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91. Dossier 6: The Story of Solapur, India, Where Housing Cooperatives are Building a Workers’ City

Author:
Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research
Publication Date:
07-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research
Abstract:
The women beedi (thin cigarette) workers of Solapur, a city in the Indian State of Maharashtra, used to live in tiny shanties on rent in slums. The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) organised them and led a prolonged struggle to construct houses for them. The result: the government was forced to allocate funds for the purpose and 15,000 houses have been constructed for the workers. Another 30,000 houses are being built for informal sector workers from various industries. With their united struggle and sustained movement, the workers of Solapur are building a city of their own.
Topic:
Solidarity, Community, Housing, Trade Unions, and Labor Unions
Political Geography:
India and Asia

92. Testing Community Consent: Tullow Oil project in Kenya

Author:
Dan Mullins and Justus Wambayi
Publication Date:
11-2017
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
This case study assesses the extent of Tullow Oil’s compliance with the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in Turkana County, Kenya. It examines the company’s engagement in selected communities and finds that, while community engagement processes have improved in important ways, it has yet to achieve FPIC. The study provides recommendations that contribute to the evidence base for FPIC practice beyond this project, in order to improve FPIC implementation across the oil and gas industry.
Topic:
Oil, Natural Resources, Gas, Private Sector, and Community
Political Geography:
Kenya and Africa

93. One Team, one Nation: Football, Ethnic Identity, and Conflict in Africa

Author:
Emillio Depetris-Chauvin and Ruben Durante
Publication Date:
12-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Afrobarometer
Abstract:
Do collective experiences that prime sentiments of national unity reduce interethnic tensions and conflict? We examine this question by looking at the impact of national football teams’ victories in sub-Saharan Africa. Combining individual survey data with information on official matches played between 2000 and 2015, we find that individuals interviewed in the days after a victory of their country’s national team are less likely to report a strong sense of ethnic identity and more likely to trust people of other ethnicities than those interviewed just before. The effect is sizeable and robust and is not explained by generic euphoria or optimism. Crucially, national victories do not only affect attitudes but also reduce violence. Indeed, using plausibly exogenous variation from close qualifications to the Africa Cup of Nations, we find that countries that (barely) qualified experience significantly less conflict in the following six months than countries that (barely) did not. Our findings indicate that, even where ethnic cleavages have deep historical roots, patriotic shocks can reduce interethnic tensions and have a tangible impact on conflict.
Topic:
Nationalism, Sports, Community, Identity, and Unity
Political Geography:
Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa

94. ‘Many-Citedness’: Citations Measure More Than Just Scientific Impact

Author:
Carlo D'Ippoliti
Publication Date:
05-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET)
Abstract:
Citation indexes are increasingly used to measure the scientific impact of researchers and institutions, though their application is often criticized. Most authors agree that citations do not measure only scientific quality; there is disagreement however on what else they do capture. We study the network of citations of all publications indexed in Web of Science authored or coauthored by Italian tenured academic economists between 2011 and 2015. By estimating the determinants of the probability that any author is cited by any other author in the sample, we find those factors to involve not only similarity in methods and topics but also, significantly, various measures of social community as well as of ideological proximity. We conclude that, at least in the case of economics, citations cannot be interpreted as unbiased proxies of scientific impact, and their use to produce indexes and rankings may require careful rethinking.
Topic:
Science and Technology, Research, Academia, Community, and Citation
Political Geography:
Global Focus

95. The Roma in Moldova

Author:
Andreea Carstocea and Raul Carstocea
Publication Date:
03-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Abstract:
All international and domestic reports indicate that the Roma in Moldova are faced with very serious challenges with respect to their equal access to rights and basic services, particularly in the spheres of education, employment and housing. Stigma and stereotypes are widespread in society, driving discriminatory attitudes and practices towards them. The existing legislation, although fairly comprehensive, suffers from lack of adequate implementation and as such fails to address the many issues facing the Roma community. There is extremely limited academic research concerning the Roma community in Moldova. As such, the data summarized in this report has mainly been obtained from governmental and non-governmental sources, with a large contribution from data provided by international organizations.
Topic:
Minorities, Ethnicity, Discrimination, Legislation, Community, and Identity
Political Geography:
Europe and Moldova

96. Dealing with the Past: Supporting people-centred “working-through” the legacies of violence

Author:
Beatrix Austin
Publication Date:
02-2017
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Berghof Foundation
Abstract:
This policy brief hones in on the specific ways in which a people-centred approach to dealing with the past can be built from the ground up, complementing the previous Berghof Policy Brief no. 5. It works through the commonalities and differences between transitional justice, reconciliation and dealing with the past; and puts emphasis on the dual roles of the victims and their potential in either escalating or de-escalating violent approaches to conflict.
Topic:
Conflict Resolution, Conflict Prevention, Political Violence, Transitional Justice, Reconciliation, and Community
Political Geography:
Global Focus

97. Social Accountability in Tajikistan: Enchancing Trust Between Communities and Water Service Providers

Author:
Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:
03-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
Tajikistan was one of the first countries that signed up for the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA). Oxfam’s strategy on social accountability in the country focuses in three aspects: constructive engagement, enhancing trust through the Community Advisory Boards (CABs), and promoting women’s engagement. The programme has generated strong commitment from the government, communities and water services providers.
Topic:
Water, Infrastructure, Governance, Accountability, and Community
Political Geography:
Central Asia, Asia, and Tajikistan

98. Social Accountability in Sierra Leone: Influencing for pro-poor WASH investment in the 24-month post-Ebola recovery planning

Author:
Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:
03-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
Oxfam is leading the Freetown WASH Consortium (FWC) programme in Sierra Leone, which aims to contribute to health improvement through specific pro-poor WASH interventions that are aligned to the government’s 24-month post-Ebola recovery planning. Oxfam’s strategy focuses on promoting citizen engagement and the translation of community needs into policies.
Topic:
Ebola, Public Health, Pandemic, and Community
Political Geography:
Africa and Sierra Leone

99. Gender and Conflict Analysis in ISIS Affected Communities of Iraq

Author:
Simone E. Carter and Luisa Dietrich
Publication Date:
05-2017
Content Type:
Research Paper
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
This gender and conflict analysis of ISIS-affected communities of Iraq aims to improve understanding of gender dynamics in the context of conflict and displacement. The report sets out to identify the differential impact of ISIS occupation on women, girls, men and boys in order to explore shifts in prevailing gender norms held by study participants in Anbar, Salah Al Din and Nineveh governorates of Iraq. The objective is to enhance the understanding of the social pressures women and men experience when aiming to conform to context-specific gendered expectations of masculinity and femininity, in order to derive concrete recommendations for gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive humanitarian and recovery programming.
Topic:
Gender Issues, Terrorism, ISIS, Conflict, Local, and Community
Political Geography:
Iraq and Middle East

100. Adapting Programming to an Urban Environment in Pakistan

Author:
Syed Hasnain Ali, Ian Goodrich, and Hashim Zaidi
Publication Date:
06-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:
The programme seeks to ensure that women, men and young people living in poverty in cities in Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan have improved access to decent income opportunities and a dignified, healthy habitat. To achieve this goal, the programme is structured around three pillars: bringing together citizens to contribute to local governance; improving the responsiveness and capacity of local government actors; and improving access to WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) services and livelihood opportunities. The approach entails bringing together citizens in Effective Citizen Groups (ECG), with sub-groups for trade, WASH and participatory monitoring. Groups are supported in developing influencing strategies, and in lobbying local officials for improved WASH and livelihoods outcomes (e.g. repair of water and sanitation networks, increased access to livelihood support services) through participation in, and monitoring of, local government planning processes. This document particularly focuses on the programme’s learning about adapting programming to an urban environment.
Topic:
Inequality, Citizenship, Urban, and Community
Political Geography:
Pakistan and Middle East