The commons institution of Antarctica: a roadmap to governance of mankind resources

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paschalis Arvanitidis ◽  
Aikaterini Almyriotou
Keyword(s):  
Outer Space ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Commons ◽  
Multiple Resources ◽  
Governance Regime ◽  
The Social ◽  
Common Resource ◽  
The Commons ◽  
The Antarctic

Purpose This paper aims to draw on Ostrom’s commons theory to analyse the governance regime of Antarctic as a commons institution. Antarctic is a peculiar territorial space on Earth, which due to its unique characteristics constitutes a global common resource that very much resembles outer space resources. On these grounds, the paper highlights successful, and less successful, arrangements developed in the Antarctic commons to be considered as a blueprint or roadmap towards the governance of outer space resources as a commons. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses first, the social-ecological system (SES) framework to outline the characteristics of Antarctic as a commons institution, and second, Ostrom’s design principles to assess the commons institution of Antarctic. The Antarctic commons institution is used next, as an analogy to reflect on the challenges outer space global resource face and the way it could be managed. Findings The paper concludes that Antarctic enjoys a functional, credible and successful commons institution that should reinforce the twofold governance structure it exhibits. Similar cases of global common resources, such as these of outer space, that seek to establish a similar commons institution should take into account issues related the benefits spectrum and the credible commitment of actors to engage in different levels of the governance regime. What matters is not necessarily the form of the regime but rather how the commons as an institution functions, whether it fulfils the needs and interests of the driving actors and, on these grounds, how credible these arrangements are in the eyes of the committed members. Research limitations/implications Both Antarctica and outer space are rather unique cases and domains of multiple resources. Practical implications The paper provides an analogy to consider sustainable appropriation of global resources (“global commons”) for peace and prosperity to all. Originality/value The paper is original, in the sense that according to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no published work has identified Antarctic as a commons institution or has used the aforementioned methodologies to analyse Antarctica as a commons and to employ their findings in providing directions for the design of appropriate governance frameworks for other resources that exhibit the characteristics of global commons, such as these of the outer space.

Corporate social responsibility, governance and stakeholders: a bank in the upbeat of the crisis

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 388-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Jan de Graaf
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Responsibilities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
A Company

Purpose Using the global financial crisis as a critical event and based on institutional theory and stakeholder theory, this paper aims to explore the relationship between corporate governance and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The question is how stakeholders can influence corporate responses to societal change by using their position in the governance structure. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on a historical analysis of data collected mainly between 2002 and 2004. The historical perspective enables an understanding of the response of the company to environmental changes. Findings The approach enables researchers to relate the normative component of CSR to specific governance mechanisms. These governance mechanisms are specified in direct and indirect influence pathways. Historical data shed light on how, in the upbeat of the crisis, stakeholders have influenced the principles and policies of the ING Group, a Dutch financial company. Research limitations/implications The paper suggests that stakeholders influence principles – normative assumptions that guide corporate decisions – mainly in dialogue-based meetings (direct influence pathways). Companies are made accountable in indirect influence pathways such as regulations. The author also demonstrates that a historical approach enables an understanding of long-term historical developments and the linking of corporate policies to the normative assumptions of stakeholders. Practical implications If stakeholders wish to assess the social responsibility of a company, then they should assess the governance structure in relation to the principles and policies. The power structure within a company and that within the institutional framework in which the company operates (the governance system) strongly influences how a company executes its social responsibilities. Social implications The paper demonstrates how stakeholders can use the governance structure to influence a bank. If society – or a specific group in society – wants banks to play a different role, this paper points to what could be the levers of change in the governance system and the governance structure. Originality/value Insights into the complex relationship between corporate governance and the processes in which the social responsibilities of a company are developed.

Contorted leadership in Chinese hierarchically oriented context

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 502-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Zhang ◽  
Xiaojun Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Model ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Organizational Leaders ◽  
Governance Mechanism ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Context ◽  
Social Governance ◽  
The Social ◽  
And Behavior

Purpose – The aim of this research is to explore the behavioral model of Chinese organizational leaders acquiring resources for the development of their organizations under the influence of hierarchically oriented social governance. Design/methodology/approach – The paper compares the differences between Western and Chinese contexts and conducts a grounded multi-case study to explore leadership behavioral model in the Chinese context. Findings – First, the Chinese social governance structure is hierarchically oriented, whereas the Western social governance structure is market oriented. Second, this unique inconformity found in the Chinese organizational leaders as contorted leadership, which refers to the inconsistency between leaders’ cognition and their behavior when acquiring resources for the development of their organizations, is defined. Third, the conflict between leaders’ cognition and behaviors is caused by the social governance mechanism within which leaders are embedded. Research limitations/implications – The authors have just made a first step to understand contorted leadership in the Chinese context, further researches should pay more attention to exploring the origins, functions and impacts of leaders’ contorted behaviors. Originality/value – First, leadership is linked with social governance by emphasizing on the core role of social governance in allocating the resources which organizational leaders scramble for. Second, a new kind of leadership –contorted leadership – in the Chinese context that emphasizes on the contradiction between leaders’ cognition and behavior, which deepens the understanding of leadership contextualization, is identified.

Sustaining community infrastructure through community-based governance (the social practice of collective design policy)

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Job Taiwo Gbadegesin ◽  
Samson Ojekalu ◽  
Taiwo Frances Gbadegesin ◽  
Markson Opeyemi Komolafe
Keyword(s):  
Social Practice ◽  
Participatory Design ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Enabling Factors ◽  
Joint Decision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Community Protection ◽  
The Government

PurposeThis paper empirically provides information on community-driven infrastructure provision through the collective efforts of community-based organizations (CBOs). It offers an insight into emerging events on community-based infrastructure procurement, scholarship and, creating gaps for new frontiers of knowledge on community development research agenda in the emerging economies.Design/methodology/approachIt is drawn upon community-based associations, herein referred to as landlords-landladies community association (LLCAs) – representatives of households in the communities. After interviewing the key members of the groups, we administered copies of the semi-structured questionnaire randomly on the enumerated regular members of sampled seventeen LLCAs. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.FindingsPlanning for a sustainable community, protection and security necessity and Government inadequate attention on emerging communities over the years are the main reasons for the joint decision. Electrification, drainage and road top the lists of the projects executed. Major challenges included diversity and inclusiveness. Development projects' design, execution and commission contribute to performance. Also, LLCAs' clarity of duties and purposes and tenure/duration of officials contribute to the overall membership satisfaction on governance structure and leadership.Research limitations/implicationsIt is limited to the specific reasons for collective efforts, challenges of the participatory movement, membership satisfaction on governance and infrastructure recently procured in the communities. Frontier of studies should be extended to enabling factors.Practical implicationsFindings from this study indicate that community-driven governance with the support of the government enhances community-based infrastructure.Social implicationsPotential values of collective action embellished in the concepts of a social movement, active engagement, communalism, grassroots efforts, social cohesion and planning in bringing peoples of diversities together for common goals with less rigorous formalization.Originality/valueThe novelty of the research is the exposition on the evidence-based innovative concept of integrating the social practice of participatory design, representing a bottom-up model into infrastructure procurement in community settings.

scholarly journals Outer space and neo-colonial injustice

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 1291-1304
Author(s):  
Peter Sutch ◽  
Peri Roberts
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Political Theory ◽  
Power Relations ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Colonial Power ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Commons ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Normative Argument

Purpose Recent developments in US rhetoric and policy advocating the militarisation and marketisation of outer space challenge the global commons values and regimes that developed partly in response to decolonisation. These regimes embodied aspirations to post-colonial distributive justice, as well as to international management for peaceful purposes. The purpose of this paper is to argue that global commons values should be defended against these challenges in order to avoid the risk of exporting colonial legacies of injustice into outer space. Design/methodology/approach This paper is an exercise in normative International Political Theory and so develops normative arguments by drawing on approaches in political theory and international law. Findings This paper demonstrates that the commons values endorsed in the aftermath of colonialism retain their relevance in a global politics that remains structured by post-colonial power relations. This paper also demonstrates that these commons values have evolved and found expression in central elements of international law, persisting as resources to be drawn on in normative argument. Originality/value This study places recent moves to assert US hegemony in space in the context of persistent post-colonial power relations and develops novel arguments in renewed support of commons values.

scholarly journals Unravelling the participation of stakeholders in the governance models of social enterprises in Greece

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aikaterini Argyrou ◽  
Robert J. Blomme ◽  
Tineke Lambooy ◽  
Henk Kievit
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Participatory Governance ◽  
Legal Form ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Legal Forms

Purpose This paper aims to examine the concept of participatory governance through membership in the context of the tailor-made legal form for social enterprises in Greece, i.e. the social cooperative enterprise (Koinsep). As such, the paper aims to contribute to the theoretical discussion regarding the participation of stakeholders in the governance of social enterprises not only as a theoretical construct prescribed by law but also by examining its implementation in practice. Design/methodology/approach The development of two in-depth case studies demonstrate whether and how the application and implementation of legal requirements regarding governance and membership permit and encourage stakeholders to participate in the decision-making processes of social enterprises. The study accordingly showcases the influence exerted by the legal regime over the social enterprise. Findings The case studies demonstrate how participatory governance is not realised in a formal manner in the organisational set-up of two social enterprises. It thereby shows how stakeholders and employees participate informally in the decision-making processes of Greek social enterprises, although legislation is conducive to formal means of participation. Research limitations/implications This study is part of a larger project involving a comparative research of tailor-made legal forms of social enterprises and corresponding organisations in three jurisdictions, i.e. Greece, Belgium, and the UK. In this study, the research was limited to the legal form of Koinsep. Practical implications This paper also contributes to the development of a better understanding of the Koinsep as a new tailor-made legal form for social enterprises in Greece. It therefore, sheds light in its function and its participatory governance structure. Originality/value The study is an original attempt to theoretically and practically examine the subject of participatory governance in the Greek social enterprises context.

Social enterprise in Israel: the swinging pendulum between collectivism and individualism

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inbal Abbou ◽  
Benjamin Gidron ◽  
Noga Buber-Ben David ◽  
Yael Greenberg ◽  
Yisca Monnickendam-Givon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Enterprise Models ◽  
International Comparative

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is twofold: to outline the historical and current contextual forces behind the development of the social enterprise movement in Israel and to analyze the different models identified by the research team along which social enterprises are formed at present. Design/methodology/approachThe study was part of the International Comparative Social Enterprise Models (ICSEM) Project and the methodology used in the analysis of the models was the one used in the international comparison. It entailed the analysis of three to five case studies within each model, which were analyzed along three major dimensions: the economic basis of the enterprise, its social objectives and its governance structure. FindingsThe findings suggest that social enterprises in Israel develop along four major models, all within existing different incorporation systems; these are nonprofit organizations, privately owned business enterprises, cooperatives and public-sector frameworks. On the basis of the case studies analyzed, it was possible to identify specific characteristic configurations of the three dimensions (economic/social/governance) that were at the basis of the model and guided it. Originality/valueThe study is the first of its kind to present a broad picture of the developing social enterprise scene in Israel and as such can clearly inform and guide both researchers and policymakers in their future work on the development of the social enterprise phenomenon in the country.

Design research in the practice of memory place-making

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 55-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zixin Tang ◽  
Andong Lu ◽  
Yue Yang
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Place Making ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Resources ◽  
National Monument ◽  
Planning And Design ◽  
The Social ◽  
Individual Memory ◽  
Integration Mechanisms

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibility that design research involving a series of actions is an appropriate approach to memory place-making. It tries to explore how memory expressed in public space and how memory place becomes an agency system and re-organize fragments of memory in practice specifically. Design/methodology/approach Taking the memory project of Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge (NYRB) as an example of design research and re-establishing new cognitions of contemporary memory place-making through the elaboration and analysis of the design process of a series of teaching, exhibition and public participatory activities. Findings Design research is oriented towards multi-discipline campaigns of agency and actions and acts as thinking patterns and integration mechanisms, so that the memory place-making can be incorporated into the scope of planning and design. This paper suggests that contemporary memory place-making should pay more attention to the spiritual experience of individual participation and the identity relations behind these emotional memories. On one hand, social bonds are established between people and have involved more public participation. On the other hand, multiple resources are integrated through a series of practical activities and design research, and the memory place becomes a catalyst for individual memory, emotions and communication thus redefining memory place-making. Social implications NYRB is a controversial mid-20th century national monument. In the social context of contemporary China, design research has helped to redefine and shape this national icon into a contemporary memory place where people can share memories of the bridge. Originality/value It is project-based in the sense of adding the dimension of memory to the practice of place-making through design research.

Wild and banal: the value of the arts as commons

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-121
Author(s):  
Katya Johanson
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
Cultural Policy ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Events ◽  
The Arts ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Interests ◽  
The Commons

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the value of the arts play in public spaces in replicating a contemporary commons. Design/methodology/approach – The study is an exploratory investigation which uses a case study of cultural events in public parks – the Vancouver Parks Board’s fieldhouse residency program (2012-2015). The study uses content analysis of the social media sites created for these projects to identify how the sites and the cultural events were valued by stakeholders and participants. Findings – The paper finds that, in combination, the park events and the social media discussion of them function as a form of the commons, in which new urban communities are formed or defined around specific common social interests. Research limitations/implications – The paper finds that, in combination, the park events and the reflective engagement prompted by the social media discussion of them function as a form of the commons, in which new urban communities are formed or defined around specific common social interests. Practical implications – It is anticipated that cultural programs will increasingly interact with common public places. Social implications – The study supports the increased use of and recognition of public places as culturally significant. Originality/value – The study aims to encourage the expansion of arts and cultural policy and programs to incorporate common public places.

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