Search Results (83)

Drawing on environmental justice theory and treating social sustainability as an interpretive rather than directly measured outcome, this cross-sectional study examines perceived distributive, recognition, and procedural justice surrounding the proposed Trgovska Gora radioactive-waste facility. Data comprise 385 valid questionnaires from a field-based non-probability sample of adults in eight municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ordinal construct validation using polychoric correlations and maximum-likelihood exploratory factor analysis provided qualified support for three primary dimensions (CFI = 0.955, TLI = 0.910, SRMR = 0.022; RMSEA = 0.128). Composite reliability ranged from 0.909 to 0.928, AVE from 0.715 to 0.763, and HTMT among the primary constructs from 0.679 to 0.845; broader governance/institutional-response items were therefore treated as supplementary. Composite means were above the neutral midpoint: distributive injustice, M = 4.304 (SD = 0.825); recognition injustice, M = 4.109 (SD = 0.920); and core procedural justice, M = 4.351 (SD = 0.744). These midpoint comparisons are descriptive rather than an independent validation of the hypotheses. HC3-robust municipality-adjusted models (N = 380) explained 21.0–28.3% of outcome variance, with municipality contributing significantly to all three models. Because the design is cross-sectional and the sample is non-probability based, the findings describe patterns among surveyed respondents rather than population-level or causal effects. The social-sustainability implications concern perceived fairness, voice, recognition, and institutional legitimacy; trust, cohesion, facility acceptance, and long-term governance capacity were not directly measured. Full article

Armed conflict is a planetary health concern because it disrupts interconnected human, institutional, cultural, and ecological systems on which health and collective well-being depend. Religion is rarely the sole cause of such conflict, but it may become a consequential and changing dimension when political actors use sacred language, identities, institutions, memories, and symbols to mobilize supporters, define enemies, legitimize coercion, or resist compromise. Because these processes can influence social cohesion, institutional trust, humanitarian action, and the capacity for cooperation and recovery, understanding the political activation of religion is relevant to planetary health. This conceptual integrative review synthesizes scholarship from conflict studies, political science, religious studies, law, psychology, public health, and peacebuilding to clarify how such politicization can be analyzed without reducing multidimensional conflicts to religion alone. This article proposes seven analytical dimensions: religious rhetoric in political discourse; religious identity as a boundary of group division; involvement of religious institutions and leaders; targeting of religious sites and symbols; religious justification of violence; religious framing of resistance to external intervention; and mobilization of historical grievances with religious content. These dimensions form a heuristic framework rather than a validated diagnostic instrument. From a planetary health perspective, the framework identifies pathways through which politicized religion can damage population health and the social and institutional systems on which health depends, including humanitarian access, public-health trust, displacement, cultural continuity, psychosocial well-being, social cohesion, and cooperative governance. The same religious resources may also support mediation, restraint, resilience, and reconciliation. This article links each dimension to proportionate peacebuilding and planetary health responses and identifies priorities for empirical validation, comparative coding, and longitudinal research. Full article

Workplace incivility and workplace polarization represent two increasingly significant challenges in contemporary organizations. Although both phenomena have been studied extensively, their interrelationship remains underdeveloped in organizational behavior research. This conceptual study develops an integrative multilevel framework proposing how workplace incivility and workplace polarization may become reciprocally connected over time within the organizational context. Drawing on the Incivility Spiral Model, Organizational Justice Theory, and Social Identity Theory, the study proposes that repeated interpersonal incivility may contribute to identity-relevant interpretations and identity threat, which may, in turn, strengthen in-group/out-group differentiation. Trust erosion and emotional contagion may complement this process through relational and affective-transmission mechanisms, creating conditions that may support the emergence of workplace polarization. In turn, workplace polarization may reshape civility norms across perceived group boundaries and make expectations of respectful treatment increasingly group-contingent, thereby increasing the likelihood that subsequent workplace incivility will be directed toward perceived out-group members. The central contribution of this study is to explain how ambiguous interpersonal mistreatment may become interpreted as group-based disrespect and theorize how workplace polarization may make expectations of respectful treatment increasingly contingent on perceived group membership. The proposed model further identifies ethical leadership, organizational justice, psychological safety, and diversity climate as distinct contextual conditions that may influence different stages of the incivility-to-polarization pathway, rather than uniformly moderating the entire reciprocal process. By conceptualizing workplace incivility and workplace polarization as potentially reciprocally linked cross-level processes, this study contributes to theory development on workplace mistreatment, intergroup dynamics, and organizational division. It also outlines directions for longitudinal, experimental, multilevel, and network-based research to empirically examine the proposed relationships and highlights practical implications for fostering more respectful, cohesive, and inclusive work environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Vaccine hesitancy remains a significant public health challenge in Japan, particularly following the HPV vaccine suspension (2013–2022) that severely damaged vaccination trust. Although prior studies have linked individual social capital to vaccination behavior in Japan, whether and how personal vaccination beliefs modify this association remains poorly understood. This study examined associations between individual social capital (resources accessed through personal social networks) and COVID-19 vaccination intention, and how these associations interact with personal vaccination beliefs based on the 7C model. Methods: A nationwide web-based survey (January 2024) included 7210 participants aged 20–69. Individual social capital was measured using civic participation, social cohesion (community trust), and reciprocity (mutual helping). Personal beliefs were assessed via the 7C model (psychological vaccination determinants framework) and factor-analyzed. Logistic regression examined associations; interaction analyses tested whether social capital effects differed across belief patterns. Results: Overall, 73.1% expressed intention to receive COVID-19 vaccination for 2024–2025. All social capital components positively associated with vaccination intention: social cohesion (adjusted OR = 1.80, 95% CI:1.58–2.04), reciprocity (adjusted OR = 1.64, 95% CI:1.33–2.02), and civic participation (adjusted OR = 1.29, 95% CI:1.10–1.51). Factor analysis identified three belief domains: individual and collective health responsibility, trust in vaccination systems, and safety concerns. Health responsibility beliefs substantially reduced social capital–vaccination associations when included in models. Safety concerns moderated effects of social cohesion (p < 0.001) and reciprocity (p = 0.011), with stronger effects among those with lower concerns. Civic participation was associated with vaccination intention mainly among those with higher institutional trust. Conclusions: Individual social capital was significantly associated with vaccination intention through complex belief interactions. Safety concerns act as crucial moderators. Multifaceted strategies addressing social capital, safety concerns, and institutional trust may be needed to increase vaccine uptake. Full article

This article investigates the intricate interplay between ressentiment—as social emotion—social love, and solidarity in democratic societies, focusing on the urban environment as the primary stage where these processes materialize. Far from being a marginal emotion, ressentiment is deeply intertwined with democratic life, arising from the gap between proclaimed values and lived conditions. It represents an affective reaction to the perceived betrayal of the promise of equality inscribed in democratic ideals. The discussion explores how perceptions of injustice can fracture trust and intensify divisions, but also how they, under certain conditions, can be redirected toward political engagement and common action. The city, characterized by density, diversity, and the continuous negotiation of difference, can serve as a privileged arena for this transformation. Urban space does not merely reflect inequalities; it actively shapes social processes and provides the infrastructure through which collective sentiments are articulated. In this context, “social love” is conceptualized not as a sentimental aspiration, but as a relational force capable of redirecting the moral indignation of ressentiment, far from strategies of grievance politics toward constructive forms of social and political belonging. Cities can function as laboratories of solidarity where grievances are reframed into collective projects that strengthen social cohesion. Mitigating the destructive potential of ressentiment requires addressing its structural roots through inclusive urban policies and dialogical spaces. An approach grounded in social love can counter fragmentation, mobilizing emotions in the service of substantive equality. In this perspective, the city can become a space and a laboratory for change, where resentment can be channeled as a generative force capable of sustaining widespread forms of social love and a sense of the common good. Full article

This study addresses declining social trust and emerging moral challenges among youth in Thailand’s conflict-affected southern border provinces by developing a strategic framework grounded in the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy (SEP). A quantitative approach was employed, integrating the Modified Priority Needs Index and Priority Matrix analysis to examine discrepancies between current performance and perceived importance. The findings reveal differentiated patterns of moral development. Discipline and Responsibility are identified as a high-priority need, reflecting high importance but comparatively lower performance. Gratitude and Filial Piety, together with Kindness and Generosity, emerge as established strengths, functioning as cultural assets. Unity and Social Harmony and Social Sacrifice are classified as secondary yet contextually significant dimensions, indicating partial internalization. Based on this classification, the study proposes a differentiated strategy comprising targeted self-regulation development, strength-based reinforcement, and experiential activation through service-learning and multicultural engagement. Central to this approach is the creation of “multicultural social action spaces” that enable meaningful interaction across diverse groups. The findings suggest that aligning moral education with matrix-based priorities and contextual realities may support ethical resilience, social cohesion, and sustainable peace in pluralistic and conflict-affected societies. Full article

Disinformation, amplified by digital platforms and algorithmic distribution systems, represents a growing challenge for media trust, public health communication, and societal stability. This narrative literature review examines disinformation through an integrative psychosocial perspective, focusing on how patterns of exposure interact with individual vulnerability factors—including education, political beliefs, social identity, personality traits, and emotional responses to uncertainty—to influence the processing and acceptance of misleading information. The review synthesises interdisciplinary evidence on how algorithmic amplification and emotionally salient content increase susceptibility to disinformation and shape risk perception, health-related decision-making, and preventive behaviours. Findings indicate that repeated exposure to false or misleading information reinforces perceived credibility through familiarity effects, contributes to declining trust in institutional sources, and intensifies social and political polarisation. Disinformation is therefore conceptualised not only as an informational problem but also as a psychosocial process affecting emotional regulation, cognitive evaluation, and collective responses to crises, particularly in public health contexts. The analysis further highlights a recursive feedback loop in which reduced media trust increases vulnerability to subsequent disinformation, with broader implications for democratic participation and social cohesion. Mitigation strategies discussed include media literacy initiatives, critical thinking education, platform governance, regulatory approaches, and interventions targeting psychosocial drivers of susceptibility. Full article

The European Union is increasingly confronted with a convergence of sustainability, democratic, and security-related challenges that affect the conditions for long-term transformation. While sustainable development and democratic resilience are often discussed separately, their interdependence has become more visible in the context of geopolitical instability, geoeconomic competition, hybrid threats, and growing societal polarization. This article examines the relationship between sustainable development and democratic resilience in the European Union and analyses how external pressures shape both agendas. The study employs a qualitative, concept-driven research design that combines the analysis of EU strategic and policy documents, a structured review of relevant scholarly literature, and triangulation with selected sustainability and governance indicators. The findings suggest that the implementation of sustainable development goals depends not only on regulatory and economic capacity, but also on social cohesion, public trust, and the resilience of democratic institutions, which together shape the legitimacy, continuity, and political feasibility of long-term transformative policies. At the same time, energy dependence, supply-chain vulnerabilities, technological dependencies, and information threats increasingly constrain the EU’s sustainability agenda. In response, the article proposes the concept of Sustainable Democratic Security as an analytical framework linking sustainability governance, democratic resilience, and strategic-security capacity. The article contributes to the literature by conceptualising these dimensions as mutually conditioning components of a common governance framework and by outlining their implications for integrated EU policymaking under conditions of geopolitical and geoeconomic pressure. Full article

This study bridges the existing gaps in quantifying risk and enhancing community defences by applying a cohesive five-pillar risk and resilience framework developed within the C2IMPRESS project. We assessed the anticipated impacts of various C2IMPRESS tools on community resilience across four European case study areas (CSAs): Egaleo (Greece), Mallorca (Spain), Ordu (Turkey), and the Centro Region (Portugal). Methodologically, a targeted survey asked CSA representatives to estimate the expected changes across 42 resilience indicators—encompassing social, institutional, economic, infrastructural, and environmental dimensions—following tool implementation. A public–private-civil partnership (PPCP) framework was also assessed across all sites to enable a comparative analysis. The results indicate that individual vulnerability and emergency preparedness are the most responsive dimensions, exhibiting significant projected improvements alongside institutional capacities and community trust. Conversely, the community economy emerged as the least flexible dimension, exhibiting minimal anticipated change. In conclusion, the C2IMPRESS framework effectively bridges disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation by integrating local knowledge into actionable interventions. However, while social and institutional resilience can be actively enhanced, improving economic resilience requires long-term structural adjustments beyond the scope of these localised tools. Full article

This article examines Bahçeşehir as an originally planned satellite town whose spatial and social fabric has been reshaped through incremental transformations rather than formal urban renewal. While urban change in Türkiye is predominantly discussed through state-led regeneration and large-scale interventions, comparatively little attention has been paid to how gradual, everyday modifications within planned residential environments accumulate over time and affect residents’ lived experience. Addressing this gap, the study investigates how incremental changes in residential open spaces reshape everyday practices and residents’ perceptions of urban quality of life. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork, including in-depth interviews, field observations, and visual–spatial documentation, the analysis employs a systematic thematic coding process using MAXQDA to trace the evolving relationships between planning ideals, governance arrangements, and everyday spatial practices. The findings reveal three interrelated dynamics. First, the gradual fragmentation and partial privatization of open spaces undermined their collective functions. Second, incremental densification and infrastructural pressures reshaped mobility patterns and everyday accessibility. Third, governance ambiguities weakened residents’ sense of ownership, institutional trust, and neighbourhood cohesion. By conceptualizing governance-driven incremental transformation, the study demonstrates how the erosion of planning principles unfolds not through abrupt interventions but through cumulative spatial, institutional, and social shifts. The case of Bahçeşehir contributes to debates on suburban development, open space governance, and urban quality of life by highlighting how governance restructuring operates as a critical yet often overlooked driver of long-term urban transformation in planned residential environments. Full article

Despite the aim of municipal boundaries re-demarcation to improve capacity, functionality, economic viability, and service delivery in South African municipalities, it often leads to community unrest, protests, and violent confrontations. This article examines socio-political factors that contribute to the ongoing disputes in Vuwani and Malamulele communities, Limpopo, South Africa, and their implications for social cohesion and local governance in a post-apartheid context. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 52 community members and other stakeholders who are directly involved in or affected by the disputes. Guided by territoriality theory, through thematic analysis, the study findings reveal that re-demarcation disputes are intertwined with political interests, differentiated ethnic and cultural identities, inadequate community consultation, and governance power imbalances. By situating Vuwani and Malamulele communities within wider debates on municipal border disputes, this study calls for an inclusive, transparent, and culturally sensitive approach to the implementation of municipal boundary changes. This is crucial for building united, peaceful, and sustainable communities, and for local government to regain public trust in post-apartheid South Africa. Full article

Understanding how family functioning shapes social cohesion in South African communities offers insight into relational dynamics that sustain neighborhood well-being. This convergent parallel mixed-methods study examined associations between family functioning and neighborhood social cohesion in Cape Town. Quantitative data (N = 662) were collected using the Family Functioning Questionnaire and the Neighborhood Social Cohesion Questionnaire. Correlations showed positive associations between family cohesion and trust (r = 0.20), expressiveness and tolerance/respect (r = 0.20), and democratic family style and neighborhood attachment (r = 0.21). Family disengagement showed a small negative association with tolerance/respect (r = −0.11) and a small positive association with practical help (r = 0.17), an unexpected pattern interpreted cautiously. Qualitative interviews (n = 20) provided contextual depth, describing how open communication, shared caregiving, and supportive family networks enhance trust, belonging, reciprocity, and responsibility. Thematic analysis produced five themes spanning cohesion, expressiveness, conflict/disengagement, democratic family functioning, and authoritarian parenting as adaptation. Triangulation indicated that cohesive, expressive, and democratic family processes align with stronger neighborhood connectedness, while conflict and strictness were often described as forms of regulation rather than uniformly harmful. Findings support strengthening family-based interventions, parenting programs, and community policies that reinforce both family well-being and social connectedness. Full article

Cohesion among individuals reflects the quality of relationships and interpersonal interaction within a community. Elements such as social connections, trust, and a sense of belonging serve as key indicators of societal cohesion and are often rooted in acts of good neighborliness. Despite this, limited knowledge exists regarding perceptions and behaviors related to good neighborliness within South African society. The present study examines how perceptions and practices of good neighborliness contribute to the development of cohesive communities. Research was conducted in four South African communities: Philippolis, Lambert’s Bay, Caledon, and Grabouw. Utilizing an interpretivist approach, the study adopted a qualitative methodology involving interviews with 25 participants, including family members and community stakeholders. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis facilitated the identification of recurring patterns and key themes. The principal themes identified were everyday mutual support and practical assistance, moral norms and values of care, social familiarity and community connectedness, trust and good neighborliness, and intergroup relations and cohesion across diversity. The findings demonstrate the crucial role of good neighborliness in advancing social cohesion. For communities and families to thrive, it is vital that members experience safety and cultivate trusting relationships, which often requires openness about their vulnerabilities and needs. Full article

In post-Soviet Georgia, the renewed visibility of religion in the public sphere has generated ambivalent effects, fostering both social cohesion and identity-based exclusion. This article focuses on the work I Am the Way by Georgian Orthodox thinker Zurab Kiknadze to explore how a non-instrumental, ethics-based conception of public religion can be sociologically conceptualized. Drawing on a qualitative, hermeneutic-narrative method, the analysis identifies two core motifs in Kiknadze’s thought—“spiritual journey” and “silent witness”—and interprets them through the lenses of public religion theory (Casanova), lived religion paradigms (McGuire, Ammerman), and post-secular debates (Habermas). The findings indicate that Kiknadze understands faith not as a marker of dogmatic or ethno-political belonging but as a practice contributing to ethical continuity and the reconstruction of social trust. Within this framework, “silent witness” is defined as a form of faith grounded in consistency, humility, and action-oriented conviction; it is proposed as a transferable sociological mechanism that supports trust, reconciliation, and inclusive citizenship in transitional societies. Centering on the Georgian case, this article offers a conceptual contribution to rethinking the public role of religion in post-authoritarian contexts within an ethical framework. Full article

This study explores how social innovation and multi-level governance (MLG) can enhance regional resilience and help overcome the Middle-Income Trap (MIT) through cooperative, community-driven strategies. Focusing on Hungarian self-governments, it examines twinning partnerships—formal relationships between settlements—as potential catalysts of social innovation and regional cohesion. A nationwide questionnaire survey (Number of settlements surveyed: 409; representative by settlement type) conducted between 2024 and 2025 evaluated the motivations, intensity and impacts of these partnerships. The findings reveal that intraethnic twinning networks are more socially active and locally grounded, strengthening community identity and civic participation, even though they provide limited direct economic benefits. By fostering trust, collaboration, and cross-border interaction, these partnerships act as effective platforms for social innovation, supporting more inclusive and territorially integrated development across Central and Eastern Europe. Full article