Spatial Tools for Integrated and Inclusive Landscape Governance: Toward a New Research Agenda

AbstractParticipatory spatial tools—community mapping, PGIS, and others—find increasing resonance among research and non-governmental organizations to make stakeholder claims and community perspectives explicit for more inclusive landscape governance. In this paper, we situate the use of participatory spatial tools in debates on integrated landscape approaches and inclusive development. We show that using such spatial tools is not new but argue that their application for inclusive landscape governance requires a new research agenda that focuses on expanding the scope of application of the tools, improving the inclusivity of the processes, and developing new technologies.

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Images and Customary International Law, or the Destruction/Construction of International Norms through Images

Pólemos ◽

10.1515/pol-2019-0003 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 25-42

Author(s):

Annalisa Ciampi

Keyword(s):

International Law ◽

International Norms ◽

Customary International Law ◽

The Public ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

General Rules ◽

Scope Of Application ◽

Modern Technologies

Abstract This paper explores the power of images vis-à-vis the practice and theory of international law, with a focus on rules of customary international law, i. e. the unwritten general rules of international law, that apply to all states (as well as to non-state actors falling within their scope of application), irrespective of specific acceptance. As Sherwin writes: “We are awash in images.” States, international organizations (IOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), insurgents, terrorists and other groups of individuals of all sort, are in the news and our movies, on our TV screens, newspapers, internet and social media. Modern technologies, visual digital technologies, in particular, have a profound impact on the means and speed of communications across the globe and immensely facilitate the task of seeking information of all sort. In international law, images are a means for spreading knowledge about the practice of states and other actors. As with law in general, images are also found to be a valuable resource in explicating the rules of international law. They aid and clarify the analysis of international law and the determination of the existence and content of rules of customary international law. In contemporary international settings, however, modern technologies of visual representation are also a means for influencing the development of international law, i. e. the existence and content of international norms. Moreover, looking at implementation, at no time in history has there been more information available to governments and the public about violations of international norms (particularly, but not exclusively human rights violations): more and more these violations are documented through images. Yet, international law doctrines have failed so far to comprehensively assess the power of images, beyond that of a toolkit for thick cultural description – the power of narrative – and analysis. The present essay offers a contribution in this direction.

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TRACING THE SEED: SEED DIFFUSION OF IMPROVED POTATO VARIETIES THROUGH FARMERS’ NETWORKS IN CHENCHA, ETHIOPIA

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s001447971600051x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 481-496 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

YENENESH TADESSE ◽

CONNY J.M. ALMEKINDERS ◽

ROGIER P.O. SCHULTE ◽

PAUL C. STRUIK

Keyword(s):

New Technologies ◽

Potato Production ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Full Potential ◽

Potato Varieties ◽

Seed Tubers ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

New Varieties ◽

Sub Saharan

SUMMARYThere are many prerequisites for potato production to meet its full potential as a food security crop for subsistence farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. One of these is the introduction of improved varieties. Traditionally, the introduction of new varieties is by government agencies or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). To understand the diffusion of seed tubers (seeds) of new potato varieties in farmer networks, we analysed social factors influencing the sharing of seed of improved potato varieties amongst farmers in Chencha, Ethiopia. We interviewed 166 farmers and analysed 146 seed transactions. We used seed flow mapping to visualize seed sharing amongst farmers. We found that the social networks of farmers are differentiated by wealth, gender and religion, and that this differentiation affects the dispersion of new varieties through the farming communities: Wealthier farmers shared seed tubers most frequently and poor farmers did not share seed at all. Seed sharing was influenced by, but not restricted to, gender and religion categories. Most sharing was with relatives (as gifts) and neighbours (in exchange for labour). There weas no equal access to seed for all households because of (i) the targeting of the better off farmers by the NGO (ii) differences in frequency of sharing and (iii) terms and motivation of the transactions. Our results show that wealthy farmers most effectively multiply and share the seed of new varieties with medium wealthy and poor farmers. This study shows that for the introduction of new technologies into a community, its dynamics of social differentiation need to be understood.

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Impact of Agricultural Communication Interventions on Improving Agricultural Productivity in Malawi

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education ◽

10.5191/jiaee.2020.273116 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 116-131

Author(s):

Fallys Masambuka-Kanchewa ◽

Mary Rodriguez ◽

Emily Buck ◽

Jera Niewoehner-Green ◽

Alexa Lamm

Keyword(s):

Information Dissemination ◽

New Technologies ◽

Simple Random Sampling ◽

Agricultural Communications ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

Agricultural Communication ◽

Communication Interventions ◽

Improved Technology

Agricultural communication (AGCOM) has been known to aid in disseminating research-based agricultural information among Malawian farmers. In 1958 the Malawi Government, via the Ministry of Agriculture, established the Agricultural Communications Branch (ACB) in an attempt to increase access to and adoption of scientifically-proven technologies among farmers. Moreover, in 2000 the Malawi Government started implementing an agricultural extension policy that promoted pluralistic demand-driven extension, which led to the increased availability of non-governmental organizations providing AGCOM services to farmers. However, after several decades of using different communication tools to promote new technologies, low productivity in most small holder farms remains a challenge, with limited adoption of improved technology as one of the contributing factors. In this exploratory, convergent, mixed methods study, 30 Malawian farmers and six AGCOM officers who were selected using convenient and snow ball sampling respectively participated in key informant interviews. In addition, 64 AGCOM officers who were selected using simple random sampling were involved in a survey. The findings of the study revealed that information delivered to farmers does not address farmer needs in most cases. Specifically, existing policies, source and availability of funding, and the agricultural calendar influenced choice of information that was disseminated. For example, the existing policy does not allow AGCOM officers to disseminate local and innovative farmer practices unless they are tested and approved by scientists. Such policies, perpetuates a mindset among farmers that innovations originate from outside their communities, thereby making it hard for them to share their local, indigenous ideas with their colleagues. Moreover, it has contributed to the inability of AGCOM to be used as an innovation creation tool, hence AGCOMs’ limited impact. Keywords: adoption, improved technologies, agricultural communication, increased productivity, information dissemination

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El espejismo de la participación ciudadana en tiempos de COVID-19

Las Relaciones Públicas en el nuevo milenio: retos y oportunidades - Revista Internacional de Relaciones Públicas ◽

10.5783/rirp-20-2020-04-47-70 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (20) ◽

pp. 47-70

Author(s):

Juan de Lucas Osorio

Keyword(s):

Digital Literacy ◽

New Technologies ◽

County Council ◽

Face To Face ◽

The Public ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

The Face ◽

The One ◽

Social Entities

This article aims to show how the pandemic situation has given rise to the digital exodus of activities that were originally designed to be carried out in person, organized by public bodies (town councils, county council and the Andalusian Ministry of Employment, Training and Autonomous Work) and non-governmental organizations (associations, foundations of Andalusia), raising the following questions: Are face-to-face activities transferred to the digital sphere without adapting? Are there triggers to encourage participation? Do you offer a solution in terms of technological tools or digital literacy to access the activity? To give answers to these questions, between April and September 2020 we have analyzed 233 activities, 91 activities of public organizations and 142 of social entities: training course, informative workshops, conferences, orientation, and presentation of resources. In these activities the main areas covered were: employment, social revitalization, new technologies, gender equality, health, entrepreneurship and resources for youth. With these questions, necessary and current, we obtain answers that lead to a lack of transformation of face-to-face activities towards the digital field, which does not take advantage of the benefits of digital tools; Institutions and organizations do not take into account the degree of knowledge of the public with respect to communication channels and that they require them to know how to use, without forgetting the economic circumstance and assuming that each person has the necessary software and hardware to be a connected citizen. In parallel, we have discovered that this acceleration of the digital transformation of face-to-face activities has found social entities devoid of knowledge and materials. On the one hand, it does not have the materials to carry out the subsidized programs, but the administration requires it to develop them, and on the other hand, it does not have the resources to offer citizens quality technological services, since its mission was based on in the face-to-face field, for which they demand training for their workers and collaborators, as well as computer equipment not only so that citizens can participate but also so that the organization itself can develop its relationship with the administrations.

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Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Politics in the Developing World

Political Studies ◽

10.1111/1467-9248.00128 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 36-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 111

Author(s):

Gerard Clarke

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Research Agenda ◽

Political Change ◽

Developing World ◽

Political Life ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Minor Contribution ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

Political Studies ◽

Developed World

The proliferation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the developing, as well as the developed, world, has triggered an ‘associational revolution’. Political scientists, however, have made a relatively minor contribution to the contemporary NGO literature which has evolved since the mid-1980s. This article examines some of the main political themes addressed in the NGO literature, as well as related themes in other political studies. NGOs, the article argues, make significant contributions to political life and to political change in developing countries, revealing a fertile, and hitherto neglected, research agenda.

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Use of New Technologies in the Prevention of Suicide in Europe: An Exploratory Study

JMIR Mental Health ◽

10.2196/mental.7716 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. e23 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Juan-Luis Muñoz-Sánchez ◽

Carmen Delgado ◽

Andrés Sánchez-Prada ◽

Mercedes Pérez-López ◽

Manuel A Franco-Martín

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Suicide Prevention ◽

Exploratory Study ◽

Public Management ◽

New Technologies ◽

Prevention Programs ◽

European Countries ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

Suicide Prevention Programs

Background New technologies are an integral component of today’s society and can complement existing suicide prevention programs. Here, we analyzed the use of new technologies in the prevention of suicide in 8 different European countries. Objective The aim of this paper was to assess the opinions of professionals in incorporating such resources into the design of a suicide prevention program for the region of Zamora in Spain. This investigation, encompassed within the European project entitled European Regions Enforcing Actions against Suicide (EUREGENAS), includes 11 regions from 8 different countries and attempts to advance the field of suicide prevention in Europe. Methods Using a specifically designed questionnaire, we assessed the opinions of 3 different groups of stakeholders regarding the use, frequency of use, facilitators, content, and format of new technologies for the prevention of suicide. The stakeholders were comprised of policy and public management professionals, professionals working in the area of mental health, and professionals related to the social area and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). A total of 416 participants were recruited in 11 regions from 8 different European countries. Results The utility of the new technologies was valued positively in all 8 countries, despite these resources being seldom used in those countries. In all the countries, the factors that contributed most to facilitating the use of new technologies were accessibility and free of charge. Regarding the format of new technologies, the most widely preferred formats for use as a tool for the prevention of suicide were websites and email. The availability of information about signs of alarm and risk factors was the most relevant content for the prevention of suicide through the use of new technologies. The presence of a reference mental health professional (MHP) was also considered to be a key aspect. The countries differed in the evaluations given to the different formats suggesting that the cultural characteristics of the country should be taken into account. Conclusions New technologies are much appreciated resources; however they are not often underused in the field of suicide prevention. The results of this exploratory study show that new technologies are indeed useful resources and should be incorporated into suicide prevention programs.

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2. The rise of modern international order

The Globalization of World Politics ◽

10.1093/hepl/9780198739852.003.0002 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

George Lawson

Keyword(s):

Nineteenth Century ◽

New Technologies ◽

International Order ◽

First Century ◽

Intergovernmental Organizations ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Modern Period ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

The World ◽

Main Ideas

This chapter examines the rise of modern international order. It begins with a discussion of international orders before the modern period, focusing on how trade and transport helped to link diverse parts of the world. It then considers debates about the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, along with nineteenth-century developments such as industrialization and imperialism. It also explores the main ideas that underpinned modern international order, the ‘shrinking of the planet’ that arose from the advent of new technologies, the emergence of intergovernmental organizations and international non-governmental organizations, and the advent of a radically unequal international order. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the significance of nineteenth-century developments for twentieth- and twenty-first-century international relations.

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Adopter Fatigue Phenomenon in Diffusion of Innovations

Nanotechnology and Microelectronics ◽

10.4018/978-1-61692-006-7.ch007 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 129-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Augustine O. Ejiogu

Keyword(s):

Social System ◽

Diffusion Of Innovations ◽

New Technologies ◽

Rapid Evolution ◽

Variable Model ◽

Private Partnership ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

S Curve ◽

The Cost

This chapter examines the adopter fatigue phenomenon in the diffusion of nanotechnology and microelectronics innovations. It is hypothesized that innovations spread through a social system in an s-curve and that the speed of technology adoption is determined by two variables p and q where p represents the speed at which adoption takes off and q the speed at which later growth occurs. However, this two-variable model has been criticized as an over-simplification of a complex reality hence the need to examine adopter fatigue phenomenon defined as the hesitation, delay, or refusal by an individual to adopt an innovation on account of prevailing circumstances including the rapid evolution of new technologies. This phenomenon is particularly relevant to nanotechnology and microelectronics products and processes which are characteristically continuously refined and upgraded. Because the phenomenon is a symptom of poverty, it is recommended that overcoming adopter fatigue be achieved through multidisciplinary approach including empowering individuals by subsidizing the cost of adoption, and developing ancillary infrastructure such as electricity. Both governments and non-governmental organizations, in the spirit of public-private-partnership, should act in synergy in solving the poverty-linked problem of adopter fatigue.

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