Critical Essay: Wicked problems in the Age of Uncertainty

We are, apparently, living in unprecedented times, an Age of Uncertainty, when wicked problems whirl all around as we struggle to cope with Covid-19, environmental catastrophe and the right-wing populism that threatens to unravel all kinds of international agreements. In this personal reflection, 15 years after I wrote an article on wicked problems and the social construction of leadership, I take a look back, and forward, to see whether there ever was an Age of Certainty when only tame problems temporarily troubled us, or whether our understanding of the world is itself a social construction, open to dispute and thus we have always lived in uncertain times. In the process of this evaluation, I consider whether collaborative leadership, often associated with wicked problems, is as ubiquitous and effective as some proponents make out, and if it isn’t, what this says about our ability to address such problems.

Pandemic Religion in Brazil—Temptation and Responsibility

Religious incidence in Brazilian public space is a widespread fact that has been gaining new visibility in pandemic times. Responsibility in liminal situations represents specific theological hermeneutics, as well as what matters for the respective religious agents. Thus, based on a bibliographical review connected to an analysis of websites, this article aims to reflect on the current Brazilian context, the challenges to doing theology in Brazil today and points to some possible responses. “Pandemic religion”, as we call it, is the synthesis of theologies and religious practices that legitimise irresponsible approaches to life, vulnerabilising the other instead of assuming care-based ethics. Firstly, we briefly describe current theological trends, followed by an analysis of the Brazilian scenario by way of three representative scenes of public religious incidence that reflect a lack of responsibility in view of the pandemic challenges caused by COVID-19. Subsequently, we look back into history for alternative responses to public health crises that required theological positioning. In a Brazilian perspective of a public theology, we finally reflect on a responsible ethics that may help respond to the current challenges, particularly for pandemic religion.

Evolution of Surgical Treatment of Metastatic Spine Tumors.

Purpose The treatment of cancer has transformed over the past forty years, with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and surgeons working together to prolong survival times and minimize treatment related morbidity. With each advancement, the risk-benefit scale has been calibrated to provide an accurate assessment of surgical hazard. The goal of this review is to look back at how the role of surgery has evolved with each new medical advance, and to explore the role of surgeons in the future of cancer care. Methods A literature review was conducted, highlighting the key papers guiding surgical management of spinal metastatic lesions. Conclusion The roles of surgery, medical therapy and radiation have evolved over the past forty years, with new advances requiring complex multidisciplinary care.

Tipping point

With the amount of changes brought about in the sector recently, it is timely in the first month of 2022 to look back even further at the changes the workforce has been through before, which sparks a sense of déjà vu during the current circumstances.

STRATEGI KOMUNIKASI POLITIK PASANGAN “SAYANG” (STUDI KASUS PILGUB SULSEL 2007)

Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui bagaimana strategi kampanye pasangan Syahrul Yasin Limpo-Agus Arifin Nu’mang yang disingkat ”Sayang” sebagai kandidat gubernur dan wakil gubernur Sulawesi Selatan periode 2008-2013 melalui media massa, serta mengetahui aspek-aspek persuasi dan daya tarik pesan yang dikemas tim pemenangannya melalui media massa. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif yang bersifat interpretif dengan pendekatan studi kasus. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tim yang solid di bawah komando master campaign, kemasan pesan serta tagline-nya yang cerdas dan tepat, seperti Don’t Look Back, “Berubah untuk Sejahtera”, “Sehat-Muda-Cerdas” merupakan pesan persuasif yang sengaja disebarkan ke tengah publik untuk menopang program unggulan utama “Sayang”, yakni pendidikan gratis dan kesehatan gratis yang kemudian berhasil menggulingkan petahana; pasangan “Asmara” (HM Amin Syam-H Mansyur Ramly).