Social Transformation Research Articles

Jovem Doutor Quixadá Project: The role of medical students in health promotion outreach

Introduction: Adolescence is a phase of life full of emotional, cognitive, social and hormonal transformations, as well as changes in affective relationships between young people and their experience of sexuality. In view of this, connecting education and health is essential for sharing information, identifying users' health needs and fostering individuals' autonomy, so that their choices can be more appropriate, as well as reducing the distance between health professionals and the population. Methodology: This is a descriptive experience report from an extension group, whose main audience was students at a full-time secondary school in the municipality of Quixadá, Ceará. The interventions took place from August 2023 to October 2023. The actions involved an educational blitz, lectures and active methodologies on various topics. In addition, an Instagram social network profile was created to publicize the project's actions and educational-formative content, which enabled a greater reach. The actions were divided into five themes: Educational blitz on the culture of peace; Bullying and Fake news; Negative impacts of alcohol and drug use in adolescence; Mental health; STIs in adolescence. Result: The actions on bullying and the Yellow September action began with a brief explanation of the subject, which helped the students to learn about the topic and those who already knew about it to reaffirm the concept. Later, at the end of the explanation, the students were able to ask questions and share experiences, which made the action more interactive, enriched the debate and enabled a mutual exchange of knowledge. On the other hand, the educational blitz on the culture of peace in schools took a different approach, using pamphlets with the numbers of violence among the public and its impact on the future, so that the young people approached were impacted and recognized the importance of implementing a culture of peace in schools. Finally, the project helped to strengthen the school-university relationship by improving the quality of life of young people, breaking down barriers in the classroom, especially when it came to mental health.

Examining the formation of legal guarantees for equal acces to civil service: historical origins and modern application

The aim of the work is to demonstrate the historical progression of access to civil service across different historical epochs – Ancient World, Middle Ages, New Era, and Modern Times. The developmental phases of equal access to civil service mirror the primary trends in shaping the relationship between individuals and the state. The article demonstrates the peculiarities of legal guarantees, which are closely intertwined with the complex global political, economic, social, and cultural transformations of humanity, giving scholars the space to go far beyond modern history. Employing a theoretical research model focused on a human-centered perspective, it scrutinizes the essence of legal assurances. The historical method is employed to comprehend the retrospective formation and progression of the civil service. Additionally, the axiological method forms the basis for considering equal access to the civil service as a value category.
 Results of the research highlight that the legal guarantees of the right to equal access to the civil service have evolved over time, dating back to the Ancient World. This evolution is attributed to the formation of the civil service institution. The legal guarantees for equal access to the civil service are not only recognized at the national level but are also enshrined in international legal standards aimed at protecting human and civil rights. The study acknowledges that restrictions on the right to equal access during periods of special legal regimes can limit citizens’ political opportunities for contributing to good governance. Author concluded that from the time of the Ancient World to the present, as a product of the evolutionary formation of the civil service institution, legal guarantees of the right to equal access to the civil service have been formed, including legality and fairness of selection procedures, equality, and non-discrimination of applicants for civil service positions, requirements for professionalism and competence, remuneration, etc.

Differentiated Borders of Belonging and Exclusion: European Migrants in Rural Areas in Iceland

This article addresses questions of difference, positionality, and belonging from the perspectives of international migrants living and working in rural communities in Iceland. With the recent integration of rural areas into the global economy, small villages and towns have undergone rapid social transformation. The development of new industries and growing tourism in these localities has attracted many international migrants. The share of migrants in the local populations oscillates between 10% to 50%, depending on the town, with the majority coming from Europe. Commonly, they make up the greater part of workers in service jobs and manual labour in rural towns and villages. This article builds on data from ethnographic field research over 15 months in five parts of Iceland located outside of the capital region. Based on the analysis of interviews with migrants, we examine different perceptions of affinity and belonging and explore their experiences of inclusion and exclusion. To what extent do migrants see themselves as part of local communities? How do they narrate their social positions in those places? The discussion highlights how social stratification and hierarchy affect migrants’ experiences of inclusion as commonly displayed in the interviews. Furthermore, we elaborate on how notions of relatedness and otherness reflect inherited ideas of Europe and contemporary divergent geopolitical positions.

Learning process of implementing a cutaneous leishmaniasis capacity-building program, using an innovative pedagogy for rural populations in Colombia.

Participatory approaches to health often link capacity building as an indispensable process for strengthening the social capital of communities, in order to develop empowerment processes that lead to social transformation at the local level. In Pueblo Rico (Colombia), a capacity-building program in cutaneous leishmaniasis and social skills for community work was implemented with school students, health workers and local leaders. This article seeks to evaluate the implementation, results, and impact of that program. Primary data were collected through participant observation, questioners, the development of artistic products, and a focus group. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed through thematic analysis, and the quantitative data were quantitively coded and analyzed. The capacity-building program had positive results in terms of the three aspects evaluated: the pedagogical model's implementation, the learning process, and the impact of the program. Three key elements that contributed to the success of the program were identified: the application of the principles of meaningful learning as a guide for the pedagogical model, the use of Social Innovation in Health case studies to broaden participant's perspective, and the creation of artistic products as facilitators for the appropriation of knowledge. Participatory pedagogical models adequate to the context and its participants allow the implementation of effective training programs that develop capacities within the communities. To achieve a significant impact, it is necessary to ensure the continuity and long-term sustainability of capacity building through transfer of knowledge with cooperation between health institutions and the community. In this way, the capacities developed by the community constitute a valuable social capital for achieving transformations within and outside the health field.

STEVE TESICH’S ON THE OPEN ROAD AND NAOMI WALLACE’S THINGS OF DRY HOURS AS DISCOURSES ON ART AND FREEDOM

Through the analysis of Steve Tesich’s and Naomi Wallace’s dramatic masterpieces On the Open Road (1992) and Things of Dry Hours (2007), respectively, the paper strives to examine the dramatists’ insights into the role of art and theatre within the context of the contemporary artistic landscape and the societal ethos. Tesich and Wallace, both acclaimed as engaged and dissenting writers, envision theatre as a hallowed space for social and imaginative metamorphosis. They challenge the prevailing cultural norms and values, serving as beacons of resistance against dehumanizing practices that have taken root in modern society, often perpetuated by capitalist regimes. In this light, the paper underscores the seminal importance of their artistic contributions, which delve into the disintegration of art’s societal significance, the pervasiveness of societal apathy, the absurdity of warfare, and the overarching influence of organized religion. Within the framework of On the Open Road, Steve Tesich poignantly underscores the dwindling influence of art in a dystopian world where it has been commodified. The characters Al and Angel grapple with a post-apocalyptic society fragmented into distinct factions under the dominion of potent entities. Art, once the source of profound inspiration, is relegated to the status of a mere bargaining chip. Tesich contemplates the devaluation of art appreciation, underscoring the dire need to fathom art, rather than merely rationalize it. He cogently argues that this transformative paradigm poses an existential threat to humanity and its moral underpinnings. However, amid the bleak future depicted, the play offers a glimmer of hope - the restoration of human nature through acts of love devoid of ulterior motives. In a parallel vein, Naomi Wallace’s Things of Dry Hours is distinctly situated in the early 1930s Alabama, a locale that encapsulates myriad sociopolitical nuances. The play unfolds as an intricate tapestry of themes encompassing race, class, and political turmoil. The characters, notably Tice Hogan, his daughter Cali, and the enigmatic Corbin Teel, confront the divisive aspects of racial privilege and economic disparities. The dramatic narrative adroitly negotiates the interplay between Christian religiosity and the tenets of Communism. Concurrently, Wallace delves into the ineffable dimensions of spiritual desolation, perceptibly etched into the characters’ existential identities. The characters undergo a transformative journey, awakening dormant desires and rekindling hope for social transformation and a more meaningful existence.

The Contributions of Marketing, Operational, Legal, and Financial Aspects to the Successful Implementation of the Donation Program Facility

The establishment of a centralized donation program facility in every city and municipality is in congruence with the United Nation’s Sustainability Strategy and anchored on the Philippine National Development Plan 2023-2028 for deep economic and social transformation to reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction which is embedded on “Ambisyon Natin by 2040 that describes the kind of life that people want to live, and how the country will be by 2040. A study was conducted using the theoretical framework of a project’s feasibility to assess the viability of the program. The marketing aspect focused on how the information about the program shall be disseminated to the target beneficiaries. The operational aspect of the operating process of the donation program focuses on the activities and tasks to be used to coordinate, collect, and distribute food and non-food items to the final consumers/beneficiaries. The operational process projection shall cover the planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and regulating the many phases of the donation program facility. A legal feasibility assessment was used and regarded as a critical workflow to ensure that the program achieves its underlying goals in a timely, efficient, and seamless manner, hence reducing the risk of unpleasant surprises during implementation. Financial elements of business refer to the management, acquisition, and utilization of financial resources to achieve the program’s strategic objectives. Budgeting, forecasting, analyzing, planning, managing, and negotiating are all part of the process, as is risk management. The centralized donation program will cover the receipts and disbursement of all donated items plus the proceeds of the livelihood products the program will offer, thus a need for its feasibility is needed to be used as one of the bases of its establishment. Keywords: donation program, feasibility study of a donation program, operating process of a donation program, program strategic objectives

Geoscience ambassadors: An extracurricular college-level program for transforming relationships to the geosciences through student-crafted stories

A recurrent theme in the geosciences is the persistent need for more student demographic diversity, especially in academic programs. A strategy to make the geosciences inclusive and motivating for one marginalized group may not succeed with another, requiring the search for new approaches. The Geoscience Ambassadors, an extracurricular program for undergraduate and graduate students at The University of Texas at Austin, explored the value of involving students in the essential work of social and cultural transformation in the geosciences. The program aimed to empower the next generation of geoscientists to learn about, communicate and challenge ideas about what it means to be a geoscientist. Students explored their unique pathways into the geosciences using an autobiographical narrative approach. In taking on the role of Geoscience Ambassador, students translated their pathway experiences into influential personal stories and inspirational videos tailored for different audiences, and they designed a changemaking activity for a community of their choice. Evaluation addressed program implementation and program value to students using participation metrics, participant observation, participant interviews, and a focus group. Value was identified in the impact on ambassadors’ personal growth: self-efficacy, geoscience identity, leadership identity, sense of accomplishment, and satisfaction with their perceived impact on their chosen community. We conclude that with preparation and guidance, students can be empowered to play a critical role in changing the geosciences by sharing their pathway stories, mentoring other geoscience students, and engaging in social and cultural transformation. We propose design principles for refining and adapting the approach to changemaking in other contexts and at scale.

“Yugoslavia has Nothing. Yugoslavia has No Bread. But Hungary Gives Us Bread”: Access to Food and (Dis)loyalty in a “Redeemed” Yugoslav Borderland

Abstract This article illustrates the socioeconomic background of rural political discontent in the post-imperial Yugoslav border region Prekmurje. The author argues that during the post-Habsburg political transition and ensuing social transformation, the fundamental lack of loyalty to the Yugoslav state among an important segment of the rural population of Prekmurje was rooted in insufficient access to food. Documents of court proceedings, official state reports, and findings of individuals with deep understandings of the situation on the ground reveal that this rural political mobilization was not so much a reflection of Hungarian propaganda or a “lack of appropriate national identification” among the local population—although, of course, these two factors cannot be ignored in a contested and linguistically and ethnically diverse region—but rather an outcome of the impoverishment of large sections of the peasant population.

Tinjauan Literatur Transformasi Sosial dalam Era Virtual

Social transformation in the virtual era has become an increasingly relevant research subject with the expanding penetration of digital technology in human life. Recent literature studies reveal various aspects related to virtual sociology, including the formation of online communities, the role of technology in identity formation, and the impact of social media on culture and public opinion. This research aims to compile a comprehensive literature review on social transformation in the virtual era, identifying current trends, important findings, and recent developments in virtual sociology studies. Additionally, this study aims to investigate the social impacts arising from changes in social interaction and culture in the digital world. Employing a comprehensive literature review approach, this research gathers and evaluates various relevant literary sources, including journal articles, books, research reports, and other information sources related to social transformation in the virtual era. The findings of this research provide a deeper understanding of social dynamics in the virtual era, including the formation of online communities, digital identity, and the role of social media in shaping public opinion. The information obtained from this literature review can serve as a reference for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in addressing challenges and opportunities arising from social changes driven by digital technology. The social transformation in the virtual era plays a significant role in shaping the dynamics of modern society. Studies on virtual sociology offer valuable insights into how digital technology influences human behavior, interaction, and social structures in the virtual world.

Enhanced computer network security assessment through employing an integrated LogTODIM-TOPSIS technique under interval neutrosophic sets

In the context of the development of the new era, computer network technology has become an indispensable and important technological means in people’s daily work and life. Through network technology, information resources can be collected, integrated, processed, and applied, thereby improving information analysis and mining capabilities, constructing big data environments for various industries, providing convenient and fast intelligent information services, and promoting social transformation and development. However, in practical development, network security issues seriously affect information security and social stability, and computer viruses and hackers pose a huge threat to computer systems. The computer network security evaluation is the MAGDM problems. Recently, the Logarithmic TODIM (LogTODIM) and TOPSIS technique has been utilized to cope with MAGDM issues. The interval neutrosophic sets (INSs) are utilized as a technique for characterizing uncertain information during the computer network security evaluation. In this paper, the interval neutrosophic number Logarithmic TODIM-TOPSIS (INN-LogTODIM-TOPSIS) technique is conducted to solve the MAGDM under INSs. Finally, a numerical case study for computer network security evaluation is utilized to validate the proposed technique. The prime contributions of this paper are put forward: (1) The entropy technique based on score values and accuracy value are conducted to obtain weight information under INSs; (2) an integrated INN-LogTODIM-TOPSIS technique is conducted to put forward the MAGDM issue; (3) An illustrative example for computer network security evaluation has been accomplished to put forward the INN-LogTODIM-TOPSIS technique.

Political fatalism and the (im)possibility of social transformation

AbstractHow can the world be improved if the people inhabiting it do not believe they can transform it? A belief in such political fatalism is an important obstacle to social transformation, yet underexplored in the contemporary political theory literature. Political fatalism can be understood as a commitment to the belief that human agency cannot effectuate social transformation. In this article, I provide a typology of such political fatalism, considering its two main forms: fatalism of inevitability as the positive version that humans do not have the power to affect positive social change, and fatalism of impossibility as the negative version that human agency does not play a role in avoiding negative social change such as climate catastrophe. Focussing particularly on the more pressing contemporary problem of the fatalism of impossibility, I develop three distinct dimensions along which fatalism has an impact: the cognitive, the affective, and the practical. Finally, I offer solutions, focussing on how to combine interventions on the cognitive, affective, and practical levels: historically sensitive critique, imagination, and a combination of bounded spontaneism and long-term political organisation.

THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER AND THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

The present work entitled the role of the teacher and the learning environment, intends to reflect on the role of the teacher in e-learning, presenting the relevance in the innovative perspective in relation to the technological learning environment and the dynamic teacher x technology x students. In search of the consolidation of the theme, it was developed through bibliographical research as a deepening of the subject's knowledge, which is aimed at understanding the importance of the teacher as a mediator for social transformation and as a determinant in the construction of learning. In contemporary times, the role of the teacher is paramount so that we actually have a favorable environment for the development of learning. All the changes promoted by technological innovations must be seen as an anchor for the growth and development of learning and, in this perspective, understand that the role of the teacher will never be replaced, that is, it will always be paramount, since technological resources are here to stay and will always expand the modalities of teaching, thus providing students with diverse knowledge.

Responsibility and innovation for low waste and circular economy transitions: what roles for households?

ABSTRACT The need for waste policy to embrace CE principles through measures to avoid waste generation and improve recycling rates can be understood within the broader context of sustainability transitions. We analyze three Australian waste policies to understand how households are framed as framing policy actors. Using a governance rationalities framework inspired by Hajer (2005) and Dryzek’s (2013) work on environmental governance, we identified four discursive structures, i.e. four different problem frames with suggested solutions, measures and responsibilities. These problem frames reveal an expanding role for government and industry in waste management, alongside a more passive role for households. While anticipating that households will undertake more sorting and will reduce the amount of waste they generate, the policies lack a coherent conceptualization of the role of households as actors in circular economy transitions in Australia. Our analysis highlights and helps to understand the discrepancy between high-level CE and zero-waste policy ambitions and their implementation in practice. We conclude with suggestions on how waste policy could benefit from deliberative approaches that engage with agency for social innovation and transformation in norms and practices at the household scale.

„Pożyteczni idioci” kampanii dezinformacyjnych. Mechanizmy tworzenia się społeczności wirtualnych rozpowszechniających fałsz i manipulację w sieci

This article explores the phenomenon of virtual communities disseminating false and manipulated content. The author points out the relationship between contemporary changes in the media environment, influencing the formation of social identity, worldview and the feeling of emotions, and the intentional creation of virtual communities around disinformation content. The impact of disinformation campaigns, initiated by organised state and non-state actors, on the creation of virtual communities complicit in the creation, reproduction and propagation of false narratives was also considered. The objectives of such campaigns, which focus on creating alternative information environments and disinformation communities, are identified and described. Contemporary social transformations were then characterised in relation to the role played by virtual communities in the adaptation of individuals to these changes. Particular attention was paid to increasing individualisation, the formation of social identification in digital media and the growth of a sense of anxiety and insecurity in society. As a result, mechanisms that are well-established in contemporary social transformations have been identified that foster the formation of and participation in disinformation communities, viz: (1) helping to understand complex and unclear socially important topics; (2) pointing to the “right” norms and values; (3) helping to form a worldview; (4) supporting coping with difficult-to-control emotions; (5) creating a space for the expression of rebellion and countercultural attitudes; (6) creating a space of “escape” for excluded or marginalised individuals; (7) helping to shape social identification. The effects of disinformation campaigns based on the participation of virtual communities were also identified, viz: (1) the creation of “unconscious disinformation agents”, (2) the formation of oppositional identities, (3) the polarisation of communities around emotions, and (4) the normalisation of extreme values and views.

Anticipating Future Technologies

This paper explores the social dimensions of a potential green hydrogen transition in New Zealand. As an emerging technology, green hydrogen development and implementation is limited and therefore it is difficult to predict how such innovation will influence wider society. Social research is currently limited to acceptability studies which fail to capture the wider ideologies at play. Media articles offer a good opportunity to explore how the topic of green hydrogen is being introduced to the New Zealand public, helping us to understand how technical discourse is converted into conventional understanding. This research analyses contemporary media to identify the dominant narrative being presented to the public. Critiques of the dominant green hydrogen narrative show that this technology’s ‘business as usual’ approach has the potential to perpetuate contemporary energy system issues, suggesting that replacing fossil fuels is not enough to encourage social transformation. However, these critiques also suggest that there are opportunities to reimagine green hydrogen applications that better align with notions of energy justice and democracy.
 Supervised by: Abbi Virens
 Scholarship Project Funded by: GNS Green Hydrogen Programme NZ

Transdisciplinary humanities for social transformation

Abstract The new degree in the Global Digital Humanities has been launched by the Faculty of Humanities and Education at Mondragon University on its new urban campus of Bilbao AS Fabrik. In a time of increasing urbanisation, universities must reflect on their relationship to surrounding cities and regions and develop ways to incorporate the urban and regional setting in their educational offerings. This BA shows the value of a transdisciplinary Action Research approach in facing complex social challenges and contributing to innovative social transformations in the city and region. The new campus also marks the beginning of an internal university process to develop mutual knowledge and greater permeability between different degree programmes in pursuit of a new organisational culture and practice that moves beyond narrow disciplinary models.

Scientific substantiation of complex extraction and processing of secondary resources for the development of alternative sources of energy

Scientific research on the integrated extraction and processing of secondary resources, such as mine water, technogenic waste, and others, in order to develop alternative energy sources in the diversification of coal mines is an urgent scientific task that will help solve the issues on the economic, social and environmental transformation of coal mining regions. In practice, it is necessary to consider several alternative options and assess the possibility of obtaining different end products from the targeted processing of secondary raw materials. The choice of a rational processing option to obtain the target product is very complicated due to the different composition of the feedstock, as well as a significant variety of primary processing methods and parameters of intermediate processes, which causes certain difficulties in forecasts and calculations. Developing a methodology for typifying actions when choosing options for integrated processing of recyclable materials of different states, defining the basic principles and its structure for comparative analysis of the input, intermediate, and output parameters in terms of composition, physical, chemical, and technological characteristics are urgent modern tasks.

Priorities of Russia's social policy in the context of global social changes

The relevance of the topic chosen by the authors is determined by the very fact of global changes in the established social order taking place in the world, which create serious risks for the "welfare state" formed in the West after the Second World War. There is a transformation of the basic principles of the modern welfare state – the principles of social solidarity and social justice, the external and internal conditions for the modern state to perform its social functions are becoming more complicated. The ongoing global social transformations fully affect Russian society, especially since it was Russia that acted as their catalyst. Their socio–economic consequences for Russia are ambiguous. The purpose of this work is to analyze the identification of priorities of social policy in modern Russia in conditions associated with both risks and new opportunities in the context of global social changes. The main methodological basis of the research is theoretical scientific methods and a systematic approach. The interdisciplinary nature of the research within the framework of the identified issues requires the involvement of both the results of sociological research and a significant amount of data from domestic and international economic statistics. It is emphasized that in the field of social policy, which is initially based on the principles of redistribution of resources through the budget system, there are no solutions that provide all Russians with prospects for economic and social well-being. Given the complexity of developing universal government solutions capable of ensuring the realization of the social interests of all population groups, in order to preserve the solidarity of Russians in conditions of instability and resource constraints, it is necessary to identify the right priorities of social policy. Accordingly, the authors analyzed the main problems and prospects in the implementation of the main priorities of the social policy of the modern Russian state: overcoming inequality and poverty, support for the participants of the SVO and their families, family and demographic policy. The authors conclude that when developing and implementing social measures, the Russian state should avoid inflating "bubbles" of social obligations. In addition, it is necessary to keep in mind the limited budget resources and avoid "life on loan". Consequently, the authors substantiate the position on the need to implement the principles of rationality, targeting, and orientation towards solving the most acute social problems of modern Russian society in conditions of limited resources.

Perspectives on Practice: Responding to Texts as Future Selves: Empowering Social Transformation with Children Identified with Exceptionalities through Dialogic Read-Alouds

Dialogic interactive read-alouds provided pedagogical possibilities for critical self-reflection and agentive community transformation.

Calculation and Cause Analysis of Hidden Unemployment—A Case Study of the Northeast State-Owned Forest Areas in China

The Northeast State-owned Forest Areas comprise the largest region of resources in China. The transformation of the Northeast State-owned Forest Areas is due to various stimuli, such as policies, systems, and markets. In the context of ecological construction and the reform of the state-owned forest system in Northeast China, these have undergone a transformation in terms of economy, society, and ecology. However, a mismatch persists between employment and industrial structures, leading to hidden unemployment. This study employs the framework of hidden unemployment theory, utilizing the Cobb–Douglas production function to quantify the hidden unemployment rate, revealing the relationship between transformation and hidden unemployment. Through this analysis, the underlying causes of hidden unemployment in Northeast China’s state-owned forest regions are scrutinized. There is a bidirectional causal relationship between ecological transformation and hidden unemployment, while there is a unidirectional causal relationship between economic transformation and hidden unemployment. Variance decomposition analysis highlights the substantial contribution of social transformation, followed by economic transformation, with ecological transformation playing a comparatively smaller role. Based on the above research, this article proposes expediting the reforms within the forest industry groups, facilitating the separation of governmental and corporate interests. Additionally, it advocates for strategic forestry development planning to effectively absorb surplus labor, and proposes three policy directives aimed at supporting forest area employees, including provisions for job transfers and reemployment opportunities.