Development Theories And Policies

Ante la incertidumbre creciente que caracteriza a las sociedades contemporáneas, los actores desarrollan unas estrategias para enfrentarse a sus efectos más lesivos. Una de las maneras de no sentirse impotentes ante los acontecimientos y sacudidas por ellos consiste en hacer gala de empoderamiento, es decir en apropiarse el poder por sí mismo sobre sí mismo, lo que permite a los actores actuar con el fin de enfrentarse a los fenómenos climáticos, geopolíticos, políticos, socioeconómicos o culturales que padecen. En ese sentido, el empoderamiento constituye un medio, en particular para las comunidades, grupos sociales e individuos más vulnerables, a menudo fuertemente expuestos a los riesgos vinculados a la fuerte incertidumbre, para retomar el control de sus vidas, al menos parcialmente. Por lo cual, el empoderamiento de las mujeres, de las minorías étnicas, de los jóvenes, de las personas mayores, de los habitantes de los barrios desfavorecidos y de los territorios abandonados constituye un vector de emancipación y de bienestar a través del incremento de la capacidad de decisión y de acción.

Agricultural systems are increasingly shaped by the intersection of trade policies, biosecurity risks, and the overarching imperative of food security. Tariff regimes influence the cost, accessibility, and competitiveness of livestock and poultry products, while outbreaks of transboundary animal diseases such as avian influenza or foot-and-mouth disease disrupt supply chains and strain public health systems. From a global perspective, the balance between liberalized trade and protective tariffs remains delicate, particularly when weighed against the need to maintain resilient and safe food systems. This study employs a comparative simulation model to examine the interactions between tariff policies, animal disease risks, and food security outcomes in West African and U.S. agricultural systems. The U.S. model emphasizes advanced biosecurity infrastructure, heavily mechanized production, and tariff policies shaped by global competitiveness. By contrast, West African systems are characterized by fragmented supply chains, reliance on smallholder farmers, and heightened vulnerability to disease shocks due to weaker veterinary and monitoring frameworks. Simulation results reveal that while tariffs can protect domestic producers in West Africa, they may simultaneously elevate consumer food prices, exacerbating food insecurity in vulnerable populations. Conversely, in the U.S., reduced tariffs paired with strong biosecurity capacity enhance system resilience but may expose domestic markets to external price volatility. The comparative analysis highlights the importance of harmonizing tariff policies with robust animal health measures and adaptive safety nets. Ultimately, the findings underscore that food security is best safeguarded when trade policies are aligned with risk management strategies, ensuring both affordability and stability across diverse agricultural contexts.

This study examines the middle-income trap hypothesis, a concept widely debated in economic literature. This a situation in which economic growth slows down after reaching a middle level and the country is unable to move into the group of high-income countries for a long time. It occurs when the initial successes of industrialisation gradually become exhausted and new growth incentives are not formed quickly enough. But can we really be certain whether a country has fallen into the “trap”? The latter is not a rhetorical question — of the 92 countries classified as middle-income economies by the World Bank in 2000, 27 have moved into the high-income group.
The study aims to systematize numerous definitions of the concept and assess how definitional differences influence conclusions about development paths and income group transitions. An econometric analysis reveals that these differences have minimal impact on the factors affecting transition probabilities, making discussions about the fundamentals of trap formation largely definition-independent. Econometric testing also confirms a long-term relationship between sharp economic slowdowns and upward income transitions. At the same time, the definitional diversity complicates applying the hypothesis to specific countries.

Some people hold that the 20th century’s Cold War was effectively between two supersystems, named ‘capitalism’ and ‘socialism’ and that the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Soviet Union signified a practical and theoretical victory of one over the other. Others insist that democracy was present in various ways in both systems and suggest that the world financial crisis of 2007-2008 and current turbulent situation are making us rethink how ‘victorious’ one system actually was over the other and whether or not a better balance can be found between two extremes. This paper seeks a middle way by exploring the possibility of finding harmony between ‘Eastern’ and ‘Western’ ideas of democracy in the areas of politics, ideology and economics. It reviews recent works by two scholars, one from China, the other from Russia, and compares their observations as well as possible solutions they suggest at both the national and international levels. It focuses on the ‘institutional matrix’...

This study examines the impact of organizational culture, particularly innovation and adaptability, on employee productivity in primary healthcare facilities (PHCs) in Northern Nigeria. Using quantitative research design, data were collected from 400 healthcare workers across 30 primary healthcare facilities and analyzed using regression techniques. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression results reveal that innovation (β = 0.4892, p < 0.001) and adaptability (β = 0.2948, p < 0.001) both significantly enhance employee productivity, explaining 81.2% of the variance (R² = 0.812). The findings align with Dynamic Capabilities Theory, emphasizing that organizations fostering creativity and flexibility achieve superior workforce efficiency. Empirical evidence supports prior studies demonstrating that innovative-driven workplaces encourage knowledge-sharing and engagement, while adaptability ensures effective response to technological and policy changes. The study highlights the need for structured HRM policies, leadership strategies, and continuous professional development programs to cultivate an environment conducive to innovation and adaptability. Healthcare policymakers should prioritize incentivizing creative problem-solving, implementing structured change management programs, and enhancing digital transformation efforts to optimize employee efficiency. By fostering a culture that values innovation and embraces change, healthcare organizations can improve service delivery, workforce resilience, and overall performance. Future research should explore sector-specific variations in these relationships for broader generalizability.

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is the apex continental organisation responsible for coordinating and advocating for agricultural research-for-development. (AR4D). It serves as the entry point for agricultural research initiatives designed to have a continental reach or a sub-continental reach spanning more than one sub-region. FARA serves as the technical arm of the African Union Commission (AUC) on matters concerning agricultural science, technology and innovation. FARA has provided a continental forum for stakeholders in AR4D to shape the vision and agenda for the sub-sector and to mobilise themselves to respond to key continent-wide development frameworks, notably the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). FARA's vision is; "Reduced poverty in Africa as a result of sustainable broad-based agricultural growth and improved livelihoods, particularly of smallholder and pastoral enterprises" its mission is the "Creation of broad-based improvements in agricultural productivity, competitiveness and markets by strengthening the capacity for agricultural innovation at the continental-level"; its Value Proposition is the "Strengthening Africa's capacity for innovation and transformation by visioning its strategic direction, integrating its capacities for change and creating an enabling policy environment for implementation". FARA's strategic direction is derived from and aligned to the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa (S3A), which is in turn designed to support the realization of the CAADP vision. FARA Research Report (FRR) is an online organ of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). It aims to promote access to information generated from research activities, commissioned studies or other intellectual inquiry that are not structured to yield journal articles. The outputs could be preliminary in most cases and in other instances final. The papers are only published after FARA secretariat internal review and adjudgment as suitable for the intellectual community consumption. "The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of FARA or its members. The designations employed in this publication and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FARA concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers".

E l B a j o G u a d i a n a e n l a F r o n t e r a L u s o -A n d a l u z a . P o s i b i l i d a d e s d e T r a s v a s e s H í d r i c o s T r a n s f r o n t e r i z o s h a c i a e l L i t o r a l O n u b e n s e J o s é M a n u e l J u r a d o A l m o n t e .

Based on the controversies surrounding the applicability and utility of development theories and coupled with Africa’s experience, the implementation of these theories or combinations of them in individual African countries seem to leave them almost where they started or in a worse position than that. The current global economic down turn is a pointer to this fact. While the modernization theories have been accused of ethnocentrism and incapable of generating development in the underdeveloped countries, especially in Africa, the dependency theories on the other hand leave much to be desired in its solutions to the problems of underdevelopment in Africa. Also, the modernization theories have been attacked for blaming Africa for their poverty – blaming the victims for their plight, the dependency theories have also been criticized for blaming capitalism as the only cause of global poverty. Therefore, based on available facts and the prevailing global economic down turn, this paper argues that both external and internal factors have coalesced to wreck Africa economically, i.e. internal changes not accomplished with external changes in the world economic system will do Africa no good. To this end this paper calls for sustainable human development in Africa while at the same time, taking into cognizance the millennium Development Goals (MDGs). That is development that meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability of the future generations to meet their needs. That is development that aims at the satisfaction of man’s economic and socio-cultural needs in the most effective and rational way. And since man is a means and end of development, the product therefore of any development efforts must fulfills the basic needs of man. In order words development that is pro-poor, pro-women and people-oriented.

This study investigates how social entrepreneurship can address sexual health literacy deficits in agrarian communities across sub-Saharan Africa, where entrenched cultural taboos and service gaps hinder reproductive health outcomes. Framing the problem as a public health and human capital challenge, the research explores entrepreneurial models that integrate moral reform, education access, and local economic development. Employing a mixed-method design, the study combines participatory rural appraisal (PRA), lifestage analysis, and narrative case study approaches across three agrarian districts in Ghana. Data were sourced through stakeholder interviews, focus group discussions with youth and elders, and document analysis of regional health and education reports. The methodology triangulates qualitative narratives with quantitative measures of literacy uptake, social impact scores, and income-generating activity performance. Findings reveal that community-led enterprises, such as peer educator cooperatives and agrohealth kiosks, significantly improve sexual health literacy, especially among youth and women. Innovations grounded in local values, combined with modular training, enhanced trust and uptake of reproductive knowledge while generating income and local ownership. The study contributes a novel framework that links sexuality education to economic agency through inclusive entrepreneurship. By positioning sexual health as a development lever rather than a cultural taboo, this research closes knowledge gaps between health policy and rural livelihoods. The insights offer practical relevance for curriculum designers, NGO practitioners, and agribusiness value chain actors seeking to activate social change through enterprise-led solutions.

Species Distribution Models are widely used to predict single and multiple species distribution based on different environmental parameters concerned. Such a framework often ignores distribution overlapping of associated species of the same taxon or genus which may lead to high-cost conservation for the concerned authority. Cost effective conservation management can be practiced by prioritizing areas of high suitability, shared by one or more related species. Here, we proposed the concept of the high probable distribution area shared by at least two species i.e. Synergistic potential distribution area in Assam. Analysis of the synergistic distribution map showed that the average combined high potential area of all the species is 3140 km 2 , and the average synergistic distribution area shared by at least two species accounts for 1367.63 km 2 (Falco severus + Gyps tenuirostris = 1446.19 km 2 , Falco severus + Haliaeetus leucoryphys = 1404.75 km 2 , Gyps tenuirostris + Haliaeetus leucoryphus = 1251.95 km 2). We found that the highly suitable areas of raptors in Assam were mostly concentrated in the Manas Tiger Reserve landscape, Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape and Upper Brahmaputra valley. This concept would definitely help to identify areas shared by raptors and prioritize cost effective conservation efforts.

In the late 1940s, Modernization Theory was developed to explain why poorer countries had failed to develop. Rostow believed that an initial injection of aid from the west in the form of training, education, economic investment. Would be enough to jolt a society into economic development. Modernization theorists argue that there are a number of cultural and economic barriers that prevent traditional societies from developing. See the next sheet for details of modernization theory in terms of how countries should develop.

This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of extension advisory services for farming community of Bhimber district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The convenient sampling as well as multistage sampling method was used to collect the data from the study area. The overall data consists of 150 farmers. The study revealed that respondent's acquaintance with extension staff was very low as only 18.00% of the respondents had personal acquaintance with the extension staff and 12.67% of them knew extension staff through their neighbour, while 38% of respondents from their friends. The farmers who knew extension staff through relatives were only 16%. It was also found that demonstration, personal contact, group meetings and training were effective methods of communication. The study concluded that other sources of information i.e., relatives, friends were more influential in bringing changes in the behavior of the respondents and solving the problems of farm related issues. It was found that 38% of the aware respondents yield was 50% greater than unaware farmers. It was also concluded that 80% of the respondents had increased the production of wheat while 80.67% had increased the production of maize and 68% had increased the production of millet after getting benefits from the extension services provided by the agriculture department. It is recommended that visits of extension field staff should be made regularly. The progressive farmers may be involved in extension activities because they are less in number and are easily approachable. Demonstrations, personal contacts and radio services were found most effective methods; therefore, it is recommended that these methods should be followed more effectively and used in modern shape.

В обществоведении, по сравнению с точными или естественными науками, монографии продолжают оставаться наиболее «уважаемым» источником в международном научном цитировании. По данным специализированных исследований, количество монографий составляет до 52% от цитируемых работ в социальных науках, в отличие от 7%, например, в медицине (Wilson and Tenopir, 2008. P. 1398) 1 . Именно книги позволяют ученым-обществоведам развернуто и аргументированно изложить свои позиции и представить результаты многолетних исследований с необходимой полнотой. Однако познавательные ресурсы и время читателей не бесконечны. При практически неограниченном доступе к разнообразной информации наши возможности прочитать то, что имеет отношение к области собственных исследований, ограничиваются в большей степени вниманием, которое мы направляем на те или иные работы. Как отмечал специалист в области когнитивистики Герберт Саймон, «внимание становится более дефицитным ресурсом, чем информация» 2 . В этой связи краткость и структурированность текста приобретают особое значение, и нам проще прочесть статьи, чем обширную монографическую работу. Принимая все это во внимание, редакционная коллегия журнала предлагает ввести специальную рубрику «НОВЫЕ КНИГИ: ОТ АВТОРА». Мы приглашаем авторов книг, которые, на наш взгляд, имеют важное значение для научного сообщества институционалистов, представить содержание своих книг в формате, близком к формату статьи. Тогда читатели журнала смогут, что называется, «из первых рук» получить представление о наиболее значимых, с точки зрения автора, идеях его книги и обратиться к ней, если эти идеи их заинтересуют. В нынешнем номере журнала мы представляем новую книгу С. Г. Кирдиной «Институциональные матрицы и развитие России. Введение в Х-Y-теорию» (Нестор-История, 2014). Хотя книга заявлена как 3-е издание уже известной нашим читателям работы, по сути это более чем на 40% обновленное исследование. Первые издания книги вышли еще в 2000 и 2001 гг. С тех пор и до настоящего времени издание 2001 г. продолжает оставаться одним из самых востребованных для российских обществоведов. По данным научной электронной библиотеки ELIBRARY.RU, в 2013 г. эта книга занимала 1-е место среди отечественных книг по числу цитирований среди социологов и 3-е место -среди экономистов. Во многих университетах России и некоторых стран СНГ теория институциональных матриц включена в программы по социологии, политологии и институциональной экономике. Нынешнее издание, в котором уточнены важнейшие теоретические положения, представлен новый эмпирический материал и проанализированы сделанные автором прогнозы, подтвердившиеся на практике, является наиболее полным изложением теории институциональных матриц, или Х-Y-теории С. Г. Кирдиной.

In the 21st century change in the configuration of the global politico-economic structure is becoming increasingly evident. If we look at the agendas of international institutionalists’ conferences, where the representatives of the so called Big Four (the United States, Great Britain, Germany and France) continue to dominate intellectually, we can find their anxiety about &quot;major disruptions to the global balance of politico-economic power&quot; (https://winir.org/?page= events & side = winir_2018). The growth of the economic giants in the East (primarily China and India) as well as Russia&#39;s political role, and the growing social and economic inequality in the majority of developed economies, contest the leadership of the Western institutional model of economic development. It becomes obvious that this model not only does not have a universal character, but it also does not show as many manifest advantages as has been thought previously. At the same time, an internationally ...

The conceptualization and understanding of underdevelopment remained a fundamental issue in any discourse of development studies. The modernization theory conceived underdevelopment as either systemic in the Third World's culture or even a natural phenomenon. This paper aimed to critique the position of the modernization theory's conceptions that underdevelopment is a natural phenomenon, and intended to advance other reasons for underdevelopment. To achieve this, an attempt has been made to analyse and critique some dominant modernization theories. The paper adopted the underdevelopment and dependency theory developed by Andre Gunder Frank as a theoretical framework. The methodology adopted for this paper was purely documentary where existing works on the subject matter have been consulted and analysed critically. The study revealed among others that underdevelopment is never a 'natural phenomenon' as the modernization theorists wanted us to believe, rather it is a product of historical antecedents and continues economic, political and social relationship by the Third World Countries with the so-called developed countries. The present underdeveloped countries were developed at the same level as the so-called developed countries before their contact with the West. The study further, confirmed the position of Andre Gunder Frank, that until the ties between the two blocs are weakened or completely halted, underdevelopment will perpetuate itself in the Third World Countries.

Este estudo tem por objectivo, descrever os incentivos usados pelo Estado Angolano com vistas a valorização da produção local no geral e dos recursos minerais, petróleo e gás em particular, bem como analisar as iniciativas regionais, tendentes à promoção e alavancagem de recursos minerais. O presente estudo é pertinente, pois descreve um problema real que condiciona o bom andamento da economia do nosso país. Concluímos que os incentivos para a valorização e rentabilização de recursos são indispensáveis para a elevação das Capacidades e Potencialidades dos Territórios Locais e Regionais.

O desenvolvimento dos municípios brasileiros acontece desordenadamente em todo Brasil. A boa aplicação de políticas públicas nestas cidades, aliadas a componentes de desenvolvimento, principalmente urbano, é capaz de revigorar uma cidade inteira. Na busca de encontrar melhores alternativas para que os municípios se desenvolvam de forma rápida e crescente, a criação de pólos industriais tem sido uma opção acertada. Este pólos estabelecidos em área pública chegam às empresas por um preço extremamente acessível e, em alguns casos, sem nenhum ônus, através de cessão de área, sem a necessidade de qualquer outro tipo de isenção fiscal. A empresa que encontra facilidade em instalar e expandir seu negócio em um município que ofereça espaço, mão de obra e boa logística, fará altos investimentos e consequentemente, irá gerar mais emprego, renda e impostos, ingredientes imprescindíveis para crescimento de qualquer região. A necessidade de mão de obra qualificada, necessária para atender a demanda dos polos, atrairá cursos técnicos e universidades, tornando essa cidade uma potencial região de desenvolvimento direto, elevando o nível de escolaridade da população e a média salarial. O reflexo destas políticas de distribuição de áreas reflete positivamente nas questões do trabalho, da educação, saúde, entre outros. O caso a ser estudado é o dos distritos empresariais do município de Aparecida de Goiânia, no estado de Goiás.

A rapid risk assessment of the interactions between Kenya's large birds and electrical infrastructure was conducted around Magadi and Naivasha in Kenya in January 2009. Six out of the seven <132 kV distribution pole designs assessed pose an electrocution risk to medium and large-sized birds. Several sites of high bird collision risk were identified. Several of the observed >132 kV transmission tower structures were vulnerable to electrical faulting caused by birds. Of approximately 24 relevant bird species that are of conservation concern in Kenya, 17 (71 %) face a high risk of direct interactions with electrical infrastructure. Priority species for attention include the Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis, Lappetfaced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos, Grey-crowned Crane Balearica regulorum, Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor, White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus, Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppellii, Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus, White Stork Ciconia ciconia, Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius, and various sitand-wait raptors. These preliminary findings have national relevance given plans (already underway) for a rapid expansion of electrical infrastructure in Kenya; recommendations are made for a national response to this matter.

From our review of articles published on diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey occurring in Africa and the western Indian Ocean islands, we found most of the information on their breeding biology comes from subtropical southern Africa. The number of published papers from the east African tropics declined after 1980 while those from subtropical southern Africa increased. Based on our KnoMedge Rating Scale (KRS), only 6.3% of breeding raptors in the east African tropics and 13.6% of the raptors of the Indian Ocean islands can be considered Well Known, while the majority, 60.8% in mainland east Africa and 72.7% in the Indian Ocean islands, are rated Unknown. Human-caused habitat alteration resulting from overgrazing by livestock and impacts of cultivation are the main threats facing raptors in the east African tropics, while clearing of forests through slash-and-burn methods is most important in the Indian Ocean islands. We describe conservation recommendations, list priority species for study, and list areas of ecological understanding that need to be improved.

Η Ανακοίνωση «Ένωση Δεξιοτήτων» της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής, που δημοσιεύτηκε στις 5 Μαρτίου 2025, προβάλλεται ως στρατηγική απάντηση σε αυτό που περιγράφεται ολοένα και συχνότερα ως πολυδιάστατη κρίση δεξιοτήτων, σε ένα παγκόσμιο περιβάλλον αυξανόμενης αβεβαιότητας, γεωπολιτικών εντάσεων, τεχνολογικών και περιβαλλοντικών μετασχηματισμών, αλλά και εντεινόμενων κοινωνικών ανισοτήτων.  Η μελέτη των Π. Λιντζέρη και Δ. Βαλαση « Η ανακοίνωση της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής «Ένωση Δεξιοτήτων» (Union of Skills): Business as usual ή μια νέα σελίδα για τις ευρωπαϊκές πολιτικές δεξιοτήτων» εξετάζει κριτικά τους περιορισμούς της εν λόγω στρατηγικής, εστιάζοντας στην έμφαση που αποδίδεται στην οικονομική λειτουργία της εκπαίδευσης, συχνά εις βάρος της συμβολής της στην καλλιέργεια του κριτικού στοχασμού, την κοινωνική ένταξη και την ενίσχυση της δημοκρατικής συμμετοχής. Το τεχνοκρατικό και εργαλειακό πρίσμα που διατρέχει τη συγκρότηση των πολιτικών δεξιοτήτων της Ε.Ε., παρ’ όλες τις ρητορικές περί κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης, ενδέχεται να ενισχύσει τις υφιστάμενες κοινωνικές ανισότητες, ιδίως όταν αγνοούνται οι διαφοροποιημένες ανάγκες και τα ιδιαίτερα κοινωνικο-οικονομικά χαρακτηριστικά των κρατών-μελών και των επιμέρους κοινωνικών ομάδων. Η μελέτη αναδεικνύει ότι η «Ένωση Δεξιοτήτων» αποτελεί ταυτόχρονα συνέχεια και μετεξέλιξη προηγούμενων πολιτικών της Ε.Ε., εισάγοντας νέες συγκεντρωτικές μορφές διακυβέρνησης οι οποίες ενδέχεται να εδραιώσουν περαιτέρω τη σύνδεση της εκπαίδευσης με τις μακροοικονομικές στρατηγικές καθώς και τον συγχρονισμό των εθνικών πολιτικών σε μία κοινή ευρωπαϊκή κατεύθυνση. Εν κατακλείδι, η παρούσα μελέτη επιχειρεί να τονίσει την ανάγκη για μια νέα, ολιστική και ανθρωποκεντρική προσέγγιση των πολιτικών δεξιοτήτων, η οποία να ενσωματώνει τις αρχές της κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης, της αλληλεγγύης και της δημοκρατίας.

has many years' experience in applied ecological research, lecturing in population ecology and ecological methods at the University of Oxford. He co-authored the book Ecological Methods with Sir Richard Southwood, and is a specialist in population dynamics and tropical and temperate crustacean and fish ecology.

ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ
Η Ανακοίνωση « Ένωση Δεξιοτήτων» της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής, που δημοσιεύτηκε στις 5 Μαρτίου 2025, προβάλλεται ως στρατηγική απάντηση σε αυτό που περιγράφεται ολοένα και συχνότερα ως πολυδιάστατη κρίση δεξιοτήτων, σε ένα παγκόσμιο περιβάλλον αυξανόμενης αβεβαιότητας, γεωπολιτικών εντάσεων, τεχνολογικών και περιβαλλοντικών μετασχηματισμών, αλλά και εντεινόμενων κοινωνικών ανισοτήτων. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, η Ε.Ε., μέσω της συγκεκριμένης πρωτοβουλίας, φαίνεται να δίνει έμφαση κυρίως στην ενίσχυση της ανταγωνιστικότητας, προσεγγίζοντας τις πολιτικές εκπαίδευσης, κατάρτισης και απασχόλησης μέσα από το πρίσμα της εναρμόνισης των πολιτικών εκπαίδευσης και κατάρτισης με τις προτεραιότητες της οικονομίας, σε περιβάλλον οξυμένου διεθνούς ανταγωνισμού. Η παρούσα μελέτη εξετάζει κριτικά τους περιορισμούς της εν λόγω στρατηγικής, εστιάζοντας στην έμφαση που αποδίδεται στην οικονομική λειτουργία της εκπαίδευσης, συχνά εις βάρος της συμβολής της στην καλλιέργεια του κριτικού στοχασμού, την κοινωνική ένταξη και την ενίσχυση της δημοκρατικής συμμετοχής. Η πρωτοβουλία εστιάζει πρωτίστως στην έννοια της ανάπτυξης του ανθρώπινου κεφαλαίου, ως επενδυτική διαδικασία, προωθώντας τη στενή συσχέτιση των δεξιοτήτων μονομερώς με τις ανάγκες της αγοράς εργασίας. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, οι πολιτικές δεξιοτήτων εντάσσονται στο ευρύτερο στρατηγικό αφήγημα της Ε.Ε. για την πράσινη και ψηφιακή μετάβαση, ενισχύοντας την αντίληψη ότι η δια βίου μάθηση και η συνεχής ανάπτυξη δεξιοτήτων αποτελούν κρίσιμους μοχλούς παραγωγικότητας και καινοτομίας. Όμως, το τεχνοκρατικό και εργαλειακό πρίσμα που διατρέχει τη συγκρότηση των πολιτικών δεξιοτήτων της Ε.Ε., παρ’ όλες τις ρητορικές περί κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης, ενδέχεται να ενισχύσει τις υφιστάμενες κοινωνικές ανισότητες, ιδίως όταν αγνοούνται οι διαφοροποιημένες ανάγκες και τα ιδιαίτερα κοινωνικο-οικονομικά χαρακτηριστικά των κρατών-μελών και των επιμέρους κοινωνικών ομάδων. Η μελέτη αναδεικνύει ότι η « Ένωση Δεξιοτήτων» αποτελεί ταυτόχρονα συνέχεια και μετεξέλιξη προηγούμενων πολιτικών της Ε.Ε., εισάγοντας νέες συγκεντρωτικές μορφές διακυβέρνησης οι οποίες ενδέχεται να εδραιώσουν περαιτέρω τη σύνδεση της εκπαίδευσης με τις μακροοικονομικές στρατηγικές καθώς και τον συγχρονισμό των εθνικών πολιτικών σε μία κοινή ευρωπαϊκή κατεύθυνση. Μέσα σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, το καίριο ερώτημα είναι κατά πόσο η συγκεκριμένη πολιτική μπορεί να επανανοηματοδοτηθεί, ώστε να εξυπηρετεί όχι μόνο την ανταγωνιστικότητα, αλλά και τις συλλογικές κοινωνικές ανάγκες, τη δημοκρατκή ευημερία, την μείωση των ανισοτήτων και την ατομική αυτοπραγμάτωση. Εν κατακλείδι, η παρούσα μελέτη επιχειρεί να τονίσει την ανάγκη για μια νέα, ολιστική και ανθρωποκεντρική προσέγγιση των πολιτικών δεξιοτήτων, η οποία να ενσωματώνει τις αρχές της κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης, της αλληλεγγύης και της δημοκρατίας. Η εκπαίδευση δεν μπορεί να περιορίζεται σε έναν εργαλειακό ρόλο· οφείλει να παραμείνει, όπως έγραφε ο Paulo Freire, μια πράξη ελευθερίας, που προάγει την ενεργή συμμετοχή και την ουσιαστική κοινωνική πρόοδο.

ABSTRACT
The European Commission’s Union of Skills, published on March 5, 2025, is presented as a strategic response to what is increasingly described as a multidimensional skills crisis, within a global context marked by growing uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, technological and environmental transformations, and deepening social inequalities. Within this framework, the
EU appears to prioritize competitiveness by adopting an integrated approach to education, training, and employment policies, aligning them with economic priorities in an increasingly competitive international environment. This study critically examines the limitations of such a strategy, focusing on its strong emphasis on the economic function of education, often at the expense of its broader roles in fostering critical thinking, promoting social inclusion, and
enhancing democratic participation. The initiative primarily centers on the concept of human capital development as an investment process, promoting a narrow linkage between skills and the immediate needs of the labor market. In this light, skills policies are integrated into the EU’s broader strategic narrative for green and digital transition, reinforcing the view that lifelong
learning and continuous skills development are key drivers of productivity and innovation. However, the technocratic and instrumentalist perspective shaping EU skills policy—despite its rhetorical commitment to social justice—may risk reinforcing existing social inequalities, particularly when it fails to account for the differentiated needs and socio-economic specificities of member states and social groups. The study highlights that the Union of Skills represents both a continuation and evolution of previous EU strategies, while also introducing new, increasingly concentrated governance structures. These may further entrench the link between education and macroeconomic goals and push national policies toward convergence under a common European trajectory. Against this backdrop, the key question remains whether this policy framework can be re-signified in ways that go beyond competitiveness to genuinely promote democratic well-being, social cohesion, and personal self-actualization. The study ultimately argues for a new, holistic and human-centered approach to skills policy—one grounded in the principles of social justice, solidarity, and democracy. Education should not be confined to a purely instrumental role; as Paulo Freire once wrote, it must remain a practice
of freedom—nurturing active participation and meaningful social progress

Author: Prof. Abdolreza Shahrabi Farahani
The Owner of the Philosophy and Theory of Principles of Mechanic Time and The Owner of the Philosophy of Subjective Physics Sciences

Author's Advisor: Prof. Seyed Vahab Mirsalehi
Philosophy of Kant and Nietzsche - Oriental Sciences and Philosophy

Author's Advisor: Dr. Mohammad Reza Zamani Darmazari
Chief of the International Law Commission and Human Rights at UNESCO MIL APAC and WSSPS.UN

This study examines the impact of corruption on economic policies and development in Nigeria, with a particular focus on leadership accountability from 1960 to 2024. Despite Nigeria's vast resources and economic potential, corruption has significantly undermined economic growth, weakened policy implementation, and diminished public trust in governance. Using a historical and analytical approach, this research traces the evolution of corruption in Nigerian leadership, analyzing how various administrations have contributed to or combated corrupt practices. By examining key economic policies and development programs, the study explores the extent to which corruption has distorted economic objectives, inhibited foreign investment, and led to uneven wealth distribution. Through qualitative and quantitative data, this analysis reveals the structural challenges posed by corruption and highlights instances where accountability mechanisms have succeeded or failed. The findings underscore the urgent need for stronger institutional reforms, transparent governance, and effective policy enforcement to foster sustainable development and economic stability in Nigeria.

Menggambar merupakan suatu petualangan luar biasa yang dialami oleh anak-anak dalam berfantasi. Berbagai objek yang dituangkan dalam gambar bukan sekedar apa yang sedang ia pikirkan, melainkan apa yang dilihat dengan perasaan untuk kemudian diasosiasikan. Berdasarkan tahapan perkembangannya, setiap kelompok rentang usia memiliki karakteristik gambar yang berbeda-beda. Tulisan ini membahas hasil karya pada anak pada rentang usia 9-12 tahun yang sedang berada pada early realism stage, dimana karakteristik gambar cenderung mengarah ke bentuk realistis. Gambar dibahas menggunakan analisis semiotika, dengan mengulas 5 hal, yakni: elemen, posisi, relasi, totalitas dan sistem. Hasilnya terdapat makna tersembunyi dari gambar yang dianalisis yang berisikan pesan terkait persatuan anak-anak di dunia.

Metoda Riset Semiotika merupakan pendekatan analitis yang
berfokus pada studi tanda-tanda dan simbol-simbol serta cara
mereka digunakan untuk menciptakan makna dalam berbagai
konteks. Semiotika berakar pada teori Ferdinand de Saussure dan
Charles Sanders Peirce yang membahas hubungan antara penanda
(signifier) dan petanda (signified) dalam membangun makna. Dalam
konteks riset, Semiotika digunakan untuk mengelaborasi makna
tersembunyi di balik teks, gambar, atau fenomena budaya, sehingga
membantu peneliti memahami bagaimana komunikasi berlangsung
melalui simbol-simbol tersebut.

Participatory democracy has been studied as an auxiliary to state processes and as an institutional and cultural part of social movements. Studies of the use of participatory democracy by the Zapatistas of Mexico and the Movimento Sem Terra (Landless Movement-MST) of Brazil show a shared concern with autonomy, in particular avoidance of demobilization through the clientelism and paternalism induced by government programs and political parties. Both movements stress training in democracy (the experience of "being government") and the obligation to participate. Detailed examination of their governance practices may be helpful to communities building democratic movements in other places.

There are several manuscripts of Landnámabók, the oldest being Sturlubók by Sturla Þórðarson who probably composed it in later part of his life (died 1284) (Jónas Kristjánsson 2007, p. 125). The other manuscripts are younger but the Hauksbók (after 1300) manuscript, for example, used among its sources Styrmisbók which was probably composed before 1245 (the date of the death of Styrmir), and now is lost. For more information of manuscripts of Landnámabók, see Jónas , pp. 124-127. 131 Vésteinn Ólason 2005, p. 107. 132 See Chapter 5.0-5.3. 133 This dating is based on the information of his travels during which he composed Háttatal, the poem on King Hákon and Earl Skúli (Jónas Kristjánsson 2007, p. 175). 134 McKinnell 2005, p. 13. 135 Gísli Sigurðsson 2004, pp. 6-7. 136 The long debate among scholars was concluded by Gísli Sigurðsson: see Gísli Sigurðsson 2004, p. 7.

In this chapter we give an account of the move from the ‘old’ to the ‘new’ developmental state, and more precisely from the sense of ‘freedom’ to the sense of being ‘governed’ that became a feature of the state in the Global South during the last decades of the 20th century. For analytical purposes, we divide our analysis along the axes of the economy, the social and the environment. Always intermingled, taking the time to discern transformations across these three axes clarifies the enormous role of the international legal order in re-coding the nature, function and horizons of the developmental state and their peoples in this period.

This MA dissertation offers fresh understanding of the role of the spark – worldview change – in community development and presents lessons to help improve CHE implementation in Kenya (and beyond). It uses Bryant Myers theory of transformational development, Paul Hiebert’s model of biblical worldview transformation and a broad framework for understanding CHE. The findings reveal that worldview change plays a significant role in community transformation of forcing us to confront our prevailing beliefs and cultures to embark on a lifelong Christian journey built on the biblical worldview. It forces one to re-imagine the design and delivery of CHE programmes in light of emerging new contextualised realities being encountered in community transformation. It proposes a deliberate refocus on development theories and worldview theories to help shape a re-imagined CHE programme.

L'explosion urbaine est une réalité africaine. Elle va continuer de marquer en profondeur les économies et les sociétés au cours des vingt ans qui viennent, qu'elle se poursuive de façon spontanée, anarchique et traumatisante ou qu'elle soit mieux maitrisée, au pri x de politiques ambi tieuses, coûteuses et systématiques. C'est un fait : jusqu'ici nos partenaires africains en développement n'ont pas sollicité la coopération fran çaise autour de projets stratégiques et nous n'avons pas, pour notre part, défini d'approche globale de ce secteur. Il est vrai aussi que cela commence à changer, car les expériences engagées, J'évolution des cadres de réflexion et d'action, et les atouts spécifiques dont dispose la coopération française doivent permettre d'engager notre contribution au développement urbain, à la demande de nos partenaires, sur des voies nouvelles, rendant compte à la fois de l'immensité des besoins, des contraintes financières et de la nécessité d'engager des stratégies de long terme.

Rationalization, a core concept of Max Weber's sociology, has so far largely been ignored in International Relations (IR) theory discussions, although his ideas about rationalization open new pathways for theoriz-ing modernity and conflict. We revisit Weber's concepts of rationaliza-tion and domination to show the limits of two key bodies of related knowledge in IR: scholarship on international organizations as bureauc-racies and ideas on rationalization in the world polity approach. Rereading Weber's approach to rationalization provides a distinct ground for our understanding of the current internationalization of rule. We illustrate the contribution our approach to rationalization makes by looking at budget support to sub-Saharan African states, and Mozambique in particular. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications that a critical rereading of Max Weber has for international politics.

This document presents a summary of Enrique Dussel’s 16 Theses on Political Economy, analyzing the historical evolution of economic systems from the origins of human life to the current crisis of capitalism. The text critically examines the transformation from equivalential economic systems to non-equivalential ones, highlighting key moments such as mercantilism, industrial capitalism, and financial capitalism. It also explores competition, monopolies, and the transfer of surplus value in the global economy, incorporating perspectives from Dependency Theory and the critique of neoliberalism. The final theses propose a normative, ethical, and material critique of the economy, advocating for a post-capitalist transition based on democratic participation, sustainability, and economic justice.

Bu araştırmanın amacı Tarım ve Kırsal Kalkınmayı Destekleme Kurumu Muş İl Koordinatörlüğü'nün yöre ekonomisine katkısını ortaya koymaktır. Bu bağlamda İl Koordinatörlüğü tarafından Muş İli sınırları içerisinde 2013-2020 yılları arasında hibe desteği sunulan yatırımlar mercek altına alınmış, IPARD Programının çıktıları tahlil edilmiştir. Araştırmada bahsi geçen kurumca sağlanan verilerden istifade edilmiştir. Araştırma, Avrupa Birliği'nin Katılım Öncesi Yardım Aracının (IPA) Kırsal Kalkınma bileşeninin yöre ekonomisinde meydana getirdiği nicel ve nitel değişimlerin değerlendirilmesi bakımından önem taşımaktadır. Araştırmayla IPARD I ve IPARD II programlarının tecrübeleri ışığında IPARD III programının daha verimli uygulanabilmesi için öneriler sunulacaktır.

V této knize reflektuji vývoj v mnoha oblastech života české společnosti v prvním desetiletí dvacátého prvního století, na jehož konci bylo zřejmé, že dosavadní podoba správy věcí veřejných do značné míry vyčerpala své možnosti a země se ocitla na pomezí vážné krize. V textu rozebírám různé problémy dotýkající se života nás občanů a zvažuji způsoby, jak je řešit.

Os novos desafios colocados às economias locais, na sequência do novo enquadramento económico resultante da denominada crise do modelo fordista, iniciada nos anos setenta, obrigaram as sociedades e os estados modernos a reverem as bases dos seus modelos de desenvolvimento, procurando soluções para novos e mais graves problemas. Um desses problemas prende-se com a tendência de crescimento e de generalização do desemprego, tendência essa acompanhada por duas outras, intimamente relacionadas: o crescimento do emprego precário e o aumento dos índices de pobreza e de exclusão social. Para fazer face a esses novos problemas, a procura de respostas a nível local tem-se consubstanciado em novas alternativas e em novas dinâmicas de intervenção, comportando respostas inovadoras, muitas delas encetadas no âmbito de parcerias de diferentes características e dimensões, compostas por entidades públicas e privadas. Partindo do conceito de redes sociais, procura-se ilustrar algumas daquelas dinâmicas de intervenção e de inovação, com recurso a três projectos de promoção do emprego e do empreendedorismo a nível local, no território português.

The 2015 and 2019 presidential elections in Nigeria represent significant milestones in the country‘s political evolution. These elections were marked by contrasting electoral processes, outcomes, and the socio-political
dynamics that shaped them. This paper analyzes both elections to examine their impact on Nigeria‘s democratic consolidation. The study considers the role of political parties, electoral institutions, voter behavior, and external actors. It concludes by discussing the implications for Nigeria‘s democratic future, particularly focusing on challenges and prospects for deepening democratic governance.

In their text, Tough questions for new EU ‚development' commissioner', Sarah Delputte, Jan Orbie and Julia Schöneberg are criticising EU development policy from a Post-Development perspective. Appreciating the renaming of the EU development commissioner as one responsible for international partnerships only as a �rst step in a long series of necessary changes, they suggest to 'fundamentally reconsider the EU's engagement with the rest of the world'. They criticise that Van der Leyen expects ‚value for money', wants to pursue 'investment opportunities in Africa', and intends to leverage aid for private investment. And they castigate the focus on 'countries of migration origin and transit' and the corresponding adaptation of funding as the 'instrumentalisation of EU aid for geopolitical and migration management purposes'. Instead, the EU should re�ect its growth-centered model of 'development' and tackle 'global structural injustices and inequalities' through abandoning the free trade orthodoxy of the EPAs and establishing a 'truly fair' global trading system, ending tax evasion, promoting climate justice and engaging in reparative action for the crimes and robberies committed during colonialism. These are important and legitimate demands, absolutely. However, they implicitly seem to assume (strategically or not) a model of politics which I think is problematic. As has argued in the epilogue of the Anti-Politics Machine, the assumption of an all-powerful, benevolent actor is at best misleading. The demands seem to suggest that there could be a 'good' EU which would establish a social and democratic global governance -if only we Taming a capitalist EU, socialist ‚development' and Po...

The study examined healthcare access for women with disabilities in rural Zimbabwe, specifically in Domboshava and Goromonzi. With about 16% of the global population living with disabilities, these individuals often experience poorer health outcomes. In Zimbabwe, inadequate primary healthcare systems in peri-urban areas lead many to overcrowded central hospitals, which often lack accessibility and sensitivity to the needs of disabled women. The research aimed to investigate healthcare and reproductive service access, while secondary objectives included assessing service utilization, identifying barriers and enablers, and evaluating existing initiatives. Utilizing the Andersen-Newman model and the Levesque model, the study employed a pragmatic, mixed-methods approach through a cross-sectional survey with structured questionnaires and interviews. Key findings revealed that 73% of women lived over 45 minutes from health centres, facing significant accessibility challenges due to uneven facility distribution influenced by political factors. Transportation issues further complicated access, with many women dependent on assistance and facing higher costs. Staff shortages and inadequate equipment hindered care, while communication barriers led to missed appointments. Despite free maternal care, over 34% reported additional charges. Provider attitudes, including gender and experience, affected service acceptability. The government was recommended to enhance healthcare accessibility by investing in infrastructure and ensuring equitable facility distribution based on population needs. Consistent implementation of free healthcare services for disabilities is vital, along with providing disability training for healthcare workers. Increasing the representation of people with disabilities in health professions is recommended. Healthcare providers should adopt patient-centric approaches, improve communication, and ensure respectful care. Community organizations should empower Female Community Health Volunteers to advocate for women with disabilities and raise awareness about their rights and healthcare needs.

Most critical work on global education policy (GEP) continues to elaborate a Marxist-inspired critique reminiscent of the 1960-1980s, fixated on coercive capitalist demands on education.Within comparative and international education, these critiques trace roots to Wallerstein’s World-Systems Theory (WST), as most explicitly embraced and articulated in North American comparative education. However, beginning in the late 1980s, Wallerstein began to recognise the epistemic and ontological limits of Marxism, vigorously advocating ‘opening’ Western social science to non-Western perspectives as means of unthinking‘European Universalism’. Instead of tracking Wallerstein’s evolution and evolving the field, most of the self-styled ‘critical’ work in comparative education remained unreflective about its allegiance to Western social science paradigms, in particular the Marxist dismissal of religion, culture, and episteme as simply epiphenomena of capitalism. The consequences are profound: contemporary GEP work reinforces a parochial nineteenth-century European worldview, and restricts the field’s potential contribution to the elaboration of ‘Universal Universalism’.

The paper seeks to define and situate postdevelopment (PD) theory within the social sciences by discussing its relation to other theoretical approaches. It concludes that PD can be seen to a rather limited extent as a development theory, but rather as a sociology of knowledge of this discipline and a critique of its foundation. PD shares the critique of capitalism with Marxism but also has a more negative view of industrial modernity, its relation to nature, economic growth and productivity. For some, PD is characterized by a spirituality alien to western modernity, although this does not seem to be necessary to subscribe to the approach. Although PD’s critique is intimately related to ecofeminist thinking (and ecofeminist authors), many of its male protagonists seem unaware of this proximity. PD is clearly a postcolonial (or decolonial) critique of colonial and neocolonial relations of power which
can be found also in knowledge production, in particular in the division between the ‘developed’ Self (Europe and European settler colonies and other societies emulating them) and the ‘backward’ Other. And PD, at the least sceptical PD, is based on a post-anarchist perspective of ontological equality, oriented towards self-determination in the pluriverse and rearguard theories.

O desenvolvimento dos municípios brasileiros acontece desordenadamente em todo Brasil. A boa aplicação de políticas públicas nestas cidades, aliadas a componentes de desenvolvimento, principalmente urbano, é capaz de revigorar uma cidade inteira. Na busca de encontrar melhores alternativas para que os municípios se desenvolvam de forma rápida e crescente, a criação de pólos industriais tem sido uma opção acertada. Este pólos estabelecidos em área pública chegam às empresas por um preço extremamente acessível e, em alguns casos, sem nenhum ônus, através de cessão de área, sem a necessidade de qualquer outro tipo de isenção fiscal. A empresa que encontra facilidade em instalar e expandir seu negócio em um município que ofereça espaço, mão de obra e boa logística, fará altos investimentos e consequentemente, irá gerar mais emprego, renda e impostos, ingredientes imprescindíveis para crescimento de qualquer região. A necessidade de mão de obra qualificada, necessária para atender a demanda dos polos, atrairá cursos técnicos e universidades, tornando essa cidade uma potencial região de desenvolvimento direto, elevando o nível de escolaridade da população e a média salarial. O reflexo destas políticas de distribuição de áreas reflete positivamente nas questões do trabalho, da educação, saúde, entre outros. O caso a ser estudado é o dos distritos empresariais do município de Aparecida de Goiânia, no estado de Goiás.