Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / This study reflects the vital role the church should play in the social transformation of society. It undoubtedly has the potential to be a strategic organisation for social change. However, in the past it has failed to reach that potential. The hope for the future is that the church will embrace that potential and become active in the process of social transformation. The Church of the Province of Southern Africa (CPSA) has been the researcher's spiritual home for her entire life. During this time, and particularly over the past five years, she has sought to find her place in the church's inflexible, bureaucratic and patriarchal structure. While this study was in the final stages of being written, the CPSA took the historic decision to ordain women to the priesthood. Her personal struggle had been vindicated. However, more importantly, the church's decision attests to that organisation's potential for creative change. Thus this study is dedicated to the members of the CPSA in the Diocese of Cape Town, in the hope that they will embrace the challenge, both as individuals and as a community to become active agents of social change. The field research was conducted during the period March 1989 to March 1990 by the researcher herself, who was a paid employee of the Diocese of Cape Town at the time. Both the promoter and co-promoter of this thesis supervised this research. The results were first published in August 1990 by the Diocese of Cape Town in a report entitled, Voices of the Church: An Anglican perspective on welfare and development in the Diocese of Cape Town. Permission to use the research material in this study has been granted by the Most Reverend Desmond Mpilo Tutu, and is acknowledged with thanks. There are many people who during that period enabled the research to take place because of their willingness, enthusiasm and interest: the Most Reverend Desmond Tutu; Bishop Edward the liaison Bishop; members of Chapter and Diocesan Council; the support committee; the 130 people in the parishes who so willingly shared of themselves and their opinions, and in many instances opened their homes; and the clergy of the diocese, who participated wholeheartedly in the process.

The main objective of diploma thesis "Suburbanization in Central Bohemia Region and its impact on health" is research of non-coordinated suburbanization in Central Bohemia Region and its relation to health of inhabitants. There is used an appropriate combination of research methods according to the research objectives and questions (mental maps, actor analysis, public policy analysis, comparation, interviews). It enables understanding of all aspects of thesuburbanization process. Many theoretical concepts are used, eg. determinants of health, urbanism, sustainable development, quality of life or social transformation. The first part of diploma thesis presents health problems caused by urban sprawl. These problems are related to air quality, physical activity, traffic, water quantity and quality, mental health, social capital and health of special populations. Inguiry identifies roles, interests and behaviour of relevant actors. It proves that current suburbanization of Central Bohemia Region, similar to urban sprawl, may influence health and quality of life of its inhabitants, and brings many negative externalities. Incrementakl knowledge development and pressure of the European Union leads to changes in public policy and legislation, which was influenced with social transformation and impact on...

Thesis (M. Law. (Development and Management)) --University of Limpopo, 2019 / Like many other countries, South Africa has its own socio-economic challenges. For the past two decades, the country has been experiencing rapid population growth, yet in the same period, there has been a pervasive decline in social and economic stability, and in the end, stagnant human wellbeing. This has been as a result of diminishing access to basic services such as health care, quality housing, quality education and safe clean drinking water. Among other factors, unregulated and rapid population growth contribute to these socio-economic challenges. This study seeks to illustrate that overpopulation undermines and threatens social development, societal stability and survival of humanity. Therefore, the examines the possibility of enacting a legislation or policy that will regulate or limit procreation or the right to give birth. It also reflects on the Chinese experience to obtain some lessons from China’s One-Child Policy. It is submitted that South Africa must draft its own policy or legislation that will regulate population growth with the primary objective of aligning population with available state resources. Keywords: overpopulation, right to reproductive health, socio-economic rights, human wellbeing, social transformation.

Labour Migration of the Hawan Ha Clan Mongghul to Aksu in Xinjiang Abstract: The current work focuses on the ongoing labour migration of the Mongghul Ha Clan from Hawan, Gansu Province to Aksu in southern Xinjiang. It presents the motivation for the migration, and examines the social, economic and cultural changes the migration has catalyzed. Impacts on local Uyghur engendered by in-migrants are discussed. The work also features an overview and a generalization of the contemporary labour migration in China and Xinjiang in particular. Interviews with migrants are transcribed in Mongghul and translated to English and serve as an important source for the work.

Diploma thesis Case study of the reality show Tlouštíci - reality show as a way to happiness aims to explore how the definition of the makeover reality television is interpreted and implemented in individual moments of the show's creation (contents, creators, participants), which understands change of lifestyle as a way to increase quality of life. The main sources of information for this diploma theses are the contents of the individial episodes of the show Tlouštíci, interviews with the creators of the show and the participant, and non-participant observation of the castings and the shooting of the second series. The theoretical part of the thesis discusses the issue of obesity from a medical and social point of view and the development of depictions and views on obesity. The work is also based on the topic of relationship between a doctor and an obese patient. In the theoretical part the diploma thesis further analyzes the theory and history of reality television shows, specifically makeover reality television. The practical part then examines the contents, interviews and observations that were made and with the help of a case study of the work examines how the makeover of reality TV can be interprete dat each level as a way to happiness. Then the diploma thesis interprets the results of the...

The thesis is focused on values of the Czech society in 1990 - 2011, especially on hedonism value. It uses the method of a secondary analysis of quantitative data. We deal with the presumption that the social transformation which started in 1989, influenced value area as well. Our aim is to answer following questions: 1) Has an emphasis of hedonism in the Czech society changed during the social transformation? If yes, in what way? Can we observe continual rising of this value? 2) What is the influence of socio-demographic variables on hedonism? Is diferentiating influence of these variables on hedonism changing in time? An empirical part of this thesis is anticipated by the theoretical one, which is focused on research of values by social sciences and sociology, deals with questions about value stability and dynamism, presents a model of value dynamism by D. Slejška and draws up some consideration about influence of life circumstances - especially those which are related to the transformation of totalitarian society to freedom society - on the field of values. Keywords values - dynamism of values - hedonism - social transformation - public opinion surveys - secondary analysis of data

[pt] A presente dissertação analisou as transformações societárias recentes, instauradas no país a partir da década de 1990 do século XX, a fim de compreender os rebatimentos para o mundo trabalho, sobretudo para o trabalho do assistente social, no que se refere às demandas postas para a profissão e as respostas efetivadas, frente às inflexões em curso. Para tanto, foi necessário analisar o contexto oriundo da crise do capital com a adoção do ideário neoliberal, a reestruturação produtiva e o processo de contrarreforma do Estado brasileiro. Optou-se, para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa, em refletir sobre o trabalho do assistente social no Departamento de Controle do Espaço Aéreo - Decea, organização militar da Força Aérea Brasileira - FAB, apreendendo as implicações deste contexto para o exercício profissional do assistente social. As reflexões deste estudo, bem como o processo investigativo realizado, partem de inquietações profissionais atreladas à inserção da pesquisadora neste espaço sócio-ocupacional. Além disso, ressalta-se a existência de poucas produções teóricas no Brasil, na área do Serviço Social, voltadas para atividades profissionais no âmbito de instituições militares. Neste sentido, buscou-se analisar como as transformações em curso implicam em alterações nas condições e relações de trabalho e incidem sobre as relações sociais, de modo geral, e sobre as condições de vida dos trabalhadores. Foi realizada contextualização histórica e explanação sobre o Decea a fim de apresentar o cenário onde se configura o trabalho do assistente social neste espaço da FAB. O eixo central da reflexão recaiu sobre as demandas e respostas efetivadas a partir da análise de dados dos registros da Seção de Serviço Social deste Departamento. Conclui-se que o trabalho dos assistentes sociais deve levar em conta a análise da realidade, de forma crítica, para que esses profissionais possam responder com efetividade às demandas que lhes são apresentadas, de forma comprometida com a qualidade dos serviços prestados aos usuários. / [en] This thesis analyzed the recent corporate changes, introduced in the country from the 1990s of the twentieth century in order to understand the repercussions for working world, especially for the work of the social worker in relation to put demands for the profession and effect responses, compared to inflections in progress. Therefore, it was necessary to analyze the context of capital arising from the crisis with the adoption of neoliberal ideas, productive restructuring and against reform process of the Brazilian state. It was decided, for the development of research, to reflect on the work of the social worker at the Department of Airspace Control - Decea, military organization of the Brazilian Air Force - FAB, grasping the implications of this context for the professional social worker. The reflections of this study, as well as the investigative process done, run by professional concerns linked to the insertion of the researcher in this socio-occupational space. Furthermore, it emphasizes the existence of few theoretical productions in Brazil, in the area of social work, focused on professional activities within military institutions. In this sense, we sought to examine how the current changes imply changes in conditions and labor relations and focus on social relations in general, and on the living conditions of workers. historical contextualization has been made and explanation of the Decea to present the scenario where you configure the work of the social worker in this space of the FAB. The central axis of the reflection fell on the demands and effect responses from the analysis of data from the records of the Social Service Section of this Department. It is concluded that the work of social workers should take into account the analysis of reality, critically, so that these professionals can respond effectively to the demands presented to them, in a committed way with the quality of services provided to users.

[pt] Visando ser uma pequena contribuição num campo ainda não explorado, esta tese aborda o aspecto da fé como elemento propulsor do ser humano para a transformação social na obra mística de Edith Stein: A Ciência da Cruz. Este tema é instigante em virtude de seus desdobramentos em várias áreas do saber como a política, religião, pedagogia, sociologia e direito. Edith Stein, ao escrever sobre a vida e obra de São João da Cruz, oferece os elementos da mística, tendo na fé a fonte transformadora da realidade social que ilumina a noite escura da vida. Nas entrelinhas da obra, Stein apresenta a sua concepção da pessoa humana e a missão que esta tem na sociedade. De forma metafórica a autora contempla em João da Cruz o drama existencial que ela mesma estava vivendo no embate com o nazismo e na busca pela união nupcial com Deus. / [en] In order to be a small contribution in a still no explored realm, this thesis addresses the aspect of faith as a driving force of the human being for social transformation in the mystic Edith Stein s work aspect: The Science of the Cross. This theme is riveting by virtue of in various realms of knowledge like the politics, religion, pedagogy, sociology and law. Edith Stein, when writing about the São João da Cruz s life and work, offer the mystic s elements, taking the faith as the social reality transformer font which lights the life dark night. Between the lines of the book, Stein shows his conceptions of the human person and the his mission in the society. Metaphorically, the author contemplates in João da Cruz the existential drama that she was living in the struggle against the nazism and in the search of the nuptial union with God.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] La presente tesis doctoral analiza cuatro procesos de coproducción de conocimiento entre universidad y sociedad, facilitados a partir de metodologías participativas, así como sus contribuciones a la expansión de cuatro capacidades para la liberación epistémica en las personas que participan. Los principales fundamentos teóricos que orientan este estudio son el Enfoque de Capacidades para el Desarrollo Humano, la Justicia Epistémica y la Educación Liberadora. Esta tesis se realizó en la modalidad de compendio de publicaciones científicas, recogiendo tres artículos y un capítulo de libro publicado en una editorial de prestigio. La estrategia metodológica es de tipo cualitativo y se realiza a partir de la observación participante, entrevistas, talleres participativos y análisis del discurso (capítulo 1). A partir de una perspectiva crítica de las injusticias epistémicas propuestas por Miranda Fricker (2015), me posiciono desde las personas oprimidas a nivel histórico en los procesos de producción de conocimiento entre universidad y sociedad. Desde tal posicionamiento teórico y práctico en torno a la educación liberadora propuesta por el pedagogo brasileño Paulo Freire (1970;1978) identifico, formulo y analizo cuatro capacidades para la liberación epistémica que se alinean con los valores y principios del desarrollo humano. Estas capacidades se han visto potenciadas en las personas que participaron en los cuatro casos de estudios que serán explorados en esta tesis: la experiencia de investigación-acción participativa con cartografía social con niñas y niños de 4º Primaria del CEIP Vicente Gaos (capítulo 2); el proceso de Aprendizaje en Acción con alumnado del Máster en Cooperación al Desarrollo de la Universitat Politècnica de València y actores del barrio Na Rovella (capítulo 3); el subproceso de Fotovoz con las y los jóvenes de secundaria del IES Jordi de Sant Jordi (capítulo 4); y la iniciativa de la Red de Investigadores Comunitarios (RIC) en Medellín, Colombia (capítulo 5). Estas capacidades para la liberación epistémica son: la capacidad de ser reconocida como sujeta productora de conocimiento válido, la capacidad de hacer desde la apertura comunicativa, la capacidad de aprender del saber colectivo para el bien común y la capacidad de transformar desde la acción colectiva. Por otro lado, también identifico cuatro opresiones que limitan y obstaculizan la expansión de estas capacidades en las interacciones educativas y en los procesos de producción de conocimiento. La opresión ontológica limita y obstaculiza la capacidad de ser, las opresiones de tipo epistémica - expresivas e interpretativas - limitan, respectivamente, la capacidad de hacer y aprender, y las opresiones epistemológicas limitan la capacidad de transformar. A partir de tales capacidades y opresiones, exploro el caso de resistencia e insurrección hermenéutica de las lideresas y líderes comunitarios que participan en la RIC. A continuación, realizo una discusión global de los principales resultados de la tesis (capítulo 6). Por último, recojo las principales contribuciones y conclusiones del presente estudio doctoral a los procesos de coproducción de conocimiento entre universidad y sociedad que pretendan contribuir a la liberación epistémica de las personas que participan (capitulo 7). / [CA] La present tesi doctoral analitza quatre processos de coproducció de coneixement entre universitat i societat, facilitats a partir de metodologies participatives, així com les seves contribucions a l'expansió de quatre capacitats per a l'alliberament epistèmica en les persones que participen. Els principals fonaments teòrics que orienten aquest estudi són l'Enfocament de Capacitats per al Desenvolupament Humà, la Justícia Epistèmica i l'Educació Alliberadora. Aquesta tesi es va realitzar en la modalitat de compendi de publicacions científiques, recollint tres articles i un capítol de llibre publicat en una editorial de prestigi. L'estratègia metodològica és de tipus qualitatiu i es realitza a partir de l'observació participant, entrevistes, tallers participatius i anàlisis del discurs (capítol 1). A partir d'una perspectiva crítica de les injustícies epistèmics propostes per Miranda Fricker (2015), em posiciono des de les persones oprimides a nivell històric en els processos de producció de coneixement entre universitat i societat. Des de tal posicionament teòric i pràctic entorn de l'educació alliberadora proposada pel pedagog brasiler Paulo Freire (1970;1978) identifico, formulo i analitzo quatre capacitats per a l'alliberament epistèmica que s'alineen amb els valors i principis del desenvolupament humà. Aquestes capacitats s'han vist potenciades en les persones que van participar en els quatre casos d'estudis que seran explorats en aquesta tesi: l'experiència de recerca-acció participativa amb cartografia social amb nenes i nens de 4t Primària del CEIP Vicente Gaos (capítol 2); el procés d'Aprenentatge en Acció amb alumnat del Màster en Cooperació al Desenvolupament de la Universitat Politècnica de València i actors del barri Na Rovella (capítol 3); el subproceso de Fotovoz amb les i els joves de secundària de l'IES Jordi de Sant Jordi (capítol 4); i la iniciativa de la Xarxa d'Investigadors Comunitaris (RIC) a Medellín, Colòmbia (capítol 5). Aquestes capacitats per a l'alliberament epistèmica són: la capacitat de ser reconeguda com a subjecta productora de coneixement vàlid, la capacitat de fer des de l'obertura comunicativa, la capacitat d'aprendre del saber col·lectiu per al bé comú i la capacitat de transformar des de l'acció col·lectiva. D'altra banda, també identifico quatre opressions que limiten i obstaculitzen l'expansió d'aquestes capacitats en les interaccions educatives i en els processos de producció de coneixement. L'opressió ontològica limita i obstaculitza la capacitat de ser, les opressions de tipus epistèmics - expressives i interpretatives - limiten, respectivament, la capacitat de fer i aprendre, i les opressions epistemològiques limiten la capacitat de transformar. A partir de tals capacitats i opressions, exploro el cas de resistència i insurrecció hermenèutica de les lideressis i líders comunitaris que participen en la RIC. A continuació, realitzo una discussió global dels principals resultats de la tesi (capítol 6). Finalment, recullo les principals contribucions i conclusions del present estudi doctoral als processos de coproducció de coneixement entre universitat i societat que pretenguin contribuir a l'alliberament epistèmica de les persones que participen (capitulo 7). / [EN] This doctoral thesis analyses four processes of co-production of knowledge between university and society, facilitated from participatory methodologies, as well as their contributions to the expansion of four capabilities for epistemic liberation in the people who participate. The main theoretical foundations that guide this study are the Capability Approach for Human Development, Epistemic Justice and Liberating Education. This thesis was carried out in the form of compendium of scientific publications, collecting three articles and a book chapter published in a prestigious publisher. The methodological strategy is qualitative and is carried out based on participant observation, interviews, participatory workshops and discourse analysis (chapter 1). From a critical perspective of the epistemic injustices proposed by Miranda Fricker (2015), I position myself from the historically oppressed people in the knowledge production processes between university and society. From such a theoretical and practical position around the liberating education proposed by the Brazilian pedagogue Paulo Freire (1970; 1978), I identify, formulate and analyse four capabilities for epistemic liberation that are aligned with the values and principles of human development. These capabilities have been enhanced in the people who participated in the four case studies that will be explored in this thesis: the participatory action-research experience with social mapping with 4th grade boys and girls from CEIP Vicente Gaos (chapter 2); the Learning in Action process with students of the Master's Degree in Development Cooperation at the Polytechnic University of Valencia and actors from the Na Rovella neighborhood (chapter 3); the Photovoice thread with secondary school youth from the IES Jordi de Sant Jordi (chapter 4); and the initiative of the Network of Community Researchers (RIC) in Medellín, Colombia (chapter 5). These capabilities for epistemic liberation are the capability to be recognized as a producer of valid knowledge, the capability to do things from communicative openness, the capability to learn from collective knowledge for the common good, and the capability to transform from collective action. On the other hand, I also identify four oppressions that limit and hinder the expansion of these capabilities in educational interactions and in knowledge production processes. Ontological oppression limits and hinders the capability to be, epistemic type oppressions - expressive and interpretive - limit, respectively, the ability to do and learn, and epistemological oppressions limit the ability to transform. From such capabilities and oppressions, I explore the case of resistance and hermeneutical insurrection of the community leaders who participate in the RIC. Next, I make a global discussion of the main results of the thesis (chapter 6). Finally, he collected the main contributions and conclusions of this doctoral study to the processes of co-production of knowledge between university and society that seek to contribute to the epistemic liberation of the people who participate (chapter 7). / Leivas Vargas, M. (2022). Capacidades para la liberación epistémica en los procesos de coproducción de conocimiento entre universidad y sociedad a partir de metodologías participativas transformadoras [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/190625 / Compendio

Ambient Intelligence (AmI) refers to a vision of the information society where everyday human environments will be permeated by intelligent technology: people will be surrounded and accompanied by intelligent interfaces supported by computing and wireless networking technology that is ubiquitous, embedded in virtually all kinds of everyday objects. These computationally augmented, smart environments - composed of a myriad of invisible, distributed, networked, connected, interactive, and always-on computing devices - are aware of human context; sensitive to people's needs; adaptive to, and anticipatory of, their behavior; personalized to their requirements; and responsive to their emotion and presence, thereby intelligently supporting their daily and social lives by providing limitless services in a seamless and unobtrusive way. The vision of AmI assumes a paradigmatic shift in both computing and society – far-reaching societal implications. The challenge lies in developing AmI forms that acclimatise to societal change and the diversity of European socio-cultural life. Indeed, one of the most fundamental views in the prevailing AmI vision is a radical and technology-driven change to social environments and people’s lives. Research emphasizes the fundamental role the ISTAG, a group of scholars and ICT industry experts, plays in the reproduction of AmI as a positive force for societal change. Therefore, the objective of this study is to carry out a critical reading of the scholarly and ICT industry’s construction of AmI in relation to societal transformation. To achieve this objective, a discourse analytical approach was employed to examine the selected empirical material: three reports published by the ISTAG in 2001, 2003 and 2006. The approach consists of seven stages: (1) surface elements and organizational structure, (2) discursive constructions, (3) social actors, (4) language and rhetoric, (5) framing as power and operation, (6) positioning and legitimation, and (7) ideological viewpoints.The AmI discourse (vision) construction tends to be deterministic, i.e. it assumes that the ‘amization’ of society will lead to radical social transformations, and has an unsophisticated account of how social change occurs. It is also inclined to be rhetorical - it promises revolutionary social changes without really having a holistic strategy for achieving the goal. Moreover, topicalization is accomplished in correspondence with the preferred mental models and social representations. Furthermore, the discourse is exclusionary: many issues (pertaining to trust, social sustainability, human-centred design, healthcare, and community life) are left out with the intention to advance the idea of the eventual societal acceptance of AmI. It additionally plays a role in wider processes of legitimation of social agents and structures on the basis of normative and political reasons, and it offers different subject positions: between ISTAG and Europe and European citizens, and between citizens and ICT designers and producers. Likewise, it plays a major role in constructing the image of social actors – ISTAG, ICT industry, research community and EU – as well as in defining their relations and identities in ways that reallocate roles and reflect new attributes. A great highlight and space is awarded to represent these actors, and their views dominate the reports. They are the prime definer of the represented reality. As to ideological reproduction, the discourse perpetuates power relations, serves the interest of certain stakeholders in European society, and reconstructs ideological claims. This discursive endeavor provides a valuable reference for social researchers or scientists in related research communities. Until now, there has been, to the best of one’s knowledge, no comprehensive discursive research of AmI in relation to societal transformation, more specifically the potential of AmI in modernizing the European social model and in shaping Europe’s future.