scholarly journals Positioning Bio-Based Energy Systems in a Hypercomplex Decision Space—A Case Study

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4366
Author(s):  
Judit Oláh ◽  
József Popp ◽  
Szabolcs Duleba ◽  
Anna Kiss ◽  
Zoltán Lakner

The optimization of the energy portfolio for a small, open, landlocked economy with rather limited fossil resources is a complex task because it must find a long-range, sustainable balance between the various goals of society under the constant pressure of different interest groups. The opinions of independent, informed experts could be an essential input in the decision-making process. The goal of this research was to determine the relative importance of the values and goals potentially accompanying projects, based on the utilization of bioenergy. The current research is based on a wide-ranging survey of 65 non-partisan experts, applying the Pareto analytic hierarchy process to ensure the unbiased prioritization of project segments. The results of the survey put a spotlight on the importance of the economic role of bioenergy projects. Contrary to previous expectations and considerations, the social functions of these projects have hitherto been given relatively little importance. The results highlight the importance of bioenergy in increasing the income-generating capacity of agricultural producers by optimal utilization of natural resources for agricultural production. This can be achieved without considerable deterioration of the natural environment. Modern agricultural production is characterized by high levels of mechanization and automatization. Under these conditions, the social role of bioenergy projects (job creation) is rather limited.

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónika Harangi-Rákos ◽  
Gábor Szabó

The situation and importance of private farms in Hungary have significantly changed and are still changing due to the political and economic regime change of 1989-90 and subsequent events. The aim of this study is to provide – unlike the practice of the last two decades – an impartial review of the social and economic role of Hungarian private farms. To demonstrate the changes occurring in private farms, we rely on the data of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (HCSO-KSH)such as the General Structure Surveys, the Farm Structure Surveys, and tables from the online stADAT database. From the point of view of methodology, time series analyses (2000–2010) were performed in the framework of this secondary research. Our hypothesis that private farms in Hungary deserve much more attention than previously, from the perspective of the output of Hungarian agriculture, food consumption and, last but not least, employment (the environmental factor was not examined this time) has been clearly confirmed. The role and significance of this group have also been exceedingly important since EU accession, particularly in the fields of horticulture and animal husbandry, and the strengthening of these positions is indisputably a national economic interest.


2020 ◽  
pp. 437-451
Author(s):  
Ksenija Markovic-Bozovic

From the last decades of the previous century, the re-examination of the social functions of cultural institutions began - especially the institutions of elite art, to which the theatre belongs. In this regard, numerous researches are conducted focusing on the ?broader? social role of the theatre, as well as exploring the dynamics and quality of the relationship between theatre and its audience. Their outcomes are the recommendations of innovative strategic activities, by which the theatre can establish deeper relations with the existing and attract new audiences, i.e. more efficiently realize its cultural-emancipatory, social-inclusive, social-cohesive, educational, and other similar potentials. Extensive research of the functional type, which combines the analysis of the process of theatre production, distribution and reception, and sheds light on the ways in which theatre functions in the community, has not been conducted in Serbia so far. However, for many years, there have been conducted researches that provide sufficiently relevant answers, analysing this topic from individual aspects of the audience, marketing activities, cultural policy and theatre management. Their overall conclusion is that theatres in Serbia must (re)orient themselves to the external environment - (re)define their social mission and actively approach the process of diversification of the audience. However, the practical implementation of such recommendations is still lacking, theatre organizations find it difficult to adopt the idea that changes must be initiated by themselves, which brings us to the question of the attitudes on which these organizations establish their work. In this regard, the paper maps of and analyzes the opinions of managers and employees of Belgrade theatres on the topic of the role of theatre in the audience development and generation of the ?additional? social value, contextualizing the opinions in relation to the current circumstances, i. e. specific practices of these institutions. In conclusion, an original theoretical model of ?two-way adaptation of public city theatres? is developed, recognizing the importance of strategic action in culture both ?bottom-up? and ?top-down?, and proposing exact activities and approaches to theatre and cultural policy in the field of theater audience development.


Tendencias ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 192
Author(s):  
Neritza Alvarado ◽  
Maryoly Molero ◽  
Ingrid Olmos ◽  
José Soto

Se estudia el papel de Petróleos de Venezuela Sociedad Anónima (PDVSA, la principal empresa estratégica del Estado en este país) en la lucha contra la pobreza-exclusión social, en tanto organismo promotor, financista y ejecutor de programas y proyectos sociales, junto con el poder comunal, desde el año 2003 cuando pasa a control directo del gobierno bolivariano. El objetivo del trabajo es discernir algunos logros y limitaciones de esa intervención, a través de dos proyectos de desarrollo social ejecutados por PDVSA-Occidente (Maracaibo y Costa Oriental del Lago), en dos comunidades de los municipios Maracaibo y Lagunillas del estado Zulia, entidad-región petrolera por excelencia. Se toma como base la percepción de los actores involucrados, tanto de parte de la empresa como de las comunidades. Se realiza una breve revisión documental, especialmente de la normativa que le prescribe ese nuevo rol social a PDVSA; y un trabajo de campo dentro de una investigación cualitativa etnográfica, con uso del método estudio de casos, observación directa y entrevistas semiestructuradas en profundidad a informantes clave: gerentes de desarrollo social y coordinadores de los proyectos; voceros de los consejos comunales y beneficiarios directos. Según los informantes, el papel de PDVSA ha sido decisivo en el mejoramiento de las condiciones de vida aunque no suficiente para erradicar la pobreza; los beneficiarios se sienten incluidos y tienen expectativas positivas hacia el futuro, no obstante admiten limitaciones como retraso en los proyectos, débil comunicación industria-comunidad, escasa participación de ésta y ausencia de contraloría social. ABSTRACTThis paper analyzes the active role played by Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA, the main strategic State enterprise), since 2003, when it became directly controlled by the bolivarian government, as an entity promoter, financier and implementer of diverse social programs and projects, together with the communal power, aimed to combat poverty and exclusion in the country. So, PDVSA plays unpublished social functions and therefore a new historical role, as part of its responsibility for the development of the endogenous-socialist model. The objective of this work is to discern some achievements and limitations of this intervention (until 2011), through two social development projects executed by PDVSA-West (Maracaibo Lake and East Coast) in two communities of extreme poverty of Maracaibo and Lagunillas Municipalities, traditional oil region, in Zulia State, Venezuela. It builds on the perception of the involved actors, both, the company and communities. A literature review is made, especially the legislation that prescribes that new role to PDVSA; and a field work in a qualitative ethnographic research, using the case study method, direct observation and semi-structured in-depth interviews to key informants: social development managers and project coordinators; spokesmen communal councils and direct beneficiaries. According to the informants, the social role of PDVSA has been an instrumental in improving the living conditions, although it´s not enough to eradicate poverty; the beneficiaries feel included and have positive expectations for the future, however they allow limitations as delayed projects, weak industry-community communication, low participation of the community and lack of social control. RESUMOEste artigo examina o papel na luta contra a pobreza e a exclusão social da Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA, a principal empresa estatal estratégica neste país), como entidade promotora, financiadora e executora de programas e projetos sociais, juntamente com o poder comunal, desde 2003, quando ela passa o controle direto do governo bolivariano. O objetivo deste trabalho é discernir algumas conquistas e limitações dessa intervenção, através de dois projetos de desenvolvimento social implementados pela PDVSA-Oeste (de Maracaibo y da Costa Leste do Lago), em duas comunidades dos municípios Maracaibo e Lagunillas do estado Zulia, importante região petrolífera. O estudo se baseia na percepção dos atores envolvidos, da empresa y das comunidades.Uma breve revisão da literatura e documentos é feita, especialmente dos regulamentos que prescrevem o novo papel social para PDVSA.Também foi realizado um trabalho de campo numa pesquisa qualitativa etnográfica, utilizando o método Estudo de Casos, a observação direta e entrevistas semi-estruturadas, em profundidade, a informantes-chave: gerentes de desenvolvimento social e  coordenadores dos projectos; porta-vozes dos conselhos comunitários e beneficiários diretos. De acordo com os informantes, o papel da PDVSA tem sido fundamental para melhorar as condições de vida mas não é suficiente para erradicar a pobreza; os beneficiários se sintam incluídos e têm expectativas positivas para o futuro, no entanto, eles admitem limitações como projetos adiados, fraco comunicação  indústria-comunidade, baixa participação desta e falta de controle social.


2018 ◽  
pp. 1060-1068
Author(s):  
Galina A. Dvoenosova ◽  

The article assesses synergetic theory of document as a new development in document science. In information society the social role of document grows, as information involves all members of society in the process of documentation. The transformation of document under the influence of modern information technologies increases its interest to representatives of different sciences. Interdisciplinary nature of document as an object of research leads to an ambiguous interpretation of its nature and social role. The article expresses and contends the author's views on this issue. In her opinion, social role of document is incidental to its being a main social tool regulating the life of civilized society. Thus, the study aims to create a scientific theory of document, explaining its nature and social role as a tool of social (goal-oriented) action and social self-organization. Substantiation of this idea is based on application of synergetics (i.e., universal theory of self-organization) to scientific study of document. In the synergetic paradigm, social and historical development is seen as the change of phases of chaos and order, and document is considered a main tool that regulates social relations. Unlike other theories of document, synergetic theory studies document not as a carrier and means of information transfer, but as a unique social phenomenon and universal social tool. For the first time, the study of document steps out of traditional frameworks of office, archive, and library. The document is placed on the scales with society as a global social system with its functional subsystems of politics, economy, culture, and personality. For the first time, the methods of social sciences and modern sociological theories are applied to scientific study of document. This methodology provided a basis for theoretical vindication of nature and social role of document as a tool of social (goal-oriented) action and social self-organization. The study frames a synergetic theory of document with methodological foundations and basic concepts, synergetic model of document, laws of development and effectiveness of document in the social continuum. At the present stage of development of science, it can be considered the highest form of theoretical knowledge of document and its scientific explanatory theory.


Author(s):  
Eduardo Manzano Moreno

This chapter addresses a very simple question: is it possible to frame coinage in the Early Middle Ages? The answer will be certainly yes, but will also acknowledge that we lack considerable amounts of relevant data potentially available through state-of-the-art methodologies. One problem is, though, that many times we do not really know the relevant questions we can pose on coins; another is that we still have not figured out the social role of coinage in the aftermath of the Roman Empire. This chapter shows a number of things that could only be known thanks to the analysis of coins. And as its title suggests it will also include some reflections on greed and generosity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
António Carlos Valera ◽  
Thomas Xaver Schuhmacher ◽  
Arun Banerjee

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