Socio-cultural Policy Research Articles

Transformation of Sociocultural Integration Policy and Inherent Political Theories in the United Kingdom: A Way Forward

The contemporary integration policies (Community Cohesion Agenda [CCA]) of the United Kingdom have been criticized for their foundational weaknesses, conceptual inadequacies, myopic views with regard to the complexity of the issue, lack of evidence, and so on. Vast majority of the studies conducted to verify this discourse have been done in the line of theoretical arguments of diversity management rather than exploring their connections to a target community in reality. This study aims at establishing a linkage between the growing theoretical arguments of the integration discourse with empirical data in light of the policy framework of the CCA. We have selected the fastest growing Bangladeshi community of the CCA-adapted Aston City of Birmingham as the representative group of the ethnic minority communities of the United Kingdom. Qualitative data collection approach has been followed, where primary in-depth interviews were conducted on various policy actors, social workers, faith leaders, and Bangladeshi residents of Aston. The entire policy instrument, starting from its broad purposes to operational strategies, has been severely challenged by both residents of the community and relevant policy-implementing bodies in Aston. CCA policies appear to be largely inclined toward the interculturalism/communitarianism ideology rather than to multiculturalism. However, the empirical evidence shows that the need for multiculturalism, to be more specific—Bristol School of Multiculturalism, as a political theory remains in the integration discourse in the context of the United Kingdom. Findings are expected to have implications on practitioners and policy makers in designing diversity management policy instruments by having a wider synthesized view on both theoretical argument and empirical data.

Mobility, Multiculturalism and Memory in Croatian Istria

ABSTRACT This article examines Istrianism as a form of regional cultural identity. In doing so, it regards Istria as an important transnational borderland and investigates the historical circumstances that underlie the manifest multiculturalism of the region. It focuses on an analysis of key socio-historical circumstances that conditioned the cultural heterogeneity of the region, exploring the impact Habsburg heritage in particular had on current socio-cultural policies and interactions. It examines the Istrian peninsula as part of the Austrian Riviera to determine the effects the polyphonic state structure of the Austro-Hungarian Empire had, probing whether this multicultural legacy is connected to the sustained cultural hybridity of Istria today. The present-day IDS party is examined in terms of its relationship to this past. This paper posits the Austrian Littoral as a tolerant, multi-ethnic space where notions of belonging and cultural identity became purposely intertwined, producing a distinct form of citizenship that was not defined by political ordinance alone, but rather by human agency and the immediacy of basic day to day interactions.

Sociocultural Conflicts and Ottoman Settlement Policies at the Balkan Wars

ABSTRACT Migrations from Balkans to the Ottoman Empire continued for about 150 years; and peaked during the wars such as the 1877–78 Ottoman-Russian War and the Balkan Wars. Balkan immigrants with multi-ethnic, multicultural backgrounds and settling in with monocultural host communities faced hostility. We analysed these conflicts through official Ottoman archives, testimonies, and literary memoirs for the period of 1912 and 1917. Through the lenses of the conflict model of migration, we have explored the dynamic nature of migration processes in response to conflicts emerged between immigrants and local population in this period. We argue that Balkan immigrants faced insecurities arising from socio-cultural conflicts and this adversely affected the integration process.

ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ И ПРАВОВЫЕ ОСНОВАНИЯ АКТУАЛИЗАЦИИ КУЛЬТУРНОГО НАСЛЕДИЯ КАК РЕСУРСА ТУРИСТСКОЙ ОТРАСЛИ КРЫМА

Nowadays, one of the most urgent tasks of the socio-cultural policy of the Russian Federation is to solve the problems of preservation and actualization of the cultural heritage as an important factor in the spiritual and material life of people. The study emphasizes that the issues of preservation and the development of the cultural heritage have always been significant for Russia and the Crimea. So, these issues have become particularly relevant as a result of the events of 2014 − the reunification of the Crimea with Russia and the introduction of various measures against the Crimean Republic of “anctions” nature, which caused an active search for additional resources for the regional development – including the field of culture. According to the developed approach of this article, the cultural heritage can be not only an integral part of history in modern conditions, as well as the Keeper of spirituality, etc., but also a source of the development of territories. At the same time, the author emphasizes that the cultural heritage itself, without “the involvement” in a variety of socio-cultural practices, cannot be a factor of the regional development. Particular attention is paid to the assessment of the regulatory framework of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea in terms of preservation, the usage and the promotion of the cultural heritage. The author notes that this practical importance of the cultural heritage as a resource acquires in the relevant social and constructive practices, and above all – in tourism, are increasingly supported by the point of view in the domestic expert cultural community. The article describes the features of the representation of the cultural heritage of the Crimea. The author provides a description and analysis the number of measures that can attract the cultural heritage to the tourist activities of the region. At the same time, the author notes a certain positive effect of the use of the cultural heritage as a resource of tourism, draws attention to a number of problems that require the consideration and the solution. The conclusions emphasize that the cultural heritage and tourism are interrelated elements of the socio-cultural sphere. However, if the cultural heritage is considered as a resource for the development of territories at the level of the Federal legislation, then the usage of the cultural heritage will be still fragmented in practice. It has a mosaic character, and so it needs to be formed a systematic, interdepartmental approach. Therefore, there is an urgent need to create special platforms for the interaction of the government and the business nowadays in Russia and in its regions, including the Republic of Crimea. It is necessary to use mechanisms of the inter-sectoral coordination between tourism agencies and cultural entities, the purpose of which should be to support and to present a holistic socio-cultural environment of the territories through the implementation of their cultural potential, by means of tourist activities as well.

ИНДЕЙСКОЕ ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ КАК НАЦИОНАЛЬНЫЙ ПРОЕКТ В МЕКСИКЕ В 1910–1920-Е ГГ.

This article focuses on the study of the characteristics of the sociocultural policy of the Mexican state in relation to the indigenous population in the 1910–1920s – a period of revolutionary transformations and the building of a “new type” society in Mexico. During the Mexican Revolution, the “Indian question”, along with the work and agrarian question, became a key point in the policy of the revolutionary governments. The importance of the popular education issue in Mexico in the first post-revolutionary years was determined by the fact that three quarters of the population did not have access to the state education system, as well as by the existence of numerous ethnosocial groups, territorially and culturally separated from each other and the rest of the country. It should be emphasized that the 1910–1920s were marked by the genesis of numerous theories of the unification of Mexican society and the integration of the native population, as well as by the introduction of modern, experimental teaching methods (in particular, the rationalist and socialist school), the purpose of which was to translate into reality the Revolution ideals and build a new Mexican society. The policy of integrating the native population of Mexico was carried out through numerous educational projects, which include the “cultural missions”, “Indigenous Student House”, “House of the People” and others. Analysis of archival materials related to the preparation of the first «cultural missions», as well as the functioning of educational institutions designed to educate the indigenous student, made it possible to identify the characteristics of the socio-cultural integration of the rural population of Mexico during the above period.

People’s Houses as Answers to the Challenges of Modernity in Europe and Russia

The article is devoted to a pioneer comparative study of the appearance and evolution of peoples houses in Western Europe and Russia in the second half of the XIX - early XX century. The institutional approach chosen by the authors is complemented by a historical and comparative method of studying the phenomenon of peoples houses. The goals of their creation and features of the activity, due to the political, economic and sociocultural historical realities of individual countries, are analyzed. Research revealed that peoples houses in Europe and in Russia were created at the same historical period - the modern era. A historiographical comparative study using new historical sources showed that in Western European countries and in the Russian Empire, the state did not play a major role in this matter, although some of the people's houses were opened by monarchs, and state policy (opposing promotion of cultural leisure to the alcoholization of the population) could contribute to the development of civil society initiatives. The performed study proves that for both European countries and Russia, private and public initiatives in establishing people's houses (primarily the cooperative movement) played a decisive role. In Russia, it is important to point out the sociocultural policy of the zemstvos, their financial support when building people's houses. The article shows the obvious differences in the history of people's houses in Western European countries and in Russia, due to the late formation of the party system in Imperial Russia. In Europe, one can meet many examples of the creation of people's houses by political parties and generally note the high level of politicization of these institutions. In Russian reality non-political nature of people's houses is obvious, they were mostly cultural and educational public institutions that were further subjected to the process of politicization (under revolutionary conditions). In conclusion, the authors acknowledge big historical significance of people's houses as civil society institutions in Russia and abroad, taking into account such principles of their functioning as independence, voluntariness, social activism and civic consciousness.

Exploring ethno-racial policy for the Garinagu in Central America: making the case for Black Indigeneity

Across the Central American region, several groups received political autonomy by the end of the 20th century. By granting autonomy to these groups, countries like Nicaragua acknowledged certain populations as members of distinct ethnic groups. This was not the case for every country or group in the region, and the lack of effective ethno-racial policy-making considerations across Central America has led to language attrition, loss of land and water rights, and commodification of historic communities. This article focuses on Honduras and Belize as unique sites of ethno-racial and socio-cultural policy making, group identity making and unmaking, and group rights for the Garinagu. Specifically, this work forwards a re-examination of national ethno-racial policy and a critical assessment of political models based on ethno-cultural collective rights intended to combat racial discrimination.

Система высшего образования и социально-инвестиционная модель регионального развития в контексте обеспечения безопасности Юга России

Presented is the analysis of place and role of higher education system in the structure of socio-investment model of regional development. As the author notes, when the resource model of development is exhausted and crisis phenomena in life of regions are increasing, the social security of Russian society can be ensured by transition to the social and investment model into regional development. The South of Russia as the middle in regional hierarchy has promising social and investment rating, associated with concentration of intellectual capital in the university system. The author concludes that social investment activities of universities as agents of socioeconomic system of region is the best to strengthen social security of the Russia, helps to preserve social investment of public sentiment and their confidence in the future, reduces risks of depression in social relations with subjects of regional development, and has the status of monopolist in the sphere of socio-cultural policy.

Social media commenters’ understanding of the antecedents of teacher-targeted bullying

This article reports on the findings of a small-scale, extant, qualitative social media research study on commenters’ understanding of the antecedents of teacher-targeted bullying. Comments on an article posted by Sarah Sorge (2013) on The Educator’s Room were used as data source. Guided by an ecological model and the attribution theory, the study identified victim and perpetrator attributes, colleagues’ indifference and unprofessionalism, school management’s lack of leadership and failure to address the problem, as well as socio-cultural factors and policy changes as antecedents of teacher-targeted bullying. It is argued that conventional teacher-learner power relations are flawed due to the unsupportive, even antagonistic attitudes of parents, colleagues, society at large, people in leadership positions and policy makers towards the victims of teacher-targeted bullying. It is concluded that, despite ethical dilemmas, the advent of the Internet and social media has created opportunities for researchers to use comments posted on the Internet as a data source to investigate teacher-targeted bullying.

Sociocultural vitality versus regulation policy and tourism development in preservation of traditional rural landscape: a case from Guizhou, China

ABSTRACT The preservation of traditional rural landscape and community is affected not only by exogenous driving factors such as top-down policy and tourism industry, but by endogenous driving factors derived from the rural social and cultural context. The mechanism and performance of various forces has rarely been studied before. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of exogenous versus endogenous driving forces influencing rural landscape preservation from community level to individual level through a case of Tunpu villages in southwest China. Field mapping and analysis are conducted, expert scoring and questionnaire survey data are adopted, and OLS regressions are combined with qualitative analysis in this study. The results show that: 1) at community level, the socio-cultural vitality is strongly and positively correlated with the traditional rural landscape integrity; 2) at individual level, endogenous driving factors (i.e. human–environment connection and community-based organization) have more general and positive effects on residents’ cognition, willingness, and behavior toward traditional rural landscape preservation comparing with the exogenous driving factors (i.e. top-down regulation policy and tourism development); resident’s cognition, willingness, and behavior are homogenous despite different genders, occupations, and education levels. Our findings highlight the importance of community-based endogenous forces in promoting the preservation of traditional rural landscape. We also discuss the necessity of internal rural capacity building as well as the opportunities for a more inclusive neo-endogenous development strategy for future rural landscape preservation, policy-making, and tourism development. Overall, we hope to help promoting sustainable rural landscape preservation and utilization.

Cultural, Educational and Charitable Activities of Immigrant Communities in North Caucasus (Second Half of XIX - Early XX Centuries)

The article is devoted to the formation of a multi-ethnic and multicultural environment of North Caucasian cities and settlements in the second half of the XIX - early XX centuries, where a significant place was given to ethnic communities of European migrants. On the example of the life of the German, Greek, and Polish communities, we consider the features of the development and support of educational, enlightenment, social, and cultural initiatives. The authors of the article revealed that all social initiatives and practices in the North Caucasus were correlated with reforms and sociocultural policies in the country as a whole, and also served as an example of the effectiveness of ongoing activities to involve the region in the all-Russian space. It is emphasized that through voluntary non-governmental associations the poor were supported, targeted assistance was provided to those in need. It is proved that educational projects, which contributed to the dissemination of scientific knowledge and familiarization with European and Russian culture, were particularly relevant in the diverse activities of societies (charitable, ethno-confessional, cultural, educational, artistic, scientific). It is concluded that it was the Russian language as the state-forming, communication and progressive factor in the development of society that acted as an integration and adaptive resource in the multi-ethnic and multi-confessional North Caucasus region.

PRESENT AND FUTURE IN DEVELOPMENT RUSSIAN FAR NORTH

The article analyzes the material of recent publications on the state of development of the Far North of the Russian Federation in the complex of General problems of development of mining, water and land transport, the presence and expansion of which determines the formation of the socio-economic framework of the region, as well as overcoming the demographic vacuum of this territory of Siberia, especially its Eastern part. The author's positions are presented both in assessing the current situation and the future resuscitation of this periphery of Russia. The purpose of the work is to assess the prospects for lithospheric transformations in the Far North and to concentrate information on the negative phenomena that have developed as a result of unbalancing economic and socio-cultural policies in relation to the region, which has gradually become a raw material appendage of the country's economy, which has no place in the system of economic programs. The far North turned out to be a preserved zone for a long time, but today, due to the aggravation of the international situation in the sphere of energy resources distribution, it becomes an object of economic interest of neighboring and remote countries. It is time to develop a strategy for integrating the diversified economy of the Siberian territories into the overall economic structure of the country. Due to the beginning of climate warming, which causes the degradation of eocryological homeostasis and the onset of the ocean, including on the territory of the Ob water area, the authors expressed concern about the negative dynamics of the collision of the Ob waters with the ocean tide and possible changes in the hydrogeological configuration of the continent, which will radically affect the forms of development and redistribution of territory, as well as the tracing of transport latitudinal communications connecting the European and Asian parts of Russia. Attention is also drawn to the need to solve the urgent problems of urbanization and architecture of the region at a civilized level.

Population Change in Russia: Dynamics and Socioeconomic Risks

This paper analyzes positive and negative demographic trends of modern Russian society. Two main approaches to interpreting and evaluating these trends are presented. It is proved that the demographic potential of society remains sufficient to overcome depopulation, and the continuity of traditional family values is preserved. Despite the risks associated primarily with population decline and aging, in the medium term, Russian society is able to ensure demographic growth through the integration of demographic, socio-economic, and socio-cultural policies and the use of reproductive and migration reserves.

Government, business and NPOs: formation of a new model of interaction and assessment of its effectiveness

The relevance of the research topic is due to the denationalization of the social services market and, as a result, the growing importance of the third sector in their provision; the development of civil society, the construction of social problems, in the solution of which non- profit organizations play an important role. A comparative analysis of assessments of the emerging model of interaction between civil society and the state will allow us to determine its current state, show strengths and weaknesses, the most pressing problems and development trends. A large role in the study of the issues raised belongs to the study and critical understanding of the leading practices of building interaction between the state and civil society, which will not only adapt the most appropriate practices, but also avoid possible problems. The proposed research will help to establish feedback between the state, business and supported NPOs and develop recommendations for optimizing this interaction. The aim of the study is to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of the emerging model of interaction between the state and NPOs as new actors in the country’s economic and socio-cultural policy and forecast the prospects for its development. The study is based on the study of the perceptions of leaders and key actors of NPOs about the prospects for the development of their organizations in the context of the emerging model of interaction with business and the state. The authors put forward a hypothesis about the need to study the assessments of the existing model of interaction between the state and NPOs by representatives of executive authorities responsible for the implementation of relevant programs, direct managers and key actors of NPOs, as well as representatives of target groups of their activities in the regions to determine the problems and prospects of interaction between the state, business and NPOs.

Shifting Welfare Policy Positions: The Impact of Radical Right Populist Party Success Beyond Migration Politics

ABSTRACT Political parties respond strategically to the electoral success of radical right populist parties (RRPPs). While previous research has focused on programmatic responses on cultural conflict issues, we are expanding the research on policy position adaption to the economic left-right issue of welfare-state politics. Actual and potential supporters of RRPPs do not only feel threatened by migration or liberal conceptions of society but are also often confronted with real or perceived socio-economic decline. Therefore, we argue that established parties do not only react by changing their socio-cultural policy offers but also by adjusting their welfare state policy positions. Based on parties' voter potentials and issue ownership theory, we investigate whether such changes are especially pronounced for left-of-center parties. Analysing data from 18 West European countries since 1985, we find that non-RRPPs indeed advocate more leftist positions on welfare state policies in response to increasing electoral support for RRPPs. This effect is especially pronounced for economically left-of-centre parties as these parties might consider this to be a promising strategy to win back voters from the populist radical right.

Методика проведения переписи 1920-х гг. и ее значение для социокультурной политики бо льшевиков (на примере провинциального Саратова)

The study deals with the methodology of conducting the Censuses of 1920, 1923 and 1926 as a statistical source of information about the changes in the society state of the first post-revolutionary decade based on the analysis of archive data. The author provides characteristics of each census, outlines key features and discusses the cases of citizens’ engagement in Census organization and participation. The special focus is on the data kept in the questions and answers and those ones revealing the socio-cultural improvement of the population of Saratov. The need for a new power to explore the social structure of the population is marked out. The study highlights the value of utilizing the data about professional occupation, public education, social security and other social aspects obtained as a result of the statistical authorities’ work and population censuses for the formation and implementation of socio-cultural policies.

The Relationship Model of Maritime Culture and State Policy Towards National Resilience

This study aims to obtain a model that represents the Effect of Maritime Culture and State Policy on Maritime National Security and measures how much it affects. The relationship model is needed as a guideline in formulating marine policies based on the strength of Maritime Culture that has taken root in the history of the Indonesian nation. The method used in this study is to use the SEM (Structural Equation Model) Modeling approach which is compiled based on quantitative descriptive analysis with the aim of describing relationships between variables accompanied by significant indicators. Modeling analysis has a significant relationship between Maritime Culture (X1), State Policy (Y1) and National Maritime Security (Y4). The variable indicators used are community character (X1.1) and economic activity (X1.2), cultural activities and happiness traditions (X1.3), defense and security policies (Y1.1), economic policy (Y1.2) , Technology and education policy (Y1.3) and Socio-cultural Policy (Y1.4). National Resilience with indicators: ideological aspects (Y4.1), politics (Y4.2), economics (Y4.3), socio-cultural (Y4.4) and defense security (Y4.5). The study produced a Model with Goodnes of Fit value in the form of a suitability of the model that represented a significant relationship between Maritime Culture and State Policy towards National Resilience. The relationship formulations found were: Maritime Resilience = 0.207 * Maritime Culture, State Policy = 0.542 * Maritime Culture, Maritime National Defense = 0.813 * State Policy and Maritime National Resilience = 0.813 * State Policy + 0.207 * Maritime Culture.

A comparision of overground and treadmill walking in healty adults using the Oxford foot model.

Of late, there has been a rise in interest in deep-sea minerals such as manganese nodules. Commercial mining operations to extract such minerals may commence soon. However, deep-sea mining projects were already underway in the 1960s and in an advanced stage of development by the 1970s, only to be shelved again in the 1980s. This paper examines a half a century of history of deep-sea mining and discusses how changing political, legal, economic, and socio-cultural policy frameworks contributed to its rise, fall, and eventual rebirth. In doing so, it is shown that the path towards commercial mining is less straightforward or inevitable than it may seem to current proponents and critics of deep-sea mining. This paper also uses the case of manganese nodules to illustrate how mineral concentrations can gain, lose, and regain their status of a resource depending on social, political, legal, and economic factors. The “becoming” of resources is an open-ended, reversible and sometimes incomplete process.

A historical perspective on deep-sea mining for manganese nodules, 1965–2019

Of late, there has been a rise in interest in deep-sea minerals such as manganese nodules. Commercial mining operations to extract such minerals may commence soon. However, deep-sea mining projects were already underway in the 1960s and in an advanced stage of development by the 1970s, only to be shelved again in the 1980s. This paper examines a half a century of history of deep-sea mining and discusses how changing political, legal, economic, and socio-cultural policy frameworks contributed to its rise, fall, and eventual rebirth. In doing so, it is shown that the path towards commercial mining is less straightforward or inevitable than it may seem to current proponents and critics of deep-sea mining. This paper also uses the case of manganese nodules to illustrate how mineral concentrations can gain, lose, and regain their status of a resource depending on social, political, legal, and economic factors. The “becoming” of resources is an open-ended, reversible and sometimes incomplete process.

Halal Food Certification to Improve the Competitiveness of East and Middle Business in Indonesia

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