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A key aspect in legitimacy from an institutional perspective is the social evaluation of collective actors that create a generalized perception that an organizations action is desirable within some socially constructed system. Based on an empirical case based research, this paper interprets legitimacy highlighting the complex dynamics in a social enterprise in regards to the dualistic institutional logics. By adapting the evaluators perspective on legitimacy, we interpret the collective actors perception on the social enterprise examining the actors from various economic sectors. We further discuss the implication of the complex dynamic arguing for the impact from the institutional setting on the perception of social enterprises, suggesting that the social welfare system influences the perception and thus the positioning of the social enterprise. Lastly, we discuss the positioning of the social enterprise and its implication on the long-term sustainability in organization.

Through a combination of corpus linguistics and critical discourse analysis, this paper looks at the hidden ideological discourses surrounding sex offenders in the British media. Corpus linguistics provides an excellent framework to discover such discourse patterns and the critical discourse analysis framework helps contextualise the findings. The specific aim of the paper is to discover and compare the discourse patterns surrounding the specific nominals rapist* and paedophile* in order to see how the representations differ. The analysis uncovered that the representation of both offenders was sensationalised and full of negative and emotionally loaded words. Furthermore, it was discovered that two differing discourses were prominent for each nominal: An animalistic and bodily discourse for rapist* and a discourse of deviance and the mind for peadophile*. Lastly, it is argued that these misrepresentations are problematic as they misinform both the public and the regulation of offenders.

Which environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) are positioned to be the most influential in climate negotiations? The structure of the environmental movement has undergone significant change over the development of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Since its inception there has been significant engagement by ENGOs with the yearly Conference of the Parties (COPs). In this tripartite project, I use an original dataset of relationship ties between ENGOs to construct a series of networks using social network analysis. Specifically, I examine network structures prior to three watershed moments in the history of the UNFCCC, the Kyoto, Copenhagen, and Paris COPs. Based on social network theory, an ENGO’s structural position can be viewed as a reflection of an ENGO’s perceived power, authority, and influence. I also study ENGO participation at COPs at these three distinct time points. In part one of this project, I describe how the structure of the environmental movement has changed over time in conjunction with the perceived success and failures of the UNFCCC process, leading to a bifurcated environmental movement. Additionally, I find that the ENGOs occupying central positions may have greater influence than other less central ENGOs, because they are more likely to serve on state delegations at the UNFCCC. In part two, I examine the role of alliance-based organizations in the larger environmental movement. Specifically, I describe how the ENGO network structure between alliance, policy and science-based organizations has changed over the history of the UNFCCC. The results suggest that alliance-based organizations occupy pivotal positions within the network, showing the potential for alliance-based organizations to help facilitate the representation of diverse viewpoints at international negotiations. In part three, I examine the relationships between ENGOs and human-centric organizations at the three distinct time points and find that despite an increased presence of ENGOs connected to human-centric organizations at the yearly COPs over time, there is still very little interconnectedness between these two movements. I also examine regions with the most ENGO/human-centric organizational connections and find Euro-centric dominance. In general, this is discussed as a missed opportunity. These findings have far reaching implications for the prospects of the UNFCCC developing, and states adopting, effective climate change policy that has the support of the environmental movement. / Political Science

<p dir="ltr">This dissertation examines how partnerships between leading environmental non-governmental organizations (IENGOs) and corporations shape the agency of nonstate actors in global politics. It contributes to the growing scholarship on non-substantialist approaches to the concept of agency in International Relations (IR) by analyzing how interactions between nonstate actors can influence their ability to act and exert influence in global politics. The central concept of <i>agency reconfiguration</i> is introduced. This concept argues that IENGO-corporate partnerships can create opportunities for nonstate actors to gain new capacities and influence in global politics. However, it also acknowledges potential trade-offs associated with such partnerships. To explore this concept, the dissertation first maps the landscape of IENGO-corporate partnerships. This includes a comprehensive list of corporate partners for four leading IENGOs (Greenpeace, EDF, FoE, and WWF), how these partnerships have evolved over time, and a typology of partnership structures. Finally, a process tracing approach is used to examine a specific case: the partnership between Greenpeace and Foron, a former German appliance manufacturer. Within-case evidence is used to link the events from the formation of the partnership to Greenpeace's agency reconfiguration, which ultimately positioned Greenpeace as a central actor in ozone governance, particularly the implementation of the Montreal Protocol.</p>

Previous research has found that users' interactions with others in online environments are often guided by the same rules and stereotypes we apply in our everyday lives. However, fewer studies have used virtual worlds as an experimental setting for the systematic examination of how avatar appearance and offline identity affect the outcome of users' actual interactions. This online field experiment measured the effect of avatar attractiveness, avatar gender, purported user gender, and favor size on the rate at which users received help across 2,300 separate user interactions. In addition, the main study's avatar gender, purported user gender, and favor size manipulations were replicated with a human avatar condition with 761 participants to examine whether trends for these factors' effects were similar with human avatars. In the main study, attractive avatars generally received more help than less attractive avatars. However, purported female users were helped less frequently than purported male users when represented by avatars that were either male or less attractive. Trends in the human avatar condition were similar to those observed in the main study. Implications for avatar-mediated communication and the persistence of sex roles in virtual environments are discussed. / Master of Arts

The farm to school movement is partially supported by unofficial actors in the policymaking process who promote legislation to encourage activities such as local procurement, school gardening, and agricultural education. However, farm to school legislation can vary in its level of effectiveness and implementation throughout the United States. Research shows that Virginia has a low level of support and advocacy for farm to school activities when compared to other states. Unofficial actors, such as advocates, producers, and school nutrition professionals are uniquely qualified to identify challenges, opportunities, and suggestions on improving the policymaking process, due to their experiences with farm to school. This study addressed a gap in scholarly literature as there is limited research on the role that unofficial actors play in promoting farm to school during the legislative process. In this qualitative, case-study, the Stages Heuristic Model was used as a theoretical framework to explore unofficial actors' experiences as they participate in the agenda-setting and policy formulation stages of policy cycle in the Northern Virginia Region. The findings uncovered experiences that unofficial actors believed either prevented or made their engagement in policymaking more challenging. Opportunities and successes during these stages of advocacy were also examined. Further, participants provided suggestions to all policymaking actors to improve the process in the future. Key findings revealed the importance of themes such as collaboration, connectedness, and relationship building in the policymaking process. Additionally, unofficial actors generally found success in the "small wins'' of advocacy, such as increasing farm to school awareness, as opposed to more extensive legislative outcomes. / The farm to school movement is partially supported by active citizens in the policymaking process who promote legislation to encourage activities such as purchasing local foods, school gardening, and agricultural education. However, farm to school legislation can vary in its level of effectiveness and implementation throughout the United States. Research shows that Virginia has a low level of political advocacy for farm to school activities when compared to other states. Individuals such as advocates, farmers, and school nutrition professionals are uniquely qualified to identify challenges, opportunities, and suggestions on improving the policymaking process, due to their experiences with farm to school. This study addressed a gap in the academic community as there is limited research on the role these individuals play in promoting farm to school during the legislative process. In this study, a policymaking model was used as a foundation to explore individuals' experiences as they participate in the farm to school legislative process in the Northern Virginia Region. The findings uncovered experiences that respondents believed either prevented or made their engagement in policymaking more challenging. Opportunities and successes during these stages were also examined. Further, respondents provided suggestions to all policymakers for improving the process in the future. Key findings revealed the importance of collaboration, connectedness, and relationship building in the policymaking process. Additionally, respondents generally found success in "small wins," such as increasing farm to school awareness, as opposed to more extensive legislative outcomes.

The severity of the phenomenon of forced labour, among other forms of human exploitation, has garnered paramount significance in the context of contemporary socioeconomic changes. For this reason, the present work seeks to address the issue through the lens of international law with two primary objectives. Firstly, to delineate the actual legal status surrounding the prohibition of forced labour and secondly, to clarify the nature of State responsibility for the utilisation of forced labour by private actors. Built upon this foundation, the research unfolds in a tripartite structure. The first chapter is introduced by an historical overview focused on States’ acknowledgement of forced labour alongside abolitionist movements against slavery between the XIX and XX centuries. The overview serves as a basis for an in-depth examination of relevant key international agreements drafted within the League of Nations and later the United Nations, as well as the International Labour Organization, up to the latest developments. The analysis then extends to forced labour provisions enshrined in regional human rights conventions and other pertinent international agreements as well as to the most recent contribution developed within practice of international organisations. The second chapter is divided into two sections. In the first part, the focus lies on the case law on the prohibition of forced labour as interpreted by the International Court of Justice and regional human rights courts. In the subsequent part, examples of national legislation aimed at combating forced labour through corporate accountability are outlined, alongside supranational initiatives aligned with this overarching objective. Drawing from the insights garnered in the preceding chapters, the concluding chapter presents an exploration of the status of the prohibition of forced labour within the framework of international law. This is followed by the analysis of three potential hypotheses aimed at elucidating the nature of State responsibility regarding the employment of forced labour by private actors. On these grounds, the prominence of forced labour in contemporary international law and the critical role of States in addressing it is ultimately unveiled. The outcomes of the work assess if States’ strategies align with the urgency of the issue, suggesting future approaches to effectively tackle forced labour in the actual global landscape.

Yes / This chapter examines competition and collusion among criminal justice institutions and non-state actors in imprisonment in prisons in Brazil to analyse how both formal and informal dispositions and practices have created and sustain the mass incarceration that is a pre-condition for extensive prisoner self-governance. The chapter thus looks from the outside-in, examining how relationships between extra-mural institutions have created and sustained such an enormous prison population in Brazil. It also analyses these institutions and organisations as intra-mural actors that, through their action or inaction, exercise a key role in shaping the carceral experience for inmates. It highlights the competition between the different actors involved in the penal arena for control of the carceral space and of prisoners, driven by a variety of motives – rent-seeking, moral/philosophical, and territorial.