Security Of Local Communities Research Articles

The municipality and the county in the local security system – possibilities and limitations

The article is an attempt to look at the current local security’s shape, its contemporary conditions, possibilities and limitations. The influence of the socio-political environment on the condition of local security is a regular phenomenon, provided that this environment creates optimal conditions for the shape of the security of local communities. Factors changing this environment are often beyond local communities that have no impact on this environment. In Polish conditions, ‘locality’ is related to the activities of local government units. Municipalities and counties are local self-government communities. These units have the greatest impact on the formation and activity of smaller formal and informal local communities. The author’s intention is to note these positive and negative conditions of local security, with an indication of the entities exerting the greatest influence on local security.

Security of Local Communities on an Entity Basis

The subjective dimension of security covers a wide range of subjects, ranging from an individual, through various human communities and organizations, including states, nations, ethnic groups, and ending with civilizations and the society of the Earth. Diversification of the security entities of local communities causes the need to organize them, rank in appropriate categories and assign appropriate operating conditions, protected values (values of security) and the opportunities, challenges and threats resulting from them.

Legal Security and Financial Security of Local Communities. Selected Issues

<p>The study has been devoted to showing the relationship between legal security and financial security at the local government level. To this end, firstly some consideration has been given to determining the meaning of the terms “security” and “financial security” from the point of view of the state and local government. In addition, it has been shown that financial security is inextricably linked to the financial power enjoyed by the state, specifically by the bodies acting in its name and on its behalf. The power resulting from this is the financial power of local government units, which is enjoyed by such units although to a limited extent. However, it has been found that even this scope of legal regulations limiting the possibilities of authoritative financial activities of local government bodies is of key importance from the security viewpoint of local communities.</p>

Ethnic Identity as a Cultural Safety Resource of Local Communities in the Context of Globalization

In the context of globalization, the main threat to the cultural security of local communities is the spiritual expansion of Western civilization, which results in changes in the worldview and lifestyle of people. Under the threat of spiritual expansion, they activate protective mechanisms in order to preserve, reproduce, and transmit cultural norms and values that serve as spiritual guidelines in social uncertainty and global chaos. The ethnic identity, being one of these mechanisms, has the capacity to ensure the ontological security of the community, preserve its cultural identity and mobilize it for positioning and defending its interests. The constructivist paradigm serves the methodological basis of the study and allows considering the ethnic identity as a way of organizing the existence of community on the basis of its boundaries’ identification. The transformational approach which makes it possible to characterize the processes of the modern world and their impact on local societies is methodologically significant for the study. The concept of socio-cultural crisis, manifested in the destruction of the value-semantic and symbolic world of ethnic communities is conceptual to identify the destructive influence of globalization processes on the life of local communities. The riskological approach allows revealing the specifics of the current risks to the cultural safety of local communities. The study concludes that under the risks and threats to the cultural security of local communities, they activate the resource potential of ethnic identity, which allows maintaining their personal integrity and uniqueness. The resource potential of ethnic identity makes it possible to act as a social behavior regulator and ensure the cultural security of both individuals and groups, forming symbolic boundaries between the worlds of us and them.

The Role of a Community Police Officer in Shaping the Security of Local Communities — Considerations in the Context of the First National Surveys of Community Police Officers (2017)

The article is devoted to the discussion of selected results of the nationwide community police officers research conducted by the authors in January 2017. This research is a part of the ongoing project of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration „Community police officer closer to us”. The analysis was based on the answers provided by 5,400 respondents from all over the country to the following questions: Should the role of community police officers be to carry out social prevention tasks? Are community police officers satisfied with their job as community police officers? How do they assess their interpersonal communication skills? Do they think they have prestige in the local community? Do they participate in meetings with the local community and how do they characterize the police mission? The results will be processed in 17 reports from the national community police officers research. The application of conclusions from the results of qualitative and quantitative research conducted all over Poland in 17 garrisons will have a significant impact on the dialogue between the authorities and community police officers, determining the expectations of first contact officers, their problems, strengths and weaknesses. The research carried out will increase the effectiveness of the “Community police officer closer to us” programme, one of the basic programmes of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration implemented in order to build trust between the authorities and a citizen. The research also resulted in two monographs on the functioning of the district division in Poland. The authors’research focuses on the partnership of community police officers services with the local community for internal security, taking into account the role of community police officers social and educational activities, and on drawing a professional portrait of the community police officer who is closer to people, solves problems of local communities and carries out activities in the social and educational area.

Rozważania nad naukami o bezpieczeństwie i bezpieczeństwem społeczności lokalnych

The science of safety as a discipline in the field of social sciences is already six years old. Attempts are made to search for the identity of science, to introduce the terminology, definition and methodology. Theoretical reflections concern, inter alia, the name of the discipline, safety science or safety sciences sub-disciplines and specializations in discipline, methodological identity, educational activity in the field of security, and the functioning of leading scientific centers. One area of interest for safety sciences is the local community and the threats that affect their functioning. In the discussion on the separation of sub-disciplines and specialties, the security of local communities can be considered as a separate area of scientific exploration having a specific subject and area of scientific exploration.

Maintaining Food Security of Local Communities in Underdeveloped Regions through Agrarian Reform in Napan Village, Indonesian

Objective - The objective of this study is to identify the food security characteristics in local communities at Napan Village, Nusa Tenggara Timur Indonesia and to study the implementation of agrarian reform principles covering asset reform and access reform, in achieving food sustainability. Methodology/Technique - The method used is a normative judicial method. The data is analysed through qualitative judicial means, supported by Focus Group Discussion, to obtain primary qualitative data. Findings - The results show that synchronization of agrarian reform programs, including asset reform with "Food Intensification Program" along with "Social Forestry Program", reinforce farmers' rights over their farmlands and assure farmland tenure and ownership. The approach of "access reform" by means of the "Food Intensification Program", integrated with government intervention, might serve as the base for achieving the inclusivity and continuity of food sustainability in Napan Novelty - This study highlights the need for central and local governments to accelerate food production in underdeveloped regions through asset and access reform programs. Land Certification, Social Forestry Program, and the Food Intensification Program can all be implemented to strengthen farmers' land rights as well as their productivity. Type of Paper - Empirical. Keywords: Agrarian Reform; Food Security; Napan Village; Indonesia. JEL Classification: Q1, Q18.

Community-based Knowledge of Indigenous Vegetation in Arid African Landscapes

This article is based on comparative research conducted in three African countries—Mali, Botswana and Kenya—between 2006 and 2007. The research focuses on local perceptions of biodiversity loss and land degradation in grazing pastures as a result of anthropogenic activities. We show that land degradation can be motivated by climate change, while local overuse of indigenous vegetation can lead to resource conflict. We then examine how changes in indigenous vegetation might influence the livelihood and security of local communities. In drawing key findings common to all three countries, we suggest that the sustainability of indigenous vegetation in dryland ecosystems can be maintained through seasonal mobility of herds, preservation of dry season grazing and improved livestock marketing, and that failure to do so can result in far-reaching consequences for rural communities.