scholarly journals The Role of Voluntary Organisations in Constructing the Common Identity and Mobilising of Polish Community in Southeastern Lithuania

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Frėjutė-Rakauskienė
Keyword(s):  
Collective Identity ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Collective Memories ◽  
Polish Culture ◽  
Voluntary Organisations

Abstract This paper is based on a series of qualitative (semi-structured) interviews conducted by the author with representatives of Polish civic organisations in southeastern Lithuania (the towns of Eišiškės, Jašiūnai, Pabradė, Šalčininkai, Švenčionys, Švenčionėliai, and Turgeliai). Data was collected from January 2013 to June 2014 as part of a research project to investigate ethnic, civic, regional, and local identities of ethnic minorities in southeastern Lithuania. The project was carried out by the Institute for Ethnic Studies at the Lithuanian Social Research Centre and was funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. The paper discusses the role of voluntary organisations operating in Southeastern Lithuania in mobilising the Polish community. The author investigates the activity of Polish organisations as they maintain and construct the identity (ethnic, civic, local and regional) of local community. Part of the research strategy is to recognise the content and means by which these organisations appeal to collective memory to create and affirm Polish identity. An analysis of interview data shows that the activities of organisations predominantly target the Polish community and their aims are to promote and foster Polish culture, language, and history. The Polish civic and political organisations and their leaders play active roles in identity building and mobilising the Polish Community in southeastern Lithuania. Referencing and recalling collective memories of the Polish ethnic group is an important tool for building a collective identity that lack local and regional dimensions.

The role of farm-to-table activities in agritourism towards sustainable development

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siti Fatimahwati Pehin Dato Musa ◽  
Wei Lee Chin
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Agriculture ◽  
Balanced Approach ◽  
Agriculture Industry ◽  
Food Activism

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the role of farm-to-table (FTT) activities in agritourism towards sustainable development based on three agritourism farms in Brunei. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on qualitative data using semi-structured interviews with 23 participants involved in the management of the farms. In-depth interviews are considered the most appropriate approach to gain the unexplored perspectives of the agriculture community at the three agritourism farms. Findings The study found that FTT activities imparted in agritourism contribute towards sustainable development economically, socially and environmentally. FTT leads to the establishment of small medium and micro enterprises, which, in turn, creates employment for the local people. It also plays a part in preserving the ethno-culinary heritage of indigenous food, promoting food localism and sustainable agriculture. These findings suggest that FTT activities play an important role in revitalizing the local community. The outcome of this empirical research may enable planners to better formulate regional policy based on a balanced approach taking into account the three dimensions of sustainability towards agritourism development. From a theoretical standpoint, this study adds value to the literature by identifying the contributions of FTT activities towards sustainable development emphasising on the consumption of local ethnic food and food localism. Originality/value The contributions of agritourism for local farms has not been extensively discussed especially in Brunei’s local agriculture industry. This study will provide evidence that FTT activities contribute towards a moderate form of food activism; one that re-forges the disrupted linkages between people, nature and cultural heritage.

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.

The Role of Stakeholders in Post Conflict Peacebuilding in Swat, Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qasim Ali Shah ◽  
Bahadar Nawab ◽  
Tahir Mehmood
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
The Government

Peacebuilding is a continuous process to transform conflicts into development opportunities for and by the stakeholders. This article explores the role of stakeholders in post-conflict peacebuilding in Swat. Applying Constructivist paradigm and Discourse Analysis, 80 semi-structured interviews were conducted by incorporating local community, civil society and the government. Study finds out that cultural, political, social and economic tiers of peacebuilding measures in Swat hardly achieved its purpose. The lack of institutional coordination and gaps in peacebuilding measures are important hurdles, which needs to be minimized for sustainable development processes in Swat.

scholarly journals Exploring the Role of Identity in Motivating Walking Netball Participants

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-98
Author(s):  
Claire Mulvenna ◽  
Anika Leslie-Walker
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Collective Identity ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Group Identity ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Collective Group ◽  
Keywords Physical Activity

This paper examines the experiences of participants (n = 12) on the England Netball, ‘Walking Netball’ (WN) programme. Previous research has sought to explore participant experiences on programmes similar to WN, suggesting greater social engagement and an increase in desire for life were positive consequences from participation. Semi structured interviews explored the motivations held for participation in the programme with regards to social identity and the affective consequence of participation. Four themes emerged from data analysis; (1) WN as a form of physical activity, (2) collaborative identity, (3) group inclusion, and (4) regulatory routine. Findings suggest that participants on England Netball’s WN programme, are primarily motivated to continue attending WN by the collective identity they experience through being involved in the programme. Further research however on the construction of collective group identity is required to further enable project funders and deliverers in ensuring projects can effectively meet the motivations of their participants. Keywords: Physical activity, identity, relatedness

‘Never more needed’ yet never more stretched: reflections on the role of the voluntary sector during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harriet Thiery ◽  
Joanne Cook ◽  
Jon Burchell ◽  
Erica Ballantyne ◽  
Fiona Walkley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Action ◽  
Uncertain Demand ◽  
Mutual Aid ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Strategic Responses ◽  
Critical Juncture ◽  
Social Recovery ◽  
Community Sector ◽  
Voluntary Organisations

This research note presents the preliminary findings from a study into the mobilisation of volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic. Data gathered from 49 semi-structured interviews with representatives from local authorities (LAs), voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations and mutual aid coordinators offer important insights into the state of the sector at this critical juncture, as we find ourselves in a third national lockdown. The role of the VCS in both strategic responses and on-the-ground community action has accorded it renewed respect and credibility. At the same time, the funding landscape for voluntary organisations is uncertain, demand for services is overwhelming, and staff and volunteers are suffering from fatigue. Our findings highlight the imperative of embedding the lessons of the first national lockdown in 2020 by valuing the sector’s contribution to the emergency effort and retaining its seat at the table, ensuring its role in economic and social recovery.

The application of a resilience assessment approach to promote campus environmental management

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Muller ◽  
Johann Tempelhoff
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
University Campuses ◽  
Assessment Approach ◽  
And Control ◽  
Resilience Assessment

Purpose – This paper aims to outline the benefits of using resilience assessment instead of command and control mechanisms to evaluate sustainable campus environments. Design/methodology/approach – An exploratory mixed-method design was followed for the purposes of the project. During the first qualitative phase, a historical timeline of the focal system was created. In the quantitative phase, the resilience assessment guided the investigation. To collect data, the case study research strategy included a heuristic process of collecting and reviewing documents, semi-structured interviews, observations and the systematic implementation of the resilience assessment approach. Findings – Based on the resilience assessment approach, it is argued that the environmental status of university campuses can be considered relevant to the local community and immediate environment. Knowledge of the finite resources and their capacity in the context of the social-ecological system may increase the resilience of a campus. Originality/value – This research study explores the use of an alternative approach to environmental practices at university campuses. The resilience assessment is usually performed on large ecosystems. By applying this approach to a small ecosystem, the study fills a gap in the applicability of the resilience approach.

Case Study Methodology of Qualitative Research: Key Attributes and Navigating the Conundrums in Its Application

2020 ◽  
pp. 003802292097031
Author(s):  
Arya Priya
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Study Research ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
Study Type

A case study is one of the most commonly used methodologies of social research. This article attempts to look into the various dimensions of a case study research strategy, the different epistemological strands which determine the particular case study type and approach adopted in the field, discusses the factors which can enhance the effectiveness of a case study research, and the debate surrounding the role of a case study in generating theoretical propositions with broader applicability. The prime focus of this article is to engage the reader with the intention of stimulating them to contribute their own bit, in order to add greater novelty and freshness to the methodology of case study.

scholarly journals E hine, ngā whāea: Teen mothering in the gaze

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Anna Adcock
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Teen Pregnancy ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Young Mothers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The Gaze ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Role Of The State

<p>In Aotearoa New Zealand, teen pregnancy is associated with social disadvantage and being ‘Māori’. Research on teen motherhood typically focuses on ‘risks’ and ‘dangers’, such as lower educational attainment and welfare ‘dependency’. These images cast young Māori mothers as abnormal and deviant – as perpetually deficit. Hence, public (and public service) perceptions of these women are often negative. This study displaces the deficit lens, and explores the lived realities of fifteen young (teen) Māori mothers, and the perspectives of their whānau. The purpose of this research was to understand the life circumstances of young Māori mothers, to examine the role of the state in their lives, and to make suggestions for service improvements. It draws on data from the E Hine study (Women’s Health Research Centre, Otago University, Wellington). Young mothers participating in E Hine were interviewed three to seven times over a three-year period, with up to two whānau interviews conducted for each young woman. The data set for this thesis, comprising of fifteen young Māori mothers and their whānau, totalled eighty-four in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was thematic, and was informed by Foucault’s concepts of the medical and disciplinary gazes, and postcolonial notions of the colonial gaze. The research suggests that public health and social services, as well as public perceptions, seek to regulate these young women according to Eurocentric conceptions of normality; and in doing so, stigmatize and disengage them, thus creating barriers to positive outcomes. Despite this, these young mothers resist disempowerment, and hope for a better future for themselves and their whānau. Their stories are a testament to the fact that being young and Māori and mothering does not equate to failure. By treating young Māori mothers with respect and empathy, support services could be improved.</p>

scholarly journals Special Settlers of Arkhangelsk in the Cultural Memory of the Local Community and Their Descendants

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-284
Author(s):  
Natalia V. Drannikova
Keyword(s):  
Family History ◽  
Cultural Memory ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Research Topic ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Family Identity ◽  
Regional Context

Abstract The article reports a case study of oral recollections of the descendants of special settlers, i.e. peasants dekulaked and deported to the Arkhangelsk region in the early 1930s. The region was previously a part of the Northern Krai. A historiographical review related to the research topic has been carried out. The concepts of dekulakization in the USSR and destinies of dekulaked are discussed in the local context. The stories of the descendants of the special settlers analysed in the article result from semi-structured interviews. These stories form a hypertext. We select stable motifs of oral stories recorded from the descendants of the special settlers. Conclusions are drawn about the characteristics of the cultural memory of the descendants of the special settlers. The article deals with the features of family identity and the role of awareness of the fate of their relatives in this identity. The children and grandchildren of the special settlers have different attitudes towards dekulakization of the families of their ancestors. This is driven by the diversity of behaviours, choices and particular circumstances of their life. The interpretation is grounded in the idea of variability of the process of special resettlements and its dependence on the regional context, and on the method of family history.

Linking inside and outside: “identity” in crisis situations

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-472
Author(s):  
Massimo Battaglia ◽  
Shanshan Zhou ◽  
Marco Frey
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Community Identity ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Trade Association ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Joint Decision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Shared Identity ◽  
Local Stakeholders

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to deal with the link between identity and crisis deriving by natural disasters, exploring the function of the shared identity linking individuals, groups, organizations and its external networks. The shared identity is not static. It is a dynamic self-reflexive learning process and is reciprocal. The object of the research is a medium-sized multi-utility company, which experienced the 2012 earthquakes, and how responsibly and rapidly it responded and recovered in collaboration with its stakeholders in the local territory.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were directed to both managers and to selected representatives of the “vertical external networks” of the company (local authorities, a consumer association and a trade association). The primary data were supplemented by archived materials for data triangulation.FindingsThe research highlights the importance of identity and relationship with local stakeholders and communities when facing the earthquakes. Believing themselves to be socially responsible, ethical and capable, employees were highly motivated and collaborative. Resuming normal services was AIMAG’s priority. The behavior of AIMAG, its employees and its local stakeholders were guided by a shared community identity. After the earthquakes, this shared community identity was strengthened, thus improving the community’s resilience.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the role of identity in linking both inside and outside an organization, in contributing greatly to joint decision making and action, and, finally, in increasing the awareness of the company leaders and staff regarding the importance of their actions for the whole local community. This research advocates the role of identity in disaster risk reduction.

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