Civic Issues Research Articles

City Branding to Solve Social Problems? – The Eigendynamik of management concepts

It is well know that management concepts tend to spread from corporate to public organizations. Branding is an example of such a concept, with suggestions that it can address not only economic but also social issues, often referred to as “inclusive branding.” This ethnographic study explores how branding is received and spreads in a Swedish city, and analyzes efforts to use branding to tackle inequality and segregation. Our findings reveal that the initial focus on social problems was glossed over in favor of following corporate branding ideals, but also that city communicators expressed critique, confusion, and doubt regarding the relevance of branding to their work. Surprisingly, this did not slow down but rather energized the branding process. Through an interactionist analysis, we suggest that rather than addressing social problems, branding in cities may give rise to an Eigendynamik, signifying a self-energizing inner dynamic fueled by a tension between “frames,” specifically between the branding frame and the civic frame of the city. This theorization lays the groundwork for contributions to the understanding of inclusive branding: it can start with good intentions to address civic issues but may get swept up in corporate branding concepts and activities that are ill equipped to deal with social issues. More generally, complementing established notions of translation and colonization, our study provides a novel understanding of how management concepts migrate from corporate to public organizations through what we call frame-induced Eigendynamik. Overall, we contribute by shedding light on the role of self-energizing processes as reasons why organizational members engage with management concepts even when they struggle to see their relevance to their work.

An Assessment of Social Media Usage Patterns and Influences among Tribal Naga Women of North East India

Social media platforms have been acclaimed as providing immense potential for the empowerment of diverse societal groups regardless of gender, caste, class or race. But studies on women’s online experiences have authenticated the hindrances faced by women in access and engagement in social media discourses. This study aimed to assess the pattern of social media use, influences and hindrances faced by tribal Naga women of North East India in their engagement in social media public platforms. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey of 360 female respondents from the States of Nagaland and Manipur. The results showed that WhatsApp Messaging is the most popular platform (n=338) among Naga women, followed by YouTube (n=298) and Facebook (n=286). About seventy-four per cent (74.55%) of the respondents stated that they access social media several times daily. Using social media for news and information ranked the highest (95.93%) followed by social relationships (92.51%). It was observed that social media exposure and usage has positively increased Naga women’s gender awareness (97.16%) as well as their awareness of political and civic issues (96.15 %). However it has not significantly increased their public opinion expression (20%) on socio-political and civic issues. The main hindrances in engagement on social media discussions were Lack of Knowledge about issues (73.98%), followed by a Lack of Interest (71.13%) and a Lack of Time (62.14%). Based in the findings, despite the hindrances and low level of engagement in social media public discourses, it was concluded that Naga women’s information seeking behaviour being the main motivation behind social media could be a positive indicator for the development of their agency.

The Clerk’s Body: Newspaper Gags Between the War and the Famine

Piciel’s Khooro was published every Sunday between 1935 and 1975 in the English newspaper Amrita Bazar Patrika (ABP). This newspaper gags captured the daily struggles of its eponymous protagonist, Khooro, a middle-aged clerk in Calcutta who witnessed first-hand the impacts of WWII and the Bengal Famine (1943). The object of satire in Khooro is the middle-class clerical body caught in these tumultuous times. Khooro depicts prevalent anxieties and fears of the middle-class clerical profession caught in the myriad civic issues of urbanity. Drawing on the methods of periodical and multimodal studies, this article analyzes Khooro gags to propose a “meta-imagetextual” reading of visual-verbal narratives in colonial periodicals that can be rightly called “concomitant literature.”

An Analysis of Service-Learning Projects by Preservice Teachers at a Higher Education Institution in South Africa

Service-learning (SL) as an extension of an academic course, in addition to providing tangible and meaningful service to the community, also connects to a course’s curriculum and allows students to reflect. Therefore, the researchers considered it essential to analyse the nature of service-learning projects conducted by pre-service teachers. Using the experiential learning theory of David Kolb, this study examined pre-service teachers’ experiences with SL projects in various KwaZulu-Natal communities in South Africa. Using a case study qualitative research design and collecting data through written reflective journals, project reports, and course outlines, the research sought to prove that by presenting students with real-world situations and structuring a curriculum around social and civic issues, SL contexts provide students with a challenging situation comparable to what Dewey termed forked-road dilemmas. The study’s findings imply that the relationship factors between higher education institutions and communities should be analysed in depth and will likely influence the planning of service-learning programs. The study recommends that future research be expanded to include SL as it is practised in other South African institutions, as well as other factors, such as students’ expectations and frustrations, that could play a significant role in the implementation of the SL program. Keywords: Service-learning, Service-learning Projects, Pre-service Teachers, Tertiary Institutions, and Experiential Learning Theory.

Institutionalization and framing of Industry 4.0: a framework for understanding stakeholders and comparing countries

PurposeThis paper aims to propose and assess a framework to analyse the institutionalization of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) through a framing analysis.Design/methodology/approachThe framework was developed by combining the institutional approach with orders of worth, drawing insights from a comprehensive literature review. To assess it, the authors conducted a qualitative analysis of annual reports from companies with the largest market capitalization over a six-year period and interviewed union representatives in Spain and Sweden.FindingsThe framework comprises five dimensions (industrial, market, civic, green and connectionist). The empirical results reveal that companies consistently frame I4.0 with an emphasis on industrial and market perspectives. In contrast, unions place a stronger emphasis on civic issues, with Spanish unions holding a more negative view of I4.0, expressing concerns about working conditions and unemployment.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed framework brings interesting insights into the dispute over the meaning of I4.0. Although this empirical study was limited to companies and unions in Sweden and Spain, the framework can be expanded for broader investigations, involving additional stakeholders in one or more countries. The discussion outlined using the varieties of capitalism approach is relevant for understanding the connection between the meso and macro levels of this phenomenon.Practical implicationsIn navigating the landscape of I4.0, managers should remain flexible, and ready to tailor their strategies and operations to align with the distinct demands and expectations of stakeholders and their specific institutional environments. Similarly, policymakers are urged to acknowledge these contextual intricacies when crafting strategies for implementing I4.0 initiatives across national settings.Social implicationsBased on the empirical findings, this study underscores the importance of fostering social dialogue and involving stakeholders in the implementation of I4.0. Policymakers and other stakeholders should take proactive measures, tailored to each country’s context, to mitigate potential adverse effects on labour and workers.Originality/valueThe study presents a novel framework that facilitates the systematic comparison of I4.0 framing by different actors. This contribution is significant because the way actors frame I4.0 affects its interpretation and implementation. Additionally, the aggregate analysis of results enables cross-country comparisons, enhancing our understanding of regional disparities.

The Meeting: Ideas for an Architecture of Interreligious Civic Collaboration

Interreligious engagement (IE) has been experienced and theorized mainly as the pursuit of a shared respectful awareness of the beliefs, practices, and social experiences of multiple religious communities. In rare instances, it has been possible to create architecture specifically to foster IE, as in the “tri-faith” Abrahamic campus in Omaha and the Berlin House of One. The theme is: Here we are, accepting that we share the world. Another form of IE that deserves to attract more interest is multireligious collaboration in civic work (addressing homelessness, urban blight, illiteracy, etc.). Some adherents of the intrinsically cosmopolitan “world” religions are actively cosmopolitan to the extent of seeking this engagement. The theme is: Let us share the work of the world, including sharing our religiously inflected processing of what the practical issues facing us are. There is a new initiative of this sort in my city, Jackson, Mississippi, named (from M. L. King) the “Beloved Community”. An architectural thought experiment may prove helpful in articulating the ideals for such an endeavor. What would be the physical desiderata for its headquarters? Let us imagine a new downtown building, The Meeting, dedicated to housing meetings where mixed religious groups learn about civic issues and coordinate efforts to address them. Full interreligious sharing of a space seems to require a neutral design lacking any definite religious inspiration. But there are nonsectarian ways to create an appreciably special, non-ordinary space, as in courtrooms and classrooms. Could a civic IE headquarters be special, expressive of practical optimism, and contain a sufficient religious allusion to qualify as a “next-to-sacred space” in which religious actors felt supported in the civic extension of their religious lives? I offer suggestions for discussion, including (1) a pavilion-style building suggestive of being set up for a special purpose—not soaringly grandiose but with a vertical feature such as a central roof lantern; (2) at least one major porch, with benches and tables; (3) an outside water fountain with public water supply (a historical allusion to the Islamic sabil); (4) inside, right-sized meeting rooms around the glass-walled periphery; (5) a big “living room” lounge in the center, usable for larger meetings, with access to a kitchen, and with a big project board for tracking work completed and work in hand next to a large map of the city; (6) a moderate descent of several steps into each meeting room so that there is a feeling of commitment in attending a meeting and a sense of challenge in going forth from one; (7) otherwise a main floor levelness and openness facilitating movement in and out, as in a train station; and (8) upstairs small offices for religious and other qualifying organizations. Answering the aesthetic and practical questions these suggestions raise takes us into imagining civic IE more concretely.

AI-eEmpowered Problem-Solving for Civic Issues: Considering New York in 2024

AI-eEmpowered Problem-Solving for Civic Issues: Considering New York in 2024

Levels of Students‘ Media Culture (Survey)

This paper presents a survey among students aimed at identifying levels of media and digital citizenship when working in an online environment. The task of the study is to examine which types of behaviour are typical for students when working with media texts in terms of the degree of sensitivity to media texts, the degree of reflection on civic issues, the degree of reflection on the distribution and content of media texts. 101 students from metropolitan schools participated. The questionnaire consisted of 47 statements, using a 5-module scale for assessing agreement in the following groups: ‘Civic culture and attitude to civic participation’, ‘Preference to reading and problem solving’, ‘Working with media texts in Bulgarian language classes’, ‘Self-assessment when working with media texts’, ‘Attitude to media’. The results show: students’ lack of interest in political issues; preference to read short texts; lack of confidence in distinguishing credible from non-credible information.

Enduring aspirations and moral learning: A longitudinal study of U.S. College students

ABSTRACT The present study tracked stability and change in college students’ aspirations, as expressed in survey open text entries at two time points three years apart. Interviews with a subset of respondents provided descriptive accounts of their experiences of moral/civic learning connected with their college experiences. Participants (n=640) were drawn from 11 U.S. colleges and universities. Surveys were conducted in winter 2018-2019 and fall 2021. Fifty-four survey respondents participated in hour-long interviews in spring 2021. Most survey respondents’ aspirations were stable over 3 years, with most focusing on contribution beyond-the-self, fulfillment and preparation for vocations. Only a small percentage focused on financial goals or credentialing. Aspirations to contribute beyond-the-self were expressed even more frequently in interviews. When asked to describe what they had learned in courses and extracurricular activities and in their relationships with peers and adults, interviewees described learning relating to ethics and virtue, social justice and civic issues.

“I must be a bad Muslim to be good for them”: teaching about civic issues in Islamic education in Israel

ABSTRACT Many schools advocates for the integration of religious education (RE) and citizenship education (CE), especially in the context of multicultural societies. Yet, how this integration is to happen is contested, due to the politicized nature of religion and citizenship. To explore the potential intersections of these two subjects, we interviewed Palestinian Islam teachers in Israel, to gain further insights into how they integrate civic issues in their teaching. Our study highlighted both tensions and connection points between Islam education and civic issues in Israel. While the teachers were critical of their citizenship, they interpreted Islam education as a potential ‘remedy’ to repair CE. They presented examples from their teaching of how Islam can contribute to making CE more meaningful. The importance of the teachers’ living context for their interpretation of this intersection became evident. Our findings support the argument that the two subjects should be further integrated.

The Knesset activity of the United Arab List (Ra’am), 1996–2020

ABSTRACT This article analyses the interaction between Mansour Abbas, leader of the Islamist United Arab List (Ra’am), and the Zionists parties. It explores Ra’am’s legislative activity since its foundation in 1996 and claims that Abbas’s decision to work with the government on advancing civic issues is not a new trend in Arab Israeli politics. Ra’am’s members of Knesset (MKs) have been doing this since 1996, turning the party into a religious-civil political factor. At the same time, Ra’am’s ideology – derived from the Muslim Brotherhood’s vision of a global Islamic Caliphate, built inter alia on the ruins of the State of Israel – has remained intact.

Kemampuan Literasi Budaya dan Kewargaan Mahasiswa PGSD Universitas Muhamadiyah Sidoarjo, Indonesia

Cultural and civic literacy is part of the national literacy movement launched by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Indonesia. This initiative seeks to equip all Indonesian citizens with the essential skills to navigate and respond to the increasing diversity of the 21st century. The Primary School Teacher Education (PGSD) study program at University Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo (UMSIDA) recognizes the importance of this goal. It provides material content for learning about cultural and civic issues. Based on this, it is essential to conduct research on the cultural literacy and citizenship abilities of PGSD students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo in the 21st century to know the cultural literacy and citizenship abilities of students and provide references to further learning activities in developing cultural literacy and citizenship in PGSD students. The research was conducted in the 2021/2022 academic year, which is between February 2022 and June 2022. This research employed a descriptive study using the survey method with a sample of 136 semester II students who have taken civics courses. Data collection techniques were in the form of questionnaires and data analysis techniques using percentage techniques. The study results showed that the percentage shows 68.4%, namely, out of 136 students, 93 students have a relatively high range of scores in digital literacy skills and citizenship.

Agency, aspirations and citizenship: Non‐formal education from the perspective of children in street situations in Pakistan

AbstractThis paper explores an NGO‐based non‐formal education (NFE) intervention in Pakistan from the perspective of its recipients, children in street situations. Recognizing children as agential beings, we draw on participant observation and in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with 20 children, aged 10–19 years. Young people discussed the impact of the intervention on their self‐worth and future aspirations. They also reflected on their growing awareness of civic issues and citizenship rights. The study emphasizes the importance of NFE in providing opportunities to the most marginalized and those without adequate documentation, particularly in a context when state support can be lacking.

ATTITUDES OF THE HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TOWARDS POLITICAL SCIENCE: A STUDY IN BAMUTIA R. D. BLOCK

Political science is a fundamental discipline that introduces students to the principles of governance, political systems, and public policy. At the higher secondary school level, the study of political science holds significant importance in cultivating informed and engaged citizens. Understanding students' attitudes towards political science can provide valuable insights into their interest levels, perception of relevance, and potential engagement with civic issues. Research in this area can help educators tailor their teaching methods to enhance learning experiences and foster active participation in the political process. In the specific context of Bamutia R.D Block, the study was conducted to explore the attitudes of higher secondary school students towards political science to address the gaps in curriculum delivery and student engagement. The study concludes that students have positive attitude towards political science. It indicated that factors such as the provision of instructional materials including computers, provision of appropriate and adequate textbooks for both tutors and students were the top factors that facilitated the teaching and learning of political science concepts. It also came to light that lack of TLMs, lack of libraries and political science resource room which were the top factors which greatly hampered the teaching and learning of political science concepts. The study recommends that schools must conduct field trips and educational tours in every academic year to develop positive attitude among the students towards political science subject.

Concepts, Design and Implementation of Service-Learning at the College of Education: A Single Case Study

In the teacher-education program of higher education institutions (HEIs), service learning has become an integral part of the curriculum. This is brought by the strong emphasis on the civic mission of HEIs which is aimed towards development within faculty members an awareness of, sensitivity toward, and engagement in civic issues and activities through participation in the society. This single case study explored the service-learning culture of the College of Education of Bataan Peninsula State University-Balanga Campus by looking at the cases in which the college engaged with the communities it adopted over the years of its existence. Twelve faculty members who participated in the service-learning activities in several adopted communities in the city of Balanga and the town of Bagac and Morong, Bataan were selected as participants using the purposive sampling method and the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis were used in gathering data. Researchers used pattern matching as a preferred strategy in the data analysis that provided categories of information that helped in establishing emergent themes. Results showed that service learning is conceptualized and approached in the college as a pedagogy, social responsibility, and commitment to lifelong learning. Capabilities enhancement and promotion of human development are incorporated in service learning through curriculum design, project design based on needs assessment, and research-based community extension projects. As such, the service-learning conceptualization and development in the college is curricular, project, and research-based. Recommendations on how to improve the service-learning of the college were put forward. Keywords: service learning, curriculum design, project-design based, lifelong learning

Embedding the Scientists: Civic Issues as Context for Teaching and Learning

Embedding the Scientists: Civic Issues as Context for Teaching and Learning

Experience Matters: Civic Discussion Increases Self-Efficacy and Reduces Forecasted Discomfort in Future Conversations

Interpersonal conversation about civic issues lays groundwork for cooperation and collective action, yet such conversation is uncommon. Across three studies (total N = 2,066), we find that (a) hesitation to discuss a civic topic is predicted by forecasted discomfort about such conversations (Study 1), (b) individuals tend to overestimate discomfort in such future civic conversations (Study 1), (c) forecasted discomfort is lower for those with greater experience discussing the topic (Study 2) and after a formal discussion experience, especially for those with little prior experience (Study 3), and (d) this negative relationship between experience and forecasted discomfort can be explained by greater perceived ability to discuss the topic (i.e., self-efficacy; Studies 2 and 3). Collectively, results show that forecasted discomfort is associated with reduced willingness to engage in civic conversation, and topic-relevant discussions can reduce forecasted discomfort by boosting self-efficacy, particularly for those for whom discussing the topic is novel.

Emotion expression and recognition in written digital discussions on Civic Issues

Emotion expression and recognition in written digital discussions on Civic Issues

Expanding public debate? Examining the impact of India’s top English language political talk shows

As a genre, current affairs talk shows occupy a distinct space within the Indian television universe. Typically built around a single host and invited guests, talk shows constitute a relatively inexpensive format that most news channels deploy to market themselves. Although the extent to which such shows enhance the potential of rational-critical debate has been widely investigated in Western contexts, their implication for public deliberation remains unclear, at least in the case of India. Through an ethnographic content analysis (ECA) of such shows as represented by Newshour aired on Times Now and The Debate aired on Republic TV, this article explores the presentation styles adopted by these programs and their content both in terms of the participants invited and the range of topics discussed. This research found that instead of enabling meaningful deliberation on a variety of important civic issues, television talk shows in India were fixated on promoting religious majoritarianism, defending the policies of the Modi government, and advocating hyper-nationalism. Further, employing a combative style and polarizing tone, talk show hosts were found to stifle dissenting voices and forestall free expression. Ramifications of such blatant partisanship among current affairs talk shows for the Indian public sphere are discussed.

Hannah Claire Haines, 1891–1974: Not the Average “Militant Female”

Hannah Claire Haines, 1891–1974: Not the Average “Militant Female”