Commentary Piece Research Articles

Epistemologies of Ebola: Reflections on the Experience of the Ebola Response Anthropology Platform

By September 2014, it was clear that conventional approaches to containing the spread of Ebola in West Africa were failing. Public health teams were often met with fear, and efforts to treat patients and curtail population movement frequently backfired. Both governments and international agencies recognized that anthropological expertise was essential if locally acceptable, community-based interventions to interrupt transmission were to be designed. The Ebola Response Anthropology Platform was established against this background. Drawing together local and internationally based anthropologists, the Platform provided a coordinated and rapid response to the outbreak in real time. This social thought & commentary piece explores how the Platform developed and interacted with other epistemic communities to produce knowledge and policy over the course of the outbreak. Reflecting on the experiences of working with the UK Department for International Development, the World Health Organization, and other agencies, we ask: what do these experiences reveal about the politics of (expert) knowledge and its influence on the design and implementation of policy? Did differing conceptions of the place of anthropology in humanitarian crises by policymakers and practitioners shape the contributions made by the Ebola Response Anthropology Platform? What are the implications of these experiences for future anthropological engagement with, and research on, humanitarian responses to health crises?

The digital “lure”: Small businesses and Pokémon Go

Most of the discussion about Pokémon Go has focused on the end-user and the playful nature of the game. Experts have mentioned the game’s commercialism, but they have done so mostly by talking about the data collection practices of the app developers. This commentary piece takes a different approach by examining how businesses have used Pokémon Go’s “lures” to attract foot traffic. The main goal of the article is to show how the ludic, digital wayfaring of location-based games can be used by individual places to attract players. While the focus is on business owners, I will also address how game mechanics could also be used to encourage prosocial behaviors such as voting (in noncompulsory voting countries).

Commentary piece: The enigma of solitary laughter

Very little has been published on the subject of solitary laughter. Yet it appears quite possible that it is experienced by a large majority of people. A pilot study I have recently undertaken involving participants of numerous nationalities, as well as searches through literature and across the Internet, suggest that solitary laughter, while not as common as social instances of laughing, is a widespread human behaviour. It is even accorded special value by some. Seeking to encourage further research into the subject, this article discusses research and examines the forces that have militated against a more thorough research engagement with solitary laughter. It argues that a primary factor may be a pervasive assumption among influential scholars that laughter is an essentially social phenomenon and that laughing in solitude may be explained away as “vicarious” or “pseudo” socialising. Doubt is cast here upon that assumption. It is argued that while the reductionism at work in the extremely broad application of a social hypothesis may be theoretically attractive, it belies the diverse, evolving operations of both laughter and humour; this may be unnecessarily, if unwittingly, restricting the field of enquiry. Solitary laughter is a significant, complex behaviour and worthy of attention in its own right.

Fog in the channel: European science cut-off?

On Thursday 23 June 2016 the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. It is now over 100 days since this momentous decision and we are no nearer clarity as to what this will mean for the sciences and in particular the biomedical sciences within the United Kingdom and in the broader European context. John Iredale in a commentary piece highlights the potential threats to biomedical funding as …

Expanding the horizons of digital social networks: Mixing big trace datasets with qualitative approaches

The study of social networks has attracted much interest from the IS community in recent years, driven mainly by the accessibility of trace data that remain as a by-product of interactions conducted through technology-enabled platforms. Despite its rapidly growing influence, we have some concerns about the current trajectory of social network research in the IS field. Our purpose in this commentary piece is to accentuate for the new generation of social network researchers, who are au fait with mathematical techniques for analyzing massive digital datasets, how the combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches can enrich our understanding of networks. First we highlight how the social network perspective has contributed to our understanding of IS phenomena. Next we review mixed methods research in IS social network research. An agenda for future IS social network research is then presented where we suggest how qualitative approaches can best complement trace data in addressing focal social network questions. We conclude by discussing the challenges of conducting mixed method studies of digitally enabled social networks.

Brief Interventions for Adolescents

Public health concerns regarding adolescent alcohol and other drug involvement emphasize the need for continuing research to develop and evaluate preventive interventions for use in a variety of settings. This focus includes research on brief interventions. This short commentary piece provides an overview of the brief intervention literature and highlights future directions.

Wellbeing: How is it conceptualised by psychology students?

This is a commentary piece written for the BPS Psych-Talk magazine edited by Undergraduate Psychology students in the UK.

Best practice myths and trusted advisers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider, from a practitioner’s perspective, two phrases that are often used in the family enterprise field; “best practice” and “trusted adviser”. They are sometimes found together, a trusted adviser being one who has a meaningful relationship with a family and can offer advice based on best practice. The alternative view offered here is that the notion of best practice is flawed, while trust has much more to it than building personal relationships between and adviser and an enterprising family. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a commentary piece from a practitioner with experience of working with enterprising families in different parts of the world. Findings – This commentary paper challenges the notion that there are best practices in family business governance. It suggests that these are being used to bolster a normative approach to advising that emphasises the importance of certain structures and practices in place of effective governance that is developed by enterprising families to suit their needs. It also tries to expand the debate about the so-called trusted adviser by reviewing aspects of trust that have little to do directly with the quality of personal relationship between a family and their adviser. Originality/value – This paper provides an informed practitioner view of issues that are currently being debated in the field of family enterprise knowledge and practice. It will be useful for enterprising families, family business practitioners, academics and researchers.

Expanding Our Struggle: Higher Education as a Common Good

While recognizing the achievements of the adjunct faculty movement, this commentary piece argues for a more radical approach to the struggle for equity. In order to combat the neoliberal privatization or “enclosure” of higher education which underlies the exploitation of faculty and students, faculty activists ought to emphasize the understanding that higher education is a common good, and that such education should be much more accessible and democratic than it has ever been in the past. By making this conceptualization of higher education central to our struggle, we can strengthen our movement and build true solidarity with students and community groups.

Effective watchdogs bark: The role of communications at the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario

This commentary piece describes the role of communications at the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario. Seven practices are describted that the Office of the Ombudsman has developed to effectively build appropriate relationships with key publics. Also described is the role of the ombudsman first, detailing how it is an Office of Legislature, appointed by an all-party committee and that the office has oversight of more than 500 provincial ministries, corporations, agencies, boards, commissions and tribunals. Finally, the evolving jurisdiction and growing influence of the Ombudsman is discussed in relation to the effect of strategic communications management. ©Journal of Professional Communication, all rights reserved.

Commentary

It is at this time of the year, early January when writing this commentary piece, that our thoughts tend to turn to speculation about the year ahead. The dreadful incidents in Paris have only just occurred, with loss of life in the name of terrorism, and this certainly focuses one’s mind a little. In addition to the threat posed by terrorism, and different government responses to it, there are other issues that may affect the way policing, nationally and internationally, will be carried out over the next 12 months. In the UK, during May 2015, there will be a general election, which may or may not generate a change in attitude towards policing in times of austerity. In the UK at least, austerity, potential change in government and associated issues will tend to dominate the debate and discussion regarding the provision of local policing services. However, this is of course intrinsically linked to the wider and more international debate concerning the threat of terrorism and other global crime matters. In particular the continued rise in the use of technology in support of all of these threats appears to remain a major problem for policing agencies across the world. That said, there are dilemmas within this debate that need to be fully appreciated and discussed before any type of immediate reaction designed to tackle such problems as international terrorism and other global criminal threats is introduced. Why do I say this? Well, we need to examine the policing style in England and Wales in order to understand the implications and also to consider government reaction to the threat of terrorism. First, the reaction to the threat of terrorism. It is the duty of the state to protect its citizens. There is no doubt about that. Currently there is a debate regarding the introduction of new legislation to deal with this threat, which includes measures to meet the perceived need to increase the use of technology to examine electronic communications which are both wide and far-reaching. In addition, legislation that curtails certain rights enjoyed by all citizens may be considered as part of the attempt to control the threat of

An LME perspective on the commentary piece by Professor Ittekkot

An LME perspective on the commentary piece by Professor Ittekkot

Hate Speech Law and Disagreement

In this Constitutional Commentary review piece, Allan considers Jeremy Waldron's arguments for hate speech laws in Waldron's book THE HARM IN HATE SPEECH. Allan finds them all lacking and ultimately unpersuasive. The review is not premised on a parsing of precedents. It considers Waldron's case from first principles.

Punk Rock, Festival Fringes and Football Fanzines: A Future for Social and Environmental Accounting Research?

This is a commentary piece that responds to Correa Ruiz and Laine [2013. “Struggling Against Like-Minded Conformity to Enliven SEAR: A Call for Passion.” Social and Environmental Accountability Journal 33 (3): 134–144] and is intended to create a bit of controversy and debate.

Digital leisure for development: reframing new media practice in the global South

Photoshopping of newlyweds, downloading the latest movies, teens flirting on social network sites and virtual gaming may seem like typical behavior in the West; yet in the context of a village in Mali or a slum in Mumbai, it is seen as unusual and perhaps an anomaly in their new media practice. In recent years, some studies (Ganesh, 2010; Mitra, 2005; Arora, 2010; 2012; Rangaswamy & Nair, 2012; Kavoori, Chadha & Arceneaux, 2006) have documented these leisure-oriented behaviors in the global south and argued for the need to emphasize and reposition these user practices within larger and contemporary discourses on new media consumption. Yet, for the most part, studies in the field of Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) have duly relegated such enactments as anecdotal. This is partly due to the fact that much of this research is driven by development agendas with a strong historical bias towards the socio-economic focus (Burrell & Anderson, 2009). Data that is not directly addressing project-based outcomes is sidelined. However, as emerging economies globalize and urbanize exponentially, and their users become more critical consumers and creative contributors of digital content or ‘prosumers’ (Bruns, 2008) and arguably free laborers (Scholz, 2012) instead of classic development beneficiaries, a paradigm shift is needed in approaching this new media audience with a more open-ended, explorative and pluralistic perspective. Thereby, this commentary piece serves as a call to rethink new media practices in the global south by looking at the implications and impacts of ICTs as leisure (entertainment/pleasure/ play) artifacts in the context of developing economies and emerging markets. We believe this line of inquiry is timely and enables a strategic bridging of the new media studies and development communication domain. Despite studies yielding insightful commentaries on ICTs in this arena, we believe resource constrained environments generating rich usages that are not overtly utilitarian have remained hitherto unexplored. A critical movement is needed among scholars focusing on emerging economies to re-conceptualize the mobilization and serviceability of ICTs to extend beyond a conservative understanding of developmental value. This will help in focusing on the heterogeneous and life enhancing aspects of technological use encompassing both experiential and purposive elements of ICT adoption: their interplay with systematic/systemic ecological constraints to provide an analytical and descriptive study of the technology spectrum and use in these contexts. To illustrate our argument, we offer some critical points of contention that need addressing and new avenues for research if we are to rethink, reframe and refresh our thinking on Web 2.0 enactments in the global south.

Local Enterprise Partnerships to deliver progressive social outcomes

This commentary piece seeks to outline the case for a ‘whole place’ approach to progressive economic development. It discusses how Local Enterprise Partnerships can expand their foci and considers the challenge for them of meeting social objectives. Local Enterprise Partnerships are not currently constructing coherent policy approaches to economic growth aspirations and social justice considerations. They offer an opportunity to enhance interplay between and within the commercial, public and social sector functions of the economy. It is through developing networks and relationships that Local Enterprise Partnerships can enhance resilience, and generate synergy to develop innovative solutions to socio-economic challenges. Universities and social enterprises are the exact sorts of organisations which are needed to support Local Enterprise Partnerships to ensure that these networks are given full consideration and representation in the strategic planning of local economies. The role of small-to-medium enterprises in delivering whole place economies is also important, and their views should be feed into strategic decision making at the local level, as arguably they have greater stakes in whole place economies. In conclusion, those Local Enterprise Partnerships who lead the way by embedding the social sector into their working practice will create the most sustainable economic and social benefits.

Compelling diversities, educational intersections: policy, practice, parity

The ninth international Gender and Education Association Conference Compelling Diversities, Educational Intersections hosted by the Weeks Centre for Social and Policy Research, London South Bank University engages with key debates surrounding the interplay between dynamics of education, work, employment and society in the context of crisis, upheaval and cutbacks, which reconfigure axes of intersectional inequalities. In considering diversity in education, this conference looks at the relationship between new equality regimes and continued educational inequalities, exploring organisational ambivalence, change and resistance. Participants will be asking important questions about the role of feminist research at a time when education, and its variously placed subjects (academics, pupils, students, and policy-makers), wrestle with the commitments and contentions in doing diversity and being diverse. This brief commentary piece probes at what – and who – is being compelled into, through and for diversity and explores the promises, pay-offs and pains of diversity when siphoned off from equality, justice and parity as policy and practice goals.

Law, interrupted: on legislative disruption and deliberative democracy

This commentary piece teases out a theme that runs through the articles collected in this special issue: the relationship between legislative disruption and deliberative democracy. The practice of legislative disruption appears to go against the normative aspirations of deliberative democracy, but our discussion identifies several respects in which this mode of engagement can function to reinstate a deliberative environment in certain contexts. Drawing on the articles in this special issue, our analysis also brings to the fore certain inadequacies in deliberative democracy as a framework for evaluating legislative disruption.

Response to ‘Combining sustainable agricultural production with economic and environmental benefits’

We suggest that a recent commentary piece in The Geographical Journal on Conservation Agriculture (CA) and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) (Kassam and Brammer 2012 was misleading because it drew very selectively from the literature, and presented its conclusions as both widely accepted and uncontroversial. Kassam and Brammer's intervention in the continuing debates around CA and SRI can be understood as a manifestation of the new ‘contested agronomy’. While Kassam and Brammer call on geographers to do research that will promote the spread of CA and SRI, we suggest that this misconstrues and devalues the potential contribution of geography and social science more generally to agricultural development.

A Missed Opportunity to Promote Community Resilience? – The Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry

This commentary piece argues that the recent Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry of 2011 remained trapped in a reactive, inquisitorial mindset that led the commissioners to produce prescriptive recommendations aimed at increased regulation and modelling. It largely ignored the parallel discourse around disaster management emphasising community resilience, which has been endorsed by governments across Australia through the Council of Australian Governments’ recent national strategy. Consequently, my argument, as a former director‐general of community safety in Queensland, is that the recent commission of inquiry missed a great opportunity both to reinforce the resilience policy approach and redirect funds from response and recovery endeavours to better ways of securing preparedness, prevention and mitigation.