Sociocultural phenomenology of world migrations

World migrations, a strong component of the process of globalization, reflect a complex set of phenomena in need of detailed description and deep understanding. The role of sociocultural factors and variables in the different aspects of the migration process includes an analysis of factors or reasons for migrating followed by the decision-making process, the participants, the journey itself, and its vicissitudes. In addition to explanations offered about the structure and development of a variety of emotional experiences and their consequences (stigma and clinical entities included), the processes of acculturation, acculturative stress, and its sociocultural management are subjected to careful assessment. Empowering individuals in terms of civic capacity and personal efficacy, fostering of solidarity and strong social identities besides a shared commitment to collective well-being are important ingredients of this process. The elaboration of advanced legislation, public health measures, appropriate public education, and specific professional training are also indispensable measures.

Military Service, Combat Experience, and Civic Participation

Military service is a highly social—and potentially socializing—experience. However, the long-term social effect of military service is a little-studied topic, and some have dismissed any direct impact of service on civic participation. Using data from a large, national survey, our estimates show, in contrast, that the likelihood and intensity of group participation is higher among veterans than other men and that combat veterans have the highest level of participation. Mettler argued that education funded through the GI Bill gave veterans both resources (“civic capacity”) and a desire to reciprocate to society (“civic predisposition”) for the generous benefits they received, but she did not allow for the possibility that service itself could also increase both civic capacity and predisposition. Furthermore, our estimates confirm that education is strongly associated with higher civic participation and that the association between military service and participation is largely independent of education.

Strengthening Congregational Communities: Social Justice Engagement Through Deliberative Dialogue

ABSTRACT Christianity and social work have a longstanding history of social justice engagement. However given our current politically-charged society, discussion and engagement in social justice issues are often avoided in congregations because they are seen as divisive. This article discusses the potential impact of implementing public deliberation with pastors and congregations through the lens of two pastors’ experiences, one equipped with deliberative dialogue skills and one who was not. Deliberative dialogue and civil discourse values can positively impact congregational health as the process allows others to share with honesty and vulnerability. Implementing the process of deliberative dialogue into congregational communities increases the potential for civic capacity when people can trust each other to share their stories, principles, and goals.

What Is the Role of Civil Society in Multisectoral Nutrition Governance Systems? A Multicountry Review

Background: Solutions to create enabling nutrition environments must come from within communities and involve multiple sectors. As vital actors in community mobilization, rights-based advocacy, and accountable public institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs) can help ensure nutrition programs and policies represent and reach all community members to achieve impact. Objectives: To review attributes of civic engagement in multisectoral nutrition governance systems and to provide recommendations to increase CSO participation. Methods: We reviewed 7 national case studies of Civil Society Networks involved with the Scaling Up Nutrition movement and characterized 6 functional attributes of CSOs in multisectoral nutrition governance: identify needs of all community members, mobilize and build civic capacity, advocate for political commitments, inform program design and evaluation, ensure accountability mechanisms in public institutions, and report challenges and successes using broad media campaigns. Results: All studies described government agencies involved with multisectoral nutrition governance systems, at national and subnational levels; however, there was limited evidence of subnational platforms for CSO engagement. Although countries increased investments in public institutions for nutrition, it was unclear whether nutrition service quality improved and none reported corresponding investments in civil society. Conclusion: Our characterization identifies strategies to engage CSOs in multisectoral nutrition governance at multiple ecological levels. We hope future adaptation and application of this characterization will increase community ownership and diverse representation in nutrition governance systems. Both of these are key to enabling national and international entities to address malnutrition’s underlying determinants in ways that align with local contexts, values, and systems change processes.

Mobilising episodic volunteers for Mandela Day

18 July is Mandela Day, an internationally recognised day of volunteering when people are called to take action against poverty and social injustice by helping and giving time in service to their communities. This article discusses the nature of episodic volunteering at Mandela Day events throughout South Africa in 2018. Drawing on quantitative survey evidence from 398 participants, the findings show that this informal day of service has created a unique opportunity for recruiting new volunteers and for promoting one-off, short-term volunteering. In addition to non-profits and faith-based groups that traditionally mobilise volunteers, we show that ‘third-party’ entities – such as universities, businesses, government offices and philanthropic foundations – are also critical in rallying people and facilitating one-off volunteering opportunities for this day. These findings broaden an understanding of the range of international episodic volunteering and help to illustrate the connection between volunteering and civic capacity in newer democracies.