Governance Strategies Research Articles

Policies, programmes and research on adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health in South Sudan: a systematic scoping review

ObjectivesTo provide an overview of research, policies and programmes related to the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents and youth (AY) in South Sudan in order to identify...

Fast because it’s just: fostering acceptance to accelerate sustainability transitions in coal-dependent regions

Abstract Coal-dependent communities and regions are at the frontline of the global energy transition, with net-zero scenarios requiring unprecedented sharp decreases in coal use and production in the next few decades. Rapid decarbonization in these ‘coal-dependent’ regions can result in high disruptiveness and trigger socio-political resistance across both the acceleration of coal phase-outs (decline) and clean energy phase-ins (diffusion). Lack of social acceptance (SA) stands as a critical bottleneck risking slowing down the pace of the transition. Governance strategies seeking the acceleration of coal transitions will therefore need to strike a delicate balance between disruptiveness and acceptance. We argue that fostering acceptance, for instance through just transition (JT) policies, does not simply serve as a means to pursue ‘just’ transition processes, but rather as a fundamental acceleration strategy for decline and diffusion dynamics that unfold simultaneously. To substantiate this argument, we conduct a narrative review cutting across the literature on JTs and SA of renewables’ innovations, and reinterpret them using a socio-technical (sustainability) transition perspective to outline three core propositions: (i) justice perceptions underlie acceptance; (ii) acceptance precedes reorientation; (iii) reorientation as a transition acceleration strategy. We then outline an integrative research agenda to renew the scientific focus towards the interconnections between justice-acceptance-acceleration in the ongoing transitions in coal-dependent regions and elsewhere.

Moulding intergovernmental relations through tiao-kuai governance: dissecting the multi-scalar politics of intercity railway projects in China

ABSTRACT This article explores the dynamics of intergovernmental relations in China, specifically focusing on the tiao-kuai governance system and its role in regional infrastructural development, using intercity railway projects as a case study. The tiao-kuai system, characterised by vertical (tiao) and horizontal (kuai) governance, illustrates the complex interplay between central authority and local autonomy. Drawing on the Territory, Place, Scale and Network (TPSN) framework, this study analyses how multi-scalar politics shape regional competition and governance strategies, particularly in the Yangtze and Pearl River Delta intercity railway projects. Our findings highlight tensions between national priorities and local interests, as well as negotiation processes between various levels of government. This article underscores the importance of both top-down and bottom-up dynamics in regional development, unfolding how state spatial strategies are operationalised in a hybrid model of governance. This study contributes to the understanding of state space and intergovernmental collaboration in China’s large-scale infrastructure projects.

Government strategy for enhancing the infrastructure of international freight railway corridors: Economic and strategic considerations

Government strategy for enhancing the infrastructure of international freight railway corridors: Economic and strategic considerations

Strategi Peningkatan Kesejahteraan Pekerja Migran Indonesia (PMI) Purna Wanita Melalui Program Desmigratif

Government's strategy to improve the welfare of Female PMI Returnees. The research method is mixed in the form of sequential exploration. The data used are primary and secondary data. The results of the study, first, are the need for regional government policies related to improving the welfare of Female PMI Returnees. Second, it is necessary to open employment opportunities in the informal sector. Third, it is necessary to manage the PMI Returnee database in an integrated manner starting from the Central, Provincial, Regency and Village Governments. The results of the SWOT analysis show that there are three strategies needed to improve the welfare of Female PMI Returnees through Desmigratif. This study concludes that there is still a need for partnerships between the district government, village and PMI Returnees

Destabilizing Hegemony: Fostering Uncertainty to Sustain Russian Status with Multipolarity

Since the commencement of Vladimir Putin's third presidential term, Russia has undergone a significant transformation in its foreign policy, becoming more globally active and regionally assertive. This study argues that central to this transformation is the strategic use of "unpredictability" to advance Russia's interests in an international environment where US hegemony is perceived to be declining. The strategy of unpredictability is primarily executed through cyberattacks and coercive military power, aimed at reshaping the international system to favor Russian interests. The research question examined by this paper is: What strategy underlies Russia's use of cyberattacks and coercive military power to challenge US hegemony? To answer the question, our study employs Kenneth Waltz's three levels of analysis in international relations: the individual, the state, and the system levels. At the individual level, we examine how Vladimir Putin's personal beliefs and strategic calculations shape Russian foreign policy. At the state level, we explore how Russia's internal political, economic, and social structures contribute to its foreign policy actions. At the systemic level, we analyze how Russia seeks to challenge the ideological foundations of the US-led international order and create a multipolar world. Russia’s cyber operations against Estonia, Georgia, and Ukraine, alongside its military interventions in Georgia, Ukraine, and Syria, serve as examples of this strategy. This study evaluates the role of unpredictability in achieving Russia’s foreign policy objectives and its implications for the international system. Finally, the consequences of this strategy for global governance are discussed.

Unraveling the relationship between ESG strategy and sustainable performance in the Spanish wine industry: a structural equation analysis

Purpose This study aims to assess the relationship between environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and sustainable performance, in addition to exploring the mediating role of green innovation in this connection. Moreover, age, size and membership in a Protected Designation of Origin are incorporated as control variables to increase the precision of the relationships examined. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual model was created to meet the intended research objectives and then validated using partial least squares structural equation modeling with primary data obtained from a survey administered to 196 Spanish wineries, which took place between September 2022 and January 2023. Findings The study findings indicate that the implementation of an ESG strategy has a positive and significant relationship with the sustainable performance of wineries. In addition, green product and process innovation appear to partially mediate this relationship. Research limitations/implications The sample size (196 wineries) limits the generalizability of the findings to the population under study, which suggests caution in their interpretation. In addition, the cross-sectional design of the study prevents from observing dynamic changes over time. Originality/value This research significantly advances the understanding of ESG strategy through a holistic view of its relationship with the sustainable performance of the wine industry. Indeed, it fills a critical gap in the academic literature, as ESG strategy has been scarcely explored in the wine industry setting, despite the specific environmental and social challenges faced by this sector. Furthermore, it pioneers the investigation of green innovation as a mediating factor in the relationship between ESG strategy and sustainable winery performance, providing new findings that can shape strategic management practices in the wine sector.

Upgrading fit-for-purpose land administration systems: challenges and opportunities in Bosaso, Somalia

Fit-for-purpose land administration (FFPLA) approaches offer a solution to the lack of land governance strategies in the Global South, emphasizing flexibility, inclusivity, and scalability. However, FFPLA projects primarily focus on establishing land administration systems, with less attention given to ensuring their sustainability, ongoing maintenance and scale up. This study analyzes the evolution of the land and property registry in Bosaso, Somalia, utilizing the Framework for Effective Land Administration (FELA) to guide the assessment. Findings reveal that challenges remain in maintaining, expanding and upgrading land information management systems from their initial purpose to broader land-related services.

ADDRESSING RURAL UNEMPLOYMENT THROUGH POLICY INITIATIVES: A CRITICAL REVIEW OF MGNREGA AND PMEGP

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of two major government schemes aimed at tackling rural unemployment in Rajasthan: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). MGNREGA primarily provides wage employment, offering immediate relief to rural households during off-seasons, while PMEGP encourages self-employment by promoting entrepreneurship and micro-enterprises. Despite the positive impacts of these schemes on rural economies, challenges such as bureaucratic delays, inadequate financial access, limited training programs, and social barriers hinder their full effectiveness. This paper analyzes the policy frameworks of MGNREGA and PMEGP, identifies their key strengths and limitations, and provides recommendations for improving their implementation and outcomes. The study highlights the importance of addressing gender disparities, enhancing financial support mechanisms, and incorporating technological solutions for better monitoring and transparency. Ultimately, the paper suggests that a more inclusive, efficient, and transparent approach will significantly enhance the potential of these schemes to reduce unemployment and foster sustainable rural development in Rajasthan. KEYWORDS: Rural Unemployment, MGNREGA, PMEGP, Policy Evaluation.

A qualitative analysis of the impact of government schemes on chronic kidney disease patients in Uddanam, India

PurposeThis paper presents an analytic report, with precise scientific rigor, the positive impact of the government’s welfare schemes and the areas that need urgent public policy intervention.Design/methodology/approachUddanam, Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, a conglomeration of an apportioned group of villages, grapples with a severe and mysterious kidney disease epidemic since the 1980s, affecting agricultural communities. The region, which was once fondly called “Udyanam,” translated as “Garden,” for its richness in greenery and cashew and coconut trees, has now become “Uddanam,” the land of death and despair. The residents of the region suffer with high rates of kidney failure and associated health complications for factors including environmental toxins and poor water quality. Despite several efforts by governments, the impact of governmental policy on improving the conditions has been non-significant. The problem has been taken into sincere and serious consideration by the present Government of Andhra Pradesh which introduced ground-breaking welfare initiatives to impede the prevalence of the disease and the deaths among patients. This paper presents an analytic report, with precise scientific rigor, the positive impact of the government’s welfare schemes, and the areas that need urgent public policy intervention.FindingsThis paper is the first to identify that out of the total of 942 CKD patients interviewed uniformly at random from the Uddanam mandals, a majority of 86.06%, who belong to advanced stages, receive advanced governmental (free) medical care, and soon succumb to the disease, and a minority of 13.94%, who belong to early stages of the disease, do not benefit directly from government welfare schemes, and hence perpetually proceed to advanced stages.Research limitations/implicationsThe qualitative study conducted in this paper is not fully exhaustive; however, the samples are taken uniformly at random from the entire region of influence, which renders the results credible.Practical implicationsThe key findings of this paper will provide a scientific basis for governmental and private health institutions to focus for providing sophisticated medical care for early state CKD patients to further mitigate the mortality rate due to the disease in Uddanam.Social implicationsThis paper shall create a positive social impact of the CKD handling measures taken by governmental and private agencies, and will bring to light the most impending issues that need immediate address, which are of great concern to the international community and media.Originality/valueThis paper is original and the contributions and findings presented herein have not been presented by anyone elsewhere. This paper is also the first to cojoin the impact of medical treatment for CKD at Uddanam and the use of digital technology, e.g. online consultation, online reports, etc.

The Role of Government Schemes in Production and Marketing of Dragon Fruit in Aizawl, Mizoram

The paper aims to discuss the government schemes offered for the development of Dragon fruit in Mizoram. Dragon fruit planted in Mizoram has a wide adaptability and grows well in slightly heavy texture soils. Dragon fruit plants are usually circulated through stem cuttings and flower buds develop after 15-18 months of planting and it also requires 28-30 days for maturing. In Mizoram dragon fruit is popular due to its nutritional value, which is also a very good source of minerals, glucose, fructose, dietary fibre and vitamins. It helps in strengthening the immune system of the human body and can be used for the treatment of diabetes, heart diseases and advantageous in maintaining healthy body weight. The harvest and nutritional value of Dragon fruit in Mizoram differ depending on the species, cultivation practices, growing area and harvesting time and in which the fruit peel has a high potential to be used as a natural dye. The numbers of dragon fruit farmers/growers are gradually increasing due to better prospects of a profitable price of their product in the markets across Mizoram. At present, little information can be obtained on how effective does the government schemes available to farmers/growers and its impact on production and marketing of Dragon fruit in Mizoram. Therefore, research on different aspects of maintaining government schemes and its effectiveness can help and benefit the growers and consumers and to expand the market of Dragon fruit in Mizoram and beyond.

The dark side of governance networks: how private actors use discursive strategies in global sport governance

ABSTRACT This article addresses the often-neglected political dimension of interactive processes in governance networks. It identifies six discursive strategies private actors use to manipulate the beliefs of public meta-governors: promoting favourable problem definitions and policy solutions, layering, conversion, ceremonialism, and dualism. The article argues that typical features of governance networks facilitate the use of these strategies. The empirical analysis illustrates how sport governing bodies have employed these tactics to maximize their autonomy in issues such as doping, match-fixing, and corruption by officials. It suggests that network governance may inherently favour opportunistic private actors, challenging existing assumptions towards establishing trust and consensus.

Tentative governance: An exploration of ethical governance strategies for emerging science and technology

It has become a consensus that the benign development of emerging science and technology (S&T) urgently needs the support of an ethical governance framework. At present, there are three focal points in the construction of the S&T ethical governance system: risk governance, agile governance and global governance. The analysis of these three concerns in this study shows that there are still some practical problems, such as insufficient emergency capacity, low governance efficiency and weak global cooperation capacity. Tentative strategies for S&T ethical governance are helpful to solve these problems. The strategies are characterized by cautious, dynamic, flexible and progressive approaches, adopting both top-down and bottom-up governance methods and paying special attention to early warnings, feedback and the adjustment of strategies to seek the best results. The governance process of these strategies is more suitable for the ‘upstream’ stage in the development of emerging S&T. As a response to uncertainty, tentative strategies can help to improve the ethical governance system of S&T. However, such strategies also have some problems, so there is a need for practical wisdom, such as balancing flexibility and stability, considering temporary and long-term factors, and coordinating localization and globalization.

An exploratory study of ASEAN students’ engagement dynamics with local communities in China, Japan, and South Korea

Abstract Drastic shifts in geopolitical and economic landscapes in East Asia have escalated competition among China, Japan, and South Korea for higher education market share within ASEAN countries. This surge in ASEAN tertiary student enrollments in these countries has been altering the internationalization dynamics of not only the host universities but also the surrounding societies. Extant literature needs to be updated to address this recent influx of ASEAN tertiary students, particularly their connections with local societies within East Asia. To fill in the gap, this study explores the engagement dynamics of ASEAN students with these local societies, as well as the resultant impacts. Through semi-structured interviews, this study involved 27 participants, including ASEAN students, university administrators and staff, and representatives from local governmental and non-governmental organizations across selected locales in the 3 countries. The findings identified varying degrees of engagement among ASEAN students with local societies of the three countries across economic, socio-cultural, and diplomatic-political dimensions. This cross-national variance is potentially attributable to divergent governmental strategies and university motivations for recruiting ASEAN students.

Megaproject responsible innovation: Concept, framework, and governance

Abstract The reliability and sustainability of innovation in megaprojects are of critical importance with complex stakeholders and substantial resource investments. In that respect, responsible innovation management is the key to the sustainable development of megaprojects. This paper proposes the concept of megaproject responsible innovation (MRI) and develops a holistic framework for MRI with four dimensions: (1) anticipation across the megaproject life cycle, (2) inclusion of various parties in a relationship of symbiosis, competition, and cooperation, (3) reflexivity of social responsibility, and (4) responsiveness to social expectations. Based on an ecosystem approach to megaproject innovation, we propose an ecological governance strategy for MIR. Moreover, different approaches are needed in innovation organizations which are part of specific ecological niches for effective and efficient governance.

Real-World Data of Esophageal Malignancies Managed Under the Government Scheme From a Tertiary Cancer Center in South India

Real-World Data of Esophageal Malignancies Managed Under the Government Scheme From a Tertiary Cancer Center in South India

Study on the Influence of Singleness on The Preference of Self-Improvement Products

As China's economy shifts from high-speed development to high-quality development, people pay more and more attention to their own improvement in all aspects. Judging from the current consumption trend of China's people compared with the consumption development process of developed countries, self-improvement products have a broad market space in China. At the same time, with the continuous development of China's economy and the continuous improvement of people's living standards, demographic problems such as late marriage and late childbearing, unmarried and infertile have gradually become prominent, resulting in an increasing number of single groups. Therefore, in recent years, merchants have begun to focus on markets such as healthy eating, kitchen furniture, and single packages for single groups. In contrast, self-improvement products can increase the single group to change their self-identity and obtain substantial and long-term benefits. However, there are few studies that have explored the impact of singles on self-improvement products. Therefore, this paper studies the influencing mechanism of single groups on self-improvement product preferences from an empirical perspective, collects data from young people in Chongqing by combining online and offline methods, analyzes the influencing factors and consumer group characteristics by using relevant models, and puts forward corresponding suggestions for the marketing strategies of government, enterprises and self-improvement products.

Robust Local Governance Responses in the Context of Turbulence: The Case of Collaborative and Co‐Created COVID‐19 Pandemic Responses in Two Local Authority Areas in England

ABSTRACTThe COVID‐19 pandemic required local and national governments to respond urgently and rapidly to new and unprecedented challenges. According to an influential strand of literature within public administration, public agencies must exhibit robust governance strategies to tackle the unpredictability, instability and complexity of a turbulent event such as the COVID‐19. In the face of turbulence, robust governance is characterised by adaptability, agility and innovation and co‐creating with partners and communities, while governance systems must evolve so that they perform more effectively in the future. This paper examines how two local authorities in England responded to the pandemic. We draw upon a novel qualitative dataset obtained through privileged access to senior council staff, elected members and council partners. Both ‘Metaltown’ (North West) and ‘Milltown’ (West Midlands) were poised, at the outset of the pandemic, to be badly hit by COVID‐19 due to their population characteristics, relative deprivation and occupational structures, and the areas did experience some of the highest numbers of infection rates and coronavirus‐related deaths. The two local responses both entailed multi‐agency action with the local authority working alongside partners in the police, emergency services, health, education, transport and housing sectors, with private enterprise and with community groups to manage the challenges. Although we observed robust governance strategies, this occurred in the absence of any deliberate policy design at the national level. Instead, the responses were locally determined, fit for purpose and adaptive in response to challenges that emerged on the ground. The findings suggest a need to modify the robust governance framework to better account for contextually specific circumstances. This has implications for how local and national governments respond to current and future challenges, such as the ongoing cost‐of‐living and climate crises.

The Symbolic Concepts of Transhumance [Kuwila] in The Kafue Flats Among the Tonga People of Mwanachingwala, Hamusonde and Mungaila in Southern Province, Zambia

This paper investigates the symbolic concepts of transhumance (kuwila) among the Tonga people residing in the Kafue Flats, specifically within the chiefdoms of Mwanachingwala, Hamusonde, and Mungaila in Southern Province, Zambia. Transhumance, traditionally seen as the seasonal movement of cattle, is reinterpreted in this study as a deeply symbolic practice, intricately connected to the social, cultural, and spiritual fabric of the Tonga community. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the study examines how kuwila serves as a rite of passage for young herdsmen, facilitating their journey of self-discovery and social rehabilitation. This practice is also explored as a means of reinforcing communal bonds and transmitting cultural values, particularly through the invocation of ancestral spirits and the use of ritualistic numbers, such as the number seven, which symbolizes completeness in both Tonga and biblical traditions. The research further analyses the role of cattle ownership as a pedagogical tool, essential for teaching responsibility and leadership to the younger generation. The herdsmen's deep attachment to their cattle is framed as a reflection of their spiritual and familial connections, with cattle often being named after ancestors to ensure protection and continuity. In addition to its cultural significance, kuwila is highlighted as a crucial practice for resource management and environmental sustainability in the Kafue Flats. The paper underscores the importance of integrating traditional knowledge with modern governance strategies, advocating for a holistic approach to managing the region’s natural resources. By bridging the gap between cultural practices and ecological management, this study contributes to a broader understanding of how indigenous knowledge systems can inform contemporary governance and sustainability efforts in Southern Zambia.

Explainable Predictive Model for Suicidal Ideation During COVID-19: Social Media Discourse Study.

Studying the impact of COVID-19 on mental health is both compelling and imperative for the health care system's preparedness development. Discovering how pandemic conditions and governmental strategies and measures have impacted mental health is a challenging task. Mental health issues, such as depression and suicidal tendency, are traditionally explored through psychological battery tests and clinical procedures. To address the stigma associated with mental illness, social media is used to examine language patterns in posts related to suicide. This strategy enhances the comprehension and interpretation of suicidal ideation. Despite easy expression via social media, suicidal thoughts remain sensitive and complex to comprehend and detect. Suicidal ideation captures the new suicidal statements used during the COVID-19 pandemic that represents a different context of expressions. In this study, our aim was to detect suicidal ideation by mining textual content extracted from social media by leveraging state-of-the-art natural language processing (NLP) techniques. The work was divided into 2 major phases, one to classify suicidal ideation posts and the other to extract factors that cause suicidal ideation. We proposed a hybrid deep learning-based neural network approach (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers [BERT]+convolutional neural network [CNN]+long short-term memory [LSTM]) to classify suicidal and nonsuicidal posts. Two state-of-the-art deep learning approaches (CNN and LSTM) were combined based on features (terms) selected from term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF), Word2vec, and BERT. Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) was used to extract key factors that contribute to suicidal ideation in order to provide a reliable and sustainable solution. Of 348,110 records, 3154 (0.9%) were selected, resulting in 1338 (42.4%) suicidal and 1816 (57.6%) nonsuicidal instances. The CNN+LSTM+BERT model achieved superior performance, with a precision of 94%, a recall of 95%, an F1-score of 94%, and an accuracy of 93.65%. Considering the dynamic nature of suicidal behavior posts, we proposed a fused architecture that captures both localized and generalized contextual information that is important for understanding the language patterns and predict the evolution of suicidal ideation over time. According to Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME) and Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) XAI algorithms, there was a drift in the features during and before COVID-19. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new features have been added, which leads to suicidal tendencies. In the future, strategies need to be developed to combat this deadly disease.