Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Grassroots governance'

The Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, is the world’s fastest growing primate city, having nearly 15 million people and approximately 6 million living in slum areas. Their high population density and growth rates, coupled with inadequate and inappropriate water and sanitation (WatSan) facilities, are creating social, economic and environmental effects. Until recently, several attempts have been made to provide infrastructure services to those slums. But the extent of the services is unsatisfactory due to resource constraints and a burdensome concentration of slums that contaminates the city ecology on a broad-spectrum. In consequence, the trend of development ventures through government (GO) and non-government organizations (NGO) is not only disappointing but also questionable due to disastrous project histories. The complex social dynamics of these informal settlements, together with inappropriate or inadequate WatSan facilities and incompetent governance systems obstruct the pace of sanitation interventions. Apart from this, Bangladesh has succumbed to political indiscretion and bureaucratic intemperance which have severely diminished the capacity of the GOs and NGOs to perform at a reasonable level. The result is all round deterioration in the quality and adequacy of the urban basic services and people of the informal settlements are the worst sufferers. It is widely recognized that the poor communities mostly have no proven demand for improved sanitation facilities, as their basic priority, rather, is managing their next meal. In this situation, some NGOs have come forward with their ‘flexible’ and ‘tailor-made’ working strategies developed from previous project experiences whereas government agencies are more geared to ‘facilitation’ and continue with their ‘supply-driven' strategy, ignoring criticisms and pitfalls. As one of the most dysfunctional sectors in Bangladesh, urban sanitation is traumatized and its coverage is affected by several interconnecting factors while the government continues to bypass questions related to slum improvement arguing that the slums are illegal settlements and do not qualify for government services. Several NGOs have come forward to work in the urban sanitation sector and in most instances, the poor slum-dwellers have appreciated the NGOs’ participatory working strategies. In fact the dynamics of the ‘social-technological-governance’ system of the slum areas often determines the success of sanitation interventions. In this research, the vibrant dynamics of ‘social-technological-governance’ systems and the roles of GO-NGO service providers and beneficiaries in the selected slums are critically analysed through a qualitative methodology and a bottom-up approach that has the potential to identify inherent policy weaknesses and factors that facilitate or hinder the successful implementation of sanitation programmes. This research is entirely based on empirical evidences and the qualitative assessment of field data that were collected from five informal settlements of Dhaka city and associated GO-NGO sources. The outcome of this research suggests that the impacting factors are not equally weighted in WatSan projects as some could be defined as crucial and influencing factors that shape other interrelated factors. In order to smoothen the pathways of different WatSan projects it is necessary to carefully identify and restrict those problem-breeding factors on a priority basis. This research also describes different stakeholders’ practices and links with existing policies to identify the gaps between them. Here, the proposals are made for reality-based, short-term and long-term solutions and policy recommendations that might offer guidelines for addressing the overwhelming slum sanitation agenda in urban Bangladesh.

This inquiry into informal networks and policy negotiations is set in the theoretical framework of network governance. It builds theory to explain informal networks by examining neighbourhood associations in post-Katrina New Orleans through a variety of qualitative methodologies including interviews, document analysis, surveying and ethnography. In New Orleans, neighbourhood associations do not engage in social-service delivery, they prioritise neighbourhood protection and neighbourhood change. They represent their neighbourhoods through a system of intensive volunteering not elections. That system burns out neighbourhood leaders and leaves associations constantly looking for new volunteers. These associations partner with non-profits, work with politicians, and engage in fierce conflict when excluded from policy negotiations. Finally, they set their agenda based upon the physical characteristics of their neighbourhoods, investing in local institutions. These findings contribute to network governance theory. New Orleans’ democracy of volunteers introduces a new form of democratic anchorage to governance theory. Actors in informal networks have varying priorities. This demonstrates the importance of early involvement by these actors in policy creation and the ways in which policy construction can ignore community. Neighbourhood associations blackmail, bribe and coerce to create their own power, showing how power at the micro-level includes not only resources and decision-making, but also interest. These findings fit into a broader theme. Negotiations with multiple actors improve policy by incorporating complex priorities and neighbourhood context into the policy system. This wider theme of how to address complexity is the policy equivalent of the wisdom of crowds. Policy-makers can either incorporate complexity such as local context and differing priorities or face the conflict and consequences of ignoring it.

As the European Year of Citizens (2013) dawns, the European Union (EU) finds itself at a crossroads. One of the largest international organisations in the world, it has built a reputation as an international community model and democratic figure judged in the context of a multi-level system. However, the EU has recently departed from both roles, as its economic practices suffer dramatically from a lack of political pressure and regulation. The EU now faces an uncertain future: should it break apart or move forward with deeper integration and a “more Europe” attitude? In contrast to public and scholarly concern, this thesis does not treat the crisis as abstract evidence of a structural democracy deficit. This thesis instead attempts to draw attention to the point of departure, the European citizen, and a social cleavage that can be easily addressed despite ongoing economic insecurity. In this sense, this thesis differs from current academic thought in that it focuses less on understanding how democracy can be achieved and more on understanding how democracy, which already exists, can be enhanced. This paper looks at how two discourses identified in the literature (civil society and cosmopolitanism) could be combined in a governance framework that would support the EU to become a civilian power. It will complete this investigation through the use of case studies on two civil society organisations based in Spain and primary data collected from within the European Parliament (EP). The case studies will be used to understand how local civil society can improve the democratic quality of EU governance whilst meeting individuals’ needs and rights. This paper will conclude that, in the case of Spain 2012, local civil society creates three core conditions for active citizen participation that the EU can benefit from, despite the challenging environment surrounding it.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2008.
Title from file title page. Kim D. Reimann, committee chair; Charles R. Hankla, Tianjian Shi, Jennifer L. McCoy, committee members. Electronic text (249 p. : col. ill.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed Sept. 17, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 196-208).

The thesis identifies four modes of action and cooperation of transnational networks of GROs by taking the Tanzania Urban Poor Federation (TUPF), a sub-network of Shack Slum Dweller International (SDI), as an example. Based on the understanding of “interpretive network analysis” (Schindler 2006: pp. 100-101), qualitative and quantitative methodologies of data collection and analysis (expert interviews, member survey, on-site visits of projects, review of TUPF and SDI reports) have been applied in the course of field research. Analysis took place based on a set of criteria regarding the current state of knowledge of typologies, structures, processes, dynamics and preconditions for stable, effective networks. Furthermore, mechanisms for network governance are also taken into account. The selected cases represent a range of issues, applied instruments, different modes of cooperation and scopes of action. Based on the set of criteria, the examination is intended to address questions concerning the relevance of local embeddedness and the capability of the local communities of the TUPF to enter into cross-sectoral and cross-level cooperation. Based on these insights, effects for the scope of action, the empowerment of the actors involved and the development of marginalized settlements are indentified. The case-study research on the basis of the TUPF and SDI verifies the potential of networks for the dissemination of knowledge and the creation of social capital and multidimensional cooperation. However, the analysed modes of action and cooperation develop different degrees of capacities regarding these issues. In this context, the assumed interrelation between the degree of extension of the scope of action and the capability to create multidimensional cooperation in the course of networking activities becomes clear. The cases of the TUPF and SDI show that transnational networks of GROs are able to develop cooperation structures and development strategies involving features of integrated approaches which are spatially and socially embedded in local communities and also benefit from transnational and crosssectoral cooperation. The aspects highlighted above represent a range of potentials and preconditions which turned out to be relevant and important for the activities and processes of local communities within the network. These final results are intended to provide guidance for the development of beneficial structures by governmental actors and development organizations. Furthermore, they should be integrated into a reconsideration of cooperation strategies in the course of urban management processes and development approaches to reduce urban poverty.

My dissertation is a critical ethnography of grassroots feminist agencies and immigrant organizations involved in the governance of gender violence in Toronto, Ontario. Along with examining the agencies operating on the outskirts of the law, I also observe the organizations that contract directly with the provincial government to counsel abusers prosecuted through the city’s specialized domestic violence courts. Drawing on the methodological and theoretical insights of socio-legal studies, postcolonial feminism, and governmentality scholarship, my research explores the governance of domestic violence through the community. Specifically, I examine how the voluntary sector performs the state’s work of prosecuting domestic violence, punishing offenders and building citizens. My research reveals the significant influence that community organizations exert on the prosecution of gender violence and in defining the conditions of punishment for offenders. Through court observation of Toronto’s domestic violence plea court, I show how grassroots administrative workers transform into hybrids of the prosecutor and defense within governance networks. In addition, based on interviews with service providers delivering counseling to offenders, I document how non-profit organizational habits add distinctive flavors to the administration of punishment, materializing in governing regimes that emphasize care in some contexts and discipline in others. Finally, I also explore the dual constructions of immigrant counselors as both the experts and the “others” to the nation with regards to gender violence. In contrast to assumptions of ignorance amongst the immigrant “other” in the liberal imaginary, my findings indicate that the notion of women’s empowerment is nothing new or unfamiliar within Toronto’s diasporic communities; several of the immigrant anti-violence experts involved in this research credit their politicization and training “back home” as foundational to their involvement in feminist and the anti-violence movement. These findings challenge liberal assumptions of the East as a space devoid of the cultural material of women’s empowerment, which form the backbone of Western performances of modernity.

Transnational governance has been advanced as a viable option for regulating commodities produced in emerging economies—where incapable or unwilling states may undersupply institutions requisite for overseeing supply chains consistent with the quality, safety, environmental, or social standards demanded by the global marketplace. Producers from these jurisdictions, otherwise left with few venues for securing market access and price premiums, ostensibly benefit from whatever pathways transnational actors offer to minimize barriers to entry—including voluntary certification for compliance with a panoply of public and private rules, such as those promulgated by NGOs like the Fair Trade Federation or multinational retailers like Wal-Mart. Yet, such transnational “sustainability” governance may neither be effective nor desirable. Regulatory schemes, like third-party certification, often privilege the interests of primary architects and beneficiaries—private business associations, governments, NGOs, and consumers in the global North—over regulatory targets—producers in the global South. Rather than engaging with the international marketplace via imported and externally-driven schemes, some producer groups are instead challenging existing rules and innovating homegrown institutions. These alternatives to commercialization adopt some institutional characteristics of their transnational counterparts yet deliver benefits in a manner more aligned with the needs of producers. Drawing on original empirical cases from Nicaragua and Mexico, this dissertation examines the role of domestic institutional alternatives to transnational governance in enhancing market access, environmental quality and rural livelihoods within producer communities. Unlike the more technocratic and expert-driven approaches characteristic of mainstream governance efforts, these local regulatory institutions build upon the social capital, indigenous identity, “ancestral” knowledge, and human assets of producer communities as new sources of power and legitimacy in governing agricultural commodities.

Dissertation

Since 1978, the implementation of reform agenda and opening up policy, China has undergone the most rapid economic change and along with a significant urbanization process, which has changed the social, political and cultural structures of Chinese society. However, social transition along with urbanization has caused widespread social problems and citizen dissatisfaction, to the point of threatening the Communist Party‘s (CCP) political legitimacy. To address this political decline the CCP organised a grassroots form of community-based response, titled the Community Construction Project in urban China. This was a top-down project designed to solve or at least ease many social problems caused by rapid urbanisation, the decline in the welfare policies associated with the danwei (work-unit, 单位) and to reaffirm support for the CCP within the community. It was also hoped that this would assist in, keep the society stable and peaceful in a period where material inequality was growing. This process can be read as top-down but reality has involved many social actors, such as governments at all levels, scholarly engagement in applied and theoretical research, social organizations and community residents. Therefore its actual practice and outcomes vary according to concrete social and material settings due to the interaction among these different actors. To understand the community construction project and its potential impacts on the future of Chinese society, this research systematically analyses the measures employed in urban community construction. Since community construction is an organized project, covering many aspects of community life, research on it requires a perspective relevant to all those aspects and not one that seeks to impose a formalistic Western version of community on China. In this thesis, the theory of social capital has been selected to combine community social networks, social trust, community participation, community autonomy and Chinese democracy in a coherent framework for analysing the present political conditions. It examines the Western concept of social capital and reveals how it is reconceptualised in theory and practice in China to include the Party-state rather than the inappropriate concept of a civil society divorced from the State, as theorised by Western social capital theorists. These aspects of community life, that are related to and influenced by each other, are used as an indicator of social capital but show that in China they have clear Chinese characteristics, which the participants are fully aware of. It is reflective social capital, one that build networks and trust but one where the role of the CCP is fully apparent. The concrete measures of Chinese urban community construction, which are undertaken mainly by Community Residents‘ Committees and engaged with those aspects and employed during community construction, are here analysed separately according to data collected through field work conducted in seven communities of Nanjing, China. Questionnaires about residents’ attitudes towards neighbourhood relationships, community participation, trust and other issues related to the project of community construction were distributed to community residents as an indicative form of evidence to support the broader theoretical findings. Interviews were conducted with heads of selected Community Residents’ Committees about the current conditions of their communities and their understanding of community construction. The conclusion of this research shows that the community construction project, whose aims were to reshape the State-society relation, strengthening social stability and government control, relieving the government burden and improving grassroots governance, however, provides only limited improvement in building community social networks, trust, community participation and community autonomy. The analysis suggests that this less than optimum outcome is due specifically to government policies and policy implementation that operates from a perspective that the Party-State and civil society are as one. Nevertheless, the process did open up a space for debates over community power, which was divorced from a Western version of democracy but was meaningful in the social, material and political context of China in this period of rapid modernization and urbanisation.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, 2014

Due to the general unawareness of the existence and significance of the informal recycling sector in the global north, leading to a great deal of exclusion and stigmatization, this thesis seeks to investigate waste governance in Vancouver and the level of participation of the informal recycling sector in municipal waste management. It also documents the critical role of grassroots innovations in promoting participatory governance and the challenges faced in the process. Results show that the informal recycling sector (binners) play a significant role in municipal waste management, and that there exists some level of participation in decision-making on waste management issues. Results also indicate that exclusion of binners in certain decision-making processes such as the City’s recycling bylaw led to challenges such as reduced access to recyclable materials, which threatens binners’ day-to-day activity and survival. Furthermore, the current level of participation of binners can be linked to the influence of a grassroots innovation called the Binners’ Project, which has at its core, empowerment and capacity building of its members. Challenges faced by this organization as well as binners, in general, are also documented. This thesis concludes with recommendations to promote transformative participatory waste governance and highlights strategies to ensure the sustenance of binners’ livelihoods.
Graduate

碩士
國立暨南國際大學
公共行政與政策學系
102
Xinyi Township, Nantou County, Nantou County, Taiwan Province in the east , is the county's largest town , is also the country 's second largest township area . Han Chinese and indigenous and rural residents within about half and half . Although the vast area of Xinyi Township , then the total population of only about 10,007 thousand people , the majority of people depend on agriculture for a living. Xinyi Township Farmers Corp. is the largest organization in the township , great importance , also operates multi-functional, multi-objective , integrated chain of complementary business units , the nature of both the political , educational , economic, - financial and social, to their superior authorities and the Council of Agriculture, Nantou County.Township Xinyi Township Farmers also the only financial institution that belongs to remote areas Farmers Farmers type , size and organizational preparation operations are moderate . After the 921 earthquake, the worst hit Nantou County , agricultural development also recognizes suffer , Xinyi Township Farmers' Association Director Wong Chi Fai , who then transformation of positive thinking , hope can do for regional development , agricultural economy to open up new prospects . In the Council of Agriculture grants , Lutheran Township Farmers' Association decided to combine the local specialty - plum , plum planning to build DreamWorks , inn , wineries and other facilities. 2002 was the first national private winery license, began production from the regular wine sales , selling quite well . In recent years, this will be more actively participate in domestic and foreign liquor important game , after quenching chain after fierce competition , won several awards , has made a place in the industry . In recent years, farmers will be more integrated with the domestic film Cape , to great acclaim , the success of the Farmers prestige to the pinnacle.Xinyi Township Farmers 'Association award-winning performance in addition to impressive outside, and generally the largest difference of the Farmers' Association, is willing to put in long-term pay and participation in Xinyi Township, even outside the township of local governance, and do not care about profits and recycling. Perhaps in the public sector laws, resources, technology and skills needed talent, or restricted to easily cast, compared Farmers no such problems within the capacity and thus are willing to actively engage in all aspects of local governance, thereby promoting tourism, revitalize the local economy and promote sustainable development in the region, deep community praise to the organization and scale of the farmers can receive this status and recognition, is very commendable. Xinyi Township Farmers' Association today has become China's non-governmental organizations to assist the implementation of a model of local governance in the public sector, whose history of exceptional value and experience our in-depth study and discussion.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Communities are currently being shaped and influenced by larger neoliberal social policies, which has resulted in decreased funding from public sources, which therefore creates greater competition among neighborhood organizations for limited resources. In this thesis, I analyze how larger neoliberal currents have created conflict within the local policy subsystem of rezoning in the Crooked Creek neighborhood in Indianapolis. My analysis spotlights the consequences of devolution one of which is the shift from government to neighborhood governance; I examine these issues by mapping out the causes and consequences of three separate rezoning cases. I compare the conflicting perspectives among local influential organizations, including the Community Development Corporation (CDC) and a number of state registered neighborhood groups. I frame this conflict through the Advocacy Coalition Framework (Sabatier 2007) in order to map out the connections between neoliberal social policies and local level conflict.

碩士
國立清華大學
社會學研究所
105
This study focuses on the state-social relationship in contemporary China. As the from of civil society transfer into a market of publicity, what would happen to the grassroot NGOs’ behavior ? This article is based on the Beijing area. Beijing ,as the capital of China, the social organizations face the most direct monitoring. Therefore state-social relationship in Beijing, is probably the the ideal relationship central government want. I used literature review and phenomenon to put forward three presumption in this paper. Then I use database to exam them. First presumption, the state still not off the "classify and control" policy which use restrictions and development strategies. Yet the state has make them more delicate. Second presumption, the delicate strategies make efficient co-option leverage both isomorphic pressure and resource dependence. The restrictions strategies are nothing new but police harassment while the development strategies evolve. The social actors however develop three kind strategies to survive too. They are being co-opted, limited cooperation, and avoidence.

Through practice and development since the 1990s, villagers' autonomy has been continuously improved nationwide through practice, and has achieved remarkable results. It has accumulated a lot of practical experience in the development of rural grassroots democracy. However, there are also problems such as small function of villagers' autonomy and low enthusiasm of villagers, which will hinder the in-depth and long-term development of villagers' autonomy. This thesis mainly takes Qingyuan city as an example. It introduced the city's innovative practice of establishing an autonomous organization at the natural village level and shifting the focus of villagers' autonomy. During the research process, we first reviewed some related literatures on stakeholders and governance theory, then conducted interview research. Nvivo11.0 software was used to conducted qualitative analysis to find out the main stakeholders of villagers' autonomy, then, we proposed countermeasures to further improve the development of villagers' autonomy that shifted the center of gravity downward from the perspective of stakeholders, which will play a more active role in promoting the development of villagers' autonomy.
Desde os anos de 1990 que o desenvolvimento e aprofundamento da autonomia das vilas chinesas tem sido um processo contínuo baseado na prática. O processo tem, ao longo dos anos, acumulado uma vasta experiência respeitante à implementação da democracia na base. Contudo, existem ainda alguns problemas, tais como a amplitude da autonomia das vilas e o pouco entusiasmo dos habitantes, o que no longo prazo pode prejudicar o aprofundamento da autonomia. Esta tese selecionou a cidade de Qingyuan como objeto de estudo. Investiga as práticas utilizadas para estabelecer uma organização autónoma ao nível da vila, focando-se na autonomia dos habitantes. A pesquisa adoptou a metodologia qualitativa, entrevistas semiestruturadas aos intervenientes no processo de implementação da autonomia e utilizou o software Nvivo11.0 para analisar os dados. O estudo isolou os stakeholders principais e propõe algumas medidas que colocam os stakeholders no centro do processo de melhoria e da autonomia das vilas.

Obra registada na Direção-Geral das Atividades Culturais, com o nº de registo 744/2021 . O registo e respetiva proteção é extensivo ao conteúdo apresentado.
A dissertação doutoral pretende identificar e avaliar os factores de sustentabilidade que estão a limitar o desenvolvimento regular das quatro Modalidades Náuticas Portuguesas, Canoagem, Remo, Surf e Vela, que integram o Programa Olímpico e o Programa do Desporto Escolar Náutico, tal como são praticadas em cada um dos Sectores Desportivos independentes, Federado, Desporto na Escola e Municipal. O objectivo principal consiste em identificar sob que condições, a ser o caso, uma solução comum de governance colaborativa poderá constituir uma solução para alavancar o crescimento dos desportos náuticos e facilitar a partilha dos recursos de que necessitam em diferentes proporções. São colocadas duas research questions: Primeira – de que modo poderão as Federações Desportivas Náuticas Nacionais desenvolver uma governação sustentável? Segunda – Poderá um modelo de governança colaborativa, envolvendo o Desporto Escolar e o Desporto de Iniciativa Municipal, contribuir para a resolução dos problemas existentes de falta de sustentabilidade das Federações Desportivas Náuticas? Recorrendo a um conjunto de técnicas mistas de investigação qualitativa, tais como entrevistas semiestruturadas, focus groups, análise qualitativa de textos e análise de correspondências múltiplas, suportadas numa abordagem holística duma teoria fundamentada, a pesquisa utiliza três cases studies que caracterizam os principais tipos de soluções institucionais existentes em Portugal: Município de Viana do Castelo, possuindo um programa original de educação náutica na escola básica e secundária; Municípios da Península de Setúbal, estudados com base numa abordagem fundamentada, considerada a atividade náutica própria de cada um, assim como as suas interdependências; Região Autónoma dos Açores, numa perspectiva institucional e legal. As conclusões sugerem que a governance colaborativa pode constituir uma solução adequada para a resolução dos problemas de falta de sustentabilidade existentes no sector desportivo federado. Este tipo de solução pode ser formulado a partir de doze dimensões de governabilidade desportiva e de 12 doze factores de sustentabilidade intra e inter subsectores desportivos, associados com finanças, programas, organização, normas, pessoas e recursos. Os resultados, vistos de uma emic perspectiva, indicam igualmente que a constituição de um Conselho Municipal de Desporto, colocado sob coordenação Municipal, pode incrementar as relações colaborativas entre os principais stakeholders. Procurando responder ao desafio colocado por O’Boyle & Shilbury, a dissertação termina propondo a exploração de uma nova abordagem na formulação de um modelo de governance colaborativa aplicável ao campo da governance desportiva, a qual pode ser baseada nas sete mais expressivas contribuições teóricas neste domínio: Collaborative Governance Regimes, by Emerson & Nabatchi; Co-creation value in Public Services, by Stephen Osborn; Governance Networks in the Public Sector, by Klijn & Koppenjan; Metagoverning Collaborative Innovation, by Sorensen & Torfing; Modes of Network Governance, by Provan & Kenis; Network Governance, by Molin & Masella.
This doctoral dissertation aims to identify and make an assessment of the sustainability factors that restrict the regular development of the four Portuguese Nautical Modalities, Canoeing, Rowing, Surf and Sailing, present in the Olympic Program and in the School Sportive Nautical Program, as they are practiced in each of the three independent subsectors, Federate, Sport School and Municipal. The main proposal is to identify in which conditions, and if so, a collaborative governance arrangement between them could be a solution to leverage the nautical sport growing and facilitate the sharing of the resources they need in different proportions. Two research questions are presented: First - How can National Nautical Sport Organizations develop their governing sustainability? Second - Can Collaborative Governance Model, involving Sport School and Municipal Sport, be a structural solution for the sustainable problems that Nautical Federations are dealing with? Using a set of mixed qualitative and quantitative techniques, as semi-structured interviews, focus groups, qualitative text analysis and multiple correspondence analysis, supported in a grounded theory holistic approach, the research uses three case studies that characterize the main existent institutional type of Portuguese solutions: Municipality of Viana do Castelo, which has an original nautical education program in elementary and secondary school; Municipalities of Setubal Peninsula, studied in an grounded approach, considering the nautical activity of each one of the three sportive subsectors, as well as their interdependencies; Azores Autonomic Region, into an institutional and legal approach. Findings suggest that collaborative governance could be an accurate solution for the imbalance problems of sustainability present in the federal sportive sector. This type of solution can be explained through twelve dimensions of sport governability and twelve factors of sustainability intra and inter sport subsectors, associated with finances, programs, organization, norms, people, and resources. The results, viewed in an emic perspective, also 14 indicate that the constitution of one Community Sport Council placed under the municipality coordination cold improve collaborative relations among the key stakeholders. The dissertation, trying to respond to O’Boyle & Shilbury challenged, ends up proposing the exploration of new insights in the formulation of a collaborative sport governance framework with applicability to the sport governance field, which can be based on the seven more expressive theoretical contributions on this subject: Collaborative Governance Regimes, by Emerson & Nabatchi; Co-creation value in Public Services, by Stephen Osborn; Governance Networks in the Public Sector, by Klijn & Koppenjan; Metagoverning Collaborative Innovation, by Sorensen & Torfing; Modes of Network Governance, by Provan & Kenis; Network Governance, by Molin & Masella.

Volunteer-managed nonprofit organizations (VNPOs) are defined as nonprofit organizations managed exclusively by volunteers without paid-staff. There is no well-recognized theory describing how to govern or structure VNPOs, despite their significance in the social economy. This study argues non-bureaucratic governance and non-hierarchical structures are appropriate for some VNPOs. Rothschild-Whitt (1979) proposes six significant challenges for organizations with non-bureaucratic governance. Using multiple case-study methodology, the magnitude of these challenges was assessed in three VNPOs adopting non-bureaucratic governance and non-hierarchical structure. Four challenges, namely, time, homogeneity, emotional intensity, and individual differences, did not adversely affect the selected VNPOs. Two challenges, namely, nondemocratic individuals and environmental constraints, remained obstacles for the selected VNPOs. Five other challenges to non-bureaucratic governance specific to VNPOs were also identified and discussed, specifically, succession planning and recruitment, task completion, minimal socialization, pressure to achieve consensus, and administrative issues. Insights from such studies may help to better manage non-bureaucratic/non-hierarchical VNPOs.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
地理環境資源學研究所
104
This essay takes the change course of grassroots governance of H Community in Xiamen Haicang District as a case study. The community has carried out first gridding management pilot program in Haixi Area since 2011. Pushing forward gridding management in urban grassroots reflects current urban governance problems and response of the state and party. Since the broke up of "Danwei System" in planned economy period, the relaxation of totalitarian brought development opportunity for urban economic and social diversity as well as various management problems. In order to maintain social stability and the legality of regime, the Communist Party of China carried out the innovation of social management. Urban gridding management is emerged with innovation of social management. The society also experienced the change of management model, and entered into the central policy outline of 18’s CPC National Congress. This case combined grassroots action under the urban participatory governance policies. What’s the reason for the increasing attention of urban grassroots governance? What’s the change of relationship between state and society in grassroots departments through gridding management? According to the research, H Community gridding grassroots management made human resources allocation through re-scaling and accountability of places. Gird is the most basic “block” on the system. Mechanism of changing the past compartmentalization affairs into the administrative ability of the grass-roots, the neighborhood has been starting residents needs, including daily life service, even coordinator role, is the refinement of the social management function. On the other hand, community grid operation also showed the fragmentation of state-society relationship, including community social forces connection cutting as "not trivial grid", and community grid system of the the residents committee showed fragmentation in bar effect of the grid as a first-line features, more needs to convey the administration superiors. As a result, the role of grassroots management of China’s cities is gradually important. It reflects national policies can enter into grassroots communities deeper, and carries out social management and maintenance through positive interaction. The grassroots’ social departments are subjected to social governance under national dominance, added short time of the competition of project highlights in governance. Most of its social power role are non-spontaneous and belongs to mobilization. As a conclusion, the fragmentation of social gridding grassroots governance revolution reflects the national governance demand to grassroots. Strengthen grassroots governance through urban departments may closer the relationships between state and society, as well as maintain and continue the course of new areas dominated by autocracy.

The thesis identifies four modes of action and cooperation of transnational networks of GROs by taking the Tanzania Urban Poor Federation (TUPF), a sub-network of Shack Slum Dweller International (SDI), as an example. Based on the understanding of “interpretive network analysis” (Schindler 2006: pp. 100-101), qualitative and quantitative methodologies of data collection and analysis (expert interviews, member survey, on-site visits of projects, review of TUPF and SDI reports) have been applied in the course of field research. Analysis took place based on a set of criteria regarding the current state of knowledge of typologies, structures, processes, dynamics and preconditions for stable, effective networks. Furthermore, mechanisms for network governance are also taken into account. The selected cases represent a range of issues, applied instruments, different modes of cooperation and scopes of action. Based on the set of criteria, the examination is intended to address questions concerning the relevance of local embeddedness and the capability of the local communities of the TUPF to enter into cross-sectoral and cross-level cooperation. Based on these insights, effects for the scope of action, the empowerment of the actors involved and the development of marginalized settlements are indentified. The case-study research on the basis of the TUPF and SDI verifies the potential of networks for the dissemination of knowledge and the creation of social capital and multidimensional cooperation. However, the analysed modes of action and cooperation develop different degrees of capacities regarding these issues. In this context, the assumed interrelation between the degree of extension of the scope of action and the capability to create multidimensional cooperation in the course of networking activities becomes clear. The cases of the TUPF and SDI show that transnational networks of GROs are able to develop cooperation structures and development strategies involving features of integrated approaches which are spatially and socially embedded in local communities and also benefit from transnational and crosssectoral cooperation. The aspects highlighted above represent a range of potentials and preconditions which turned out to be relevant and important for the activities and processes of local communities within the network. These final results are intended to provide guidance for the development of beneficial structures by governmental actors and development organizations. Furthermore, they should be integrated into a reconsideration of cooperation strategies in the course of urban management processes and development approaches to reduce urban poverty.

This dissertation aims to study the importance of citizen networks in promoting the sustainability and resilience of communities, focusing mainly on the driving forces and barriers related to such initiatives. The research work carried out in this dissertation is part of the project TRUST, Analysis of social innovation initiatives for sustainability (PTDC / GES-AMB / 28591/2017). This work aims, to explore the knowledge about citizen networks and the associated forms of social innovation, as well as the role it can play in the transition to sustainability processes. It also includes analyzing the role of stakeholder networks in these processes and assessing their role as agents of change in small-scale socio-ecological systems. The research work was developed in three steps. Firstly, a search was made for scientific articles published on platforms such as Scopus and Web of Science. The selected articles were the basis of a brief literature review capable of framing the main concepts associated with the study and the existing knowledge. Secondly, the main characteristics of the three case studies of citizen networks were analyzed, namely the group of fisherwomen of Murtosa, Ciclaveiro and Santiago’s Civic Laboratory. Thirdly, in order to identify the driving forces and barriers of the case studies, the analysis was deepened using a questionnaire matrix adopted by the TRUST Project. The main conclusions stand out as follows: The development of initiatives such as those illustrated in the case studies allows the promotion of social innovation through the alteration of knowledge and behaviors relevant to sustainability in communities. The development of these initiatives does not always find openness and support mechanisms in local government entities, the latter often being sources of blockade. Despite the potential value of these initiatives, their ability to bring about change depends greatly on the ability of leaders to transfer and disseminate their power. Additionally, communication between similar initiatives reinforces the robustness and durability of innovation and potential transformation. Bridging these initiatives with government agencies can also help strengthen the potential of such actions by facilitating the transition to more sustainable and resilient communities.
O presente trabalho tem com objectivo estudar a importância das redes de cidadãos na promoção da sustentabilidade de da resiliência das comunidades, focando-se principalmente nas forças motrizes e barreiras relativas a este tipo de iniciativas. O trabalho de investigação realizado nesta dissertação está integrado no projecto TRUST, Análise de iniciativas de inovação social para a sustentabilidade (PTDC/GES-AMB/28591/2017). Esta dissertação tem por objectivo explorar o conhecimento sobre redes de cidadãos e as formas de inovação social associadas, bem como papel que pode desempenhar nos processos de transição para a sustentabilidade. Inclui ainda a análise do papel das redes de actores nesses processos e na avaliação do seu papel enquanto agentes de mudança dos sistemas socio ecológicos de pequena escala. O trabalho de investigação foi desenvolvido em três passos. Em primeiro lugar realizou-se uma pesquisa de artigos científicos publicados em plataformas como Scopus e Web of Science. Os artigos seleccionados serviram de base a uma breve revisão de literatura capaz de enquadrar os principais conceitos associados ao estudo e o conhecimento existente. Em segundo lugar, foram analisadas as principais características dos três casos de estudo de redes de cidadãos, designadamente o grupo de pescadoras da Murtosa, a Ciclaveiro e o Laboratório Cívico de Santiago. Em terceiro lugar, com o objectivo de identificar as forças motrizes e barreiras dos casos de estudo, foi aprofundada a análise usando uma matriz-questionário adoptada pelo Projecto TRUST. Como principais conclusões destacam-se os seguintes aspetos: o desenvolvimento de iniciativas como as ilustradas nos casos de estudo permite a promoção de inovação social, através da alteração de conhecimento e de comportamentos relevantes para a sustentabilidade nas comunidades. O desenvolvimento destas iniciativas nem sempre encontra nas entidades governativas locais abertura e mecanismos de suporte, constituindo frequentemente fontes de bloqueio. Apesar do potencial valor destas iniciativas a sua capacidade para gerar transformação depende muito da capacidade de os líderes transferirem e disseminarem o seu poder. Adicionalmente a comunicação entre iniciativas semelhantes reforça a robustez e durabilidade da inovação e da potencial transformação. A criação de pontes entre estas iniciativas e as entidades governamentais pode também contribuir para reforçar o potencial destas iniciativas facilitando a transição para comunidades mais sustentáveis e resilientes.
Mestrado em Engenharia do Ambiente

1 Michal Vázal: The Confucian Ideal of Harmonious Community according to the Norms of the Wu Lineage from Mingzhou Abstract Abstract: This paper aims to characterize the structure and values produced by rituals in a kinship community, and how these characteristics subsequently helped to shape a harmoniously working community and its ideological relationship with the state in terms of local governance. The rituals in question are partially confined in time and place, as they are observed on one particular community, and are examined only in the extent of the primary source named "The Norms and Rituals of the Wu Lineage of Mingzhou" (Mingzhou Wu Shi Jiadian) - a ritual manual authored mainly by Wu Di (died 1736) from the village of Mingzhou, which belonged to the Huizhou prefecture (the south of the present day Anhui province). On the other hand, this text is largely based on Zhu Xi's "Family Rituals" (Jiali) which were viewed across the country as the ritual standard. The most essential rituals used to govern the lineage were coming of age ritual, wedding rituals, funeral rituals and sacrifices to ancestors. A unifying principle behind the structure and values these rituals created was seniority. The lineage structure was created mainly by the system in which the branches of firstborn sons were superiors to...