Community Cohesion Research Articles

Promotion, public policies and decent work: how to foster community cohesion and common vision?

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate perceptions of the employees on decent work and explore the path how employees, employers, social partners and public policymakers contribute to a united response to the implementation of sustainability dimensions to foster community cohesion and promote common vision.Design/methodology/approachThe survey was conducted in country of Kosova and aimed to target respondents under employment relationship at the time of the survey administration. Respondents were categorized into two groups: those working in the public sector and the ones working in the private sector. The sample consisted of 580 respondents. Descriptive statistics, reliability measures and Person correlation coefficient were used for data analysis.FindingsThe results showed that strong positive correlation is found between having rights of employees protected and safety at workplace; equal treatment at workplace and receiving a fair pay; the positive impact of social partners and protection of employees; and finally, efforts of government to create conditions for decent work and its active support of decent employment.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research topic is among the first studies in country that has been developed at the Universum International College as one of the constituting research themes deriving from the Institution’s research plan on sustainability. It explains the multiform and multifold ways through which decent work may be promoted as common vision between employees, employers, social partners and public institutions.

The security policy community and the consensus on the US–Japan alliance: the role of think tanks, experts and the alliance managers

The article addresses the issue of continuity of the consensus on the US–Japan alliance in the post-Cold War era, by employing the concepts of a security policy community (SPC) that comprises both government office-holders and non-governmental actors focused on the foreign and security policy. The main argument is three-fold; firstly, one of the major forces behind the continuity and enhancement of the security consensus on the US–Japan alliance has been the formation of the transnational SPC that includes members from the US and Japan; secondly, since the end of the Cold War, the SPC has developed a dense network of members, institutions, and practices that supports the advocacy of alliance enhancement as well as community cohesion and nurturing of new members; and thirdly, the think tank- and university-based experts play an increasingly vital role in the formation and dissemination of the security consensus. The article suggests that such arrangements can have both positive and negative consequences and that a proper balance between openness and exclusiveness, expertise and novelty, and continuity and innovation is required in order to maintain a vibrant marketplace of ideas for security policy. The article also indicates that with the transformation of the Indo-Pacific security architecture from the hub and spoke to the networked system, SPC might serve as a model in other US alignments.

범죄율 감소를 위한 도시재생 계획기법 연구

Urban regeneration plays a pivotal role in enhancing urban safety and residents' quality of life while being closely linked to reducing urban crime rates through transformative changes in city spaces. The improvement of infrastructure, parks, and public facilities connected to residential areas has a profound impact on addressing urban crime issues within communities.
 This study focuses on Mitte, a district in the German capital Berlin, where successful crime rate reduction was achieved through urban regeneration initiatives in high-crime areas. The research conducts a comprehensive case analysis of urban regeneration plans and strategies to identify the specific attributes contributing to crime reduction and the strategic approaches used for crime prevention environment design. The analysis of Mitte's Leopolaplatz area reveals two distinct features of crime prevention environment design implemented through urban regeneration: physical space rejuvenation and enhanced social integration. The rejuvenation of physical spaces involves a clear distinction between private and public areas. The findings of the analysis are as follows: Firstly, urban regeneration of private spaces results in an improvement in residents' sense of ownership and increased surveillance. Secondly, the regeneration of public spaces strengthens their identity and image, promoting a more organic form of surveillance. Lastly, the physical urban regeneration of both private and public spaces contributes to a safer urban environment. The implementation of community strengthening programs further enhances community cohesion.

Preserving Tradition and Celebrating the Prophet: An Ethnographic Study of the Mbelu’ Pandang Tradition West Sumbawa, Indonesia

This ethnographic study delves into the Mbelu’ Pandang tradition, a unique cultural practice held in Labuan Kertasari Village, West Sumbawa, Indonesia. This tradition, which originated from the Selayar tribe, involves intricate rituals such as the rolling of pandan leaves and the slicing of pandanus, performed during the commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. The study aimed to explore the historical roots, philosophical meanings, and contemporary significance of the Mbelu’ Pandang tradition, emphasizing its socio-cultural and religious values. Data was collected over three months using participant observation, in-depth interviews with 13 key informants, including village elders, religious, and community leaders, and qualitative content analysis was employed to interpret the findings. Results indicate that the tradition serves multiple functions: fostering community cohesion, acting as a conduit for religious expression, and reinforcing cultural identity among the villagers. It also highlights the efforts to preserve this tradition through local festivals and community-based initiatives, which sustain cultural heritage and promote regional tourism. The study contributes to understanding the dynamics of cultural preservation within minority tribes and offers insights into the complex interplay between tradition, religion, and modernity in rural Indonesia.

Mechanisms for Employee Mobility Between Organizations: A Network Analysis of Faculty Turnover in Communication, 2013 to 2022

Organizations compete for scarce resources such as talent. The mobility of employees between organizations means that the inflow side acquires resources at the expense of the outflow side. This study understands employee turnover from one place to another as a mobility network where directed edges indicate migration flows between organizations. Using observational data on the turnover of tenure-line communication faculty in 129 U.S. universities from 2013 to 2022, this paper investigates the formation mechanisms of the interorganizational mobility network. The results show that the creation of migration flows is driven by transitive closure, but not by cyclic closure. Community cohesion is not a driving force of network formation. While low-prestige universities are more likely to be sources of faculty mobility than high-prestige universities, migration flows are commonly observed between organizations with similar levels of prestige. Additionally, the probability of faculty mobility between universities first decreases and then increases with their geographic distance.

The Effects of Violent Civil Conflicts on Household Security and Government Responses in East Wallaga Zone, Oromia Regional State

This article provides a qualitative analysis of the impacts of violent armed conflicts on households and government responses. The study identifies direct effects such as deaths and forced migration, and indirect effects such as long-term losses in social capital, social networks, and infrastructure. These conflicts also harm institutions in the social, political, and economic spheres. The study recommends two policy suggestions at national and international levels: policies to rebuild household and community cohesiveness, and policies to aid recovery, such as income-generating activities and peacebuilding. Overall, the article highlights the need for comprehensive and coordinated efforts to address the effects of violent conflicts on households and communities.

Finding Common Ground: Factors that Unify Farming Communities in Leyte and Samar

This study examines the interplay of identified common grounds (e.g., traditions, ancient rites, religious beliefs) that impacts on unifying farming communities in Leyte and Samar. Through a qualitative approach, the researchers explored how shared values, rituals, and a sense of identity stemming from these cultural elements promote collaboration, sustainable agricultural practices, and community cohesion among these farming communities. With the constraints present, farmers still can navigate these challenges by embracing innovative strategies that balance tradition with modernity. The implications of this study underscore the importance of preserving cultural heritage while fostering adaptive approaches to promote unity and sustainable agriculture.

Cost-benefit Assessment of Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Women Reporting Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Uganda: Assessing Women’s Resilience as a Means to Protect their Ethno-religious Group

Drawing from fieldwork carried out in Uganda, this empirical study is an enquiry into women’s resilience in the face of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the country. It asks why, and when, refugee and asylum-seeking women decide to report (or not report) SGBV. It also enquires into the issues that determine when they do so. The article shows that many participants did not report cases of SGBV because of their concerns about protecting their ethno-religious group and avoiding further discrimination and villainisation of their communities. Survivors are also confronted with the ineffectiveness of retributive justice, which is slow to punish perpetrators. This has led to the establishment of a plea-bargaining system in the country, although this also falls short of securing justice for SGBV survivors. Therefore, survivors often turn to their communities to deal with instances of SGBV. However, most of these community-based mechanisms reinforce patriarchal discrimination and violence and often disregard women’s well-being, interests, and fundamental rights. Women also have to deal with patriarchal pressure that places the responsibility for community cohesion on the woman, as part of her traditional role. This inhibits the ability to make a free and personal choice that could benefit women as a social group.

Identifying Transshipment Hubs in a Global Container Shipping Network: An Approach Based on Reinforced Structural Holes

Transshipment hubs are important components of the global container shipping network. Nowadays, hybrid ports are emerging, handling both gateway and transshipment container traffic depending on their significant maritime connectivity. Effectively identifying transshipment hubs, including traditional transshipment hubs with high transshipment incidences and hybrid ports with sufficient transshipment capabilities, is crucial to gain a good understanding of container shipping networks. The method of reinforced structural holes (RSHs) has been introduced from the sociology to detect transshipment hubs at the global level, as it can fully consider the existence of separated cohesive port communities. The results show that the RSH-based approach is feasible to identify those hubs playing the role of bridges across different port communities worldwide, which is demonstrated from the perspective of maritime connectivity. The higher ranked hubs with higher RSH values generally have better maritime connections with ports from various port communities. Several policy implications have been further elaborated for relevant decision makers, such as liner companies and port operators.

Sowing Agroecology in Rio Doce through a Technical Assistance and Rural Outreach Program in a Territory Affected by the Biggest Environmental Disaster in Brazilian History

Abstract The work of an Agroecological Technical Assistance and Rural Outreach program (ATER, in its acronym in Portuguese) is a profound process of communication between technical specialists in agricultural production and farming families, specialists in their practice and their social context. The ATER program of the “Sowing Agroecology in Rio Doce” project works with 138 families whose farming activity was hampered by the rupture of the Fundão Mining Tailings Dam (Brazil), considered the greatest environmental disaster in Brazilian history. The work seeks to train family farmers for the agroecological transition, aiming at building production systems that operate in an economically viable, environmentally correct, socially fair, and culturally diverse way. The project takes place in three dimensions: animal, where the welfare and health of animals are worked on, and in the development of more autonomous systems regarding the use of inputs and medicines; natural goods, where it operates in agricultural production, water resources, and environmental conservation of the properties, aiming at the production free of pesticides and industrialized inputs; and culture, through understanding the social reality of families, valuing cultural manifestations and traditions, aiming to strengthen the social cohesion of communities and encourage cooperation between families, and seeking to create short marketing circuits, work groups, and collective purchases of inputs. In this way, the process takes place from the One Health perspective, as it seeks to integrate human, animal, and environmental health. This approach has contributed to increasing production and family autonomy, bringing economic viability, food security, and environmental conservation to the region. Information © The Authors 2023

Community (dis)connectedness and identity among LGBTQIA+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative cross-sectional and longitudinal trajectory study

ABSTRACT The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and associated shelter-in-place ordinances rapidly limited access to in-person social interactions, raising concerns of diminishing social support and community cohesion while psychological stressors increased. For LGBTQIA+ people, connectedness to the LGBTQIA+ community buffers against the harmful effects of stressors and decreases risks for poor psychological and behavioural health outcomes. The current study uses qualitative cross-sectional (between-person) and trajectory (within-person) analysis methods to characterise how LGBTQIA+ people’s perceptions of community connectedness shifted during the first year of the pandemic. A convenience sample of LGBTQIA+ people in the U.S. completed an initial online survey in September 2020 (n = 298 and a follow-up survey in September 2021; n = 129). The survey included questions about changes in connectedness to the LGBTQIA+ community since the pandemic’s beginning. Eight cross-cutting themes (related to identity shifts/exploration, disconnection, online connections, and increased awareness of social justice issues) were identified and then organised within each level of the LGBTQIA+ Social-Ecological Model (i.e. the individual-, couple-, interpersonal-, organisational-, community-, and chronosystem- level). Given the importance of social support for LGBTQIA+ wellbeing, more longitudinal research is needed to determine whether these changes persist after the resolution of the acute phase of the pandemic.

Exploring the Role of Race in Social Cohesion in Two Rural Communities of South Africa

Globally, race and social cohesion in urban areas have received significant research focus. However, it may appear that scholars have not paid adequate attention to the role of race as a facilitator or barrier to social cohesion in rural areas. Thus, the aim of the study was to explore the role of race as a facilitator of, or barrier to, social cohesion in two South African rural communities, namely, Lambert’s Bay, Western Cape, and Philippolis, Free State Province. The study uses some of the tenets of critical race theory to interrogate the issues of race in South African rural communities. A qualitative research design was utilised to gather in-depth knowledge of the participants’ views. Nineteen participants participated in the face-to-face interviews conducted with the stakeholders and parents of both communities under study. The data was analysed thematically and five themes were identified, presented and discussed in the results: (1) Experiences of other racialised groups, (2) Experiences of immigrants, (3) Race as a factor influencing cohesion, (4) Experiences of racial discrimination, and (5) Fear of marginalisation and exclusion. Additionally, the findings highlighted physical separation and segregation between races as barriers to race relations in the communities. The study highlights that segregated communities limit interracial interactions, and rather foster intolerance, which in turn fuels racism. As a result, these factors have negative consequences on social cohesion in South African communities. Keywords: Race, Social cohesion, Rural community, Critical theory, South Africa

Scoping Review on the Benefits of Reciting, Listening and Memorising the Quran

This scoping review examines the benefits of Quranic engagement, encompassing recitation, listening, and memorisation. From a pool of 1,739 articles, 21 relevant studies were analysed. Recitation of the Quran provides solace and inner peace while listening to it reduces stress and promotes overall well-being. Memorisation enhances cognitive abilities and fosters a deeper understanding of Islamic principles. Quranic engagement also yields social benefits by preserving heritage and fostering Muslim unity. These practices contribute to holistic well-being, personal growth, and community cohesion. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore how Quranic engagement facilitates these benefits.

The Cultural Treasures of Baima Tibetan Folk Songs in Gansu Province, China, as a Resource for Literacy Education in Chinese Music History

Baima Tibetan folk songs are an integral part of the Baima Tibetan music culture. They are performed in diverse styles, including solo, duet, lead singing, round singing, and chorus. The objective of the study was to explore the significance of Baima Tibetan folk songs as a resource for literacy education in Chinese music history. By engaging with key informants divided into three groups - scholar informants, casual informants, and general informants. The result of this study reveals that ritual music holds deep roots in religious beliefs and is performed during sacrificial ceremonies, marriage ceremonies, and funeral ceremonies. Dance music culture reflects the collective nature and community cohesion of the Baima people, with dances like the fire circle dance serving as prominent expressions. Folk songs encompass a wide range of themes, including labor, wine, wedding, and love, showcasing the diverse musical expressions within Baima Tibetan society. The unique rituals, dances, and songs of the Baima people contribute significantly to the preservation and celebration of their rich cultural heritage. This study highlights the educational potential of Baima Tibetan folk songs as valuable resources for promoting literacy and understanding in the context of Chinese music history.

Architecture learning environments: Pedagogy and space in the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya's Sant Cugat Campus

AbstractThe qualitative improvement of learning spaces in higher education has often been linked to the technicalization of classrooms, and to the dissolution of the physical and temporal framework of teaching. The main objective of this research was to examine the relationship between learning and space, beyond its formal and functional values, and how this relationship contributes to promoting an efficient, cohesive educational community that strengthens links with the society that it aspires to serve. Methodologically, a quantitative approach to the design of learning spaces is proposed in relation to three aspects: formal diversity, functional flexibility, and sociability of the university community. The proposed methodology was applied to the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya's Sant Cugat Campus, which is recognized for the innovative nature of its pedagogical model, based on project‐based learning, and the adaptation of learning spaces to educational projects. With an educational model that tends to the spatial–temporal dissolution of learning and university spaces designed under the principles of form and function, improvement in the quality of learning is related to the improvement and quality of learning spaces using the principles of functional flexibility, spatial diversity, and sociability.

Excessive rightsizing? The interdependence of public school closures and population shrinkage

AbstractShrinking cities have, by definition, lost population. Rightsizing is a strategic planning approach to mitigate the challenges of population loss by adjusting a municipality's services, amenities, or even footprint to fit a new demographic reality. While studies have documented the unacceptability and ineptitude of municipality‐driven rightsizing, public school closures have proliferated and quietly become a noteworthy material manifestation of population change. However, as public schools are widely considered to be a foundational component of community cohesion, identity, and prosperity, it begs the question of whether their closure may accelerate the decline feedback mechanisms already present in many shrinking cities. Our study examines public school closures in Ontario, Canada, from 2011 to 2016 to determine the relationship between municipal population trajectories and size and public school closures, and to explore the prevalence of school closures and the community context in shrinking Ontario municipalities. We find that public school closures occurred disproportionately in shrinking and smaller municipalities. Furthermore, public school closure prevalence is associated with low income, low ethnoracial diversity, and low educational attainment.

Social capital and community integration in post-disaster relocation settlements after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in Indonesia

The permanent relocation of persons from areas threatened by environmental stress is widely seen within the international humanitarian sector as problematic due to negative social and economic impacts. However, relocation is increasingly seen as a likely, if unfortunate, response to climate change as rising sea-levels, changing ecological conditions, and increasingly intense disasters create powerful push factors. The more dramatic examples of environmental migration focus on long-distance movements, including crossing national borders, which raise issues about the importance of social capital for migrants trying to build community cohesion and integrate into different cultural contexts. However, it is likely that most relocation because of environment stress will occur at sub-national to very local geographic scales, similar to what happens after large-scale disasters, meaning that persons might be resettled within familiar cultural, linguistic, and religious contexts. In this paper we use qualitative data collected in 12 resettlement complexes built in Aceh, Indonesia for persons displaced by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami to analyze the importance of social capital for building cohesion within resettlement complexes and between resettlement complexes and host communities. We find that even though tsunami-affected persons were generally relocated less than 20 km from their pre-tsunami homes, there were clear social distinctions between resettled persons and host communities, which had practical impacts on integration, access to resources, and participation within local governance structures. We found shared cultural and religious traditions and social practices served as important sources of bonding capital within resettlement complexes. However, the same attributes were less effective as bridging capital between resettlement complexes and their host communities. These findings show that governments and NGOs need to be cautious about underestimating the negative social disruptions caused by short-distance relocation and the importance of bonding social capital for fostering stable and sustainable resettlement communities.

Mobilizing through local agency to support place-based economic transition: A case study of Tumbler Ridge, BC

Small and remote resource towns face a variety of challenges, including boom and bust cycles, deindustrialization, as well as ineffective top-down development policies, which have undermined economic viability and community cohesiveness. In response, many communities have turned to locally-driven and bottom-up approaches to economic development. Drawing upon key informant interviews with a case study of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia (BC), Canada, this research explores the role of local agency in mobilizing local investments to facilitate a place-based economic transition. Our findings highlight how vulnerabilities within the staples-dependent economy can provide opportunities for unlocking local talents, energies, and capabilities latent under paternalistic institutional structures. This can be achieved by investing in place-based economic planning, social and economic infrastructure, and place revitalization. We also highlight the importance of collective local agency and extra-local networks in mobilizing these investments to achieve local aspirations and vision.

Dalit Literature is the impact of Dr Ambedkar’s philosophy with reference to V. T. Rajshekar's 'Caste-A Nation within Nation'

V. T. Rajshekar’s book ‘Caste – A Nation within the Nation’ (2007), which shifts his fundamental tone from protest to more serious analysis, is a turning point in his creative career. It explains how particular communities become marginalized within the confines of a nation-state. Even though casteism is implemented in all social institutions, caste is still a contentious subject in India, according to Rajshekar, who starts the book with this assertion. He makes the observation that in order to understand how deeply ingrained casteism is in India, one must look at the institution of marriage. He claims that the newspaper matrimonial pages are blatantly casteist and oppose caste integration, which should logically take place in a democracy. Rajshekar makes the point that knowledge of a country without knowledge of its castes and subcastes is essentially lacking. People, according to him, do not even realize that Indian society is made up of several castes and communities rather than being one cohesive community. Rajshekar claims that the caste system was created as a result of upper caste predominance, which led to rigorous social classification and, ultimately, a structure that may lead to war. He also demonstrates how the constitutional foundation can be used to address the marginalization of some communities within the framework of a nation-state. The book is a blatant allegory of the unethical power struggles in 20th-century India. In order to examine the viewpoint on discrimination of the lower strata of society, this research paper attempts to undertake a close study of Dr. Ambedkar’s work and its influence on literature. He also explains the marginalization of certain communities that happens within the framework of a Nation-state that can be solved by the constitutional base. The novel is a transparent allegory of the dirty power politics of the twentieth-century India. This research paper also tries to make a close reading of Dr. Ambedkar’s work and its impact on literature to assess the view on discrimination of the lower strata of society.

“As if it were home”: an exploratory study of the role of homesickness among migrant entrepreneurs

ABSTRACT A common pattern observed in the psychological literature on migrants is homesickness, yet there is a lack of research examining if this phenomenon has any effect in the entrepreneurship sphere. This study begins to fill this gap with an inductive approach examining the Venezuelan migratory wave in Chile. Methodologically, we conduct an oral history analysis of 18 Venezuelan entrepreneurs’ narratives to explore the reasons they built their entrepreneurial ventures and the mechanisms underlying this process. Based on our findings, we show that homesickness can become an enabler that links entrepreneurs with a (latent unsatisfied) demand by facilitating the entrepreneurial ideation process. This phenomenon occurs because the engagement between individuals is heightened when they experience homesickness. On the one hand, we notice that homesick entrepreneurs enhance three resources that contribute to the entrepreneurial ideation process: (1) rhetorical skills, (2) affective empathy, and (3) adaptive attitude. On the other hand, two features also facilitate interaction from the demand side: (1) customer persona and (2) cohesive community identity. Thus, our results suggest that migrant entrepreneurs gain trusted partners based on shared homesickness. Consequently, a more efficient and effective entrepreneurial ideation process is generated.