scholarly journals In Transition Towards Sustainability

2017 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Sustainability Science ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Conceptual Tool ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Grassroots Innovation ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Strategic Niche Management ◽  
Multi Level

The aim of this first chapter is to introduce the reader to one general theory that tries to link the sustainability paradigm and sustainability science to empirical practices and evidence in order to describe the dynamic and complex times we all experience. The Transition Studies theory is a theoretical concept and conceptual tool that help analysts, researchers but also policy makers and practitioners to contextualize their sustainable strategies and actions. This chapter introduces the theory and describes it focusing on ideas such as the socio-technical regime, the Multi-Level Perspective and the Strategic Niche Management to introduce two key concepts for the following analysis of grassroots innovation: the determinant roles of action from the bottom (grassroots) and the local level (niche).

scholarly journals Antidiscrimination Meets Integration Policies: Exploring New Diversity-Related Challenges in Europe

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Tina Magazzini
Keyword(s):  
Critical Race Studies ◽  
Racial Justice ◽  
Critical Race ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Race Studies ◽  
Managing Diversity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Migrant Integration ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Contemporary European societies are increasingly diverse. Migration both within and to Europe has contributed over the past decades to the rise of new religious, racial, ethnic, social, cultural and economic inequality. Such transformations have raised questions about the (multi-level) governance of diversity in Europe, thus determining new challenges for both scholars and policy-makers. Whilst the debate around diversity stemming from migration has become a major topic in urban studies, political science and sociology in Europe, Critical Race Studies and Intersectionality have become central in US approaches to understanding inequality and social injustice. Among the fields where ‘managing diversity’ has become particularly pressing, methodological issues on how to best approach minorities that suffer from multiple discrimination represent some of the hottest subjects of concern. Stemming from the interest in putting into dialogue the existing American scholarship on CRT and anti-discrimination with the European focus on migrant integration, this paper explores the issue of integration in relation to intersectionality by merging the two frames. In doing so, it provides some observations about the complementarity of a racial justice approach for facing the new diversity-related challenges in European polity. In particular, it illustrates how Critical Race Studies can contribute to the analysis of inequality in Europe while drawing on the integration literature.

scholarly journals The Meaning of the Matrix: Towards a Cybernetic Critical Theory of Capitalism

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Shay Hershkovitz
Keyword(s):  
Social Systems ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
System A ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Entity ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Critical Approaches ◽  
Operational Logic

Marxist criticism is most discernible; despite the oft-repeated claim that it is now irrelevant, belonging to an age now past. This essay assumes that criticism originating in the Marxist school of thought continue to be relevant also in this present time; though it may need to be further developed and improved by integrating newer critical approaches into the classic Marxist discourse. This essay therefore integrates basic Marxist ideas with key concepts from ‘social systems theory’; especially the theory of the German sociologist Niklas Luhmann's. In this light, capitalism is conceptualized here as a ‘super (social) system’: a meaning-creating social entity, in which social actors, behaviors and structures are realized. This theoretical concept and terminology emphasizes the social construction of control and stability, when discussing the operational logic of capitalism.

The Generation of Oriental Characters

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (01) ◽  
pp. 31-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Réjean Plamondon ◽  
Wacef Guerfali ◽  
Xiaolin Li
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Chinese Character ◽  
Character Analysis ◽  
Lognormal Model ◽  
Human Movements ◽  
Key Concepts

We recently developed a general theory of rapid human movements and applied it to the generation of western handwriting. The goal of this paper is to summarize the key concepts behind the so-called vectorial delta-lognormal model that results from this theory and to show how this model could be used for Chinese character analysis and processing.

A Disengaged Look at Disengagement Theory

1975 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Bograd Gordon
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
The Core ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Middle Range ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Disengagement Theory ◽  
Aging People ◽  
Subjective Meanings

This paper suggests that Disengagement Theory can be used as a theory of the middle-range, but not as a general theory about normal aging. This proposition is supported by an examination of key concepts, postulates and methods used to formulate the theory. By use of phenemological notions, we can see the concept of disengagement forces us to pay attention to the subjective meanings of aging people. It is necessary to disengage from the core statements of the theory and engage in a search for new methods to study the lived experiences of human beings in order to further our understandings of the processes of growing old.

A Practitioner’s Perspective on Realignment

2016 ◽  
Vol 664 (1) ◽  
pp. 221-235
Author(s):  
Wendy S. Still
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Interagency Collaboration ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Direct Experience ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Alternatives To Incarceration ◽  
Level I ◽  
The City

This article offers a practitioner’s perspective on California’s criminal justice Realignment. Drawing on my direct experience implementing Realignment as the chief probation officer in the city and county of San Francisco, I argue that the San Francisco case illustrates how decarceration can occur without compromising public safety, and I offer a set of lessons for practitioners and policy-makers about how to achieve decarceration despite local political, organizational, and cultural barriers. Specifically, I identify interagency collaboration, investment in community corrections and a commitment to alternatives to incarceration and community engagement with the families of both victims and offenders as key facilitators of decarceration at the local level. I urge observers not to dismiss these lessons as idiosyncratic to San Francisco’s unique locale. Rather, my experience has been that even San Francisco’s exceptionally hospitable local culture is not enough to successfully implement reform; structural arrangements that institutionalize the practical implementation of cultural commitments to reduce reliance on incarceration are required.

scholarly journals Multi-level Governance and Energy Specifics of the V4 Countries within the Context of European Integration

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 525-546
Author(s):  
Helena Bauerová ◽  
Milan Vošta
Keyword(s):  
European Integration ◽  
Energy Policy ◽  
State Level ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Energy Mix ◽  
Strategic Plans ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Eu

AbstractThe topic of energy is still one of the most sensitive policy areas. The aim of this article is to examine the multi-level governance and energy specifics of the V4 countries within the context of European integration by analyzing selected the specifics of the energy mix of the V4 group countries. This will be carried out within the context of applying the theory of multilevel governance. The paper shows how energy policy is formed at state, and/or non-state level, as well as how these levels are influenced by the EU. The article also looks at the efforts taken to shape a common energy policy. A closer examination of the individual countries‘ levels lies outside the scope of this article. Therefore, the framework was chosen with regard to the particular features within the context of the functioning of the V4 group of countries. Using multi-level governance as a theoretical concept, the authors considered the limits arising from the determination of levels and the subjects of the survey, as well as having distinguished three levels of analysis. The first is the supranational level. This is represented by the EU. The second level is represented by the V4 states. The third level is the state as the actor that formulates energy policy, sets the energy mix and subsequently manifests itself in relation to the EU and the V4 group. Energy policy is significantly influenced by states, especially in the area of energy security of fuel supplies, or that of setting the energy mix. With the gradual communitarization of energy policy, the EU’s influence is growing and it is debatable how the evaluation of existing strategic plans, presented by individual states, will be done. The role of the V4 group is the weakest of the three levels of analysis which were examined. However, its increasing influence can be predicted mainly in the case of coal depletion and the perception of nuclear energy as a renewable source.

scholarly journals Views of health care professionals and policy-makers on the use of surveillance data to combat antimicrobial resistance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Al-Haboubi ◽  
Andrew Trathen ◽  
Nick Black ◽  
Elizabeth Eastmure ◽  
Nicholas Mays
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Electronic Prescribing ◽  
Data Systems ◽  
Policy Makers

Abstract Background Providing healthcare professionals with health surveillance data aims to support professional and organisational behaviour change. The UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Strategy 2013 to 2018 identified better access to and use of surveillance data as a key component. Our aim was to determine the extent to which data on antimicrobial use and resistance met the perceived needs of health care professionals and policy-makers at national, regional and local levels, and how provision could be improved. Methods We conducted 41 semi-structured interviews with national policy makers in the four Devolved Administrations and 71 interviews with health care professionals in six locations across the United Kingdom selected to achieve maximum variation in terms of population and health system characteristics. Transcripts were analysed thematically using a mix of a priori reasoning guided by the main topics in the interview guide together with themes emerging inductively from the data. Views were considered at three levels - primary care, secondary care and national - and in terms of availability of data, current uses, benefits, gaps and potential improvements. Results Respondents described a range of uses for prescribing and resistance data. The principal gaps identified were prescribing in private practice, internet prescribing and secondary care (where some hospitals did not have electronic prescribing systems). Some respondents under-estimated the range of data available. There was a perception that the responsibility for collecting and analysing data often rests with a few individuals who may lack sufficient time and appropriate skills. Conclusions There is a need to raise awareness of data availability and the potential value of these data, and to ensure that data systems are more accessible. Any skills gap at local level in how to process and use data needs to be addressed. This requires an identification of the best methods to improve support and education relating to AMR data systems.

Towards a multi-level servitization framework

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 810-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sambit Lenka ◽  
Vinit Parida ◽  
David Rönnberg Sjödin ◽  
Joakim Wincent
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Service Orientation ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Multi Level

Purpose The dominant-view within servitization literature presupposes a progressive transition from product to service orientation. In reality, however, many manufacturing firms maintain both product and service orientations throughout their servitization journey. Using the theoretical lens of organizational ambivalence, the purpose of this paper is to explore the triggers, manifestation and consequences of these conflicting orientations. Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study method was used to analyze five large manufacturing firms that were engaged in servitization. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 respondents across different functions within these firms. Findings Servitizing firms experience organizational ambivalence during servitization because of co-existing product and service orientations. This paper provides a framework that identifies the triggers of this ambivalence, its multi-level manifestation and its consequences. These provide implications for explaining why firms struggle to implement servitization strategies due to co-existing product and services orientations. Understanding organizational ambivalence, provides opportunity to manage related challenges and can be vital to successful servitization. Originality/value Considering the theoretical concept of ambivalence could advance the understanding of the effects and implications of conflicting orientations during servitization in manufacturing firms.

A new narrative for sustainability: Exploring biogas plants as ‘first movers’ in raising energy awareness

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Energy Awareness ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
New Energy ◽  
Biogas Plants ◽  
Education Process

Abstract It is not only worth talking about the chances of survival in the fight against emerging environmental and socio-economic threats, but it is necessary to use all possible means to influence public awareness. It is awareness that shapes our attitudes and literacy. The core of these tools is cross-sectoral place-based education. This raises the question of the role of new energy actors in the education process. As ‘first movers’, they have enormous power in the local community. Are they therefore merely energy producers, or perhaps, using their position, are they actively involved in creating local energy behaviours? A combination of social research methods including qualitative studies helped respond to this question. As the study shows, an opportunity for effective education is contextualisation, embedding educators in the local social structure and including first movers – energy producers – in this process. Biogas entrepreneurs transpose the knowledge of renewable energy – a globally known issue – to the local level. The provision of comprehensive education requires institutional support focused on building partnerships between policy makers, teachers and practitioners, enabling not only trans-sectoral contact but also the exchange of experience.

scholarly journals Local Action with Global Impact: The Case of the GROW Observatory and the Sustainable Development Goals

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10518
Author(s):  
Raquel Ajates ◽  
Gerid Hager ◽  
Pavlos Georgiadis ◽  
Saskia Coulson ◽  
Mel Woods ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Closing The Gap ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

This article reports on Citizen Observatories’ (COs) potential to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reflecting on the experience of the GROW Observatory (GROW). The research aims to take the first steps in closing the gap in the literature on COs’ potential contributions to the SDG framework, beyond quantitative data contributions for indicator monitoring. Following an analysis of project activities and outcomes mapped against the SDG framework, the findings reveal GROW’s potential contributions across two dimensions: (i) Actions to advance the implementation of goals and targets through awareness raising and training; participatory methods; multi-stakeholder connections; and supporting citizens to move from data to action and (ii) Data contributions to SDG indicator monitoring through citizen-generated datasets. While earlier research has focused mostly on the latter (dimension ii), CO activities can impact numerous goals and targets, highlighting their potential to relate global SDGs to local level action, and vice versa. These findings align with the growing literature on COs’ ability to bring together policy makers, scientists and citizens, and support changes to environmental policy and practice. Furthermore, this research suggests groundwork activities that address the goal and target level can also enhance sustained data collection to contribute to indicator level monitoring. We conclude with future trends and recommendations for COs wishing to contribute to the SDGs.

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