Societies

19 pages, 581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perspectives on Necessity-Driven Immigrant Entrepreneurship: Interactions with Entrepreneurial Ecosystems through the Lens of Dynamic Capabilities

by Yu-Heng Chen and Han-Shen Chen

Societies 2024, 14(10), 203; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100203 - 14 Oct 2024

Abstract

This paper explores the interaction between immigrant small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the entrepreneurial ecosystems of their home and host countries. These SMEs, often established out of necessity due to economic hardship or unemployment, contrast with opportunity-driven ventures that seek to exploit [...] Read more.

This paper explores the interaction between immigrant small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the entrepreneurial ecosystems of their home and host countries. These SMEs, often established out of necessity due to economic hardship or unemployment, contrast with opportunity-driven ventures that seek to exploit new market prospects. Employing a dynamic capabilities framework, the study investigates how immigrant SMEs identify and mobilize critical resources in unstable environments, and how these resources are dynamically adapted and transformed to meet organizational objectives while responding to ecosystem changes, ultimately cultivating competitive advantages. Interviews were conducted with 25 immigrant entrepreneurs from eight countries, and the interviews took place within their business environments, with native speakers of the interviewees′ home countries present to ensure accuracy and authenticity. The findings highlight that immigrant entrepreneurs effectively leverage resources from both home and host country ecosystems, with human capital being the most essential asset. Additionally, the role of immigrants′ social networks is emphasized as a crucial mechanism for resource acquisition. This study further illustrates the positive contributions of immigrant enterprises to entrepreneurial ecosystems, revealing a co-evolutionary relationship whereby the businesses and ecosystems both mutually evolve. This co-evolution strengthens the resilience and sustainability of immigrant ventures, significantly enhancing their long-term success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue International Migration and the Adaptation Process)

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19 pages, 340 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindsets: Factors Shaping Student Intentions in a Challenging Economic Landscape

by Vicente González-Prida, Jesús César Sandoval-Trigos, Fabricio Miguel Moreno-Menéndez, Kesler Osmar Gomez-Bernaola, Diego Alonso Tello-Porras and Diana Pariona-Amaya

Societies 2024, 14(10), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100202 - 13 Oct 2024

Abstract

This research aims at investigating factors affecting entrepreneurial intention among university students in Selva Central-Peru. The study seeks to explore how perceptions of behavioural and social norms, as well as entrepreneurs’ self-efficacy, impact entrepreneurial intentions among students. The research method used is a [...] Read more.

This research aims at investigating factors affecting entrepreneurial intention among university students in Selva Central-Peru. The study seeks to explore how perceptions of behavioural and social norms, as well as entrepreneurs’ self-efficacy, impact entrepreneurial intentions among students. The research method used is a quantitative one, which in turn praises data obtained through questionnaires applied to 114 active students and analysed by statistical methods. Confirmed the positive influences of self-efficacy on entrepreneurial intention are six times larger than those of attitude and subjective norms, with 79.2% explained variance, respectively, in relation to the proposal model’s findings. Results showed that although the majority of students demonstrated medium to high entrepreneurship intentions, much scope remains for increasing this. These findings confirm just how critical it is to provide an educational context that supports entrepreneurial locus of control-building and, in so doing, draws on broader conversation within the education-occupational landscape. With this, the study highlights avenues to better leverage entrepreneurship as a pathway toward sustainable livelihoods and economic inclusion in an economically divided region. Full article

15 pages, 2402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Applying Bourdieu’s Theory to Public Perceptions of Water Scarcity during El Niño: A Case Study of Santa Marta, Colombia

by Miguel A. De Luque-Villa, Hernán Darío Granda-Rodríguez, Cristina Isabel Garza-Tatis and Mauricio González-Méndez

Societies 2024, 14(10), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100201 - 11 Oct 2024

Abstract

This study investigated the sociological dimensions informing public perceptions of water scarcity during the El Niño drought period in Colombia. We conducted this study in Santa Marta, Colombia, and surveyed 405 urban and rural residents to understand their perceptions of water scarcity, management, [...] Read more.

This study investigated the sociological dimensions informing public perceptions of water scarcity during the El Niño drought period in Colombia. We conducted this study in Santa Marta, Colombia, and surveyed 405 urban and rural residents to understand their perceptions of water scarcity, management, and the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon. The survey used a Likert scale to measure responses and employed a multivariate analysis of variance to analyze the data while considering factors such as location (urban versus rural) and gender. The study results indicated that urban residents often experience an irregular water supply all year, whereas most rural respondents noted a more consistent availability of water. The perception of water scarcity also differed notably between urban and rural areas due to their different historical and cultural experiences (habitus). Urban respondents mostly recognized the presence of water, while rural perspectives were less conclusive, likely influenced by their direct access to natural water sources. Participants across various demographics consistently reported that poor management by local, regional, and national governments contributes to the water scarcity crisis, highlighting the importance of improving communication about climate events like El Niño and water management to increase community engagement in public policies. Our research suggests that better understanding the social foundations of such perceptions using Bourdieu’s concepts of social fields, habitus, and capital forms can significantly enhance water management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Sociology — Achievements and Challenges)

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18 pages, 247 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Mirrors: AI Companions and the Self

by Theodoros Kouros and Venetia Papa

Societies 2024, 14(10), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100200 - 8 Oct 2024

Abstract

This exploratory study examines the socio-technical dynamics of Artificial Intelligence Companions (AICs), focusing on user interactions with AI platforms like Replika 9.35.1. Through qualitative analysis, including user interviews and digital ethnography, we explored the nuanced roles played by these AIs in social interactions. [...] Read more.

This exploratory study examines the socio-technical dynamics of Artificial Intelligence Companions (AICs), focusing on user interactions with AI platforms like Replika 9.35.1. Through qualitative analysis, including user interviews and digital ethnography, we explored the nuanced roles played by these AIs in social interactions. Findings revealed that users often form emotional attachments to their AICs, viewing them as empathetic and supportive, thus enhancing emotional well-being. This study highlights how AI companions provide a safe space for self-expression and identity exploration, often without fear of judgment, offering a backstage setting in Goffmanian terms. This research contributes to the discourse on AI’s societal integration, emphasizing how, in interactions with AICs, users often craft and experiment with their identities by acting in ways they would avoid in face-to-face or human-human online interactions due to fear of judgment. This reflects front-stage behavior, in which users manage audience perceptions. Conversely, the backstage, typically hidden, is somewhat disclosed to AICs, revealing deeper aspects of the self. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence in Participatory Environments: Technologies, Ethics, and Literacy Aspects)

20 pages, 292 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Children’s Journeys into the Youth Justice System from Multiple Perspectives: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

by Hannah Smith and Elizabeth Paddock

Societies 2024, 14(10), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100199 - 8 Oct 2024

Abstract

In order to contribute to research into youth crime prevention, the current study aimed to explore the experiences of children in conflict with the law prior to receiving their first caution or conviction. Participants were recruited at a Youth Justice Service and included [...] Read more.

In order to contribute to research into youth crime prevention, the current study aimed to explore the experiences of children in conflict with the law prior to receiving their first caution or conviction. Participants were recruited at a Youth Justice Service and included five children working with the service, their five case managers, and two of their parents/guardians. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and timelines were used to support the children in sharing their experiences. Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, which focuses on understanding how individuals experience the world and how they make sense of those experiences. Six group experiential themes were identified within the analysis. These consider the events leading up to offending and whether it could have been predicted, the extent to which the children felt supported, the effect of school practices, the impact of peer influences, difficulties with managing emotions, and the children’s readiness for change. Each theme is discussed and recommendations for practice and future research are considered. The importance of placing children’s experiences at the forefront of research is highlighted throughout. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Youth Justice: Social Policy, Social Work and Practice)

14 pages, 300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Age Discrimination of Senior Citizens in European Countries

by Agnes Santha and Emese Emőke Tóth-Batizán

Societies 2024, 14(10), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100198 - 7 Oct 2024

Abstract

This paper addresses perceived age discrimination of older persons in European countries. This disturbing issue has become all the more prominent, having doubled over a relatively short period between 2018 and 2021. Strongly associated with bad health outcomes, low levels of wellbeing, and [...] Read more.

This paper addresses perceived age discrimination of older persons in European countries. This disturbing issue has become all the more prominent, having doubled over a relatively short period between 2018 and 2021. Strongly associated with bad health outcomes, low levels of wellbeing, and considerable social tensions, age-related discrimination against senior citizens is a sign of the lack of their social integration. Our study used secondary data analysis based on survey methodology. Statistical analysis was performed on data from the European Social Survey wave 10 (2021) subsample of people aged 65 and above to assess the senior population’s age-based discrimination experiences and its individual and macro-level determinants. The results indicate that in all European countries, low socioeconomic status, older age, and living alone are strongly associated with the experience of age discrimination. Having bad health and being functionally limited in everyday activities results in a state of dependency that is connected to a higher risk of perceived exposure to age discrimination. Smaller populations, such as those in villages, are protective against discrimination at older age. Finally, compared to other welfare regimes, in social democratic welfare states with egalitarian redistribution systems and high levels of social benefits, there is a significantly larger share of old people who reported to have been victims of age discrimination. Our results have implications for policy in the context of ageing societies. Full article

14 pages, 250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Migration on Smoking among Colombian Migrants

by Michael B. Aguilera

Societies 2024, 14(10), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100197 - 5 Oct 2024

Abstract

Background: Colombian migration globally has had many consequences. This study focuses solely on the smoking behavior of Colombian migrants. This study addresses how the act of international migration impacts the likelihood of smoking among Colombian migrants. Smoking has been found to be [...] Read more.

Background: Colombian migration globally has had many consequences. This study focuses solely on the smoking behavior of Colombian migrants. This study addresses how the act of international migration impacts the likelihood of smoking among Colombian migrants. Smoking has been found to be the leading cause of preventable death, and so it is a health risk for Colombian migrants. This study pertains to the communities sampled in Colombia, where the migrants originated. Methods: This study uses the Latin American Migration Project to address how migration impacts the smoking behavior of Colombian migrants. Using logit regression, the statistical analysis predicts the likelihood of smoking among Colombian migrants. This study compares the smoking behavior of current and former Colombian migrants, which is compared to that of Colombian non-migrants. Because current and former migrants were surveyed, the study is able to control for health selectivity. Results: After accounting for health selectivity, the study finds that migration, as measured by time abroad, is positively and significantly related with the smoking of migrants relative to non-migrants. Additionally, this study shows that former migrants are more likely to smoke than current migrants, providing support for the salmon effect. Conclusion: This study adds to the literature on smoking by studying an understudied group, Colombian migrants, and provides a better measure of the impact of migration on smoking behavior by accounting for health selectivity and the salmon bias. The findings are consistent with assimilation theory, as more time abroad is associated with negative health behaviors that are common in the culture of the receiving country, but the fact that such behaviors are harmful to the migrant is consistent with the immigrant health paradox. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue International Migration and the Adaptation Process)

16 pages, 1236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trauma-Informed Photovoice for Adolescents and Young Adults with Child Welfare Involvement

by Colleen C. Katz, Moiyattu Banya, Astraea Augsberger, David Collins, LaShawnda Kilgore, Kerry Moles, Cheyanne Deopersaud and Michelle R. Munson

Societies 2024, 14(10), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100196 - 3 Oct 2024

Abstract

Youth who age out of foster care face a constellation of challenges associated with navigating the transition to adulthood and often do not have opportunities to express their perspectives. The purpose of this project was to partner with these youth to develop a [...] Read more.

Youth who age out of foster care face a constellation of challenges associated with navigating the transition to adulthood and often do not have opportunities to express their perspectives. The purpose of this project was to partner with these youth to develop a trauma-informed photovoice program that can be freely utilized in child welfare programming. This youth participatory action research (yPAR) project engaged youth and young adults with child welfare experience in a long-term partnership to co-develop and pilot test a trauma-informed photovoice program called Photovoice for Change (P4C). P4C evolved into a three-meeting structure: (1) orientation and launch; (2) preparation for sharing; and (3) share back. Youth participants revealed photographs of “places and spaces” that impacted their lives, sharing their meaning with other youth and supportive adults in a group setting. The project concluded with a gallery showing, featuring a video highlighting the program participants’ experiences. Trauma-informed photovoice may be an important program to embed within the child welfare system, as it can provide youth with an opportunity to: (a) strengthen within-group relationships and (b) express important aspects of their lives in a supportive and safe environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building the Evidence Base for Innovative and Contextually Sensitive Programs to Prevent and Treat Child Abuse and Neglect and Reduce Child Welfare Involvement)

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29 pages, 6750 KiB

Open AccessReview

Navigating the Digital Public Sphere: An AI-Driven Analysis of Interaction Dynamics across Societal Domains

by Jasmin Schmank and Rüdiger Buchkremer

Societies 2024, 14(10), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100195 - 26 Sep 2024

Abstract

The increasingly digital nature of modern societies necessitates continually examining how individuals interact in the public sphere. This systematic literature review comprehensively analyzes emerging research on public interaction across diverse contexts. By employing an innovative method of applying artificial intelligence on a large-scale [...] Read more.

The increasingly digital nature of modern societies necessitates continually examining how individuals interact in the public sphere. This systematic literature review comprehensively analyzes emerging research on public interaction across diverse contexts. By employing an innovative method of applying artificial intelligence on a large-scale academic corpus, we systematically identified and categorized eight major research clusters: social media and public discourse; public Governance in health and education; urban environments and data systems; group interaction dynamics; complex systems modeling; human-display interfaces; political processes; and public service design. Sub-topic mapping revealed key themes such as digital civic engagement, transport sustainability, behavioral dynamics, and socio-environmental impacts. Our interdisciplinary synthesis highlights public interaction as a multifaceted phenomenon intertwined with technological change, policy decisions, environmental factors, and social constructs. These insights underscore the need for holistic, cross-disciplinary approaches to navigate the challenges and opportunities of public interaction in our rapidly evolving digital age. This review provides a unified knowledge base to guide future research while informing decision-makers on cultivating participatory, adaptive, and sustainable public spheres. Full article

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18 pages, 961 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emotional Management Strategies and Care for Women Defenders of the Territory in Jalisco

by Daniela Mabel Gloss Nuñez and Silvana Mabel Nuñez Fadda

Societies 2024, 14(10), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100194 - 25 Sep 2024

Abstract

The struggles of several women defending their territories and lives are marked by family tensions and reactions to the overload of care tasks and community rules according to their socially established roles. In this qualitative research, we analyze and discuss the cases of [...] Read more.

The struggles of several women defending their territories and lives are marked by family tensions and reactions to the overload of care tasks and community rules according to their socially established roles. In this qualitative research, we analyze and discuss the cases of three women’s collectives from different suburban and rural communities in Jalisco. Information recollected through the new ethnography approach over six years was coded and analyzed with the Atlas ti program. Results: Women’s defense of their land involvement, organizing, and social mobilization actions move to an overload of care and raise adverse reactions in their community and families in response to what is seen as a transgression of women’s roles. This increases dominant demobilization emotions: fear, sadness, loneliness, guilt, and shame. Through emotional management strategies linked with alternative forms of appropriation of space, starting with their bodies and sharing emotions and actions with their companions, the women in these collectives produced emotions of resistance: pride, hope, friendship, and anger, which led to reconfiguring their identities, family relationships, and roles within other place domains: bodies, family, and community. Conclusions: Women defenders, as principal carers of life, have produced and inherited a set of strategies that configure a growing “politics of the ordinary. “These strategies, through emotional management, subvert dominant emotions, feelings, and acting rules, gradually questioning and reinventing their roles and human and nonhuman relations in their most immediate contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Sociology — Achievements and Challenges)

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16 pages, 251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Navigating Challenges and Leveraging Technology: Experiences of Child Welfare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Sarah Maiter, Daniel Kikulwe, Uzma Danish, Peyton Drynan and Mykayla Blackman

Societies 2024, 14(10), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100193 - 24 Sep 2024

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the experiences of child welfare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic through virtual interviews, focusing on the challenges and adaptations in their work and support systems. Participants reported significant difficulties in maintaining a healthy work–life balance, heightened stress, anxiety, and [...] Read more.

This qualitative study explores the experiences of child welfare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic through virtual interviews, focusing on the challenges and adaptations in their work and support systems. Participants reported significant difficulties in maintaining a healthy work–life balance, heightened stress, anxiety, and increased workloads due to sick leaves and burnout. This study highlights the dual role of technology as both a stressor and a crucial tool, with rapid integration posing challenges while also enabling continued support for children and families. Despite these challenges, workers demonstrated resilience and creativity, developing innovative solutions to navigate the new landscape. The findings underscore the importance of robust support systems, clear communication, and equitable access to technology. This study suggests integrating lessons learned during the pandemic into future child welfare practices to enhance resilience and adaptability in the face of future crises. Full article

25 pages, 5909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Networked Narratives in Amplifying or Mitigating Intergroup Prejudice: A YouTube Case Study

by Daum Kim and Jiro Kokuryo

Societies 2024, 14(9), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090192 - 21 Sep 2024

Abstract

This purpose of this research is to understand the role of networked narratives in social media in modulating viewer prejudice toward ethnic neighborhoods. We designed experimental videos on YouTube based on intergroup contact theory and narrative frameworks aimed at (1) gaining knowledge, (2) [...] Read more.

This purpose of this research is to understand the role of networked narratives in social media in modulating viewer prejudice toward ethnic neighborhoods. We designed experimental videos on YouTube based on intergroup contact theory and narrative frameworks aimed at (1) gaining knowledge, (2) reducing anxiety, and (3) fostering empathy. Despite consistent storytelling across the videos, we observed significant variations in viewer emotions, especially in replies to comments. We hypothesized that these discrepancies could be explained by the influence of the surrounding digital network on the narrative’s reception. Two-stage research was conducted to understand this phenomenon. First, automated emotion analysis on user comments was conducted to identify the varying emotions. Then, we explored contextual factors surrounding each video on YouTube, focusing on algorithmic curation inferred from traffic sources, region, and search keywords. Findings revealed that negative algorithmic curation and user interactivity result in overall negative viewer emotion, largely driven by video placement and recommendations. However, videos with higher traffic originating from viewers who had watched the storyteller’s other videos result in more positive sentiments and longer visits. This suggests that consistent exposure within the channel can foster more positive acceptance of cultural outgroups by building trust and reducing anxiety. There is the need, then, for storytellers to curate discussions to mitigate prejudice in digital contexts. Full article

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17 pages, 713 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Which Dimensions Are Related to Populist Attitudes: An Educational View Based on a Systematic Literature Review

by Ricardo Soares, Carla Malafaia and Pedro D. Ferreira

Societies 2024, 14(9), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090191 - 21 Sep 2024

Abstract

In the last decade, we have witnessed increasing knowledge production on populism at the level of individuals. However, the systematization of these studies’ conclusions is still scarce. There is also little research on the relationship between populism and education. Based on a systematic [...] Read more.

In the last decade, we have witnessed increasing knowledge production on populism at the level of individuals. However, the systematization of these studies’ conclusions is still scarce. There is also little research on the relationship between populism and education. Based on a systematic literature review, this article contributes to this by first focusing on what studies have revealed about the relationship between populist attitudes and socioeconomic, political, emotional characteristics and media-related preferences. Based on predefined criteria and a double-screening process, our literature search led to the selection of 68 studies focused on populist attitudes. The analysis of these articles enables us to understand that populist attitudes (i) are influenced by socioeconomic characteristics; (ii) have a nuanced relationship with politics; (iii) are driven by emotional dimensions; and (iv) are associated with diverse views about the media and media consumption preferences. We discuss the main findings of this systematic literature review and point out possible educational responses to individual populist standpoints according to their various causes, particularly in terms of the role of political and media education. Full article

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14 pages, 223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Educational Poverty and Deprivation: Attitudes and the Role of Teachers during the Pandemic

by Maddalena Colombo, Diego Mesa, Gianluca Battilocchi and Gianluca Truscello

Societies 2024, 14(9), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090190 - 21 Sep 2024

Abstract

Educational poverty is widespread in compulsory education in terms of poor learning and socio-cultural disadvantages; it affects students with disabilities, students with learning difficulties, and those with an immigrant background. During the pandemic crisis, students with special educational needs (SENs) mostly suffered the [...] Read more.

Educational poverty is widespread in compulsory education in terms of poor learning and socio-cultural disadvantages; it affects students with disabilities, students with learning difficulties, and those with an immigrant background. During the pandemic crisis, students with special educational needs (SENs) mostly suffered the risk of an additional deprivation. Within an advanced inclusive model during school closure, the Italian State guaranteed access to schools only to students with disabilities. What effects did this “equalizing” measure produce? What kinds of attitudes have teachers adopted and what roles have they played (active vs. passive) in order to make it sustainable? What was their acknowledgement of the educational poverty and deprivation? To what extent were their attitudes differentiated? This article explores the roles and attitudes of teachers during periods of lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. We assume that the teachers’ attitudes were differentiated on the basis of five cultural dimensions (auto/hetero-referencing; vision of remote teaching; relationship with bureaucracy, relationships with students; teaching as performance or relation), and two functions (classroom teachers/ SENs teachers). The study is based on 42 semi-structured interviews conducted with teachers, principals, and parents in six lower secondary public schools with high rates of SENs students and multi-ethnicity (Northern Italy), and focused on the organisational, teaching, and relational aspects. Results seem to confirm that not all teachers agreed with the Ministry line and adopted a range of responses to the challenge of maintaining inclusivity, from the inert/impatient to the creative/active ones. Their attitudes changed during the post-pandemic period from atomistic to more collaborative, and their preoccupation with the fragile “uncertified students” increased. The article closes with recommendations on teacher training. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diversity Competence and Social Inequalities)

18 pages, 466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Affirmative Action for Black, Indigenous and Quilombola Students at a Brazilian University

by Armando Loureiro, Carina Carvalho and Marta de Oliveira Rodrigues

Societies 2024, 14(9), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090189 - 20 Sep 2024

Abstract

Multiculturalism and cultural diversity permeate various sectors of society, including higher education. The educational policies implemented in this sphere appear to promote social and educational equality. The aim of this study was to examine this subject by analysing the affirmative action policy implemented [...] Read more.

Multiculturalism and cultural diversity permeate various sectors of society, including higher education. The educational policies implemented in this sphere appear to promote social and educational equality. The aim of this study was to examine this subject by analysing the affirmative action policy implemented in a Brazilian university. It sought to understand whether this policy has contributed to the access and completion of undergraduate programmes of black and mixed-race, indigenous and quilombola students. The analysis was conducted based on data relating to the access and dropout of students who enrolled in the university through the quota and reservation systems. Data were collected from university administrative datasets and a questionnaire administered to undergraduate course coordinators and students who had benefited from the policy in question and dropped out of university. The findings reveal, on the one hand, an increase in the intake of black and mixed-race, indigenous and quilombola students. On the other hand, a high dropout rate was observed among these students, which may raise the possibility that the policy in question is not completely successful. Full article

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19 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

The Personalist Leadership Style of Fabio Vásquez: A Case Study on the Origins of the ELN

by Juan Carlos Sánchez Sierra and Alfonso R. Vergaray

Societies 2024, 14(9), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090188 - 19 Sep 2024

Abstract

This article examines the personalist leadership style of Fabio Vásquez, a founding member of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), the Colombian guerrilla group. Personalism, as a theoretical framework for understanding Latin American leaders, has primarily focused on traditional political practices, emphasizing the [...] Read more.

This article examines the personalist leadership style of Fabio Vásquez, a founding member of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), the Colombian guerrilla group. Personalism, as a theoretical framework for understanding Latin American leaders, has primarily focused on traditional political practices, emphasizing the tensions and conflicts among formal institutions, political parties, and personalist politicians. While these studies provide valuable insights, they overlook leaders who operate outside conventional political structures who also rely on personalist strategies to attract and retain followers. This article seeks to bridge this gap by presenting a case study of Vásquez’s leadership style. In an era marked by the resurgence of populism and renewed interest in the effects of personalism on conventional politics, this article argues that examining personalist leadership within revolutionary insurgent groups that reject conventional party politics is necessary for a thorough understanding of the phenomenon. In particular, it offers a comprehensive overview of how Vásquez’s personalist strategies shaped the ELN’s early insurgency, ultimately revealing the strengths and vulnerabilities of such leadership within revolutionary movements. Full article

22 pages, 1277 KiB

Open AccessReview

Antimicrobial Resistance: The Impact from and on Society According to One Health Approach

by Maria Pia Ferraz

Societies 2024, 14(9), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090187 - 17 Sep 2024

Abstract

Antibiotics are drugs that target and destroy bacteria, and they are hailed as one of the most amazing medical breakthroughs of the 20th century. They have completely changed how we treat infections and have saved countless lives. But their usefulness is not limited [...] Read more.

Antibiotics are drugs that target and destroy bacteria, and they are hailed as one of the most amazing medical breakthroughs of the 20th century. They have completely changed how we treat infections and have saved countless lives. But their usefulness is not limited to just medicine; they have also been used for many years in sectors like farming to prevent infections in animals, especially in less wealthy countries. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites to resist the effects of antimicrobial agents, like antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics, that were once effective in treating infections caused by these organisms. AMR presents an intricate challenge that endangers the health of both humans and animals, as well as the global economy, and the security of nations and the world at large. Because resistant bacteria are swiftly appearing and spreading among humans, animals, and the environment worldwide, AMR is acknowledged as a challenge within the framework of One Health. The One Health approach involves cooperation among various fields to attain the best possible health outcomes for humans, animals, and the environment. It acknowledges the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. AMR is not merely a scientific or medical issue; it is a societal challenge that demands collective action and awareness. In the intricate tapestry of society, every thread contributes to the fabric of AMR, and every individual holds a stake in its resolution. Full article

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24 pages, 706 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cross-Disciplinary Rapid Scoping Review of Structural Racial and Caste Discrimination Associated with Population Health Disparities in the 21st Century

by Drona P. Rasali, Brendan M. Woodruff, Fatima A. Alzyoud, Daniel Kiel, Katharine T. Schaffzin, William D. Osei, Chandra L. Ford and Shanthi Johnson

Societies 2024, 14(9), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090186 - 16 Sep 2024

Abstract

A cross-disciplinary rapid scoping review was carried out, generally following the PRISMA-SCR protocol to examine historical racial and caste-based discrimination as structural determinants of health disparities in the 21st century. We selected 48 peer-reviewed full-text articles available from the University of Memphis Libraries [...] Read more.

A cross-disciplinary rapid scoping review was carried out, generally following the PRISMA-SCR protocol to examine historical racial and caste-based discrimination as structural determinants of health disparities in the 21st century. We selected 48 peer-reviewed full-text articles available from the University of Memphis Libraries database search, focusing on three selected case-study countries: the United States (US), Canada, and Nepal. The authors read each article, extracted highlights, and tabulated the thematic contents on structural health disparities attributed to racism or casteism. The results link historical racism/casteism to health disparities occurring in Black and African American, Native American, and other ethnic groups in the US; in Indigenous peoples and other visible minorities in Canada; and in the Dalits of Nepal, a population racialized by caste, grounded on at least four foundational theories explaining structural determinants of health disparities. The evidence from the literature indicates that genetic variations and biological differences (e.g., disease prevalence) occur within and between races/castes for various reasons (e.g., random gene mutations, geographic isolation, and endogamy). However, historical races/castes as socio-cultural constructs have no inherently exclusive basis of biological differences. Disregarding genetic discrimination based on pseudo-scientific theories, genetic testing is a valuable scientific means to achieve the better health of the populations. Epigenetic changes (e.g., weathering—the early aging of racialized women) due to the DNA methylation of genes among racialized populations are markers of intergenerational trauma due to racial/caste discrimination. Likewise, chronic stresses resulting from intergenerational racial/caste discrimination cause an “allostatic load”, characterized by an imbalance of neuronal and hormonal dysfunction, leading to occurrences of chronic diseases (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, and mental health) at disproportionate rates among racialized populations. Major areas identified for reparative policy changes and interventions for eliminating the health impacts of racism/casteism include areas of issues on health disparity research, organizational structures, programs and processes, racial justice in population health, cultural trauma, equitable healthcare system, and genetic discrimination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Diversity Competence and Social Inequalities)

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14 pages, 266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Syndemic Connections: Overdose Death Crisis, Gender-Based Violence and COVID-19

by Ana M. Ning

Societies 2024, 14(9), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090185 - 16 Sep 2024

Abstract

This article will use syndemic theory to identify and analyze overlapping health and social conditions, focusing specifically on how gender-based violence is systemically interconnected with contemporary public health issues. The overdose death crisis that continues to afflict Canadian populations is not an isolated [...] Read more.

This article will use syndemic theory to identify and analyze overlapping health and social conditions, focusing specifically on how gender-based violence is systemically interconnected with contemporary public health issues. The overdose death crisis that continues to afflict Canadian populations is not an isolated health issue. Across Canada, it is intertwined with mental health, HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and structural violence—the chronic and systemic disadvantages affecting those living in poverty and oppressive circumstances. Opioid use is an often-avoidant coping strategy for many experiencing the effects of trauma, relentless fear, pain, ill health and social exclusion. In particular, Indigenous and non-Indigenous women’s experiences with opioid addiction are entangled with encounters with gender based-violence, poverty and chronic ailments within structurally imposed processes and stressors shaped by a history of colonialism, ruptured lifeways and Western ways of knowing and doing, leading to disproportionate harms and occurrences of illness. While biomedical models of comorbidity and mortality approach substance misuse, gender-based violence and major infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 as distinct yet compounding realities, this article argues that these conditions are synergistically interrelated via the critical/reflexive lens of syndemic frameworks. Through secondary research using academic, media and policy sources from the past decade in Canada, complemented by prior ethnographic research, the synergistic connections among opioid addiction, gender-based violence and the effects of the COVID pandemic on diverse women will be shown to be driven by socio-structural determinants of health including poverty, intergenerational trauma, the legacy of colonialism and Western optics. Together, they embody a contemporary Canadian syndemic necessitating coordinated responses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Social Politics of Gender-Based Violence: A Critical Canadian Health Perspective, 2024)

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