Fair Society Research Articles

THE CONCEPT OF ACTIVE RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY AND CIVIL SOCIETY

The relevance of the concept of active responsible community for the development of democracy in the fact that, the current European climate and the new Lisbon Strategy put social inclusiveness at the center of European policy, with active responsible community as a best practice of active centrism at its core. In the context of this research it is relevant to identify the indicators of active community, which is an inseparable part of the civic society. Active responsible community is a concept of the European development strategy, which cultivates the values of representative democracy and civil society. Active responsible community means active participation of the citizen as a subject of the democratic process in accordance with the legislation of the nation, its legal, political, democratic, ecological principles. It is based on a legal, social, democratic basis, and its philosophy is shared by community groups, organizations, and educational institutions that cultivate community education, that the citizens become active subjects of society, become involved in community propaganda and protest, and work towards changes in their communities. The subject of the research is active and responsible community involvement for the development of democracy. The goal of the research is to conceptualize active responsible community for the development of democracy in the context of sociophilosophical discourse. Objectives of the study: 1) to analyze the essence of the concept of “European active responsible community” as a condition for the inclusion of citizens in public life; 2) to examine community education as the basis for creating a civilized community society; 3) to reveal the concept of community as the basis of political-centrism. Research methodology: general philosophical methods – analysis and synthesis, generalization, historical and logical, comparisons, cross-cultural analysis, systematic and axiological methods. Results of the research. The socio-philosophical analysis of the study of this problem contributed to the study of the concept of active responsible community in the European format and the values of active citizenship, so that people feel themselves as a subject of the community society. The practical importance of this problem in the formation of a healthy, fair society and a strong state, which is guided by the principles of socially responsible management.

Cosmos: A Big Challenge and a Global Project

Space is a cross-cutting philosophical theme: an unattainable dream coming from the depths of centuries, and at the same time a source of religious faith and high science. Therefore, space is not limited to specific space projects and the conquest of celestial space. In contrast to this, space is a starting point for a global problematization of politics, economics and culture. It demonstrates its archetypal significance for the history of all human culture. At the same time, space as a project and a subject matter of imagination needs today a new humanistic definition, in which the role of philosophy cannot be underestimated. It is necessary to find and theoretically justify a balance between the task of economic efficiency of space research and the results of space exploration, on the one hand, and their use for creative human development, designing a safe and fair society and forming a scientific picture of the world.

The Metaphysics of Martinus: Exploring New Territory

The Danish thinker and mystic Martinus presented a comprehensive metaphysical system that explores and explains a wide range of topics, from the nature of consciousness and reality to an objective ethics and the structure of a just and fair society. Although a mystic, his argumentative justification for this system is not based on transcendent experiences but instead on rational arguments and methods and is thus broadly philosophical. This paper argues that since his views stand almost entirely untreated in contemporary philosophical research, it is of interest to examine them further, partly in the context of the history of ideas, but not least, given their unconventional nature, to provide fresh perspectives on the complex problems faced by contemporary philosophy. For example, the problem of decombination: To circumvent the difficult problem of consciousness, which challenges materialism, the position of cosmopsychism claims that the consciousness of the subject is constituted in a cosmic consciousness. How, then, to explain the differentiation or “decombination” of this cosmic consciousness into individual minds? Martinus has a triunic conception of the subject, and a theoretical metaphysical model based on this concept seems to be able to handle the decombination problem. It could be of explanatory benefit to examine other philosophical topics, both theoretical and practical, in light of Martinus’ views. Thus, this paper aims to introduce the views of Martinus into contemporary philosophical debates and argue the value of its further examination.

Bioeconomy in the Shade of Green Deal: The System Dynamic Approach

Abstract At the end of 2019, the European Commission launched a new growth strategy called ‘The European Green Deal’ (GD), which aims to ‘transform the European Union (EU) into a fair and prosperous society with a modern, resource-efficient a competitive economy with no net greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use’. This study present developed system dynamic (SD) tool for determining bioeconomy development until 2030 and impact of different GD strategy activities on achieved progress. The bioeconomy index the created and used to measure bioeconomy progress for all scenarios. The optimal scenario was identified between reaching climate goals and adding value to the agricultural, forestry and fisheries resources.

From Fiction to Knowledge

European institutions perpetuate a one-dimensional understanding of history, science, and society while sub-narratives remain invisible and silenced. Based on the life of the Ghanaian philosopher Anton Wilhelm Amo, who lived and worked as an Enlightenment thinker in eighteenth-century Germany, and who has been neglected in German philosophical tradition, this article traces how museums and other cultural organizations continue exerting institutional power by reproducing dominant narratives and forms of knowledge. The example of Amo underlines remarkably how history is a construction of those in power. Incorporating anti-racist practices in museums and other cultural institutions requires a deep analysis of institutional history and its effects today. This paper draws on theories of, among others, Walter D. Mignolo, Boaventura de Sousa Santos, and Michel-Rolph Trouillot to uncover the existing racist dynamics and discriminating structures which persist through the merely superficial treatment of racism as a thematic focus rather than a starting point for building a fair and equal society for all.

Nursing students' experience of learning cultural competence.

IntroductionEuropean societies are rapidly becoming multicultural. Cultural diversity presents new challenges and opportunities to communities that receive immigrants and migrants, and highlights the need for culturally safe healthcare. Universities share a responsibility to build a fair and equitable society by integrating cultural content in the nursing curricula. This paper aims to analyze European student nurses´ experience of learning cultural competence and of working with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.Materials and methodsA phenomenological approach was selected through a qualitative research method. 7 semi-structured focus groups with 5–7 students took place at the participants’ respective universities in Spain, Belgium, Turkey and Portugal.Results5 themes and 16 subthemes emerged from thematic analysis. Theme 1, concept of culture/cultural diversity, describes the participants’ concept of culture; ethnocentricity emerged as a frequent element in the students’ discourse. Theme 2, personal awareness, integrates the students’ self-perception of cultural competence and their learning needs. Theme 3, impact of culture, delves on the participants’ perceived impact of cultural on both nursing care and patient outcomes. Theme 4, learning cultural competence, integrates the participants’ learning experiences as part of their nursing curricula, as part of other academic learning opportunities and as part of extra-academic activities. Theme 5, learning cultural competence during practice placements, addresses some important issues including witnessing unequal care, racism, prejudice and conflict, communication and language barriers, tools and resources and positive attitudes and behaviors witnesses or displayed during clinical practice.ConclusionThe participants’ perceived level of cultural competence was variable. All the participants agreed that transcultural nursing content should be integrated in the nursing curricula, and suggested different strategies to improve their knowledge, skills and attitudes. It is important to listen to the students and take their opinion into account when designing cultural teaching and learning activities.

Creating Positive Impact: The Power of Greater Purpose and Consciousness of Connectedness

As the idea of business as a positive force in society continues to grow, we ask: Under what conditions do business leaders transform their companies into organizations that create positive value for all stakeholders, generate above-average economic returns, and serve personal well-being, community health, a fair and inclusive society, and a thriving natural environment? This study aims to explore the underlying factors and motivations of business as a force for good, and to identify practical guidance for business leaders wishing to create a positive impact through their organizations. Our prior research led us to hypothesize that a leader’s mindset—or consciousness—is the foundation of a leader’s orientation toward meaningful social responsibility, and that a clear higher purpose for a business galvanizes an organization toward positive outcomes. To test our understanding, we conducted a quantitative, survey-based study to explore the relationship between the consciousness of leaders, the expression of greater purpose as part of the business mission, the relational climate in the company, and the results achieved by the business (economic, social, and environmental). Our findings suggest that leader consciousness has a significant impact on the climate in an organization (which mediates the impact on business results), and that greater purpose is a powerful force impacting relational climate and positive economic, social, and environmental outcomes.

What is Meant by ‘Repair’ when Claiming Reparations for Colonial Wrongs? Transformative Justice for the Dutch Slavery Past

While Transitional Justice instruments have been implemented in plenty of post-conflict cases, what little knowledge we have about the effects of these measures shows contradictory findings, indicating that they are often ambiguous and disappointing. Consequently the last decade has seen a specific call for a ‘new agenda for practice’ proposing a transition from Transitional Justice to Transformative Justice. It is a request by scholars such as Paul Gready and Simon Robins (2014) to develop from the bottom-up a concept of justice that is more ‘transformative,’ specifically challenging ‘unequal and intersecting power relationships and structures of exclusion at both the local and the global level’. This article contributes to this consideration by exploring the Dutch debate on its slavery past with the following question: how could reparations—fundamental in the debate around the acknowledgment of the slavery past—facilitate transformative justice? In the Netherlands over the last decade, memory and reparation activists seeking recognition for slavery and the transatlantic slave trade have been influenced by two major events; the 10-point reparation claim put forward by the Caribbean CARICOM countries against the formerly colonizing powers in Europe (2013), and the UN-International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024). This article describes the reparation claims articulated by various groups in and outside the Netherlands addressing the slavery past of the Dutch and some of the institutional responses. Reparations have gained little conceptual attention in transitional justice scholarship, and in investigating the concept of reparation we refer to Lisa Laplante’s (2013) dictum, which is that ‘Reparations can and should be viewed through a lens of justice’. Laplante made an important intervention in the field by asking which reparations contribute to what kind of justice. Reading the Dutch question through the lens of Laplante’s continuum justice model (2013) makes it possible to identify different justice claims made by interested and affected parties. Laplante’s model ranges from a narrow (minimalist) to a broader (maximalist) conceptualisation of justice; distinguishing four types of justice aims: reparative justice, restorative justice, civic justice and socio-economic justice. All four types are relevant when considering the various options a government and a society have in dealing with (historical) injustice. The empirical findings suggest that current reparation claims in Afro-Caribbean and Surinamese communities are less about a specific product (such as an apology or reparations) but rather about a social process of relation building (such as addressing structural injustices). This notion of ‘social repair’ challenges and extends our current understanding of what justice for historical wrongs is about, but—as is argued in this article—it will at the same time also make reparations more acceptable to larger parts of Dutch society. It avoids the narrow ‘blame-and-guilt’ framework associated with reparations in politics and the media, which exacerbates the problem of acceptance in the first place.The key arguments in this article firstly show that reparation theory is essential in identifying the kind of claims for justice that are being made, and secondly evaluate whether those claims are being addressed. Laplante helps us to see that if these justice goals of social repair are not clearly articulated and addressed, we would be likely to disappoint memory politics and memory activists, who ‘may compromise the overall justice project,’ thus jeopardising the potential for a transformative outcome.The notion of social repair, as proposed in this article, recognizes a joint struggle for a more fair and equal society.

Commentary: Moral and Ethical Leadership in the Age of Diversity, Equity, Inclusiveness and Social Accountability.

This article weighs three important moral and ethical considerations for leaders in healthcare: their obligations to society, their privilege as leaders and how value goes beyond a simple cost analysis. Leaders highly motivated by the bottom line have avoided the long overdue action on moral and ethical considerations critical to a more just and fairer society. Leaders are now being tasked to develop strategies for health equity, anti-oppression, anti-racism, social justice, diversity, equity and inclusiveness, community engagement, the social determinants of health and environmental accountability, and to demonstrate that their disruptive work adds more value to society than what can be measured in spreadsheet metrics.

THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL AND ITS IMPACT ON THE RAW MATERIAL INDUSTRY

Climate changes and environmental degradation are a threat to the existence of Europe and the world. To overcome these challenges, at the end of 2019, the European Commission outlined as a main political line the proposal for the European Green Deal. In most of its aspects, this document is a benchmark for a new mindset that aims to turn the EU in a fair and prosperous society with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy in which there will be no net greenhouse emissions in 2050 and the economic growth will not depend on the use of resources. This publication reflects the path from the emergence of the idea of the European Green Deal to the policies pursued today. The academic papers developed in the field are analysed, as well as the prerequisites and challenges that lead to its implementation. An attempt has been made to answer questions related to the main goals of the Green Deal and how these aims correspond to the raw material industry which will be the industry with the most significant consequences in the next decade.

8 - Intellectuels africains, patriotisme et panafricanisme : à propos de la fuite des cerveaux

Sous les apparences d’une simple description sociologique, la notion de fuite des cerveaux cache un jugement de valeur sur les devoirs des intellectuels à l’égard de leurs patries. On ne parlerait pas de « fuite » si l’on ne considérait pas tout intellectuel comme étant d’abord rattaché à un pays particulier, à un conti- nent particulier, et ayant à son égard une certaine « obligation patriotique » de contribuer, de toute la force de ses capacités intellectuelles, à son développement, à sa prospérité et à son rayonnement. Les intellectuels qui ont choisi l’expatriation pourraient être accusés d’avoir voulu accorder la préférence à leurs intérêts particuliers, et de s’être désolidarisés de manière coupable du destin de leurs pays, de leur continent, de leur peuple, d’avoir manqué au devoir d’apporter une contribution, si modeste soit-elle, à la construction de sociétés africaines justes, démocratiques et prospères, et à la mise en œuvre des projets nationalistes et panafricanistes qui ont fleuri autour des indépendances. Mais peut-on considérer d’emblée le patriotisme (ainsi d’ailleurs que le nationalisme) comme une vertu et la fuite des cerveaux doit-elle être indexée en terme de vice ? N’est-il pas des situations où c’est la fuite des cerveaux elle-même qui devrait être considérée comme une vertu, au moins en ce qu’elle pourrait permettre de mettre au service de l’humanité entière et de sa propre société (à travers des États qui les reconnaissent et les valorisent) des talents qui autrement se seraient sclérosés ? Ces questions qui, en réalité contiennent implicitement notre hypothèse, constituent les lignes directrices de la réflexion que nous avons développée dans cet article.

THỰC TRẠNG VÀ NHIỆM VỤ CỦA GIÁO DỤC ĐẶC BIỆT VÀ PHÚC LỢI KHUYẾT TẬT Ở HÀN QUỐC

This article presents the current situation and problems for special education in Korea from four main points of view on ensuring an equal and fair society, increasing support for special education, increasing support for vocational and lifelong education and promote safety for students with disabilities. The article also gives a view on welfare policies system for people with disabilities on five main aspects: social welfare and health; education, culture and sport; economy; increasing rights of benefits and safety for people with disabilities and social inclusion.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ECO-CLUSTERS IN THE CONSTANTA COUNTY

Economic theory and international practice confirm the role of clusters as catalysts for competitiveness based on innovation and internationalization. Europe is facing the challenge of becoming a fair and prosperous society based on a modern, competitive and resource-efficient economy. Mobilizing industrial actors towards a clean and circular economy through in-depth cooperation along value chains as well as the use of new technologies, sustainable solutions and disruptive innovation are critical to achieving this goal. Clusters play an important role in operationalizing smart specialization strategies. Eco-clusters aim to increase the competitiveness of enterprises included in "cluster" structures in sectors of economic relevance, by concentrating resources and developing the production of innovative goods such as technologies, products, services, with the greatest possible reduction of waste. Constanta County, through its strategic positioning, through the concentration of economic activities, education and research is an area of maximum interest for the development of eco-innovation and eco-clusters. This study highlights the premises for the establishment of eco-clusters in the Constanta area, given their role as a driver in greening economic policies in the region and developing partnerships in order to obtain clean products. Through eco-clusters, there are also developments in the process of eco-innovation and implementation of sustainable development strategies in the Constanta area, as a means for a long-term socio-ecological transition.

Back on the Barricades: New Feminisms and Market Innovation in the Consultancy Field

The enhanced role given to innovation in capitalist societies has resulted in a development where even matters such as gender equality are assessed and rewarded based on their innovation potential. Markets, innovations and companies are believed to possess and offer solutions to gender inequalities, a development that relies on the commodification of gender equality. This paper is based on an ethnographic study of the field of gender equality consultancy with the aim of critically investigating the belief that gender inequality can be solved with innovations. Focusing on clients, market demand, innovative and sellable solutions, and profits, gender consultancy illustrates how markets have become a model for equality work. The interviewed consultants created new products, thought up new words and concepts, and emphasised gain for the client. Innovation discourse iterates technocratic approaches to social and cultural problems. However, the paper argues that innovation discourse is a ‘doing’ that is open for re-configuration. By searching for new business models based on the principle of ‘together in ways that matter’, the interviewed consultants also worked to contribute to a more equal and fair society. Thus, the commodification of gender equality simultaneously opens up possibilities to re-code and reappropriate the concept of ‘innovation’.

The Gambia: Citizenship and Civic Consciousness

Citizens are an important component of national development enterprise. This is because citizenship is crucial to the promotion of nationhood. But being a citizen alone means very little if it does not come with certain responsibilities and civic consciousness. Through the historical lens of The Gambia, this paper argues, an understanding of citizenship and civic consciousness is necessary for sustained national development. It draws an interrelation among these concepts. Therefore, supports for responsible citizenship through education and emphasizes education’s role in attaining national development. Also, refers to primary and secondary sources. It uses oral interviews, content analysis of government publications, academic journals, books, and media reports to provide context to the paper. The article suggests some viable strategies for sustainable national development in The Gambia such as free and fair election, informed citizenry, visionary leadership and vibrant civil society organizations.

Implementation of Electric Vehicles in The Internal Route of The International University of Ecuador

Sustainable campuses have become one of the main objectives of agendas for a wide range of universities as a result of the impacts generated by the activities carried out within an academic life and how they directly affect the environment. An important aspect of the educational model of the International University of Ecuador, considering education as a focal transforming point of collective change, is to teach values and responsibility for the environment, considering that in terms of sustainability a higher education should not be understood only from the technical point of view, but as a process of realizing the significance of substantial values that would encourage future professionals to commit to the construction of a more fair and equitable society. For this reason, the objective of this study is to analyze sustainability through the implementation of electric mass transport vehicles in the internal route of the International University of Ecuador, for which the methodology is based on a quantitative approach, whose type of study is exploratory and of an inductive-deductive nature, analyzing the variables that directly influence a sustainable environment such as altitude above sea level (geographical location), benefited people, consumption and routes. Instruments such as sampling and surveys will be used to determine the decrease in polluting emissions that can affect the natural environment of the area. The technical considerations are the following: the location of the campus presents average slopes of 7.76 ° at 2560 masl, the results of autonomy in a route are 14.8 km benefiting around 450 people a day from the university community, having an annual load consumption of 297311 KWh during day hours and of 114715 KWh during night hours. With the implementation of an electric vehicle for the internal route, a power of 154.7 KW is required to overcome a slope of 18 ° with a campus route of 178.4 km, with this it would stop emitting 29.6 tons of CO2 and 0.76 tons of gases harmful for the environment per year

She’ll be right mate: Australian complacency and national responses to wicked social problems

As the 6th largest country by land mass but 55th by population (exceeding 25 million), and ranked 13th by GDP per capita by the OECD, Australia is often characterised as an affluent developed Western democracy, and seeks to project an international image as a progressive, ethical, fair and tolerant society. This commentary explores inconsistencies between Australia’s idealised identity as a modern egalitarian society concerned with the welfare of all and the economic and social reality for a significant and growing number of citizens; it highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these discrepancies. The commentary attributes contradictions in the Australian character and culture to the absence of a national charter of core values that institutionalises respect for the principles of human dignity and equality.

An Assessment of Public Transport Accessibility Levels for Slums in Bhopal

Good connectivity and accessibility ensure inclusivity of public transport system which is an indicator of a fair society. The modal shift of commuters towards public transit services depends majorly on its accessibility levels. To ensure that commuters have equal opportunities to access jobs, education, and other services, PTAL (public transit accessibility level) is often evaluated. Public transport accessibility levels are a detailed and an accurate measure of accessibility of a point to the public transport network which considers walk access time and service availability. Public transportation is often referred to as an affordable model for every section of society due to its cheap fare price. The major question lies in the inclusivity of public transit services for the economically weaker section of society whether or not public transportation is available and accessible for those who need it or those who cannot afford other mobility services. The present study intends to focus on affordable and inclusive transportation for economically weaker sections. The study is an attempt to assess the issues with public transport services in the city of Bhopal, India for economically backward areas like slums. The research will help in understanding the accessibility level of currently available public transit services by evaluating the PTAL (public transit accessibility level) for socially backward.

The Right to Legal Aid in the Context of International Judicial Cooperation: Towards the Improvement of Equal Access to Justice for All?

The present paper seeks to explore the present and prevailing obstacles to the respect of the right to legal aid, on the broader context of access to justice, against the background of the continuous efforts in European Union space for building a fair and inclusive society. We will first look into Directive 2016/1919 itself, as well as its context and provisions, framed in the context of the Europeanisation process in criminal matters. This first moment will allow us to better understand the prevailing critical issues hindering the full implementation of the Directive itself, and, consequently, its implications on restraining the fulfilment of right to legal aid. We will strive to comprehend how these obstacles, which stem from an ongoing – yet fundamentally unachieved – integration project, are further densified by the practices of front-line professionals involved in the provision of legal aid. Ultimately, we conclude that further investment in cooperation, both at the national and European levels, is direly needed for achieving a fairer and more inclusive European Union. Keywords: Legal Aid; European Union; Procedural Rights; Access to Justice; Judicial Cooperation. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-12-04 Publication date: June 30 th 2021

American Race Relations and the Legacy of British Colonialism

British colonial policies have led to stratified societies all over the world and America is no exception. But America is unique in transiting to an equal society and constructing the legal framework to achieve a fair society, even though not completely successful. What distinguishes America from other British colonies is the tradition of rule of law. Perhaps this tradition is also the most priceless heritage that the Britain left for America. Currently, racial discrimination and racial equality protests spread across America. This book provides valuable insights for understanding the divided America.