This thesis is a collection of three articles in applied economics that explore food security and social cohesion among population affected by violence and forced displacement. Chapter II aims at quantifying the effect of violent conflict on food security and dietary quality in Iraq. Specifically, I estimate the effect of physical insecurity on caloric availability and household dietary diversity by using an instrumental variable (IV) approach. Results show that conflict has a positive (negative) effect of on per capita caloric availability (household dietary diversity). The direction of this relationship, although seemingly counterintuitive, is unsurprising given Iraq’s relatively high-income levels and large public food distribution system. Overall, the results suggest that, for countries transitioning to diets high in calories and fat, violent conflict may drive the population towards an unhealthier diet and may thus contribute to the nation’s growing prevalence of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases. In the third Chapter, I use a household dietary diversity score and a food consumption score to measure the effect of structural and physical Israeli settler violence on Palestinian food security in the occupied West Bank. In doing so, I employ a novel instrumental variable which correlates with settlement proximity while remaining exogenous to other confounders. According to the main results, both the presence of settlements and the insecurity they generate have a statistically significant negative effect on food security via continuous violence against Palestinians and their properties. This finding is further supported by a supplemental analysis of two potential underlying mechanisms: access to water and commuting time to the closest food market. The last empirical article in Chapter IV assesses the impact of the Education Program for Syrian Refugees and Host Communities (BILSY) implemented in Turkey. BILSY relied on positive contact to enhance trust and reciprocity among Syrian and Turkish children. Exploiting a unique primary data on Syrian and Turkish children, we1 investigate whether the BILSY program was effective in promoting social cohesion (altruism and trust) among them by running both dictator and trust games. The sample for the study is drawn from the BILSY program participants and it comprises 685 individuals of Turkish and Syrian background aged between 6 and 11 years old. Since all the participants received the treatment at some point, we randomized the time of interview, namely before or after receiving the treatment. We relied on the short length of the activities implemented to mimic a randomized control trial. Our results show that the program does not significantly affect the participants’ decisions during the games, neither towards children of different nationality, nor toward other fellow citizens.

Yes / This study examined factors that either enhance or undermine community cohesion in areas with established Muslim communities and into which Muslim migrants have recently arrived. It explores ethnic and religious interaction; kinship and friendship networks; political and civic participation; community and people's feelings of belonging to Britain; and local policy-maker' and practitioners' views. / Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Vi kämpar för något, vi är förortssoldater. Det är ett alltmer förekommande fenomen att ungdomar i förorter runt om i Sverige samt internationellt startar upplopp och av olika anledningar skapar en motreaktion där de går till attack mot polisen. Syftet med denna uppsats är att lyfta samt ta del av ungdomar boende i Kronogårdens röst, samt får en djupare förståelse för ungdomarnas upplevelser kring polisens agerande tiden före samt under upploppet som var i Kronogården den 31/8 – 2/9 2016. Som avgränsning har vi valt att vända oss till ungdomar boende i Kronogården som deltagit aktivt eller varit närvarande under upploppet. Studien genomfördes i en hermeneutisk-femenologisk forskningsansats med kvalitativa intervjuer. Studiens empiri bygger på ett antal intervjuer med sex ungdomar i åldrarna mellan 16-24. Studiens resultat analyseras med hjälp av tidigare forskning samt relevant utvalda teoretiska begrepp. De begrepp vi använder oss av i studien är makt, social sammanhållning och stigmatisering, detta för att kunna få en djupare förståelse för samt kunna tolka ungdomarnas upplevelser. I resultatet framkommer det att ungdomarna upplever att de blir trakasserade av poliser och orättvist behandlade jämfört med ungdomar boende i andra områden samt att upploppet var deras motreaktion, ett sätt att uttrycka sin frustration och göra sin röst hörd. Det framkommer även att det finns olika uppfattningar om polisen och dess bemötande samt agerande, beroende på om polisen arbetar inom närpolisen eller den utomstående polisen. Vidare visar även resultatet att området, Kronogården har en stor betydelse för ungdomarna där det finns en stark social sammanhållning och att ungdomarna upplever att media till stor del har bidragit till den negativ bild som finns om Kronogården och om ungdomarna som bor där. / We are fighting for something; we are soldiers of the suburb. It's a reoccurring phenomenon that the young people in the suburbs around Sweden and around the world starts riots and for different reasons it creates a reaction where they go to attack against the police. The purpose of this essay is to uplift and take a part of the voice of the youth from Kronogården, and furthermore get a deeper understanding of the experience that the young people got from law enforcement both during and after the riots on the 31/8 – 2/9 2016. As a demarcation we have chosen to focus on the youth living in Kronogården that have participated or were present during the riots. This study was conducted in Hermeneuticphenomenological research approach with qualitative interviews. The ground of the study is emphasizing the interviews from 6 young persons from the ages 16-24. The essay is analyzed with help from previous researched and relevant theoretic notions. The notions we use in this essay are power, social cohesion and stigma, so that we can get a deeper understanding and accurate interpretations of the young people's experiences. In the result it appears that the youth feel harassed and unfairly treated by the police in comparison to other young people living in other neighborhood's and that their action against the police is actually a reaction to the treatment from law enforcement. Their way of expressing a discontent and frustration and a way to get heard. It also appears to be several different perceptions about the police and their conduct, depending if it's the community police or an outside law enforcement. Furthermore it also show that the community Kronogården has an enormous impact both emotional and physical on the people, they have sense of belonging and a very strong cohesion between the residents and they feel that media is a huge contribution to the negative interpretation of both the young people that live there and of the community as a whole.

The purpose of this present investigation was twofold: to determine the relationship between cohesion and performance for successful and unsuccessful bowling teams and to investigate the internal consistency of items from the Group Environment Questionnaire. Subjects were 148 bowling teams (28 men's, 55 women's, 65 mixed--3-5 members each) from 14 different leagues. Results revealed that task cohesion (ATGT) in early, mid, and late season, as well as social cohesion (ATGS) in late season significantly differentiated between high/low cohesion teams. In addition, successful teams (i.e., league position) exhibited significantly higher levels of both task and composite cohesion. All cohesion scales, with the exception of ATGS in early season, revealed a moderate to high level of internal consistency.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Series: INEQ Working Paper Series

Indigenous knowledge systems are ―a body or bodies of knowledge‖ which Africans have survived on for a very long time (Mapara, 2010). This study intends to examine the various communicative and indigenous strategies that are employed by the Zimbabwean Ndebeles in issues of peace and conflict management. It is necessitated by the realisation that there is an increase in conflict in the region and country as a result of political and socio-economic challenges. The study adopts a bottom-up approach where conflict management becomes a process that starts from the grassroots going outward. This should also provide an opportunity to demonstrate that indigenous people are as sophisticated as every other society in dealing with their challenges (Warren, 1991). At the same time, it seeks to examine effectiveness of the indigenous and communicative conflict management strategies used by the Ndebele people. The study makes use of research questionnaires and interviews as well as descriptive and content analysis for data gathering and analysis respectively. The main theoretical concept guiding this study is ubuntu because it is considered best for Afrocentric approach to African studies. This is emphasised by Moyo and Lantern (2015:103) who state that ―... the philosophy of ubuntu should be the guiding philosophy in a Zimbabwe poisoned by ill-understood and often ill-digested ontological philosophies of individual rights that give rise to selfishness, violence, fragmentation and the sterile, barren philosophy of each man for himself‖ which continues to tear our society apart. The study focuses mainly on the Ndebele speaking communities in Silobela District of Zimbabwe. The study helps the nation in combating and addressing cases of conflict by ushering in the cultural dimension which is albeit not foreign in the worldview of the local people. This compliments all other efforts being made by the government to address socio-political challenges. By documenting (indigenous knowledge systems) that which has been otherwise ignored and side-lined for a long time, the study is part of an on-going process of mental decolonisation of the African people at the same time empowering them to face a globalising world with confidence and pride. / African Languages

La Gabon, pays d’Afrique centrale, compte une population d’environ 1 500 000 habitants.L’économie gabonaise repose principalement sur ses ressources en matières premières.Ouvert à l’environnement international le Gabon est depuis le tournant des années 1990 inscrit dans une logique de développement visant une diversification de ses secteurs économiques. C’est dans ce contexte que le pays s’intéresse aux TIC et à leur insertion dans son processus de développement. Ces TIC posent pourtant un triple défi : celui du savoir-faire ; du savoir-être ; et celui du maintien de l’intérêt général. Néanmoins, comme dans d’autres Etats africains francophones (notamment le Maroc, le Sénégal), les dirigeants gabonais ont perçu l’enjeu stratégique que constituent les TIC pour l’avenir du pays. En effet, l’usage et l’appropriation des TIC peuvent, s’ils sont maîtrisés et accompagnés par une politique publique clairvoyante, être une formidable chance de cohésion et d’intégration sociale. Ou, au contraire, en cas d’échec, un moment occasionnant une fracture sociale supplémentaire. Car si l’environnement défini par les TIC est celui de l’évolution accélérée et de la performance structurante, les difficultés restent importantes quant à l’adaptation et l’appropriation de ces outils par le plus grand nombre. Cette recherche s’intéresse précisément aux conditions d’une réelle cohésion sociale qui serait induite par les TIC. Celle-ci nécessite un contexte politique capable de favoriser l’accès à l’information au sens le plus large du terme. Dans cette perspective, cette thèse interroge l’exercice du pouvoir au Gabon et en Afrique centrale, les projets initiés par les acteurs étatiques et non étatiques, ainsi que divers mécanismes d’appropriation pouvant faciliter ou ralentir une intégration efficace de ces nouvelles technologies. / Gabon, a country of central Africa, has a population of about 1 500 000 inhabitants. TheGabonese economy relies mainly on its natural resources. Since the begining of 1990, this countryhas chosen a development plan, aiming at the diversification of its economic sectors. It is in thisperspective that the country pays a particular attention to ICT (Information and CommunicationTechnology) and to its intergration in the process of development. However, ICT poses a triplechallenge: that of know-how; social skills; and that of the preservation of the general interest. Asin the other french-speaking countries, Gabonese leaders have understood the strategic importanceof ICT in the future of Gabon. The fact remains that the use and appropriation of ICT can bebeneficial, if they are mastered and guided by a farsighted public policy,which is a greatopportunity for social cohesion and intergration. On the other hand, when this fails, it can bringabout additional inequalities. As a matter of fact, if the environment defined by ICT is that ofaccelerating change and structural performance, the difficulties are significant when it comes tothe adaptation and the appropriation of these tools by many people. This research is interested inthe conditions of a real social cohesion which would be fostered by ICT. This requires a politicalcontext which favours access to Information Technology in the largest sense. We are thereforefocusing our attention on the political structures.

A urina é importante na comunicação olfativa de mamíferos, especialmente em roedores: apresenta baixo custo e contém metabólitos potencialmente informativos. Possibilita que o receptor avalie características do emissor (p. ex. espécie, sexo, idade, status de dominância e de saúde, receptividade sexual e o tempo da emissão) a partir da urina encontrada. O balanço hídrico, no entanto, pode ser desvantajoso com o uso da urina na marcação por animais de ambientes xéricos e quentes, já que existe um tradeoff entre o volume de água acessível/ingerido e o emitido na micção/marcação, com pressão seletiva a favor da economia hídrica. Nestes casos pode ocorrer redução na emissão de volume com consequente limitação do uso da marcação por urina. Trinomys yonenagae (Rocha, 1995) (Rodentia, Echimyidae) é altamente afiliativa, endêmica da Caatinga, e pertencente a um gênero de ancestral silvícola, cuja maioria das espécies apresenta fidelidade a ambientes florestados. Produz urina de média osmolaridade e de volume semelhante ao de espécies silvícolas do gênero, embora viva em um paleodeserto de temperatura elevada. Nesse contexto hipotetizamos que T. yonenagae faz uso de marcação por urina, uma estratégia importante para roedores sociais, explorando favoravelmente a restrição filogenética (produção de urina de média osmolaridade) imposta por sua ancestralidade. O padrão de deposição de urina e de fezes de T. yonenagae (n=10) e da espécie-irmã, Trinomys setosus (n=10), de ambiente florestado, foi visualizado sob luz ultravioleta (UV), em sessões individuais (24h), em gaiolas-padrão (40x33x16cm), forradas com papel de filtro. O mesmo procedimento foi usado nas investigações posteriores - a quantificação do número de fezes e das marcas de urinas, com estimativas do volume de marcação (VUt=L total/sessão e L/marca) - em T. yonenagae pré-pubertal (32 a 76d, n=10) e em adultos (um a 11 anos, n=21), de ambos os sexos, em sessões (10min) individuais e em contexto social. Nesse caso os rabos-de-facho adultos foram pareados em compartimentos adjacentes (caixa de 40x30x26cm), com um coespecífico de mesmo sexo, conhecido e desconhecido, e de sexo oposto, desconhecido. Qualitativamente as espécies-irmãs apresentam padrão de disposição de urina semelhantes, provavelmente herdados do ancestral silvícola comum. Há depósitos de dois tipos: marcas grandes, nos cantos da gaiola, e marcas pequenas, distribuídas na área central. Em T. yonenagae, as marcas grandes (VUt=3,00-750,00L, 6,67±4,30% do volume urinário diário), correlacionam-se significativamente (Pearson=0,41; sig.<0,00) com a deposição de fezes, sugerindo deposição de latrina; o VUt das marcas pequenas é de 0,01 a 0,05L. O número de marcas pequenas mais elevado, entre os sujeitos que urinaram, foi de quando pareadas com conhecidas (ANOVA um fator, F=3,70 sig.<0,00), sugerindo coesão social em , e associado a um pequeno investimento hídrico. Observou-se também depósitos de secreções da Glândula Harderiana (GH), que não se correlacionaram com nenhuma das variáveis analisadas. Não ocorreram diferenças estatisticamente significantes nas demais comparações feitas. Em condição solitária, 80% dos indivíduos adultos marcaram (latência <5min), enquanto que o grupo de 26-41d apenas dois sujeitos marcaram. O VUt correlacionouse com a idade positivamente (Pearson=0,64; sig.=0,05), entre os indivíduos jovens, e negativamente entre os adultos (Pearson=-0,39; sig.<0,00), o que sugere que a marcação por urina possa ser hormônio-dependente, como ocorre em outras espécies de roedores. A limitação ao acesso à água no ambiente natural dos rabos-de-facho parece não ter se sobreposto aos fatores de ancestralidade e comunicação social na modulação do comportamento de marcação por urina em T. yonenagae, especialmente para fêmeas que ocupam papel diferenciado na hierarquia social do grupo. O trabalho também salienta a ausência de hierarquia linear nos rabos-de-facho, como anteriormente relatado, e evidencia a presença de atividade da GH, abrindo nova linha de estudos fisiológicos e comportamentais dessa glândula em ratos-de-espinho / Urine is important in olfactive communication in mammals, especially in rodents: its presents low costs and had potentially informatives metabolites. The urine enables the sender to transmit informations about itself (p. ex. species, sex, age, dominance and health status, sexual receptivity, and time of deposit). The water balance, however, can be disadvantageous with the use of urine marking in xeric and hot environments, because there is a trade-off between the amount of water available/ingested and delivered in urination/marking, with pressure selective in favor of the water economy. In these cases there may be a reduction in emission of the volume with consequent limitation of the use of the urine in marking. Trinomys yonenagae (Rocha, 1995) (Rodentia, Echimyidae) is highly affiliative, endemic in the Caatinga, and belongs to a genus of forestry ancestral, which most of species have congruence with forested environments. The rabo-de-facho produces urine with medium osmolarity and volume similar to that of forestry species in the genus, although lives in a high temperature paleodesert. In this context we hypothesized that T. yonenagae marks with urine, an important strategy for social rodents, and explore favorably the phylogenetic constraint (production of medium osmolarity urine) imposed by their ancestral. The pattern of urine and feces deposition of T. yonenagae (n=10) and of the sister-species, Trinomys setosus (n=10), of forested environment, was visualized under ultraviolet light (UV) in individual sessions (24h) in house-cages (40x33x16cm), with the floor covered with filter paper. The same procedure was used in further investigations quantification of the number of feces and of the urine marks, with estimation of the urine volume (VUt = L total/session and L/mark) in pre-puebertal (32 to 76d, n = 10) and adults (one to 11 years, n = 21) T. yonenagae, of both sexes, in 10min sessions under individual and social context. The adults in social context was pared, in an adjacent compartments (of 40x30x26cm box), with a same-sex conspecific, known and unknown, and opposite, sex unknown. Qualitatively, both species shows similar patterns of urine deposition, probably inherited from the forestry ancestral. There are kinds of deposits: larger ones, deposited in the corners of the cage, and small ones, distributed in the central area. In T. yonenagae, the larger marks (VUt = 3,00-750,00L, 6.67 ± 4.30% of the daily urine volume) are significantly correlated (Pearson = 0.41, sig <0.00. ) with the number of feces pellets, suggesting latrine deposition; the VUt of small marks is from 0.01 to 0,05L. The higher number of small marks among subjects who urinated was in paired with known situation (one-way ANOVA, F = 3.70; sig. <0.00), suggesting social cohesion in , and associated with a small water investment. It is also noted deposits of Harderian gland (GH) secretions, which were not correlated with any of the variables. There were no statistically significant differences in the other comparisons. In solitary condition, 80% of adults marked (latency <5min), while only two subjects in the 26-41d group marked. The VUt correlated positively with age (Pearson = 0.64;. sig = 0.05) among young individuals, and negatively among adults (Pearson = -0.39;. sig <0.00). This suggests urine-marking in T. yonenagae as a hormone-dependent behavior, like in other rodent species. The limited access to water in the natural environment of rabo-de-facho seems to have not overlapped the ancestry factors and social communication in the modulation of urine for marking behavior, especially for females occupying distinct role in the social hierarchy the group. The work also highlights the absence of linear hierarchy in rabo-de-facho, as previously reported, and shows the presence of GH activity, opening new line of physiological and behavioral studies of this gland in spiny-rats

O modelo convencional de organização da cadeia de produção e distribuição de alimentos é baseado na dependência cada vez maior do capital financeiro e industrial, no uso de agroquímicos, adubos, fertilizantes industriais e de outras técnicas provenientes da Revolução Verde, na livre circulação de mercadorias nos países e na inserção de intermediários na cadeia de distribuição. Esse modelo representa um movimento de mercantilização da agricultura e prejudica a autonomia dos indivíduos sobre a sua reprodução material e social, fazendo com que a sociedade enfrente um incremento de pobreza, insegurança alimentar, êxodo rural, danos à saúde e ao meio ambiente, assim como uma perda do senso de comunidade e de solidariedade. Além da compreensão do conceito e das formas de expressão do movimento de mercantilização, a lente teórica, que tem origem em Karl Polanyi, possibilita capturar o conceito da pluralidade e da coexistência dos princípios de regulação econômica e também do contramovimento como uma forma de resistência e de resgate da autonomia relativa dos indivíduos. É nesse contexto que a Agricultura Sustentada pela Comunidade (CSA) surge como uma possibilidade de contramovimento ao mercado convencional de alimentos ao adicionar uma qualidade ao ato de alimentar-se pela produção agroecológica e ao reconectar produção e consumo mediante o encurtamento da cadeia de distribuição. O problema que norteou a pesquisa desta dissertação foi compreender quais seriam as formas de contramovimento que se configuram na Agricultura Sustentada pela Comunidade diante da generalização do processo de mercantilização. Por isso, o objetivo geral consistiu em compreender e analisar, em uma experiência real de CSA situada na região sudeste do Brasil, os padrões de troca não mercantil em operação e os fatores que favorecem a autonomia relativa e elevam a coesão social de produtores e consumidores que participam da experiência observada. O método empregado foi a observação participante, utilizando as técnicas da etnografia. Em termos gerais, os resultados encontrados na pesquisa sinalizam que os indivíduos não são passivos diante dos efeitos da mercantilização e articulam-se em movimentos que buscam proteção e ganho de autonomia. Os resultados confirmam a hipótese inicial de que nas atividades de CSA coexistem, com a troca de mercado, outros princípios de regulação da economia, especificamente a reciprocidade, que aparece em diversos momentos, desde as motivações para o engajamento dos indivíduos até a forma em que a própria troca é realizada. Isso porque ao privilegiar nas suas trocas o ato em vez do objeto e do interesse privado, há menção a uma relação mais humana que permite o estabelecimento de amizade, solidariedade, tolerância, fidelidade e comprometimento mútuos, mas, principalmente, possibilita a ampliação da autonomia relativa dos indivíduos e o estabelecimento de um senso de comunidade, que se faz em torno do alimento. Na pesquisa, foram identificados três fatores específicos desta eficácia: a forma de produzir o alimento, oposto ao da agricultura tradicional, o encurtamento da cadeia e as atividades em conjunto mobilizadas pelo grupo de agricultores e consumidores. Desta forma, a Agricultura Sustentada pela Comunidade constitui um contramovimento à mercantilização na agricultura e aparece como uma alternativa eficaz na construção da autonomia daqueles que estão entrelaçados nessa rede de alimentos e na ampliação da coesão social. Os resultados e conclusões apresentados ao longo da dissertação ganham relevância na medida em que contribuem com novas informações e possibilidades de atuação na reversão do êxodo rural, na diminuição da pobreza, na redução de gastos públicos em saúde com uma alimentação mais saudável, assim como na promoção de iniciativas de preservação do meio ambiente. / The conventional model of organization of the production and distribution of food chain is based on the increasing dependence on the financial and industrial capital, the use of agrochemicals, fertilizers, industrial fertilizers and other techniques from the Green Revolution, the free circulation of goods in countries and the inclusion of intermediaries in the distribution chain. This model represents a movement of commodification of agriculture and undermines the autonomy of individuals concerning their material and social reproduction, leading society to a status of poverty, food insecurity, rural exodus, damage to health and environment, as well as to a loss of sense of community and solidarity. In addition to understanding the concept and the ways of expression of the commodification movement, the theoretical approach, based on Karl Polanyi, enables to capture the concept of plurality and coexistence of the principles of economic regulation and also the countermovement as a form of resistance and rescue of the individuals’ autonomy. In this context, the Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) emerges as a possibility of countermovement to the conventional food market to add quality to the act of feeding by the agroecological production and to reconnect production and consumption by shortening the supply chain. The problem that guided the research of this dissertation was to understand what are the forms of countermovement that are present in the Community-Supported Agriculture before the generalization of the commodification process. Therefore, the overall objective was to understand and analyze, in a real experience of CSA located in southeast region of Brazil, the patterns of non-market exchange and the elements that favor the relative autonomy and increase social cohesion among producers and consumers participating in the observed experience. The method used was participant observation, using the techniques of ethnography. In general, the results found in the study show that individuals are not passive before the effects of commodification and they articulate in movements that seek protection and autonomy. The results confirm the initial hypothesis that, in the CSA, activities coexist with the exchange market, such as other principles of regulation of economy, especially reciprocity, which appears at various times, in motivation for engagement and in the way the exchange itself is performed. This happens because, when they prioritize their exchanges act instead of the object and the private interest, they develop a more human relationship that allows the establishment of friendship, solidarity, tolerance, mutual fidelity and commitment and also enable the expansion of autonomy of individuals and establish a sense of community, which is around the food. In this study, we have identified three specific elements that contribute to the effectiveness of the process: the way of producing food, as opposed to traditional agriculture, the shortening of chain and the activities in group promoted by the group of farmers and consumers. Thus, the Community-Supported Agriculture is a countermovement to the commodification in agriculture and an effective alternative in the construction of autonomy of those who are part of this net of food and in the expansion of social cohesion. The results and conclusions presented throughout the dissertation are relevant since they contribute with new information and possibilities of actions to slowdown rural exodus, alleviate poverty, reduce public spending on health with a healthier diet, as well as to promote the development of initiatives to preserve the environment.