Democratic Decision Research Articles

Leader administrator: A qualitative analysis based on teacher opinions

This correspondence article aims to discuss the ideal attributes and behaviors deemed essential for a Leader Manager within educational settings, based on the perspectives and insights of teachers. The study explores the significance of leader characteristics, behaviors, and leadership styles in achieving positive outcomes in education. The findings suggest that all these characteristics are fundamental and contribute to the overall effectiveness of educational leadership. However, it is challenging to determine which characteristic is more significant, as they are interconnected and have relative influences. Specifically, the study emphasized the significance of an ethical character in the Leader Manager's demeanor, encompassing traits such as impartiality, reliability, fairness, constructiveness, patience, courage, and a commitment to democratic principles. These attributes were identified as foundational for fostering a positive educational environment, influencing teacher morale, student engagement, and overall school culture. In light of these findings, the study offers recommendations advocating for school administrators to embody these identified characteristics. It is suggested that school administrators prioritize the cultivation of an ethical character that demonstrates fairness, impartiality, and a commitment to democratic decision-making. Additionally, the study encourages administrators to embrace facilitative, empowering, and visionary approaches, thereby fostering an environment conducive to innovation, motivation, and support for teachers and students alike. The implications of these findings highlight the pivotal role of the Leader Manager in shaping the educational landscape and underscore the importance of aligning administrative practices with the identified attributes to promote a thriving and harmonious school community.

A blockchain-powered e-cognocracy model for democratic decision making

A blockchain-powered e-cognocracy model for democratic decision making

Positionality in the Politics of Education: Mapping the Strategies and Constraints of Education Reformers

The success and failure of education reform policies often depend on the strategies of reformers. This article suggests a framework to understand the positionality of reformers, as they vary in their strategy (i.e., technical vs. relational) and focus for change (i.e., process- vs. outcomes-focused). Using the case of individuals who initiated new data systems in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City, the study discusses four groups of reformers: Engineers privilege efficient technical fixes that may be resisted by people on the ground. Capacity-builders focus on empowering schools but may lead to variable successes. Framers research and disseminate ideas to reframe policy and political discourses. Table-setters leverage their social networks and financial resources but may challenge democratic decision-making. As schools continue to be sites of political debates and challenges, the concept of positionality can clarify how reformers promote particular changes and can suggest possibilities for positions to constructively complement each other.

Contemplating the U.S. Supreme Court's Reversal of Roe v. Wade

The Roe case and Casey case were important moments in the women's liberation movement in the United States, recognizing women's constitutional right to abortion, and a fundamental aspect of their autonomy. In contrast, the recent Dobbs case upended the established Roe precedent, rejecting constitutional recognition of women's right to abortion and reverting "regulation of abortion rights to the people and their elected representatives. To delve deeper into this matter, it's crucial to examine the legal doctrines at play. The Roe decision primarily invoked the Substantive Due Process Clause to protect a woman's privacy and reproductive choices, whereas the Dobbs case highlighted the importance of the democratic process and aligns with originalism in constitutional interpretation. This shift raises questions about the durability of constitutional precedents and the evolving nature of constitutional interpretation. The conflict between these cases underscores the profound implications for women's reproductive rights and the broader women's liberation movement, as the nation grapples with the balance between individual autonomy and democratic decision-making in shaping constitutional rights.

Application of Universal Cooperative Principles in Agricultural Cooperatives: A Case Study from Nepal

This study examines the use of universal cooperative principles by agricultural cooperatives in Nepal, highlighting their importance and the challenges they face. Data from 45 cooperatives, including savings and credit cooperatives (n=17) and multipurpose cooperatives (n=28), and 135 respondents in Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City, Nepal were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The study suggests that principles such as democratic member control, voluntary and open membership, and member economic participation are critical to the effective and sustainable operation of agricultural cooperatives in Nepal. These principles promote members' sense of responsibility and ownership by ensuring transparency, fairness, and democratic decision-making. However, the research also identifies several constraints facing Nepal's agricultural cooperatives, including limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, governance issues, lack of technical expertise, and political interference. These challenges could hinder cooperatives' ability to expand into new markets, provide essential services to members, and support the long-term growth of Nepal's agricultural sector. The study concludes that addressing these issues and promoting the adoption of universal cooperative principles are essential to strengthening agricultural cooperatives in Nepal and enabling them to significantly improve the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities.

School teachers’ unions social justice approach in top-bottom decision-making process: A case study of school teachers’ unions in Northern Pakistan

Top-down decision-making process has revealed several challenges in educational reforms in North-West part of Pakistan. Political bosses and bureaucrats have often placed an authoritarian decision-making process where school reforms are implemented without much consultation with school teachers’ unions. Given the continued need of school teachers’ unions being one of the main stakeholders, it is necessary to examine the perspectives and experiences of the leadership of school teachers’ unions’ who work hard to make niche on the basis of social justice approach in the top bottom decision making process and to identify ways to implement democratic decision making process. The purpose of the current exploratory qualitative study was to investigate school teachers’ unions’ leadership experiences in the top bottom decision making process, and their overall perspectives on the school-based reforms. This paper explores the perspectives and experiences of five most influential school teachers’ unions’ leaders regarding the nature of the decision-making process. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and was analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that leaders faced several challenges in making their voices count in the current decision-making mechanism. Findings revealed the top-bottom decision-making mechanism is based on vested interests, disregarding the ground realities. School teachers’ unions challenge the top bottom approach and support initiatives for evidence-based knowledge, arranging conferences and debates, using print and electronic media to convey their views. They are also use strikes and demonstrations as their last option. The study implies that there is a need for a democratic decision-making mechanism where the input from the school teachers’ unions is given due consideration in school based reforms.

“Nothing about us, without us”. Practical elaboration of experience experts in primary care

The health care sector sensed already for several years a shift in primary care to more complex situations and support questions. Tackling these challenges requires an integrated collaboration between health, wellbeing and social care. There was an urge to bring in a different approach of care. In order to fulfill that need Flanders was defined into 60 geographical areas in 2020: ‘The primary care zones’. Capturing local needs and working bottom-up became the foundation of the organization. The focus on goal-oriented, customized and integrated care made it possible to fill out the gap created by more complex situations.
 Representatives from health providers, welfare workers, local authorities and the person in need of care are brought together. The primary care zone promotes collaboration between these different partners. This extensive network ensures that primary care regions can as well pick up and unroll local needs as charges unrolled by the government.
 Person-centered care is the key to success of this new approach. Care and support goals from the people itself, depending on their quality of life, are the starting point. This in combination with more recognition for informal care, makes sure that socially vulnerable people are able to take control of their own life and the necessary care to sustain this. In order to realize a care policy in function of person-centered care, we need to listen to the people who live in our primary care zone. There’s continually increased attention and effort to cocreate and build our organization with socially vulnerable people. Self-determination and autonomy are ever highly valuated. As organization there’s the expectation of building bridges between professionals, but also between the professional and the client.
 The focus in the relationship between clients and professionals shifted the past years. There’s more attention for participation and democratic decision making and for the perspective of the people itself. Clients are not to be seen as passive recipients anymore. They say: ‘nothing about us, without us.’ and who are we to protest?
 In order to do so we established a group of 15 experts. From October 22 until November 23 we will meet up monthly to exchange ideas. The group has experience in different domains: informal care, chronic illnesses, poverty, addiction, psychic vulnerability, elderly care and disabilities. The experts hope to dive deeper into our participation process to show and explain to you how to co-design a care journey that responds to people’s needs. 
 Taking their experience in account, will help our board to pick up local needs and to adjust primary care to them. Focus on strength and possibilities of the people in the group are hereby necessary to accomplish our goal. Together with the group we strive to share the ownership on our plan of action We want them to have an impact on the policy and to cocreate an organization not only for them, but with them.

Gender Based Knowledge on the Reservation System in Nepal

The reservation system encourages equity under the law, which upholds the rights and duties of impoverished populations, making it a democratic decision. However, public awareness is essential for effectively implementing and exercising the reservation system. So, this study analyses the relationship between gender and knowledge of a reservation system using data from the Social Inclusion Survey conducted by Nepal Government in 2020. The author used SPSS software and conducted parametric and non-parametric tests, including Chi-square and binary logistic regression. Through this analysis, it is found that there is a close relationship between gender and knowledge of the reservation system because the p-value of the Chi-Square test is 0.00. Nevertheless, the logistic regression result proved that people have moderate knowledge of the reservation system and suggested that education and training initiatives are needed to improve people's awareness of the reservation system.

Knowledge-based representation: Patient engagement in drug development.

Recently, different actors have intensified their efforts to make drug development more participatory. They have produced many frameworks, toolsand dedicated fora, where patients are portrayed as relevant stakeholders to be involved throughout the entire drug development trajectory. To better understand what such participatory efforts entail, in this article, we investigate how patient representation is configured in drug development and what patients can engage as representatives in this field. This is a qualitative study based on the thematic analysis of 40 semistructured interviews with different stakeholders in the field and three patient engagement How-To guides (HTGs) complemented by observations of two sessions of the Patient Engagement Open Forum (PEOF) and a patient expert training of the European Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI). The emerging practices of patient engagement in drug development configure representation as hinging upon three types of knowledge-drug development knowledge, autobiographical knowledgeand community knowledge-and a specific set of skills. We discern a new kind of representation based on these findings, termed 'knowledge-based representation', which appears to more accurately describe how patients are expected to represent others in drug development. Even though knowledge-based representation may be understood as an attempt to downplay the political aspects of representation in favour of its epistemic elements, the political processes involved in patient representation in drug development cannot be ignored. The extent to which reliance on knowledge-based representation will contribute to democratic decision-making is likely to depend on the resources needed to develop the types of knowledge relevant to representation work and on how these types of knowledge are determined. Patient representatives and practitioners in the field of patient engagement (including 13 interviewees, representatives of EUPATIand HTGdevelopers) gave feedback on the interpretation of the findings during a multistakeholder workshop we organised. We also sent an interviewee an extended draft and discussed it during an online meeting. Claudia Egher presented these findings at a PEOF session in June 2023, which further contributed to their validation.

Research on "Publicness" in Public Art under the Perspective of Co-construction Concept

In the early stages of the reform and opening-up, the concept of co-construction gradually entered the public consciousness. China began to emphasize community development, community participation, and grassroots governance. Over time, China has increasingly emphasized multi-party participation, democratic decision-making, and collaborative construction in urban renewal, community governance, rural transformation, and cultural development. This emphasis on social participation and collaborative construction has gradually embedded the concept of co-construction, filled with a spirit of humanistic care, into the hearts of the people. This paper aims to delve into the "publicness" in public art under the perspective of the co-construction concept. By introducing relevant concepts such as co-construction, the paper clarifies the core concept of "publicness" under the co-construction perspective. It thoroughly analyzes the inseparable relationship between the co-construction concept and publicness in public art, elaborating on how the co-construction concept influences and guides the practice of public art design.

Book Review Political political theory: essays on Institutions

Political Political Theory: Essays on Institutions" by Jeremy Waldron delves into the complexities of political theory and institutions, emphasizing their central role in modern politics. The book discusses various democratic institutions and the challenges of exercising political power in a diverse society. Generally, Waldron notes the existence of a consensus in defending rights. However, he acknowledges that disagreements persist, especially when it comes to specific rights and policy frameworks. The author proposes that the solution to these disagreements lies in institutional design. Yet, he acknowledges the fragility and ineffectiveness of some regimes, complicating the practical application of political theory in this context. Waldron highlights the paradox in democratic decision-making when faced with disagreements about what should be done. He argues that democratic institutions must be transparent and trusted to maintain their integrity in enforcing potentially unpopular decisions. Despite the imperative for resolution, disagreements over rights continue to persist. Nonetheless, the author suggests that (re)centering the normative dimension may provide a basis for collective action amid democratic disagreements. In summary, "Political Political Theory: Essays on Institutions" offers profound insights into political theory and the challenges of implementing it in diverse democratic institutions, with specific focus in the need for navigating disagreements through normative dimensions.

Research for Change: Reflections on Online Collective Activism Against Accelerated Policies of University Privatization during covid-19 Restrictions in Hungary

Abstract This article delves into the dynamics of the “model change” within the Hungarian higher education during the covid-19 crisis, focusing on grassroots reactions in the University of Pécs. Amid pandemic-related restrictions, the study reveals how online platforms fostered collective action, allowing stakeholders discuss and voice concerns this change. The analysis uncovers a pattern where representative leadership sidelined democratic decision-making, indicating a disconnection between representation and accountability. Rooted in historical relational patterns and prevailing political culture, this detachment highlights the need for improved mechanisms of accountability. By presenting a participatory action research, the study underscores the transformative role of grassroots communities and trade unions in advocating collective interests and values. The paper emphasizes that online platforms, while promoting accessibility and pluralism, need to address the quality of participation. Overall, the research contributes to the complexities of decision-making in higher education transitions and the challenges of representation and accountability.

Perception of Quality Service Provision in Local Government Authorities in Tanzania: A Citizen Participation Perspective

Citizen participation is regarded as a process which provides private individuals an opportunity to influence public decisions and has long been a component of the democratic decision making process. The study sought to resolve the puzzle of citizen participation in Tanzania by attempting to decipher why public participation is said to be ample but the quality of health and education services provided is still perceived questionable. The study is conducted within the theoretical lens of the decentralization by devolution model and Stigler’s theory to come up with a more refined approach which envisages that increasing the number of actors in governance may probably help to resolve why decentralization by devolution does not necessarily lead to quality service delivery. The study is basically based on qualitative research design with the aim of seeking to get a deeper information regarding the issue in the two areas under study. The major findings of this study is that in instances where citizens effectively participated there were positive results but in most cases where citizens were not given chance to meaningfully participate dissatisfaction with the kind of social services provided by the government was high. Thus, strengthening local participation is an indispensable ingredient for successful provision of quality services to the citizens. The findings from this article make a valuable contribution towards understanding public participation strategies in both rural and urban areas so as to promote joint decision-making to provide effective and efficient service delivery. Consequently, recommendations are proposed to enhance quality social service provision through effective community engagement.

Deliberation and Voting: An Institutional Account of the Legitimacy of Democratic Decision-Making Procedures

Deliberation and Voting: An Institutional Account of the Legitimacy of Democratic Decision-Making Procedures

The Voting Rights of Senior Citizens: Should all Votes Count the Same?

AbstractIn 1970, Stewart advocated disenfranchising everyone reaching retirement age or age 70, whichever was earlier. The question of whether senior citizens should be disenfranchised has recently come to the fore due to votes on issues such as Brexit and climate change. Indeed, there is a growing literature which argues that we should increase the voting power of non-senior citizens relative to senior citizens, for reasons having to do with intergenerational justice. Thus, it seems that there are reasons of justice to disenfranchise senior citizens, or at least to grant them a lower voting weight than non-senior citizens. In this paper, we investigate whether there are democratic reasons to do so. To answer this question, we turn to the boundary problem in democratic theory, i.e., the question of who should be included in democratic decision-making. Two prominent solutions, and a more recent one, are particularly relevant: the all-affected principle, the all-subjected principle, and the relational egalitarian principle. When it comes to the all-affected principle and the all-subjected principle, we argue that there is reason to grant most senior citizens a lower voting weight than most non-senior citizens in most decisions. Whether that is the case on the relational egalitarian principle depends on how people relate to each other in society. Indeed, it is sometimes in accordance with the relational egalitarian view to grant senior citizens a greater voting weight than non-senior citizens.

The Euro’s Taxing Path to Political Legitimacy

ABSTRACT In Europe’s Crisis of Legitimacy: Governing by Rules and Ruling by Numbers in the Eurozone, Vivien Schmidt authoritatively charts how the European Union weathered the crisis of its single currency in the 2010s, gradually moving from fiscal austerity and structural reform to a more systemic solution and flexible interpretation of the euro’s governing rules. Using a discursive institutionalist approach in combination with a “systems theory” understanding of democratic decision making, Schmidt persuasively argues that we need to look at the euro problem as a fundamentally political problem that lacked democratic legitimacy as long as technocrats were in charge of policy solutions. Schmidt argues that the euro crisis needs to be broached from the point of view of the E.U.’s split-level legitimacy as well as the growing politicization of E.U. governance in an era of increasing populism and rising Euroskepticism. Schmidt’s application of discursive institutionalism allows readers to judge for themselves whose and which ideas mattered, why and in what way they were implemented, and how they gradually evolved over time.

THE INFLUENCE OF SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S LEADERSHIP STYLES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF TEACHERS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The purpose of this study was to determine the leadership styles used by the school principals that enhance the performance of teachers in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic in public high schools in Bandung city. The study employed Mixed Methods approach with an embedded mixed research design. The study sample comprised of 164 teachers and other research informants consisted of 4 school principals and vice-school principals and 40 students. The study employed purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Primary data were collected with the help of online questionnaire. Both qualitative and quantitative data were used sequentially. Quantitative data from the questionnaire were coded and summarized using descriptive statistics, measures of variability, frequency distribution, and percentages. They were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The Path-Goal theory was a leading theory in this study. The results showed the theory was related to the study as far as aims were the performance of teachers was influenced by school principal leadership styles. The results revealed that school principals practiced democratic leadership styles during the Covid-19 pandemic to influence the performance of teachers in the time of Covid-19 Pandemic whereby in democratic leadership style, communication, decision making, and delegation were highly practiced by school principals throughout public schools in Bandung city. The study, therefore, recommends that Online pedagogical training should be introduced and provided to all teachers on how to integrate material resources with media during online teaching, national educational policy should be amended to emphasis much on technological skills during teachers training so to prepare them to have technological skills which will be vital during any crisis like Covid-19 pandemic.

THE DEMOCRATIC BOUNDARY PROBLEM RECONSIDERED

Who should have a right to take part in which decisions in democratic decision making? This “boundary problem” is a central issue for democracy and is of both practical and theoretical import. If nothing else, all different notions of democracy have one thing in common: a reference to a community of individuals, “a people”, who takes decision in a democratic fashion. However, that a decision is made with a democratic decision method by a certain group of people doesn’t suffice for making the decision democratic or satisfactory from a democratic perspective. The group also has to be the right one. But what makes a group the right one? The criteria by which to identify the members of the people entitled to participate in collective decisions have been surprisingly difficult to pin down. In this paper, I shall revisit some of the problems discussed in my 2005 paper in light of some recent criticism and discussion of my position in the literature, and address a number of new issues.

Phosphatenes as Building Blocks for The Synthesis of Triphosphate Heterocycles Using the EDAS Method

Toy blocks, commonly referred to as "building blocks," are angular pieces used for pretend construction. Some are straightforward wooden boards. Some are more upscale, such as plastic Mega blocks and Legoland bricks. A construction brick is used for additive development, a supportive brick is used for stability, and a lock brick is used to stiffen constructions. These are the four basic building pieces. formation. Cast concrete is used to make concrete bricks Industrial waste may be used in low population density blocks. The sturdy masonry structure used bricks and stones, which are made up of individual pieces of a similar form laid down in stages with mortar acting as a mattress and binding substance. They typically consist of components that can be carried and operated by a single employee that are manufactured from high mass elements with good strength properties. Alternative: “democratic involvement and scrutiny, Democratic decision-making, nteraction and participation, forms download, online advisory, Online query, Online transaction, Navigability”. Evaluation Preference: “(UK-A1, Ireland-A2, Belgium-A3, Netherlands-A4, Finland-A5, Sweden-A6, Germany-A7 and Denmark-A8)”. “As a result, A3 and got the first rank, while A6 got the lowest rank. “The value of the dataset for building blocks in the EDAS method shows that it results in Belgium-A3 and the best ranking.”.

Reimagining Power and Micro-politics in Project Organisations

The empirically investigated problem of our paper is what impact do micropolitics and power have on project management in an organization? Informal power and micropolitics played a massive role in the projects, and personal and relational knowledge appeared in all projects to achieve the expected results. The project manager uses personal networks, personal relations, and mentor's network with cognitive, affective, and emotional influence as power and politics if needed to achieve expected results. Power and micropolitics were necessary skills and tools for a successful project manager. The findings relate to the manager's intentions. The informal power and micro-politics process are reused in every project because informal power and micropolitics are a part of project work. Power accumulation and wise handling are essential leadership tools for every manager. Employees work for managers who have power over those who do not. The former can get them what they want: visibility, upwards mobility, and resources. Micropolitics and power represent a unique competence (i.e., knowledge, experiences, and attitudes) and tool for handling any project. Power is significantly underrated as a tool to control and govern projects. Micropolitics is a part of that tool to get the decisions the project leader wants, maybe with future promises. A democratic and consensus-oriented decision process opens for power games and micropolitics rather than hedging them in more hierarchical organizations. A complex matrix organization involving employees in many projects is also open to micropolitics and power. Micropolitics and power might prolong and complicate decision-making processes in ordinary projects and improve processes in fast-track projects. Micropolitics and power both increase and reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of an organization. The higher complexity, the higher returns on using power and micro-politics to get the expected project results.