Members Of Civil Society Research Articles

A Corpus of Stories by Members of Civil Society in Rennes, Bretagne, France

A Corpus of Stories by Members of Civil Society in Rennes, Bretagne, France

The Brazilian State Water Resources Councils: diagnosis of civil society participation through criteria of access to information, parity, and decision-making procedures

The aim of the article was to investigate whether the Brazilian State Water Resources Councils, including the Federal District, ensure civil society participation through access to information, parity, and decision-making procedures. In this context, verification criteria were selected, with maximum score of 1 point assigned based on their suitability for the Councils, which were classified in terms of participation adequacy. The states that were deemed suitable, in descending order, were: Paraíba (1st position), Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo (2nd position), Amazonas, Pará, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, and Santa Catarina (3rd position), Bahia, Ceará, Federal District, Espírito Santo, and Mato Grosso (4th position), Rio Grande do Norte and Tocantins (5th position), and Alagoas (6th position). The states deemed unsuitable were: Acre and Pernambuco (7th position), Piauí and Roraima (8th position), Goiás and Sergipe (9th position), and Amapá and Maranhão (10th position). As for the criteria, the ones that scored the highest were: the presence of the website and Internal Regulations of the Councils, decision-making by the Council in plenary sessions, the presence of Meeting Minutes on the website, identification of the Technical Chambers of the Councils on these channels, adherence to the regular meeting schedule, identification of the members who make up the Councils, and parity among the three sectors that constitute them. It was concluded that the State Water Resources Councils need to ensure equal participation for civil society members in their discussions and deliberations as well as provide public access to the information generated.

Building social equity and person-centred innovation into the end TB response.

Reducing systemic inequities in testing, access to care, social protection - and in the scientific process - is essential to end TB. Incorporating social science methods and expertise on inequity into the mainstream TB response would help ensure that political commitments to equity move beyond symbolic gestures. We convened a meeting between TB social scientists, people with lived experience, civil society and community members to discuss equity within the global TB response. Here, we propose five means by which a social science lens can strengthen equitable, person-centred responses and reconcile the public health significance of TB with the principles of social justice.

Crisis as inflection point in the urban governance of domestic migration in India: a policy frames analysis

The exodus of millions of domestic migrants from Indian cities during COVID-19 highlighted the failure of urban governance to address their vulnerabilities and reconfirmed that migrant integration is an intractable policy problem, where actors take oppositional and irresolvable positions. Drawing on frame analysis, which outlines agenda-setting aspects of complex policy issues, this paper explores the ideas, perceptions and beliefs of diverse governance actors – politicians, bureaucrats and civil society members – and questions whether the COVID-19 migrant crisis generated new directions in the urban governance of migration. Results show that the COVID-19 crisis generated framing contests around the role of cities in migrant inclusion that shaped new governance agendas regarding improving urban services and welfare delivery. However, owing to a persistent belief in rural sedentarism, COVID-19 failed to act as a tipping point for definitive policy towards improved urban governance of migration. The findings suggest that deeper analysis of policy frames can enrich literature on the governance of domestic migration and encourage theoretical convergences between domestic and international migration.

Investigating the Effects of the Quadruple Helix on Civic Society Engagement in Smart City Innovation

This paper is focused on the Quadruple Helix (QH) impacts on civic engagement in urban innovations. The main research question addressed is whether there is evidence available in the public domain that use of quadruple helix has increased the involvement of members of civil society in decision-making in smart cities initiatives (SCIs). Due to its rising popularity as a practical innovation model, QH – where government, industry, academia and civil society collaborate to collectively address public problems - has received growing attention in smart cities research and policy making. But despite this, the actual effects of involving the fourth helix – members of civil society – remains an under-researched area. It has yet to be demonstrated what, in practice, SCIs operating under the banner of QH have accomplished, especially for improving the engagement of civil society (CS) members in decision-making about smart city (SC) innovations. A broadly based systematic review of the literature on QH in SCIs has been conducted to discover whether those featuring QH report that successful engagement of members of civil society has affected innovation outcomes. Results suggests that despite its heavy promotion, neither the practical significance of involving the fourth helix in decision-making in SCIs, nor the ‘benefits’ delivered from doing so, are currently unpacked in the literature. This is only partly due to the dearth of published evidence about these issues. The lack of reported effects of the quadruple helix on civic engagement in smart city initiatives is compounded by the inadequate research design adopted for such initiatives, especially by the insufficient attention given to reporting on their implementation or to evaluations of what they have achieved in practice.

Does collaborative governance mediate rural tourism to achieve sustainable territory development? Evidence of stakeholders' perceptions in Colombia

AbstractRural tourism as a diversification strategy might contribute to the sustainability of rural territories in developing countries. However, studies of the forms of how stakeholders relates are required to understand the configuration characteristics of the formal and informal dynamics present at a regional level. This paper explains the mediating role of collaborative governance between rural tourism and sustainable territory development in rural areas through quantitative research using structural equation modeling. The scales were validated by surveying members of civil society, the state, and the productive sector in Colombia. The results confirmed the reliability and validity of the measurement models. Additionally, they validated the dimensions proposed to determine the mediating role of collaborative governance between rural tourism and sustainable territory development. Finally, this document could contributes to a regional consensus on the role of collaborative governance in developing rural tourism actions that significantly promotes the sustainable development of rural territories.

Media coverage of sexual violence by police in colonial contexts: an explorative study

ABSTRACT When facing the inadequacy of the legal system, an initial impulse is to turn to non-legal accountability mechanisms, like the media. This research contends that the latter can also exhibit strong limitations. More precisely, the paper investigates how journalists shaped the Val-d’Or ‘crisis’. These events consisted of allegations of police (sexual) violence, mainly against Indigenous women, and were disclosed to the public by the media in 2015. This research relies on qualitative interviews with journalists and members of civil society. While participants confirmed the media’s capacity to bring allegations into the public sphere, they also decried the dismissal of some narratives, including the colonial context and the focus on one police force (i.e. the Sûreté du Québec) as opposed to police violence, as well as the revictimization of media informants. This exploratory study cautions that mediatic input can harm victims and prevent a complete comprehension of police sexual violence by silencing the role of settler colonialism.

Privilege, place, and patronage: ‘Giving something back’ to Wales

This article explores the complex relationship between civil society, social inequality, and nationhood through examining the motivations of elite members of Welsh civil society as they volunteer to serve on the boards of a wide range of Welsh charities. We interviewed nearly 60 trustees and patrons, all of whom enjoyed successful and influential careers in business, politics, or public service. Their narratives reveal diverse vocabularies of motive, but prominent within these is the desire to ‘give something back’, and not just to society in general but to Wales in particular. While their desire to ‘give back’ reflects an awareness of their own privileged position, their commitment to Wales can be seen as a response to the country’s historic and current dominance by England, as well as a legacy of non-conformism and community. The article concludes by discussing the implications of these narratives for understanding the specificities of ‘geographies of responsibility’, civil society, and nationhood.

The Community’s Understanding and Responses Regarding Land Subsidence, Waterlogging, and the Link Between the Two in Rural South-western Coastal Bangladesh

Land subsidence has triggered severe waterlogging problems in the southwestern coastal zone of Bangladesh, which affects the biodiversity as well as people’s lives, and livelihoods. The members of the affected community, however, appear to have a poor understanding of the nature of land subsidence and its consequences. This study, therefore, aims to assess the community members’ understanding of as well as the actions that they take to solve problems of this nature in the rural, southwestern coastal zone of Bangladesh. A qualitative comparative case study approach was employed in this study, where two rural communities from the southwestern coastal districts were selected as the cases. By subjecting the data to thematic analysis, the study found that, although a few civil society members and activists are, to some extent, aware of the occurrence of land subsidence and its linkage with waterlogging, however, most of the members of the communities lack adequate knowledge or an understanding about the nature, causes and consequences of the land subsidence issue and its connection to the waterlogging problem in their locality. Thus, it was found that they take no or very few measures to cope with the risk of land subsidence. The study’s findings imply that the policymakers should formulate a strategy for making the members of the community aware of the nature, causes, and consequences of land subsidence issues.

Conciliation or a confrontation of agricultural visions? A characterisation of the networks and key actors for sustainable agrifood transformations in the Bauges

CONTEXTIn French mountain territories, origin-linked quality schemes have been widely used to address competition from more productive regions, but such schemes have tended to specialise a territory's agriculture around specific products. Today, these territories are marked by the arrival of “left-returned” and new residents, who develop alternative production methods and grassroot initiatives based on agroecological principles and food production relocation. The different groups within the territories hold different visions of what should be agriculture and may confront each other. Sustainable agrifood transformations need to account for the diversity of visions among the variety of actors to enrich transition pathways. OBJECTIVEThe aim of this article is to analyse relationships among a diversity of agrifood actors who have different visions of agriculture in a territory in order to characterise the structure of their relationships and the key actors. More specifically, it seeks, first, to analyse whether actors sharing the same characteristics interact more or not, and whether individual attributes stimulate or constrain relations among the diverse range of actors; and second, to characterise the key actors (i.e. prestigious and brokers) and their roles. METHODSThe study was conducted in a French alpine territory specialising in extensive dairy cattle breeding to produce protected designation of origin (PDO) cheese. We use mixed methods, combining a social network analysis (regression models, and homophily and centrality indicators) with semi-structured interviews to analyse the discussion network of the diverse actors involved in agriculture and food in the Bauges (including farmers, elected officials, processors, distributors, members of civil society, and employees of agricultural and local development institutions). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe analysis showed that there is no homophily within the actor typologies, and that relations were concentrated within the territory. Some actors were more important for developing ties, especially the employees of agricultural and local development institutions, who were more solicitated by others. However, the results revealed homophily among non-native actors, although they are driving force in the development of ties, demonstrating both their ability to forge links and relational barriers with natives. After that, the most influential broker actor was the park employee in charge of agriculture, who holds a pluralist vision and has a central role in gathering different actors together and bringing them into dialogue. The most prestigious actors were the park employee, a civil society actor, and four farmers. These actors all fulfil three main functions: to guide practices and visions within their group as key actors often hold a clear-cut vision, to bind heterogeneous groups together (although this does not prevent tensions and conflict with these actors), and to link institutional levels, often by virtue of being heads of networks and municipal councillors. However, the methodology did not allow the integration of more isolated actors, especially dairy cattle breeders, who should be included more deeply in further research. SIGNIFICANCETo better understand the dynamics of sustainable agrifood transformations, the relational approach enables analysis of the patterns of relationships between multiple actors with different agricultural visions, and to characterise the key actors and their roles. From the perspective of accompanying agrifood transformations, it is helpful to understand the relational structures between the actors in order to avoid the possible conflicts that could arise in such research. Moreover, it is useful to identify and mobilise key actors in order to facilitate researchers' entry into a territory and increase participation.

“The Catholic Church Has a Big Structure”

The general body of literature on the theology of liberation tends to focus either on ecclesiastical debate, theological intricacies, or discussion within the church. Not much attention is paid to the empirical investigation of how civil society members might be influencing the rhetoric of the local church. This article takes a different approach and explores how liberation movements in Ukraine and Hong Kong inform and inspire elements of the theology of social justice within local Catholic communities through bringing to life their social dreams and engaging the churches in action. Looking at how churches and activists interact in the aftermath of the Euromaidan and the Umbrella Movement, we explore how grassroots activists approach religious hierarchies and how, in these circumstances, the clergy of the churches might be pressured into maneuvering between the social dreams of civil society and the Vatican.

ACTIVITIES OF ISLAMIC CLERICS REPUBLIC OF BASHKORTOSTAN IN THE PROCESS OF RESOCIALIZATION OF CONVICTS

In the light of the modern approach to working with convicts, the main activities of Islamic clerics with persons serving sentences are singled out, aimed at the formation of a religious worldview, spiritual and moral education, as well as their integration into the system of social relations and inclusion in society. The educational value of religion and the main approaches to improving the organizational foundations of the activities of penitentiary institutions, with the leading role of Islamic clerics, are increasing. For this reason, it is becoming important to implement basic social, moral and religious measures in penitentiary institutions aimed at correcting the personality of convicts and developing qualities that ensure their inclusion in the life of society at a socially acceptable level. Effective re-socialization involves building a unified system of educational work in correctional institutions and providing assistance to persons after serving their sentences to adapt to society. The purpose of the article is to analyze the systematic activity of Islamic clerics of the Republic of Bashkortostan (RB) on the re-socialization of convicts, which is based on secular laws and religious norms. Materials and methods. The sources of the research are general scientific theoretical methods: analysis of sociological and psychological-pedagogical literature, materials and publications of pedagogical and periodical press, dissertations on the subject of research, regulatory and educational and program documentation; empirical methods: study, analysis and generalization of practical experience of Islamic clerics of the Republic of Belarus; Bibliographic methods: annotation, peer review, citation, thesis, etc. Results. The article provides a pedagogical analysis of views on the problem of resocialization of convicts; the role of religion in the spiritual and moral education of the persons considered in the work is determined, the activities of Islamic clerics with persons who are in penitentiary institutions and after their release are revealed; the main types of joint activities of correctional institutions, public organizations and religious associations aimed at organizing an effective educational system with convicts, contributing to positive re-socialization and the formation of a full-fledged member of civil society, are revealed. The materials can be used in working with people who are in correctional institutions, when providing them with assistance after serving their sentence (socialization, employment, etc.), for working with employees of the Federal Penitentiary Service. Funding. The study was supported by M. Akmulla Bashkir State Pedagogical University within the framework of the competition for fundamental and search scientific research in priority directions (Order No. 123/n dated 30.05.2022).

Searching for a recipe for success: environmental citizen petitions under free trade agreements

ABSTRACT Submissions on enforcement matters (SEMs) allow civil society members to assert that one party to a free trade agreement (FTA) is failing to enforce its domestic environmental laws. Submissions that survive every step of the SEM process result in a ‘factual record’ prepared by a secretariat on enforcement matters. Relying on qualitative comparative analysis and an original dataset compiling the 158 SEMs submitted under the framework of US FTAs, I investigate what conditions make submissions more likely to succeed in leading to a factual record. I find that the existence of previous submissions dealing with the same facts, submissions against developing countries, and the presence of at least one non-governmental organization as a submitter contribute to a submission’s success, but only in conjunction with other conditions and for a limited number of cases. This result provides overall evidence that secretariats’ decisions are unbiased by the factors examined in this paper.

Effects of Insecurity on Social Activities of Pastoralist Communities, A Case Study of Mandera County

The presence of an imminent threat to people's lives and property is referred to as insecurity. It might represent a threat, posing difficulties, and risks, and raising anxieties, which would have an impact on a nation's socioeconomic progress. The purpose of this study was to examine forms of insecurity among pastoralist communities and evaluate how insecurity affected the social activities of pastoralist communities in Mandera County, Kenya. A descriptive survey study design was used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data using questionnaires, interviews and content analysis. A total of 399 household heads, 4 chiefs, 6 sub-chiefs, 10 religious leaders, and 6 members of civil society. A stratified method was used to ensure all the sub-counties were included in the study. Household heads, chiefs, sub-chiefs, religious figures, and members of civil society were sampled using purposive sampling. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS Version 25) computer software program to yield descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Verbatim quotes were used to analyse qualitative data. The findings of the study were presented using tables, figures, pie charts and bar graphs. The findings of this study indicated that Mandera experiences a variety of kinds of insecurity, such as livestock rustling, banditry, border conflicts, terrorism attacks, and inter-clan disputes. The study concluded that there was heightened insecurity in Mandera County caused by terrorism and cattle rustling. Based on the findings above, the study recommended that the county government of Mandera to provide adequate amenities and intensify security in the county in order to ensure the pastoral communities have access to social services

Political vigilantism in Ghana: Motives, membership, and financing

AbstractThis comprehensive study of political vigilantism in Ghana examines the motives, membership, and financing of the phenomenon and proffers solutions to combat it. We use a qualitative methodology of personal interviews with a broad section of Ghanaian political stakeholders totaling 50 participants. This included 30 political vigilante members equally affiliated with the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress and selected from the vigilante hotbeds of the Northern, Upper East, and Ashanti regions of Ghana. The other political stakeholders total 20 and are made up of: five public political party executives, five civil society members, five police officers, and five local district assembly members. The motives include institutional weakness, winning political power, and economic and group solidarity. Membership involves family and friends, former security personnel, party members, and unemployed youth. Financing emanates from political parties, politicians, and the business class. We argue that patron–clientelism is the driving force behind political vigilantism and recommend more legal accountability for patrons, particularly through constitutional amendments guaranteeing a fixed term for the head of the police and separating the roles of Attorney General and Minister of Justice. This is to ensure that the former can impartially prosecute vigilante patrons. Punitive financial measures are also recommended to deter patrons, backed by sustained public education and more employment opportunities for the masses of unemployed youth—the bedrock of political vigilantism.Related ArticlesAkwei, Cynthia, Isaac S. Damoah, and Joseph Amankwah‐Amoah. 2020. “The Effects of Politics on the Implementation of Government Programs/Projects: Insights from a Developing Economy.” Politics & Policy 48(6): 1161–201. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12384.Asiegbu, Martin F., Okey Marcellus Ikeanyibe, Pius Otu Abang, Okwudili Chukwuma Nwosu, and Chuka Eugene Ugwu. 2024. “Natural Resource Fund Governance and the Institutionalization of Rent Seeking in Nigeria's Oil Sector.” Politics & Policy 52(1): Early View. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12579.Debrah, Emmanuel. 2016. “Decentralization, District Chief Executives, and District Assemblies in Ghana's Fourth Republic.” Politics & Policy 44 (1): 135–64. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12146.

Bordering Democracies, Democratising Borders

Over the past 30 years, border scholars have written extensively on what borders are, where they are located, and how they operate, not just to critically understand their changing role, but also to criticise and denounce their violence and discrimination. Yet borders continue to proliferate, in particular as a response to alleged crises affecting Europe. If borders have always constituted markers of social and cultural identity, the more recent process of European re-bordering, I argue, constitutes a challenge for the democratic system as a whole. Implemented by left-wing and right-wing parties alike, this process seems indeed to have been taken away from public discourse and treated as a technical necessity to solve the crises. Far from being neutral or non-political, however, it has disclosed new forms of racial discrimination, political and economic power, and colonial violence. In order to substantiate my argument, I will 1) provide a brief examination of the recent changes in the concept and practice of democracy, as well as their interrelations with the process of European re-bordering, 2) investigate the socio-political and economic conditions under which the current process of European re-bordering has come about, with particular attention to the increasing role of media and political discourses in shaping public opinion, and 3) discuss the repercussions of the process of European re-bordering on the democratic system. The article will conclude by inviting scholars, civil society members, and any interested party to open up a more open and democratic debate around the unequal and discriminatory practices of bordering.

State, Refugees, and Civil Society in Turkey: Transformation Under Control

The forced migration movement from Syria, which began in 2011, has brought about significant changes in civil society within Turkey. The already existing complex relationship between the state and civil society, is further diversified in the context of forced migration, presenting the need to focus on the provision of humanitarian assistance, access to services, and integration of Syrian refugees who are legally under temporary protection, without international refugee recognition. Furthermore, state-driven cross-border humanitarian operations and security-oriented state policies also shape this landscape. Therefore, the interplay between civil society actors –existing, government-supported, and newly emerging– and security-oriented state policies contributes to this transformation. Historical and political realities, alongside global-local crises, influence the trajectory of change within civil society, positioning authorities as pivotal decision-makers in managing individuals’ movement. Through in-depth interviews in different cities of Turkey with NGOs and refugee-led civil society members in 2018, the article uncovers the formation and progression of relationships between civil society actors and the state, revealing adaptations and adjustments based on contextual circumstances. The article seeks to move beyond comprehensive liberal and developmental perspectives, instead focusing on the evolving dynamics of state control within migration-related civil society.

Global Social Movements (GSMs) and Non-Governmental Organizations: Investigating the Impact on Global Social Change

Global Social Movements (GSMs) have become integral to the study of Sociology and International Politics, reflecting the interconnectedness of global communities on diverse issues. Orchestrated by NGOs and INGOs, GSMs encompass environmental, women’s, human rights, racial, fair trade, and refugee movements, among others, reflecting the breadth of global concerns. However, challenges arise from political affiliations between civil society members and state authorities, as well as pressures from donor countries and ruling elites in economically disadvantaged nations. This study, employing content analysis methodology, aims to delineate the causes of GSMs, investigate the roles of INGOs and civil society, and explore the interplay between GSMs and global governance. Through critical analysis, it provides insights and recommendations to enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of GSMs in addressing global challenges, thus contributing to the advancement of global democracy and governance structures.

Divine Mandates and Political Realities: Exploring Power, Religion, and Transition in The Gambia

This article analyses the role of religious symbolism and religiosity during The Gambia’s autocracy (1994–2017) and its democratic transition (2017–2023). Former autocratic ruler, Yahya Jammeh, exploited religious symbolism to legitimise his authority, leading to crackdowns, extrajudicial punishment, and political repression. Drawing on community engagements and interviews with 61 civil-society members, political actors, community stakeholders, and girls in rural and urban areas across The Gambia’s West Coast Region, the findings highlight the influence of cultural and value systems, particularly the intersection of religion and politics, in shaping the country’s autocracy. Exploring some of the nuances of religious ideology and religious symbols concerning the state, The Gambia’s political history allows for deeper examinations of power dynamics within the broader cultural and societal context. By adopting a multidimensional perspective of power that incorporates religion, cultural values, and ethnic dimensions, this article offers new perspectives for analysing power structures and transformations in diverse socio-political settings.

CARECOS study: Medical students’ empathy as assessed with the CARE measure by examiners versus standardized patients during a formative Objective and Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) station

Purpose To assess the Consultation And Relational Empathy (CARE) measure as a tool for examiners to assess medical students’ empathy during Objective and Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), as the best tool for assessing empathy during OSCEs remains unknown. Methods We first assessed the psychometric properties of the CARE measure, completed simultaneously by examiners and standardized patients (SP, either teachers - SPteacher - or civil society members - SPcivil society), for each student, at the end of an OSCE station. We then assessed the qualitative/quantitative agreement between examiners and SP. Results We included 129 students, distributed in eight groups, four groups for each SP type. The CARE measure showed satisfactory psychometric properties in the context of the study but moderate, and even poor inter-rater reliability for some items. Considering paired observations, examiners scored lower than SPs (p < 0.001) regardless of the SP type. However, the difference in score was greater when the SP was a SPteacher rather than a SPcivil society (p < 0.01). Conclusion Despite acceptable psychometric properties, inter-rater reliability of the CARE measure between examiners and SP was unsatisfactory. The choice of examiner as well as the type of SP seems critical to ensure a fair measure of empathy during OSCEs.