Grassroots Research Articles

Assessing Restorative Community Development Frameworks—A Meso-Level and Micro-Level Integrated Approach

This study critically examines existing frameworks aimed at establishing restorative practices in community development by conducting a comparative analysis of a meso-level development framework called the Five Pillars of Development and a micro-level framework implemented by a grassroots initiative. Both frameworks were implemented in Washington, DC, and both seek to address the enduring negative externalities disinvested communities face and suggest the need for restorative practices in community development. Restorative development practices trace their roots to the field of restorative economics, which is a subfield of sustainable development. It argues that sustainability must also address the sins of the past and restore systems and systems components that have been negatively impacted by past development practices. This study aims to discern the adaptability of the more broadly applicable meso-level Five Pillars framework in capturing nuanced micro-level frameworks like the one devised by the grassroots organization in Ward 8. By identifying potential gaps, this study proposes strategies to enhance the utility of the more transferable meso-level framework, particularly for communities lacking resources to formulate their own micro-level framework. This study, therefore, contributes valuable insights and recommendations for bridging potential disparities between the meso-level and micro-level frameworks, as demonstrated in the Ward 8 case. The overarching objective is to enrich the community development field by presenting a restorative framework that refines existing meso-level approaches and facilitates opportunities for micro-level applications.

Thailand's Movement Party: The Evolution of the Move Forward Party

AbstractThe existing literature on the relationship between political parties and social movements draws mainly from European cases, and has rarely captured the kinds of relationships that may exist in other parts of the world. This article addresses the gap by shedding light on the dynamics of party–movement relationships in Thailand. We examine the connections between two Thai political parties and a variety of protest movements. Our analysis demonstrates that Thailand's Move Forward Party and its predecessor the Future Forward Party can be classified as movement parties, but that they operated differently. While Future Forward was a clandestine movement party, concealing its origins in grassroots activism, Move Forward later revealed its activist roots and underwent a transformation from a clandestine to a fully fledged movement party. This change was triggered by two emerging conditions: the rise of student-led mass movements and collective demands for radical change that had been ignored by other political parties.

Shortcuts and detours of environmental collective legal mobilizations: the cases of the Atrato River and the Amazon region in Colombia

AbstractColombia's Atrato River and Amazon region were declared legal entities by Colombian judges in 2016 and 2018 respectively. This set the stage for a new era of environmental litigation in Colombia, in which a number of natural entities have been granted this status. In both contrasting cases, non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) brought dramatic environmental harms to court through the special acción de tutela procedure, but did not claim a new ecocentric legal status for nature. This article asks how rights were collectively mobilized in the Atrato and Amazon cases and led to ecocentric judgments. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted in 2020 with members of NGOs and grassroots organizations involved in these two cases, revealing the emergence of grievance collectives. Through the analysis of these qualitative data, we argue for a perspective that considers the interdependence of legal mobilization and the collective as a social relationship. Collective support led to the choice of an unconventional process. However, this supported the litigation collectives and resulted in ecocentric judgments that generated challenges for the associated collectives in the post‐litigation phase. Thus, the analysis of legal mobilization and social relations in the collectives as interdependent improves the understanding of the shortcuts and detours through which complex conflicts have been presented in cases of environmental litigation, and helps to strengthen the scope and concepts of collective legal mobilization.

Investigating the Coverage of China’s Vaccine Crisis on YouTube: Networked Framing, Grassroots Activism, and Homophily

ABSTRACT This study investigates how China’s domestic vaccine crisis in 2018 was politicized within Chinese video content on YouTube. The analysis, employing the Structural Topic Model, uncovered a notable hyper-politicization of the vaccine crisis in video comments, often diverging from the issue frames presented in video titles. Furthermore, inferential network analysis using the Exponential Random Graph Model revealed the hyper-politicized comments can be attributed to 1) the emergence of networked commenters engaging in cross-video commenting practices, and 2) political homophily among video producers, particularly regarding their critical political stance toward China. The findings suggest the networked dynamics of ssue politicization.

Gender equality in the workplace: A comparative review of USA and African Practices

This Review presents a comparative review of gender equality practices in the workplace, focusing on both the United States (USA) and various African countries. Gender equality is a pivotal aspect of societal progress, economic development, and fostering inclusive workplaces. The analysis delves into the differing approaches, challenges, and advancements in promoting gender equality within organizational settings, offering insights into the nuanced landscape of gender dynamics. In the United States, considerable progress has been made toward gender equality, driven by legislative measures, advocacy efforts, and cultural shifts. The Review explores initiatives such as affirmative action, diversity and inclusion programs, and policies addressing pay disparities. It examines the impact of landmark legislation like the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, highlighting advancements and persisting challenges in the pursuit of gender parity. Conversely, the review extends its focus to diverse African practices, recognizing the continent's rich tapestry of cultures, economies, and regulatory frameworks. The Review illuminates regional variations in approaches to gender equality, considering factors such as cultural norms, legal frameworks, and socioeconomic conditions. It sheds light on innovative practices emerging in African workplaces, emphasizing the role of grassroots movements, government interventions, and the empowerment of women in various sectors. The Review also underscores shared challenges faced by both the USA and African nations, including gender-based discrimination, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and the impact of intersectionality on women's experiences in the workplace. By comparing these practices, the review seeks to draw attention to successful strategies, lessons learned, and areas for improvement in advancing gender equality globally. This comparative analysis aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on gender equality, offering a nuanced understanding of how workplace practices vary between the USA and Africa. By recognizing the unique contexts and leveraging shared experiences, the review seeks to inform policymakers, businesses, and advocates in fostering workplaces that prioritize diversity, inclusivity, and gender equity.

A review of microfinancing's role in entrepreneurial growth in African Nations

This comprehensive review explores the pivotal role that microfinancing plays in fostering entrepreneurial growth within African nations. Against a backdrop of economic challenges and limited access to traditional financial services, microfinancing has emerged as a powerful tool for empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and driving economic development across the continent. The study delves into the multifaceted dimensions of microfinancing, examining its impact on entrepreneurship, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development. The paper begins by providing a contextual overview of the economic landscape in African nations, emphasizing the persistent barriers that hinder entrepreneurial endeavors, such as a lack of collateral and credit history. It then highlights the transformative potential of microfinancing as a means to overcome these barriers, enabling even the most economically marginalized individuals to access capital and kickstart their entrepreneurial ventures. The review underscores the symbiotic relationship between microfinancing and entrepreneurial growth, emphasizing how these financial mechanisms act as catalysts for innovation and job creation. By analyzing case studies and empirical evidence from diverse African contexts, the paper elucidates the positive correlation between microfinancing initiatives and the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Additionally, it examines the ways in which microfinancing contributes to the empowerment of women entrepreneurs, thereby fostering gender inclusivity and promoting social equity. Furthermore, the study explores the challenges and potential pitfalls associated with microfinancing programs, addressing issues such as sustainability, scalability, and the need for regulatory frameworks. It critically assesses the effectiveness of different microfinancing models and identifies best practices that can be adopted to maximize impact. In conclusion, this review provides valuable insights into the nuanced dynamics of microfinancing in African nations, highlighting its indispensable role in catalyzing entrepreneurial growth, alleviating poverty, and fostering sustainable development. The findings underscore the importance of continued research, strategic policy implementation, and collaborative efforts between governments, financial institutions, and grassroots organizations to optimize the impact of microfinancing on entrepreneurship in the African context.

Prebiotic Effect of Cogon Grass Root Extract on Stimulating Lactic Acid Bacteria Growth in Mice Intestine

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known for their numerous beneficial effects for health and their colonization within intestines is affected by prebiotic consumption. Cogon grass root is an herbal medicine which contain substantial quantities of polyphenols. Recently, many studies suggested polyphenols as a novel group of prebiotics. Therefore, this study aimed to explore prebiotic effect of cogon grass root extract (CGRE) on stimulating growth of LAB in mice intestine. Mice (n =7/group) were divided into three groups; group A (control), group B and C received CGRE orally with daily dosage 90 and 115mg/kg BW, respectively. After 14 days of treatment, all mice were sacrificed. LAB was isolated and counted from ileum. Additional biochemical tests were performed to confirm the bacteria as LAB. Further identification of representatives LAB was performed with API-CHL-50 System. We found increased growth and diversity of LAB in the treatment group with optimum growth stimulation at CGRE dosage 90mg/KgBW daily (group B). Further identification showed Lactococcus lactis was the most frequent LAB found in all groups, with additional Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus curvatus were found in the treatment group. These findings support additional benefit of CGRE as prebiotics by stimulating LAB growth and diversity in mice intestine.

Desiccation of undamaged grasses in the topsoil causes Namibia’s fairy circles – Response to Jürgens & Gröngröft (2023)

In a novel study, Getzin et al. (2022) have excavated 500 grasses at four regions of the Namib to systematically investigate the temporal process of how the young grasses die in fairy circles. Based on measurements of the root lengths, statistical testing, and comparative photo documentations the authors showed that sand termite herbivory did not cause the death of the freshly germinated grasses within fairy circles (FCs). Roots of those dead grasses were initially undamaged and even longer than those of the living grasses outside in the vegetation matrix, which is contrary to termite herbivory. The dying annual grasses within FCs had significantly higher root-to-shoot ratios than the vital grasses in the matrix, both of which can be attributed to the same grass-triggering rain event. This indicates that they died from water stress because the desiccating grasses invested biomass resources into roots, trying to reach the deeper soil layers with more moisture, but they failed.Jürgens and Gröngröft (2023) commented on our research findings. Here, we shed light on their statements by investigating the existing data evidence on the Namib fairy circles, which includes a thorough literature review about the proposed termite-feeding mechanism, as well as describing the properties of soil water within and around the FCs. Our review shows that there is no single study to date that has demonstrated with systematic field evidence in the form of root measurements and data from several regions of the Namib that the green germinating grasses within the FCs would be killed by root herbivory of sand termites.We emphasize that the top 10 cm of soil in the FCs is very susceptible to drying out. In this topsoil layer, the freshly germinated grasses with their 10 cm long roots die quickly after rainfall due to lack of water, because these small plants cannot reach and utilize the higher soil moisture content, which is only found in deeper soil layers below the dry topsoil. Based on 400 measurements of soil moisture during the rainy season 2024, we show that the topsoil in the FCs is significantly drier than in the matrix outside. Finally, we show that the soil physical conditions allow a very high hydraulic conductivity that supports the “uptake-diffusion feedback” during the first weeks after grass-triggering rainfall. During the first two weeks, the soil moisture at 20 cm depth ranged for several rainfall events between 9% and 18% within the FCs, hence way above the 6–8% threshold below which the hydraulic conductivity strongly declines. Even 20 days after rainfall, soil moisture was still above 8%. During this biologically active period, new grasses germinate after about five days, the large perennial grasses along the FC edge resprout and strongly draw water with their established root system at 20–30 cm depth, and the freshly germinated grasses in the FCs desiccate and die within 10–20 days. With our continuous soil moisture measurements, we argue that the quickly greening and competitively superior grasses on the FC edge, as well as the vital matrix grasses, draw soil water from the FCs. This rapid depletion of soil water and drying out of the topsoil leads to the death of the new grasses in the fairy circles.

‘来来, 大家一起玩’ (C’mon, let’s play together): grassroots planning from a Bourdieusian perspective

ABSTRACT This paper presents an on-going study of grassroots language-planning engagement in the Chinese transnational communities in the UK. It explores how a group of Chinese mothers organise playgroups for their children to socialise with each other in linguistic and non-linguistic plays to enrich their children’s cultural and linguistic environment. Guided by Bourdieu’s signature concepts of habitus and capital, this study attempts to understand grassroots organisations in the Chinese communities through a socialisation lens. It examines how organisers’/mothers’ sociocultural disposition about, practical knowledge of, and cultural attitudes towards socialisation become unintended forms of social and cultural capital for heritage/community language development. Data sources include observations, recorded playing activities, and unstructured interviews. Using discourse analysis and narrative enquiry as analytical framework, the study focuses on the types of activities organised, language functions and forms in socialisation, and the sociocultural dispositions articulated by the parents. The study highlights how heritage languages can be developed despite symbolic structural constraints that are unfavourable for heritage language learning. The study contributes to the field of FLP by illustrating how parents use their social, cultural and economic capital in locating and using accessible resources to help their children build a transnational cultural capital.

Laughter in the Time of Coronavirus: Epidemic Humor and Satire in Chinese Women's Digital Diaries

This paper is a study of humorous and satirical image-texts found in eleven Chinese women’s online diaries composed between 2020 and 2022 during the time of COVID-19, including three from Wuhan, one from Xi’an, two from Chongqing, one from Chengdu, one composed by a Shanghainese, and three by New Yorkers. The diarists’ intersectional positionings as social worker, medical practitioner, interactive designer, unemployed grassroots organizer, overseas student, filmmaker, teacher, journalists, writers, and mothers from different cities in China and the United States inform their individual articulations of concerns about sociopolitical changes, pandemic situations, everyday life, as well as gender and class issues.Epidemic humor and satire in these lockdown narratives will be introduced in light of multidisciplinary methods, including sociological studies, political philosophy, psychological theory, and literary criticism. These feminine expressions of comic feelings point to communal laughter as a strategy for survival, subversion, and nonviolent resistance against unprecedented state surveillance and interventions in everyday life. As Sinophone literature continues to go global together with the spread of the disease, the Chinese diaries tend to be more politically satiric, as seen in Fang Fang’s Wuhan Diary and its English, German, and Japanese renditions, while the American–Chinese journals are rather humorous in terms of recording life, such as daily diet and necessities during the quarantine. This is due to cultural and situational differences, yet they have all exhibited their feminine sensitivity and sensibilities and formed a structure of feeling representing popular responses to the official discourse among digital citizens in the time of coronavirus.

What Is Minimalist Governance?

Abstract “Informality” and “semiformality” are the primary characteristics of minimalist governance. The operation of minimalist governance assumes a boundary between state and society and some amount of autonomous space between them at the ground level. Whether in a traditional or modern form, minimalist governance stands in contrast to the formal, hierarchical bureaucracy of the state. Minimalism is a pragmatic approach to governance tailored to local conditions, a form of semiformal or informal government that emphasizes operational effectiveness over elaborate bureaucratic procedures. Since minimalist governance does not rely entirely on the hierarchical power of the state apparatus, this semiformal approach is simple and effective, hence its “minimalist” appearance. The key to solving the problem of formalism at the basic level of government lies in managing the relationship between “a thousand threads above” and “a single needle below.” Autonomy and self-governance must be granted to the basic level of the government so that party committees may fulfill their integrative political functions and their role in minimalist governance. Ultimately, this will allow the “needle” of grassroots organizations to connect with “a thousand threads above” while also penetrating deeply into local society. There is significant practical and theoretical importance in understanding the uniqueness of Chinese-style modernization, and the modernization of rural governance, from the perspective of “social foundations,” but to achieve this Chinese-style modernization we must learn from the West and from China’s own traditional and contemporary experiences.

Unearthing, preserving, and promoting Sikh American history: The Sikh American history project

ABSTRACT The Sikh American History Project (SAHP) is a grassroots organization of scholars, students, and community members committed to unearthing, preserving, and promoting the stories and experiences of Sikh Americans. By sharing these stories from the early pioneer era to the present day, SAHP aims to build greater understanding and respect for Sikh American history. SAHP also offers a variety of educational resources and programs designed to engage and inform individuals both within and outside of the Sikh American community about Sikh American history and culture.

Unveiling Pathways to Enhance Social Learning Processes in Water Struggles

To advance actionable knowledge production in the context of water struggles, this article identifies ways to strengthen transformative learning processes within riverine social movements. The complex challenges associated with water struggles point to an increasing need to explore ways in which these processes can be shaped and to promote changes in the worldviews that inform how water and riverine environments are perceived and structured. This study draws on the grassroots movement for the social-ecological regeneration of the Taquara Stream in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Research on this case has shown that the actions conducted by this movement fostered learning processes through the creation of innovative forms of involvement that brought together multiple actors. A panel of experts conducted an in-depth analysis of the learning practices observed in this case. This article discusses five aspects of the learning process, which have been identified by the experts, that are essential to expanding the transformative potential of water-related social movements: (1) building relationships of trust between actors, (2) building links with and between key actors in the process, (3) creating dialogue spaces that promote the co-creation of actionable knowledge, (4) engaging actors spontaneously, proactively, and co-responsibly in the process, and (5) bringing participatory research into local processes.

Beyond Collaboration: A Network Analysis of Local Stances and Global Frameworks in the Collective Design of the City

The research observes practices of collective city-making beyond the participatory framework of institutional urban governance. In particular, it looks at how grassroots organizations in Bologna are able to produce a dual movement between the local and the global, mutually informing global movements and local practices oriented toward the sustainable growth of cities. The first section introduces the theoretical framework, based on participatory governance, urban commons and grassroots networks; it presents the methodology in the second section, introducing the criteria for the dataset and the network analysis consisting of local and global nodes within the city of Bologna; it then presents the results of the analysis, discusses them and draws the conclusions in the final section.

How Elites Mobilize the Vernacular: A Case Study of Australian Prime Ministers' Use of ‘Fair Go’ Rhetoric

Abstract Prime ministers often use vernacularisms in their political rhetoric, but we know little about how they deploy these forms of speech and the consequences for politics and policy. This article extends work on the ‘rhetorical PM’ by focusing on how leaders deploy idiomatic expressions in their oratory. The article presents a thematic analysis of four successive Australian prime ministers' use of the country's distinctive ‘fair go’ expression in speeches and media interviews between 1972 and 1996. Australian PMs increasingly invoked the ‘fair go’ expression throughout this period for multiple rhetorical purposes, including to make national identity claims, engage in partisan competition and justify policy reforms with strong neoliberal elements. While prevailing scholarship sees ‘vernacular politics’ as a tool of grassroots actors opposing discourses of globalization and elite-driven reform, this research shows the vernacular is a versatile rhetorical tool mobilized by elites for multiple purposes, including to justify radical policy change.

A study protocol of assessing grass root level health care service delivery system in Wardha District, Maharashtra

Background One of the six elements that constitute the framework of the World Health Organization System is the delivery of health care. To tracks the development of healthcare service delivery, it is vital to focus on its dimensions. The objective of the current learning is to evaluate the quality of healthcare provided at the lowest level in the Wardha District. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study will be conducted in the rural area around all the sub-centers of Wardha District. A semi-structured questionnaire will be used to assess the sociodemographic profile and associated factors, namely, service delivery, service provision, and facility assessment. Study implications This study will help formulate policies that will inculcate grass-root-level health care services to gain insight into how much services need to be improved and its implications for everyone in the community. Its significance in public health will pave the way for service screening and testing of healthcare delivery systems. Additionally, it will show that the system for delivering healthcare performs better. Future research should concentrate on identifying localized deficiencies and developing console indicators to estimate healthcare delivery systems objectively.

Humanitarian activist citizens: the emergence of a ‘victim’ political subjectivity in Colombia

ABSTRACT This article develops the concept of ‘humanitarian activist citizenship’ to analyse the political work of grassroots organisations representing groups and individuals displaced during Colombia’s civil conflict. In Colombia, the armed conflict has led to the forced migration of around 8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). In response, self-identified IDPs and other victims of violence have formed organisations and staged protests to claim collective rights. This article emerges out of a narrative analysis of interviews conducted with members of IDP grassroots organisations in Bogotá between 2017 and 2018. Building on insights from the ‘acts of citizenship’ literature, it argues that the political work of these organisations must be understood as a form of ‘humanitarian activist citizenship’, through which groups and individuals victimised by violence in Colombia mobilise humanitarian policies and discourses to redefine the relations that exist between them and the state.

Glutathione S-transferase activity facilitates rice tolerance to the barnyard grass root exudate DIMBOA

BackgroundIn paddy fields, the noxious weed barnyard grass secretes 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one (DIMBOA) to interfere with rice growth. Rice is unable to synthesize DIMBOA. Rice cultivars with high or low levels of allelopathy may respond differently to DIMBOA.ResultsIn this study, we found that low concentrations of DIMBOA (≤ 0.06 mM) promoted seedling growth in allelopathic rice PI312777, while DIMBOA (≤ 0.08 mM) had no significant influence on the nonallelopathic rice Lemont. DIMBOA treatment caused changes in the expression of a large number of glutathione S-transferase (GST) proteins, which resulting in enrichment of the glutathione metabolic pathway. This pathway facilitates plant detoxification of heterologous substances. The basal levels of GST activity in Lemont were significantly higher than those in PI312777, while GST activity in PI312777 was slightly induced by increasing DIMBOA concentrations. Overexpression of GST genes (Os09g0367700 and Os01g0949800) in these two cultivars enhanced rice resistance to DIMBOA.ConclusionsTaken together, our results indicated that different rice accessions with different levels of allelopathy have variable tolerance to DIMBOA. Lemont had higher GST activity, which helped it tolerate DIMBOA, while PI312777 had lower GST activity that was more inducible. The enhancement of GST expression facilitates rice tolerance to DIMBOA toxins from barnyard grass root exudates.

CONSTRAINTS TO THE ADOPTION OF ERGONOMIC PRINCIPLES NEEDED BY GARMENT WORKERS IN GARMENT INDUSTRY IN SOUTH-EASTERN NIGERIA

The study focused on Constraints to the Adoption of Ergonomic Principles Needed by Garment Workers in their Garment Industry in South-eastern Nigeria. Two research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population consist of 267 garment workers drawn from the 19 registered garment companies in South-eastern Nigeria. Structured and validated questionnaire on Constraint to the Adoption of Ergonomic Principles Needed by Garment Workers in their Garment Industry in South-eastern Nigeria was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and t- test. The findings showed that major factors mitigating against the adoption of ergonomic principles by garment workers include ignorance about the long-term effect of occupational injury, lack of training skill and experience on ergonomics, nonchalant attitude towards one’s health among others. Strategies for enhancing the adoption of the needed ergonomic principles include public enlightenment through radio, television, talk show, billboards etc., organizing seminar and workshops for grass root awareness on ergonomic principles among others. Based on the finding of the study, it was recommended that the identified strategies for enhancing the adoption of the needed ergonomic principles should be utilized to ensure grassroots awareness and sensitization on the obvious benefits of this proactive healthcare measures for a deep and far-reaching result.

Assessment of happiness among ASHAs, the grass root level health workers in post-COVID era in Eastern India: a cross-sectional study

Background: The happiness of healthcare professionals is said to be positively affecting the quality of health care and the services provided by them. Presently, our country and its health care has been recovering from the brunt of COVID pandemic. Amid these changing circumstances, this study intends to assess the happiness among the key grassroot level workers, ASHAs in the post-COVID era and the factors affecting their happiness, as happiness is often put forward as one of the driving forces to peoples’ choices and actions. Methods: A modified short version of Oxford happiness questionnaire was used to assess the happiness among the ASHAs selected through multistage sampling and interviewed to assess the facilitators and barriers to their happiness. Results: Of the 112 ASHAs interviewed, 61.6% were happy, while 38.4% were unhappy. The variables like having commitment to work, mental alertness and ability to find beauty in many natural things had universal agreement, while not feeling healthy, or whether they find time for everything wanted have disagreement. Almost 87.5% felt they were not especially control of their lives and 41% were not being well satisfied with everything in life. The factors facilitating happiness were professional pride, altruism, quality of life, and major barriers identified were inadequate rest, imbalance in work-life, family issues, etc. Conclusions: Positive reinforcement in terms of better workplace environment, time management skill enhancement, to strike a better work-life balance to ensure a happier version of themselves.