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Disempowered and Disappointed Locals: The Impact of Negative Hybrid Peacebuilding on Sociocultural Transformation of Afghanistan
No full textThis dissertation conceptualizes peacebuilding in Afghanistan (2001-2021) as facilitation of sociocultural transformation of the country towards accepting the international norms important for sustainable peace, such as democracy, human rights, and gender equality. Hence, peacebuilding was highly normative and required enormous changes promoted by key peacebuilding actors to transform Afghan politics, society, and culture from a traditional society marked by fragmentation and radicalization to one that embraced these values.
The dissertation proposes that the peacebuilding effort that took place in post-2001 Afghanistan was hybrid, as the international community pursued the goals of building a state committed to these liberal principles, as well as strengthening civil society to bring about social and cultural development. Simultaneously, the political order, particularly the government titled the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, was seen as representative of the locals and their culture and was expected to protect their interests while adhering to international norms. The hybridity of peacebuilding could assist the local society addressing social fragmentation and forms of radicalization, as well as assisting in its adoption of modern norms and institutions consistent with its own society and culture.
Examining the reasons for, and the process of the failure of, sociocultural transformation, this dissertation, based on qualitative research methodology, proposes that due to the primacy of interests of powerful international and domestic actors, efforts to transform Afghanistan were undermined by a series of compromises on shared local and international values. The securitized neoliberal state-building assisted Afghan warlords and opportunist elites, starting from the deliberate ignorance or denial of transitional justice, and continued with the lack of accountability for major human rights violations and corruption in the Afghan government as well as among other domestic and foreign actors. This environment of lack of accountability undermined the perceived legitimacy of governance and the functioning of institutions and discredited other state and non-state actors working to transform Afghanistan. As a result, peacebuilding processes were frozen at the level of negativity, increasingly undermining local trust in international actors and their purported values.
To address the sociocultural dimension of peacebuilding, foreign actors engaged in top-down building of a Western-style civil society mostly focused on service delivery and advocacy rather than creating discourses among Afghans on issues critical for transformation of a society affected by decades of conflict and radicalism. The project-oriented approach of civil society groups, combined with their weak local roots and corruption, limited their effectiveness.
The negativity of peacebuilding prevented the potential of hybrid peacebuilding to address forms of fragmentation and radicalization in Afghan society and hampered meaningful popular engagement in transforming structures of violence toward sustainability. The growing disempowerment and disillusionment of the people, coupled with confusion about norms, enabled the Taliban to frame their brutal campaign as jihad and to make even a negative peace unattainable
Mapping With the Land: Co-developing a Cumulative Impact Monitoring and Land Stewardship Framework with Sambaa K’e First Nation, Northwest Territories, Canada
Get PDFAcross the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada, Indigenous populations are striving to achieve effective environmental protection, whilst navigating complex methods, policies, and research relationships within co-management contexts. This thesis seeks to identify how differing cultural systems, environmental change, and fractured partnerships may be unified to align with the needs of the Sambaa K’e First Nation (SKFN), a remote Dehcho Dene community. Indigenous methodologies guided co-development of research questions with SKFN leadership which yielded objectives a) develop a GIS-based method to manage, organize and mobilize cultural and environmental data; b) develop a new stewardship monitoring procedure so that users can apply the former while ‘With The Land” (WTL), and c) test new methods developed in (a) and (b). A mapping rubric developed by the NWT Geologic Survey’s Thermokarst Collective (TKC) working group was expanded to include themes related to biological, cultural, and socio-political change. Interviews, focus groups, and participant observation directed the collection of 195 GPS-link observations which centered Dene perspectives of space and place. This thesis provides SKFN with an improved operational procedure for data collection as well as a functional social framework adapted for the organization of grassroots, community based, intergenerational knowledge exchange. This produced the praxis, ‘Mapping with the Land,’ where youth and Elders are united through cumulative impact monitoring and cultural revitalization, with the assistance of GIS. This aims to increase communication and understanding between local, institutional, and government actors by bridging gaps in research capabilities, local capacity, and recognition of Dene Law
Social-Emotional Outcomes in Emerging Adults with ADHD: The Influence of Self-Compassion on Peer Rejection, Rejection Sensitivity, and Psychological Distress
Get PDFEmerging adulthood, the developmental period ranging from 18 to 29 years, is a critical stage of development in which individuals grow their social skills, set and achieve life goals, learn to live independently, and further develop brain regions involved in higher-level cognition, shaped by their environment and experiences throughout emerging adulthood. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with adverse interpersonal outcomes. Approximately 5 to 8% of emerging adults are reported to have an ADHD diagnosis and may be at higher risk than typically developing emerging adults for unfavourable developmental outcomes. This heightened risk may be attributed to their challenging social environments (i.e., interpersonal challenges and systemic and systematic discrimination), which could be mitigated by self-compassion, as seen in typically developing populations. This work examined whether and how ADHD predicted peer rejection and rejection sensitivity (i.e., a learned disposition to be extremely sensitive to perceived or real criticism and rejection) compared to typically developing emerging adults, how these respective relationships contributed to psychological distress (i.e., depression and anxiety symptoms and perceived personal stress), and how self-compassion might moderate this relationship. Participants for this study included 604 emerging adults between the ages of 17 and 22 (nADHD = 315) who completed a self-report online questionnaire. Moderated mediation analyses were conducted to explore how self-compassion moderated the indirect effect of ADHD on depression, anxiety, and stress through peer rejection and rejection sensitivity. Additionally, simple moderation analyses were conducted separately for each group (i.e., ADHD and typically developing) to compare group differences in the moderating effect of self-compassion. Results revealed that ADHD, peer rejection, and rejection sensitivity were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. ADHD predicted frequent experiences of peer rejection and higher levels of rejection sensitivity. Moreover, self-compassion was associated with lower stress when individuals reported more incidents of peer rejection but increased anxiety and stress when individuals reported higher levels of rejection sensitivity. Independent-group moderation analyses for each group yielded different effects, implying that self-compassion differentially influences the impact of peer rejection and rejection sensitivity on psychological distress in emerging adults with ADHD and typically developing controls. Implications for developing preventative and therapeutic interventions and directions for future research are discussed
No. 15: International Migration and Food Insecurity in Urban Namibia
No full textFood security and migration have emerged as key development challenges in Namibia. Internal migration, where people move from rural areas to urban centres such as the capital, Windhoek, has been given a great deal of research and policy attention. However, there is a dearth of research on the relationship between international migration and food security in the country. This paper aims to fill this gap by investigating the nexus between international migration and household food security in Windhoek. Drawing on data from a city-wide household food security survey of the city, the paper compares the food security status of international migrant and non-migrant local households. The data show that the migrant households were more food insecure, with less diverse diets, than their local counterparts. Within the migrant group, differences in food security were associated with length of residence in Namibia , type of housing, employment status of the household head, household income, and lived poverty
No. 31: Precarity, Food Insecurity, and Migration: The Kerala-Gulf Nexus and Women Domestic Workers
No full textLow-skilled Malayali women migrants employed as domestic laborers in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)1 countries navigate a transnational labor system that entrenches gendered hierarchies and structural inequalities. Ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Kerala and the United Arab Emirates utilizing biographical methods such as life history and oral history reveals that migration, often envisioned as a pathway to economic security, intensifies vulnerabilities through layers of exclusion, exploitation, and deprivation. These women’s lived experiences underscore the precarious conditions that define their labor trajectories, shaped by systemic governance failures and socio-cultural dynamics.
Food security, positioned at the nexus of material survival and symbolic significance, emerges as a contested site of power and dignity. For these migrant workers, access to food serves as a daily negotiation of belonging, reflecting broader socio-political asymmetries. The denial of adequate nutrition functions as a mechanism of control and manifests as structural violence, amplifying their marginalization within labor markets reliant on their invisibility. The biopolitical governance of food insecurity underscores its dual role as both a catalyst for migration and an outcome of exploitative global labor systems.
By engaging critically with the linkages between migration, gender, and labor, this analysis highlights how the systemic marginalization of low-wage migrant women perpetuates cycles of precarity. Food insecurity, far from being a mere indicator of economic deprivation, exposes the deeper dynamics of dispossession and control that characterize their experiences. These findings call for a fundamental rethinking of labor governance to foreground the dignity, rights, and well-being of migrant workers in transnational migration circuits
No. 26: Pandemic Precarities and Remittance Narratives in the Global South
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has been referred to as a great disruptor of global migration leading to a crisis of immobility caused by public health lockdowns, closed borders, and the suspension of visa processing. Layoffs and retrenchments of migrant workers led to widespread hardship and an intensification of pre-pandemic precarity, as well as disrupted remittance channels and flows. Against this backdrop, the paper provides an overview of current debates about the relationship between COVID-19 and international migration in the context of South-South migration. We assess how pre-pandemic South-South migration flows were disrupted by the pandemic and the evidence for a crisis of immobility. We advocate use and measurement of the new concept of ‘pandemic precarity’ to draw attention both to the negative impacts of the pandemic on migrants and the ways in which pre-pandemic vulnerabilities were exacerbated by COVID-19. Finally, the paper focuses on the apparent paradox of increased remittances despite a reduced capacity to remit
Amadeusz’s Prosper: Effective Reintegration of Adults Facing Firearm-Related Charges in Ontario, Canada
Get PDFThis study evaluates the impact of Amadeusz’ Prosper program which supports individuals with firearm-related charges between the ages of 18 to 29 in Ontario, Canada. Prosper offers intensive case management through caseworkers who co-create tailored support plans with participants based on their immediate needs and long-term goals. The program supports individuals during incarceration and post-release once back in community. This study engaged 44 participants through interviews conducted between October 2022 and April 2023. Participants included program beneficiaries (n=29), family members (n=8), community partners (n=4), and caseworkers (n=3). Intersectionality and Critical Race Theory paradigms were applied as part of data analysis to uncover the program\u27s impact, strengths, and barriers in implementation. Results showed a correlation between the program and positive outcomes in personal development, well-being, and reintegration of participants. Overall, the study contributes to filling in the research gap offering nuanced insights into how to support individuals with firearm-related charges in Canada as part of offering more effective reintegration supports and reducing recidivism
How Cyclical Spinal Flexion and Extension Independently Alter Mechanical Integrity of the Intervertebral Disc
No full textIntroduction:
Intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation is a cause of low back pain and creates significant health care and financial burden in Canada. It has been observed that with moderate compression, combined cyclical flexion and extension are sufficient to cause herniation in functional spinal units (Callaghan & McGill, 2001). Furthermore, it has been observed that combined cyclical flexion and extension leads to more damage to the posterior annulus fibrosus (AF) when compared to cyclical flexion alone, quantified by increased nuclear migration (Balkovec & McGill, 2012). A recent study by Briar & Gregory (2023) found that static flexion negatively influenced the adhesion strength of the interlamellar matrix of the AF, regardless of sample location. It has been shown that when flexing an IVD, the anterior annulus fibrosus is compressed. This compression creates an increase in intradiscal pressure (Ekström et al., 2004), and the increased pressure applies tension to the posterior AF. It is hypothesized that the increased damage seen in combined flexion/extension loading protocols is due to the alternation of tension and compression on the AF.
Aims:
The aim of this study was to investigate how cyclical flexion and extension of a functional spinal unit independently influences the adhesive properties of the interlamellar matrix.
Methodology:
Cervical porcine spines were used; specifically, the C3/4 and C5/6 were excised from the cervical spines and placed into one of three experimental conditions: 1) cyclical spinal flexion, 2) cyclical spinal extension, and 3) static compression. All groups experienced 900N of compressive load for 6000 cycles at 1hz. Following mechanical loading, the intervertebral disc was dissected out and multi-layer samples of both the posterior and anterior AF were extracted. The multi-layer samples were loaded onto a UStretch device (Cellscale Inc., Ontario, Canada) and underwent a 180° peel test to determine the adhesion properties of the Interlamellar matrix. Full height samples of the AF, approximately 2-4 layers in width were tested using a standardized bilayer protocol in a Biotester 5000 (Cellscale Inc., Ontario, Canada). These “bilayers” are thought to holistically quantify tensile properties of the AF. The outcome measures were compared using two-way mixed model ANOVAs with the within factor being location (anterior, posterior; repeated), and the between factor being loading condition (flexion, extension, control; non-repeated).
Results:
The results of this experiment suggest that isolated cyclical flexion and isolated cyclical extension do not significantly influence the mechanical properties of the annulus fibrosus when compared to static compression alone. There were no significant main effects or interactions observed for any of the bilayer tests. Two significant findings were observed in the 180° peel tests. A main effect of location was observed for peel strength and peel stiffness. The anterior average peel stiffness (M=0.92 N/mm2) was significantly (p=0.028) lower than the average posterior peel stiffness M=1.21 N/mm2. Likewise, the anterior average peel strength (M=2.24 N/mm) was significantly (p=0.028) weaker than the posterior average peel strength(M=3.09 N/mm). While there were no significant main effects of loading for any of the outcome measures, there was a trend for peel stiffness. This trend supports the concept of compression having a detrimental impact on peel stiffness.
Discussion/Conclusion:
The findings of the current study suggest that isolated cyclical flexion and isolated cyclical extension of functional spinal units do not appear to mechanically compromise them when compared to a statically compressed control. However, a trend present for peel stiffness appears to provide evidence for compression being more detrimental to interlamellar adhesive properties when compared to tension. This was indicated by decreased anterior peel stiffness for the cyclical flexion group when compared to the control, and posterior peel stiffness being decreased in the cyclical extension group when compared to the control. A novel finding of the current experiment was the effect of location, with the posterior peel strength and stiffness being significantly (p\u3c0.05) stronger than the anterior peel stiffness and strength. This novel finding is incongruent with previous literature, which in many instances provides evidence of the anterior annulus being stronger than the posterior annulus (Tavakoli et al., 2018; Gregory et al., 2014; Tsuji et al., 1993). However, given the torque-controlled loading parameters, and the effects of the posterior elements shielding the posterior AF from applied compression, these results make sense and provide further support for compression having a more detrimental effect on interlamellar adhesive properties