Inclusive Governance Research Articles

What governs attitudes toward artificial intelligence adoption and governance?

Abstract Designing effective and inclusive governance and public communication strategies for artificial intelligence (AI) requires understanding how stakeholders reason about its use and governance. We examine underlying factors and mechanisms that drive attitudes toward the use and governance of AI across six policy-relevant applications using structural equation modeling and surveys of both US adults (N = 3,524) and technology workers enrolled in an online computer science master’s degree program (N = 425). We find that the cultural values of individualism, egalitarianism, general risk aversion, and techno-skepticism are important drivers of AI attitudes. Perceived benefit drives attitudes toward AI use but not its governance. Experts hold more nuanced views than the public and are more supportive of AI use but not its regulation. Drawing on these findings, we discuss challenges and opportunities for participatory AI governance, and we recommend that trustworthy AI governance be emphasized as strongly as trustworthy AI.

Social Inclusion Challenges and the Future of Relational Wellbeing: The Case of Indonesia and South-Korea

This research focuses on enriching the dynamics and contextual explanation of relational well-being as a representation of sustainable quality of life. Previous studies rely on economic explanations and have not shown an adequate synergy model with social factors in explaining social well-being conditions. This research intends to fill and enrich this gap by examining how vertical and horizontal forms of social inclusion have impacted on the well-being in its relational forms: the capacity to trust others, the degree of interaction, and proactivity in communal participation. By comparing the differing socio-economic conditions of Indonesian and South Korean society through correlation and multiple regression analysis, we found that a sustainable and balanced form of relational well-being does not only consist in economic attributes vertically, but also social-horizontal dimension, which is manifested through social capital and cohesion facilitated by cultural, religious and gender groups in local communities. Economic (material) factors are more dominant in explaining relational well-being at the individual level, while social (non-material) factors are dominant as explanations at the community level. This research presents a novelty related to the Easterlin Paradox thesis that the improvement of well-being in the context of societal development, does not only rely on economic attributes alone, however it is complemented and balanced by social dimension such as horizontal forms of social inclusion. The policy implications of this research show that inclusive government policies at the personal, relational, and societal level, is very fundamental to create sustainable well-being.

Counting households containing same-sex couples: an inclusive approach.

Though societal acceptance of same-sex unions has grown, resulting in more inclusive government programs and policies and expanded legal protections, analysts remain uncertain about how to identify and enumerate same-sex households. Presently, the counts available of same-sex households in the United States oftentimes disagree. We show that the origins of these conflicting counts can be traced back to definitional and measurement issues in household surveys. In this study, we demonstrate how counts of same-sex households conflict, mislead, and undermine the goal of accurately representing the population of households with same-sex couples. By providing alternative approaches to counting household with same-sex couples we highlight the challenges in enumerating these households. We draw upon three federal household surveys to demonstrate the inconsistencies in the counts of same-sex households and to illustrate our methods. We argue that our proposed methods lead to more comprehensive and credible counts of households containing same-sex couples.

Pandemic origins and a One Health approach to preparedness and prevention: Solutions based on SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA viruses

COVID-19 is the latest zoonotic RNA virus epidemic of concern. Learning how it began and spread will help to determine how to reduce the risk of future events. We review major RNA virus outbreaks since 1967 to identify common features and opportunities to prevent emergence, including ancestral viral origins in birds, bats, and other mammals; animal reservoirs and intermediate hosts; and pathways for zoonotic spillover and community spread, leading to local, regional, or international outbreaks. The increasing scientific evidence concerning the origins of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is most consistent with a zoonotic origin and a spillover pathway from wildlife to people via wildlife farming and the wildlife trade. We apply what we know about these outbreaks to identify relevant, feasible, and implementable interventions. We identify three primary targets for pandemic prevention and preparedness: first, smart surveillance coupled with epidemiological risk assessment across wildlife–livestock–human (One Health) spillover interfaces; second, research to enhance pandemic preparedness and expedite development of vaccines and therapeutics; and third, strategies to reduce underlying drivers of spillover risk and spread and reduce the influence of misinformation. For all three, continued efforts to improve and integrate biosafety and biosecurity with the implementation of a One Health approach are essential. We discuss new models to address the challenges of creating an inclusive and effective governance structure, with the necessary stable funding for cross-disciplinary collaborative research. Finally, we offer recommendations for feasible actions to close the knowledge gaps across the One Health continuum and improve preparedness and response in the future.

A Research Agenda for Transformative Urban Climate Action

This commentary from the Journal Editorial Board sets out the research agenda for the journal and invites contributions. We want to elicit and synthesize research- and practice-based knowledge toward the goal of resilient, equitable cities in a world with less than 1.5°C of warming, focusing on the transformational change needed to achieve this goal. Within this focus, we set out two primary areas that are pivotal to demonstrate the economic and political strategies necessary to stop climate breakdown: ecologically and socially viable and just economic systems; and purposeful, progressive, and inclusive government and governance. We set out key principles of transformational change and invite a plurality of conceptualizations, particularly emphasizing the need and potential of drawing on emerging thinking at regional, national, and international levels and applying it to city-scale. We outline the need for action-oriented, policy-relevant research in collaboration with city actors, tackling priority challenges in real-time, as well as an openness to new knowledge, perspectives, and contributors. We aim to catalyze and realize the opportunity to combine collective city action with academic (re-)thinking and research activism, in order to empower mayors with the evidence and narrative to create sustainable, thriving cities.

Water policy reform in the Nigeria water governance system: assessment of water resources management based on OECD Principles on Water Governance

Abstract Conflicts of interest due to cultural, political, and social oversights have threatened effective and efficient corporate water governance in Nigeria. This has affected the inclusive participation of stakeholders, policy makers and the relevant agencies of the water resources management, thus hampering good water governance. Assessing the water governance impacts based on frameworks proposed for effective, efficient and inclusive governance was aimed. Information contributing to the governance input was highlighted by analyzing hydrological units that characterized Nigerian watersheds. Toxicological index (Ti) values were presented as a practical guideline to assessing water policy outcomes. The (Ti) ≥ 1.0 dominated; signifying the water resources exposed to toxic environments. High pollutant loads associated with public health deterioration across Nigeria are considered as impacts indicating lagged water governance. While the lagged governance output manifested in some diseases relating to deficient access to potable water supply/poor sanitation services like Blue Baby syndrome, Renal/liver/lung diseases and blood cancer, the outcome showed an absence of health and social wellbeing. These indicators demonstrate the need for incorporating Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles on Water Governance in the Nigerian water governance system. Notably, flexibility across all governance levels can enable shared responsibility to balance economic activities and the ecological wellbeing.

Advocating for Equitable Healthcare for the Undocumented Immigrant.

Despite the healthcare community's increased efforts to reduce health disparities in the United States, undocumented immigrants (UIs) remain one of the highest at-risk populations. Health and public policies, societal and healthcare worker bias, and fear of deportation are among barriers to healthcare access, resulting in increasingly poor health and health outcomes. Christian nurses, guided by biblical principles and the American Nurses Association's Code of Ethics for Nurses, can advocate for UIs' healthcare needs by supporting and promoting more inclusive institutional and government policies.

The Continuing Quest for Inclusive Democratic Governance in Ethiopia

As early as the 18th Century, James Bruce, a European Traveller, observed that bad government was the most important source of the problems that plagued the Ethiopian society. Centuries on, political and ethnic mistrust and polarization, insecurity, human rights abuses and armed conflict characterize the Ethiopian body politic. The rule of law and democracy are far from taking roots. This article ­­–pointing out the most outstanding governance deficits of the Emperor Haile Selassie, Derg and EPRDF-cum-PP’s (Prosperity Party) governments– argues that the lack of inclusive democratic governance remains at the core of Ethiopia’s socio-political crises. It will offer suggestions on democratic governance options that, if adopted, can help deal with Ethiopia’s long-time political ills.

Inclusive Governance at Local Level: A Case Study of Local Policymaking Process in Kirtipur Municipality

Inclusive policies lead local governments to function in public service effectively. This study explored the process and inclusive practices during the formulation of policies at a local level. Taking the case of Kirtipur Municipality, one of the local governments in Kathmandu valley, the primary tools, and techniques for data collection were the Key Informant Interview (KII) with municipal executive members, Focused Group Discussions (FGD) with women network members, and Dalit network members, and reviews of policies formulated by the municipality. The finding has shown that inclusive policymaking is imperative in local government, which demonstrate uncovers a system of governance and creates inopportunity to deliver public services inclusively to people in general and priority groups. It concludes that a specific group of people developed local policies with legitimate authority but without comprehensive consultations and engagement with women and disadvantaged people. The participation and representation of women and Dalits in the policy-making process have been ignored and as a result, local policies failed to grasp the inclusive perspective due to the dominance of the patriarchal mindset among policymakers and weak policy-influencing capacities of women, Dalits, and disadvantaged communities. The failure further resulted in continued subordination of women, Dalit, and disadvantaged people, reinforcing existing patterns of exclusion and disengagement.

SHAREHOLDERS’ INTERESTS VERSUS SOCIAL DEMANDS: INCONGRUOUS AGENDAS

In this note the chasm between shareholder and stakeholder interests in the running of the corporation in an emerging economy in general, and the third world country in particular, is considered. A study of two corporate governance models is undertaken with the intention to demonstrate that inclusive corporate governance which does not relegate stakeholder interests to the periphery is more efficient under the Two-Tier Board than the Anglo-Saxon model which is followed in South Africa. The reality of an entrenched corporate governance model which is supported in the South African Companies Act 61 of 1973 (the Anglo-Saxon model) is appreciated; hence it is argued that it is unlikely that South Africa might, in future, change to the Two-Tier board. The answer to the international revolution of realising societal expectations lies either in the King Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa (2002) (hereinafter King II) or modified corporate mindset, or both. It is also argued that the proposals in the Policy document of theDepartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) (South Africa Company Law for the 21st Century: Guidelines for Corporate Law Reform, May 2004, GN 1183 GG 26493 23-06-2004 May 2004, also available at http://www.dti.gov.za/ccrdlawreview/companylaw.htm) for optional representation of stakeholders on boards and the proposed inclusion of the statement recognising stakeholder interests in the Companies Act constitute a good start to changing the corporate mindset towards being stakeholder-sensitive. It is argued that the focus of King II on the triple-bottom line approach is negated by its ambivalence on enforcement and the status of stakeholdersin the South African corporation. The article then concludes that in a country which emerged from a history of entrenched overt racism, a significant recognition of stakeholder interests is critical to the socio-economic need for transformation to create a stable civil society. Globalisation has given rise to remarkable increase in the power of the global corporation. Events in the corporate sector can have negative repercussions not only for the shareholders of that particular corporation but also for society at large, either in that particular country or internationally. The emergence of powerful multinational corporations has led to a demise of state authority. The spate of corporate failures, however, has precipitated a move towards strengthening corporate governance rules to ensure thatcompanies are well governed. Indeed it has been opined that companies contribute enormously to the economic and social wellbeing of our societies (Worthington “Corporate Governance: Remedying and Ratifying Directors Breaches” October 2000 (116) LQR 638).

Modeling energy governance index for the adequacy of policy, legal, and institutional response measures for climate compatible development

Climate compatible and sustainable expansion of energy resources is a major global challenge. Developing countries, with inadequate resources and incoherent policies, and legal and institutional frameworks must strive hard to achieve targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while keeping track of Nationally Determined Contributions for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions abatement. Inclusive governance is quite complex due to the interplay of informal and formal systems, rules-based to rights-based approaches, and arrangements in national to local scenarios vis-à-vis methodological limitations. In this context, this study aims at developing a governance index for assessing climate compatible development (CCD) by taking case of the energy sector in Pakistan. The study adopted a two-step approach to develop and validate a methodological framework for assessing the adequacy of governance. In the first step, a multivariate analysis model was developed using principle (CP-1), criteria (09), and 43 indicators (PCIs) through stakeholder involvement. In the second step, the model was deployed by combining the Multi Criteria Decision Analysis method with statistical analysis of the dataset. Data were collected from federal and provincial capitals as well as ten districts through a structured scoring matrix consisting of all 43 indicators. The sample population was based on key informant interviews (340), and experts (17) who were engaged through focus group discussion at federal, provincial, and district levels. Respondents were asked to score against each indicator on a ratio scale, which was then aggregated to develop a governance index score. The findings reveal the dearth of a preemptive and comprehensive governance to address climate compatible development in the energy sector in all tiers of constituencies in Pakistan. There is a need for coherent and inclusive policy, and a legal and institutional framework. This study’s outcome authenticates the findings of United Nations SDGs Report 2020 that efforts to achieve sustainable energy targets are not up to scale and stresses the need to speed up the efforts and development of the associated governance framework for renewable energy to achieve climate compatible and SDGs.

Pragmatic implementation and promotion of good governance principles in realizing Sustainable Development Goal Six (6) in South Africa

This article intends to uncover the ongoing challenges that South African municipalities are confronted with in realizing SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and also explore common good governance principles for sustainable development. To realize SDG 6, good governance principles should be promoted and pragmatically implemented. This is a conceptual article which assesses secondary data covering SDG 6 challenges and good governance principles. Existing literature was systematically reviewed from Google Scholar, online newsletters, and other databases from May–July 2022. Secondary data was analyzed using a Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) approach. The theoretical findings of this article show that there is growing concern about attaining SDG 6 due to the bad or weak governance practices in SA. In SA, progress on good governance has been encouraging, but challenges remain. Thus, this article recommends good and inclusive governance because, without it, SA will not achieve its socio-economic goals, like SDG 6. If SA is to achieve its development goals, it must establish mechanisms that promote constitutionalism, accountability, democracy, and good governance. Weak governance, which is characterized by corruption, bribery, mismanagement, and lack of public involvement, transparency, and accountability, should be addressed. SA should have sound governance that is responsive to community needs and fights toward the achievement of the localized SDGs.

Least Protected, Most Affected: Looking through Lens of Cross-border Migration in COVID Period

The major thrust of the present article is to explore the gruesome sufferings of migrants with respect to detention and deportation, social stigma, income and livelihoods, lack of health services and digital divide by establishing the fact that an inclusive global migration governance supported with a prudent and forward-looking migration policy and a human rights dimension is the way forward to address the consequences of COVID-19. An inclusive approach to migrant health leaving no one behind during the COVID-19 pandemic deserves cynosure of attention to direct our public health efforts since there can be no public health without migrant health.

Can I Get There? Can I Play? Can I Stay? Creating an Inclusive Playspace Guide in Australia.

Playspaces bring children and adults together for fun and social interaction but are rarely designed for the inclusion of all community members. In Australia, local government authorities (councils) are responsible for parks and playspaces. The New South Wales state government launched their inclusive playspaces policy in 2017. A guideline document was proposed but a guideline does not guarantee implementation. Consequently, an inclusive design process for developing the guide became the strategy. The task was to develop a guide that explained the concepts of inclusion and universal design within the playspace context. The project took an iterative and collaborative approach to the design of the guide. Intended users were those involved in creating playspaces, not playspace users per se. The participatory governance structure involved three levels of collaboration: a small steering group of experts, a larger group with key stakeholders, and a wider group of stakeholders and interested persons. This collegial and participative process consisted of a series of meetings and workshops which fostered learning and ideation for all participants. Through this process three underpinning concepts emerged: Can I get there? Can I play? Can I stay? The process educated and informed stakeholders, encouraged participants to contribute to the outcomes and provided community-led guidance for those contracted to design the guideline. The result was an inclusive playspace guide that recognized the design guidance required by council personnel in the context of universal design. The process and governance structure provides a good working model to build on. The success of the guideline was recognized with a national award from the Institute of Landscape Architects for Community Contribution. The purpose of this paper is not to comment on or evaluate the outcome of the guidelines. Rather, it is to document the inclusive and participatory governance structure and iterative process from a professional participant perspective.

Justice and Inclusive Governance in Nigeria: Rethinking the Niger Delta Problem

The Niger Delta issue besides attracting impressive attention continues to linger due to failure to find plausible explanation for issues of the region. The discourse woven around this issue leaves two clear lines of argument. One sees the region responsible for her development woes, the other hold the alleged flawed Nigerian federal system, responsible for the challenges of the region. This paper relied on triangulation of data to argue that the issue of the Niger Delta lingers because of injustice in the Nigerian governance. The paper concludes that inclusive governance capable of giving the troubled oil-bearing region needed sense of belonging, would be able to bring peace to the region. The paper found inverted justice system in resource politics in Nigeria responsible for the continued agitation of the Niger Delta region. It concludes that true federalism be adopted in Nigeria to birth healthy competition for development. Keywords: Nigeria, Niger Delta, Oil Politics, Inclusion, Justice, Development. DOI: 10.7176/DCS/12-7-03 Publication date: September 30 th 2022

Inclusive Governance Dalam Penanganan Anak Yang Kehilangan Orang Tua Akibat COVID-19 di Kota Pekanbaru

Cases of death due to COVID-19 have also increased the number of children who have become orphans. Thus, these children are now in need of social welfare service (PPKS). Children who have lost their parents due to COVID-19 in Pekanbaru City are the highest compared to all regencies/cities in Riau Province, these children belong to a vulnerable group so that inclusiveness (partiality) is needed for them. This study aims to look at inclusive governance in handling children who have lost their parents due to COVID-19 in Pekanbaru city. This study uses qualitative research methods with descriptive nature. Data collection techniques were carried out by observation, interviews and documentation. The results showed that the handling of children who lost their parents due to COVID-19 in Pekanbaru City had fulfilled three elements of inclusive governance, namely transparency, participation, and equal treatment. However, in the implementation of the three elements of inclusive governance, there are still obstacles, namely changing policies and disproportionate assistance.

Exploring the institutional dilemma and governance transformation in China's urban regeneration: Based on the case of Shanghai Old Town

Urban regeneration in the historic core of Chinese cities largely follows one of two possibilities – ‘demolition-reconstruction,’ by tearing down old houses to make room for new development, and ‘frozen protection,’ designating no-growth areas around certain historical sites and neighborhoods. While these approaches have the potential to preserve recognized cultural values, they can lead to fragmented and uneven built environments as well as limited historic preservation and infrastructure development achievements. In this paper, we discuss the institutional constraints faced by the transformation of regeneration approaches using the cases of Shanghai's historic Old Town area and propose a theoretical framework for analyzing the ‘structure-discourse-tools' interactions in the urban regeneration dilemma from the lens of sociological institutionalism. Our analysis reveals that discourse plays the role of problem framing through the operation of the power structure, while institutional tools are responsible for materializing the discourse. We argue that innovative approaches in urban regeneration should step outside of the conventional ‘control’ and ‘design’ tools but seek a more inclusive governance structure that prioritizes and materializes new discourse. Our study provides a transferable theoretical framework for better understanding complexity and institutional dilemma in global urban regeneration cases and guiding creative transformation in historical area's regeneration projects.

Recognition of the Taliban Government in Afghanistan

The Taliban takeover of Kabul is a significant regional development having domestic, regional and global implications. Regarding the recognition of the new Taliban government; recently announced, the important states of the international community are responding with caution based on their strategic calculations, political values and long-term foreign policy goals in the regions adjoining Afghanistan. The states having stakes in Afghanistan are mainly divided in two groups: The US led group and the China-Russia led group of states. The US led group has advocated that the conduct of the Taliban on fundamental human rights, their commitment of forming an inclusive government and their detachment from international terrorist networks will be taken in consideration for deciding on the question of recognition and determining the nature of engagement with Afghanistan. The China-Russia group, is more in favor of regional stability and interested in filling the strategic vacuum left in Afghanistan by the US and its allies. The regional states are realigning themselves, with either of the major group, to respond to the unfolding situation in Afghanistan. Based on the conceptual framework of recognition of new governments in International Law and International Relations, this paper attempts to analyze the responses and concerns of the diverse international community vis-à-vis the newly formed Taliban government in Afghanistan.

Input Legitimacy of Voluntary Sustainability Standards and Acceptance Among Southern Producers: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Abstract Voluntary standards are key instruments to address sustainability concerns in value chains. The legitimacy of these initiatives has been debated, particularly related to acceptance by Global South stakeholders. The governance literature has predominantly argued that initiatives employing democratic approaches to governance are more likely to increase their legitimacy. In this article, we use a configurational approach to test this proposition in relation to standard acceptance by southern producers. A qualitative comparative analysis of eight cases was carried out, linking three elements of input legitimacy (inclusion, participation, and accountability) to the outcome of standard uptake in the Global South. While our findings suggest that an inclusive governance structure is important, overall, they show no evidence to explain the presence or absence of standard acceptance in the Global South. We conclude that theoretical assumptions about democratic legitimacy cannot be confirmed and argue for further opening up the scholarly debate to include conceptualizations, methods, and approaches inclusive of different ways of creating and perceiving legitimacy.

West Pokot Community Engagement Study on Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis

Climate vulnerability and change can have significant impacts on regional, national, and local development efforts. In order to reduce these impacts and promote climate-resilient development, decision and development practitioners need to understand the climate vulnerabilities of the people, sectors, and community they are working with. Climate vulnerability can be determined by three interacting factors, namely; climate risks and changes, existing resilience capacities and barriers to resilience. Through these aspects, stakeholders can identify what, where, when and why social, economic and environmental systems pose a risk to climate change. The objective of this assessment was to strengthen the capacity of Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction Committees and communities from Pokot Central and Pokot North sub counties, West Pokot County by engaging the communities on Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis- CVCA training to achieve the links between development and climate related hazards and disaster. Climate vulnerability and Capacity Analysis Approach focuses on options for increasing climatic resilience and adaptations, the involved community structures and stakeholders on Disaster Risk Reduction were able to conduct focus group discussions in Pokot Central and North Pokot Sub counties in context lens towards gender equality, sustainable ecosystem and inclusive governance. The assessment focused on climatic risks and changes, resilience and adaptations pathways and actions from the community. While many of the issues faced involved basic development challenges, climate variability is already having impacts on water, food security, livestock and livelihood of the affected communities. Participatory training methods were used to keep the participants actively involved during the training sessions.Specifically, learner-cantered approaches weredeployed; talks, group work, simulations, slide presentations, plenary discussions, and case studies on Pokot Central and Pokot North. Subject Areas: Climate change impacts, Natural hazards, public policy, Project management, Humanitarian data science