Civic Responsibility Research Articles

Developing students’ civic responsibility using blended learning model with an asynchronous system

The development of technology and the world of education today requires complex thinking. Technology can be used to make the learning process easier, more interesting, and more enjoyable. However, learning must continue to focus on the elements of competency achievement that must be achieved and the humanist element. The blended learning model with synchronous and asynchronous systems is one model that can be used in today's technology-based learning era, especially asynchronous systems. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of asynchronous learning in increasing the students’ civic responsibility at one of the universities in Bandung City. Experiments in research are considered more appropriate for answering the research objectives. The research subjects were students of the environmental engineering study program (experimental class) and food engineering study program (control class). The results showed that asynchronous learning was more effective for increasing students' civic responsibility, with an average post-test score of 91.50.

Polygamy in the context of family law and the crisis of civic responsibility

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​​Making ‘Setgel’s Creature’ Mindful​: Conceptual Change in Contemporary Mongolia

As globally circulating understandings of mental health and mindfulness practices gain popularity in Mongolia, they articulate with setgel, a localised concept that has been shaped by a constellation of historical forces. Loosely translated as ‘mind’ in English, setgel has remained central to Mongolian notions of personhood, health, and civic duty, even as the meanings associated with those ideas have changed. As progressivist forces, Tibetan Buddhism and the dominant Soviet political culture of much of the 20th century have held and shaped values in public life. This Position Piece explores the role of power relations and political economy in changing associations of setgel through the example of a recent state-sponsored, Buddhist-inflected mindfulness promotional event for Mongolian influencers. It asks broader questions about how anthropologists as generators of ‘cultural’ knowledge attend to expectations from institutional hosts in the field while also maintaining fidelity to historical change in our work.

Online Voting System using Blockchain Technology

Voting stands as a cornerstone of democracy in any nation, empowering citizens to select future leaders and express their views within their communities. It fosters an understanding of civic duty and citizenship significance. Online voting systems, digital platforms designed to conduct elections securely, streamline the voting process by eliminating traditional paper ballots and in-person gatherings. These systems safeguard the integrity of each vote by preventing multiple submissions. Contrasting paper-based methods, electronic voting, or e-voting, offers inherent advantages such as heightened efficiency and reduced errors. Such systems promote broader participation by enabling individuals to vote from any location with internet access. Blockchain technology, an emerging decentralized innovation with robust cryptographic underpinnings, holds promise for enhancing various industries. Integrating e-voting with blockchain could address existing e-voting concerns. Here, we propose a blockchain-based voting system to curb fraud and enhance the simplicity, security, and efficiency of the voting process. Keywords: Blockchain, Ethereum, Smart-contracts, Online-voting, Privacy, Trust, Security

Trends in the development of jurisdictional immunity of a foreign state under continental law

The article examines the current trends in legal regulation of relations on granting jurisdictional immunity to a foreign state in the countries of the continental legal family. The author analyzes the regulations in this area and shows the role of judicial practice in this process. A comparative characterization of the application of the concept of limited immunity in Western countries is given.
 The term «immunity of a State as a subject of international law» means that each State is not subject to the jurisdiction of another State and is not subject to any authority (legislative, executive or judicial) of a foreign State. Sovereignty and the fact that all states are equal are the basis of state immunity. Ancient Rome used well-known phrases to define the equality of states: «par in parem pop habet imperium», which means «equal over equal has no power», and «par in parem non habet iurisdictionem», which means «equal over equal has no jurisdiction».
 According to the idea of limited immunity, a foreign state may have jurisdictional immunity when it executes acts of juris imperii. In the same cases, the state can be sued as a private person, and it cannot rely on immunity from foreign jurisdiction, as well as immunity from seizure of property as a means of securing a claim and recovering property. According to the proponents of this idea, the main criterion for determining the sovereignty of state actions is the participation of the state in transactions that are usually carried out by individuals and corporations, and not the ultimate goal of these actions. In this case, the practice of national courts should take into account both the interests of states (uninterrupted performance of their public duties) and the interests of private plaintiffs.

Socio-digital Rural Resilience: An Exploration of Information Infrastructures Within and Across Rural Villages During Covid-19

Access to the internet and digital technology are reported determinants and enablers of social capital and community resilience. However, despite rural areas facing ecological, social, and economic uncertainties across the world, communication technologies and the design of civic technologies in HCI are not designed with the rural in mind. In this paper, we explore information infrastructures within and across rural villages in the UK focusing on the interplay between human, social, and technical infrastructures. We report on the existing communication practices, underlining the impacts of transitioning to digital communication technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings point to the fragility of information infrastructure, the "civic duty" of bridging information and skills gaps, and the role of technology as a threat to social norms and disrupter of the 'politics of the rural'. The work presented here has implications for Rural HCI researchers and designers interested in design from the rural.

Knowing rape: Turning ethnoracialized victims into moral citizens in post‐apartheid South Africa

AbstractIn South Africa, a disparate coalition of law enforcement, human rights workers, health officials, and activists claim that women don't know they have been raped. Claims of misrecognition typically follow from the observation that most women who experience gendered violence in South Africa do not report to the police and are especially leveled at Black women living in rural areas under the judicial authority of customary leaders. This article examines this assertion about not knowing gendered violence and the interventions it inspired. Dwelling on the story of one survivor's search for justice in Thohoyandou, South Africa, I argue that in the years following the transition from apartheid to democracy, a consensus coalesced around Black Indigenous women, who were seen as key political agents in post‐colonial nation‐building. During this time, knowing rape was touted as a gendered civic duty, one that enacted moral citizenship for the sake of a more orderly, democratic and vigorous multicultural nation. In spite of the consensus around knowing rape, “rape,” I suggest, remains an ambivalent sign for both those who encourage its recognition and for survivors. Amidst these disjunctures, survivors’ demands for justice often go denied.

Do people vote to avoid disapproval?

ABSTRACT Do people vote to meet others’ approval or to avoid their disapproval if they were to abstain? We examine the role of injunctive norms on turnout by means of discussion network data from an original survey module in the Austrian National Election Study. We improve on previous measures of injunctive norms by asking respondents whether their political discussants would disapprove if they abstained. We find that about half of the respondents believe that people around them would be disappointed if they did not vote and that disapproval expectations matter for turnout, but only among those with a weak sense of civic duty. Our study contributes to a better understanding of how individual perceptions about social norms matter for voter turnout.

Volunteers, Civil Servants, and Street-Level Bureaucrats: What Motivates Poll Workers to Serve on the Front-Lines of Elections?

As election officials have come under increased scrutiny in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, research considering poll workers’ motivations offers a window into the human dimension of election administration. As public employees that work infrequently, poll workers perform their roles as government agents a few times a year (at most) for long hours and very low pay. Drawing upon original survey data collected from more than 1,000 poll workers in four Arizona counties between April and May, 2019, this study utilizes public service motivation (PSM) as a theoretical framework to explore whether and to what extent election workers express PSM. Ultimately, concepts of civic duty, social engagement, compensation, and social desirability are uncovered as factors motivating front-line election workers. The findings offer actionable insight on how workers can be better recruited to implement U.S. elections.

A systematic review of the top-50 most-cited articles on socio-scientific issues in K-12 education

Socio-scientific issues (SSI) has been shown to serve as a useful learning context in K-12 education, not only to help students improve their scientific literacy and develop 21<sup>st</sup> century skills such as argumentative and decision-making but also to promote students’ sense of self-efficacy and civic responsibility. From the perspective of highly cited papers, combined with the relevance model of science education, this review conducted a systematic review of the top-50 most-cited articles in SSI in K-12 research in the Web of Science database and made a diagnostic evaluation of them according to the relevance model of science education. The results showed that the effects of teaching intervention on the nature of science is the most emphasized theme. High school students are the most focused demographic, and energy is the most highlighted topic. The relevance model of science education shows imbalances in dimensions, imbalances between present and future, and imbalances between intrinsic and extrinsic factors. This review thematically illustrates what is known and what needs to be known for future research of SSI in K-12 education. On this basis, the research trend and future education measures of SSI in K-12 education are put forward, and the further integration of SSI into school education is proposed.

Крымская тема в русской пейзажной живописи: этапы и особенности творческого освоения (конец XVIII – начало XX веков)

Цель исследования состоит в выявлении особенностей развития российской пейзажной живописи, тематически связанной с Крымом и рассматриваемой как неотъемлемая часть национального культурного наследия. В качестве материалов использованы искусствоведческие исследования и репродукции живописных произведений. Исследованы складывавшиеся на протяжении всего XVIII в. важнейшие факторы, определившие развитие российской пейзажной живописи. Определено, что в русском изобразительном искусстве крымские сюжеты появляются после вхождения полуострова в состав Российской империи. Выявлены и последовательно проанализированы три этапа формирования образа Крыма в русской живописной традиции. Обоснована преемственность в развитии связанной с Крымом пейзажной живописи, состоящая в передаче знаний и навыков от художников-«первопроходцев» к ученикам. Установлены особенности, определяющие специфику крымской пейзажистики в рассматриваемый период. The aim of the study is to identify the features of the development of Russian landscape painting, thematically related to Crimea as an integral part of the cultural heritage of Russia. The complex of materials used included works of art history and collections of reproductions of paintings. The methodological tools involve a combination of systemic, historical-genetic and comparative-historical approaches, with the modern idea of cultural heritage, which represents an unconditional value for any people that must be preserved and passed on from generation to generation, being at the forefront. The most important factors that determined the development of Russian landscape painting and took shape throughout the 18th century have been identified (reforms of Peter the Great accompanied with the secularization of art, the establishment of the Academy of Arts and the presence in Russia of professional visual artists). It has been determined that Crimean subjects appear in Russian fine art after the peninsula became part of the Russian Empire. Three stages in the formation of the image of Crimea in the Russian pictorial tradition have been identified and analyzed: (1) the activities of landscape painters who depicted Crimean landscapes at the end of the 18th century (Mikhail Ivanov and Fyodor Alekseev), (2) the works of Ivan Aivazovsky, and (3) the legacy of representatives of the Cimmerian school of painting (Konstantin Bogaevsky, Maximilian Voloshin, and others). The continuity in the development of landscape painting associated with Crimea is substantiated, which consists in the transfer of knowledge and skills from “pioneer” artists to their students. It has been established that, at the first stage of its evolution, the art of landscape associated with Crimean subjects developed thanks to the desire of artists to demonstrate their own individuality, their skills in working in the natural landscape, a sense of civic responsibility, and the unique features characteristic of the Crimean nature. The features that define the specifics of Russian landscape painting thematically related to Crimea have been identified: (1) Crimean landscape painting was formed as a result of the activities of artists-“video-painters”, carried out on the initiative of the state; (2) the special place of the Crimean landscape in Russian fine art is due to the uniqueness of the landscapes and subjects depicted; (3) the evolution of landscape painting based on Crimean subjects, thanks to the practice of student succession, influenced the development of the entire national painting tradition.

Perception of the Course by the Students of Moscow Universities «Fundamentals of Russian Statehood (based on the results of in-depth research)

The article presents data on the study of the perception of the Moscow university students of the course "Fundamentals of Russian Statehood". To obtain data on the perception of the course "Fundamentals of Russian Statehood" by the student youth, the author conducted a sociological study using the method of individual in-depth interviews (30 first-year students of Moscow universities who are teaching this discipline). In the course of the study, the theoretical and methodological basis was studied, affecting the issue of perception by modern youth of certain development trends and problems of society. The study is an important stage in the study of the influence of the new course "Fundamentals of Russian Statehood" on the formation of the worldview of students. The article analyzes the attitude of young people to youth politics in Russia today, to the course "Fundamentals of Russian Statehood" and its influence on the formation of awareness of belonging to Russian society, the development of a sense of citizenship, as well as on the creation of a spiritual, moral and cultural foundation of a developed and integral personality who realized the peculiarities of the historical path of our state and the identity of its political organization. The results of the study show that the perception of the course "Fundamentals of Russian Statehood" depends on various factors, in particular on the individual preferences and expectations of students. The new course is not only an educational program, but also a tool of social impact aimed at the formation of patriotic consciousness and civic responsibility among the younger generation. The results of the study supplement the accumulated knowledge by obtaining up-to-date data on the perception of the student youth of Moscow universities of the course "Fundamentals of Russian Statehood", clarify various aspects of the content of this course, which in the future will help other authors in the study of the topic.

HESA Graduate Students’ International Involvements and Civic Engagement

This study maps the types of international involvement opportunities available to HESA: Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate students in the U.S.A., as seen through the eyes of the students, and analyzes the impact of these students’ diverse international involvements on their orientation towards social responsibility. The study follows a survey research design. The study’s results indicate low levels of international exposure amongst HESA graduate students across diverse programs, and moderate rates of orientation towards civic responsibility. HESA students’ orientation towards social responsibility can successfully be predicted by a combination of five variables, three of which represent curricular and co-curricular environmental engagements: listening to an international speaker, discussing the ways the U.S. higher education links to the rest of the world, and attending presentations of study abroad students. The findings aim to inform program directors and faculty on existing opportunities for international exposure, on the rate of student involvements in them, as well on the importance of international exposures for their students’ future professional preparation.

СУТНІСНО-ЗМІСТОВА ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ПОНЯТТЯ «ГРОМАДЯНСЬКА КОМПЕТЕНТНІСТЬ» У КОНТЕКСТІ КОМПЕТЕНТНІСНОЇ ПАРАДИГМИ ОСВІТИ

For its full functioning, modern society needs the civic activity of its members, who are sufficiently oriented in social processes and can consciously determine their own place and act with benefit both for society and for themselves. A very important problem in this context is the formation of civic competence as an integrative characteristic of an individual, based on qualities (values, motivation, attitude) and qualification features (ability, readiness), necessary and sufficient for the effective performance of the role of a citizen. The article highlights such key concepts as competence, competence approach, key competences. Approaches to defining the essence of the concept of “civic competence” are considered. Based on the analysis of scientific views and concepts, as well as the recommendations of the Council of Europe, attention is focused on the main features and components of civic competence. The study provides a generalized definition of the concept of “civic competence”, which interprets it as the readiness of an individual to actively, responsibly and effectively implement a complex of civil rights and duties in a democratic society, to apply their knowledge and skills in practice. The author takes into account the importance of the role of the educational field, the competence approach, pedagogical and social influences on the definitive analysis of the civic competence concept. Civic competence as one of the key competences should be considered as a social phenomenon that can be formed through education and training. Based on the analysis of scientific works and the regulatory framework, a number of related concepts that are tangential to the definition of the term “civic competence” have been established. Civic competence covers such categories as citizenship, civic activity, civic responsibility and is manifested in the social and communicative ability of an individual in civic participation, in the ability to solve social conflicts and problems, which is a prerequisite for self-development and self-realization of an individual, designing one's own life strategy. The author concluded that the formed civic competence through the acquisition of the necessary amount of knowledge and experience contributes to the effective participation of the individual in civic activities.

ЦІННІСНІ ОРІЄНТИРИ ВІЙСЬКОВО-ПАТРІОТИЧНОГО ВИХОВАННЯ СТУДЕНТСЬКОЇ МОЛОДІ В УМОВАХ СУЧАСНОГО РЕФОРМУВАННЯ ВИЩОЇ ШКОЛИ

The article focuses attention on the importance of prioritizing militarypatriotic education of student youth in higher schools of Ukraine in the conditions of today's realities (war with the Russian Federation). It is emphasized that military- patriotic education is an integral part of patriotic education. It is noted that the organization of military-patriotic education should be aimed at making student youth aware of the significance and importance in their lives of striving to protect their country; formation of psycho-physical and moral-spiritual readiness for service in the army; understanding the values of this important aspect of their life for themselves, their families and the country on the whole. Modern youth should feel the need to protect their country on all fronts, starting directly from the front line and ending with professional, competent, qualified and competent help in the reconstruction of Ukraine. The desire of student youth to join these undoubtedly historic and significant moments of the life of Ukraine will testify to their awareness of civic duty, courage, understanding of the life values, freedom and development; wishes for constructive and positive changes; overcoming those obstacles that prevent the country from flourishing. It is noted that the values of democracy, as shown by professional pedagogical experience, cannot be considered and realized without students' understanding of their own mandatory contribution to the protection and preservation of their state. Emphasis is placed on priority forms and methods of military-patriotic education of student youth. It is emphasized that the military-patriotic aspect of educational activities focuses on: the need of young people to protect those values that are dearest to them; overcoming any manifestations of self-doubt; positive changes in your environment; motivation to make responsible decisions; understanding and feeling like a person who wants and can protect himself, his family and country. Summarizes the importance and priority in the modern higher education of Ukraine: the military-patriotic direction of education of student youth; young people's understanding of the country's values, its protection and independence; students' understanding and solving of social and moral problems in the context of society's challenges; formation of moral thinking, moral maturity and moral self-improvement; recognition of moral provocateurs and false values. It is noted that the democratic values chosen and defended by Ukrainians are confirmed by their desire for a civilizational choice for society, the state and the development of their children, which is an absolute priority in modelling the system of the educational process of modern higher schools of Ukraine.

Democrats abroad: What motivates core activists to engage in political transnationalism?

AbstractResearch into transnational political engagement of non‐resident citizens has largely focused on the Global South and less on the Global North. This article focuses on non‐resident United States citizens, or overseas Americans, asking what motivates them to become politically engaged. This article contributes insights to an insufficiently explored case. Drawing from 14 semi‐structured interviews with strongly politically engaged US citizens living abroad, this article shows that they engage in political activism for many of the same reasons as individuals from other countries, as well as ones which may be unique to the US case. Key factors include mobilising to change things at home, the role of the United States in the world, civic duty, fulfilling work and reactive transnationalism. The article concludes with policy recommendations and sets the scene for future comparative research, both within the Global North and between Global North and Global South non‐resident citizen groups.

Aprendizaje-servicio en una carrera de agronomía: Acción y reflexión en un curso en comunidades rurales de Costa Rica

Objective. This article examines the Agronomy major course Community Scenario (Work Experience Course), considering the fundamental elements of the service-learning strategy. It also analyzes the primary learnings that students value during their community experience. Methodology. This qualitative study adopts a descriptive case study approach that examines the course under the service-learning model. It analyzes the integration of the course into the university curriculum, the organization, the promotion of civic responsibility, fieldwork to meet community needs, and reflection activities (United States Congress, 1990). To address the learnings valued by the students, the documentary observation technique was used. A reflection tool was employed to collect the learnings identified by a group of 38 students. The learnings were subsequently analyzed with a focus on three domains: cognitive, behavioral, and affective (Knight-McKenna et al., 2018). Findings and conclusions. The community scenario reveals the presence of the key components of service learning. It exhibits certain strengths in terms of academic organization and reflection and areas with potential for improvement. The participating students value learnings in the affective domain, followed by the behavioral domain, and finally the cognitive domain. Noteworthy learnings include technical knowledge, interpersonal relationships, and knowledge of social conditions and context. Recommendations: It is recommended to continue studying the impact of this course and other community-based courses on student learning.

Leveraging Technology for Environmental Awareness: Insights from Experimental Research with Middle School Students in Malaysia

Embedding environmental concepts in the minds of young students within a traditional classroom setting poses challenges due to the abstract nature of these concepts and the temporal dilemma associated with environmental change, as students are unable to observe the immediate consequences of their actions directly. To address this, innovative instructional methods incorporating technology were explored. Based on socio-constructivism, a quasi-experimental study employed a web tool to teach environmental concepts. The experimental group utilized the 7E constructivist learning model, while the control group followed traditional instruction. The results of the data analysis indicated a statistically significant disparity in students’ motivation levels to learn about environmental challenges, with active learning strategies receiving the highest scores due to engaging students in online discussions and collaborative tasks. The active and constructive learning techniques encouraged collaboration and cooperation and also embraced the students’ autonomy. Furthermore, students felt motivated to act and solve community issues, fostering civic responsibility for long-term growth and a sustainable future. The learning performance in the posttest significantly increased for the experimental group. These findings suggest the importance of integrating technology and active learning approaches to enhance environmental education among young students.

Solidarity as Foundation for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Abstract The potential of the principle of solidarity as an interpretative guide for the realisation of ESCR has, to date, been largely overlooked. Solidarity mediates between the individual and the community, and it has a collective dimension in relation to both burden- and benefit-sharing. The recognition of ESCR creates not only positive legal obligations on the state but also civic responsibilities on individuals to contribute, within their means, to the progressive realisation of ESCR. While the state is ultimately accountable for making progress on ESCR, taking these rights seriously will have implications for individual rights and responsibilities. We argue in this article that the principle of solidarity within society underpins ESCR as a whole and is essential for achieving sustainable progress on ESCR. This is because their progressive realisation requires not only that states' legal obligations are fulfilled but also that individual and collective contributions are made for the common good.

“Implementing the pharmacovigilance system and publishing this journal, we were helping healthcare providers cultivate the sense of professional and civic responsibility”

The origins of the journal Safety and Risk of Pharmacotherapy date back to 1994. The journal was published as Safety of Medicinal Products, Safety of Medicines, and Safety of Medicinal Products and Pharmacovigilance. In Russia, this journal has always been the only specialised scientific publication covering exclusively the safety of pharmacotherapy. Alla V. Astakhova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, headed the journal from 1994 to 2015.The history of the journal is closely intertwined with the history of the pharmacovigilance system in Russia. Vladimir K. Lepakhin, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the Russian pharmacovigilance system. This joint interview with Alla V. Astakhova and Vladimir K. Lepakhin presents the major milestones in the development of the journal and the Russian pharmacovigilance system.