Strong Narratives Research Articles

Flood risk management in Austria: Analysing the shift in responsibility-sharing between public and private actors from a public stakeholder's perspective

The frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events are expected to increase due to the effects of climate change and socio-economic development. Potentially higher flood risk, hence, triggered debate about a shift in flood risk management from mainly public to increasingly private involvement. So far, public flood mitigation schemes were standard modes to deal with flood hazards in many countries, including Austria. With high implementation and maintenance costs as well as substantial losses remaining, alternative management approaches have increasingly been discussed. This paper analyses the debate on shifting responsibilities in flood risk management from public to private actors and whether or not the current governance arrangement would accommodate this shift in the public-private divide. Based on qualitative research, we explicitly analyse this potential shift from an institutional perspective and not from the perspective of individual homeowners, taking the case study of Dornbirn (Austria) as an example. The results show that, firstly, the current governance arrangement hardly encourages property-level flood risk adaptation measures. Secondly, several factors stabilise the current governance arrangement and prevent a shift in the public-private divide. Although the need for an increased sense of responsibility among private actors seems to be evident among interviewees, strong historical narratives and adaptive expectations lead to a society seeing public authorities to be responsible for flood risk management and trust their expertise as well as the technical flood infrastructure. However, such areas of expertise and law are fragmented and therefore impede a redistribution or enforcement of responsibilities. Furthermore, fixed costs delay a shift in the public-private divide as the traditional engineering approach (i.e. structural measures) is predominant with high investments in the current system but limited investment in risk communication to raise awareness. Yet, a shift towards sharing responsibility might contribute to flood risk management for risks to remain manageable.

The Narrative Imperative of Granados’s "Goyescas"

Enrique Granados’s monumental piano suite Goyescas is widely acknowledged as an important work in the piano-repertoire canon but is infrequently programmed in recitals. One obstacle to its inclusion is that relatively little is known by the pianistic community about its narrative elements. Like similar works that contain strong narratives, such as Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition or Schumann’s Carnaval, Goyescas holds great potential because of its musical variety, its inspired writing, and because it is exciting for musicians to convey extra-musical ideas to an audience in a way that “tells a story.” The 6 movements of Goyescas are not only narrative vignettes but also part of a larger arc that holds the listener’s attention in the same way as an opera; Goyescas is, quite simply, a story. A narrative approach is applied here in order to enhance the meaning of Goyescas for performers as well as appreciators, and perhaps will result in an increased receptiveness to the inclusion of this work in the modern recital program.

From ministry to hospitality: welcoming the stranger in Judaism as a practical model for contemporary healthcare chaplaincy

ABSTRACT Judaism is a religion of practice with many of its laws aiming to maintain a cohesive community living on a shared planet. It is, thus highly useful in hospital chaplaincy which, in an increasingly globalised world the patient and staff population are not a homogeneous community of faith or belief groups and many may be secular. Care, visiting the sick and hospitality of the ‘other’, the stranger, form very strong narratives in the ancient Hebrew texts, with ethical behaviour exemplified by the patriarch, Abraham. Within Judaism itself, these texts are constantly being reviewed and interpreted in a tradition of deep exegesis and hermeneutics. These textual meanings inform values and ethics of care. This paper explores the meanings in the text to illustrate the basis of care and hospitality as central to Judaism and to show its relevance in contemporary multifaith and secular hospitals.

Indigenous Narratives as Experimental Cinematic Texts in Nigerian Films

The paper seeks to consider the employment of folkloric tales (traditional stories) in indigenous Nigerian films as stimuli for establishing a definitive film industry. The integration of oral features into Nigerian films dates back to the era (1980–1990s) of early films in Nigeria: consider Ajani Ogun (1976), Daskin da Ridi (1990), Egg of Life (2003), Festival of Fire (1999) etcetera. Studies on Nigerian film and oral culture established that the strong narratives of Nollywood films are drawn from indigenous folk stories; indeed, the films are mostly adaptations of folktales. This article demonstrates Nigeria’s cultural history through investigating the role of culture as a strong contributor to media development in Nigeria. The research is based on textual analysis of three Nigerian films, namely The Fish Girl (2016), Hypocrisy (1992) and Daskin da Ridi (1990) as primary texts. The methodology is primarily textual. The study draws on a textual analysis of selected Nigerian films to determine their sources. The study adopts the African film theory which juxtaposes the pre-modern with modernity where the oral tradition and filmmakers are fused together, as highlighted by Tomaselli (1992). The hypothesis is that traditional folktales play an important role in the development of the Nigerian film industry (Nollywood). The study reveals that folktales and other oral genres set a footprint for film texts in Nollywood movies. Therefore, this indicates that there is a clear (although thus far, often ignored) bond between indigenous folk narratives and modern Nigerian films.

Examining performance change and its drivers in Irish ports 2000-2016

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine performance change in the Irish state-owned port sector over the 2000-2016 period using a case study approach. Design/methodology/approach For analysis, qualitative sources are used to construct an explanatory account for the quantitative measures of productivity, profitability and traffic shift-share change across the major ports within the system. Findings The results show that overall change in performance largely follows that of the macro-economic performance of the region, characterised by pre-recession growth, decline during the recession and post-recession recovery. Across the ports, however, there was a notable divergence in performance post-recession. Identified factors affecting performance change across the period include demand-side structural change, labour rationalisation and degree of private sector participation. Originality/value This study addresses a gap in the formal evaluation of port performance in Ireland. The study further demonstrates the potential of in-depth case study analysis for uncovering insights into the drivers of performance across a number of dimensions, thus allowing for the contextualisation of results. The study of a small number of cases enables the use of rich qualitative sources to create strong narratives, which combined with quantitative measures of performance, can lead to new insights.

Degrowth within – Aligning circular economy and strong sustainability narratives

This perspective calls for building greater understanding of overlapping and conflicting considerations between the sustainability principles that inform current conceptions of circular economy and degrowth. We contend that scholars and practitioners need to be pragmatic and to recognize evident ideological differences, but simultaneously to acknowledge beneficial similarities and complements. The common aim of both frameworks – to change business-as-usual and to enable human society to operate within ecological planetary boundaries – will likely engender opportunities to formulate new solutions. Management of the inherent tensions, such as the scale and scope of rebound effects, will continue to pose challenges. However, with thoughtful dialogue, commitment to respectful discourse, and more refined articulation we are confident that progress will be made. By building on synergies and seeking holistic strategies, the academic community, along with its transdisciplinary partners, can advance strong global sustainability efforts.

Storytelling and the making of a global luxury fashion brand: Christian Dior

This article discusses the storytelling strategies adopted by luxury fashion companies to build global brands from the 1990s onwards. Using the example of Christian Dior, it is demonstrated that heritage is a social construction based on strong narratives rather than the mere outcome of the history of a brand. Storytelling is a powerful instrument used in the context of creating global luxury brands over the last two decades. This makes it possible to emphasize the timelessness of a brand while disregarding the contradictions resulting from a change in its identity over time. As a consequence, this article argues that, although the use of heritage through storytelling is a useful tool for the practice of brand management, it is not an academic concept and should be avoided by scholars.

The role of flexibility in enabling transformational social change: Perspectives from an Indigenous community using Q-methodology

What makes some communities more resilient and transformative than others? This paper explores the hypothesis that the flexibility of perspectives is central to enable the kind of changes called for by current and future environmental and socio-economic challenges. The paper reports on findings from a Q-study conducted with the Indigenous community of Igiugig, Alaska, focusing on perceptions of social change. The study reveals three main narratives concerning drivers of social change, focusing on the role of individuals, the importance of cultural values, and community visioning. The findings from the Q study point to the importance of flexibility, understood as the capacity to take different perspectives, in enabling deliberate action in situations where the correct path to take is often contested. This kind of flexibility, grounded in an Indigenous worldview, is seen to contribute to community resilience through supporting cultural cohesion, collective leadership and enacting alternatives in the here and now. Strong community narratives that allow for individual interpretation is seen as important and highlights the interrelatedness between the individual and the collective and the role of collective agency. Drawing on the critiques of the concept of resilience in an Indigenous context, the paper further points to the need for transformational change occurring at multiple scales and extends a call for flexibility to be fostered among researchers and practitioners alike. The lessons from this community have implications for understandings of community resilience and agency in social-ecological systems and the potential for transformations towards sustainability.

How U.S. Conservatives Perceive and Respond to International Nutrition Issues, and How to Shape Messaging for Successful Advocacy

Since 1990, epic strides have been made in global health and development toward achieving Millennium Development Goals. With a united front of forces, including governments, coalitions, private sector, foundations, philanthropic organizations, and the faith community, millions of lives have been saved from extreme poverty and disease. Yet, some issues enjoy more robust funding and notoriety than others. For instance, AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria enjoy the majority of the U.S. foreign assistance funding in global health. Nutrition, notably, has remained stagnant for decades. We wanted to test the appetite for increased funding for international nutrition and food security issues among Political, Religious, Social Conservatives (PRSCs), and the General Population (GP) to gauge perception and response to the issue and its correlates. Our goal with these national surveys was to understand the best choice of language to promote awareness, education, and prompt advocacy for global nutrition and food security issues. With this research, we found that conservatives were motivated by national security issues first and foremost, not their faith, finances or moral foundation. We recommend that education be enhanced among conservatives regarding U.S. foreign assistance, nutrition funding and implementation, and nutrition-related terminology, including stunting, wasting, and anemia. Moreover, we recommend strong narratives about mothers, children, and infants, particularly a child’s first 1,000 days, from conception to two years, which has proved to elicit the most positive response among all messaging.

Considerations to Make, Needs to Balance: Two Moral Challenges Museum Employees Face When Working with Contested, Sensitive Histories

Over the past decades, many museums have seen their roles change significantly. Originally institutions essentially committed to bridging the gap between a nation's past and present, they have gradually assumed a supplementary role as social actors with a special opportunity for giving marginalised groups a chance to be heard and seen. A multitude of strong narratives, many of them traumatic, have found their way into museums, and in many ways have radically transformed the working days of museum professionals. In the wake of this development, a number of moral challenges have appeared, for instance how to deal with sensitive, contested history, how to master delicate interview situations or how to reconcile professional obligations with empathy, compassion and solidarity. The purpose of this article is to shed some light on two of these challenges. Drawing on material from my doctoral thesis, I start with a brief overview of museum and ethics, before dealing more deeply with the need to balance between individual needs with those of the greater public, and the challenges of managing individual subjectivity whilst remaining a museum employee who is expected to uphold truth and objectivity. Drawing from recent research results and practical experience, I offer some advice on what museums can and should do to respond to moral challenges.

SMART CITIES, INTERNET OF THINGS AND PERFORMATIVE SENSIBILITY. BRIEF ANALYSIS ON GLASGOW, CURITIBA AND BRISTOL’S INITIATIVES

Smart cities initiatives are based on strong narratives fostered by companies and governments to deploy digital technologies in a way to improve economic growth and sustainability, as well as to maintain a better control, surveillance, and efficient usage of urban resources. It is a mix of business innovation, technocratic discourses, big data and internet of things hype. Many projects are currently being carried out and celebrated around the globe. With Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data deployment in the core of Smart Cities initiatives (digital things, algorithms, operational systems, control rooms…), we now have to deal with a new feature of objects: their performative sensibility. Based on my observation of three smart cities initiatives (Glasgow, Curitiba, and Bristol), I would like to point out to a specific issue on the social and political dimensions of objects’ invisibility in everyday life. I propose here a very preliminary theoretical background in order to analyse the public participation and the object's invisibility in those cities. I’ll put a strong emphasis on the Internet of Things and the changing in the nature of objects. In my preliminary analysis, informational-enhanced objects are not clearly in "handiness". This invisibility is in the core of the "algorithm governmentality".

Making Schools More Girl Friendly: Exploring the Effects of Girl Friendly Space on School Attendance of Adolescent Girls

School enrolment and attendance for adolescent girls is a key priority for education sector in most developing countries. In Somalia, this is even more prominent given the low enrolment rate of girls and the gender specific challenges that the girls face. Girls in Somalia often remain absent from schools during their menstrual periods due to lack of hygiene facilities and the social stigma in using the facility where they exist. Girl Friendly Space (GFS) has been adopted as a means to mitigate these challenges. Despite strong narratives of the effectiveness of the GFS, there is lack of evidence on the impact of GFS on reducing school absenteeism. By using secondary data, this study explores the potential effects of GFS on reducing school absenteeism. The study indicate that having GFS in schools can reduce the likelihood of adolescent girls being absent from school in the past month by about 15 percentage points. Absenteeism due to ‘sickness’ is about 17 percentage points lower in schools with GFS compared to schools without the facility. Although this study cannot fully address the selection bias to claim these as impact estimates, the differences for boys between the two types of schools in absenteeism is much lower indicating possible effects of GFS on girls’ school attendance.

Living, Again: Population and Paradox in Recent Cinema

The last several decades have witnessed a drastic increase in ecological writing, but also a substantial lack in regards to the discussion of human population control. This article argues that the deficiency has been reproduced within several recent examples of eco-cinema, Snowpiercer and Mad Max: Fury Road. Despite strong conservationist themes and narratives encouraging social revolution, the films encounter similar theoretical difficulties, and enact similar resulting absences, within their representational fields. As a consequence, the environmental topics are filtered through an anthropocentric lens that generates a set of paradoxes regarding human consumption, sacrifice and the visualisation of future sustainable states.

The ‘right’ education in Israel: segregation, religious ethnonationalism, and depoliticized professionalism

ABSTRACTThis paper underlines three foundations upon which the current condition of the Israeli education system is predicated. These are: (a) the separation between Palestinians and Jews in the Israeli education system and isolating both from any significant contact; (b) endorsing a strong ethno-religious ethos and narratives that widen the chasm between the Jewish ‘us’ and the Palestinian ‘them’; and (c) shaping education for the Palestinians in Israel as a highly standardized and de-contextualized endeavor that excludes ideology and politics, which are seen as irrelevant to good professionalism, while substantiating and thickening the ideological education in the Jewish education system in line with the right political agenda . In doing so, this paper contextualizes these foundations in the recent developments of Israeli politics. Particularly, the paper associates these foundations with the rise of the extreme right politics in Israel, arguing that these, taken together, serve the state’s efforts to continue preserving its excluding ethnocentric political regime and controlling the Arab Palestinian education in Israel under conditions of subordination and inequality.

Use of Family Narratives as a Tool of Effective Parenting

Family narratives and reminisces can be effectively used by parents as a tool to help children develop self-concept. Family narratives are the way through which children and adolescents connect across generations to create self- identity. By anchoring oneself in family history, one develops a sense of place and security that may facilitate self-confidence and self-competence. In the modern world where nuclear family is the norm, parents need to ensure that family narratives are used effectively in helping children navigate through challenges of life. Parents and grandparents have to pay careful attention to family history and narratives; and put in efforts in developing strong family narratives to be shared with children. Also, parents need to be careful while sharing those reminisces and narratives by avoiding individual comparison of their children with others in the past. Celebrating certain occasions as a day for showing gratitude towards grandparents and older generations can also generate curiosity and interest among children about family narratives. The current study looks into family narratives practices, challenges and how parents can develop strong family narratives to be shared with their children.

(Re-)imagining a reluctant post-genocide society: the Rwandan Patriotic Front's ideology and practice

ABSTRACTThe Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) has developed an elaborate ideology that it articulates widely and skilfully. While some themes have been the subject of research, an overall approach is lacking. This article brings together analyses of four major themes in the RPF's ideology. Two are closely related: history is the backward-looking basis for the RPF's societal policies, while national unity and reconciliation are the present and forward-looking ones. The two other themes addressed are nationalism/self-reliance and high modernism. For each of these themes, this article presents their emergence and substance, followed by an assessment of their practice and implementation. Two major flaws in the RPF's ideology are addressed: its at times shaky factual and historical foundation, and its use to legitimize policies that have little popular support. The gap between the public and hidden transcripts is particularly problematic with regard to the issues of history and unity/reconciliation, on which there is no common reading. The fact that strong underground narratives on these themes contrast with the RPF's ideology suggests that Rwanda is not heading towards long-term peace and stability.

New Nollywood: A Sketch of Nollywood’s Metropolitan New Style

Abstract:Recent experimentation by Nollywood producers has encouraged increasing differentiation of film practices as a strategy for contending with a demanding video market. “New Nollywood” refers to a select group of aesthetically sophisticated films intended for a new tiered distribution method, beginning with theatrical release and ending with DVD release. Nigeria’s upscale multiplex cinemas are therefore a starting point for examining what is new—and not so new—in Nollywood. This article argues that New Nollywood films and the cinemas in which they appear appeal directly to spectators’ senses by promising not only a movie and shopping, but also an affective experience closely bound up with global consumerism. The films exhibit a metropolitan vantage point that emphasizes subjects such as airline travel, trendy technology, consumer culture, global pop culture, lifestyle brands, high fashion, and luxury goods. These films advertise their “modernity,” which is not presented as a consolidated order of knowledge and values, but rather as an assemblage of signifiers of city life. Whereas mainstream Nollywood continues to produce strong narratives that resonate with its intended audience, New Nollywood—with its emphasis on images and style—is a direct expression of the cultural and economic forces shaping life in Lagos today.

Policy Narratives and Public Opinion concerning Charter Schools

According to the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) approach, anecdotes about policy can be used to clarify whether and how policy narratives impact individual public opinion, which in turn shapes aggregate public opinion. This study focuses on the effect of narratives in shaping opinions regarding charter schools, one of the most controversial policy alternatives in the school‐choice debate. This policy lends itself well to being examined using an NPF approach, since both the supporters and skeptics use strong and distinct narratives to present their case and to advocate for their cause. To examine whether different policy narratives on charter schools influence individuals' opinions and attitudes and preferred policy outcome, a quasi‐experimental design is used to compare baseline and follow‐up opinion data for individuals who read policy narratives reflecting different positions. The results indicate that policy narratives influence public opinion, and that congruence and issue familiarity matter in the nature of the change.Related Articles Shanahan, Elizabeth A., Mark K. McBeth, and Paul L. Hathaway. 2011. “.” Politics & Policy 39 (): 373‐400. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00295.x/abstract Delshad, Ashlie B. 2013. “.” Politics & Policy 41 (): 213‐240. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/polp.12009/abstract Post, Lori Ann, Amber N. W. Raile, and Eric D. Raile. 2010. “.” Politics & Policy 38 (): 653‐676. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2010.00253.x/abstract Related Media Video . 2013. Panel titled “Storytelling Is Serious Business: Narratives, Research, and Policy.” October 16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5ubezaJwN8 Podcast Claudio Sanchez, Claudio. 2013. NPR News podcast. “The Charter School vs. Public School Debate Continues.” July 16. http://n.pr/12tzU6q Blog Post Cairney, Paul. 2014. “” Web blog post. April 7. Paul Cairney: Politics & Public Policy. https://paulcairney.wordpress.com/tag/narrative-policy-framework/

Talking ‘bout poor folks (thinking ‘bout my folks): perspectives on comparative poverty in working class households

This paper explores concepts and narratives of comparative poverty articulated by residents of six working class neighbourhoods in Britain and examines how individuals’ assessments of self were influenced by comparisons to other social groups. The paper presents empirical findings to suggest the need for more nuanced sociological and policy understandings of working class experience and alternative explanations for quiescence with inequality. Our findings suggest disconnections between research emphasising relative deprivation and stigmatisation, a drive to evaluate economic status and the centrality of a comparative relational framework for perceptions of poverty; and the actual lens’ through which many working class individuals conceptualise their circumstances. The denial of a social comparative paradigm was generated by circumstances being doxic (or taken for granted), the rejection of a ‘poverty’ label, the importance of self-trajectories and the ambivalent and nuanced relationships between material wealth, happiness and moral worth. However, a limited comparative gaze upon more affluent groups was contrasted with strong narratives of respectability and legitimacy juxtaposed with those groups deemed not to adhere to these working class values. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for housing policy.

Earth stories: context and narrative in the communication of popular geoscience

Abstract Geoscientists are increasingly being encouraged to present their work to the wider public, and even to advocate more directly its policy dimensions. For those involved in geoconservation, that often entails communicating geological information to people who have little or no Earth science background. A review of current science communication thinking indicates that improving the geo-literacy of the ‘ordinary person in the street’ is unlikely to be achieved simply by educating them with basic ‘geo-facts’. Instead, genuine and effective public engagement is more likely to come from conveying the deep-seated ‘context’ of our geological knowledge, and by presenting the wider culture within which Earth scientists work. This inculcation of a popular ‘geo-culture’ can take its cues from mass-media representations of Earth science (‘disasters and dinosaurs’) by recasting geological issues, concepts and knowledge in terms of messages that have strong narratives, dramatic incident and human interest. Ultimately, the role of such popular geological story-telling is less about delivering specific information about Earth science issues and more about establishing the credentials of ‘brand geoscience’ in the public's mind.