Welfare Of Society Research Articles

Albanian Social Work as a Challenging Journey from Education to Profession

Social workers play a vital role in providing social services and improving the lives of individuals and the community. Despite this, their professionalism in fulfilling this role is related to how the services are organized and their education level, qualifications after completing studies, and rewards. The study aims to further investigate the assessment of social workers who graduated in Albania and their preparation for the labour market to highlight the need for continuous education towards professional improvement. It applies a mixed research methodology with the application of three research instruments: a cross-sectional questionnaire (n=450), semi-structured interviews (n=10), and focus groups (n=7). The findings influence the expansion of capacities and improvement of current curricula by periodically reviewing and enriching with new insights gained through experience, helping advance the professionals who reported being trained from different sources but don't possess certified and accredited continuous qualifications. Participants evidenced more practice hours to help students feel more prepared to understand and provide social services, especially in the early stages of their careers. Also, they expressed a deep commitment to their profession despite challenges such as inadequate pay, the overwhelming workload and problematic infrastructure towards services, the challenge of being still unrecognized in their professional roles, and the necessity of being supervised in their work. A strong connection between academic institutions, evidence and the labour market will influence the career possibilities of social workers and the well-being of individuals and society.

DEONTOLOGI VS. KONSEKUENSIALISME : PANDANGAN FILOSOFIS DALAM PENEGAKAN HUKUM HAK ASASI MANUSIA

Enforcement of Human Rights (HAM) law is an effort to ensure that the basic rights of every individual can be respected, protected, safeguarded and fulfilled by the state and society. The deontological and consequentialist approaches have provided different views on upholding human rights. Deontology emphasizes moral obligations, namely that every action must be based on correct principles without prioritizing the consequences. This approach is sometimes less flexible in dealing with complex circumstances or cases and requires contextual adjustments. Meanwhile, consequentialism emphasizes the results and impacts of an action, where an action can be judged as good or bad based on the consequences of the action on the welfare of society, but risks sacrificing basic human rights principles for the sake of short-term results. This research aims to provide an analysis regarding how these two approaches are applied and the resulting impact on enforcing human rights law. That of these two approaches, neither approach is completely superior in enforcing human rights law. Both approaches have their respective advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, an approach that combines deontological principles with considerations of consequentialism is necessary to ensure and improve the just and prosperous enforcement of human rights law. Enforcement of human rights law ensures that the principles of justice, freedom and human dignity are upheld or respected in all aspects of life. The research method used in this research is normative research, namely a legal research method that focuses on analyzing legal norms and principles that develop in society.

The Post Governance: Paving the Way for Teenagers' Role in Society Through Social Media

When there is an emphasis on governance practices or governance in Indonesia, including villages is also a priority. Therefore, it is interesting to study how governance is in the era of use and utilization of social media in village communities. By using a case study approach through interviews and focus group discussions, it turns out that this study produces a new pattern or model of governance practice. The findings of the governance model in this social media era are post governance, it turns out that the group of teenagers who dominantly use social media have the potential to become the fourth actor with a volunteer-altruist spirit for the welfare of society. This result, or post-gavernance, has two options, namely the tetragonal model and the pyramid model. The results of this study can be generalized to explain the same phenomenon in other villages or at local, regional and national levels.

Lay people expect social modernization will bring more societal well-being: the relation between expected societal development, communion, agency and subjective well-being

BackgroundPrevious studies showed that lay people see modernization as a threat to social fabric because it will make people less warm and moral. The purpose of this paper is to describe lay people’s understanding of the effects of different types of modernization. Specifically, we checked how social, economic, technological and conventional development are expected to influence communion, agency and well-being in the future society.MethodsWe conducted three cross-sectional studies using online surveys. Prolific participant pool users over 18 years of age that held Canadian citizenship and resided in Canada were eligible to take part in the study in exchange for financial compensation. T-tests and linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS statistical package.ResultsParticipants expected that people in future society will have lower well-being than today. Technological modernization was expected to decrease communion and well-being but increase agency in the future, while social modernization was expected to strengthen societal communion, agency and well-being.ConclusionLay people believe that different types of modernization will have different effects on society. Whereas technological progress is viewed ambivalently, social development is seen as uniformly positive for well-being of society. In order to counter pessimism about the future, policy makers should focus on social development while striving to mitigate negative social aspects of technological advancements.

Euthanasia: A Fiqh Approach to the issue of Dignified Death in a Medical Context

This article aims to explore the Fiqh approach to the issue of euthanasia within a medical context, given the increasing implementation and debate surrounding this practice globally. This study gains urgency from the significant growth in requests for euthanasia and assisted dying, raising profound questions about the criteria and conditions that permit this practice, as well as potential conflicts with religious and ethical principles. The methodology employed is a qualitative phenomenological approach, with primary data sources including verses from the Qur'an and Hadith, and academic literature through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). Data analysis was conducted using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana analytical model, with validity testing through source triangulation. The findings reveal that, within Qur'anic literature, euthanasia—particularly its active form—is opposed as it contravenes the principles of life's sanctity taught in Islam. In the medical context, euthanasia is categorised into active, passive, and physician-assisted suicide, each bearing significant legal and ethical implications. The SLR reveals that most studies focus on the legal and ethical aspects from a secular viewpoint, highlighting a gap in the literature integrating a Fiqh perspective. The research underscores the need for a more inclusive and sensitive approach to the religious context in health policy making and medical practice, especially in societies with large Muslim populations. This study offers a new perspective in medical ethics discussions, proposing a more holistic decision-making model that focuses not just on individual desires but also on the welfare of families and broader society.

Resisting industry narratives: guidance to avoid tobacco and nicotine industry framing.

The tobacco and nicotine industry has a long history of endangering the health and wellbeing of individuals, populations and society, including Indigenous peoples, via dubious practices and tactics that continue today. These tactics include generating opposition, fracturing consensus, dehumanizing groups and minimizing the perception of harms from tobacco use. This article offers guidance for people working in health promotion and tobacco control to align with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which includes Articles on research, monitoring and information exchange regarding the tobacco and nicotine industry. Recommendations are given to resist the tobacco and nicotine industry's narrative in health promotion, research, evaluation and publications. Holding the industry to account provides a further step forward to eliminating tobacco disease and death.

A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON PUBLIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE FOUNDING YEARS OF THE REPUBLIC

In its founding years, the Republic of Türkiye aimed to be an economically self-sufficient, productive, and value-creating country, and great efforts were made in public entrepreneurship for this purpose. The primary purpose of this research is to examine Turkish public entrepreneurship from a retrospective perspective. Public entrepreneurship emphasizes the government's role in transforming societies by using entrepreneurial principles on issues such as innovation and the effective delivery of public services. The research aims to examine the success stories of the past and the problems that have survived since then, focusing on understanding the origins and evolution of public entrepreneurship in the founding years of the Republic of Türkiye. Additionally, the research aimed to address public entrepreneurship's potential future impacts and challenges. This retrospective analysis focuses on better understanding the effects of public entrepreneurship on public policy and society's well-being.

AALOCHAK RAJ MOHAN JHAK AALOCHANA PRASTUTI

Sahitya Akademi Award-winning Rajmohan Jha is about to create his own distinct identity. The story is being criticized and the world is enjoying the taste of Maithili. The story is being told about modernity. Banana has created a four-dimensional overview of the urban environment by presenting new subject matter and has established a new paradigm for all the layered critical essays. These essays are useful for the welfare of Maithili society and are also useful for the students. Rajmohan Jha is not a literary critic but a social critic. The representatives of the social system are doing their duty. Every person in the society has many responsibilities and should resist those things. The meaning of resistance is not to fight, but to fight, but to prove that ‘the pen is a great power of the country, which awakens the emotions, which ignites fire not only in the heartless minds’, that is, it awakens the society and makes efforts. This is the reason why many institutions are criticized and criticized. Osmakshaanalni.EhilelOSahitya AkademiOVidyapatiParvaparanekalekhilani.

Bisexual Identity Concealment for Marital Harmony: Cultural and Religious Pressures in Malaysia

This study investigates the concealment of bisexual identity among married men in Malaysia, a country where homosexuality is both stigmatized and criminalized under Syariah law. The problem lies in the immense cultural, religious, and legal pressures that compel these men to hide their sexual orientation, leading to significant emotional and psychological challenges. The primary objective of this research is to explore how these men manage their bisexual identities while maintaining marital harmony within a conservative, heteronormative society. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 self-identified bisexual men married to heterosexual women. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings reveal that societal expectations, fear of divorce, and family reputation are key factors influencing their decision to hide their sexual orientation. Participants reported high levels of anxiety, guilt, and isolation due to the dual pressure of performing heteronormativity in public while concealing their true selves in private. This study contributes to understanding the challenges faced by bisexual men in mixed-orientation marriages in Malaysia, particularly the psychological toll of maintaining secrecy. The implications underscore the need for culturally sensitive mental health services and policy reforms to provide adequate support for bisexual individuals. Such interventions are critical to reducing stigma and promoting emotional well-being in conservative societies.

Overcoming the Impact of Bird Pests on Rice Yields Using Internet of Things Based YOLO Method

The problem of bird pests has become a serious problem in the sector of agriculture since ancient times. Bird pest attacks, especially sparrows, Church and bondol have a big influence on the quality and quantity of rice produced by farmers. This causes a decline in the economic level of people in rural areas, especially farmers. Traditional methods which are often used by farmers, such as making sounds from used cans stretched using rope can be a temporary solution to this problem, however, as the largest agricultural country in Asia Southeast of course Indonesia should implement progress and very advanced technological developments to help with problems in the agricultural sector. Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Mobile technology Applications to develop a bird pest repellent tool Smart is expected to be a very effective solution. With integration on IoT devices, this tool has the ability to repel bird pests automatically when it detects bird objects. Results It is hoped that this research will provide great benefits and optimize rice harvest so that it can improve the welfare of farmers and Indonesian society as a whole.

In Pursuit of Architectural Happiness, on the Potential for Change in Legal Frameworks for Accessibility.

Modern architecture has generated measurable requirements about users' interactions with the built environment to create user-oriented architecture through meticulous full-scale testing with subsequent standardization. These requirements have entered the legal framework as minimum threshold values for basic demands that regulate building and physical planning. In the construction of the modern welfare society, building-related requirements have been associated with fundamental ethical values for the societal construction, e.g., equity, health, inclusion, and sustainable development. The programming of architecture through building requirements can be seen as giving the users a dosage of happiness through architecture. The modern welfare state defines an architectural happiness through is legal frameworks. This study analyzed thirteen questions from a 37-question questionnaire, distributed to 122 informants, in thirteen countries. The study aimed at establishing the contemporaneous understandings and uses of the concept of accessibility. The study concluded that, currently, the concept of accessibility has turned into a technical instrument that limits the quest for an increased fit between user demands and needs with the architectural design. Furthermore, there is a loose link between accessibility and sustainability. In conclusion, architectural happiness for the upcoming sustainable society of the 2030s needs to update the concept of accessibility so that the outcome - usability for future users - becomes apparent.

Zakat Distribution in Healthcare Services: Proposed Model For Zakat Beneficiaries (Asnaf) in Malaysia

Recently, the cost of medical care and treatments has been increasing yearly, putting pressure on the patient, especially the poor and needy (asnaf). The availability of zakat fund provided to patients who cannot afford to pay their medical bills is minimal and the impact of zakat fund on the healthcare industry has not yet been fully acknowledged. Hence, this paper aims to discuss the role of the Zakat fund in providing healthcare services to Zakat beneficiaries and propose a Zakat distribution model as financial assistance in the healthcare services for Asnaf in Malaysia. To address the underlying problems and maximize the application of zakat funds in the healthcare industry, zakat institutions must be managed efficiently. The proposed model holds significance in improving zakat beneficiaries' access to healthcare services and could enhance the quality of life for Asnaf toward better well-being in Muslim society. Since this is a conceptual study only, no data is collected in this study. However, future research is required to verify the proposed model that could assist the zakat institutions in Malaysia to adopt alternative techniques in their zakat collection and distribution to be channeled in the healthcare sector.

Energizing Research at the Intersection of Public Policy and Supply Chain Resilience: A Systematic Review and Guiding Framework

ABSTRACTAcademic scholars and US political leaders have called for a better understanding of the connection between public policy and supply chain resilience. In this structured literature review we analyze and synthesize literature published in high‐quality public policy and business journals at this intersection. We leverage existing frameworks in public policy and supply chain resilience to help analyze the relationships studied to date, resulting in a conceptual framework that elucidates the connections between public policy and resilience and leads to the development of a platform for future research inquiries. We encourage and provide guidance for future work in the space from both supply chain management and public policy scholars that can drive actionable results for policymakers, firm decision‐makers, and the welfare of society.

Factors affecting collective action in low-cost housing, Malaysia: commoning the governance

PurposeThis paper aims to explain the factors shaping collective action within low-cost housing communities, focusing on parcel holders, through the utilisation of an expanded institutional analysis development (IAD) framework, which extends upon Ostrom’s foundational framework. Additionally, the paper explores four different property management approaches accessible to these communities.Design/methodology/approachThe research employed a mixed-method approach comprising four sequential steps. Firstly, a quantitative inquiry entailed a questionnaire survey administered to 633 parcel holders across four low-cost housing schemes, aimed at discerning factors influencing collective action. Subsequently, a qualitative investigation involved face-to-face interviews with key stakeholders to elucidate the contributing factors of collective action, with a specific focus on Nursa Kurnia (a successful low-cost housing scheme comprising 200 units), accessible via Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road II. Thirdly, the study explored the social practice of “commoning the governance”. Lastly, the paper advocated for housing policy interventions, specifically proposing government subsidies for lower-income parcel holders.FindingsExemplified by the success of Nursa Kurnia, the research findings emphasised the importance of shifting local management’s mindset from a zero-sum approach to a win-win perspective. It highlighted the pivotal role of four factors (resource system, governance system, context and historical development) in shaping collective action and fostering improved property management practices. Moreover, the study highlighted the potential of “commoning the governance” as a new approach capable of addressing collective action challenges in low-cost housing management, presenting a promising avenue for future endeavours.Research limitations/implicationsAs more studies utilising the expanded IAD framework become available in the future, there is potential for further refinement and enhancement of the framework.Practical implicationsThis study offers valuable insights for policymakers, property developers, local management and local communities, shedding light on challenges associated with the self-organisation of shared resources. Moreover, it highlights the potential of “commoning the governance” as a new property management approach to mitigate the impact of collective action problems.Social implicationsThe well-being of society’s most vulnerable segment is indicative of the overall societal health. This underscores the significance of addressing the interests and needs of these lower-income groups within the broader social context.Originality/valueExploring collective action within the context of self-organising low-cost housing, the study delves into an area marked by persistent challenges like free-riding tendencies and vandalism. Despite significant attention given to collective action issues in the past, the novel approach of “commoning the governance” remains unexamined in the realm of low-cost housing maintenance and management.

Risk Factors Associated with Mood Disorders in Canada

Background: Mental health presents a profound challenge globally, affecting around 970 million individuals. In Canada, mental disorders significantly impact the well-being of society and individuals, with one in three Canadians expected to face a mental problem during their lifetime. However, the utilization of mental health services is low, and a large proportion of the population does not have access to effective care. Objectives: This study was designed to identify key sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors associated with the prevalence of mood disorders among Canadians, thereby aiding in the development of targeted interventions. Methods: Utilizing data from the Canadian Community Health Survey 2017-2018, multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed, incorporating the sampling weights to make the inference representative of the Canadian population. Bootstrap weighting was applied to the multivariable associations to ensure robust variance estimates. Results: Females (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.86-2.16) and individuals with higher obesity levels (pre-obesity: OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.04-1.05; obesity class 3: OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.88-3.00) were more likely to experience mood disorders. Conversely, higher income levels (>$80,000: OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.49-0.66; $60,000-$79,999: OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.56-0.77) and immigrant status (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.43-0.56) were linked to a lower prevalence of mood disorders. Being unmarried was also associated with lower odds of mood disorders. Furthermore, additional factors such as higher education, increased life stress, and smoking were found to significantly influence the prevalence of mood disorders. Conclusions: The prevalence of mood disorders in Canada is influenced by various factors, with significant gender disparities. These findings can assist policymakers and healthcare professionals in developing targeted interventions and allocating resources effectively to meet the specific needs of at-risk populations. Future research is necessary to address these determinants.

Toward a brighter future: Confronting the shadows of STS

As part of the Nordic Journal of Science and Technology Studies’ 10th anniversary, we want to end the anniversary issue by reflecting upon the future of the field. To do so, we invited a young scholar in the STS field to partake in an interview with us. We think it is fitting to end with a young critical voice, as it is the next generation who will shape the field and ultimately decide the future of STS. We had the pleasure of interviewing Claudia Gertraud Schwarz who earned her PhD from the University of Vienna in 2014. She currently works as a postdoctoral researcher at the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, where her research and praxis focus on generating and studying interventions to improve wellbeing in society, especially for young people. She is also one of the co-founders of the STS community known as the FeminiSTS Repair Team.

Infant Mortality among the Tea Garden Workers in Upper Assam: Insights from a Field Survey

Infant mortality rate is an important indicator that reflects not only the health status of the infant but also the well-being of society as a whole. The north-eastern state of Assam is one of the states having the highest number of maternal and infant deaths within the country. For the first time, infant mortality in Assam registered a decline to 31.9 compared to the national average of 35.2 per 1,000 live births (NFHS-5). Though the overall rank of the state in terms of infant mortality has improved (from the 34th position to the 25th position), it is not enough and is not evenly distributed across the communities within the state. Human rights violations are particularly prominent among the tea garden workers of Assam and are mostly seen against the Adivasi children and woman, which is reflected by high maternal and infant deaths. The study aims to determine the factors responsible for infant mortality among tea garden workers by using primary data collected from 300 women workers across tea gardens in the Sonitpur and Tinsukia districts of Upper Assam. The binary logistic regression method is used for the analysis. It was observed that among the six probable factors, namely educational qualifications of the mother, marriage age of the mother, daily working hours, daily wage as tea garden labour, total number of births and the source of drinking water, the following three factors—namely the total number of births, age at marriage and the source of drinking water—are found to be the significant determinants of infant mortality among the tea garden labourers of Assam. JEL Codes: I12, I15

Comprehensive Method for Supplier Selection in the Indonesian Leather Industry Considering Sustainable Development Goals Criteria

Objective: This pivotal research aims to rank raw material suppliers at an Indonesian leather company using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). It is based on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) criteria selected by many decision-makers through the Delphi method, with a compromise criteria weight between Methods based on Removal Effects of Criteria (MEREC) and Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) II. Theoretical Framework: The global and national commitments of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to improving society's welfare, including the sustainable use of resources, are not just theoretical concepts. They are practically applied in this research to guide supplier selection in the leather industry. These criteria are then weighted using objective weighting (MEREC) and subjective weighting (SWARA) II, and the results are compromised to form the basis for evaluating suppliers using TOPSIS. Method: The proposed method in this research consists of three stages. The first stage is selecting the SDGs criteria using the Delphi method, a structured communication technique involving experts. The second stage is weighting the criteria using MEREC for objective weighting and SWARA II for subjective weighting. The third stage is supplier evaluation using TOPSIS based on the weight of the compromised criteria. Results and Discussion: The ranking of leather raw material suppliers for Indonesian leather companies is Kediri, Rembang, Jombang, Cirebon, Wonogiri, Lumajang, Cianjur, and Sidoarjo. This ranking is based on the SDGs criteria. Responsible leather sourcing, eco-friendly tanning processes, water use audits, and waste management are the SDGs' criteria for selecting suppliers in the Indonesian leather industry. Responsible leather sourcing is the only sustainability criterion more important than the price criterion. This criterion directly affects the quality of the animal skin, which is why it is rejected. Research Implications: The manager should prioritize the SDGs criteria, such as the product's significance to the organization's survival over cost and other factors, which have become secondary due to high demand. Apart from rejecting and delivery factors, management also considers responsible leather sourcing. This means that good animal care impacts the reject factor, and management prioritizes this factor. The rejection criterion must be prioritized for the production process to operate efficiently. Originality/Value: It is imperative to establish a technique for managers in the Indonesian leather sector to choose sustainability suppliers incorporating Delphi, MEREC, SWARA II, and TOPSIS.

A Call for Afrocentric Decolonial Endogenous Marketing and Public Policy Research and Practice: Toward Sustainable Peace and Well-Being in African Societies

Africa experiences one-third of all conflicts globally, resulting in the diminishment of human, social, and economic well-being; high levels of insecurity; poverty; and disrupted marketing systems. Drawing on the experiences of African countries, the article illuminates the ways in which the slave trade and, later, the colonization of the African continent fomented the social and economic convulsions that continue to erupt into continuing cycles of social conflict. Today these are manifested in the neocolonial influence of public policy on the continent by international organizations, funding bodies, and local and international institutions that control the public policy discourse and resources. The authors argue that if marketing systems are to enhance well-being and reduce social conflict, marketing policy makers need to contest failed “external to Africa” policy frameworks and look to endogenous policies better suited to contemporary African challenges. A case study of Rwanda illuminates how endogenous, “home-grown” decolonial and Afrocentric policy can create enduring peace and improve marketing systems and well-being. The authors call for research at the nexus of public policy and African marketing systems that adopts decolonized, endogenous, and Afrocentric perspectives to address this lacuna in marketing and public policy research and practice.

Impact of Tourism on Poverty Reduction: Strategies to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals Through Local Community Participation

Objective: This article aims to examine the impact of the existence of tourist destinations on the welfare of households living around tourist locations in an effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals category ‘No Poverty (SDGS 1)’. Method: The data used is the results of the 2021 National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS). The selected respondents are households in Sumenep Regency, Madura, Indonesia. The data analysis method used is Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to avoid bias. Of the approximately 3,000 selected respondents, 101 were identified as tourist respondents and 310 non-tourist households Results and Discussion: The results of different tests on expenditure variables and income per capita show that households in tourist areas are not more prosperous than other households with similar characteristics. It can be concluded that the existence of tourist destinations has not made a positive contribution to the welfare of the community around tourist destinations. Research Implications: This study has important implications. First, the development of a sustainable tourism sector has an impact on poverty reduction. Second, the significant impact of poverty reduction can improve the welfare of society in general. Originality/Value: The originality of this research is that the use of the propensity score matching method in tourism analysis is still limited. This is an initial research that uses the PSM method to analyze the impact of tourism on poverty.