Types Of Actors Research Articles

Defending Memory in Global Politics: Mnemonical In/Security and Crisis

Building on Maria Mälksoo’s influential 2015 article “Memory Must Be Defended”: Beyond the Politics of Mnemonical Security (Security Dialogue, 46(3), 221–237), the volume Defending Memory in Global Politics: Mnemonical In/Security and Crisis, edited by Erica Resende, Dovilė Budrytė, and Douglas Becker, examines contemporary politics of memory politicisation and securitization captured in eleven case studies, structured according to actor types (state versus non-state). The book’s primary conceptual proposition is predicated on the concept “mnemonic in/security”. As with the broader concept of ontological security, this term encapsulates the tensions between the imperative to safeguard a collective memory against perceived external and internal threats to create and stabilize collective identities, and the inherent vulnerabilities and marginalizations that accompany the selection of memories to be enshrined in such an effort. In this perspective, conflicts over recognition, or even mnemonic “battles,” are inevitable. Such struggles manifest themselves, for instance, when governments promulgate specific memory narratives that neglect or reinterpret historical wrongdoings against other states. However, they can also occur within political communities. In such cases, political actors—particularly following periods of internal crisis and violence—promote amnesia or, conversely, memorialization of historical events. The purpose of this promotion is to legitimize a political order and its hegemonic forces.

Variety trait preferences for traditional African vegetables in West Africa

Traditional African vegetables (TAV) are increasingly acknowledged for their potential to diversify smallholder farmers’ income and improve the quality of people’s diets. Plant breeding of TAV has been very limited, but this is slowly changing. Breeding programs need information on the crop trait preferences of value chain actors. Here, we identified and prioritized trait preferences for amaranth, jute mallow, and okra in Benin and Mali using focus group discussions with farmers and individual interviews with traders and consumers. The findings show that late flowering, a high number of branches, suitability for multiple harvesting, broad leaves, and green to dark green color are key traits farmers seek in amaranth and jute mallow. Tolerance to drought was a preferred trait among farmers for all three crops. Okra producers preferred early maturing varieties bearing a high number of fruits per plant. Regardless of the crop, traders and consumers had similar trait preferences. Leaf physical integrity, green to dark green, and broad leaves were priority traits for amaranth and jute mallow. In okra and jute mallow, high mucilage content was a key attribute. The trait preferences varied between different types of value chain actors, but were consistent for the same types of actors across locations. This research provides foundational information for plant breeders to develop market-preferred varieties, eventually contributing to the greater availability, acceptability, and affordability of TAV.

Beyond accountability? Exploring the promises and challenges of citizen collectives

While humanitarian accountability has been a trending topic for quite some time, most of the debate has revolved around formal mechanisms that are used by large, professional (international) non-governmental organisations. In spite of the ‘localisation of aid’ agenda, only a handful of studies have explored how grassroots actors deal with questions of accountability, and how this differs or aligns with the practices of their professional counterparts. This article contributes to this emerging line of inquiry by zooming in on a specific type of grassroots actors: citizen collectives in Europe, who act in solidarity with people on the move. In spite of the apparent absence of scholarly and practical debates on accountability within such collectives, I argue that issues of accountability lie at the heart of what citizen collectives do, and that they deal with these issues in a way that distinguishes them from other actors. By drawing on a re-interpretation of several ethnographic projects, I formulate four exploratory theses on what accountability looks like within such collectives, and what promises and pitfalls their approach may hold for broader debates on humanitarian accountability.

DIGITIZATION AS A FACTOR IN LOBBYING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE APPROVAL OF LEGAL ACTS IN LATVIA

The opportunity for the public to give their opinion and follow the development of legislation is not only a practice of full-fledged democracy and good governance, but also an opportunity for the public administration to obtain information, knowledge and analysis that it did not have access to. The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of digitisation on representation of interests and public involvement in the development of legislation in Latvia. The analysis of quantitative and qualitative data explored 4,943 legislative advancement processes in the Single Portal for Development and Harmonisation of Draft Legal Acts (TAP portal) between 2018 and 2024. Digitization of the final phase of the development of legal acts, i.e. public discussion and coordination in Latvia allows to assess: 1) how actively society is involved; 2) who does it – simple citizens or professional organizations; 3) whether digitization has increased public involvement; 4) whether public involvement significantly slows down decision-making. The results show that the infrastructure of the TAP Portal has successfully promoted the involvement of organized interest groups in the process of harmonization of legal acts, mainly in the form of legal entities and associations. The participation of private individuals is small. The original objectives of the TAP Portal have been exceeded as it has been used by more than 600 different types of actors. At the same time, the hypothesis that organised groups significantly slow down decision-making processes was not confirmed; the length of decisions is more influenced by the political agenda and the nature of the legislation. The study confirms the role of the Single Portal for Development and Harmonisation of Draft Legal Acts as an important platform in promoting transparency and efficiency in the development of legal acts. The authors recommend continuing to promote the use of this portal among interest groups, as this would enhance both transparency of the process and balanced representation of interests in the legislative process.

여행 비즈니스 가치사슬 네트워크 구조 분석

This study takes a holistic approach to examining how shifts in the travel industry environment have reshaped the structure of travel value chain networks. Drawing on business value chain network theory, this study first identifies the various actors involved in the travel product development process and then investigates the resources these actors possess, and classifies these actors into “cohesive communities” based on the characteristics of their possessed resources. The analysis then assesses the interconnectivity that arises from transaction flows within the travel value chain network. Findings reveal that six types of actors participate in the travel value chain network, forming four distinct cohesive communities. Their transactional relationships fall largely into six categories. Additionally, distinct settlement systems involving fees and advertising costs emerge based on the specific types of online platforms used.These results provide a foundation for diagnosing the structure of the travel value chain network. The results suggest that retailers, who represent a weaker link in the network, should pursue differentiated content development and business model innovation. Future research should explore in greater depth how the travel value chain network evolves over time.

Near-site utilisation of demolition materials: a value network analysis

PurposeThis study analyses the actors and transactions in the value network of circular near-site utilisation of materials generated in the demolition of buildings. The study aims to increase the knowledge of such value networks and thus enable more efficient project planning and construction design from the point of view of circular demolition material use.Design/methodology/approachA multiple case study methodology with semi-structured interviews was utilised. Four demolition cases were chosen for analysis, with 60 identified value transactions between actors. The actors were categorised based on their position in the value network to find out how different types of actors create value for each other in the network.FindingsFour actor categories were discovered: legislative, ownership and finance, operational and intermediary. These categories have different types of value transactions with other actor categories in the network – legislative actors create the boundaries for the business- and operational environment, ownership and finance actors create the operational network for intermediary and operational actors, which create value based on opportunities in business collaboration. These findings complement previous studies and show that macro-scale models of circular economy implementation are also applicable in the meso-scale. Furthermore, missing or severed actors and transactions were found to hinder value creation in the network.Originality/valueThis article provides novel insights into the value networks of demolition materials, especially in terms of near-site utilisation, and suggests developing means to optimise their use in a demolition/construction project setting.

Strange Dance Partners: Supply Chain Cyberattacks and Chained Vulnerability

ABSTRACTThe concept of “chained vulnerability” addresses the cyberattack risks for organizations through interconnected internal and external actors (e.g., employees and suppliers). As organizational defenses and tactics of antagonistic actors (e.g., hackers) adapt to emerging conditions, certain actors of organizations become compromised as entry points into the targeted organizations. A disruption (i.e., COVID‐19) induces operational changes (i.e., digital transformation), and we study the co‐evolution of attacks and defenses as if the antagonistic actors, organizations, and their internal and external actors are engaged in a dance together. Building on routine activity theory, our study theorizes the adaptive target suitability where the properties of actors, the types of actors involved, and the consequential phases co‐evolve following the disruption. We leverage the COVID‐19 pandemic as the empirical context and use a novel dataset of 3497 publicly reported cyber breaches. Analyses reveal that cyberattacks initially focused on internal actors (i.e., deception‐based attacks on employees) and then shifted to external actors (i.e., system vulnerability‐based attacks on digital infrastructure providers and product suppliers). Semi‐structured interviews with experts (e.g., hackers and cybersecurity managers) and subsequent econometric analyses elucidate how strategic interactions between dance partners lead to disruptions that dynamically reshape the landscape of chained vulnerability.

Trade-offs and synergies in food system transition: case of the Ethiopian dairy sector

The transformation of food systems in low-and middle-income countries is indispensable for attaining food and nutrition security. To analyse and better understand food system transition, transition pathway approach is commonly used as a tool to engage key stakeholders in looking for a solution to a major structural food system issue that requires a transition. Inherent in these food system transition pathways are trade-offs and synergies within or between different dimensions of sustainability, scales, and types of actors. The objective of this study was to identify and assess with the stakeholders the trade-offs and synergies in transition pathways of doubling dairy consumption in Ethiopia. Of the four transition pathways developed of doubling dairy consumption within 15 years, we focused on two pathways in this study. The “peri-urban pathway” focused on the vision that all low-income peri-urban consumers have access to safe and affordable pasteurized milk by 2037 while the “ rural pathway” aimed at access to pasteurized milk by all rural pregnant and lactating women, and children under 7 years. Fifteen trade-offs were identified by the participants for the two pathways. Scores of the importance of each trade-off ranged from 1 to 3 on a Likert scale from 1 (low) to 4 (very high) with average of 2.47 ± 0.42 and 2.6 ± 0.371 for peri-urban and rural pathways, respectively. Applying transition pathway approach to this case study shows that stakeholder participation is essential to assessment of trade-offs and synergies in food system transition, and that it is context-specific and pathway-dependent.

Decarbonising cities: exploring regional energy justice implications

ABSTRACT To meet energy demand and achieve climate and energy decarbonisation targets, cities adopt a range of mechanisms to facilitate renewable electricity development from their surrounding regions. These mechanisms are likely to have implications for regional community co-benefits, social acceptance of renewable energy projects, and energy justice. This research used document analysis to identify the procurement mechanisms being used by cities to source renewable electricity from surrounding regions and the types of actors involved. The analysis focussed on 27 cities pursuing ambitious 100% renewable energy or carbon neutrality goals and whose plans indicate engagement with their surrounding regions. The results point to eight types of mechanisms used by cities to develop renewable energy in their surrounding region. Of the 56 occurrences identified, 55 involved public actors, 25 involved private actors, and 12 involved civic actors. The findings demonstrate that cities are overcoming their local energy constraints by seeking to develop renewable electricity in their surrounding regions utilising mechanisms that are dominated by the involvement of public and private actors, leaving civic actors underrepresented. Key policy highlights Cities with ambitious renewable energy goals require large amounts of renewable energy to decarbonise. To achieve their decarbonisation goals, cities are adopting a range of mechanisms to facilitate renewable electricity development in the regions that surround them. This study identifies eight types of mechanisms used by cities to drive renewable energy development within their surrounding region; power purchase agreements, project acquisition, city-led project development, incumbent-city collaborative project development, niche-city collaborative project development, centralised decision making, advocacy, and market stimulation. Of the 56 occurrences identified, most were dominated by public (n = 55/56) and private actors (n = 25/56), with little involvement of civic actors (n = 12/56) such as households, citizens and community organisations. Limited citizen involvement in renewable energy development can hinder equitable benefits and social acceptance for regional communities. Civic participation in regional energy development is essential for a just and successful energy transition.

Mapping the Participation of ASEAN Actors in International Climate Initiatives

ABSTRACTTo make progress on decarbonisation, a large number and variety of stakeholders need to be engaged. In this Policy Forum, we assess the participation of different types of ASEAN actors in major international initiatives for climate action. We build a database of 335 international climate initiatives and find that ASEAN is underrepresented. Especially ASEAN municipalities are absent, whereas ASEAN national governments and companies are well represented. We also find that ASEAN actors participate more frequently in initiatives that facilitate political dialogue and less in those that fulfil concrete purposes. Only three out of 335 climate initiatives are headquartered in ASEAN countries, suggesting a paucity of international climate leadership by ASEAN actors. Finally, we find that actors from the different ASEAN countries often do not participate in the same initiatives, reducing the possibility of acting as a unified bloc.

A social network analysis of the European science-policy-society interface on biodiversity.

Despite the wealth of evidence on biodiversity status, trends, and policy options in Europe, knowledge often fails to inform policy makers and decision makers effectively. Implementing the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 will require the transformation of engagement and exchange between knowledge providers and policy and decision makers. This is one of the main goals of the forthcoming EU Science Service for Biodiversity. We sought to support this endeavor by mapping the landscape of actors at the biodiversity science-policy-society interface. We first compiled an extensive database of actors (n = 215) by combining existing databases, searching the web, and consulting experts. We then interviewed representatives of key organizations (n=28) to elicit data about their network of relations with other organizations. Additional qualitative data were elicited from a subset of organizations (n=17/28) focusing on the roles of different actors in knowledge cocreation and their potential contribution to the functioning of the Science Service for Biodiversity. The social network analysis mapped the interactions (and lack thereof) between 101 organized actors. Central to the network were EU organizations, other international and intergovernmental organizations, and one well-known public interest group. A more varied mix of organizations had the potential to act as bridges between unconnected actors, including private sector organizations, organizations dedicated to the management of ecological units, and science-based networks. The social network analysis also revealed 4 thematic communities emerging from the interactions among actors: biodiversity knowledge for EU policy-making; land ownership and management in agriculture and forestry; natural capital and sustainable development; and nature conservation and participation. Consistent with the results of the social network analysis, the qualitative data suggested that nonpolicy and nonscience actors have an important role to play in the dialogue and knowledge cocreation for biodiversityconservation and restoration. To strengthen the European science-policy-society interface on biodiversity, we recommend addressing gaps in themes and actor types, fostering cross-community dialogue, and supporting the further development of the network in terms of participants and potential intermediaries.

Who cares about carbon dioxide removal? Assessing actors, policy positions, and participation modes within European and United Nations public consultation processes

ABSTRACT In addition to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, alternate strategies to mitigate climate change are entering the policy debate, such as Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), which aims to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Despite being in the early stages of development, these interventions have already been indicated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as necessary contributors to the net zero transition. CDR has been at the centre of two public consultation processes in 2023, one by the European Union and one by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. These two consultation processes provide an opportunity to have an initial understanding of the types of actors participating in such consultations and their positioning regarding key issues in the governance and deployment of CDR interventions. This study maps the stakeholders participating in these consultations according to their defining characteristics and analyses the content of their submissions to identify the main arguments presented. In both cases, most participants are based in the Global North, are for-profit actors and focus their activities on farming or greenhouse gas removal. The analysis of the content of the submissions reveals a wide range of positions that can be divided into expansive and restrictive. Expansive stances are mostly emphasized by actors from the for-profit sector, whereas the restrictive positions are emphasized by non-governmental organizations. This divide suggests the need for a governance set-up capable of balancing diverse perspectives while ensuring an equitable and effective deployment of these technologies to address the global challenge of climate change.

«Яжемать»: обесценивание материнства в сетевом обществе

Digital transformations of the social system, observed by researchers in its various fields, make it relevant to study network phenomena that are related to the problems of modern Russian society. “Iamamother” is a vivid example of those; we view it as a symptom of devaluation of motherhood. The latter takes different forms, including virtual ones, and passes from different actors. For a more detailed analysis we identify the levels at which the importance of the very fact of giving birth and raising children is questioned and a specific woman in the role of a mother is downgraded; we also consider the relationship of this process with network mechanisms. Devaluation at the personal level is analyzed from the perspective of Jungian research: a number of scenarios for diminishing the maternal principle are presented. To identify the characteristic features of devaluation of motherhood at the interpersonal level, we examine the situation from the standpoint of social constructionist theory and of the concept of epistemic injustice. The emergence of “Iamamother” phenomenon is analyzed as a case of inverted hermeneutic injustice which requires identification, acting at present as a simulacrum having no valid grounds for conceptualization. As a result of the study of the network level that embraces judgmental statements of Internet users, in particular members of thematic virtual communities, we present the main types of content devoted to the issue of “Iamamother”. Several types of actors come out as a result of the qualitative content analysis of the commentary background from a relevant source. Summing up the outcomes of the study, we state a lack of tolerance in the discursive space of “Iamamother” phenomenon and put forward an alternative defi nition of the concept: this is an attributed deictic statement about oneself by a female individual who has a child / children, which determines her actions; it is an interpellated identity that differs from the traditional, normative image of motherhood in Russia. As an element of the dominant discourse this sign reinforces and spreads negative ideas of society about certain models of maternal behavior, which leads to devaluation of motherhood in general.

Multi-actor and place-driven leadership in city-based efforts to improve well-being: a transnational perspective

ABSTRACT This paper explores three exemplar place-based initiatives (PBIs), Logan Together (Australia), Living SJ (Canada) and The Southern Initiative (TSI) (New Zealand), to identify place leaders and the practices they enact alone, and together, to drive well-being-focused change. Drawing from interviews with 37 informants, four types of leadership actors are identified: the PBI; individuals within PBIs and contributing organisations; residents; and elected representatives. Their respective place leadership practices and experiences are described. After revealing what helps and hinders multi-actor and place-driven leadership, a novel conceptual framework is developed, and recommendations are made for advancing place leadership research, policy and practice to improve well-being.

Nonstate Actor Inclusion and the Social Legitimacy of Global Governance Institutions

Abstract Nonstate actors play powerful roles in global governance institutions (GGIs) as advocates, experts, representatives, regulators, monitors, and implementing agents. However, the extent to which their inclusion affects the degree to which citizens find GGIs more legitimate has not been systematically investigated, nor have the conditions under which citizens might do so. In this contribution, we theoretically argue that such inclusion effectively enhances the social legitimacy of GGIs, but only to the extent that citizens expect nonstate actors to provide relevant governance contributions. We find strong empirical evidence for this argument in two large-N conjoint experiments fielded in Brazil, Germany, South Africa, and the United States. First, our results suggest that citizens, on average, ascribe more legitimacy to GGIs if learning that nonstate actors have a say in important decisions. Second, the strength of this effect depends on the degree to which citizens expect nonstate actors to provide expertise, representation, public interest orientation, transparency, or operational capacity. Third, expected governance contributions remarkably vary among different types of nonstate actors in kind and degree. In line with our overall argument, findings suggest that nonstate actor participation plays a more complex and significant role in the social legitimation of global governance than previously understood.

Subnational Climate Clubs: An Interactional Approach to Transnational Lawmaking

Abstract Predominant climate club research emphasizes state-centric clubs that alter the incentive structure and bargaining context for climate cooperation. This focus on national governments, however, leaves climate clubs vulnerable to political turbulence afflicting individual club members. Subnational governments are an important yet often overlooked type of actor in the club literature. This article contributes to understanding the role and nature of subnational government-led clubs in transnational climate governance and lawmaking through qualitative case studies of the Western Climate Initiative and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. I identify the distinguishing characteristics that these clubs manifest in their membership and functions, as formalized through legal arrangements. I demonstrate that these clubs have the potential to increase structural stability, withstand political changes, and enhance the legitimacy and efficacy of climate action. They do so by functioning not only as organizations that create incentives for committing to legal norms and mechanisms for deterring free riding but also as communities of practice that generate shared understandings, resources, and norms to sustain club cooperation in pursuing a shared commitment to climate action. As such, each club applies a mix of rationalist approaches to benefit generation and constructivist approaches to community building.

Causal Mechanisms in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Management: A Meta‐Synthesis of Micro‐CSR Research

Abstract Much psychologically oriented micro‐CSR research emphasizes intra‐individual processes, leading to a relative omission of the role of interactions among individuals in managing CSR. This limitation hinders the potential of such micro‐CSR research to explain CSR as an organizational‐level outcome. We adopt a meta‐synthesis methodology to extract insights on inter‐individual processes in CSR management from existing literature that examines CSR's microfoundations beyond a purely psychological perspective. By incorporating a causal mechanism approach into our meta‐synthesis, we develop a theoretical framework comprising three causal mechanisms that elucidate how individual behaviours and interactions of differing sets of dominant actor types (including change agents, supporters, opportunists, resisters and top and senior management) foster substantive or incremental progress in CSR or its obstruction within firms. Our findings establish a foundation for further research into individual‐level and temporal dynamics in CSR management, and the conditions under which firms are more likely to implement impactful CSR initiatives.

Different visions of climate equity that don’t see eye to eye

ABSTRACT Over the past decade, there has been a growing desire to link the fight against climate change more closely with issues of justice. City-based movements for climate justice reveal the overlap between climate vulnerability and other issues that require a profound systemic change towards more socially just forms of urban transformation. However attempts being made to integrate justice into climate planning and action by local governments, these efforts often remain superficial and insufficient. So, how do these two types of actors engage on questions of justice? Our case study identifies the climate equity discourse presented by the City of Montreal, Canada, and certain civil society actors following the publication of the City’s new Climate Plan in the early 2020s, in contrast with certain civil society actors who are strongly mobilised on behalf of the climate. We paid particular attention to outsiders, i.e. actors or communities identifying with the environmental movement and the climate justice discourse but are not involved in formal political decision-making processes. Our results contribute to debates on equity in climate planning by providing data on shortfalls in the City's consideration of justice, and by reporting on civil society's mobilisation on these issues. We conclude that there is no dialogue between the City and outsiders regarding their understandings and representations of climate equity, which poses a risk of developing maladaptation.

Anthropology of friendship: A preliminary review

This paper elaborates studies related to the anthropology of friendship and relates the findings to the locus of the intellectual community named INSISTS. Various anthropological studies of friendship can be categorized into studies of friendship construction, interaction between actors in friendship, interests between actors in friendship and exchange between actors in friendship. In these various studies, this paper shows that for the context of the study of religious intellectual communities, friendship studies do not only focus on shared beliefs, concerns, sentiments, and so on, but also need to elaborate on the interests of religious actors. So far, actor interests have only been defined in terms of emotional and instrumental interests. This paper adds another type of actor’s interest, namely intellectual interest, which is inherent in the interaction between actors. The intellectual interest is indeed based on the locus of the intellectual community, but it is possible that the ‘intellectual interest’ is also present in other communities in which there is an exchange of ideas between actors.

Rule-mediated connectivity in social-ecological-technological systems: A comparative network analysis of reservoir operation rules in Coyote Valley Dam (United States) and Ameghino Dam (Argentina).

Rule-mediated connectivity in social-ecological-technological systems: A comparative network analysis of reservoir operation rules in Coyote Valley Dam (United States) and Ameghino Dam (Argentina).