Publikationer från Umeå universitet
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Do Nonviolent Resistance Movements Lead to Long Term Democracy? : A Comparative Case Study between Georgia and the Rose revolution and Kyrgyzstan and the Tulip revolution
No full textThere has previously been research in the social sciences aimed at advocating for nonviolent resistance movements as a form of protest, as it is more likely to lead to democracy and democratic consolidation. However, this existing research does not specify how long these positive democratic effects last and whether nonviolent resistance leads to democratic consolidation long-term. The purpose of this study is therefore to analyse two nonviolent resistance movements: the Rose revolution in Georgia and the Tulip revolution in Kyrgyzstan to investigate whether they have consolidated their democracy long-term and identify patterns that can explain the level of democracy in these cases. The study will use a comparative case study method, where Georgia and Kyrgyzstan will be compared and analysed with the help of primary and secondary literature. The results show that although neither country has succeeded in democratic consolidation nor achieved a particularly high level of democracy; Georgia has in these aspects fared slightly better. This can be because of a strong politician-led resistance movement, as opposed to Kyrgyzstan’s resistance movement which was led by a group of disorganised elites. Furthermore, it seems as if the Georgian people have developed democratic skills which contribute to holding their politicians accountable and therefore improving the rate of democracy
When Collaboration needs to cross borders : A case study of Civil Coordination and Collaboration in the High North
No full textThis study explores regional collaboration in the northernmost parts of Sweden, Norway, and Finland through a qualitative case study, drawing on both the key guiding document, the “Memorandum of Understanding on High North Cooperation”, and interviews with regional authorities. This thesis contributes to the research field of crisis management- and preparedness by addressing a critical gap, the operational realities of regional-level cross-border collaboration in the High North. It sheds light on the often-overlooked role of regional civil actors, therefore expanding a literature that has largely focused on national or military perspectives. By applying the collaborative governance framework, this thesis analyzes how strengths and challenges shape this collaboration. The findings show that the High North Cooperation plays a central role in facilitating coordination, supported by a strong foundation of mutual trust, a shared commitment, and resilient interpersonal and institutional relationships. Furthermore, the study identifies key obstacles, including a lack of formal mandate, unequal and inconsistent funding, difficulties in cross-border information sharing, and variations in crisis preparedness systems. Despite these challenges, this thesis concludes that the collaboration remains resilient and continues to develop. The ongoing development of this collaboration reflects a strong and growing commitment to an integrated regional civil cooperation in the High North
Studio properties : a field guide to design education
No full textThere is something special about a studio as a place of practice and learning. Studio is a complex form of teaching and learning. If you have not experienced studio, it may seem mysterious, even chaotic. If you have experienced studio, you may want to know more about how and why it works. Either way, Studio Properties will deepen your understanding of studio to help you teach, research, or administer design education more effectively and with greater confidence and creativity. Use Studio Properties like a field guide. You will discover the components of studio broken down into individual properties. You will find clear descriptions and a wealth of research references that illuminate studio. You will be guided in understanding the relationships between properties without being limited to one model or approach. In this innovative and non-linear book, available in print, ebook and open access, six internationally renowned and award-winning educators and researchers from various studio disciplines invite you to explore familiar and less-familiar aspects of studio
Factors associated with muscle strength in 10–16-year-old trained male children and adolescents
No full textBackground: This study investigated the associations of muscular strength measures with anthropometry, chronological age, biological maturation, and training experience in trained prepubertal and pubertal males. Another aim was to investigate if handgrip strength can predict general or overall muscle strength in the same population. Method: Forty-one (n = 41) trained male children and adolescents aged 10–16 participated in the study. The 10-repetition maximum (RM) leg press and bench press were used to assess upper- and lower-body muscular strength, handgrip strength was used as an overall strength assessment, and a countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJa) was used to estimate extensor muscle power of the lower extremity. The maturity status was determined using the Tanner scale. Anthropometric factors included height, body mass, two skinfolds, limb length, and lean leg volume. Multivariable linear regressions were performed on absolute strength values to explore predictors of muscular strength and power. Results: Body mass explained 81% of the variance in leg press strength (p < 0.001), whereas bench press was associated with body mass and chronological age, explaining 83% of the variance (p < 0.001). The countermovement jump (CMJa) height was positively associated with lean leg volume, which explained 52% of the variance (p < 0.001). Chronological age and fat-free mass explained 87% of the variance in handgrip strength (p < 0.001). Biological maturity (Tanner) did not contribute to the final models. Handgrip strength was strongly associated with total muscle strength (r = 0.89–0.91, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results indicate that anthropometrical factors, rather than biological maturity, are associated with muscular strength in trained male children and adolescents. Our findings suggest that handgrip strength may be a quick and effective screening tool for assessing total muscle strength in youth
Är digitaliseringen vägen framåt inom hemtjänstarbete? : En kvalitativ studie av hur hemtjänstpersonal upplever digitaliseringens påverkan i det praktiska arbetet
No full textDetta examensarbete undersöker hemtjänstpersonalens upplevelser av digitalisering inomhemtjänsten, med fokus på hur införandet av digital teknik påverkar arbetsvardagen. Studienssyfte är att fördjupa förståelsen för personalens erfarenheter och perspektiv i en sektor somgenomgår snabba teknologiska förändringar. Utifrån en kvalitativ forskningsansats har femsemistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts med anställda inom hemtjänsten i Umeå kommunmed omnejd. Det empiriska materialet har analyserats tematiskt och tolkats med hjälp avAaron Antonovskys teori om känsla av sammanhang (KASAM). Resultatet visar attdigitaliseringen upplevs både som en resurs och en belastning. Tekniken bidrar tilleffektivisering och ökad säkerhet, men medför även stress, ökad arbetsbörda och minskadkontakt med brukarna. Deltagarna uttrycker att den tekniska utvecklingen ofta sker utantillräcklig delaktighet från personalen, vilket påverkar deras känsla av meningsfullhet ochkontroll i arbetet. Studien belyser vikten av att inkludera personalens perspektiv iimplementeringsprocesser för att främja en hållbar digitalisering av välfärdstjänster
Chronosequence resampling elucidates tree community and forest structure recovery patterns in restored tropical rainforest
No full textForest restoration is an essential tool for conserving biodiversity in tropical regions; yet, restoration outcomes in the Afrotropics remain largely understudied. Here, we investigated how the forest structure, tree diversity, community, life-history traits and habitat associations recovered over three decades of active restoration in an East African rainforest in Uganda. The vegetation surveys were initially conducted in 2013 and repeated in 2021. Altogether, the study included 45 actively restored forest sites (aged 4–26 years) and 10 primary forest reference sites. The results showed increased tree taxa richness, basal area, tree height and community similarity (i.e., the similarity of community composition of restored forests to the composition of primary forest) along the age gradient. After 20 years of planting, Simpson's diversity and canopy cover reached similar values recorded in the reference primary forest. In contrast, restored forests had not attained levels of tree taxa richness, basal area, stem density, or community similarity comparable to those of the reference primary forest within three decades. We found an age gradient from younger restored to older restored to the primary forest in the composition of tree communities. The proportion of species with animal-dispersed seeds was similar in the restored and the primary forest. The proportion of shade-tolerant and forest-interior species had increased along the age gradient in the 2021 survey. In conclusion, forest structure, diversity and community showed early signs of recovery, but the rate of change slowed over time
AI mimicry and human dignity : chatbot use as a violation of self-respect
No full textThis article investigates how human interactions with AI-powered chatbots may offend human dignity. Current chatbots, driven by large language models, mimic human linguistic behaviour but lack the moral and rational capacities essential for genuine interpersonal respect. Human beings are prone to anthropomorphize chatbots – indeed, chatbots appear to be deliberately designed to elicit that response. As a result, human beings' behaviour towards chatbots often resembles behaviours typical of interaction between moral agents. Drawing on a second-personal, relational account of dignity, we argue that interacting with chatbots in this way is incompatible with the dignity of users. We show that, since second-personal respect is premised on reciprocal recognition of second-personal moral authority, behaving towards chatbots in ways that convey second-personal respect is bound to misfire in morally problematic ways, given the lack of reciprocity. Consequently, such chatbot interactions amount to subtle but significant violations of self-respect – the respect we are duty-bound to show for our own dignity. We illustrate this by discussing four actual chatbot use cases (information retrieval, customer service, advising, and companionship), and propound that the increasing societal pressure to engage in such interactions with chatbots poses a hitherto underappreciated threat to human dignity
Eco-Tourism at the Edge: Assessing the Sustainability and Governance of Chumbe Island Marine Protected Area
No full textIdentifying the identifier : A critical assessment of E.J. Lowe’s argument from individuation
No full textUppsatsens syfte är att undersöka om E.J. Lowes individueringsargument tydligt visar på behovet av substantiella sorter som nödvändiga för individuering av objekt sett i kontexten av Lowes fyr-kategoriska ontologi. Lowes argument utgår utifrån hans fyra ontologiska kategorier ’substantiella sorter’ (substans-universalia), ’attribut’ (egenskaps-universalia), ’objekt’ (partikulära substanser) och ’sätt att vara’ (partikulära egenskaper). Uppsatsens frågeställning är: Visar E.J. Lowes individueringsargument tydligt det nödvändiga sambandet mellan individuering och existensen av substantiella sorter sett i kontexten av Lowes fyr-kategoriska ontologi? Uppsatsens tes är att E.J. Lowes individueringsargument bör omformuleras för att tydligare visa det nödvändiga sambandet mellan individuering och existensen av substantiella sorter sett i kontexten av Lowes fyr-kategoriska ontologi. Tydligt förankrat i Lowes fyr-kategoriska ontologi samt Lowes resonemang om essenser och identitetsvillkor presenterar uppsatsen ett omformulerat individueringsargument för behovet av substantiella sorter och deras essens som nödvändiga för individuering av objekt.The paper’s aim is to assess if E.J. Lowe’s argument from individuation clearly shows substantial kinds as necessary for individuation of objects in the context of Lowe’s four-categorical ontology. Lowe’s argument builds on his four ontological categories ‘substantial kinds’ (substance universals), ‘attributes’ (property universals), ‘objects’ (particular substances) and ‘modes’ (particular properties). The paper’s question is: Does E.J. Lowe’s argument from individuation clearly show the necessary connection between individuation and the existence of substantial kinds in the context of Lowe’s four-category ontology? The paper’s thesis is that E.J. Lowe’s argument from individuation need reformulation to better show the necessary connection between individuation and the existence of substantial kinds in the context of Lowe’s four-category ontology. Anchored in Lowe’s four-category ontology, and Lowe’s reasoning concerning essences and identity conditions, the paper presents a reformulated argument from individuation for the need of substantial kinds and their essence as necessary for individuation of objects
On the development of technological frames over time : towards a conversion or diversion?
No full textThe adoption and use of digital technologies are shaped by the understanding users develop over time. As this understanding evolves, it can diverge both within and between groups, leading to unexpected outcomes or failure. While this is well-known, processual studies of such happenings are rare — an observation this study seizes on. Building on the 'technology frame of reference' (TFR) theory, the aim is to increase the understanding of the unfoldment of group-level (in)congruence and (in)consistency in the adoption and use of new digital technology. The study involves two actor groups in the AEC industry adopting a new digital geotechnical data management system that is expected to impact work processes and practices. Based on semi-structured interviews, documents, and observations at two separate occasions, two years apart, we analyse how the differences and similarities in technology frames unfold and influence the adoption and use of the new system. It can be concluded that the operational dimension of framing is very dependent on experiences from the first period of use. In contrast, differences in strategic dimensions of framing remain between groups