Democratic Approach Research Articles

Macroeconomic Sovereignty in the European Economic and Monetary Union: A Republican Approach

The Economic and Monetary Union has fundamentally changed how fiscal and monetary powers are exercised over democratic publics which raise the question of whether a normative vision of macroeconomic sovereignty is compatible with membership within the Eurozone. After conceptualising sovereignty in republican terms as the balance between four ‘power-countering strategies’, this article conducts a normative analysis of the evolution of Economic and Monetary Union governance. This exercise shows how – by neglecting one of the four republican strategies, namely to increase citizens’ democratic participation at the European Union level – successive institutional innovations as well as recent proposals fail to make the exercise of public powers compatible with citizens’ status equality. In contrast, the argument suggests that if citizens’ influence is channelled through a ‘system of dual partisanship’, in which national and European parliamentarians coordinate their activities, national and Economic and Monetary Union’ executives’ discretion can be democratically controlled.

Evaluation of the sustainable development of logistics based on local characteristics: Matching logistics architecture with resources.

This paper sets out to investigate the alignment between the logistics architecture and resources across China's nine logistics regions, while also examining the individual advantages these regions possess. With the goal of establishing an evaluative framework for sustainable logistics development, the research introduces the principle of logistics equilibrium to augment traditional evaluation metrics, thus forming an assessment index system designed to quantify the congruence between logistics architecture and resources.Utilizing a democratic evaluation approach that emphasizes individual regional advantages, and leveraging empirical data from the decade spanning 2011 to 2020, this paper reveals a general upward trajectory in the matching level of logistics resources to architecture albeit with notable regional disparities. It is observed that while certain areas have made significant strides, others lag, underscoring the varied pace of development among different logistics regions.The research also brings to light the distinct advantage characteristics that emerge as each region evolves, suggesting that these attributes can be harnessed to foster a more environmentally conscious and forward-thinking approach to logistics. By implementing a democratic evaluation to rank these regions, this paper aims to identify exemplars that are not only recognized for their achievements but also serve as models for the formulation of green and sustainable logistics strategies tailored to each region's specific needs and potential.

Ahmed Topkev, A Democratic Approach to Religion News: Christianity and Islam in the British and Turkish Press

Ahmed Topkev, <i>A Democratic Approach to Religion News: Christianity and Islam in the British and Turkish Press</i>

Implementing Democratic Learning Through Independent Learning

This article explores the application of a democratic learning approach through the concept of Freedom of Learning in the context of education. Through literature analysis and empirical studies, this article presents strategies and practices that support the development of student-centered learning, strengthen their active participation in the learning process, and encourage learning independence. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the concept of Freedom of Learning in the context of democratic education as well as the challenges and opportunities in applying it at various levels of education. The implications of this approach on improving the quality of learning and developing students' skills and attitudes were also discussed. In conclusion, this article emphasizes the importance of the Merdeka Learning approach in building an inclusive, participatory, and oriented learning environment that is oriented towards developing students' capacity as democratic citizens.

Bring digital twins back to Earth

AbstractWe reflect on the development of digital twins of the Earth, which we associate with a reductionist view of nature as a machine. The projects of digital twins deviate from contemporary scientific paradigms in the treatment of complexity and uncertainty, and does not engage with critical and interpretative social sciences. We contest the utility of digital twins for addressing climate change issues and discuss societal risks associated with the concept, including the twins' potential to reinforce economicism and governance by numbers, emphasizing concerns about democratic accountability. We propose a more balanced alternative, advocating for independent institutions to develop diverse models, prioritize communication with simple heuristic‐based models, collect comprehensive data from various sources, including traditional knowledge, and shift focus away from physics‐centered variables to inform climate action. We argue that the advancement of digital twins should hinge on stringent controls, favoring a nuanced, interdisciplinary, and democratic approach that prioritizes societal well‐being over blind pursuit of computational sophistication.This article is categorized under: Climate Models and Modeling &gt; Earth System Models Climate Models and Modeling &gt; Knowledge Generation with Models Climate, History, Society, Culture &gt; Disciplinary Perspectives

Behavior Management Approaches and Teacher- Student Connectedness: A Quantitative Investigation

This study aimed to determine the influence of behavior management approaches on teacher-student connectedness among public elementary school teachers at Jesus V. Ayala Elementary School, Binugao District, Davao City Division. Fifty students were identified using the universal sampling method. The study utilized a descriptive-correlational design, employing two survey questionnaires focused on behavioral management approaches and teacher-student connectedness for data collection. Statistical tools used included mean, Pearson r, and regression analysis. Results indicated that the level of behavioral management approach was high in the democratic approach and preventive approach, and moderate in assertive discipline and intervention approaches. Regarding teacher-student connectedness, levels were moderate in individualized personal interaction and support, and high in empathy and perspective taking. The findings also revealed a strong significant relationship between behavioral management approach and teacher-student connectedness (p &lt; .05). Furthermore, democratic approach, assertive discipline approach, preventive approach, and intervention approach significantly influenced teacher-student connectedness. Specifically, for every unit increase in these domains of behavioral management approach, teacher-student connectedness increased by 1.908, holding other factors constant. Based on these findings, the study recommends that teachers engage in continuous professional development focused on adaptive behavior management strategies to effectively support student behavior and maintain a positive classroom atmosphere, thereby fostering a conducive learning environment for all.

Functional characteristics of police in a modern democratic state

The article discusses the role of police in modern democracies, focusing on their core functions and how to categorize them. It highlights the need to balance public safety with individual rights as law enforcement adapts to societal changes. The author reviews various scholarly perspectives on police functions, tracing how these views have evolved since the Soviet era towards a more democratic approach. The paper examines the legally defined duties of Ukraine’s National Police and how these shape the police’s functional priorities. Emphasizing crime prevention as a key police function in democracies, the author proposes a new classification system for police functions. This system includes five main areas: prevention, protection, crime response, service provision, and information sharing. The article explores «function» as a legal concept, particularly in relation to policing. It notes that police functions stem from and serve to accomplish their assigned tasks. In conclusion, the author offers a new definition of police functions in modern democracies, stressing their transparent, apolitical nature and focus on crime prevention and rights protection.

Technocracy without society: a critique of nudging as an approach to managing risk

ABSTRACT This article considers the evolution of public risk management over the past half century in the United States, focusing on ‘nudging’ as a technique to manage a variety of risks – environmental, health, and financial – through shifts in individual behaviour. I argue that nudging operates according to a privatised, market-based logic of security that displaces more democratic approaches. I further show how nudging aims to go beyond the political – which is to say beyond the realm of democratic contestation over the assessment and mitigation of risk, thereby reinforcing an unsustainable view of risk management as an apolitical set of ‘best practices’. I further argue that this technocratic approach to risk has become particularly problematic amid a populist backlash against scientific expertise and elite institutions, and may even leave advanced democracies less able to manage the risks they face: the erosion of public trust in experts and government undermines both the attempt to nudge individuals towards ‘prudential’ choices and government mandates to manage risks through more aggressive regulatory means.

Insurgent climate adaptation in Santiago de Cali: Resisting and reshaping flood-risk resettlements

Climate adaptation in Latin American cities involves navigating highly contested social and cultural terrains. In cities with black and indigenous communities they are confronted with challenges such as histories of racial exclusion and informal, self-built housing in high-risk areas. This study examines Project Plan Jarillón, a flood protection infrastructure project in Santiago de Cali which involves Latin America’s largest relocation project. Cali, home to a large Afro-Colombian population, is also one of Colombia’s fastest growing cities and the second largest reciever of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country. The study, based on 5 years of fieldwork including site visits and interviews, found the city’s failure to account for the segregation of black residents in high-risk areas has led to resistance, conflict and delays in the completion of the project. However, by forming an insurgent planning practice which draws from local culture and traditions of resistance, Afro-Colombian communities re-centered public debate on demands for racial and cultural recognition, and the right to decent housing. This insurgent planning is creating more democratic forms and approaches to climate adaptation in Cali at a pivotal moment in Colombia’s history as it negotiates a post-conflict process and positions itself as a global advocate for climate justice.

MANAJEMEN KEPALA SEKOLAH DALAM MENINGKATKAN KINERJA GURU DI TAMAN KANAK-KANAK (TK) KARTINI SELOLEMBU BONDOWOSO

Abstrak School education is one of the important things for the progress of the nation and State. Advanced schools and students also lie in teachers and principals, so with this the principal as a leader must be able to direct well so that it is far from existing problems. Therefore, good and good management for school principals towards improving teachers is very important. The research used is qualitative or field. The results showed that: 1) Principal Management in improving teacher performance in TK Kartini, namely, covering 4 stages of activities, namely: a) planning b) organizing c) implementation d) supervision. 2) The Management Model applied by the Principal in improving teacher performance is: a) Providing examples to teachers, by fostering good personal relationships, b) Assisting teachers in solving the problems they face, c) Appreciating the strengths and weaknesses of teachers and helping them through counseling, d) Providing provisions in encouraging the strengths, interests, and abilities of teacher members in carrying out duties, e) Emphasize democratic approaches in the formulation of goals and regulations.

Authoritarianism in Relation to Children: Reflections in Times of War

This article examines the impact of Ukraine’s totalitarian past on the education system and the treatment of children in the current wartime context. It analyzes the role and effects of the war on adult-child relationships, particularly how authoritarian educational and communicative styles contribute to the risk of PTSD in children. Through two clinical illustrations—group work with children displaced by the war in the “Safe Space” psychosocial support program, and individual work with a teenager affected by a rocket attack using the “serial drawing” technique—the article demonstrates the importance of open communication, respect for feelings, and free play. These case studies highlight the ongoing struggle to overcome the remnants of totalitarian control in Ukraine’s educational and familial structures, emphasizing the need for a democratic and compassionate approach to foster resilience and psychological well-being in children.

Democratic participatory networks and governance processes in Sicily

Democratic participation improves the chances of success of local development policies. New governance processes that directly involve the actors who inhabit the territories are necessary for the challenges that sustainable growth requires. Therefore, the feedback on the pre-existing conditions of cooperation and coexistence is essential for carrying out actions with a place-based logic of development. The Innovation Helix Model allows us to understand the relational dynamics and support territorial strategies in enhancing innovation processes that contemplate the relationship between civil society, public and private institutions, and the natural environment from the perspective of a democratic approach. In this way, ecosystemic innovation is a dynamic network of territorial actors interconnected within a delimited geographical space. This study proposes an innovative way of investigating territorial relationship networks. It examines and describes the network deriving from the policies implemented in an internal area of Sicily. The governance processes implemented through partnership agreements between local actors over ten years have created relationships measured and described through Social Network Analysis (SNA), specifically with Affiliation Networks and Community Detection with a bipartite structure. The study moves towards an innovative territory analysis, looking for the relational links and providing references for building bottom-up policies with greater awareness.

‘Trust us! We know what we are doing!’ Parent-adolescent digital conflict in Australian families

ABSTRACT Networked technologies and device use have become a significant source of conflict between parents and their children, negatively affecting family cohesion and wellbeing. Drawing on the findings of a participatory action research project which consisted of family workshops designed to discuss, and ultimately reduce, family digital conflict, this article explores the main sources of digital conflict amongst Australian families. Four main causes of digital conflict were reported by parents and their children: the amount of time that young people spend online and the subsequent displacement of other tasks considered by parents as more worthwhile; “inappropriate” content; the perceived effects of digital media use on children’s behaviour, and sibling conflict. Findings also revealed differing perspectives and knowledges about the value of digital technologies between parents and children which contributed to family conflict. The findings point towards a greater need for interventions which facilitate a more democratic approach to digital parenting, premised upon parental listening, negotiation, and mutual understanding.

Disloyal to the Master:

This article explores the need for a critical curriculum in architecture schools, drawing on conflict and neo-Marxist theories of education. It calls into question the current selection of content in school curricula, arguing that the educational system tends to perpetuate dominant cultural norms and reinforces social hierarchies, providing a narrow understanding of architectural practice. By examining two case studies in the American context, Dark Matter University and Project Row Houses, we aim to illustrate pedagogical shifts towards a critical examination of the curriculum that challenge traditional power structures within architectural education and promotes a broader, more inclusive and democratic approach.

Policy brief: Learning from Italy to promote sustainability education in Hong Kong

Education is recognised as an integral part of building the capacity of all ages to drive the transformation toward sustainable development. While the Hong Kong government aspires to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and has ramped up efforts to integrate sustainability into school curricula and raise public awareness through educational activities, this policy brief argues that Hong Kong’s existing measures failed to empower and motivate individuals and the community to keep pace with its climate action ambition. Drawing on Sterling's framework of education for sustainability (EFS), this paper presents a diagnosis of Hong Kong’s major problems in sustainability education policies and suggests that the Hong Kong government should learn from the Italian experience to take a more systemic, empowering, and democratic approach in advancing its EFS policies.

Women's leadership communication patterns in the political areas in Lampung province Indonesia

AbstractPatriarchal culture still dominates among women in Indonesia and several other countries, often resulting in discrimination. Although almost every country has laws regulating women's positions in the public sector, developing women's roles and positions is still slow, especially in government institutions. This research highlights the importance of women's leadership roles as potential resources for nation‐building. This research uses a holistic approach with an orientation toward natural descriptive data and a qualitative approach through a case study method. In Lampung Province, only two districts have female regional heads, namely the mayor of Bandar Lampung and the regent of Tanggamus. The study found that both leaders used communication patterns that were appropriate to local conditions: the mayor of Bandar Lampung adopted persuasive and participatory patterns, while the regent of Tanggamus used democratic and collaborative communication approaches with a focus on MSME actors and the community. These communication patterns are key to building strong relationships with constituents and achieving better development goals for the region.

Senior Secondary School Students’ Academic Performance in Katsina Zonal Education Quality Assurance of Katsina State, Nigeria

This study explored how Katsina State Zonal Education Quality Assurance principals' leadership styles effect student achievement. The study revealed that principals must involve all stakeholders in school decisions. Simple random sampling was used in this investigation. The study included 19 principals and 114 instructors. Data was collected using the principals leadership style questionnaire (PLSQ) and students' previous test questions. Mean, standard deviation, and related sample t-test were employed to answer research questions and test hypotheses at 0.05 significance. The study found that democratic leadership affects SSCE performance more than other approaches. At the end, it is suggested for the state education ministries to establish workshops to train principals on successful leadership styles. Similarly, principals should use democratic leadership approaches that involve the entire school community in decision-making. Furthermore, school principals should adopt transformational leadership, involving individual involvement in decision-making. Finally, there is need to address academic deficits through regular meetings between principals, teachers, and students. Keywords: School, Students, Academic Performance, Education, Quality Assurance and Nigeria

The possibility of a theory of change to tackle the climate crisis in a UK university

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the practical dilemmas of institutional change to tackle the climate crisis in a UK university, identifying key assumptions and issues that block meaningful change. The research was part of an initiative to define a theory of change (ToC) to meet the university’s institutional climate commitments. Design/methodology/approach The findings are based on interviews with members of an inter-disciplinary ToC working group, a staff–student climate coalition and student representatives at the university. Interviewees were purposively selected to gain insights into assumptions about the nature of the university and its role in tackling the climate crisis, which must be addressed for the university to effectively implement its climate plan. Findings This paper identified tensions between the university’s role as a public and commercial institution, a lack of clarity over decision-making processes and the difficulties in balancing (and being transparent about) actions with commitments to tackle the climate crisis. A democratic and flexible approach to change is essential to mitigate these issues, providing an opportunity to reflect on the diversity of the university community and openly debate goals and commitments. Originality/value In setting out the initial steps of a ToC in a UK university, this paper offers practical insights for higher education institutions looking to change practices. By highlighting assumptions at a particular institution, this paper also contributes a level of granularity to a growing field of research on efforts in higher education institutions to tackle the climate crisis.

Enhancing Democratic Governance: The Crucial Role of Broad Public Participation in Government Public Consultations

This paper examines the critical importance of broad public participation in government public consultations to enhance democratic governance. Drawing on theoretical frameworks such as Arnstein's "A Ladder of Citizen Participation" and the IAP2 "Spectrum of Public Participation," as well as extensive empirical studies, this analysis underscores the essential role that inclusive public engagement plays in refining policy decision-making processes. With rising public demands for transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness, the inclusion of diverse public voices in policymaking is pivotal for fostering public trust and enhancing policy effectiveness. Through literature reviews and case studies, this study highlights the benefits and challenges associated with broad public participation, offering insights and recommendations to improve participatory mechanisms in policymaking. By fostering a more democratic and inclusive approach, the paper advocates for proactive and inclusive public advisory systems that accommodate a wide array of perspectives in decision-making, thus leading to more democratic and effective policy outcomes.

Ancient methods & modern memes: using Socratic circles and TikTok within classes to democratise your teaching

Democratic education remains a contentious and much strived for goal within teaching practice. What is most often lacking are the precise tools and techniques that might be combined to make this democratic goal a reality within schools. Considerations of democratic approaches to education within the literature are frequently theoretical, but practically quite limited. Moving from a highly theoretical space to a practical approach ready to be applied within a modern classroom, this paper will explore a confluence of teaching approaches that might make democratic education possible. The techniques, tools and platforms provided for consideration by teachers and lecturers here are grouped around three core themes: accessibility; relevance and efficiency to generate and allow a space that is democratic in nature. The tools for accessibility are: Instructional Video; Assistive technologies; and Generative Artificial Intelligence. Whilst for relevance: YouTube and TikTok are explored. In regards to efficiency: Flipped Learning, Retrieval practice and Method of Loci are discussed. And when honing in on the democratic nature of classroom spaces Socratic circles and a broadly Socratic approach are key. By combining these techniques this paper will propose a highly practical, modern method for producing a democratic classroom, with notes on how teachers might be able to carve out space and thinking to defend their choices and the logic behind combining these techniques to address modern students' needs and requirements.