Political Willingness Research Articles

To participate or not to participate? Influence mechanism of artificial intelligence on Chinese college students’ willingness to participate in online politics

This study probes the mechanism of artificial intelligence’s (AI’s) influence on Chinese college students’ willingness to participate in online politics and constructs a theoretical model based on the theory of planned behavior. Through the analysis of questionnaire data acquired from up to 317 Chinese college students in total, it turns out that the use of AI affects Chinese college students’ willingness to the participation of online political practice significantly and positively, and such online political participation cognition of Chinese college students plays a mediating role, three aspects of which included as the followings on behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Additionly, media literacy level plays a moderating role in online political participation cognition and willingness to participate. All the findings highlight the importance of optimizing the online political participation environment, enhancing college students’ cognition of political participation, and improving media literacy in the context of the digital era, which provides practical guidance for promoting healthy and positive online political participation among college students.

“Be ready to pay because others are paying”: contested solid waste management transitions and charges in Accra’s open-air markets

ABSTRACT Approaches to solid waste management (SWM) in African cities have gone through various phases. Each phase is shaped by a range of factors, including population growth, urbanisation, government policies and political willingness to invest in SWM infrastructure as well as SWM services. In the Ghanaian context, the latter factor is said to be subject to public perceptions of SWM as a welfare service and hence the reluctance of people to pay for SWM services even though “others” are paying. In this paper, an attempt has been made to investigate how approaches to SWM in Ghana have transitioned over time and its consequences on willingness to pay for SWM services in the Kaneshie, Madina and Kantamanto open-air markets in Accra. Based on the study findings and the vital role that open-air markets (OAMs) play in African cities, a system of standardising SWM fees is recommended for SWM service providers in both formal and informal sectors.

How refugees respond to hostile political discourse: no exit, but less voice

ABSTRACT How does the political discourse about refugees influence their attitudes in the host country? Relying on an online survey and experiment conducted with Syrian refugees in Turkey and Germany, this study explores the relationship between political discourse and refugees’ two potential attitudinal responses: political integration and return. Our observational analysis demonstrates that refugees’ perception of the political discourses about them is the variable most consistently associated with attitudes in these domains. Our experimental results reveal that hostile political discourse, compared to a welcoming political discourse, undermines refugees’ political integration, weakening both their political interest and willingness to participate in host country politics. However, our experimental findings suggest that political discourse does not significantly impact refugees’ intentions to return. Overall, our results demonstrate that refugees’ perceptions of political discourse are an important determinant of their attitudes toward host country politics, and more research is warranted on the topic.

Post-introduction evaluation (PIE) of rotavirus vaccine in India

BackgroundIndia became the first country in the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR) to introduce the rotavirus vaccine (RVV) in the Universal immunization programme (UIP) in 2016 with nationwide expansion by 2019. It was a landmark move to reduce the diarrheal disease burden in under-five children. To assess the implementation process of introduction of RVV, Post Introduction Evaluation (PIE) was conducted in March 2022. MethodsThe evaluation was conducted across 14 states, 28 districts and 28 health facilities to obtain a nationwide geographical inclusion. Stakeholders involved in program decision-making, planning, training, vaccine delivery, logistics, and communication from all levels (National, state, district, health facility, health worker, caregiver) were interviewed using standardized data collection tool for PIE (adapted from the standard WHO PIE questionnaire) and scripted on a digital tool. ResultsA total of 260 interviews were conducted. Political willingness, well-planned preparedness activities, securing vaccines timely, strong supply chain monitoring, availability of domestic RVV products, quality trainings and intense communication activities were the key factors identified for the successful RVV introduction. Key activities during the introduction included cold chain space assessment, trainings of healthcare workforce, dissemination of job aids, updation of recording & reporting formats and strengthening of AEFI surveillance. Lack of community awareness for immunization in a few areas, fear of AEFI amongst some caregivers and local issues with Alternate Vaccine Delivery (AVD) were some reported challenges in achieving high coverage for RVV. ConclusionsOverall, the nationwide roll-out of RVV was smooth and the vaccine has been well-accepted in the community. The assessment emphasizes on having a well-strategized operational and communication planning, which is very crucial for any new vaccine introduction.

THE RATIFICATION OF THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS EFFECT ON CANDIDATE STATES: SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO TURKEY

This research evaluates the process and consequences of the European Union’s recent ratification of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). The issue of violence against women persists as a global problem, and with the Union ratifying the Convention in June 2023 and its pledge toward actions to curb gender-based violence, this issue has gained ever more traction throughout Europe and its surrounding geographies. Analysing the hurdles within the ratification process, it can be said that ratification was a progressive move for the Union. Thus discussion of the obligations of Member States, particularly those that have not ratified the Convention, is necessitated. As a country historically controversial to gender-based violence, Turkey has gained much international and national notoriety in withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention in 2021. With the recent regeneration of communications with Turkey and the EU reaffirming Turkey’s candidate status, an examination of Turkey’s standing in fulfilment of its accession obligations is warranted. Consequently, Turkey’s legal framework is analysed and future steps are discussed. The findings show that Turkey’s lack of political willingness to implement and expand the existing legal infrastructure generates potential hindrance to EU relations.

War as an Accession Accelerator? Ukraine’s Path Towards the EU

The European Union’s response to the war in Ukraine is perceived as swift and relatively coherent. The political willingness to support its attacked neighbour has also extended to Ukraine’s membership bid. Despite protracting war and worsening Ukraine’s position, there are no doubts over the state’s commitment to reforms. For now, it can be safely assumed that Ukraine will pursue its path towards membership. Can fighting war and pushing an arduous accession process be balanced by the political will of the EU Member States rooted in a wartime gesture of solidarity?

Policy instruments for governing water in cross-border metropolitan areas, the case of Greater Geneva

ABSTRACT Governing transboundary waters is inherently a complex policy issue. However, when waters flow through multiple urban spaces (multiple cities in different countries), it presents a unique challenge to access and control. Policy actors employ a variety of policy instruments to govern such spaces and users’ water demands. Drawing from the case of Geneva Metropolis (shared between Switzerland and France), we explain how policy instruments are formulated to manage a combination of water sources. We answer two questions: (1) what type of policy instruments contribute to reaching transboundary water governance in Greater Geneva? and (2) What are the underlying drivers that led to the success or failures of implementing policy instruments at the transboundary level? Based on policy documents and closed-door interviews, we present various policy instruments that have been developed and implemented in the Geneva metropolis. We further argue that the underlying drivers, such as the existence of communities of practice, political willingness, the influence of civil society actors and the evolution of an anticipatory water governance system, have influenced the policy instruments’ success and failure. To conclude, this article calls for further research on comparing different cross-border metropolitan areas, focusing on processual aspects (development and implementation) of policy instruments.

Factors Impacting Participatory Post-Disaster Relocation and Housing Reconstruction: The Case of Tsholotsho District, Zimbabwe

Relocation is not typically considered the best planning option for post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation, but it may be necessary if the site has suffered severe damage or is at imminent risk. There is a growing recognition that strong community participation is necessary in the post-disaster relocation decision-making process since relocation can have detrimental effects on a community’s livelihood, cultural system, and way of life, among others. However, the realization of this still needs to be improved. As of yet, few studies have examined a comprehensive account of meaningful community engagement in post-disaster relocation and reconstruction, particularly in developing countries. This study investigated what factors influenced local communities’ participation in post-disaster relocation and reconstruction works after the 2017 Cyclone Dineo flood disaster in the Tsholotsho District of Zimbabwe. Qualitative research methods such as face-to-face interviews, observations, and focus groups were used to collect qualitative data from a purposive sample of 25 community members and 6 stakeholders. This empirical investigation showed that despite the fact that the relocation project was conceived as a community-centered project, there was no meaningful community engagement, due to the absence of a participatory framework or planning guidelines for stakeholder engagement, as well as the lack of political willingness among government officials. The study concluded that the lack of community involvement led to local communities abandoning the reconstruction sites because relocation projects failed to accommodate the cultural beliefs, place attachments, and livelihood concerns of local communities. This study suggested that it is imperative to enhance the awareness of government officials and other stakeholders about the importance of community participation for the effective implementation of post-disaster relocation works. Meaningful community participation can also provide avenues for incorporating local needs and concerns, cultural beliefs, and alternative and sustainable livelihood restoration, which are essential for effective reconstruction after disasters. This research aimed to enrich the academic discourse by providing valuable insights into the intricacies of post-disaster recovery initiatives in the country.

Factors Influencing Health Care Providers Payment Reforms in Central and Eastern European Countries.

Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries have recently implemented reforms to health care provider payment systems, which include changing payment methods and related systems such as contracting, management information systems, and accountability mechanisms. This study examines factors influencing provider payment reforms implemented since 2010 in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, and Romania. A four-stage mixed methods approach was used: developing a theoretical framework and data collection form using existing literature, mapping payment reforms, consulting with national health policy experts, and conducting a comparative analysis. Qualitative analysis included inductive thematic analysis and deductive approaches based on an existing health policy model, distinguishing context, content, process, and actors. We analyzed 27 payment reforms that focus mainly on hospitals and primary health care. We identified 14 major factor themes influencing those reforms. These factors primarily related to the policy process (pilot study, coordination of implementation systems, availability of funds, IT systems, training for providers, reform management) and content (availability of performance indicators, use of clinical guidelines, favorability of the payment system for providers, tariff valuation). Two factors concerned the reform context (political willingness or support, regulatory framework, and bureaucracy) and two were in the actors' dimension (engagement of stakeholders, capacity of stakeholders). This study highlights that the content and manner of implementation (process) of a reform are crucial. Stakeholder involvement and their capacities could influence every dimension of the reform cycle. The nine countries analyzed share similarities in barriers and facilitators, suggesting the potential for cross-country learning.

How does perceptions of social justice affect farmers' political participation?-Evidence from China.

Ronald Inglehart's postmaterialist theory suggests that with the advancement of industrialization and economic prosperity, there will be a significant transformation in people's societal values. Concurrently, their forms of political participation shift from conventional activities to unconventional politic activities. However, most research on this topic has been predominantly focused on Western countries. In fact, rural farmers in China serve as an excellent experimental group for testing this theory since they have experienced rapid economic growth while still being deeply influenced by traditional authoritarianism culture.Using a sample of 6,689 respondents from the 2019 Chinese Social Survey (CSS) and employing a Binary Logistic Regression Model, we discovered that Chinese farmers' perception of overall societal justice exhibits a U-shaped relationship with various forms of political participation. Specifically, it shows a significant negative correlation with non-institutional political participation, such as contact-officer participation, but a significant positive correlation with institutional political participation types like community participation and election participation.Our further research indicates that the three subtypes of perception of societal justice are significantly negatively correlated only with non-institutional political participation, while their statistical relationship with institutional political participation is not significant. We believe that the underlying reason for this phenomenon lies in the unique interpretation of societal justice within Chinese traditional culture. Additionally, through a comparative analysis of models on political participation behavior and willingness, we found that despite significant inequalities and disparities in institutional structures and levels of economic development between rural and urban areas in China, rational considerations of the risks and costs associated with defying the government deter Chinese farmers from engaging in non-institutional politic activities unless their emotional resentment towards unjust practices reaches a certain threshold.

Initial teacher training curriculum for Global Education in Rwanda: Between national and global perspectives and necessities

Despite the international political willingness, as framed in SGD 4.7, to integrate Global Education in national policies and curricula, little is known about how this is reflected in initial teacher education (ITE) in the Global South. Through document research with content analysis, the study at hand explores the profile of the ITE curriculum in Rwanda towards Global Education. The results indicated that the ITE curriculum has a threefold faced profile in relation to Global Education – nationalist, instrumentalist, and globalist-dynamist. Beyond its “Rwandocentrist” perspective, the ITE curriculum shows an openness to Global Education (i.e. valuing and respecting the cultural plurality and heterogeneity) in both content and methodological approaches. The study stimulates further scientific, political and practical reflections for the integration of Global Education in ITE in Rwanda and possibly similar educational contexts.

Conspiracy beliefs explain why intolerance of uncertainty, personal control, and political uncontrollability predict willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19

ABSTRACT Conspiracy theories tend to be disseminated in times when anxiety and uncertainty prevail. Thus, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was fertile ground for the dissemination of conspiracy theories. The current study examined the role of conspiracy belief in the association between individual differences in perceptions of lack of control and certainty, and willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Participants (N = 323) completed measures of willingness to get vaccinated, belief in COVID-19 vaccines conspiracy, intolerance of uncertainty (IOU), perceived personal control, and political uncontrollability. Results show that conspiracy beliefs mediated the positive association between perceived personal control and willingness to get vaccinated, and the negative association between political uncontrollability and willingness to get vaccinated. Additionally, conspiracy belief had a suppression effect on the association between IOU and willingness to get vaccinated. These findings indicate that uncertainty and sense of lack of control heighten the need for an explanation that offers some degree of clarity, which in turn is related to adoption of conspiracy theories and may consequently have negative effects on health behavior.

Intersectoral collaboration in a One Health approach: Lessons learned from a country-level simulation exercise

Intersectoral collaboration is an essential component of the One Health (OH) approach, which recognises the interconnectedness of the health of humans, animals, and the environment. The OH European Joint Programme (OHEJP) developed a national foodborne outbreak table-top simulation exercise (SimEx) to practice OH capacity and interoperability across the public health, animal health, and food safety sectors, improving OH preparedness for future disease outbreaks. The Portuguese OHEJP SimEx highlighted strengths and weaknesses regarding the roles and functions of available systems, the constraints of existing legislation, the importance of harmonisation and data sharing, and the creation of common main messages adapted to each target sector. However, there is still a long way to go to ensure cooperation among the Public Health, Animal Health, and Food Safety sectors, as a OH approach relies not only on the awareness of “field experts” but also on political and organisational willingness and commitment.

Reimagining public policy formulation and analysis: a comprehensive theoretical framework for public policy

This research paper delves into the intricate domain of policy science, focusing on the policy-making process itself. Existing theoretical frameworks in policy science often overlook essential nuances, particularly the role of political willingness causing non-linearity in the policy-making process. Three fundamental questions drive the research at hand. First, the research delves into the adequacy of existing policy frameworks in effectively elucidating the complexities of policymaking in the context of large democracies, with a particular focus on India. Second, it investigates the significant role of political willingness in shaping the trajectory of policymaking, particularly within democratic systems. Lastly, the research aims to construct a comprehensive framework capable of accommodating and explaining the non-linear dynamics introduced by the influence of political willingness throughout the policy-making process. Through an analysis of India's Data Protection Regulation formulation process, this paper attempts to map the existing gap and way forward. As an outcome of the case study analysis, the proposed framework introduces political willingness as a central element extending the policy formulation cycle and showcases its influence on agenda setting, policy formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation. This research contributes to the field of policy science by providing a comprehensive framework that accounts for the complexities of policymaking, especially in the Indian context. By acknowledging the pivotal role of political willingness, this framework seeks to bridge the gap in existing theoretical models, offering a more holistic understanding of policy formulation and analysis. This research lays the foundation for a paradigm shift in the study of policy science, addressing the challenges posed by evolving governance mechanisms and the rising influence of political agendas in the modern world.

Co-creating a Transdisciplinary Map of Technology-mediated Harms, Risks and Vulnerabilities: Challenges, Ambivalences and Opportunities

The phrase "online harms'' has emerged in recent years out of a growing political willingness to address the ethical and social issues associated with the use of the Internet and digital technology at large. The broad landscape that surrounds online harms gathers a multitude of disciplinary, sectoral and organizational efforts while raising myriad challenges and opportunities for the crossing entrenched boundaries. In this paper we draw lessons from a journey of co-creating a transdisciplinary knowledge infrastructure within a large research initiative animated by the online harms agenda. We begin with a reflection of the implications of mapping, taxonomizing and constructing knowledge infrastructures and a brief review of how online harm and adjacent themes have been theorized and classified in the literature to date. Grounded on our own experience of co-creating a map of online harms, we then argue that the map---and the process of mapping---perform three mutually constitutive functions, acting simultaneously as method, medium and provocation. We draw lessons from how an open-ended approach to mapping, despite not guaranteeing consensus, can foster productive debate and collaboration in ethically and politically fraught areas of research. We end with a call for CSCW research to surface and engage with the multiple temporalities, social lives and political sensibilities of knowledge infrastructures.

GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis for Selecting Suitable Areas for Urban Green Spaces in Abomey-Calavi District, Southern Benin

Green spaces contribute to a significant improvement in quality of life and maintain the sustainability of cities. In Benin, despite the political willingness regarding greening, municipalities are experiencing technical issues in finding suitable spaces to achieve this goal. This study should therefore be applicable to many other towns in Benin. It aims at identifying suitable areas for green spaces to integrate landscaping into urban planning in Abomey-Calavi district. Multi-criteria analysis combining GIS and the hierarchical classification approach was performed. Six factors (land use, altitude, slope, distance from main roads, proximity to urban centres and distance from flood zones, water bodies) were combined using the ArcGIS “Spatial Analysis” extension to generate a map of green space suitability. The results show large areas of land, of which 23.27% is very suitable and 26.06% is suitable for landscaping in this municipality. The ranking of the factors revealed that elevation, proximity to road networks, large conurbations and distance from wetlands accounted for 18%, compared with 14% for the other factors regarding the study environment. However, the use of these results must take into account the existing inhabited areas for a good site selection. These outputs provide guidance for decision-makers in choosing suitable sites for green spaces and integrating them into sustainable development.

The Importance of ALCE's Role as a Political Actor Rather Than a Coordinator of Regional Space Activities

The Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) was formally created in 2020 with the ALCE Agreement signed by 19 countries from the region. ALCE can be considered a major step towards regional integration in the space sector, driven by its members' political willingness. Nevertheless, the integration process does not finish with the signature of the agreement; it's just the start. There are many levels of integration based on previous regional integration case studies such as Asia's Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), African Space Agency (ASA), and most notably the most advanced European Union/European Space Agency (ESA) case. As ALCE is starting to construct a regional space ambition, the timing demands from its members how far in the integration process they want to go. From an intergovernmental organisation that only decides on cooperative technical space activities to a fullyintegrated organisation with its own regulatory framework enacting a regional space policy and a regional space programme.Based on the ALCE Agreement, the organisation seems to have only a cooperative role as an intermediary that fosters technical cooperation without political power. This article claims that instead ALCE should go further and seek progressively full integration by shaping a coherent regional space policy by providing the organisation with the political capacity to shape a regional space policy and space programme that addresses the needs of the region in the short-term future.The article presents, firstly, the political willingness of the two forerunners of the region, Mexico and Argentina, to shape regional integration and an overview of space activities in the region. Secondly, APSCO, ASA and Europe integration/ESA cases are introduced to understand levels of integration for ALCE. Thirdly, it is explained that ALCE's benefits of higher integration, notably spillovers and current regional space activities, will make sure Latin America catches up in the next phase of global space activity.

Impact of Quality of Life, Social Awareness and Political Willingness on Prevention from HIV/AIDS in Pakistan: A Mediation and Moderation Model

Currently, modern world is focusing on the control of fatal diseases including HIV/AIDS. However, in developing countries these diseases are spreading rapidly. There are various factors, which encourage HIV/AIDS. One of the major reasons is lack of awareness among public. In Pakistan, scholars did not discuss the role of awareness about HIV/AIDS as a prevention tool. This study is one of the efforts to observe the impact of quality of life, social awareness and political will on the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Pakistan. Majority of the past literature concentrated on the issue of HIV/AIDS; however, there is paucity of literature on highlighting the major factors of HIV/AIDS prevention. Therefore, this is one of the few studies, which formally investigated the major factors contributing towards the prevention of HIV/AIDS, particularly in the Sind province of Pakistan. A questionnaire was utilized to collect the data. Partial Least Square (PLS 3)-Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data. It is found that political willingness, social awareness and quality of life has a significant relation with HIV/AIDS prevention. In order to formulate the strategy, this study is important for governments and NGOs to consider social awareness, government willingness and quality of life as a tool to prevent HIV/AIDS in Pakistan.

Towards an Exploration of the Significance of Community Participation in the Integrated Development Planning Process in South Africa

The IDP serves as a comprehensive plan that outlines development priorities for a municipality’s jurisdiction. Its aim is to coordinate the efforts of all levels of government in order to improve the quality of life for residents in a particular area. The plan is developed based on the needs and priorities of the community, with opportunities for community involvement in identifying the most pressing needs. All stakeholders are invited to participate in the creation and execution of the plan. This study seeks to explore the significance of community participation in the IDP, using the Tzaneen municipal area as a case study. Despite various challenges, such as a lack of resources and protests, active participation in the IDP process can lead to improved service delivery, enhanced democracy, accountability, responsiveness, and community empowerment. This study adopted a convergent parallel mixed-method research approach. The study was conducted in the Tzaneen municipal area, South Africa, and four hundred and ten (410) participants were sampled in the area through probability and non-probability sampling techniques. The data were collected and analysed until saturation was reached. An online, closed-ended, structured questionnaire and face-to-face semi-structured interviews to collect empirical data were used in addition to a review of the existing literature. The study found a continuous lack of community participation in municipal affairs. The service delivery backlog is still a challenge despite the constitutional mandates and democratic principles. The participants indicated that they are unable to hold municipal officials accountable. Lastly, there is a lack of political willingness to partake in the IDP process. Thus, this study concludes by recommending that municipal policies ought to be influenced by community participation. The study found that democratic principles are still weakened. Thus, the study recommends that the Greater Tzaneen Municipality’s officials and politicians (Councillors/Ward Committee members) should always uphold democratic principles as stated in the Constitution of 1996 by ensuring active public participation, transparency, and accountable governance.

Influences and Willingness to Receive Future COVID-19 Vaccination by Demographic Data and Proposed Interventions

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a rapidly growing problem in the global health community and has affected millions of people worldwide. The resulting COVID-19 disease poses a significant threat as it can lead to both short and long- term health consequences in all demographics. In order to contain this infectious disease and reduce the amount of harm it inflicts; vaccination has been the best recommended course of action in association with mask wearing and appropriately enforced social distancing measures. The increased speed of development for the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines relative to other vaccines and politicization of being immunized against COVID-19 in the United States of America serve as two points of potential divergency for demographics’ willingness to be immunized. The connections between demographic identifiers and immunization attitudes were evaluated using an online survey distributed to adults living in the United States. Representative data on demographics including age, education level, and political affiliation was collected as was the associated willingness to be immunized against COVID-19 and the annual influenza vaccine. The survey collected data on the factors that influence the participants’ attitudes towards immunization for both influenza and COVID-19. Upon analysis of the data, the relationship between political affiliation and willingness to be immunized for COVID-19 reported a chi-squared statistic of 10.8282 which resulted in a p-value of 0.001 < 0.05. The relationship between political affiliation and willingness to be immunized against COVID-19 proved to be statistically significant in the test population. Upon further analysis of the relationship, self-identified Republicans are less likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Also concluded from the study in order of descending importance, people of all demographics decide to be immunized for both COVID-19 and influenza by reviewing primary scientific literature, considering physicians’ opinions, and reflecting on personal health status. However, in the groups with the lowest willingness to be immunized against COVID-19, the timeline of development was cited as the only deviating deciding factor from those listed above. Using this data, an intervention plan was proposed to increase vaccination participation in low-participating demographics in concurrence with the idea that increased vaccination rates offer a higher level of protection against the illness.