Lingering Crisis Research Articles

PECULIARITIES OF RUSSIAN JEWELLERY BRANDS

The article presents the results of analysis of peculiarities of Russian jewellery brands. The neces- sity of their creation is connected with the possibility of recovery of Russian jewellery industry from the lingering crisis. The most famous jewellery brands and their classification are considered. Some illustrative examples of brand jewelry are given. It is shown that Russian jewellery brands are mainly of the “Genius jeweller” or “Name brand” types. It is pointed out the main differences between Russian jewellery brands and the most famous foreign ones. Stylistic, design and material science features of the most famous Russian jewellery brands are discussed. It is noted that quite a limited number of jewellery brands and trademarks work in the hot enamel technique in modern Russia.

Effective Firm Alignment with SIGEL Crises: The Temporal Mindsets of Decision Makers

AbstractWhen COVID‐19 hit, a surprising, intractable, global, existential, and lingering (SIGEL) crisis was unleashed, creating challenges unknown to humankind. To avoid failure, firms’ realignment to fit this SIGEL crisis became necessary. Yet, not all firms realigned. Why? Because of these firms' decision makers' temporal mindsets or their interpretative lenses about time. Contrary to the assumption that fast crisis response is essential, we argue and find that decision makers' time urgency (i.e., innate self‐imposed pressure to act quickly) hinders their firms' effective alignment. While past focus (i.e., innate tendency to attend to the past) had ‘o effect on effective firm alignment, present focus (i.e., innate tendency to attend to the present) and future focus (i.e., innate tendency to attend to the future) had a positive effect. Interestingly, data show that the co‐existence of (1) high future, low present, and low past and (2) high future, high present, and high past foci in decision makers' minds drive the most effective firm alignment, but (3) low future, low present, and low past foci drive the least. Using US and UK panel data, we show, conceptually and empirically, the importance of temporal mindsets to firm alignment with SIGEL crises.

National Security, Property Rights, and Development in Nigeria: How Should the Leviathan Resolve Herder-Farmer Conflict?

Abstract The spate of violent clashes between nomadic pastoralists and agrarian communities in Nigeria raises a number of legal and policy questions that had been long overlooked. Issues arising from the phenomenon range from questions over constitutionally guaranteed rights such as the right to own property, to questions over the inadequacies of Nigeria’s security apparatus as well as calls for land use reforms. Additionally, due to the groups affected and the scale of casualties, the topic has become a political molten magma. The constant conflicts between nomadic pastoralists who are majorly from the Fulani ethnic group, and agrarian communities from other parts of the country have reached unprecedented levels leading to accusations of coordinated attempts at land grab, ethnic cleansing, jihad and insurgency, threatening the country’s security and stability in the process. Fiscally, the destruction of lives and property and the state of insecurity emanating from the clashes stood at $16 billion in potential revenue as at 2018. In no small measure have these clashes been precipitated by climate change and the consequent drought in the Sahara region. This paper analyses the role of the Nigerian state in balancing the interests of affected groups in the clashes and promoting development. At its core, it seeks to identify legal and policy gaps that require filling to put a definite end to the lingering crisis.

From Crisis to Growth: A Guiding, Pragmatic Model During a Global Pandemic

We draw on articles about adaptive leadership during a sustained crisis, 8 and on theories for promoting a growth mindset for leaders, faculty, and trainees At the individual level, adopting a growth mindset is important to prepare leaders, faculty, and trainees for ongoing work and future crises - Kurt Lewin 1 T he COVID-19 pandemic has changed individuals and health care institutions and is testing the graduate medical education (GME) community's collective adaptability and potential for growth under adversity and uncertainty Woodson Scott Jones, MD Ingrid Philibert, PhD, MA, MBA Lyuba Konopasek, MD Frederic W Hafferty, PhD There is nothing as practical as a good theory [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Journal of Graduate Medical Education is the property of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )

Colonial Basis of Anomie in African Youth: Implications for Political Governance

The festering phenomenon of morally deregulated conditions among African youths such as curricular impropriety, cult activities, from examination malpractice, cultism, viciousness, computer-related crimes, and sexual decadences depicts what Emile Durkheim (1893) used anomie to describe. Durkheim posited anomie as the inevitable expectations when societies become more complex, or organic, leading to impersonal behaviours, the dearth of the social bond, and normlessness. Emile Durkheim was a French Sociologist who had mobilised the coinage ‘anomie’ to explain the phenomenon of deregulated societies where interaction rules and expectations were breaking down. The demographic bulge in favour of youth in Africa has raised the stakes for the exacerbation of the lingering governance crisis should the youth continue to flounder in the disintegration of shared norms that hold the morality of societies firm from moral decadence. Most research studies have bordered on documenting that a good number of African youth have become enmeshed in depravities, such as lawlessness, violence, sharp practices, and scams. The focus of this paper provides an improved perspective by examining the social-economic and political foundations of irrational behaviour among African youth and the implications they portend. The paper argued that the youth in the modern States (former colonies) of Africa are unfortunate victims of a loose governance history: a manifestation of colonial masters’ ‘scramble for Africa’ without a whiff of consideration for the fate of the youth and post-independent leaders, who simply continued in the same fashion. The modern-day political praxis in Africa of low participation of youth and lack of youth liberty and self-development is a carry-over of not only the over-utilisation of elders as colonial proxies despite much aspiring youth but also the suppression of agitation by the youth against the commissioned elders. This conditioned many of the attitudes, which dominated policy-making and political victimisation of the youth in contemporary Africa. Thus, it is that colonial past that provided (or failed to provide) the definition of morality spectrum capable of insulating the youths against the festering anomic spree. Keywords: Youth Anomie, Social Norms, Colonialism in Africa, Moral Decadence; Political Governance DOI: 10.7176/DCS/10-7-05 Publication date: July 31 st 2020

Postcolonial Africa: problems and prospects

The article considers the problems of transition of African states to the south of Sahara from the position of the “hopeless continent” to the economic rise and raises the questions of conformity with these changes. The author gives special attention to the consequences of decolonization, the functioning of modern political institutions, the actions of the elite, the migration issues, labor discrimination of African migrants in Europe, and the aftereffect of economic presence of China in African countries. The author draws attention to the fact that the so-called raise had already been experienced by the Africal continent. Since the acquisition of independence, many texts have been published including scientific articles, describing Africa “on the rise”. However, in unfavorable conditions resulting from the policies of colonial powers, African states can’t overcome the lingering crisis due to internal reasons. Political elites are pursuing their policies for the convenience of former colonial powers rather than of their own state. The author’s personal attendance at the economic forum within the Russia-Africa summit helped collect unique materials and expert opinions of political and public leaders of African States about topical problems. The author analyzes the consequences of decolonization and the activities of modern “partners” and concludes that, in a time of resource shortage experienced by many countries, African states to the South of Sahara will face even more serious economic, ecological and social problems. Based on its past, Africa should find its own development path and protect its own interests and values. During the development of state and national strategies, a special role should be given to the issues of education, as it is the basis for the formation of human values and worldview for the future.   

Nollywood interventions in Niger delta oil conflicts: a study of Jeta Amata's <i>Black November</i>

The discovery of oil in Oloibiri town in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria in 1956 has brought with it myriads of problems to the region. There has been lingering crisis in the region which has led to repeated loss of lives and properties. There have been countless efforts at finding a permanent solution to the conflict. However, there seems to be a renewed agitation and restiveness resulting from the stoppage of the amnesty program that was instituted by the late President YarAdua’s federal government. It is against this background that the researcher embarked on this work in order to critically x-ray Nollywood’s contribution to the peace effort with a special attention to JetaAmata’s Black November (2012). The researcher used the case study approach of the qualitative research method in analyzing his data. Findings from the research showed that any solution to the lingering crisis aimed at long term must adopt a populist approach. Keywords: Nollywood, Niger Delta, Oil, Conflict, Intervention

EXAMINING THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS OF NIGERIA IN THE ADMINISTERATION OF THE VALUE ADDED TAX ACT

In the Attorney-General of Rivers State against the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Attorney-General of the Federation, on who can impose, administer, and collect Value-added tax in Rivers State, the Federal High Court of Nigeria, sitting in Port-Harcourt, in its judgment delivered on 20th August, 2021 held that the Rivers State has the legitimate power to collect Value-added tax within the State. This was accepted with mixed feelings by the populace as some people commended the Court for championing the lingering debate on fiscal Federalism while others condemned the Court for trying to indirectly amend the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. The decision of the Court is an indication of the constant conflict of taxing powers that exists between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the various State Governments. This decision has also led to the questioning of the validity or legitimacy of the Value-Added Tax Act which confers powers on the Federal government to impose Value-added tax and collect same through its agent(s). This article explores the controversy surrounding the conflict of taxing powers between both tiers of government, its origin, instances of judicial intervention, and the final conclusions that can be drawn from it, as well as made recommendations to curb this lingering crisis, with emphasis on the need for a Constitutional amendment.

The story of Salma and Sahar: a Rohingya mother and Bangladeshi baby who bridged two influxes and three family generations

Sahar’s Bangladeshi mom had died during delivery and her daughter’s life was saved by Salma, a Rohingya woman. The 50,000 takas that Salma had saved from vegetable farming and raising chickens gave her the conviction that she could raise a dying child. Even if Salma’s husband and family-in-law did not agree with the adoption, Salma, who migrated to Cox’s Bazar in infancy, had seen in the camps how to sustain the survival of this dying and motherless child. Salma and Sahar’s story represents the interventions that resilient human beings put into effect with the support of key family members and internal resources. This is also an example signalling that in the current lingering crisis, we need to create bridges between earlier and newer Rohingya cohorts as well as to advocate for the Rohingya diaspora to be included in the process of caring for new lives. Ultimately, Salma and Sahar’s story is an illustration of the contribution of the Rohingya to Bangladeshi society.

Demographic profile and pattern of fatal firearm injuries in an urban city in south-South Nigeria

Background: Recurrent war, agitation, and terrorism in West African sub region have encouraged access to both local and imported firearm with a consequent increase in circulating firearm in Nigeria. Objective: This study aims to describe the demographic profile and pattern of firearm injuries in Warri, Delta state, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive retrospective study of autopsied firearm deaths in Warri, Delta state from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2016. The relevant information for this study was extracted from coroner forms and autopsy notes. Results: A total of 421 cases of firearm-related deaths comprising 399 males and 22 females were investigated. The ages of the victims ranged from 0.4 to 69 years, with a mean of 33. 99 (±11.36) years and a peak age group in the third decade. Homicide was the circumstance of death in 416 (98.8) cases, while accident accounted for the remaining 5 (1.2%) cases. Rifled guns and shotguns were the weapons used in 262 (62.2%) and 159 (37.7%) cases, respectively. Businessmen, civil and public servant, artisans, unemployed youths, students, and marine workers were the victims in 101 (24%), 79 (18.8), 71 (16.6), 39 (16.6%), and 36 (6.2%) of the cases, respectively. The victims hailed from multiple tribes with the Urhobos, Igbos, Ijaws, and Itsekiris accounting for 152 (36.1), 52 (12.4%), 38 (9.0%), and 28 (6.7%) of the cases, respectively. Conclusion: Firearm injury is a major cause of unnatural death in this region, affecting young males across all socioeconomic class of resident tribes. Amicable resolution of the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta region, reducing unemployment rate, educating, and re-orienting the youths, strict regulation of firearm possession, enforcement of law and order, and upgrading of the state of the health facility in Delta state will go a long way in ameliorating this ugly trend.

University access and 'comparative disadvantage' in Nigeria: a reflection on the criticality of equity for sustainable development

Notwithstanding the revamped attention to equity in higher education the world over, it is pertinent to realistically address several foundational issues if equitable access to higher education for sustainable development is indeed envisaged. What is the understanding of 'equal' in the context of everyday African society and how has this affected access policy implementation? What roles have existing higher education access practices played in achieving the inclusion of marginalised groups? Could policy definitions of 'disadvantage', 'under-representation' and 'vulnerability' have been misplaced, flawed, or outdated? What should new equity reforms be targeted at, or more problematic, how should they be targeted? These profound questions provoke the thinking in this paper using the lingering crisis of university admission in Nigeria as a case study within the context of the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs). The paper critically reflects on the country's 'merit-driven' application system and ambiguous quota admissions policy to illustrate the possibility of persistent exclusion and heightened inequalities should the status quo remain. It ultimately calls for the need to contextually rethink equity policies and practices towards the achievement of the SDGs.

Homo Ludens(1938) and the crisis in the humanities

AbstractJohan Huizinga’s Homo Ludens (1938) is, in certain circles, still highly esteemed as a paradigm of humanist scholarship. Huizinga argues that cultures arise and unfold in and as play but that they tend to lose their playfulness as they mature. As a gifted writer and erudite philologist, cross-cultural historian, and culture critic, he made a, at first sight, brilliant case for this intriguing thesis. However, a more thorough reading shows that it is unsatisfactory as an explanatory treatise about the link between human play and human cultures. It is argued that this striking combination of intellectual brilliance and lack of convincing content is symptomatic of the lingering crisis in the humanities and that Huizinga’s masterwork thus excellently exemplifies the need of what will be called soft consilience between the humanities and science. It was anathema for Huizinga because of his strong belief in the vocational, epistemic, and methodological autonomy of the humanities, but any academic treati...

United Nations and multilateralism: appraising USA’s unilateralism in world affairs

Multilateralism as symbolized by the United Nations Organization, seems to have come under threat today, and nowhere is this more evident than in the United States-United Nations relations particularly in the area of military interventions around the world. The aim of this paper is to appraise the practice of the principle of multilateralism over the years and the implications of the growing disregard of the principle by the United States as its unilateral actions in world affairs in recent times indicate. Using realist approach as the framework of analysis, and data from secondary sources, this paper argues that the U.S. unilateral actions are mainly driven by its national interest of global hegemony which it strives to consolidate by demonstrating and reinforcing its military power across every nook and cranny of the world. It concludes that these unilateral actions (like the US invasion of Iraq) are not only at variance with the Charter of the United Nations which the U.S. is signatory to, but also constitute a serious threat to global peace and security, as well as the survival of the United Nations. This is because such actions are partly responsible for the skyrocketing global arms race, the increasing aggression of strong states against weak states, and the decreasing power and influence of the United Nations in world affairs as the lingering crisis in Syria demonstrates. All these events could lead to the collapse of the United Nations, and likely another world war in foreseeable future unless urgent and proactive measures are taken by all the concerned stakeholders in the international system. Keywords: United Nations, multilateralism, United States, unilateralism, national interest, UN Charter

The Challenges of Security Agencies on Jos North Crisis: Interrogating the Nigerian Security Architecture and Capacity for Conflict Management and Peace Enforcement.

This study interrogates the causes and course of the protracted conflicts among the various sub-ethnic and lingua-cultural groups in Jos North Local Government area of Plateau State in Nigeria. It examines the interplay of ethnic composition and configuration of settlement pattern[s], migration dynamics, colonial policies, psychological issues that conflate in the region that eventuate in virulent, intermittent, and violent conflicts since 1994. The conflict actors in this area are the Hausa-Fulani, Fulani Herdsmen, popularly known as ‘Bororo’, Afizere, Anaguta, and the Berom. The study also examines the challenges posed to the nation’s security community and the factors responsible for the failure in combating the intractable increasingly protracted conflict. The work is an explorative, micro and empirical study. It adopts the social survey design, as data were drawn from the people in respect of their beliefs, attitudes, and understanding of the conflict. Questionnaires were distributed to respondents in the study area. Other methods employed by the study are interactive methodologies, such as, Focus Group Discussion, Key Informants Interviews and Participatory Rural Assessment. The study identifies political exclusion, pervasive extreme poverty, fear of domination and deprivation of the indigenes by the settlers, that is, the [Hausa-Fulani], dissatisfaction of indigenes with the sociopolitical system, religion as a tool of mobilization for violence etc. as some of the factors responsible for the conflict. The study also finds out that the security agencies, particularly, the Department of State Security, is encumbered by inadequate numerical strength, ineffective deployment of security agents when the need arises, inadequate technical operations, emotional and sentimental attachment of security agencies and government officials in the ethno-religious crises, insufficient inter-agency collaboration and the failure of state actors to respond promptly and appropriately on early warning signs and intelligence reports at critical periods of the Jos North crisis. The study concludes that appropriate interventions in the areas of poverty alleviation/empowerment programmes through capacity building and skill acquisition for the residents, mass education and enlightenment, and dispassionate implementation of reports and recommendations of various investigative panels on the conflicts, would go a long way to resolve the lingering and destructive crisis. The security architecture of the country should also be reviewed with a view to making it more effective and proactive.

An Examination of Poverty as the Foundation of Crisis in Northern Nigeria

Northern Nigeria is a region that contradicts its natural endowments. Despite the existence of many economic resources such as tin, kaolin, a variety of agricultural products and a huge fertile land, the people remain in abject poverty leading to plethora of crisis in forms of insurgency, electoral violence and crime. Out of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, three are in the northern part of the country and they have the worst indices of poverty compared to the other zones. The Northwest with 77.7 per cent, North-central having 67.5 per cent and Northeast with 76.3 per cent, northern Nigeria becomes a hub of joblessness, crime, illiteracy, maternal mortality, early marriage and, recently, terrorism. This article uses content analysis to unravel the link between the present turmoil in northern Nigeria and the poverty indices that triggered the lingering crisis. This article shows that ineffectiveness of poverty alleviation programmes, poor resource utilisation, lack of private initiative and overdependence on scarce public jobs are the factors that caused and sustained poverty in northern Nigeria to serve as the foundation of the turbulence in all sectors of society. It recommends, inter alia, the strengthening of the private sector to provide jobs for the jobless, adherence to prudence, transparency and accountability in poverty alleviation programmes.

The role of state and non-state actors in the sustenance of Expanded Programme On Immunization (EPI) In Lesotho, Southern Africa

This study takes a cognizance of the lingering crisis and politics in governing health sector in sub-Saharan Africa. It articulates the role of the state and civil society groups in primary health provisioning and investigates the issues of 'how' 'what' 'why' questions and 'who' that matters in Lesotho, where 83 percent of the population lives in rural areas. The stuy utilized secondary clinical data at the national level as the basis for analysis, which involved a lengthy desktop analysis of Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) clinic data and records. Data sources indicate that Lesotho primary health care system is grassroot oriented in implementation, with very functional community health and voluntary health worker system. Close collaboration was also found to exist between the state organs and the Christian Health Association of Lesotho (CHAL) in the entire health care delivery. The study found some peculiar socio-environmntal factors that impede the progress of the EPI, in spite of cordial relationshipbetween the state and other stakeholders/role players.

Overshadowing the Turmoil Trends: The Swinging Pendulum of SME's Tax Policies

In this paper are examined the extent and composition of fiscal incentive policies which have been adopted by some EU countries to cushion the effects of the lingering crisis that upended the whole economy since 2008. The research methodology is the comparative analysis between the Romanian, English, Italian and Greek SMEs’ tax policies in the period 2010 – 2012. The fiscal incentives are conditioned by a series of factors and they comprise: reductions in the statutory corporate income tax rate; accelerated depreciation allowances for capital expenditures; targeted investment tax credits etc. These stopgap fiscal policies are the limelight for reinvigorating or averting the consumption and investments’ retrenchment.

Impact of a lingering crisis on the perception of internal communication by employees: A case in the automotive sector

This article examines internal communication during organizational change driven by a lingering crisis and reports on research conducted among the employees of an automotive industry company. The authors sought support for the thesis that in times of economic downturn, employees tend to appreciate more the very fact of employment as a job satisfaction factor. Concomitantly, it is suggested, employees during an economic slump seek more strongly information on their company’s market situation and financial condition. Although it was not possible to unequivocally verify the first thesis, this research supports the second. When economic crisis hits the industry and job stability is threatened, employees tend to look for information on their company’s situation, number of orders and the corporate strategy because they realize the close correlation between this information and their employment security.

Authentic living and resource control in Africa: the experience of the Niger delta region of Nigeria

The people of the Niger Delta have been in turmoil over the years, since the discovery of oil in that area in 1956. And since the indigenous government took over the oil rich land through its foreign agents the multinational companies, there has been serious agitations by the civil right and environmental activists against this occupation that has caused untold hardship to the people through the degradation of the environment in terms of oil spillages and pollution. Consequently, the non-challant posture of the Nigerian federal government over this situation had driven most people into inauthentic existence, hence the issue of militancy in the region arose from here. This paper examines these issues while submitting that authentic living as an existential imperative could be a solution to the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta, and the thrust of this paper is that Jean Paul Sartre’s existentialism becomes the panacea to authentic existence. Key terms: Niger Delta, Resource control, authentic living, Existentialism.

1 - Oil and Security in Nigeria: The Niger Delta Crisis

This paper examines oil and security in Nigeria, with special reference to the crisis-ravaged Niger Delta. Its focus on the Niger Delta and its festering crisis stems from that region’s critical importance to Nigeria. As the nation’s treasure base, the Niger Delta provides over 80 percent of government revenues, 95 percent of export receipts, and 90 percent of foreign exchange earnings. Also, the bulk of Nigeria’s bio-diversity and some of her best human resources are derived from the Niger Delta. This paper posits that beyond the well-known threats to the security of the Nigerian state, the lingering crisis in the country’s oil- producing areas is a grave threat to human security in that region. Since poverty, environment and food security are key to national security, the ruthless exploita- tion and destruction of the natural environment upon which the inhabitants of the Niger Delta depend for their livelihood and sustenance pose major threats to human security in that region and, by implication, to the Nigerian state. The paper suggests that to resolve the crisis, government policy on petroleum should be more inclusive, taking into consideration the peculiar problems and needs of the oil-producing areas, as well as those of the Nigerian state and the oil indus- try itself.