This thesis argues that a thorough understanding of Methodism must attend to the lived experience of Methodist people, expressed within Methodist church communities. I use narrative research methods to show the nature of local Methodist identity. This research was conducted using group interviews with participants from three Methodist churches in West Yorkshire. In analysis of these interviews, a 'narrative of place' is revealed: this is how participants talk about the experience of their church's 'space' and make sense of their belonging. It communicates a shared sense of identity in each context. Through the narrative of place, I identify the shared experience of 'lived Methodism' that reflects my participants' belonging within a Methodist church and within that tradition. In 1932, three independent Methodist church groups, each with their own practical and theological emphases, united to form The Methodist Church of Great Britain. The contemporary Methodist Church claims and cherishes its place as a 'wide' church, accepts a diversity of practice. Therefore, attempting to define Methodist identity can be problematic. This thesis argues that Methodist identity is not merely given to the church by the Methodist Connexion, or as a function of meeting in a Methodist building, instead it is appropriated and lived locally. A series of two group interviews in three Methodist communities generates the data recorded in the form of transcripts. Using a narrative research methodology to interrogate this data, I expose the narrative of place and its three core emphases, these show how lived Methodism is revealed in my work. Initially, place and community demonstrates how community is formed locally. Using Pierre Bourdieu's theory of habitus, I argue that the language of place and community functions in setting the boundaries of that particular group in both conscious and unconscious ways. The community thus governs its practice and ecclesial identity. Secondly, place and memory is outlined. In the three church narratives, memory is used to claim validity for the current expression of the community, and to articulate the values the community wishes to highlight. These two areas highlight how the local churches own and understand their identity, leading finally to an analysis of place and tradition. This demonstrates an understanding of what it means to be a Methodist church. There exists a local tradition focussed on 'being the church here and now', which is fed by a received tradition mediated by those who are part of a broader Methodist narrative. The interface of these two modes of tradition creates a contextual Methodist tradition in each setting. I argue that it is here that a rich understanding of Methodism exists. Methodism is not a gift offered to a community, but a lived reality, claimed and valued by those who tell its story. The local narrative of place allows the lived experience of Methodism, in local church communities, to be heard and understood.

This thesis concerns the making and remaking of localism, by which the thesis refers to the experience of group identity expressed through commitment to community, in rural Northumberland. Specifically, the research investigates the process of becoming, or claiming to be, or being seen as, a local person, and of belonging to a community. It examines how the processes of making, verifying and ascribing such identity claims occur and in what situations and contexts. The research contributes to the sociology of local identity and ‘belonging’, using a broad ethnographic methodology focused around public events. Through participant observation and analysing some relevant documents, it examines how ‘incomers’ and ‘locals’ cooperate to organize and attend these events and how they provide a time/space through which solidarity or otherwise is performed and identities are related to the outside world. The thesis argues against binaries such as public and private, insider and outsider, local and incomer, and instead proposes that there are layers of belonging, gradations of relationship and many points of interconnection. Further, division and cooperation are different ways in which groups and individuals choose to connect, and both are forms of attachment and interrelationship existing along a continuum of belonging. A person can commit and connect over time through volunteering and acquiring local knowledge about the place. However, often it is those who are socially on the fringes, the incomers, who are most assiduous in performing what passes for local. History is important for understanding prevailing social conditions, and some current events were analysed in an historical context. Many commentators have drawn boundaries around their area of study. However this thesis argues that the boundaries, geographic and social, move depending upon context, time, situation and the social location of those involved, including the researcher. The conclusion brings together a set of interconnected findings, and presents the distinctive main arguments about belonging and the local in the thesis. First, birth is not an absolute criterion for belonging and incomers can become ‘local’ in the sense that they can move inwards into their own construction of place. Second, rather than focusing on boundaries alone, the centre of what is bounded is seen as being as important as the boundaries in assessing what it means to be local. Third, while looking into the historic past is a valuable tool in understanding prevailing social conditions, attention must also be paid to the evolving future and how such perceived changes impact on the social. Fourth, there are varied routes to belonging that allow a person to move from outside towards inside. However, the routes to belonging are complicated and cannot be patterned. Fifth, the boundaries are permeable and expand to the global and contract not only to the local, but to the isolated, following an annual rhythm. The result is research which contributes to the sociology of localism and ‘belonging’ in relation to community and self in contemporary Britain.

No description available.

Introduction  Our pre-determined view of entrepreneurship and enterprising was that their motivation for existence where to earn money – to make profit. While we got deeper understanding in the subject we understood that entrepreneurship and enterprises has more to offer than just profit. In their local communities there seem to be an interest from them to contribute and take on a social responsibility. We wanted to understand why they do this. Problem formulation What is the motivation behind taking on a social responsibility in the local community? Purpose           The purpose of this bachelor thesis is to increase the understanding of why local entrepreneurs and enterprises take on a social responsibility in their local community. Highlight possible motivational factors that underlie the entrepreneurs and enterprises engagement in the social environment of their community. Method            The study is hermeneutic with an iterative approach. A case study was used to collect the empirical data. Five semi-structured interviews have been conducted with local entrepreneurs and enterprises in Lammhult. Conclusion      The motivation behind our respondents taking on a social responsibility in the local community could be explained by factors as them wanting to feel appreciated, respected, internal motivation – like personal agenda, context and economic factors.

It is generally recognised that the primary role of the decentralise local governance is to establish closer relationship between rural communities and the governing authorities in local development. In Pakistan, the system of local governments has always been introduced by the non-democratic forces. The decentralised governments have often been discontinued by the civilian governments of Pakistan. This study has sought to examine the role of the decentralised local governance in initiating the local community participation in local development in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. This thesis responds the questions about the initiatives taken by the local government authorities and the genuine local community participation in local community development programs. It further explores the main barriers to local public participation in the local policy making and implementation in Sindh. The findings suggest that the challenges to participation have been ever increasing. The military establishment’s hold on the central state policies has weakened the public empowering national laws. Furthermore, the local government’s role to initiate meaningful local community involvement in development projects of the decentralised local governance has been engrossed by the hold of feudal lords, corruption, favouritism, and the attitude of indifference on the part of provincial and national governments. Thus, it is argued that, in such dominant military state and feudal lords’ system, there is no positive link between the local government reforms and the democratic participation in the local decision-making. Based on these findings, a realistic model for participation is introduced and relevant implications are considered.

<p>Dispersal has been long recognized as an important process in metacommunity dynamics, allowing isolated communities to interact with each other through the movement of individuals. Metacommunity theory and its four models (species-sorting, mass-effects, patch-dynamics and neutral) emphasize the significance of dispersal in the structure and composition of local community. Therefore, quantifying movements of individuals between patches is necessary to understand how systems will respond to varying degrees of connectivity and resulting species interactions. Many studies that have attempted to quantify dispersal, particularly of aquatic invertebrates, found conflicting results with respect to the intensity with which dispersal occurs. Moreover, investigations of invertebrate dispersal factors aquatic habitats have neglected to consider the influence of multiple factors such as life cycle stage, species, and external environmental features on dispersal rate via three vectors (wind, overflow, and animal transport). Colonization experiments have largely emphasized the importance of dispersal in influencing species richness, abundance and diversity but have yet to demonstrate direct comparisons between composition of dispersing species and local community structure. I investigated dispersal of aquatic invertebrates in a rock pool metacommunity, its possible influencing factors (species, life stage and the surrounding rock pool environment), and potential impact on species composition in local communities. To explore this, I used a combination of dispersal interception traps, colonization experiments and long tern biotic community surveys. I found dispersal occurs both rapidly and in high abundance across rock pools, particularly using wind and flow vectors, with minimal influence of connectivity, vegetation and ocean on dispersal rate. Although species and life cycle stages were highly variable and differed in their dispersal intensity, a high degree of similarity existed between composition of dispersing species and local community structure. Regional processes (i.e., dispersal), despite its unpredictability, is important for species assemblage and local community composition and necessary in the colonization of newly created habitats.</p> / Master of Science (MS)

The dissertation was prepared in 2000–2004 at the Vilnius Pedagogical University and in 2004-2007 at Mykolas Romeris University, The dissertation is defend without PhD studies Scientific supervisor: Prof. Habil. Dr. Stasys Puškorius (Mykolas Romeris University, Social Sciences, Management and Administration, 03S). The doctoral dissertation will be defended at the Management and Administration Research Council of Mykolas Romeris University: Chairman of the Council: Prof. Habil. Dr. Adolfas Kaziliūnas (Mykolas Romeris University, Social Sciences, Management and Administration, 03S) Members: Prof. Dr. Eugenijus Chlivickas (Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Social Sciences, Management and Administration, 03S) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jolanta Palidauskaitė (Kaunass University of Technology, Social Science, Sociology 05S) Prof. Dr. Alvydas Pumputis (Mykolas Romeris University, Social Sciences, Law 01S) Prof. Habil. Dr. Stasys Puškorius (Mykolas Romeris University, Social Sciences, Management and Administration 03S) Opponents: Prof. Habil. Dr. Borisas Melnikas (Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Social Sciences, Management and Administration 03S) Prof. Habil. Dr. Vygantas K. Paulikas (Mykolas Romeris University, Social Sciences, Management and Administration 03S) The public defence of the doctoral dissertation will take place at Management and Administration Research Council on 28th December, 2007 at 10 a.m. in the Senate Hall of Mykolas Romeris University (Room... [to full text] / Informacija apie disertacijos autorių: Saulius Nefas( 8 gruodžio 1960) 1978 baigė Ukmergės raj Taujėnų vidurinę mokyklą, 1978 – 1983 studijavo Vilniaus pedagoginiame institute ir įgijo istorijos mokytojo specialybę. 1997 – 2002 sociologijos studijos Vilniaus pedagoginiame universitete. Darbinė patirtis: 1983 – 1990 istorijos mokytojas Anykščių rajono Viešintų ir Anykščių Antano Vienuolio vidurinėse mokyklose. 1990 – 1995 ir 2000 – 2004 Anykščių Antano Vienuolio gimnazijos direktorius. 1995-2000 - Anykščių rajono meras. 2004 - Lietuvos Respublikos seimo narys. Nuo 2005 metų dirba lektoriumi M. Romerio universiteto Viešojo administravimo fakultete. REZIUMĖ Šiuolaikiniame pasaulyje pastebime, kaip kinta žmonių mąstysena, drauge ir įvairių socialinių grupių saviorganizacijos veiksniai. Tradicinės ideologijos vis mažiau beatspindi daugumos žmonių mąstymą, pastebime, kad įsivyraujant neribotam pliuralizmui išryškėja naujos idėjos. Kartais tai būna atgimusios senos, anksčiau gyvavusios idėjos. Pavyzdys – komunitarizmo idėja, dalies šalininkų įsitikinimu, jau nusipelnanti ideologijos vardo. <...> Nagrinėdami komunitarų idėjas, matome, kad daugelį jų galime rasti ir konservatorių, ir krikščionių demokratų, ir socialistų utopistų ar net anarchistų – komunistų ideologijose“ Todėl šiuolaikiniam žmogui būtina atsirinkti iš daugybės ryškių ir ne tokių ryškių ideologinių nuostatų ir išspręsti dvigubą uždavinį: identifikuoti naujas vertybes dažnai sietinas su vienu „naujosios viešosios... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

This study aims to understand the interface between the governance of event-led regeneration and sustainable development by taking the London 2012 Olympic Games/Lower Lee Valley area regeneration process as a case study. Since the early 1990s, there is a widespread trend towards the use of mega-events to promote a city, stimulate the local economy and regenerate rundown post-industrial areas and communities. The importance of mega-events in destination development has gained increasing attention and they are also considered as a catalyst for city regeneration. The emphasis in the aims of event-led regeneration has changed over the time and the sustainability in terms of economic, physical, social and governance dimensions has gained significant attention from both organisers and researchers. In the context of sustainable event-led regeneration, multiple stakeholder perspectives are essential and it is important to know how different actors are involved and interact in an event-led regeneration. London used 2012 Olympics to regenerate East London, one of the most deprived parts of the city. It is taken as an opportunity to explore new frontiers of interaction and cooperation between the local, regional and national stakeholders. This research adopts an integrative approach, which evaluates the changes in the built environment, social structure and stakeholder organisation together to evaluate the sustainability of the event-led regeneration governance. Data collection methods include interviews with stakeholders of London 2012 planning and organization, focus group meetings with residents living in and around the fringe of the London 2012 Olympic Park, secondary data analysis and document analysis. The research provides a sound base from which the planning of more sustainable mega-events can be undertaken by using the epistemological framework for sustainable event-led regeneration and the evaluation of their impact more fully measured across a wider stakeholder community. The conclusion emphasises the importance of the collaborative approach for the governance and resilience as critical for sustainable event-led regeneration.

Appreciation of how forest land can be managed in a sustainable way in arid and semi-arid zones (ASAZs) of centralized countries is limited. Accordingly, this thesis seeks to analyse the role of government and communities, including women, in the formulation and implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM) policy and practices in the semi-arid environment of Syria where such land is limited in extent (e.g. 3% forest and 57% rangeland) and yet where its high biodiversity value is of international significance. The thesis employs a variety of methods: a case study approach (Syria); a questionnaire (i.e. 142 respondents); face-to-face interviews (i.e. 26 interviewees); participant observation and secondary data. The SFM model was used to organise and analyse the influences of environmental, economic, social, cultural and political issues on the state of forest land in Syria. Three contrasting forest areas were selected for detailed analysis at local level: Al Foronloq had the Arab Institute of Forestry close by and the area had a high biodiversity value for landscape; Abo Kbeis contained key genetic resources and a number of women there had been trained in forest management and Abd Aziz Mountain was characterised by rangeland with traditional grazing plus a very arid environment. The main results obtained from census data confirmed that Syrian forest lands have diminished considerably since 1900 with regard to their geographical extent due to agricultural development, expansion of rural-urban settlements as well as of agricultural land onto Syrian forest land. On a more general level, the political issues in Syria (i.e. centralization and independency of the country) demand development of the internal resources of the country, such as agricultural production, in order to cover the needs of human maintenance. Scrutinising forest documentation and using results of face-to-face interviews, it was found that there were considerable changes in forest policies in terms of forest protection and plantation. In addition, there was a recent indication of adopting SFM principles in the case study area, largely as a result of action by agencies external to Syria at the national level, and the new role of NGOs in forest management at the local level. The increasing level of awareness of environmental problems; the capacity of institutions; community participation in natural resources management and achieving international agreements were also found to be paramount in any contracts between the Syrian government and other organisations. This thesis, at the local level, showed that respondents in the mountains (in the Abd Aziz Mountain (AAM) study area) seemed to be older, poorer, mostly with non-educated background, with more than three children, than in the Al Foronloq (AF) and Abo Kbeis (AK) study areas. Respondent groups in AAM were found to be more dependent upon forest resources than respondents in AF and AK; and they occupied land illegally because of their mission to develop agricultural activities, including grazing. The study confirmed that educated households in AF and AK use forest resources more than non-educated households. Conversely, non-educated households in AAM suffer from gaining a local income which may in turn affect their attitudes and behaviours in using forest resources; and as consequence, householders suffering from financial problems may be less aware of the importance of forest protection and try to solve their individual needs by increasing the pressures on the forest resources. The major constraints affecting the formulation and implementation of SFM policy are insufficient financial resources, inadequate management from national to regional and local levels; the limitations are also related to local communities’ attitudes and ignorance of the role of women in forest management. This thesis found that the contribution of women in the labour force at the local level was high in Lattakia (Al Foronloq study area) compared with other study areas (e.g. 32.9% in Lattakia against 13.4% in Hamah and 18.8% in Alhasake) (UNDP: Syrian Human development, 2005); although, there was a significant relationship between income level, family size and women’s contribution in forest management at the local level and no significant relationship with the educational level. On a more specific level, the role of religious faith in AK affects the contribution of women in the society and the workplace generally and in forest management in particular. Finally, the application of the SFM model in this study provided a flexible approach for analysis of complicated interactions between the government and communities. It also provided a comprehensive framework for different types of analytical purposes. Each of the three main components (issues, state and political decisionmakers) was divided into several sub-components which facilitate the explanation and identification of the complexities affecting the formulation of SFM policy and the implementation of such policy. It helped to provide a set of policy recommendations which may help to increase future community participation in forest management and reduce the influences of community pressures on forest resources in Syria.

My thesis is dealing with problematics of delinquent behaviour of children and juveniles, especially its prevention. Theoretical part is trying to explain general terms related with area of delinquency and also giving some general theories of delinquency. Furthermore it is specifying the period of school-age and adolescence and it is trying to point at some basic development specifics, signs and motivation of children and juvenile delinquency. In the next chapter it is dealing with the most common causes of delinquent behaviour of children and juveniles. Last but not least it is pointing at importancy of preventive effect of school environment and local community. Practical part finds, with help of different methods, efficiency of preventive action in particural schools and local community. Keywords delinquency, prevention, children, juveniles, school, local community