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22. National dialogue and social cohesion in Zambia
- Author:
- Kabale Ignatius Mukunto
- Publication Date:
- 01-2022
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- African Journal on Conflict Resolution
- Institution:
- The African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)
- Abstract:
- National dialogues bring all major political stakeholders, decision-makers, and interest groups together following serious conflicts. In response to political differences that emerged from the 2016 general elections, Zambia enacted a National Dialogue (Constitution, Electoral Process, Public Order and Political parties) Act, 2019, which provided for holding a national dialogue forum (NDF). However, this trajectory has been turbulent and the outcome fiercely contested. This article is an appraisal shedding light on Zambia’s strides in hosting a post-2016 general elections national political dialogue process and an attempt to answer three critical questions. First, how can national political dialogue be best organised to build social cohesion? Second, what has been the Zambian experience with national dialogue, with particular reference to the 2019 NDF? Last, what lessons can be learned for future national dialogues in the country? The article offers some perspectives on how national dialogue can support the broader society to cohere. It also advances descriptive lessons for the future to vouch for an all-inclusive national dialogue process.
- Topic:
- Constitution, Social Cohesion, and Dialogue
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Zambia
23. National Unity and Cohesion in Pakistan: A Critical Assessment of the Constitution 1973
- Author:
- Naseem Anthony, Ghulam Mustafa, and Sonia Patras
- Publication Date:
- 07-2022
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- South Asian Studies
- Institution:
- Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab
- Abstract:
- Pakistan is a galaxy of religions and a land having rich cultural diversity. Such attributes have fascinated the research scholars, political scientists, and sociologists for studying the elements that, despite of indifferences, have connected the people. Pakistan was a political demanded of a visible Muslim minority of Sub-Continent to have a piece of land where the deprived and oppressed community (Muslim) can enjoy the liberty and freedom of their culture, tradition, and religious rituals. However, when the Pakistan Movement was on its full spring, other small minorities have also joined hands. Furthermore, Quaid’s vision for a democratic, tolerant, and inclusive society convinced the other minorities and ethnic groups for opting to live in Pakistan. The constitutional and political history of Pakistan reflects the efforts and energies invested by the decision makers to strengthen the national unity and cohesive bond. The research topic ‘National Unity and Cohesion in Pakistan: A Critical Assessment of Constitution 1973’ is an attempt to identify the constitutional provisions for ensuring national unity and cohesion. The qualitative method has been deployed in which the researcher studied the material already produced on the same topic and conducted interviews. The primary objective of this endeavour was to assess the constitutional commitments and the political will to ensure implementation. Additionally, the factors that have affected the implementation and disturbed the social fabric of Pakistan contributing to increase marginalization of weak segments of society and excluding some specific groups from the mainstream.
- Topic:
- Minorities, Constitution, Social Cohesion, Inclusion, and Unity
- Political Geography:
- Pakistan and South Asia
24. American Bubbles: Politics, Race, and Religion in Americans’ Core Friendship Networks
- Author:
- Robert Jones, Natalie Jackson, Diana Orces, Ian Huff, and Maddie Snodgrass
- Publication Date:
- 05-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- PRRI: Public Religion Research Institute
- Abstract:
- To better understand the composition of Americans’ core friendship networks, PRRI designed a study to assess the scope and diversity of Americans’ social relationships. The method of measuring Americans’ core social networks was modeled after the General Social Survey and follows up on a study PRRI conducted in 2013. Respondents were asked to name people with whom they “discussed important matters” in the previous six months, regardless of the nature of the relationship or the frequency of interaction. This approach is designed to measure the ways in which individuals’ choices and attitudes are influenced by their family and close friends.[1]
- Topic:
- Politics, Race, Religion, Social Cohesion, Social Identities, and Social Exclusion
- Political Geography:
- North America and United States of America
25. Youth Inclusion in Socio-Economic and Livelihood Programmes: Potential for Fostering Social Cohesion and Violence Prevention in East and Southern Africa
- Author:
- Steven Rebello
- Publication Date:
- 08-2021
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR)
- Abstract:
- In collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies (CHRIPS), Kenya, CSVR has been conducting research on the role of public employment and livelihood support programmes in fostering greater youth social and economic inclusion as well as violence prevention. By reviewing literature, select policies and programmes, this report highlights some of the key opportunities and challenges related to youth social and economic inclusion in Southern and East Africa.
- Topic:
- Conflict Prevention, Youth, Violence, and Social Cohesion
- Political Geography:
- Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa
26. Resilience through Placemaking: Public Spaces in Rotterdam’s Climate Adaptation Approach
- Author:
- Katherine Peinhardt
- Publication Date:
- 01-2021
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
- Abstract:
- Public spaces are an often-overlooked opportunity for urban climate adaptation. It is increasingly clear that the unique role of public spaces in civic life positions them to enhance not only physical resilience, but also to enhance the type of social cohesion that helps communities bounce back.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Social Cohesion, Resilience, and Adaptation
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Netherlands
27. Can Integrated Social Protection Programmes Affect Social Cohesion? Mixed-Methods Evidence from Malawi
- Author:
- Francesco Burchi and Federico Roscioli
- Publication Date:
- 01-2021
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
- Abstract:
- Using a mixed-method approach we show the impacts of an integrated social protection programme on social cohesion in Malawi. We find no concrete effect of the lump-sum transfer; in contrast, the business training enhances social cohesion especially when accompanied by participation in saving groups.
- Topic:
- Poverty, Finance, Business, and Social Cohesion
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Malawi
28. Social Cohesion After Armed Conflict: A Literature Review
- Author:
- Charlotte Fiedler and Christopher Rohles
- Publication Date:
- 01-2021
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
- Abstract:
- This paper brings together 39 academic studies on how armed conflict affects social cohesion. Reviewing the literature shows that conflict mostly harms social cohesion. However, this review also points toward several important caveats as well as blind-spots of the current literature.
- Topic:
- Academia, Literature Review, Social Cohesion, and Armed Conflict
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
29. Solidarity in Isolation? Social Cohesion at a Time of Physical Distance
- Author:
- Natalia Banulescu-Bogdan and Aliyyah Ahad
- Publication Date:
- 07-2021
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Migration Policy Institute (MPI)
- Abstract:
- In addition to its widespread public-health and economic impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged social cohesion in many countries by forcing changes in how people interact. Physical connection, the most human response to collective adversity, has been largely out of reach during long periods of lockdown, social distancing, and remote work and learning. The temporary closure of public spaces such as libraries and schools has also limited the spontaneous, casual encounters that can build bridges between disparate groups. This MPI Europe report explores ways to assess the pandemic’s effects on social capital and social infrastructure in Europe and North America. It also presents an initial analysis of how and where social cohesion is in peril and where it may actually be gaining strength, and highlights the importance of governments taking an inclusive approach and prioritizing social cohesion as societies move toward recovery. The authors identify three trends: Bridges between groups are weakening, even as new forms of connection may be strengthening bonds within existing networks. Immigrant integration programs have worked hard to move their offerings online, but digital tools may capture only a fraction of what in-person programming can and they may leave behind some people who most need assistance overcoming integration barriers, such as those with limited access to and familiarity with technology. A wide range of volunteering, mutual aid, and other grassroots forms of solidarity have emerged during the pandemic, but it remains to be seen which can make the switch from emergency response to longer-term engagement.
- Topic:
- Immigration, Citizenship, Integration, Social Cohesion, Social Capital, COVID-19, and Civic Engagement
- Political Geography:
- Europe, North America, and Global Focus
30. Social Cohesion: A New Definition and a Proposal for its Measurement in Africa
- Author:
- Julia Leininger, Francesco Burchi, Charlotte Fiedler, Karina Mross, Daniel Nowack, Armin von Schiller, Christoph Sommer, Christoph Strupat, and Sebastian Ziaja
- Publication Date:
- 01-2021
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
- Abstract:
- Social cohesion is key for sustainable development. While social cohesion has suffered in many societies from the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, high levels of social cohesion have helped to overcome critical situations during the pandemic in other societies. As a consequence, protecting and strengthening social cohesion has become an increasingly central goal for most countries and the international community. Despite the strong interest in the topic, the questions of how to define social cohesion and make it an observable phenomenon through proper measurement are still contested, in both academia and policy circles. To date, no consistent, temporally and geographically spread-out data on the different elements of social cohesion exists that would allow for a global analysis of social cohesion. This rather fragmented picture of analytical approaches calls for a more universal definition and measurement of social cohesion. This paper aims to provide a narrow and measurable definition of social cohesion that travels across regions and countries. Conceptually, it proposes a definition of social cohesion that incorporates the core elements of existing and widely used definitions of social cohesion across disciplines (trust, identity, cooperation for the common good). Our contribution is to offer a definition of social cohesion that is broad enough to cover the essentials holding societies together while at the same time keeping it lean enough to analyse the causes and consequences of social cohesion, for instance the relationship between social cohesion and inequalities or political institutions. Methodologically, we propose an application of our concept to the African context. It is not only a first step towards a more global and inter-regional measurement of social cohesion, but also the basis for further knowledge-creation, the identification of patterns of social cohesion and the analysis of its causes and consequences. From a policy-oriented perspective, a more unified definition of the core elements of social cohesion and its measurement can inform policies that aim at protecting and fostering social cohesion. In development cooperation, it will help not only to build indicators for designing programme objectives and for evaluation and monitoring, but also to advance evidence-based theories of change.
- Topic:
- Development, Sustainability, Social Cohesion, and COVID-19
- Political Geography:
- Africa
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