Community Guards Research Articles

“Jaga Warga” Empowerment As A Strategic Partner With The Head Of Hamlet

Citizen Watch Group (Kelompok Jaga Warga/KJW) is an ongoing kalurahan reform in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) through institutional transformation based on community participation. The establishment of this KJW is based on Governor Regulation No. 28 of 2021 concerning Citizen Watch Groups, as updated by Governor Regulation No. 59 of 2022.This KJW has functions:1) as a mediator in resolving social conflicts; 2) as a community representative in conveying aspirations to the Hamlet/RW Head/Village Management Head; and 3) as a motivator in increasing community participation. In its implementation, KJW has various obstacles encountered in the field, including the unpreparedness of supporting human resources to carry out the duties and functions of KJW. Most of the hamlets have not been able to fulfill the quota of 25 people, in fact there are only 12 people who want to become KJW members. From the analysis of the situation in Kalinongko, Purwoharjo Village, Samigaluh, Kulonprogo, problems that can be identified include: 1) Lack of understanding of ways or methods in resolving social conflicts in the community, 2) Lack of understanding of the method of conveying aspirations to the hamlet, and 3) Lack of understanding as a community motivator to coordinate existing social institutions. From the problems identified, the KKN-PPM program carried out various activities that could solve these problems. The activities carried out include: 1) training to improve understanding of conflict resolution, 2) training to improve policy recommendation skills, 3) motivational training to be active as KJW, and 4) providing assistance and mentoring to improve the image of KJW. The result of this community service activity is that the administrators and members of the community guard understand their duties and functions correctly, and are responsive in dealing with situations where they have to play a role. Besides that, it also improves the performance of the community guard as a community companion

‘We Are Proactive against the Thieves’: Community Mobilisation against COVID-19 Criminality in Ibadan, Nigeria

One of the unintended consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preventive protocols that restricted movements and disrupted livelihoods was the changing nature of criminal behaviour from the streets to residential neighbourhoods. While studies on COVID-19 have focussed on economic losses, disrupted livelihoods and changes in social relations, scant attempt has been made to understand how fear of insecurity during the health pandemic could reinforce the need for community policing. Against this background, this study investigated community mobilisation against insecurity of lives and properties during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Ibadan, Nigeria. Using participant observation and in-depth interviews with 15 purposively selected residents, the study shows how collective perceived insecurity can engender social and communal bonding in the formation of defensible spaces. Findings showed that mobilisation for community policing was executed because of the insecurity experienced in neighbouring communities. A decentralised mechanism was established to allow zonal community executives take charge of their community security. This involved daily midnight house-to-house mobilisation with whistle, deployment of vigilante to hotspots, burn fires to signal the presence of community guards and decentralisation of residents into different patrol groups to community borders to guard against invasion.

Drivers of Biodiversity Conservation in Sacred Groves: A Comparative Study of Three Sacred Groves in Southwest Nigeria

Globally, sacred groves represent a traditional form of community-based conservation, recognized as areas of cultural and religious importance to local people. In some cases, the entire community guards against the desecration of, or unauthorized access to, such sites, either by its members or outsiders; in others, non-recognition of customary rights is linked to degradation. This paper uses the case study of three sacred groves in southwest Nigeria to examine the extent to which perceived socio-economic and religio-cultural benefits contribute to biodiversity conservation in sacred groves with different scales of governance. Using mixed methods approaches, we found that the long-term preservation of sacred groves and their biodiversity depend on collaboration between: i.) customary institutions (community-based conservation through a system of established traditional norms and prohibitions), and ii.) formal government legislation and management. The recognition of sacred groves as national monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Site has paved the way for biodiversity protection, increasing cultural tourism, socio-economic rewards and the preservation of religio-cultural values. We present local peoples’ assessments of the benefits of sacred groves and offer suggestions to improve community engagement and protect the biodiversity within sacred groves in Nigeria.

Defending Ukraine at the Rear of the Armed Conflict in Donbas: Wartime Vigilantism in Odesa (2014–2018)

This article analyzes the phenomenon of vigilantism in Odesa, at the rear of the war in Donbas and in the context of a radical redeployment of the Ukrainian state and a redistribution of violence between state and nonstate actors. This analysis is threefold. The first part provides a sociological account of vigilante groups and their members’ social backgrounds. It argues that vigilantism in Odesa has attracted people from four social backgrounds (businessmen, former combatants or security officers, far-right activists, and young people), relies on force-based actions, and implies an intense socialization of vigilantes’ bodies into the use of weapons and combat sports. The second part presents the three social roles of vigilantes—as national community guards, patrolling agents, and justice makers—and explores their associated practices. It shows that an apparently disinterested promotion of public good by vigilantes (security, order, justice) sometimes turns out to be for the benefit of private interests. The third part explores the complex relationship—fluctuating from numerous exchanges of services to a direct confrontation—between vigilante groups and local political and economic elites. Finally, this article argues that the ongoing war has increased the value of vigilantes’ paramilitary resources and has provided them with a large measure of social recognition as a necessary and acceptable response to the armed conflict and its hybrid threats. However, this does not exclude public controversies around vigilantism and questions concerning the challenges it represents for the Ukrainian state. This article draws on anthropological approaches to vigilantism, as well as the sociology of violence and crisis situations (political crises, revolutions, intrastate wars); it relies on a combination of primary ethnographic research and secondary materials. Article in English DOI: 10.25285/2078-1938-2019-11-3-71-104

Exploring governance structures of high altitude rangeland in Bhutan using Ostrom’s Design Principles

High altitude rangeland and livelihood systems in Bhutan are undergoing changes in resource availability, population and user rights. This paper explores the existing governance structures of high altitude rangelands in Bhutan using Ostrom’s design principles as a framework for analysis. Qualitative interviews and focus group discussions were used to capture perceptions of 151 herders, sedentary livestock farmers and government officials across three case study sites. The research showed that most high altitude rangelands in the three case study sites have clear boundaries using natural and manmade landmarks along with a list of eligible users (design principle 1). Herders and livestock farmers have developed customary norms and rules to enforce and engender collective choice agreements for governance of high altitude rangeland (design principle 3). Community guards, appointed on rotational basis, guarded communal pastures against infringement (design principle 4). Herders and livestock farmers have developed graduated penalty system (design principle 5) and they were generally able to resolve most conflicts locally however some were resolved through district courts (design principle 6). However, rights to organize (design principle 7) and a nested enterprise approach (design principle 8) did not feature explicitly in local governance discourses and narratives. Incongruence between provision and appropriation activities under existing governance structures of high altitude rangeland in the case study sites, may be attributed to assignment of incomplete property rights (e.g. lack of management rights) in the bundle of rights. The research demonstrated assigning management rights in the bundle of rights and conformance to design principle 2 are inextricably linked, and vital for sustainable governance of high altitude rangeland. One way to institutionalize Ostrom’s design principles into natural resource governance is formalizing and codifying them in the form of a written group constitution and by-laws. The role of government policies, acts and laws that inform and constrain high altitude rangeland management are explored and changes suggested for improving the current governance system of high altitude rangeland in Bhutan.

How Can the East African Community Guard Against Base Erosion and Profit Shifting While Working Towards Deeper Integration? Lessons from the European Union

The East African Community (EAC) is working towards establishing deeper integration between its six partner states. The EAC partner states are: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. This paper analyses the lessons the European Union may offer the EAC in guarding against base erosion and profit shifting while implementing its integration project. Corporate tax and VAT have been identified as the two tax bases most at risk. This paper analyses the steps taken by the European Union to protect its corporate tax and VAT bases, and draws from the European Union’s proposed Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base and its VAT harmonization efforts to recommend best practices for the EAC.

Wireless Image Transmission System

A wireless image transmission system is proposed, which in order to offset the disadvantages of wire video monitor laying points hard, and disadvantages of wire video monitor implementing hard in bad circumstance. The core of the system is TI series of C5000 high speed DSP processor and radio frequency wireless communication chip. Through DSP transplantation of JPEG compression algorithm, complete image collection and image compression through DSP, use wireless receiving and sending module to complete wireless images data transmission. Use wireless receiving and sending module instead of emitter and network as image data transmission device, low cost, not required network fee, system can real-time complete terminal images collection and show. It can apply community guard and video monitor of deploying points urgently in the electric power system, factory, bank and other important department, which dont require higher performance.

Traditional Values, Beliefs and Reliance on Indigenous Resources for Crime Control in Modern Southwest Nigeria

Traditionally, people from the southwest Nigeria believe and place high premium on the use of indigenous resources for warfare like some other groups in Nigeria. The sustenance of the belief in these values has largely been promoted by the inadequacy of modern policing system and the rising crime rate in our society. It is against this background this paper attempts to examine the prevailing values, belief and practices among the people of the southwest and its utility in the maintenance of local security personnel. This paper also seeks to investigate the potency and efficacy of these indigenous resources in providing security within the community and the invincibility of community guard. Qualitative methodology was used to draw relevant information from the study population while the data were analyzed by ethnographic summaries and content analysis. The choice of this method was in consonance with the functional and control theories on which the study hinged. The result shows indigenous resources are efficacious in certain respects if they are used with caution and due observance of certain fundamental laws. Key words: Indigenous resources, Self defense, Crime Control, Charms, Initiation, Return to culture.

The solution of waijo or teenager quarrelling and fighting problem

BackgroundThe word Waijo is a slang in Thai for teenager who tends to be a hooligan. They always act out violently and impetuous. They often attack other group by using...

The powerful community network

BackgroundCalamity crime and traffic accident have brought serious loss of community people for so long. Many savage and sensitive cases have caused for death or property damage and for mental...