Albuquerque, New Mexico, similar to many cities in the western and southwestern United States, continues to build large scale business and housing developments. In response, communities most affected by urban sprawl challenge local government decisions to approve such developments, citing concerns for environmental, cultural, and economic well-being. My thesis explores one such community effort to protect land and water resources within the historic Atrisco land grant, located southwest of the city of Albuquerque. In particular, I examine an event that occurred May 28th, 2015 when a group of concerned women and children disrupted a Bernalillo County special zoning meeting where a five member board of county commissioners denied community appeals to reject approval of a 14,000 acre development called Santolina. I employ ethnographic methods of in-depth interviews, participant observation, and secondary data collection to provide a rich description of the Women’s Action as an act of resistance. I situate my ethnographic account within the scholarship of Ewick and Silbey (1995; 1998; 2003) who empirically derive a theory of everyday acts of resistance as momentary reversals of hierarchical power relations embedded in institutional space. My research offers insights into how communities both engage in and disrupt public participation processes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between activism and well-being and the underlying mechanisms that make up this relationship. The study's hypothesis was that there is a relationship between activism and well-being and that this relationship is either moderated or mediated by optimism and locus of control. It means that we expected that locus of control and optimism would at least partly explain the association between activism and well-being. Data was collected using an online-survey and recruiting participants through social media. The survey included questionnaires that measured locus of control, optimism, activism, depression and anxiety, satisfaction with life and meaning in life. A total of 259 participants was included in the final sample. Correlation analyses were conducted and showed that there was a negative significant correlation between activism and locus of control/optimism. There was a positive correlation between locus of control/optimism and well-being. The correlation between activism and anxiety was positive and the correlation between activism and meaning in life was positive. No support for the moderation hypotheses was found. However, three mediation analysis were conducted and the results showed a significant mediation effect of optimism and locus of control on the relationship between activism and different dimensions of well-being. The results of mediation analysis indicated that activists experience less control and are less optimistic and in turn experience poorer well-being. It is concluded that optimism and locus of control could be underlying factors that explain the underlying mechanism behind the relationship between activism and well-being, but this relationship is complicated and future studies are needed in order to gain better understanding of possible underlying factors.

The new phenomena of brand activism can be used as a communication strategy to reach consumers. The demand for brand activism has increased with the generation of millennials. This research uses a qualitative method to get a greater understanding of how companies use brand activism as a communication strategy to reach millennials. The authors have chosen to study corporate brands since they have a structure within the business where everything that is communicated from the brand will be a lifelong message.  This study is based on a content analysis to get a greater understanding for how brand activism is used and how companies with the help from activism content reach millennials. The companies that have been studied are Nike, Ben & Jerry’s and The Body Shop, which all use brand activism and have millennials as a part of their target audience.  Millennials are an important target audience since they stand for 30% of the population. Therefore it is important to grow and understand their new demands for more ethical and moral brands. This generation wants to contribute to the world and make a change.  The results of this study shows that brand activism engages millennials and has a positive effect on their purchase intentions. Which is important for companies to take into consideration in their corporate branding. The results also show whether or not the companies are bold or not when they chose a subject to take a stand in.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / There has been an upsurge of interest in Christian spirituality in recent years. In this thesis I will provide a brief survey of the history and forms of Christian spirituality in order to sketch the background against which this study will be situated with specific reference to the history of contemplative spirituality. Beginning with the life and teachings of the Desert Fathers it will show that contemplative prayer is firmly rooted in the ancient Christian tradition. More specifically, I will focus on two contemporary exponents of the contemplative tradition of spirituality, namely Thomas Keating (1923-2018) and Henri Nouwen (1932-1996).

Cette thèse propose une analyse ethnographique des pratiques du militantisme dans l’économie Populaire dans la Région Métropolitaine de Buenos Aires, soulignant la façon dont des « droits » sont contestés et produits et la création de stratégies collectives pour la production et reproduction de la vie. Avec cet objectif, la thèse développe les résultats obtenus par le travail de terrain mené en collaboration avec deux organisations qui composent la Confédération des Travailleurs de l’Économie Populaire : l’Organisation Sociale et Politique Los Pibes et le Mouvement des Travailleurs Exclus. / This thesis proposes an ethnographic analysis of the practices of militancy within popular economy in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, focusing both on the way that “rights” are produced and on the creation of collective strategies for the production and reproduction of life. It presents the results achieved from the field work carried out together with two organisations that form a part of the Confederation of Workers of the Popular Economy: the Social and Political Organisation Pibes and the Excluded Workers Movement.

The aim of this thesis is to study Iranian women's struggle against the mandatory veil, based on Nancy Fraser's (1990) theory on subaltern counterpublics and Mia Lövheim's (2012) use of Stig Hjarvard’s theory on mediatization of religion. Specifically, how the Iranian-exile Masih Alinejad's Twitter can be seen as an alternative sphere in which she creates a mediatized subaltern counterpublic for marginalized women. The research questions are as follows:(1) How is Iran and the compulsory hijab portrayed in the selected material? (2) Can this portrayal be seen as a mediatized subaltern counterpublic? The material consists of 100 tweets from the campaign #WhiteWednesdays. By using a qualitative method with an abductive approach, I found four themes in the material. Research question (1) showed that Iran is portrayed as a stratified society where men are superior to women and that the public sphere constitutes problems regarding women's rights. The mandatory veil is presented as the most visible symbol of gender apartheid and religious dictatorship. Research question (2)showed that, based on subaltern counterpublics and mediatization, societies (especially with religious authority) exclude women from speaking in authorized discourse, which contributes to a search for alternative spheres. The study’s chosen theories proved to be a good fit for capturing, describing and explaining how Alinejad creates a mediatized subaltern counterpublic - via new digital media - for marginalized women whom have been excluded from the authorized and official capacity of the country. The results further showed how Alinejad participated in the mediated public sphere as an independent agent who engaged in religious issues from a position of authority. She continues to use the #WhiteWednesdays campaign as a space to perform activism against the regime's veil policy.

This is a qualitative study that explores the strategies used by a woman principal to build a successful high school. Despite the plethora of gender supportive policies in South Africa women are still underrepresented in school management positions. Those who do shatter the glass ceiling face gender discrimination resulting from societal and cultural stereotypes. This study aims to tell the story of a woman principal who battled social, patriarchal and institutional odds and still succeeded as a leader. The findings reveal that the principal relied on her womanly attributes of caring, empathy, knowing the community and involving parents. In demonstrating support for the community in which she worked and in having the courage to care she was able to transform her school. This study shows that caring is a form of power. She is a transformational leader who managed to change the school culture from being dysfunctional to being successful. Collaboration and staff development are the other strategies that led to the success of the school managed by Debra, the woman principal in this study. Narrative inquiry as qualitative research approach was employed in order to explore the experiences of Debra, as the principal in this study is named. Purposive sampling was used for the selection of the participant. Data was collected by means of in-depth and semi-structured interviews supported by school documents. Transformational Leadership Theory, as described by Bass (1999), provided guidance for conceptualizing and analysing the leadership strategies used by the principal. The transformational leader promotes followers' innovation by considering their developmental needs while providing support and coaching through charisma, inspiration, intellectual stimulation and individualised consideration. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Education Management and Policy Studies / MEd / Unrestricted

MAAS / Centre for African Studies / The institution of African traditional royal leadership herein after referred to as Vhuhosi, may at times be seen to be falling short in fulfilling its function. Arguably, symptoms such as the misunderstanding of the role and powers of traditional royal leaders, the never-ending land disputes, as well as issues of political transition in South Africa, can be traced back to the introduction of missionary activism. Amid a myriad of challenges, the proposed study seeks to investigate the influence of missionary work on the institution of Vhuhosi. The study’s focus will specifically be on the efficiency, or lack thereof, of the institution to perform its functions following the historical interface with missionary activism. The study will employ a mixture of research methodologies, amongst them the literary study of archive materials, the empirical investigation of the current state of the institution, and the appraisal of the prevalence of mission activities in the modern-day era all of which fall under the qualitative research design. It is envisaged that the results of the study will benefit current traditional royal and religious leaders, government officials in understanding the historical explanation of current trends and tendencies. Most importantly, the study will equip those involved in improving the situation and changing the course of history. Furthermore, the study will benefit scholarship by providing relevant and constructive research material that could inform and/or shape the calibre of leadership in these institutions. / NRF

Background: Down Syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal defect known to cause intellectual disability. Adolescents with DS may need to live with their families beyond the transition period into adulthood because they require lifelong care due to the disabling consequences of the genetic condition. Evidence is lacking about the actions that carers in remote rural communities are taking to enhance the rights of their adolescents with DS as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Aim: To describe the advocacy and activism actions of carers that promote the disability rights of adolescents with DS. Objectives: To describe carers’ understanding of 'activism’ in relation to the needs of adolescents with DS; to explore what actions carers are engaging with in order to promote participation and equal opportunities for social inclusion of adolescents with DS; to describe barriers encountered and strategies used and to describe carers’ advocacy priority list for social inclusion of adolescents with DS. Methodology: A descriptive qualitative approach was used where three carers told their stories of activism and advocacy actions through a semi-structured in-depth interview method. Their stories were audio-recorded, transcribed into textual form and an inductive data analysis followed a framework approach guided by the research aims. Findings: One overriding theme Puuyelele (bringing adolescents with DS into the open) emerged with four categories: namely, “Speaking for and acting on behalf of adolescents with DS”, “Enabling a continuous enlightening process”, “Ensuring ongoing care and services” and “Raising public awareness on human rights of adolescents with DS”. Discussion: Three concepts about DS advocacy and activism for adolescents with DS formed the discussion; first, it is a strategic process requiring togetherness, courage and perseverance; second, it proceeds from vigilant care-giving and service provision and, lastly, it requires rising of human rights awareness. Conclusion: A strategic and contextualised DS advocacy and activism process such as Puuyelele requires human rights awareness and emerges from vigilant care that enhances community participation and social inclusion of adolescents with DS. The process creates a possible and realistic conceptual framework for further strengthening of disability-inclusive development initiatives in Namibia.

Background: Employees are undertaking a vital role in challenging the organizational practices that are contributing to the issues in contemporary society. Prior research has noted the generational shift in workplaces as an increased share of Millennials are bringing their values of sustainability to work. Employees engaging in actions to generate social change, also known as employee activism, is assumed to have either adversary or advocacy impact for organizations. Yet, what factors affect Millennials in practicing employee activism for change towards sustainability has not been proposed, thus this research will help to understand the perspectives of employees to advance current knowledge.  Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explore Millennials’ engagement in employee activism that as a result contributes to a sustainability change in Swedish workplaces. Method: The research uses an interpretivist lens to inspect nine employees' experiences through semi-structured interviews. The research compliments as well as extends existing knowledge through an inductive approach. Conclusion: The findings indicate several enablers and/or inhibitors on three levels. Firstly on a personal level, based on an individual's personality and attitude. Secondly, in terms of interpersonal relationships, relations within the workplace was recognized as a factor. Thirdly, on an organizational level, the structure of a company and employment were also deemed as affecting significantly the activism behaviors. In addition, the findings also suggest a rising recognition of the concept among employees as well as the steps that led to improvements in organizational practices.