scholarly journals Social institutions mediating seed access in West African seed systems

FACETS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 998-1014
Author(s):  
Kristal Jones
Keyword(s):  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
System Development ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social ◽  
Seed System

Contemporary approaches to market-oriented agricultural development focus on increasing production and economic efficiency to improve livelihoods and well-being. For seed system development, this has meant a focus on seed value chains predicated on standardized economic transactions and improved variety seeds. Building formal seed systems requires establishing and strengthening social institutions that reflect the market-oriented values of efficiency and standardization, institutions that often do not currently exist in many local and informal seed systems. This paper describes and analyzes efforts to develop formal seed systems in Sahelian West Africa over the past 10 years, and identifies the impacts for farmers of the social institutions that constitute formal seed systems. Using qualitative and spatial data and analysis, the paper characterizes farmers’ and communities’ experiences with seed access through the newly established formal seed system. The results demonstrate that the social and spatial extents of the formal and informal seed systems are extended and integrated through social institutions that reflect values inherent in both systems. The impacts of current market-oriented agricultural development projects are, therefore, more than in the past, in part because the social institutions associated with them are less singular in their vision for productive and economic efficiency.

Sexual Ontology and Group Marriage

Philosophy ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 58 (224) ◽  
pp. 215-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R. L. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Social Institutions ◽  
The State ◽  
Political Community ◽  
The Other ◽  
Unmarried Mother ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social ◽  
The One

Philosophers of earlier ages have usually spent time in considering thenature of marital, and in general familial, duty. Paley devotes an entire book to those ‘relative duties which result from the constitution of the sexes’,1 a book notable on the one hand for its humanity and on the other for Paley‘s strange refusal to acknowledge that the evils for which he condemns any breach of pure monogamy are in large part the result of the fact that such breaches are generally condemned. In a society where an unmarried mother is ruined no decent male should put a woman in such danger: but why precisely should social feeling be so severe? Marriage, the monogamist would say, must be defended at all costs, for it is a centrally important institution of our society. Political community was, in the past, understood as emerging from or imposed upon families, or similar associations. The struggle to establish the state was a struggle against families, clans and clubs; the state, once established, rested upon the social institutions to which it gave legal backing.

Prestige versus Practicality—A Dilemma for the Engineering Profession

1985 ◽  
Vol 199 (3) ◽  
pp. 139-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
K McCormick
Keyword(s):  
Educational System ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Engineering Profession ◽  
The Past ◽  
Social Prestige ◽  
The Social ◽  
And Training

British engineers have claimed that their important contributions to economic and social well-being, based on their achievements as practical people, have gone unrecognized or unrewarded. Yet over the past thirty years efforts to boost the social prestige of British engineers appear to have undermined the social arrangements which fostered the strong practical ethos. Increasing reliance on the full-time educational system is tending to raise social prestige through bringing the ‘all graduate profession’ and through trends to recruitment from higher social backgrounds. Yet these trends have been associated with a fall in traditional and recognizable training. This paper examines both the nature of the ‘practical’ tradition and efforts to raise ‘prestige’ and asks whether the engineering profession is caught on the horns of an irresolvable dilemma—to boost either prestige or practicality. The paper concludes that in principle the British pattern of education and training has much to commend it still, with the strong emphasis on training elements in a working environment. But it is argued that its success will depend on engineers and their employers becoming much more active in the field of training.

scholarly journals Politics of Seed in Ethiopia's Agricultural Transformation: Pathways to Seed System Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teshome Hunduma Mulesa
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
System Development ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Agricultural Modernization ◽  
Agricultural Transformation ◽  
The Third ◽  
Economic Barriers ◽  
Seed System ◽  
The Government

Seed system development in the developing world, especially in Africa, has become a political space. This article analyzes current Ethiopian seed politics in light of the historical dynamics of national and international seed system politics and developments. Drawing on multiple power analysis approaches and employing the lens of “international seed regimes,” the article characterizes the historical pattern of seed regimes in Ethiopia. While colonial territories underwent three historical seed regime patterns—the first colonial seed regime, the second post-WWII public seed regime, and the third post-1980s corporate-based neoliberal seed regime, Ethiopia has only experienced one of these. Until the 1950s, when the first US government's development assistance program—the Point 4 Program—enabled the second government-led seed regime to emerge, the farmers' seed systems remained the only seed innovation and supply system. The first colonial seed regime never took hold as the country remained uncolonized, and the government has hitherto resisted the third corporate-based neoliberal seed regime. In the current conjuncture in the contemporary Ethiopian seed regime, four different approaches to pluralistic seed system development are competing: (1) government-led formalization, (2) private-led formalization, (3) farmer-based localization, and (4) community-based integrative seed system developments. The Pluralistic Seed System Development Strategy (PSSDS) from 2013 is a uniquely diverse approach to seed system development internationally; however, it has yet to realize its equity and sustainability potential. This study shows that the agricultural modernization dependency and government-led formal seed systems development have sidelined opportunities to tap into the strength of other alternatives identified in the PSSDS. In conclusion, an integrative and inclusive seed sector is possible if the government takes leadership and removes the current political, organizational, and economic barriers for developing a truly pluralistic seed system.

Conclusion

A Child's Day ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 165-178
Author(s):  
Killian Mullan
Keyword(s):  
Time Use ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
The Uk

This concluding chapter surveys the key findings and issues raised in the previous chapters. This study of a child's day provides the most extensive picture currently available in the UK, and elsewhere in the world, into how children's time use has changed over the past several decades. It identifies areas of expected change as well as other areas of surprising stability. It reveals how change and stability in children's time use blend together to comprise a child's day, uncovering also the multi-layered contexts of a child's day. Aspects of children's time use, and how this may have changed, will no doubt continue to surface in public debate in connection with their well-being. While welcoming this, it is necessary to always question and seek to understand how supposed changes actually fit within a child's day, the types of days where these changes are concentrated, among whom, and to seek out evidence on how such changes relate to other activities and the social contexts of daily life.

scholarly journals Dynamics of Trust in Institutions, the Legitimacy of the Social Order, and Social Open Innovation

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolay I. Didenko ◽  
Gulnara F. Romashkina ◽  
Djamilia F. Skripnuk ◽  
Sergei V. Kulik
Keyword(s):  
Social Order ◽  
Private Property ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Trust In Institutions ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Arctic Region

This article analyses the dynamics of trust in institutions, which underpin the legitimacy of social order, on the basis of a study of the developed Arctic region during the period 2006–2018. The authors considered the principal theoretical concepts on which the study of trust, the well-being of citizens, the assessment of security and compliance with the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens is to be based. It is assumed that the legitimacy of the social order consists in a state where people not only trust specific institutions, but also enjoy a sense of security from threats and the ability to exercise basic rights and freedoms in the presence of a competent authority to protect them in case of violations. The dynamics of the security of the inhabitants of the region, associated with an increase in the level of their well-being, are considered. The structure for retaining the legitimacy of the social order is demonstrated on the basis of a number of indices and model calculations. Configuration analysis was carried out to support the construction of multidimensional models. It was concluded that there has been a dramatic collapse in the social activity of the inhabitants of the Arctic region bordering on social apathy. It is shown that, during the period under study, trust in local authorities significantly declined, while the importance attributed to respecting private property rights increased. Trust in social institutions is shown to be significantly lower than trust in government institutions, contradicting the situation in developed countries. It is recommended that more attention be paid to the functioning of local and municipal authorities governing the Arctic region, who are much more aware of the needs of the inhabitants since they are connected by much denser social ties. The authors substantiate the need to introduce social innovation that allows to diversify communication channels between the government and the public, meet unsatisfied social needs that are not solved by existing institutions and contribute to building trust between different participants.

Health and Safety Strategies in a Changing Europe

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Walters
Keyword(s):  
Public Expenditure ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social ◽  
Safety Strategies ◽  
Common Framework ◽  
New Challenges

This article presents a synthesis of some of the more significant findings from two recent surveys on working conditions and national strategies for their improvement in the European Union in the 1990s. As patterns and organization of employment have changed in the past decade, the consequences for health and safety present new challenges for legislators, the social partners, the regulatory agencies, and the specialists. These challenges are only partially met in most European member states. Because of the continued deregulation of employment, reduced public expenditure, and reduced trade union presence, the operation of strategies to implement a common framework of E.U. legislation is limited and often incomplete. This issue must be confronted if systems for promoting the well-being of people at work in Europe are to keep up with the rapidly changing nature of the risks that they face.

scholarly journals Challenges and Prospects for Digitizing the Social Service Providers' Activities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.E. Gasumova
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Social Service Providers ◽  
The Social

This article presents the author’s definitions of “digitization of social service provision” and “digitization of social services” concepts and identifies the difference between them. It presents the results of an interview with 18 experts — the heads of institutions and organizations of social service provision implementing the rehabilitation of disabled people in Perm region. The research was conducted in 2019 and sought to identify problems and prospects for the digitization of the social services sphere. Interviewees rated their satisfaction regarding the convenience and time cost of automated systems that are currently being used in their organizations; characterized their needs in introducing various innovative interactive services, mobile applications, and other digital software; and expressed their attitude to various innovations. Social innovations were developed by the researchers and offered to experts by interviewers (for example, services for assessing the quality of work of specialists by service users, quick selection of the right social service, filing a complaint, referring a citizen to another organization, counseling in video mode, electronic appointment service, etc.). The research has shown how innovations can improve the performance of social service providers’ work and the quality of their interactions with citizens, which will ultimately increase the satisfaction of social service users and will positively affect the level of social well-being in society as a whole. A number of problems have been identified that currently impede the development of digitization: they are related to staff resources, the level of computerization, the lack of motivation among managers and personnel of social service organizations to implement innovative IT, and a certain distrust that such technologies can facilitate the activities of the organization and increase its effectiveness. Keywords: digitization, social service provision, social services, social institutions, social work

scholarly journals Factors of public well-being of residents of the Russian province

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 24-42
Author(s):  
V. A. Smirnov
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
The Social ◽  
State And Society ◽  
Self Development ◽  
Relevant Factors

The article analyzes the features of the social well-being of the residents of the Russian province, examines the relevant factors that influence its level and direction. The author points out that the socio-cultural features of the periphery are essential for people’s subjective perception of the success of their lives. The article concludes that the social well-being of residents of the Russian province is largely determined by the age of the respondents. Middle-aged and older Russians are much less likely to perceive their social status as high, rarely have high self-esteem, and see opportunities for self-realization in the future. The social well-being of residents of the Russian province is also significantly influenced by the level of education, readiness for continuous self-development and education throughout life, subjective assessment of their own material well-being, as well as the degree of social integration of a person and support from the immediate environment and the local community. Based on the analysis, the author concludes that the social policy of the Russian state and society is not very effective, and that it is necessary to develop social institutions that focus on the formation of “self-care” competencies for Russian residents throughout their lives.

scholarly journals “HOLY MONEY”: GODS, MEN AND ECONOMY IN ANTIQUITY

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-38
Author(s):  
Paola Corrente
Keyword(s):  
Human Behavior ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
Ancient World ◽  
Comparative Perspective ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social ◽  
Mediterranean World ◽  
Religious Dimensions

Religion and economy have had a very important role in shaping society and their connection to social matters has been present since the very appearance of money and birth of economic activities. In antiquity, the bond between religion and economy was very strong because ancient world was symbolic and was embedded with magic and religious ideas: economy was part of this “wholeness”, because it inherited from the past the social practices aimed at the well-being of people, which were under the direct protection of the gods. The aim of my paper, hence, is to analyze the religious dimensions of money and economy in ancient societies, following the perspective of philosophy and mythology. Through the guide of a careful observer of human behavior, the great philosopher Aristotle, both disciplines can give interesting insights on the effect economy can have on society. The background for my research will be the cultures of ancient Mediterranean world, in particular, Greece and Mesopotamia, for we have a considerable amount of documents and literary works, whereas, regarding the methodology, I will approach the texts from an historical and comparative perspective.

The Health of the Poorest 50%

Pained ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 95-98
Author(s):  
Michael D. Stein ◽  
Sandro Galea
Keyword(s):  
Social Mobility ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Social Resources ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social

This chapter focuses on the health of the poorest 50% of Americans. Pretax income for the poorest 50% of Americans has remained the same over the past 40 years, while their after-tax income has dropped as taxes have increased for this same group. Regressive taxation has deepened wealth gaps, virtually assuring a continuing cycle of low income earning. The national share of income owned by the richest 50% of Americans has grown commensurately during this period, and the health indicators have responded accordingly. The slope of the income–health relationship has grown even steeper since 2000; the health advantage that those with higher incomes have over those with lower incomes is greater than it has been in the past four or more decades. Why is this? Americans continue to invest less in the social resources that can mitigate the challenges that come with a lower income, even as they spend ever more on high-end medicine that is accessed principally by those who can afford it. Social institutions like education that traditionally have led to social mobility and better health have become increasingly the provenance of the well-off.

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