scholarly journals The Political and Civic Involvement of Students: a sociological research

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 501-507
Author(s):  
Roxana-Mihaela Vasiliu
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
Political Culture ◽  
Political Communication ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Civic Involvement ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Post Communism ◽  
New Generation

On a democratic society, it is desirable to consolidate the relation between citizens and political system through a participatory political culture. Romania – as others post-communism spaces – is characterized by a low level of political communication, poor civic involvement and insufficiently cooperation between government and citizens. During this context, the position of the new generation is crucial in consolidating democracy. Previous studies showed that the young Romanian is perceived rather as an outsider in the relation with the system, have a low trust in institutions by comparison with other age categories, and is not optimistic regarding the capacity of public contestation. On long term, these issues can lead either to a decrease of interest on civic engagement and – in time – to the emergence of a democratic deficit or a subject political culture, or to the emergence of anti-system positions. Nowadays, young people have new tools to help developing a participatory culture, such as new media, new forms of political socialization, an increasing interest in non-governmental organizations et. al. The purpose of the paper is to approach a set of indicators specific to civic and political involvement, using data from a sociological quantitative study conducted on a sample of 430 undergraduates’ students from three specializations: Sociology, Social Work and Human Resources (“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi), in order to observe their civic and political attitudes.   

scholarly journals Biodiversity trends in Europe: development and testing of a species trend indicator for evaluating progress towards the 2010 target

2005 ◽  
Vol 360 (1454) ◽  
pp. 297-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
M de Heer ◽  
V Kapos ◽  
B.J.E ten Brink
Keyword(s):  
Population Declines ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Species Population ◽  
2010 Target ◽  
Biogeographical Region ◽  
Using Data ◽  
High Level ◽  
Existing Data

This paper presents a trial of a species population trend indicator for evaluating progress towards the 2010 biodiversity target in Europe, using existing data. The indicator integrates trends on different species (groups), and can be aggregated across habitats and countries. Thus, the indicator can deliver both headline messages for high-level decision-making and detailed information for in-depth analysis, using data from different sources, collected with different methods. International non-governmental organizations mobilized data on over 2800 historical trends in national populations of birds, butterflies and mammals, for a total of 273 species. These were combined by habitat and biogeographical region to generate a pilot pan-European scale indicator. The trial indicator suggests a decline of species populations in nearly all habitats, the largest being in farmland, where species populations declined by an average of 23% between 1970 and 2000. The indicator is potentially useful for monitoring progress towards 2010 biodiversity targets, but constraints include: the limited sensitivity of the historical data, which leads to conservative estimates of species decline; a potential danger of ambiguity because increases in opportunistic species can mask the loss of other species; and failure to account for pre-1970 population declines. We recommend mobilizing additional existing data, particularly for plants and fishes, and elaborating further the criteria for compiling representative sets of species. For a frequent, reliable update of the indicator, sound, sensitive and harmonized biodiversity monitoring programmes are needed in all pan-European countries.

scholarly journals Conservation narratives and conflicts over protected areas in post-socialist Romania

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-104
Author(s):  
Marie Louise Aastrup
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Park ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Local Decision ◽  
Post Communism

Environmental protection is never a controversy-free endeavor. Conflicts arise over land ownership, use, and access. Political ecologists have paid extensive attention to protected areas, especially in relation to power, rights, and marginalized peoples. This article draws on political ecology to examine a new proposed national park in the context of post-communism and neoliberalization in Romania. Using mixed-methods (semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and participant observation), this research investigates conservation narratives as articulated by different actors (environmental non-governmental organizations, local decision-makers, and local community members) with various levels of involvement in the proposed national park. Three chief narratives can be observed pertaining to tourism, restrictions, and deforestation. These narratives are embedded in the history and socio-economic context of the area, but also reveal the agendas of different actors regarding landscape values. Assessing these narratives, this research reveals how actors position themselves and the points of contention among the different actors in the brewing conflict that the national park represents.Keywords: Political ecology, conservation, conflict, power

Women Entrepreneurship in MENA and Europe

2018 ◽  
pp. 30-51
Author(s):  
Işın Çetin ◽  
Hilal Yıldırır Keser
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
National Level ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Spatial Econometric ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Spatial Econometric Models ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Specific Influence

Women entrepreneurs greatly benefit from the development of economies on both the local and national level. They employ themselves as well as people in the community. Today, microcredit, as part of the microfinance system, has become one of the most successful economic development tools for aid agencies and non-governmental organizations all over the world. Within this framework, this chapter discusses 1) the importance of women to economic development; 2) the significance of microfinance practices for women's empowerment; and 3) the specific influence of microcredit on women's empowerment in Asian and European countries, as determined by spatial econometric analysis with respect to different microfinance variables for the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and European zones. Using data from 1990-2016, and employing panel spatial econometric models to analyze the changes in women's empowerment over the years, the study has observed that the microfinance indicators are statistically and economically effective in promoting women empowerment in both MENA and European regions.

The role of women's leadership in environmental NGOs' online accountability

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Saraite-Sariene ◽  
Federico Galán-Valdivieso ◽  
Juana Alonso-Cañadas ◽  
Manuela García-Tabuyo
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Female Leadership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Online Engagement ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Environmental Ngo

PurposeThe role of female managers has been of increasing interest among scholars in recent years, especially regarding sustainability issues. The same could be said about the usefulness of social media in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in demonstrating accountability to their stakeholders and attracting and keeping donors and volunteers. This paper aims to meet both research interests by analyzing to what extent women in top positions can foster stakeholders' engagement via social media.Design/methodology/approachOnline engagement can be proxied using data from social media to develop a measure that summarizes the main actions social media users are able to use in order to show their reactions to social media publications. Facebook data were obtained using proprietary software (Facebook data model) developed by the research team to carry out data massive extraction, processing and exploration.FindingsThe results of the multivariate analysis show that female leadership in both top and environmental-specific positions enhance social media engagement, while a higher percentage of women on the board of directors exert the opposite effect.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is not without limitations. First, this research is focused on a specific type of non-governmental organization (environmental NGO). Second, this study does not include economic variables such as donation income or expense structure. Third, data come only from Facebook as the leading social network.Originality/valueThis paper advances in the scarce knowledge about the role of women and the levels of online engagement (interactive conversations) in NGOs focused on sustainability.

scholarly journals Does government funding depoliticize non-governmental organizations? Examining evidence from Europe

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Bloodgood ◽  
Joannie Tremblay-Boire
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Resource Dependence ◽  
Government Funding ◽  
Financial Assistance ◽  
Political Activity ◽  
Prior Work ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Unintended Effect ◽  
Using Data

Prior work suggests that government funding can encourage non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to engage in political advocacy and public policy. We challenge this finding and examine two theoretical explanations for the dampening effect of government funding on NGO lobbying. First, donors are known to discipline NGO activity via an implicit or explicit threat to withdraw funding should the organization become too radical or political. Second, NGOs with more radical political agendas are less willing to seek or accept government funding for fear this will limit or delegitimize their activities. Using data from the European Union’s Transparency Register, we find that the share of government funding in NGO budgets is negatively associated with lobbying expenditure. This effect is statistically significant and substantial, which provides a reason for concern about NGO resource dependence. Even when governments are motivated by honorable intentions, their financial assistance has the (unintended) effect of dampening NGOs’ political activity.

scholarly journals Design of an integration platform between the water-energy nexus and a business model applied for sustainable development

2020 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 1398-1405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heba Ahmed Mosalam ◽  
Mohamed El-Barad
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Problem Statement ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Integration Platform ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Water Energy Nexus ◽  
New Generation

Abstract Setting out an international standard schema for the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus and providing accurate data with realistic reports for investment through a simple application is essential for our real world. This research presents a tool to help anyone who wants to invest in environmental projects, especially water, energy, or food projects. The user can directly connect to a database of environmental data applying WEF nexus principles. This paper is looking for a mechanism to apply the WEF nexus concept through a web-based platform implementing unified concepts and terminology, setting basic criteria and standards, and making the data available, consistent, and homogeneous. Based on the problem statement, the purpose of this research is to implement a cross-application for sustainable development, including WEF nexus concepts, taking into consideration the interlinkage between the three resources integrated with a business model or financial study for projects. In addition, we have determined organizational perspectives of WEF nexus, including government entities, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, and consolidated all the concepts into one set of WEF standards. Increasing the awareness of WEF nexus will help to establish a new generation of researchers who believe in the WEF nexus concepts and who will coordinate with developers and expert consultants to convert the WEF standards to programming coding.

Exploring factors influencing social workers’ attitudes toward evidence-based practice: A Chinese study

2020 ◽  
pp. 002087282094990
Author(s):  
Minseop Kim
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Youth Services ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Chinese Study ◽  
Using Data

Despite the growing emphasis on evidence-based practice (EBP), Chinese social workers’ adoption of EBP has been slow and limited, due partly to the fact that they often hold negative attitudes toward EBP. This study examined factors that account for these negative attitudes, using data collected from social workers in Hong Kong. Regression revealed that females, those less experienced, and social workers in non-governmental organizations endorsed more positive attitudes toward EBP, while those providing youth services had less favorable attitudes. Recent initiatives to promote Chinese social workers’ adoption of EBP will be more successful if they target those groups having less favorable attitudes.

New Media and National Identity: The Representatıon of Atatürk on Ngo’s November 10th Instagram Posts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Müge Öztunç ◽  
Umur Bedir
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
National Identity ◽  
New Media ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
National Symbols ◽  
Modernization Process ◽  
Global Identities

National symbols, traditions, and rituals emerge as the most influential signifiers of national identity and nationalism. These symbols and images that embody the basic concepts of nationalism, make them visible to the members of society, help to make abstract ideologies more socially concrete, strengthen the sense of national loyalty and strengthen the awareness of the community members that belong to the same nation. On the other hand, Atatürk appears as a symbol of both Turkey's modernization process and Turkish unity and solidarity. Focusing on the representations of Atatürk as one of the national symbols on the internet and social media, this research examines the symbolic construction of the national identity of NGOs that represent different social groups in Turkey through the "November 10th, Atatürk Commemoration Day”. In this context, the November 10, 2019, posts of 38 Non-Governmental Organizations, which operate in different fields, are the most followed and have social, cultural, and economic activity on the society, were analyzed on Instagram. Shared visuals were used to categorize with the help of various codes assigned to them. The thematization method was used to characterize the types of photos posted on Instagram with embedded coding. Then, by combining very close codes, they were also subjected to clustering analysis to see which symbols are frequently used together and which meaning patterns they form. The findings of the study show that social media, which is often depicted as the space of global identities and flows, is a space where national identities are eclectically reconstructed by subjects and social groups that make up the nation and circulated through symbols.

NEW MEDIA AND NATIONAL IDENTITY: THE REPRESENTATION OF ATATURK ON NGO’s NOVEMBER 10th INSTAGRAM POSTS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Müge ÖZTUNÇ ◽  
Umur BEDİR
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
National Identity ◽  
New Media ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Embedded Coding ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
National Symbols ◽  
Modernization Process ◽  
Global Identities

National symbols, traditions, and rituals emerge as the most influential signifiers of national identity and nationalism. These symbols and images that embody the basic concepts of nationalism, make them visible to other members of society, help to make abstract ideologies more socially concrete, strengthen the sense of national loyalty and strengthen the awareness of the members of the community that they belong to the same nation. On the other hand, Atatürk appears as a symbol of both Turkey’s modernization process and Turkish unity and solidarity. Focusing on the representations of Atatürk as one of the national symbols on the internet and social media, this research examines symbolic construction of national identity of NGOs that represent different social groups in Turkey through the “November 10, Atatürk Commemoration Day”. In this context, the 10 November 2019 posts of 38 Non-Governmental Organizations, which operate in different fields, are the most followed and have social, cultural, and economic activity on the society, were analyzed on Instagram. Shared visuals were used to categorize with the help of various codes assigned to them. Thematization method was used to characterize the types of photos posted on Instagram with embedded coding. Then, by combining very close codes, they were also subjected to clustering analysis in order to see which symbols are frequently used together and which meaning patterns they form. The findings of the study show that social media, which is often depicted as the space of global identities and flows, is a space where national identities are eclectically reconstructed by subjects and social groups that make up the nation and circulated through symbols.

Help or hindrance? The role of humanitarian military interventions in human security NGO operations

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam R. Bell ◽  
Patricia Blocksome ◽  
Kevin P. Brown ◽  
Amanda Murdie
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Human Security ◽  
Network Ties ◽  
Military Interventions ◽  
Terror Attacks ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Humanitarian Interventions ◽  
Using Data

Existing research shows that the combined presence of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and military interventions can serve as ‘force multipliers’, leading to improvements in some human security outcomes. In this paper, we examine a couple possible mechanisms that can help to explain why we see these improvements. More specifically, we ask whether this is a result of military intervention aiding in the coordination among NGOs or whether humanitarian interventions, that likely share similar goals with human rights NGOs, provide the security necessary for them to carry out their missions. Using data on military interventions and human rights NGOs, we find that NGOs present in states with humanitarian interventions have more network ties than organizations not in states with interventions. Using the same NGO data and data on terror attacks targeting NGOs, we find less support for the security enhancing effects of humanitarian interventions.

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