Interests Of Actors Research Articles

A POLYCENTRIC APPROACH TO THE GREEN ENERGY TRANSITION IN BULGARIA

Ostrom’s polycentric model for the governance of social systems has been gaining popularity as an alternative approach to the low-carbon energy transition in recent years. This article considers its potential application to three issues in Bulgaria’s green energy transition: finding substitutes for coal-based electricity production in the Maritsa-East lignite complex, providing new employment opportunities for workers affected by the transition, and understanding the broader social impacts of moving away from the traditional hierarchic model in the energy sector. It is important to note that while polycentric organizing is intended to support low-carbon solutions, it could also serve the interests of coal energy actors, who may prioritize short-term gains over the long-term public interest. Overcoming inertia is a major challenge for adopting the polycentric principle as part of Bulgaria’s industrial policy, particularly in implementing decentralized low-carbon energy solutions.

MANDALA DA SUSTENTABILIDADE NO TURISMO

Contemporary times have been marked by the trivial and excessive use of the adjective “sustainable”, tourism has not been left out of this trend. The lauded “sustainable destination” title has become a central premise among territorial management groups. However, developing public policies to meet this status has evidenced reductionist and sometimes misguided treatments that fail to incorporate the true complexity of sustainability into tourism. The results are disconnected, one-off, ineffective actions based on guesswork or the interests of particular actors in the territory. This essay presents a simplified and didactic proposal for a territorial planning instrument (Sustainability Mandala in Tourism – TSM) to contribute to the attempt to seek sustainability in tourism development. The TSM comprises 21 indicators, defined from the analysis of international instruments and national strategies in force in tourism planning. The instrument covers the seven dimensions of sustainability (environmental, territorial, political, cultural, social, economic, and technological), and it has been developed to guide local and regional tourism management groups pragmatically. Keywords: Sustainability Indicators; Tourism; Public Policy; Mandala of Sustainability in Tourism; Local Development.

How to meet coping strategies and preferences of children during invasive medical procedures: perspectives of healthcare professionals.

To provide personalized care, professionals experience balancing between the needs and interests of diverse actors during medical procedures. The findings underscore the importance of a policy supporting HCPs in integrating patient-centered care into practice through practical tools and training initiatives such as scenario training. • Unresolved pain and stress arising from medical procedures can have significant short- and long-term impacts on children. Empowering children to gain control and fostering a sense of trust are crucial factors in reducing fear associated with medical procedures. • Children and parents expect to receive child-tailored care from professionals including respect for their own, unique needs, and boundaries. Professionals should build trustful relationships and provide appropriately tailored autonomy around medical procedures. • Healthcare professionals vary in their awareness of children's needs during a medical procedure. Beside this, the organizational dynamics of the hospital, along with the presence of actors such as the child, parent, colleague, and oneself, collectively influence the conduct of medical procedures. • Providing person-centered care during medical procedures can present challenges. The results highlight the significance of a policy to assist healthcare professionals in incorporating patient-centered care into their practice through practical tools and a culture of self-reflections regarding patient-centered values.

Managing Shared Maritime Heritage: Australian Warships in Timor-Leste

AbstractThis article examines the effective management and governance of World War II shipwrecks with a particular focus on two Australian wartime wrecks in Timor-Leste, HMAS Voyager and HMAS Armidale. With reference to international frameworks such as the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, as well as Timor-Leste’s evolving domestic regulations, this article explores the challenges in managing these shipwrecks and seeks to broaden the protection and preservation paradigm that defines approaches to other forms of underwater cultural heritage. Particular attention is given to balancing the interests of states, local communities and international actors, while addressing the legal, moral and environmental complexities and sensitivities associated with WWII wrecks. The article aims to contribute to the broader discourse on maritime heritage governance by providing insights into the complex and multiple challenges of managing WWII wrecks, within the context of a nation that only achieved lasting independence relatively recently.

Labor coercion, fiscal modernization, and state capacity: Evidence from colonial Indonesia

What explains the emergence of centralized fiscal institutions and information-intensive monetary taxation? This is the first study to estimate the effect of state capacity expansion on labor coercion as taxation, a practice known as corvée labor. To do so, I construct a new database covering eighteen Indonesian residencies over thirty-two years (1874–1905) during the period of Dutch colonial rule. I document the wide use of corvée labor and find that national-level policy centralized state finances by gradually replacing corvée with a head tax. At the same time, a residency-level panel data analysis shows that local state capacity expansion, primarily indigenous officials working as agents for the state, slowed the movement away from corvée. These estimates are supported by an IV strategy that uses effective distance to the capital as an instrument for local state capacity. The relationship between state capacity expansion and fiscal modernization therefore depends on what part of the state is expanding and whether interests across types of taxation differ within the state bureaucracy. Opposing interests of different state actors can be key in understanding fiscal modernization and public labor coercion.

Japanese Perception of Brain Death and Implications for New Medical Technologies: Quantitative and Qualitative Social Media Analysis.

Brain death has been used to decide whether to keep sustained care and treatment. It can facilitate tissue, organ, and body donation for several purposes, such as transplantation and medical education and research. In Japan, brain death has strict diagnostic criteria and family consent is crucial, but it has been a challenging concept for the public since its introduction, including knowledge and communication issues. We analyzed data across YouTube and Twitter in Japan to uncover actors and assess the quality of brain death communication, providing recommendations to communicate new medical technologies. Using the keyword "" (brain death), we collected recent data from YouTube and Twitter, classifying the data into 5 dimensions: time, individuality (type of users), place, activity, and relations (hyperlinks). We employed a scale to evaluate brain death information quality. We divided YouTube videos into 3 groups and assessed their differences through statistical analysis. We also provided a text-based analysis of brain death-related narratives. Most videos (20/61, 33%) were uploaded in 2019, while 10,892 tweets peaked between July 3 and 9, 2023, and June 12 and 18, 2023. Videos about brain death were mostly uploaded by citizens (18/61, 27%), followed by media (13/61, 20%) and unknown actors (10/61, 15%). On the other hand, most identified users in a random sample of 100 tweets were citizens (73/100, 73%), and the top 10 retweeted and liked tweets were also mostly authored by citizens (75/100, 75%). No specific information on location was uncovered. Information videos contained guides for accreditation of the National Nursing Exam and religious points of view, while misinformation videos mostly contained promotions by spirituality actors and webtoon artists. Some tweets involved heart transplantation and patient narratives. Most hyperlinks pointed to YouTube and Twitter. Brain death has become a common topic in everyday life, with some actors disseminating high-quality information, others disseminating no medical information, and others disseminating misinformation. Recommendations include partnering with interested actors, discussing medical information in detail, and teaching people to recognize pseudoscience.

Security Challenges and Business Opportunities in the IoT Ecosystem

In the growing IoT environment, security seems to be a dominant topic, because of the broad extent of IoT devices functionalities is expressed in the different sectors. This article scrutinizes the elaborate IoT infrastructure, exposing the common flaws and traceable security incidents, which serve as a background in the appreciation of the need of having reliable security frameworks. At the same time, the research paper pinpoints the vast business prospects that will spawn from the issues, highlighting the fact that these can be tapped through the creation and provision of cutting-edge security systems and consultancy services. The study makes a prediction of the future of IoT based on its current rating and empirical evidence by reviewing literature to assess emerging technologies and market trends, which give way for future innovations in IoT security. In general, this paper proposes that interested actors who are proactive and afraid of the emerging security threats have an opportunity to tap into the growth and innovation in building strong IoT systems. Consequently, the insights offered in this paper are appropriate for both the industry stakeholders and the researchers.

Using MCA methodology in the mining industry to aid in achieving sustainable management: Case study in the Peruvian mining industry

Quantifying the positive and negative impacts on mining activity is precisely knowing how this activity has been operating. Indeed, in this work its central objective is to quantify the impacts evaluated from a holistic perspective. The positive and negative impacts generated by mining activity in part of the northern region of Peru have been collected, analyzed and evaluated. For the evaluation of externalities, the multiple criteria evaluation (MCA) methodology has been used as a basis, which has been improved by including adjustment factors or weights, both for the components and for the evaluation variables. The calculations of the adjustment factors have been carried out for both the assigned weights and the calculated weights. The impacts obtained through assumed adjustment factors represent 41.50% for positive impacts and 58.50% for negative impacts, while the impacts obtained through the calculated weights were 44.96% for the positive ones and 55.04% for the negative ones. Consequently, multi-criteria assessment of the impacts generated by mining activity using an enhanced multi-criteria assessment with calculated weights is more recommended. It concludes with suggestions for the Peruvian government, mining entrepreneurs and other interested actors to improve the credibility of mining and thus achieve a social license to operate.

Hidden conflicts? Revealing power mechanisms in collaborative governance for redeveloping heritage districts: The case of Dashilar, Beijing, China

ABSTRACT The redevelopment of Chinese heritage districts increasingly adopts collaborative approaches, raising concerns about power dynamics in these processes and their potential impact on resolving conflicts of interest through collaboration. This study establishes a multi-dimensional framework, examining arenas and sources of power to uncover power mechanisms and their impact on collaborative governance in the redevelopment of Dashilar, Beijing, China. Through ethnographic research, we found that institutionalized collaborative decision-making empowers participants to have the final say on relocation and renovation decisions. However, biased mobilization and discursive practices, with different sources of power utilized, affect collaborative processes and outcomes. Over time, collaborative decision-making results in elite control of Dashilar’s historic fabric and its subsequent gentrification. The government consolidates its power by controlling economic resources and influencing land use decisions. Crucial conflicts remain obscured, weakening the interests of residents and market actors. To understand power in collaborative governance, analysis must encompass both sources and arenas of power, transcending observable interactions within formal institutions to include informal practices.

«3+3» COOPERATION PLATFORM AND PROSPECTS FOR UNBLOCKING TRANSPORT COMMUNICATIONS IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

The article discusses the problems and prospects for the functioning of the «3+3» advisory platform, aimed at unblocking transport communications in the South Caucasus. The authors identify possibilities and obstacles to synchronizing the transport and logistics interests of regional and extra-regional actors. The goals and objectives of the «3+3» initiative are studied in the context of the implementation of the trilateral agreement of November 10, 2020 on the cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. The article identifies problems that impede the full functioning of the «3+3» platform (geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the West, contradictions between Iran and Azerbaijan and Georgia’s self-exclusion from this platform). The authors also study implementation of the «Crossroads of Peace» project which helps assess the potential of Armenia as a country aspiring to create a regional transport hub at the intersection of the international corridors «East-West» and «North-South». It is established that, despite the apparent closeness to the goals of the «3+3» platform, the «Crossroads of Peace» project has a different geopolitical agenda.

A social problem or a sacred promise? Explaining the mechanisms driving fee-free educational policy change in Ghana

ABSTRACT Explaining policy change has been one of the major concerns of educational policy studies. Guided by the multiple streams framework (MSF), this article aims to explain the specific dynamics of cost-elimination policies at the high school level in Ghana. Through the thematic analysis of interviews, documents, and other resources, we argue that an exceptional confluence of problems, policies, and politics has shaped the Ghanaian educational policy process and generated policy change. Our findings demonstrate the pivotal role of partisan electoral politics, helping explain why political parties, governments, and policymakers shifted towards the adoption of fee-free educational policies. Although the problem stream contributed to the opening of the policy window during agenda-setting and the problem and the policy streams played a non-negligible role in policy adoption, the political stream dominated both stages. Accordingly, the study argues that the electoral interests of political actors were the main driver of the adoption of fee-free educational policies in Ghana.

Risking carbon capital: Reporting infrastructures and the making of financial climate risks

This paper elucidates the infrastructural work of rendering ‘climate risks’ intelligible and actionable for financial investors. It analyses hybrid public-private initiatives to ‘risk’ carbon capital which accompany strategies to ‘de-risk’ green investments in the effort to make financial flows climate compatible. Empirically, the paper focusses on recent attempts to establish a ‘global baseline’ for climate reporting. I analyse these efforts as the building of a reporting infrastructure: a socio-technical network that brings together metrics, calculative devices and reporting conventions, and articulates actors like companies, investors, regulators and auditors according to its protocols. The infrastructure provides a conduit of power that can serve the interests of different actors and exercises ontological power by making up ‘climate risk’ in an economically digestible yet partial way. I will thus criticize that the focus on financial climate risks backgrounds the material risks of global heating.

Policy of Western States in Central Asia: The Role of Rare-Earth Metals

After the collapse of the USSR, the policy of the Western states towards Central Asia was focused on the issues linked to the expansion of trade and economic relations, gaining access to hydrocarbon resources of the regional countries and organizing their reliable export to foreign markets. In recent years, due to changes in technological development, the Western countries have increased their interest in rare-earth metals. Competition aimed at getting control over explored and prospective deposits is unfolding in different regions of the world. One of the promising areas with significant reserves of rare-earth metals is Central Asia. For this reason, in the last few years the USA, the EU, Great Britain and other countries have become increasingly interested in the region. The West is pursuing an active policy course towards Central Asian states. Such an approach is aimed not so much at developing the countries of the area as at expanding the presence of the West and reorienting the foreign policy course of the regional states towards the interests of non-regional actors. The ultimate goal of the Western states is to gain control over the deposits of rare-earth metals, which are located in Central Asia. The article covers the main directions of the policy the Western states apply in the region and underscores the mechanisms they use to promote their interests in gaining access to promising deposits of rare-earth metals. At the same time, the countries of the region generally welcome the Western policy, believing that it will attract additional investments into their economies. In turn, some influential and rich Western states along with companies they support exert pressure on Central Asian countries, seeking the most favorable conditions for themselves in the development of deposits and control over the resulting resources. The article concludes that Russia and China are competing with the Western states in Central Asia for getting access and gaining control over the deposits of rare-earth metals.

Disconnect: The International Criminal Court’s Engagement in the Situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar

Abstract The International Criminal Court (icc) Registry’s reports on information and outreach activities concerning Bangladesh and Myanmar speak of two worlds. One, of a public affairs-focused managerial institution, and another of diverse priorities, insecurity, and complicated interactions among communities, organisations and states. To meet their aims and purposes, international criminal mechanisms must engage with other actors. Researchers have identified ‘lessons’ for conducting effective communications, including outreach, for information dissemination, building support, and conducting legitimate and safe trials. This article analyses documents and draws on limited interviews to explore how, despite these insights being represented in icc strategies, disconnection between the icc and interested actors in the pre-trial Bangladesh/Myanmar situation persists. It argues that the icc’s continued failure to integrate experiences or its own strategies for two-way communication undermines its ability to fulfil its purposes.

Balancing Act: The Dual Role of Military Alliances in Contemporary International Relations

This paper critically examines the dual role of military alliances in contemporary international relations, particularly focusing on their impact on global stability and regional cooperation. By analyzing historical and modern examples, including NATO and the interactions among the United States, China, and Russia, the study elucidates how military alliances have transitioned from Cold War security mechanisms to multifaceted entities confronting today's geopolitical complexities. It delves into the security dilemmas alliances face, their strategic contractions, and the unique challenges posed by China's ascendancy and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The paper underscores that while these alliances are pivotal in upholding global order, they also generate substantial obstacles to regional cooperation, especially in East Asia. This dichotomy is evident in the alliances' evolution, which reflects a shift from primarily defensive postures to roles that encompass economic and diplomatic dimensions, influencing regional dynamics and power balances. This paper demonstrates the various differences and contradictions between today's military alliances and regional cooperation, including contradictions in mechanisms, differences in concepts, overlaps in functions, and conflicts of practical interests. The findings advocate for a reassessment of military alliances, suggesting that future frameworks should foster trust and inclusivity, accommodating the diverse interests of regional actors to enhance cooperative security and stability.

Smart cities, virtual futures? – Interests of urban actors in mediating digital technology and urban space in Tallinn, Estonia

Urban spaces are reconfigured as digital technologies are increasingly embedded into cities. While existing research has considered the role of urban actors in implementing digital technologies as part of the smart urbanism framework, it has insufficiently considered the role that urban space plays for individual stakeholders and the implications this has for how they contribute to digital cities. This article therefore explores the converging interests of urban actors in mediating digital technology adoption in urban space. It draws on literature on the spatial impact of digital technologies, digital urban growth, and urban governance theory to frame the agency of urban actors to mobilise resources and collaboration to protect their interests. The paper provides insight into how interests in digital technology adoption and in the use of urban space intersect in a middle-sized European city – Tallinn, Estonia – and how these interests converge between local key stakeholders in local governance. Based on a thematic analysis of interviews, it is argued that the potential of digital technologies to dislocate functionalities from physical urban space should be understood against the backdrop of local actors’ interests. It is therefore suggested that smart urbanism should be understood as a framework through which actors of the city attempt to seize the benefits of digital technologies without compromising their interests in urban space.

The digital euro: a materialization of (in)security

The European Central Bank (ECB) has entered the preparation phase for the potential issuance of a digital euro. The digital euro under consideration represents a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC), a digital representation of central bank money that is intended for use by the general public. This article foregrounds the digital euro as an infrastructure that furthers European security ambitions. It argues that the development of the digital euro is a materialization of European (in)security rationales that aim to secure pan-European financial transactions amid growing geopolitical tensions. It focuses on the development of the technology and analyses how central bankers’ scenarios of the future manifest in the anticipated design and prototypes. While the provision of a financial infrastructure is the most decisive security-related implication of the digital euro, the introduction of a new form of public money is the decisive financial feature with potentially wide-ranging implications for banks. Although the ECB seeks to balance the interests of banks and other financial actors in the development of the digital euro, its plans are still met with criticism. Finally, the article argues that the ECB exerts itself more explicitly than before as a geopolitical actor in its own regard.

Mahalia Jacksonin musiikin ja hänen gospellaulutyylinsä saapuminen Suomeen 1950–1960 luvuilla

Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972), “The World’s Greatest Gospel Singer”, broke path for the worldwide popularity of African American gospel music. Her European concert tours never reached Finland, but since the 1950s, Finnish audiences have been able to listen to her music via recordings, radio, film and other media. This article explores the ways in which Jackson’s music came to Finland in the 1950s and 1960s. Furthermore, the article shows how the early marketing of her records and music critics’ excited reception of her gospel vocal expression sought to shape local audiences’ listening experiences and appreciation for the artistic merit of her music. This article is based on a study of various sources including advertisements, music reviews, correspondence and other archival materials, recordings, Jackson’s performance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival and the film Jazz on a Summer’s Day (1959). This article shows that when Mahalia Jackson’s music came to Finland, her gospel vocal expression was recognized for its powerful spirituality and emotional impact on listeners. Yet the ways in which her music was presented to Finnish audiences was often mystifying, decontextualized and guided by the interests of music industry actors. This limited the ability of local listeners to understand the cultural and historical meanings of her gospel vocal expression. At the same time, however, the enthusiasm and admiration demonstrated by music critics paved the way for the enduring influence of Mahalia Jackson’s music in Finland.

A case of transdisciplinarity and collaborative decision making: the co-construction of Gendered Food Product Profiles.

Crop breeding in sub-Saharan Africa has made considerable gains; however, postharvest and food-related preferences have been overlooked, in addition to how these preferences vary by gender, social difference and context. This context is changing as participatory approaches using intersectional gender and place-based methods are beginning to inform how breeding programmes make decisions. This article presents an innovative methodology to inclusively and democratically prioritise food quality traits of root, tuber and banana crops based on engagement with food systems actors and transdisciplinary collaboration. The outcome of the methodology is the Gendered Food Product Profile (GFPP) - a list of prioritised food quality characteristics - to support breeders to make more socially inclusive decisions on the methods for trait characterisation to select genotypes closer to the needs of food system actors. This article reviews application of the methodology in 14 GFPPs, presents illustrative case studies and lessons learned. Key lessons are that the transdisciplinary structure and the key role of social scientists helped avoid reductionism, supported co-learning, and the creation of GFPPs that represented the diverse interests of food system actors, particularly women, in situ. The method partially addressed power dynamics in multidisciplinary decision making; however, effectiveness was dependent on equitable team relations and supportive institutions committed to valuing plural forms of knowledge. Actions to address power asymmetries that privilege particular types of knowledge and voices in decision making are crucial in techno-science projects, along with opportunities for co-learning and long-term collaboration and a transdisciplinary structure at higher level. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Student Social Conflict Dramaturgy at Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar

This research aims to analyze and describe the occurrence of student conflict dramaturgy at Muhammadiyah University Makassar, to analyze and synthesize the mechanism of the student conflict dramaturgy process at Muhammadiyah University Makassar, and to design solutions for student conflict dramaturgy Unismuh Makassar. This type of research is qualitative research with a case study approach. The informants for this research were 22 informants. Data was found through field observations, in-depth interviews, and documentation. These data are developed by giving meaning to the data, interpreting, or transforming the data into narrative forms which then lead to findings that nuanced scientific propositions that ultimately reach conclusions. Based on the results of the analysis, it was found that student conflict dramaturgy was developed by the interests of alumni actors, self-actualization, regional symbols, individual differences, and even clashes of interests. The dramaturgical process of student conflict was based on the front stage, then the middle stage continues to the backstage, then normal activities (of Stage) and forms of conflict dramaturgy including, inter-individual conflict, inter-group conflict, political conflict, and the last one is the dramaturgical solution to student conflict at the Muhammadiyah University of Makassar through an emotional approach, mediation, and providing space for actor actualization.