Relevant Actors Research Articles

Challenging the policy space: The legitimation of alternatives in Chilean pension policy (1980–2019)

AbstractIn October 2019, Chile experienced its most significant cycle of protests since the return to democracy in 1990; one of the primary demands of this cycle was the improvement of pensions. What effect did the October upheaval have on the Chilean pension policy debate? How have ideas about the Chilean pension plan changed from its creation in 1981−2019? What are the main drivers of these changes? In this study, we propose the concept of policy space, which we define as the realm of ideas wherein public policies are debated and whose boundaries are determined by the legitimacy of ideas from relevant actors. We use a process‐tracing approach based on qualitative data triangulation from several techniques including in‐depth interviews, press analysis, and secondary document review. The findings indicate that the shift in the ideas related to pension policy is explained by two drivers—long‐term linkage among actors and short‐term social mobilization against the private pension system, which accelerated rapidly with the October 2019 protests.

Toward Sociotechnical AI: Mapping Vulnerabilities for Machine Learning in Context

This paper provides an empirical and conceptual account on seeing machine learning models as part of a sociotechnical system to identify relevant vulnerabilities emerging in the context of use. As ML is increasingly adopted in socially sensitive and safety-critical domains, many ML applications end up not delivering on their promises, and contributing to new forms of algorithmic harm. There is still a lack of empirical insights as well as conceptual tools and frameworks to properly understand and design for the impact of ML models in their sociotechnical context. In this paper, we follow a design science research approach to work towards such insights and tools. We center our study in the financial industry, where we first empirically map recently emerging MLOps practices to govern ML applications, and corroborate our insights with recent literature. We then perform an integrative literature research to identify a long list of vulnerabilities that emerge in the sociotechnical context of ML applications, and we theorize these along eight dimensions. We then perform semi-structured interviews in two real-world use cases and across a broad set of relevant actors and organizations, to validate the conceptual dimensions and identify challenges to address sociotechnical vulnerabilities in the design and governance of ML-based systems. The paper proposes a set of guidelines to proactively and integrally address both the dimensions of sociotechnical vulnerability, as well as the challenges identified in the empirical use case research, in the organization of MLOps practices.

ApTOLL: A new therapeutic aptamer for cytoprotection and (re)myelination after multiple sclerosis.

ApTOLL is an aptamer selected to antagonize toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a relevant actor for innate immunity involved in inflammatory responses in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases. The currently available therapeutic arsenal to treat MS is composed of immunomodulators but, to date, there are no (re)myelinating drugs available in clinics. In our present study, we studied the effect of ApTOLL on different animal models of MS. The experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model was used to evaluate the effect of ApTOLL on reducing the inflammatory component. A more direct effect on oligodendroglia was studied with the cuprizone model and purified primary cultures of murine and human oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) isolated through magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) from samples of brain cortex. Also, we tested these effects in an ex vivo model of organotypic cultures demyelinated with lysolecithin (LPC). ApTOLL treatment positively impacted the clinical symptomatology of mice in the EAE and cuprizone models, which was associated with better preservation plus restoration of myelin and oligodendrocytes in the demyelinated lesions of animals. Restoration was corroborated on purified cultures of rodent and human OPCs. Our findings reveal a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of inflammatory and demyelinating diseases such as MS. The molecular nature of the aptamer exerts not only an anti-inflammatory effect but also neuroprotective and remyelinating effects. The excellent safety profile demonstrated by ApTOLL in animals and humans opens the door to future clinical trials in MS patients.

A Qualitative Analysis of the Association of Treatment Outcomes, Psychosocial Factors, and Multimorbidity in Severe Hypertensive Patients Attending Health Institutions in Southeast Nigeria

Severe hypertension is associated with a two-fold increase in relative risk of death. Interventions to date fail to achieve sustained improvement in blood pressure, particularly in regional areas of high social disparity. Growing evidence points to multiple psychological, social and morbidity factors as contributors to the onset of and trajectory of hypertension. This study aims to examine the association of psychosocial factors and multimorbidity with response to treatment and treatment outcomes in the management of severe hypertensive patients providing updated knowledge and recommendations to improve their quality of care. We employed a hospital based comparative cross-sectional study using a quantitative and qualitative approach. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect information from 733 severe hypertensive patients attending cardiology clinics in two tertiary health institutions in southeastern Nigeria. Data collected was transcribed, coded, and analysed with IBM SPSS version 23 software with appropriate descriptive tools used in presenting findings. We observed a significant association between age of the respondents and their response to treatment. Overweight/obese respondents were 1.5times less likely to respond to treatment. These findings add to existing knowledge provoking thoughtful discussions among relevant public health actors and stakeholders to update management policies for severe hypertension.

A re-conceptualisation of the Batwa's right to recognition as a minority and indigenous people in Rwanda: A human rights-based approach

There have been divergent views by various human rights scholars and actors on how to address the question of vulnerability among indigenous and minority groups in Rwanda. Even though factors influencing vulnerability among these groups have received increasing scholarly attention, findings from these studies fall short of reflecting on the role of identity and discrimination. Whereas the government in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide sought to enhance unity and reconciliation by outlawing all ethnic identities, and instead conflating all vulnerable groups into a nomenclature namely, a Historically Marginalised People (HMP), a divergent group of scholars, human rights activists, the United Nations and African Union's instruments of human rights describe this approach as antithetical to the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous and minority groups. Using the human rights-based approach, this paper critically interrogates the issue of identity and how it has affected the enjoyment of the rights among the minority and indigenous Batwa people in Rwanda.The study employed a qualitative research design with data collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) as well as in-depth interviews (IDIs). Respondents included members of the Batwa community, officials of selected public institutions, leaders in Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and cooperative societies working towards the promotion of rights of the HMP. Data analysis involved the process of transcription and coding of data and the eventual reflexive thematic analysis.The findings show that the rights of the Batwa community to recognition and self-identity have varied meanings and implications to different members of the community as well as officials from public institutions and other relevant actors. To the existing research, the study affirms that the inconsistencies surrounding the Batwa's identity have accentuated their vulnerability.In terms of policy, the study suggests that in the short run, the Batwa community may require enhanced special temporary social protection measures in order to ameliorate their conundrum arising from identity ambiguity without compromising Rwanda's national unity. Further studies, should consider the role of land, forest and culture in further marginalising the Batwa, as well as quantitative methodology for inferential analysis.

The naval Operation Irini of the European Union: a step backwards of the csdp in the fight against the illegal immigration and search and rescue activities in the Mediterranean

Operation Irini is a new EU naval operation, in the framework of CSDP, to address violations of the arms embargo and illicit export of petroleum products in Libya, imposed by the United Nations Security Council. As a second objective, the Operation contributes to the training of Libyan coastguards in their fight against illegal immigration, as well as combating the mafias involved in the smuggling of migrants in the Central Mediterranean. From the outset, the naval operation has had scant resources and, unsurprisingly, its results have been poor in these first three years. In short, this new Operation, in the wake of Sophia’s poor results in the last months of its activity, represents a new setback for the CSDP and for the EU’s ambition to become a relevant actor in contemporary international society. Unfortunately, moreover, allegations of significant violations of migrants’ human rights by Libyan coast guard forces cast a shadow over the EU, which is assisting and training these security forces. Received: 04 September 2023Accepted: 24 January 2024

POLICY RECOMMENDATION FOR INTEGRATED SMART HEATING SYSTEM

In the context of the challenges posed by global climate change and the need for a sustainable energy transition, this study addresses the ways in which innovative strategies contribute to the formulation of public policies aimed at optimising heating systems. This research aims to identify solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to increase energy efficiency in the field of heating, essential aspects in achieving global sustainability goals to formulate policy recommendations for an integrated heating system. Adopting a mixed methodological approach, this analysis combines the literature review with a systematic examination of different initiatives and solutions adopted at the urban level to extract patterns of good practice and highlight relevant relationships and differences. The research emphasises the importance of the synergy between innovation, governance, and financing mechanisms in promoting sustainable and effective solutions. In the light of good practices and lessons learned from cities such as Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Vancouver, and Freiburg, the authors' contribution focuses on identifying governance strategies that facilitate the transition to optimised heating systems. These cities demonstrate how the implementation of well-designed public policies can act as a catalyst for the adoption of sustainable heating solutions, highlighting the essential role of public policy in mediating urban development needs and the effective implementation of sustainability initiatives. The research results show that adopting an integrated and participatory approach involving all relevant actors can speed up the adoption of more efficient heating systems with reduced environmental impact. This underlines the importance of adopting legislative and public policy frameworks that stimulate heating innovation and encourage collaboration between the public, private and community sectors. Beneficiaries of this research include policy makers, energy professionals, and the academic community, providing them with a solid foundation for the development and implementation of effective public policies. The study concludes that it is essential to develop public policy strategies that promote the adoption of sustainable heating solutions, based on lessons learned from cities that have successfully implemented such initiatives. Thus, progress towards a sustainable energy future can be accelerated, contributing significantly to global efforts to reduce the negative impact on the environment.

Apprenticeship Reforms in West Africa: An Outcome-Process Evaluation of a Pilot Dual Training Model-Based Apprenticeship Reform Scheme in Ghana

Context: Faced with deep challenges with access to formal education, many West African countries are increasingly taking steps to reform their informal apprenticeship systems to make them a quality skills development alternative for their teeming youth. A review of the literature shows that although different countries in the region are deploying different reform strategies, what is emerging as a dominant reform model is the "dual training model" (DTM), a collaborative arrangement in which the task of training apprentices is shared between informal trainers (master craftspersons, under their respective trade associations) and formal vocational training institutions (FVTIs). This paper presents an outcome-process evaluation of a DTM-based apprenticeship reform programme piloted in Ghana. Methods: Designed as a case study, the paper adopts an interpretivist approach, relying on diverse sources of data, both secondary and primary. Secondary data includes journal articles, attendance registers of participants, memorandums of understanding, relevant media reports, websites, and official reports by all relevant actors. The primary data originated from in-depth interviews with fourteen (14) key informants, as well as from overt and covert observations of respondents. Results: At the outcome level, the paper shows that the programme has largely failed in transferring new skills or in changing dominant poor practices among trainees, foundational objectives of the programme. At the process level, the paper revealed deep flaws in implementation; these are discussed in detail in an attempt to clarify the programme outcomes. Conclusion: The paper concludes that although the dual training model remains a potentially viable reform model in informal apprenticeships, its success ultimately depends on the quality of implementation, which in turn depends on the strength and quality of inter-stakeholder collaboration in programme design and implementation.

Combating Hate Speech on Social Media: Applying Targeted Regulation, Developing Civil-Communicative Skills and Utilising Local Evidence-Based Anti-Hate Speech Interventions

Social media platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) set their core aim as bringing people and communities closer together. Yet, they resemble a digital communicative battleground in which hate speech is increasingly present. Hate speech is not benign. It is the communicative driver of group oppression. It is therefore imperative to disarm this digital communicative battlefield by (a) regulating and redesigning social media platforms to prevent them from playing an active and enabling role in the dissemination of hate speech and (b) empowering citizen-users and local civil associations to recognise and actively counter hate speech. This top-down and bottom-up approach necessarily enforces responsibility and builds capacity. This requires that we adapt and combine three aspects of communicative peacebuilding: first, the (re)building of civil-communicative institutions; second, the use of digital citizenship educational programmes to support the development of civil-communicative skills for using social media; and third, the identification and use of local civil capacity and knowledge, which manifests in the present context in the use of local evidence-based anti-hate speech interventions. We argue that this interdisciplinary combinatorial approach has the potential to be effective because it combines two things: it places responsibility on relevant actors to both make social media safer and to navigate it harmlessly and responsibly; and it simultaneously helps build the capacity for actively identifying and countering hate speech in civil societies.

Unraveling the implementation processes of PEDs: Lesson learned from multiple urban contexts

The implementation of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) is recognized as a promising approach to achieving energy efficiency and reducing the negative environmental impact of climate change through the surplus of local renewable energy generation. However, several barriers to the implementation of PEDs, coupled with the lack of a joint definition and clarity surrounding PEDs, need to be addressed. These barriers include governance, incentives, social, process, market, technology, and context challenges, requiring a profound understanding of the priorities, ambitions, strategies, contextual conditions, administrative conditions, policies, economic and technical resources, and existing solutions of cities.This study explores the creation and implementation of PEDs, seeking to uncover the potential and challenges of this innovative concept in the pursuit of climate neutrality and energy efficiency. Through a peer-to-peer analysis of PED case studies and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders in Brussels, Stockholm, Vienna, Évora, Lisbon, and Salzburg, challenges such as the lack of clarity in the definition of PEDs, diversity of ownership, administrative complexity, resistance to change, limited knowledge exchange, financing constraints, technological limitations, and inadequate involvement of relevant actors are identified. Moreover, success factors and enabling strategies from these case studies are highlighted, including clear roadmaps, stakeholder collaboration, integrated decision-making processes, political commitment, and coordination platforms.

Avenues for Engagement? Testing the Democratic Nature of Library Book Challenge Processes

Background or Context: Public school library book challenges have garnered ample media attention in recent years as many school districts and advocacy organizations have reported record numbers of book challenges. Book challenges are not a new phenomenon, historically speaking, but they have often illuminated values clashes in communities and raise questions about the rights and freedoms of public school students. Judicial rulings and school district policies that address book challenges could provide insights for many members of school communities (including, but not limited to, school board members, students, parents, and teachers) as they experience challenges, but these aspects of the legal record and their influence on responses to book challenges remains underexamined in scholarship. Purpose, Objective, Research Question, or Focus of Study: The 1982 Supreme Court case Island Trees School District v. Pico remains the lasting judicial precedent for interpreting public school students’ First Amendment rights as they interact with school library books. We examine the extent to which school district book challenge policies align with court precedent set in Pico (1982) and the implications for students’ rights and democratic participation during book challenges. Research Design: Drawing on elements of the law and society framework as well as political analysis categories, this study uses qualitative methods to illuminate specific elements of district policies that govern book challenges. Specifically, we examine 29 policies in school districts that experienced a publicly reported book challenge between 2017 and 2021 to understand relationships between school district book challenge policies and the Pico (1982) precedent. Conclusions or Recommendations: Our findings reveal ample space between judicial rulings and school district policies we examine. In fact, we find a broader array of relevant actors in book challenge processes than conceived by the courts and raise implications for students’ constitutional rights and protections related to who policies indicate may or must be involved in these processes, the settings in which book challenge decisions are made, and the limited roles for public involvement during school library book challenges.

Durability, Flexibility and Plasticity in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Abstract The overall resilience of the Convention – its durability, its flexibility and its plasticity in the face of myriad challenges that have unfolded over time – is largely attributable to certain design features within the Convention, to a willingness to ‘bend’ the Convention toward practical outcomes when necessary, and to the foresight of the drafters in closely tying the Convention to other agreements and standards, as well as to the general field of international law, so that the Convention might evolve as the world evolves. There are risks in flexibility and plasticity; in measured doses they promote resilience, while if taken too far they can erode confidence and support in the regime. Ultimately, such resilience rests on the good faith of States and other relevant actors in pursuing common ground in regulating a common space.

Integration of digital health applications into the German healthcare system: development of "The DiGA-Care Path".

Since 2019 people who have insured in the German statutory health insurance are entitled to use certified apps called the Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen [Digital Health Applications (DiGAs)]. The prerequisite for this is that an app certified as DiGA and suitable for their diagnosis exists. The DiGA can then either be prescribed by a physician or psychotherapist or requested by the patient from the statutory health insurance fund. Given the novelty of this type of healthcare, the implementation of a DiGA should be closely monitored to identify potential weaknesses and achieve quality improvements. To enable an analysis of the supply of DiGAs step-by-step, we aimed to create the DiGA-Care Path. We conducted three steps to create the DiGA-Care Path. First, a knowledge base was created based on a structured literature research matched with knowledge gathered from the superordinate research project "QuaSiApps" funded by the German Federal Joint Committee. Second, we aimed to create an "ideal-typical" DiGA-Care Path using a flowchart. Third, based on the first path, a final path was developed using the graphical modeling language "Event-Driven Process Chain." The DiGA-Care Path was developed to depict the supply of DiGAs in Germany. The final path is constituted by a "main path" as well as a corresponding "sub-path". While the "main path" focuses more on the supply environment in which a DiGA is used, the "sub-path" depicts the supply delivered by the DiGA itself. Besides the process itself, the paths include relevant actors to indicate responsibilities for individual process steps. The DiGA-Care Path helps to analyze the current supply of DiGAs step-by-step. Thereby, each step can be investigated in detail to identify problems and to detect further steps where quality improvements can be enabled. Depending on the perspective, focused either on the supply environment, or the supply delivered by the DiGA itself, the "main path" or the "sub-path" can be used, respectively. Besides the potential of the DiGA-Care Path to improve the current supply of DiGAs, it can help as an orientation for international policymakers or further stakeholders either to develop their own integration of apps into healthcare systems or for international manufacturers to consider entering the German market.

African city diplomacy in global climate mobility debates

AbstractWhile researchers have paid growing attention to transnational city engagement in both the policy fields of migration and climate change, there is a dearth of studies exploring how cities claim agency and start acting in emerging global climate mobility debates. Moreover, city diplomacy research tends to focus predominantly on city actors from the global North. We aim to address this research bias and advance academic debates by exploring African city diplomacy in global climate mobility debates. Specifically, we examine the question: How do African cities claim recognition as relevant actors in global dialogues on climate mobility, and what kind of action do they take? To find answers, we draw on a role theory framework analysing empirical research undertaken within an international, interdisciplinary research project.

Platform labour on the margins and beyond the digital realm: Mapping the landscape of “platform-generated labour” in the digitally mediated short-term rental market.

This paper explores the landscape of labour in the platform economy and, more specifically, the ways local economic activities and actors are exposed to pressures of platformisation, building on the case of the Airbnb platform and the digitally-mediated short-term rental (STR) market in Athens. Conceptualising STR networks as infrastructural assemblages and through a qualitative study building on 27 semi-structured interviews with relevant actors, I focus on: tracing the wide range of workers who undertake essential tasks, the employment statuses, compensations and modes of engagement of workers, restrictions and gender-dimensions, as well as the content and attributes of STR-related work. My main argument is built around the notion of ‘platform worker’ and the need to expand it beyond workers that are directly related to the platforms, in order to include the on-site labour force upon which the creation and everyday operation of broader platform ecosystems and related infrastructure are depended.

Single-level reduction of the hydropower area Equivalent bilevel problem for fast computation

For inclusion in large-scale power system models, various aggregations and simplifications in the modeling of relevant actors are needed. This paper focuses on reduced models of hydropower, so called area Equivalent models. They use a simplified topology but are not a direct aggregation of the real hydropower system. Instead, the area Equivalent is constructed to mimic the simulated power production of a more detailed hydropower reference model. Here, this goal is fulfilled by formulating a bilevel problem minimizing the difference in simulated power production between the area Equivalent and its reference. Solving this can be computationally heavy. Thus, for a fast solution of this bilevel problem, a single-level reduction is done, which is then solved using two methods. The first method includes McCormick envelopes to form a linear single-level problem. Second is a modified Benders with a relaxed sub-problem to handle the non-convex single-level. These are then also compared to Particle Swarm Optimization. Moreover, six new upper-level objective functions are investigated for a case study of hydropower in northern Sweden. The method using McCormick envelopes is fast (2–5 min), but the area Equivalent shows lower average performance. The modified Benders finds a solution in 5–31 min with good performance.

The water flow diagram

IntroductionThe Water Flow Diagram (WFD) is a novel advocacy and communication tool that presents urban water supply and management in a simple visualization. Rapid urbanization, growing populations, and the climate crisis increase the pressure on water resources, particularly in urbanized areas. The WFD aims to foster a dialogue around conflict of interests and opportunities among different stakeholders, and trigger actions toward more sustainable urban water management (UWM), as well as a water secure future.MethodThe WFD is produced from data on water abstraction, water use of different sectors, water treatment, water recycling and contamination risks. The data were obtained from government services, wastewater and water utilities, large industries, universities and reports of intergovernmental organizations. If these sources did not have data, reports from NGOs or consultants, comparable contexts, default values or expert judgements were considered. The annual water flows are presented in a Sankey Diagram. An intuitive color code highlights the flows as “problematic” or “appropriate” and points to areas where UWM practices should be improved.Results and conclusionsThe final diagrams are a concise instrument that identifies challenges of UWM in the four application cases presented in this article. Key challenges that became evident included: pollution from agricultural production, the lack of wastewater and sanitation infrastructure, high water losses in the distribution networks, water exports leading to a lack in local supply and sewer overflows during heavy rainfalls. Opportunities identified were the need to: invest in sanitation and wastewater to protect resources, create coordination bodies to align conflict of interests, and/or invest in blue-green infrastructure for rainwater retention. The WFD triggered local actions, such as in-depth discussions between relevant actors, the formation of integrated water use committees and the interest of the national ministry in Senegal to replicate the diagram for other locations. This article presents the methodology, discusses the four case studies and deliberates on the prospective use of the WFD.

The Bilingualism Bonus in Socialist Slovenia: Domestic Policy or Diplomatic Prestige?

Abstract The objective of the article is to establish why a financial bonus for Slovenian–Italian bilingualism was introduced in the District of Koper (comprising today’s Slovenian municipalities of Ankaran, Koper, Izola and Piran), which came under Yugoslav rule after 1954. Using Brubaker’s triadic nexus concept and analysis of newly discovered archival sources, the authors found that (a) on the federal level, Yugoslavia only focused on minority protection as much as it was required to by international agreements and treaties, (b) the Italian minority itself was not a relevant actor in the Yugoslav system of minority protection, (c) Italy had a marginal role in the process of protecting the Italian minority in Yugoslavia, and (d) the political elite in Yugoslavia introduced the bilingualism bonus to encourage the integration of the Italian minority when building a new (socialist) sociopolitical order. The Slovenian-Italian bilingualism bonus was therefore not an altruist measure directed at minority protection, but rather a self-serving measure by the authorities to reinforce their power.

Moral disengagement in the media discourses on meat and dairy production systems

Meat and dairy production and consumption are the subject of ongoing public debates that touch on various sustainability issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, animal welfare, and social and health aspects. Despite extensive discussions specifically relating to the environmental impacts of livestock farming in conjunction with animal welfare aspects, there have been no substantial changes in production or consumption patterns. Moreover, the focus of extant research is usually on consumers' responses to public concerns around livestock production. In this study, we shed light on the discrepancy between the normative discourse and action of relevant value chain actors with the help of Bandura's theory of moral disengagement, which allows us to identify mechanisms that contribute to the perpetuation of unsustainable production and consumption patterns. In particular, we focus on the shifting of responsibility between actors in the normatively charged field of sustainable livestock production. We collected 109 media interviews on meat and dairy production and consumption from the years 2020–2022, including interviews with actors from agriculture, processing industries, and food retail. Using qualitative content analysis, we investigated the role of moral disengagement in the media discourse on meat and dairy production and explored differences between actors in terms of moral disengagement. We found that shifting of responsibility shows a quasi-circular dynamic of being shifted from all actors to all, in our case most frequently to consumers, politics, and (diffuse) economic forces. In addition, our analysis showed the use of social justifications, beneficial comparisons, and euphemistic labelling to be common mechanisms of moral disengagement, constituting a collective problem within agri-food systems.

Entering the Labor Market: Networks and Networking Behavior in the School-to-Work Transition

This study examines the social networks and networking behavior of students graduating from higher education and transitioning to the labor market. To obtain an in-depth understanding of graduating students’ social networks, a mixed method social network study was conducted. Network data from 12 graduating students were collected. The results showed that students seek labor market-oriented contacts with individuals in the personal, education, and work contexts. Students received more practical and job-specific support from weak ties (e.g., colleagues at internships) and more social and emotional support from strong ties (e.g., parents and fellow students). The development of a labor market-oriented network occurred spontaneously through social media channels or when students proactively connected with others at educational institutions or job events. However, not all students felt confident developing a network. In these cases, the lack of awareness of relevant network actors, and interpersonal and intrapersonal characteristics play a critical role.