Search

The Journal of Critical Realism has issued a call for papers for a special issue on "critical realism and the self." The concept of the self is seen as crucial for social change and emancipatory theorizing. The special issue aims to explore various aspects of the self, including subjectivity, reflexivity, authenticity, personhood, and identity. Submissions can be theoretical or applied, and can engage with critical realism or critique it. The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2024, and the final papers are required by November 19, 2024. [Extracted from the article]

Farhat Hasan, Paper, Performance, and the State: Social Change and Political Culture in Mughal India. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021, xv+155 pp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of my article is to analyse the language utilized by the media as a representation of the evolution of the rapports existing between social and linguistic changes. Starting from two articles from 1978 and 1996 I would like to reveal the linguistic characteristics of each period. The linguistic material described has hybrid features being situated between institutional political discourse and ordinary discourse practices. Thus, the printed media are the privileged place used to identify lexical habits concerning politics. The main conclusions of this analysis are connected to the dynamics of linguistic modifications. During the 1970's, one could notice the correspondence between political stability and linguistic stagnation while during the 1990's, language (mainly political vocabulary) proved to be unstable and innovative. In this way, these lexical changes are the logical product of a restructuring phase of the partisan offer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a control group study of the influence of a partnership-centered, community-based learning program on students' academic writing. The improved writing of first-year students in the Chicago Civic Leadership Certificate Program (CCLCP), we argue, results from the deeply situated learning that took place in the context of reciprocal, community-based relationships. We also argue that research on the impact of community-based learning should take into account the contemporary university's emerging paradigm of engaged learning and research, which calls for a redefinition of partnership and reciprocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a general discussion highlighting the nature and structure of the Burrell and Morgan Matrix as a framework for application in examining research design. Design/ methodology/ approach: This paper consists of commentary or discourse regarding the elementary framework of the Matrix. The four paradigms examined are: radical humanist; radical structuralist; interpretive; and functionalist. Originality: The Matrix provides a valuable tool for researchers to situate sociological theories within broader paradigms allowing insight into their underlying assumptions about social structure and change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There continues to be much debate as to whether to preserve buildings, and this is particularly pertinent to post-war architecture, especially in the UK. This paper further explores the issue by concentrating on the acquisition of a fragment of Robin Hood Gardens by the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Smithsons' key work was deemed a failed social experiment in its listing verdict, and the acquisition of the fragment during demolition sparked controversy when exhibited at the 2018 Venice Biennale. Devoid of its context in an exhibition setting, the fragment of building questions the applicability of traditional conservation values, particularly those relating to age or architectural value. This paper aims to demonstrate the value of taking a more sociological approach to this dilemma. It uses theories of collective memory, specifically Halbwachs and Bachelard's variations, to explore multiple interpretations of the fragment's physicality. Three frameworks have been chosen for analysis: the changing social housing rhetoric, its listing campaign, and finally the present, a speculative section on what the current interpretations of the past indicate for the future. Through this chronological analysis it is concluded that the Estate's physicality is reduced to a semantic contribution, representative of our current crisis of collective memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change discourse ranges from an acknowledgement of ancestral prophecy to the most urgent crisis of our time. If the terminology – words, concepts, and expressions – of discourse is understood to reflect a writer's values, perspectives, and ways of knowing, then it is important to compare the terminology used by various writers to understand key value differences. This paper provides an initial exploration into the explicit and implicit differences in terminology surrounding climate adaptation planning from the perspective of federal agencies and Tribal Nations as represented in two climate adaptation guides. As the act of utilising the same words but in different ways will likely result in conflict, we also explored the links between the values-based differences in terminology with three policies – one written from a Tribal perspective and two that govern federal agencies' stewardship of cultural resources – to assess the implications for climate adaptation of ancestral heritage located on federal lands. It is important to note that the space to compare terminology between federal and Tribal perspectives is vast; though this paper represents only an introductory step into this space, the results demonstrate a clear need to develop a process of co-constructing a shared climate adaptation terminology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning in higher education settings requires that students can acquire high level abstract concepts in meaningful ways. This paper proposes a model of teaching that relies on causing cognitive conflict in educational setting to engage students' learning. Drawing on the work of Vygotsky, Feuerstein, and Piaget, the model developed in this paper illustrates how pedagogy can be used to facilitate students' acquisition of abstract concepts. The paper introduces the background to the model before presenting a single case study of its use in a large university in South Africa. Forty-eight students registered for an honors course in education participated in this study. Findings indicated that students reported that this model of teaching opens interaction and makes work more easily accessible, and, further, analysis of student talk indicates the presence of exploratory talk, which is illustrative of reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European Capital of Culture (ECoC), as a long-term cultural initiative of the European Union, has inevitably become intertwined with tourism development in designated cities. For almost four decades, mediumsized and small cities across Europe have been allowed to shift their local economies towards creativity and cultural tourism, driven by the ECoC title, with different cities achieving different levels of success. Since the 1990s, the ECoC initiative has followed the EU's trends, resolutions, and recommendations. The mid2000s, 2010s, and early 2020s have given the trend a new drive with a more procedural approach in the ECoC bidding process. Sustainable development is one of the EU’s main strategic goals in the new era, and sustainable tourism has also influenced the ECoC initiative, making it one of the key priorities. This paper analyses the concepts of modern cultural tourism and the phenomena of over-tourism and sustainable tourism, especially in the ECoC context. Research methodology is based on secondary sources, including scientific papers, bid books and other official documents drawn up by ECoC cities and ECoC reports. The paper seeks to recognise and systematise the changes in cultural tourism trends in the ECoC context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Alberta Journal of Educational Research is the property of Alberta Journal of Educational Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper examines continuity and change in the bases of recommendations about dishes to prepare and serve in the household in Britain between 1968 and 2016. Employing a content analysis of recipes in widely circulating women's magazines, it compares a sample of recipes from 2015–16 with ones from 1968 and 1992 analyzed previously. In this follow-up study, new data are collected, using the same coding frame, with findings interpreted through the same conceptual framework, to classify recommendations about domestic food preparation with reference to four "culinary antinomies" expressing symbolic, structural oppositions between (1) health and indulgence, (2) economy and extravagance, (3) convenience and care, and (4) novelty and tradition. The changing prevalence of these principles of recommendation is described. Discussion revolves around interpretation of the social significance of changing recommendations, modification of the conceptual framework, and methodological aspects of the measurement of social change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Sociales (13159518) is the property of Revista de Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad del Zulia Venezuela and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Novitas-ROYAL is the property of Novitas Royal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents abstracts on topics concerning sociology which include social integration in Central America, impact of institutional development on social and economic development, and social change processes encountered by farmers.

Copyright of Public Health Forum is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The role of a data-driven culture in improving organizational performance is widely recognized, but its conceptual definition lacks uniformity, leading to the existence of various constructs. This paper proposes a guiding framework for a data-driven culture, aiming to foster a unified understanding that aids both researchers and practitioners in the information systems (IS) field. Method: Adopting a qualitative research approach, this study conducts a systematic literature review to discern the breadth and depth of data-driven culture as portrayed in previous works. Alongside this, ten interviews were carried out with professionals well-versed in the application of data-driven strategies. Results: The study uncovers the multifaceted nature of a data-driven culture, highlighting its influence on decision-making practices within organizations. It identifies a range of characteristics relevant to the construct and consolidates these into an integrative framework, thereby developing a conceptual definition for data-driven culture. Conclusion: The paper contributes to the IS field by providing a framework that illuminates the concept of data-driven culture. This new understanding aids researchers in consistently theorizing the same phenomenon, supports the development of refined metrics for assessing data-driven culture, and paves the way for future research in this area. For practitioners, this framework delineates the characteristics of a data-driven culture and their interplay, enabling a more informed approach to cultural change efforts. Moreover, it highlights the importance of acknowledging the wider cultural context, and provides mechanisms to balance the emphasis on tools and values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the Indo-Afghan ties after 9/11 and its economic and political effects on Pakistan. After 9/11, the relations between Afghanistan and India became extremely mature and cordial. Moreover, India has been helping Afghanistan politically, socially and economically. Thus, the Indian unconditional support to Afghans has opened the door for India to assure its presence anywhere in Afghanistan. On the other hand, the presence of India in Afghanistan has hurt Pakistan badly since India uses the Afghan soil to create political unrest and instability in Pakistan by supporting the anti-Pakistan elements within Pakistan. Thus, the region would be in loselose situation which is neither in the favor of Pakistan nor it benefits the Indo-Afghan ties. The paper addresses the question, how Pakistan deals with its policy option in respect to Indo-Afghan ties after 9/11 in order to discourage Indian covert activities from Afghan soil. Moreover, the paper is qualitative in nature, is based on critical analysis and investigation of different facts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Africa Spectrum is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper offers a critical analysis of the conceptual origins of neoliberal society and its attendant social problems by outlining how traditional concepts founded in Western philosophical liberalism have become intensified in the neoliberal present in a manner that perpetuates domination against the original intention of liberal ideals of emancipation. In particular the paper examines five sites of conceptual distortion that perpetuate domination as follows: From the sovereign individual to possessive individualism; The economic conception of freedom and corporate capitalist empire; The liberal rule of law or the neoliberal unruliness of law; Liberal democracy and its competing identities; The incomplete liberal promise of female emancipation and the neoliberal perpetuation of the patriarchal order of domination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussing the reasons of the marginalisation of sociological analysis on war and peace processes is the main purpose of the paper: such a situation weakens the capacity to understand sociologically macro-social changes. After having analysed in which way war conflicts have been studied during the foundation of sociology in Europe and USA, in the critical discussion it will be hypothesized that such a situation is due to the canonisation of sociology and the rise of its professional identity, between the 30s and the 60s of the XX century. Eventually, in the final part three proposals will be discussed in order to go beyond this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent novels in Indian English mostly deal with the past history of the masses of the marginalized in the South-Asian continent due to the impact of "colonialist elitism" (Ludden 2002) and its upshot-colonialism. Generally, the word, "colonialist elitism" (Ibid), denotes the Western modernity which badly influenced the masses of the marginalized groups in a society during the rule of imperialism. In her novels, Anita Desai, one of the most eminent female writers of Indian English, often portray the harsh realities of the day today life of the masses of the marginalized including the lower-class workers, the lower-caste fishermen and the lower-caste women when they resist against imperialist elitism and its results. She often makes "use of symbolism" (N. R. Gopal 99) to portray the characters of her novels and uses pictorial words for describing the settings of the scenes in her novels. Also, she uses "flashback technique" (Ibid) in her novels significantly. The select novels of Desai adding in Where Shall We Go This Summer? and Fire on the Mountain give an account of details about the inner thirst of the masses of the less-privileged men to get released from the tradition bound society by resisting against dominant ideologies prevailing in the colonial rule and its effects. Also, the novels describe how far the social evils prevalent in India such as class/caste discrimination, race, gender, religion, nation, colour, and age-oriented discrimination and other ethnic differences affect the everyday survival of the masses of innocent men in India. The select novels of Desai obviously expound the importance of a separate space for the masses of the marginalized men to lead their life in a respectable way. The novels also show how the masses of down-trodden men hate the colonialist/nationalist elitism and its aftermath collapsing their identity and the past history of their ancestors. They develop self-confidence enough to resist the worse effects of modernity in destroying their soil, tradition, culture, social setup, etc. The novels exhibit how the masses of the under-privileged men tirelessly strive hard to resist against colonialist elitism and its aftermath. As a result, they get liberated from the ageold traditional taboos and from the ever-mounting imperialist elitism repressing their self-dignity and traditional culture. The masses of the downtrodden men in the select novels are able to realize their selfpotentiality, expressing love and affection to their compatriots through their close friendship with empathetic elites. The select texts explain how the masses of less-privileged men celebrate "traditional/territorial kinship" (Guha 1983) among them to strongly fight against the evermounting colonial knowledge and its upshot in India, similar to subaltern studies analysis. The groups of under-privileged men in the select novels, including the chelas, the fishermen of Manori Island in WHERE SHALL WE GO THIS SUMMER?, the mass of under-privileged maleworkers and the poor village men of Kasauli village in FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN are able to retain their self-dignity through their kinship with their compatriots throughout their life. The paper logically analyzes how far the select novels of Desai's WHERE SHALL WE GO THIS SUMMER? and FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN establish the just-order in the colonial/post-colonial society in India by depicting how the masses of ignored men get released from the social, cultural, and economic divergence intended by native elites, the colonialist elites and the modern elites during the colonial/post-colonial period in India through their kinship relationship, education and self-employment. It highlights the indomitable struggle of the masses of the downtrodden men against colonialist elitism and its upshot to obtain social-equality, freedom, and fraternity by reflecting the conceptual thoughts of Subaltern Studies philosophers like Ranajit Guha, Partha Chatterjee, Gayatri Spivak, Dipesh Chakrabarty, Kancha Illiah, Uday Chandra and Robert Young. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Economic History Research / Investigaciones de Historia Económica is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Historia Economica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Prefiguration unites organizations and collectives as diverse as post-growth organizations, common good organizations, community-supported agriculture, transition towns, or ecovillages in their fundamental critique of contemporary capitalism and the belief in the urgency of a major social transformation toward sustainability. It refers to realizing imaginaries of radically alternative futures in social practices, of bringing about the future by enacting real utopias in the present. Prefiguration is an increasingly fashionable concept in the social sciences, but it is still rarely used in scholarship on infrastructures. This paper shows the potential relevance of this concept for studying infrastructures, in particular to address the social transformation of contemporary infrastructures toward radically alternative, revolutionary infrastructures. It therefore starts with providing insights into the common and yet rather narrow understanding of social change and transformation in literature on prefiguration. Building on scholarly reflections on the politics of social transformation and the crucial role of organizing in transformative social change processes, the paper derives a multi-political approach where prefiguration is considered in its intricate linkage to other forms of politics. Furthermore, the paper outlines the conceptual relationship between prefiguration and infrastructures, proposes conceiving radically alternative infrastructures as being created through prefigurative organizing, and discusses a few exemplary challenges of prefiguring alternative immaterial and material infrastructures. It generally suggests that a fundamental social transformation of our societies and infrastructures requires prefigurative organizing, understood through its multi-political lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ecological restoration is not just an environmental issue and it is a societal problem. This paper analyzes ecological restoration and its impact on society in coal resource-based areas, focusing on the Ruhr region in Germany and Liulin County in China. Through the analysis and comparison, the study not only reveals the unique ecology-social system and explain the reasons for dependence on coal, but the finding shows that industrial transformation is a key factor in determining ecological restoration of coal resource-based regions. • The industries abandoned by the Ruhr area were taken over by China. Shanxi Province is very similar to the Ruhr area in terms of ecological destruction and social development at that time. The Ruhr region has become one of the most polluted areas in the world due to its coal and steel industry. After nearly 40 years of arduous practice, ecological governance and economic transformation in the Ruhr area achieved initial success. • Shanxi Province in China is a hub for energy and heavy chemical industries, and it ranks first in coal production nationally.. The Liulin county is located in the west of Shanxi Province, it is a typical coal mining subsidence and is scattered with numerous villages affected by subsidence due to coal mining. Shanxi Province and the Liulin county is undergoing difficult industrial transformation. • The author of this work visited the Duisburg-Essen University for a year, located in the Ruhr area of Germany, and learned about the ER and transformation in the Ruhr. When the author returned to China, she conducted field research for a two-month survey in Liulin County. Therefore, the author collected a large amount of literature ,data sources and gained practical experiences in these two areas. The coal resource-based areas rely on coal resources and primary processing as their pillar industries, such as the old industrial areas in China and Germany. Long-term, large-scale coal mining has significantly damaged the ecological environment of mining areas. Environmental restoration refers to repairing, rehabilitating, or revitalizing ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed by human activities or natural disasters. In fact, ecological restoration is not just an environmental issue and it is a societal problem. Ecological restoration is closely linked to natural resources, the environment, the economy, society, and politics. These factors form a social ecological system and it is the basis for local stability and sustainable development in the coal resource-based areas. In this process, the relationship between government, enterprise, and local people is constantly being reshaped and defined, then it causes changes in the local social ecology and political ecology. The paper researches the Ruhr area in Germany and the Liulin County in China, the former is a world-famous old industrial and the latter is a typical coal mining subsidence district. By analyzing and comparing the ecological restoration and significant social changes in the Ruhr area and the Liulin County at different periods, the findings show the unique ecology— social system of the coal resource-based area, then enhances the effective measures for ecological restoration and sustainable development of the coal resource-based areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network infrastructure is one of the most significant technological developments in recent decades, as well as a powerful boost for economic growth in both urban and rural area. However, whether improving network infrastructure reduces urban-rural income inequality (URII) remains uncertain in the previous literature. Considering that URII is an important research issue in the field of social change, it is worthwhile to investigate the causal relationship between network infrastructure and URII. Based on the exogenous shock from a quasi-natural experiment of "Broadband China" demonstration cities, this paper utilizes a time-varying Difference-in-Differences (Time-varying DID) model to identify the causal impact of the improvement of network infrastructure on URII in China. The results show that: (1) After controlling the impact of other commonly acknowledged factors, network infrastructure remains a significant factor in URII reduction. (2) The mechanism analysis confirms that the mediating effect of digital financial inclusion plays a vital role in the impact of network infrastructure on URII. (3) Further regional heterogeneity analysis reveals that the impact of network infrastructure on reducing URII also relies on region's characteristics, such as geographical location, traditional infrastructure level, and administrative level. This paper has figured out the causal relationship between network infrastructure and URII, thus inspiring policy-makers who aim to reduce inequality between urban and rural areas to commit to improving network infrastructure with an emphasis on digital financial inclusion mechanism and comprehensive consideration of regional heterogeneity. • Network infrastructure construction can significantly reduce urban-rural income inequality. • Time-varying Difference in difference method (Time-varying DID) was adopted to investigate the "Broadband China" Policy. • The mediating mechanisms and heterogeneity of network infrastructure development on urban income inequality are discussed. • The value of the "Broadband China" Policy for urban-rural development is shown. • Our findings offer advice for developing countries and local governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses about the sociological papers for the people. In response to a challenge of this order from the Editors of the "Beacon," a series of popular sociological expositions, or, as they might be called, "Papers for the People" has been designed by the senior Editor of the "Sociological Review." Some idea of their scope and aims may be gathered from the following titles adopted for representative specimens of the projected papers. The series begins with a paper entitled "Rival Economies and Their Life Values." The first of these papers on current social evolution will appear in the January issue of the "Beacon." For the information of those not acquainted with this journal, written largely by and for men tried in the furnace of the war and found resistant to the temptation of disillusionment, it may be stated the "Beacon" is a monthly magazine devoted to the fashioning of a finer vision of life for the coming times. Now in its second year, it is edited by E. R. Appleton, assisted by Captain W. Wadsworth and Captain Ivor McClure.

The arrival of COVID-19 meant a drastic change in the way of teaching and research. This paper explores the effect that the measures taken to contain the COVID-19 spreads have had on the research activities of teachers about variables such as area of knowledge, educational level, and role in projects or gender. To this end, an online survey was designed to collect data, requesting information about time lost in research, the number of papers proposed for publication in scientific journals, difficulties in managing research projects, guarantees in project funding or the capacity to reformulate research activities. Two hundred seventy-one teachers and researchers were asked to participate. Among the main results, most respondents agree on the difficulties in managing their projects; they have been forced to reformulate their research, although they claim that the time lost in research has been limited. The results will help to make decisions on the measures to be taken to alleviate the low performance of research by teacher-researchers during this period and to prepare contingency plans to reduce the impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations require relevant social changes that sometimes involve the development of innovative projects that cause rejection and confrontation. Agent-Based Models (ABM) are powerful tools to represent the behavior of systems, and they have become valuable for the social sciences as they can simulate the behavior of a society under different conditions. Superblocks are innovative city projects that reorganize urban space and minimize private motorized transport. In this paper, we present an ABM that simulates the implantation of superblocks in two Spanish cities: Vitoria-Gasteiz and Barcelona. The interest of this model is to provide policymakers with relevant scientific information that can be used to support their planning and decision-making processes by running possible alternative policy scenarios. This paper presents the details of the designed model and the simulation of different policy scenarios to increase the acceptability rates of citizens about the project, demonstrating how the model takes into account local differences and its usefulness for those political leaders from other cities interested in implementing this type of project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an extension to the relational event model with change points (REM-CP) to study abrupt changes to social interaction behavior in temporal networks. A change point detection algorithm is proposed for exploring when and which network effects abruptly change, and a confirmatory approach to test the presence of a change point at a given moment. The effectiveness of the methodology was assessed with numerical simulations and NASA's Apollo 13 mission data. The latter revealed dynamic communication behavior and identified time zones where most change points occurred, including around the time of the famous quote "Houston, we've had a problem." • The strengths of some effects and therefore social dynamics, can change at certain points in time. • The REM with Change Points (REM-CP) builds on the relational event modeling framework and the Bayes factor and detects when the change points in social networks occur. • REM-CP can explore when and which network effects abruptly change in a specified period and test the presence of a change point at a given moment. • REM-CP can be a useful tool to analyze how teams work, communicate and how they handle critical situations. • Team resilience has been defined in many ways, but the most fitting with the analysis at hand (REM-CP) is that of "graceful extensibility". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Sociologija/Sociology: Journal of Sociology, Social Psychology & Social Anthropology is the property of MOD International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction. This paper examines academics' information behaviour in undertaking research for societal impact. It explores how researcher-stakeholder relationships provide sites of information exchange where academics develop skills and knowledge needed to undertake impact work. Method. This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 27 academics at 18 institutions across Australia. Participants were recruited across disciplines and at various career stages. Analysis. Constructivist grounded theory was used as a methodology, with Fiske's Relational Models Theory as a framework for analysis. Results. Results show that information behaviours relating to impact work were enacted within relationships with industry, community, and government partners. These relationships were characterised by four elements: curiosity, reciprocity, trust, and engagement. Conclusion. The paper presents a model of Relational-Informational Impact Practice to guide individual researchers' information behaviours and to inform university support programs for researchers engaged in societal impact work. The model outlines the interplay between curiosity, reciprocity, trust, and engagement, and impact-relevant information behaviours, such as information needs identification, sharing practices, and serendipity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Vjesnik Bibliotekara Hrvatske is the property of Croatian Library Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The analysis of agrobiodiversity has mostly neglected conditioning by violent conflict and related processes of social and agrarian change. Similarly, the violent conflicts literature has rarely considered interactions with agrobiodiversity, which involves social as well as biophysical processes. Considering their frequent spatial overlaps around the world, this paper introduces a themed issue investigating how agrobiodiversity and violent (post)conflicts transform each other and are often interdependent. To do so, we bring into dialogue previously disparate lines of research and present the empirical and theoretical contributions of the papers included in the themed issue. Based on this collective work, we call for further synthesis, whereby research working on agrobiodiversity meet and converge with research on violent conflict from various disciplines. The papers that compose this issue evidence how an integrative approach is not only analytically beneficial but also necessary for research supporting the sustainable resolution of conflict, the related conservation of agrobiodiversity and equitable human-environment relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformative power of indigenous African children's games can be demonstrated by how they were framed by the aesthetics of play such as imitation, imagination, make-believe, repetition, spontaneity, and improvisation. Such games could be regarded as 'rites of passage' for children's initiation into adulthood as they occupied a crucial phase in the process of growing up. Using the illustrative paradigm of indigenous children's games from the Shona-speaking peoples of Zimbabwe, this paper explores the transformative power of play as a means by which children engaged with reality. The paper proceeds to argue that the advent of modern agents of social change such as Christianity, formal education, urbanization, industrialization, scientific technology, and the cash economy not only created a fragmentation of African people's cultural past but also threatened the survival of African cultural performance traditions. Although indigenous African children's games were disrupted by modernity, they have managed to survive in a modified form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present an exploratory study based on the combination of Digital Storytelling (DST) and Discourse Analysis (DA) in a semester-long English Language and Linguistics undergraduate course for developing and enhancing students' 21st Century Skills and evaluating the role played by the integration of these methodologies in promoting young learners' activist role for social change. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analysed through descriptive statistics, computer-assisted qualitative content analysis, and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) (Fairclough, 1989; van Dijk, 1996, 2014). Accordingly, this study aims to shed light on the benefits and effectiveness of combining critical linguistics methods like DA and novel pedagogies such as DST to promote 21st-century students' social agency and competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Manuscrits: Revista d'Historia Moderna is the property of Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper contributes an autoethnographic account of how Paulo Freire's work shapes understandings of education, social change and the possibilities and practices of social research. Drawing on connections between anthropology and education (Schultz, 2014) that underpin Pedagogy of the Oppressed (McKenna, 2013), I explore spaces and practices through which Freire's seminal text provided me with the critical consciousness to interrogate the human experience of education and learning, and to question my practice as I transitioned from teacher to researcher, paying particular attention to learning through discomfort (Boler, 1999). The paper therefore contributes an applied contemporary reading of Pedagogy of the Oppressed to demonstrate its continued significance for theory and practice in formal and nonformal education, and its relevance for reimagining research practice. As a form of critically engaged reflective scholarship, the autoethnographic enquiry asks educators and researchers to question their own conceptualisations and practices of knowledge and research to consider a significant and urgent proposition: how we do the work to understand education and our imaginations of what and how it might become. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Iberica is the property of Asociacion Europea de Lenguas para Fines Especificos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) has been the setting of significant societal and cultural changes over millennia, and served as a connecting point for cultures across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Bioarchaeology, the contextual study of past human remains, explores the dynamic relationship between and within biological, natural, environmental, socio-political, historical, and physical forces; as such, it has found important applications in the EMME. This paper briefly outlines the history of bioarchaeological research in the region and highlights contemporary themes and trends. The latter follow the research trends in Europe and North America with a focus on palaeopathology, followed by dietary reconstructions, activity patterns, and mobility. Emphasis is placed on the extent to which bioarchaeology in the EMME has adopted the concept of intersectionality, which is especially pertinent in the region, but also the degree to which it has explored key issues with contemporary significance, such as migration, structural violence, and climate change. The above concepts and topics can indeed be identified in EMME bioarchaeological studies over the past few years; however, intersectionality and structural violence are almost exclusively addressed implicitly, while all four themes should receive more attention in the future so that they enhance the understanding of these processes in the EMME with greater spatial and temporal resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos de Información y Comunicación is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Conservative Thought / Muhafazakar Düşünce is the property of Muhafazakar Dusunce Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper analyzes Romania's dynamic migratory process with a focus on the return migration from Norway and the sociocultural changes that it might involve for Romanian migrants and their home societies. The focus on Norway as a case study can bring a valuable, accurate, and deep understanding of Romanian immigration. These indicate that Romanians faced many challenges in their migratory journey in Norway, but that for a source country like Romania, return migration could, in the long term, contribute to its social and cultural changes. This research resulted in three key findings. Firstly, through their migratory experience from Norway, Romanian returnees internalized social remittances, and changed their attitudes, behavior, values, and expectations before disseminating their knowledge in their family -and social environment. Secondly, the prevalence of social remittances might be dependent on the motivation of returnees to transfer their knowledge, ideas, and practices in the scope of contributing to social change. The prevalence of social remittances might also be dependent on the way the societies of origin receive the resources that returnees attempt to transmit and culturally diffuse. Thirdly, Romania, as an emigration society, has had a relaxed attitude towards change. However, repatriated Romanians maintain a confident outlook on the potential of their skills and know-how conferring them influence over certain cultural aspects in the spheres of work and social relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An advancement that includes the intellectual history of development ethics is examined in this paper. Relying upon contributions of distinguished scholars, this inquiry considers the intellectual history of the sub-field known as "development ethics". Special attention is paid to the pioneering development ethicist Denis Goulet, recognized as the founder of the field. The paper concentrates on individual contributions on a variety of issues, emphasizing linkages to Goulet's conception of tasks, methods and normative principles. Students of international development can benefit from this distinctive perspective where ethics is integrated into economic development, disclosing an enlightened perspective of an ethical developing world. Overall, the goal is to establish development ethics as an important subcategory of development economics in regards with its ethical aspects and one which deserves greater attention from economists and development studies scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Sociologia e Política is the property of Revista de Sociologia e Politica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper aims to explore the relationship between informal institutions, institutional change and gender equality2 in the context of the political struggle that took place in the aftermath of the 25 January uprising in Egypt. The paper argues that although the 25 January revolution presented Egyptian feminists with an excellent opportunity to put gender equality on the political agenda and build gender equality issues into the fabric of the new institutional and governmental blueprints and structures, they have failed to do so for several reasons. First, because of the monopoly exercised by two powerful inherently conservative patriarchal institutions, namely the Muslim Brotherhood and the Military establishment, not only over the formal political institutions, but also over informal institutions. The paper uses a single case study approach analyzed from a feminist institutionalist perspective. It draws upon insights from existing literature and upon the author's personal experience as first-hand witness to these events, as well as semi-structured interviews with a number of prominent feminists representing different political and ideological schools. This method was chosen to gain deeper insights into the perceptions of feminists who were directly involved in the events of that 'critical juncture' either through formal political institutions, or informally through engagement in street politics, about the multiple intersecting and complex institutional barriers, constraining women's agency during that time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]