legal regulation in matters of capital accumulation to level out the contradictions of the individual and the general. The ancient Greeks were aware of the antagonism between the individual and the general, understood the dynamic essence of their relationship and formed ethical and legal means of harmonizing the manifested contradiction. As a result of the pan-Athenian agreement, polic was determined as the dominant sphere, where oikonomia acted as a separate subject of citizen activity and consisted of three meanings: a) archaic form of blood-family economic activity, closed in itself, despotic in its essence and therefore destructive for the general; b) a household that naturally provides everything necessary for a patriarchal family and provides the opportunity for its owner to become a “master of industrial relations management.” Individual management experience ensures freedom for each citizen and can promote the interests of the general; c) chremastics is an element of оікіа. This type of activity, under the influence of egocentrism and an anti-human position, naturally threatens the common because it destroys the solidarity and democratic foundations of the policy. Therefore, certain types of chremastics (usury) were prohibited, and the type of activity itself was placed under ethical and legal control – in the form of voluntary charity. This policy was not effective and the way of managing authority was replaced by the state-legal way of managing domestic policy. Since the formation of the professional state apparatus and the formation of the Athenian Empire, oikonomia and chremastics have been transformed from a multiple phenomenon of the internal life of policy into a political lever of the external activities of the state. Athens was transformed into a large archaic оікіа – the majority of citizens and the state itself were enriched unlimitedly. Chremastics have become the dominant activity and value of the public sphere in Athens. This became one of the levers of a new imbalance of individual and general interests, the decline of ancient Greek civilization.

Digital transformation in Russia: Turning from a service model to ensuring technological sovereignty

The paper outlines core aspects of the digital transformation process in Russia since the early 2000s, as well as recent legislative initiatives and practices at the federal level. It considers the digitalization of public services, efforts towards ‘sovereignization’ of the Russian segment of the Internet, and the current focus on cybersecurity and the development of artificial intelligence. The paper highlights the tendency to strengthen the factor of protection of state interests and national security alongside control over online activities of citizens in comparison with the initial understanding of digital transformation as a human-oriented process aimed at increasing the accessibility and convenience of public services. It can be assumed that this change in the goals and methods of digital transformation is one of the manifestations of a broader political, social and cultural process of separation, primarily from the West, that Russian society is currently undergoing, amidst a growing official narrative of threats from both external and internal forces that require greater independence and increased vigilance, including in the digital domain.

Strengthening capacities in Latin America by designing teacher professional development programmes for climate change education

PurposeThis study aims to describe the design process of two teacher professional development programmes on Climate Change Education in Chile and Mexico, their initial outcomes on teacher practices and feedback on course activities, content and format, and their expectations of future topics for deepening their understanding.Design/methodology/approachA systematization of the design and implementation process of both programmes was conducted. Subsequently, an online survey comprising 21 questions was administered to 115 teachers from both countries, representing 5% of the graduates from each programme. The survey evaluated their experiences, the impact on their teaching practices and the effects on their personal and professional lives. This non-experimental design relied on teachers' self-reported perceptions after completing the course.FindingsTeachers rated their experience highly, particularly regarding content quality and relevance to their local environment. Most (97.4%) applied their learning in their classrooms, with 78.3% noting it helped raise student awareness of climate change and facilitate collaborative projects. Additionally, 92.2% reported personal sensitization to climate issues and 87% changed personal habits. The course influenced 91.3% to take daily actions to reduce CO2 emissions. Some reflections are made on the design and implementation of the programmes, considering the survey results and the available literature.Research limitations/implicationsThe study relied on self-reported data from teachers after they had completed the courses. This approach was chosen because it allowed for a direct assessment of teachers' understanding and experiences. However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations inherent in self-reported data, such as the potential for response bias.Practical implicationsEducators, scientists and healthcare professionals can explore innovative pedagogical approaches to make CCE engaging and relevant, ensuring that all students not only comprehend the content but also feel empowered to contribute to environmental sustainability and learn to regulate their eco-anxiety. Teachers would have the opportunity to attend professional development courses based on research, reflect on their personal and technical habits, transform them, be role models for their students and build professional learning communities. Schools are transformative with a high quality of climate change education.Social implicationsClimate change demands urgent transformations in our consumption, energy generation and the construction of resilient cities. Education is pivotal in empowering environmentally conscious citizens. It fosters environmental awareness, develops skills to tackle climate challenges, promotes active citizenship, advocates for sustainable lifestyles and encourages innovation in clean technologies. By connecting people with nature, education strengthens environmental responsibility. Additionally, it equips society to advocate for sustainable policies and take action for the environment. A comprehensive educational approach is essential to forge global consensus and effectively address climate change.Originality/valueBy systematically evaluating teacher experiences and the impact on their personal and professional lives through detailed survey data, the study provides valuable insights into effective educational strategies for climate change awareness. Additionally, it highlights practical applications and behavioural changes among educators, contributing to the broader discourse on environmental education.

Uma proposta para a criação de democracias solidárias

The neoliberal ideology, which has prevailed almost everywhere in the world in the last 40 years, has been accentuating them. Today, the existence of a plutocratic oligarchy is increasingly evident, with excessive power for societies that claim to be democratic. When they use the term “liberal democracy” to designate the societies in which we live, we have to consider it a euphemism. We do live in neoliberal plutocracies, in which a tiny percentage of citizens have excessive and illegitimate power, always entrenched in the financial system, keeping the States hijacked. If this situation is unacceptable, it is also a situation in which remuneration inequality is so blurred that it prevents rewarding the social merit of each citizen's activity. This proposal attempts to find a balance between these two extremes. On the one hand, not allowing the existence of plutocratic oligarchies, but allowing the social merit of each citizen's activity to be rewarded, within socially acceptable limits.

National Borders among Families: Removal and ‘Bare Life’ in India

This paper is about the state-driven process of ‘migrant ‘illegality’ (Genova 2002) and its impact on the life of Bengali speaking residents in the Assam state of India. While the movement of people across borders between India and present-day Bangladesh has been historical and complex, this ethnographic work explores how the state-driven process of migrant illegality and the production of ‘bare life’ have disrupted intimate relations and family life among the migrant population in Assam. While the recent NRC (National Register of Citizens) update in Assam identified 1.9 million people as illegal migrants, there has been bureaucratic enactment of ‘migrant illegality’ by Assam Border Police for the last several years. The institutional procedures, court documents and narratives of the select cases of ‘detected’ as well as ‘detained’ residents from ethnographic fieldwork reveal how the absence of formal papers and errors in the family records, kinship relations and property inheritance among the poor migrant families transforms actual citizens to ‘illegal migrants’ in the bureaucratic manoeuvring and reduces them to their ‘bare life’. The paper also shows how prejudice, arbitrariness, and contradictions feed into the bureaucratic process and lead to intense crises among family units, as several migrant families have both Indians and alleged ‘Bangladeshis’ in their homes today. The paper argues that the major consequence of this state-driven ‘migrant illegality’ in the last two decades has been the creation of national borders among families, unsettling intimate relations and shared spaces.

Public resources and communities: the role of the university in ecological transition

The promotion of participatory processes in initiatives such as Energy Communities (ECs) can prompt behavioural change in ecological transition. The paper presents the experience of the Municipality of Cesena and the University in the EN-ACTION project aimed at increasing awareness among students and citizens about energy transition through initiatives involving various stakeholders. The first section outlines the state of the art on energy citizenship and universities in ecological transition. The methodological section illustrates the participatory approach of EN-ACTION. The third section describes the results. The conclusions emphasise the central role of active citizenship in the transition, and the role of the public in shared management of energy.

Common values for common goods: a circular regeneration model for active citizenship

Regenerating cultural heritage implies adopting a systemic and multi-scalar approach capable of considering the characteristics and flows of relations between the different components of the system. The regeneration project can be a circular strategy to reconnect people and places, generating and regenerating material and immaterial values of cultural heritage as a ‘common good’. The research proposes a circular and participatory regeneration model, validated through an evaluative framework. It supports decision-making and assesses the multidimensional impacts of reuse, redevelopment, maintenance and management practices of the commons, at all stages of the recovery project, and with respect to emerging instances and criteria adopted in existing policies.

Regenerative and innovative processes in the urban and peri-urban area of the city of Rome

Rome stands out for a fragility that stems from the disordered interpenetration of its rural soul with its urban agglomeration. The relationship between city and suburbs still appears complicated today and reverberates on the degree of social cohesion of its inhabitants. Bottom-up experimentation projects are being grafted into the extended area of the capital, reviving disused public property, abandoned land, to eliminate degradation especially in fragile contexts, developing regenerative processes of active citizenship. The purpose of the paper is to underline innovative experiences, in the urban and peri-urban area of Rome, pointing out their actions aimed at sharing common values, developing territorial welfare and protecting the environment.

Building bridges in Climate Pact activities and Climate Action - example from Serbia

Abstract The European Climate Pact is a movement of citizens united around a common cause, each taking steps in their own worlds to build a more sustainable Europe. Launched by the European Commission, the Pact is part of the European Green Deal and is helping the EU to meet its goal to become climate-neutral by 2050. This work presents examples of activities of the EU Climate pact ambassador in different directions (international and national/local level), with an unique goal, to increase awareness of importance of action, change of mindset, and exchange positive experiences. Climate Action is presented: • through educational activities in EUGLOH project (European Global Health Universities Alliance) - by organizing Course Climate Action for Health and presenting to students at international level different Climate actions activities. • engagement of citizens through Rotary Climate Action in RD 2483 and wither in Rotary international community - as citizens activities - Rotary Climate Action with the aim to increase awareness of climate change and health consequences. • as mentorship activities with PhD students in the field (climate change and air pollution impact on respiratory diseases) - as a research activities. • as an example of cooperation with media in Serbia - increasing of awareness among journalists. There are a lot of possibilities to work in the long-term in the community, using glocal principles and trying to find a way to change the behaviour of citizens towards acceptance of climate neutrality as an important goal. Key messages • Climate Action is citizens action. • Climate action is a way to change the behaviour of citizens towards acceptance of climate neutrality as an important goal.

Civic participation and self-reported health: An intersectional comparative study in Europe

Abstract Background Civic participation has been associated with better self-reported health (SRH). However, how does the association between civic participation and SRH vary by sex and migration status? This study aims to examine the association between social and political determinants of health and SRH in an intersectional perspective. Methods We use data from 26 countries in the 2022 EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) (n = 425,178, 18-80 y.o.), following an intercategorical approach. Eight intersectional groups are created based on sex, migration status and being socially/politically active (participation in activities related to active citizenship or in formal/informal voluntary activities). Multilevel (ML) logistic regression models are employed to assess the association between these groups and SRH, controlling for age and educational level. Results 24.6% of the sample indicate to be socially or politically active, with significant differences between sexes and migration status. A higher proportion of non-migrant active men report good SRH compared to the other intersectional groups (95.2%). Preliminary results from the ML logistic models show that being active increases the likelihood of good SRH (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.72-1.83). Migrant active women report better SRH than their non-active counterparts (OR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.12-1.44). Conclusions Findings suggest that being socially/politically active has a positive impact on SRH, especially among foreign women living in European countries. The study highlights the importance of considering civic (both political and social) participation as health determinant and the need of investing in social capital as a way of health promotion, tackling health inequalities and the marginalisation of at-risk groups. Key messages • Civic participation might strengthen individuals’ health, including among migrant women. • Public health policies should consider civic participation as significant determinant of individuals’ health, as well as a way of tackling health inequalities.

Adapting the Place Standard Tool for Border Regions: The Euregional Approach

Abstract The Place Standard Tool (PST) is a well-established tool that helps policymakers and communities discuss which aspects of a place - like buildings and transportation or the the way people are involved in decision making concerning their surroundings - need attention in order to improve public health. Even though the PST is widely used in many countries, it primarily focuses on a national level, overlooking the fact that 35% of EU citizens live in border regions. Many people living in these areas cross national borders for work, school, or social activities, so their everyday lives span more than one country. Using this tool to develop policies may ignore the real needs of border residents or even exclude their views, which can have a significant impact on their lives. To address this, the euPrevent Active Citizenship Participation (ACP) project adjusted the tool for a cross-border setting in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR). In this project, the German version of the StadtRaumMonitor, which is based on the PST, was modified to include questions that reach beyond national borders. This adaptation encourages people to respond to questions not just from a national perspective, but also to reflect on their experiences in neighboring countries. It was further translated into the four languages: French, German, Dutch and English, and made available online across the entire border region, which is home to nearly 4 million people. Moreover, the Euregional PST was effectively tested with local and cross-border citizen panels, and it’s set to become a key element in creating a sustainable framework for citizen participation within the EMR. And although this Euregional PST was initially developed for the border regions of the EMR, the modifications are such that the tool can be applied in no matter which European border region. Thereby, the Euregional PST offers a way to create policies that truly reflect the diverse needs and realities of border citizens, all over Europe. Key messages • The Cross-border Place Standard Tool EMR is easy to apply for a broad spectrum of stakeholders in border regions and applicable to all border regions in Europe. • The tool helps preventing policy issues by considering the entire context of people living in border areas.

Co-planning as a public health tool: the Milan Health Protection Agencies’s Local Gambling Plan

Abstract Issue/problem Gambling represents a public health, social, and economic problem. Lombardy Region, according with national and regional law, has approved the Regional Plan for the prevention and contrast of Pathological Gambling. The Health Protection Agencies (HPA) of the Metropolitan City of Milan, as the other HPAs, implemented the Local Gambling Plan, based on a context analysis and in synergy with all the actors involved. Description of the problem Since 2019, the Milan HPA’s Local Gambling Plan has been implemented through collaboration with non-profit entities (TSEs), which are involved via public tendering. The implementation of the new Italian ‘Code of the Third Sector’ changed the TSEs engagement modalities. For this reason, a complex co-planning process has been initiated in order to increase the level of active citizenship and to enhance public health, in line with horizontal subsidiarity principle. Results The Co-planning procedure promoted the integration among local health services, non-profit entities and municipalities with the aim of gambling prevention and contrast, ensuring the continuity of prevention programs and the involvement of local stakeholders in addressing a public health issue. During the co-planning, 9 working groups were established to define objectives, project actions, monitoring and evaluation methods, ensuring the common interest of all actors involved. Lessons For the health and social system, the co-planning procedure becomes an opportunity to translate what is foreseen by the regulations into local actions. It allow the active participation of local stakeholders involved into the co-construction and achievement of public health objectives and the promotion of communities’ empowerment. Key messages • Co-planning is both a process and a tool for local welfare. • Co-planning involved multiple actors, among which the public institution that ensures satisfaction of health needs through governance actions.

Roadblocks in Child Participation Practices in Academia and Civil Society

Abstract This article discusses the potential and pitfalls of children’s participation in academic and non-academic settings through a child participation project in Turkey by questioning various forms of childism from child and adult perspectives. We first and foremost acknowledge and emphasise the child’s position as a form of political resilience in a world where adult centrism has been the norm, regardless of differences in childhood experiences across cultures, social classes and age groups. Guided by this understanding, we engaged with two distinct fieldwork processes over the years and took steps toward achieving child participation at citizenship action level. In particular, we aimed to create a safe and open space for children from diverse backgrounds to come together, share their life issues, develop strategies to address their everyday problems and build a child-to-child participation network. However, we encountered several roadblocks to fully involving children in these processes. This article illustrates the perceptional and practical limitations we faced on the road that stem from competing dispositions held by children and stakeholders. To showcase the potential impact of our project, we highlight such obstacles as adultism among child participants, challenges of engaging academic research with stakeholders, and variations in motivation and interest among different social actors in the field of childhood. The obstacles are discussed with their implications in ways that they could be overcome.

Философско-экзистенциальный подход Х. Арендт и экономический подход Ф.А. фон Хайека к изучению сущности тоталитаризма: сравнительный анализ

This article is devoted to the examination of various approaches to totalitarian political regimes. As is well known, in the 20th century, regimes such as Hitler’s in Germany and Mussolini’s in Italy unleashed the largest global conflict; while the regimes of Mao in China, Stalin in the USSR, and Pol Pot in Cambodia resulted in the deaths of millions due to repressions. Based on this, the goal of the work follows: to identify the essence of a totalitarian political regime, the prerequisites and reasons for its emergence, and also to determine what steps modern society needs to take in order to prevent the emergence of such regimes in the future. The article employs logical-analytical research methods that facilitate a thorough examination of the literature, specifically through analysis, synthesis, abstraction, generalization, deduction, induction, analogy, and hypothesis. As a result of the study, the authors conclude on the inadmissibility of totalitarian political regimes from both a humanistic and a rational standpoint, as well as the necessity of active citizen involvement in politics as the sole means to avert their emergence.

Drawn Together While Social Distancing: A Case Study of Digital Graphic Novel Use in Citizenship Pedagogy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic created special challenges for faculty members whose classes were ones relying heavily on in-person interaction, including those whose courses involve active citizenship and community engagement. Here, I present my use of digital graphic novels in online pedagogy as a way I managed to accomplish this in a digital, socially distanced environment. The digital graphic novels provided a way for students to engage in digital citizenship and a hands-on activity in which they learned and created visual digital communication—one of the most dominant forms of modern-day civic communication. It also pulled in a wildly popular format with “Generation Z” students. Faculty members, though, should make sure that what they do is rooted in course outcomes and emphasize that though this activity may be fun, graphic novels are tools and not the subject matter itself.

Walk-centric deliberations

This article outlines methods of practice-oriented teaching at universities integrating democracy, sustainability, and learning in adult education.. The methods highlight the potential for democratic innovation in local communities in which diverse perspectives come together to address societal challenges. With a focus on sustainability and the connection among place, space, and pedagogy it introduces ‘Voice-Resonance Walks,’ a deliberative method piloted in Stuttgart, Germany, for social work education. It also highlights pilot deliberations at the district (Mini-Studentlab Deliberative Walks) and cityscape (Public Transport Walks) levels in Hamburg, Germany, involving interdisciplinary student groups in lifelong learning. These examples illustrate how higher education institutions are engaging with the public sphere, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups of citizens and on fostering civic learning. They aim to equip students with the knowledge and skills to become future experts, decision-makers, and active citizens, capable of understanding the challenges facing both their local neighborhoods and diverse urban spaces.

‘We don’t want to die’: diffuse feminism against femicide in Turkey

In the 2010s, issues of gender have worldwide become some of the top matters that polarise societies. This fact applies to Turkey, as well. One consequence of this development is a growing interest in feminism, especially among young women. This article argues that of the factors that raise a feminist consciousness among young women, the phenomenon of femicide plays a crucial role. Seeing it as an existential threat, young women, in response, get organised online and in person as an ‘act of citizenship’ against the misogyny that consolidates around femicides. This phenomenon has initiated a new phase of feminist mobilisation that may be described as ‘diffuse feminism’.

Hope in crisis: revisiting Erich Fromm’s dialectic of transformation

In this article we explore Erich Fromm’s concept of hope within the context of contemporary social and political crises. We formulate two primary objections to his vision of a revolution of hope: the individualistic moralisation of societal problems, and the accusation that hope is persuasive and manipulative. By embedding Fromm’s ideas within a broader dialectical framework and engaging with Walter Benjamin’s thoughts on history, we reinterpret hope as a liminal, transformative state rather than a concrete, prescriptive notion. This reconceptualisation presents hope as a fundamental prerequisite for transformative political practice, emphasising its role in fostering active citizenship and collective social change. Ultimately, we argue for the critical importance of hope in navigating and overcoming the challenges of modernity.

Multicriteria analysis as a method for engaging stakeholders and citizens in activities aimed at supporting climate resilience and adaptation to climate change – Gdansk Coastal City Living Lab case study

<b>Multicriteria analysis as a method</b> for engaging stakeholders and citizens in activities aimed at supporting climate resilience and adaptation to climate change – Gdansk Coastal City Living Lab case study