Search Results (178)

This article theorizes a womanist semiotics of advocacy by reading the unnamed Shunammite woman of 2 Kings 4—renamed Polet (defender)—alongside Ida B. Wells’ anti-lynching crusade. A womanist semiotics decodes how Black women’s bodies and voices signify within systems of White patriarchal power that simultaneously demand their advocacy while denying them protection. Through close readings of biblical narrative and historical archive, the article identifies five components that structure Black women’s resistance: communal grounding, strategic alliance-building, trauma witness, prophetic truth-telling, and sacred self-preservation. Both women embodied kenotic love—a paradoxical self-emptying that becomes fierce self-assertion—confronting prophetic and political authority to demand accountability for life against death. This framework exposes how contemporary democratic systems exploit Black women as “democracy’s backbone” while marginalizing their policy priorities, and offers theological authorization for strategic withdrawal from exploitative contexts. By centering Black women’s epistemological standpoint, this womanist ethic reframes rest and disengagement not as abandonment but as revolutionary self-love essential for sustainable justice work. Full article

This paper develops a systems theoretical account of democracy as an emergent equilibrium ecosystem within complex evolutionary adaptive systems rather than a purely institutional or normative construct. Drawing on general systems and complexity theories, it argues that democratic stability depends on maintaining balance across economic, security, and informational domains. The Industrial Revolution illustrates how technological and economic transformations simultaneously enabled democratic expansion and generated instability. This paper’s central contribution is to conceptualize the technological revolutions (e.g., Industrial and AI) as an entropic force that accelerates systemic instability through inequality, amplifications (e.g., mass and algorithmic media), and informational fragmentation (e.g., polarization and radicalization). In response, democratic resilience is reframed as integration (economic, governance/security, and informational/social) and harm reduction, both of which serve as adaptive mechanisms within complex evolutionary systems. Democracy is thus understood not as a fixed institutional form but as a dynamic, fragile, evolutionary equilibrium continuously shaped by technological and entropic systemic pressures. Full article

Drawing on Governance Theory and institutional perspectives, this study analyses the relationship between e-government use and SDG16-related institutional outcomes across 27 European countries during 2010–2022. Using longitudinal panel data estimations with country and year fixed effects, complemented by an exploratory cluster analysis, the paper examines how technological, economic, and demographic factors influence trust in public institutions, voice and accountability, and control of corruption. The results reveal substantial heterogeneity across institutional dimensions. Economic variables, particularly income per capita and unemployment, emerge as the most robust predictors of institutional performance. By contrast, the effects of technological variables weaken considerably once structural country heterogeneity is controlled for. The findings suggest that digitalisation is more strongly associated with institutional trust than with improvements in democratic accountability or corruption control. Cluster analysis identifies heterogeneous trajectories of e-government adoption across European countries, indicating that digitalisation does not automatically generate governance improvements in all contexts. Overall, the study shows that the effectiveness of e-government depends heavily on broader institutional and socio-economic conditions and highlights the importance of distinguishing structural cross-country differences from within-country longitudinal dynamics. Full article

This paper advances a theoretical argument that generative AI is accelerating the democratization of computational thinking and, in turn, reshaping education, professional practice, and the nature of computing itself. Traditionally, computational thinking has been closely tied to learning to program, thereby limiting who could effectively employ it. The emergence of large language models (LLMs) challenges this linkage by decoupling many forms of computational problem solving from direct programming. In response to this shift, the paper explores the implications for curriculum design and workforce roles through a theoretical and interpretive lens. Drawing on prior literature, historical context, and illustrative examples from recent scholarship and practice, we develop a conceptual account of AI-augmented computing. We argue that LLMs lower barriers to entry by abstracting away much of manual coding and reallocating effort toward problem framing, prompt engineering, oversight, and validation. We further argue that this transition is redistributing computational skills across disciplines, positioning prompt engineering as an emerging engineering practice, and increasing pressure on universities to redesign curricula around AI literacy, fluency, and mastery. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly embedded in how cities are governed, shaping decisions on mobility, land use, public services, and environmental management. Yet urban AI is predominantly governed through fragmented frameworks designed at national or corporate scales, offering limited guidance for municipal decision-making and overlooking place-specific social and ecological consequences. As the level of government closest to everyday urban life, cities are uniquely positioned to steer AI toward public value, but face persistent tensions between efficiency, equity, accountability, and sustainability. This paper argues that responsible urban AI cannot be governed through top-down or one-size-fits-all approaches. To address this, the study aims to conceptualise and advance a ground-up model of responsible urban AI governance that places cities and local governments at the centre of decision-making. It addresses the following research question: How can municipal authorities translate high-level ethical principles into practical, context-sensitive governance arrangements that respond to local capacities, risks, and public values? Drawing on global governance principles and illustrative city experiences, we propose a locally grounded, stage-based framework for municipal AI governance. The framework addresses institutional capacity gaps, fragmented responsibilities, and algorithmic externalities, advancing a participatory, place-sensitive, and adaptive model that aligns urban AI innovation with democratic legitimacy, social justice, and sustainable urban futures. Full article

This study examines the role of political partisanship in shaping state-level renewable energy policy, with a particular focus on the temporal dynamics of Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) adoption. It addresses a critical gap in the existing literature by asking whether political ideology affects RPS adoption immediately or only after delayed institutional responses. Using panel data for all 50 U.S. states from 2001 to 2024, this study contributes to the literature by identifying policy lags and structural shifts in renewable energy policy development. Employing fixed-effects panel regression with clustered standard errors, this study finds that contemporaneous Democratic control is statistically insignificant, whereas the two-year lag of Democratic control is positively and significantly associated with a higher probability of RPS adoption. The three-year lag also remains positive, although it is only marginally significant in the preferred specification. These findings support the policy lag hypothesis, suggesting that political influence is mediated by institutional inertia. Electricity prices are positively associated with RPS adoption in some specifications, whereas GDP per capita remains statistically insignificant. In addition, the Hausman test supports the fixed-effects specification, and the Bai–Perron multiple breakpoint test identifies significant structural breaks in 2007 and 2015. Overall, the findings indicate that partisan influence is better understood as a delayed rather than an immediate process. Accordingly, policymakers and stakeholders should account for institutional and regulatory lags when designing long-term energy transition strategies. Full article

This study investigates the communicative power of editorial cartoons in Ghana’s public discourse, focusing on how they inform, critique, and influence sociopolitical narratives. Drawing on a dataset of cartoons by Tilapia—one of the country’s leading cartoonists—published between May 2024 and May 2025, the paper explores how cartoons address themes such as economic hardship, youth addiction, cultural values, environmental degradation, and political hypocrisy. The central question guiding this study is as follows: How do Tilapia’s editorial cartoons visually construct and critique key national issues—such as economic hardship, environmental degradation, youth addiction, and political hypocrisy—in Ghanaian public discourse? Guided by an integrated theoretical framework from semiotics, visual rhetoric, and critical metaphor theory, the analysis reveals how cartoons use humour, caricature, exaggeration, and symbolic imagery to simplify complex realities and foster civic reflection. The study highlights how cartoons serve not only to entertain but also to hold power to account, amplify public concerns, and promote sociopolitical engagement. Through detailed visual analysis of ten selected cartoons, the paper underscores their capacity to critique governance, expose contradictions, and reflect collective sentiment—especially during election cycles. Overall, the research affirms the evolving role of visual satire as a potent medium of resistance, cultural expression, and democratic participation in Ghana. By bridging visual culture and critical discourse, the paper contributes to broader understandings of the role of the media in shaping public perception and fostering informed citizenship. Full article

The intersection of digital citizenship, sustainable education, and community belonging represents an emerging yet underexplored area of inquiry, particularly within Arab higher education contexts where institutional digitalization is accelerating alongside distinct sociocultural expectations around academic identity. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of sustainable education in the relationship between digital citizenship and community belonging among Egyptian university students. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed with a main sample of 819 university students. Participants completed three validated instruments: the Revised Digital Citizenship Scale, the Sustainable Education Scale, and the Where I Belong Survey. Mediation analysis was conducted using Hayes’ PROCESS macro with 5000 bootstrap resamples. Results reveal that digital citizenship is significantly and positively associated with both sustainable education and community belonging. Sustainable education, in turn, significantly predicts community belonging after controlling for digital citizenship, with the indirect effect accounting for approximately 38% of the total effect, consistent with partial mediation. These findings demonstrate that responsible digital engagement is associated with community belonging not only directly but also in a pattern statistically consistent with partial mediation through sustainability-oriented values including equity, inclusiveness, and democratic participation. These findings suggest theoretically informed directions for future intervention design, wherein integrating sustainable education principles into digital learning environments may warrant empirical investigation as a potential approach to cultivating ethically grounded, socially cohesive academic communities. Full article

Background: The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for approximately 12–13% of the global malaria burden. While international guidelines oppose the use of Artemisia annua infusions due to risks of sub-therapeutic dosing and resistance selection, the plant remains widely used in resource-limited regions. This study evaluates the clinical acceptability and perceptions of healthcare providers regarding the integration of Artemisia annua tea into formal malaria control in the Maniema province. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 337 healthcare professionals in the Kalima health district using the KoboCollect digital platform. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify the primary socio-professional determinants of clinical acceptability. Results: The overall clinical acceptability of Artemisia annua integration was 81.0%, with 82.8% of providers perceiving the preparation as effective. Rural residency was the strongest predictor of adherence (AOR = 6.847; p = 0.003), reflecting a pragmatic response to frequent ACT stockouts and high treatment costs. Despite high acceptability, 49.0% of providers identified the lack of clinical evidence as a major barrier, and 91.4% demanded formal training on standardized dosage and biological mechanisms. Conclusions: A significant “policy–practice gap” exists between international guidelines and field realities in the DRC. Healthcare providers demonstrate high readiness for integration but emphasize the absolute necessity of galenic standardization to mitigate resistance risks. To address these concerns, a complementary genomic investigation is currently underway in the same study area, comparing PfKelch13 mutation prevalence among Artemisia tea users versus ACT-treated patients. This molecular surveillance will provide essential evidence to define safety parameters for future phytopharmaceutical integration. Full article

This article examines the geopolitical transformation of the European Union within the context of polycrisis and intensified strategic rivalry following the events of 2022. It addresses the question of whether the EU’s response to contemporary crises represents a mere temporary adjustment triggered by an emergency, or rather a more permanent reconfiguration of European integration. Methodologically, the paper employs a qualitative research design combining conceptual analysis, interdisciplinary theoretical synthesis, and document-based comparative process-tracing of selected post-2022 policy responses, including sanctions policy, energy governance, and geoeconomic industrial policy. The analysis demonstrates that the EU has not evolved into a coherent, sovereign geopolitical actor, but rather into a more strategically adaptive and selectively integrated compound polity. This transformation is characterised by differentiated institutional deepening, expanded executive coordination, and growing tensions between efficiency, legitimacy, and democratic accountability. The article contributes to debates on European integration by conceptualising its current trajectory as a hybrid adaptation to a fragmented global order. Full article

Background: In 2018, malaria remained a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, accounting for 44% of all outpatient visits and 22% of deaths. This led to the development of the strategic plan for 2020–2023. To meet the objectives of this renewed plan, a monitoring and evaluation program focusing on performance indicators was established. This study aimed to assess the malaria control performance indicators in Kinshasa. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study used the National Malaria Control Program dataset of the period 2020–2023 to analyze malaria data from 23 HZ (Health Zone) in Kinshasa. Diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive use of LLINs (long-lasting insecticidal nets) and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamin-based IPT (intermittent preventive treatment among pregnant women) indicators were evaluated following the targeted thresholds established in the strategic plan for 2020–2023. Results: Malaria was present in all studied HZ from 2020 to 2023, with a heterogeneous distribution. The malaria incidence during the study period was 30%, with an upward trend in both suspected and confirmed cases, peaking in 2022 and showing no further fluctuations thereafter. The proportion of LLINs distributed to pregnant women during antenatal care visits was 62%, 61%, 45%, and 88% in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. A total of 83.1% of suspected malaria cases were diagnosed using RDT (Rapid Diagnosis Test), and confirmed malaria cases received antimalarial treatment. Conclusions: The objectives of the 2020–2023 strategic plan were only partially achieved, and no HZ reached 100% diagnosis by RDT, with only four HZs reaching at least 95% of the target. Thirty-four HZs were able to benefit from 95% treatment with antimalarial drugs. Full article

This study illuminates fundamental questions in behavioral science through advanced machine learning methodologies applied to large-scale public opinion data. Drawing on Kahneman and Tversky’s dual-process theory and Sunstein’s nudge architecture, we employ hierarchical unsupervised clustering and supervised predictive models to detect cognitive biases—loss aversion, availability heuristic, and partisan motivated reasoning—embedded within a nationally representative survey of 5022 American respondents. Our primary methodological contribution is a hierarchical two-stage clustering framework that uncovers latent opinion structures without imposing a priori partisan categories, permitting discovery of cross-cutting cleavages invisible to conventional survey analysis. Three principal findings emerge: (1) loss aversion is empirically confirmed in prospective economic perception, with pessimists outnumbering optimists at a 1.14:1 ratio even among respondents rating current conditions positively; (2) partisan motivated reasoning produces a 13.15 percentage-point perception gap among individuals with identical financial circumstances; and (3) multi-platform digital engagement is associated with reduced partisan bias, providing evidence that challenges simple echo chamber assumptions. Crime safety perception emerges as the strongest predictor of economic bias, surpassing party affiliation, and substantiating availability heuristic dominance in political cognition. These findings carry implications for democratic accountability, platform governance, and the ethics of AI-augmented behavioral analysis in an era of affective polarization. Full article

The integration of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) into digital learning environments is a profound socio-technical transformation. While GAI promises enhanced accessibility and efficiency, it simultaneously obscures the human creativity and intellectual labour that underpins digital knowledge production. This opacity limits creators’ visibility into how their work is used, evaluated, and monetised. This review application work investigates how several leading large language models, including ChatGPT (GPT-4o), Gemini (1.5 Flash), and DeepSeek (V3), interact with a creative platform hosting over 300 original essays, poems, and artworks from various human creatives. Our review reveals that despite clear evidence of models engaging with original materials, standard platform analytics of the average creative record no attribution, referrals, or traceable interaction from their end, rendering creators’ labour invisible. This compels critical examination of knowledge provenance and power within AI-mediated education. To address this, we propose a socio-technical framework, Chujoyi-TraceNet, not as a technical fix, but a mechanism to re-centre ethics, justice, and recognition in digital governance. By integrating real-time tracking, blockchain-enabled licensing, and metadata watermarking, Chujoyi-TraceNet operationalises the principles of equitable attribution. This study argues for a re-imagining of digital ecosystems in education, one that links the technical act of attribution to broader debates on digital labour, platform ethics, and the pursuit of social justice, thereby contributing to more democratic and accountable learning media in the era of Industry 4.0 and 5.0. Full article

This article critically analyses Lisbon’s Green Participatory Budget (GPB), launched in 2020 within the symbolic context of the city’s designation as the European Green Capital. Rather than treating the GPB as a radical democratic innovation, the study situates it as a thematic and digital reconfiguration of Lisbon’s long-standing participatory budgeting process, which has been active since 2008 and already incorporated environmental dimensions. Drawing on critical urban studies, political ecology, and literature on participatory governance, the analysis explores the democratic and justice implications of digital participatory climate governance. The article identifies structural limitations in the design and implementation of the GPB, including technocratic gatekeeping, digital exclusion, restricted deliberation, and the significant involvement of private sector consultancies. Beyond these internal constraints, the article argues that the most critical limitation of Lisbon’s GPB lies in its lack of continuity. Despite the mobilization of financial resources and public expectations, the GPB was not renewed after 2021, nor were its outcomes systematically evaluated or integrated into long-term governance strategies. This discontinuation compromises the potential of participatory climate governance as a learning process and raises broader questions about symbolic policy-making, institutional memory, and democratic accountability in urban climate action. The study concludes by proposing a set of redistributive and justice-oriented principles to restructure participatory mechanisms toward genuine climate democracy. Full article

This study explores how demystifying Earth Observation (EO) through co-creation pathways and local language can enhance flood resilience and environmental governance in African informal cities. Using case studies from Maiduguri and Hadejia, Nigeria, the research employed a transdisciplinary mixed-methods design combining rapid evidence assessment, surveys, participatory workshops (n = 50 stakeholders) integrating simplified Sentinel-1/2 demonstrations, indigenous knowledge mapping, and pre-/post-engagement surveys on EO familiarity. Non-expert participants were trained to interpret satellite data using local language, linking distant teleconnections with local flood experiences. The findings revealed significant gains in EO literacy and improvements in interpretive confidence, gender-inclusive participation, and policy engagement. Localizing the curriculum enabled participants to translate technical EO concepts into locally meaningful narratives, fostering cognitive empowerment and practical application in flood preparedness and advocacy. The study demonstrates that data democratization is not only a matter of open access but also of open understanding. It advances a conceptual model linking Demystification, Literacy, Empowerment, Co-Production and Resilience, positioning EO as a social technology that bridges scientific and indigenous knowledge systems. The findings contribute to debates on decolonizing environmental science and propose a potential participatory framework for integrating EO into community-based adaptation, legal accountability, and policy reform across Africa’s rapidly urbanizing landscapes. Full article