published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This research seeks a clearer understanding of the field of social justice education in Canada. Informed by multicultural and antiracist pedagogy, I explore the theoretical underpinnings and practical realities of this work among 11 activist Alberta teachers and students. Collaborative interviews with these participants reveal portraits of current activism in voluntary coalitions in secondary schools. Through guided critical self-reflection, fellow activists and I examine forming and sustaining ongoing projects. I present guiding hypotheses and assumptions that steer this research, and a theoretical framework that accommodates complex intersections of "race," class, gender, sexual orientation, and other considerations of social justice pedagogy and activism. This research addresses omissions in the educational literature; one such gap is a lack of research attention to young people—particularly to their role as active participants in social justice movements. In addition, I address teachers' previously undervalued role as crucial participants in educational policy development, reform efforts, and research on social justice education. Attending to the relatively few accounts of school-based action projects, I describe the integrative STOP model of student and community activism. An overview of the unique Canadian and regional contexts and recent political developments around social justice issues, and a summary of relevant research and theory from British and American literature, suggest specific areas of contention, influence, and overlap of relevance to this study. I employ a qualitative research methodology using a specific collaborative approach, and include details of participant selection, data gathering and analysis, and ethical considerations. Two chapters develop my research results along the lines traced by my guiding hypotheses. A concluding chapter outlines the specific significance of this research, factors that promote coalition-building, and promising avenues for further scholarly study. A value of this investigation is the rich offerings from my participants, whose reflections on their work are solidly grounded in understandings of daily activism. Their contributions show the potential mutual benefits of respectful research collaborations that both reveal and share the wisdom of social justice practitioners as theorists.

While, many communities around South Africa have been affected by apartheid planning, some were left worse off than others. Apartheid planning followed a distinct socio-political and economic programme, as well as a particular development approach. Such an approach placed little emphasis on man and the environment (Iyer, 1995). One of the primary principles of the apartheid policy was to racially segregate population groups. In most cases, it created built environments or living spaces that were unsupportive of resident communities. Iyer (1995) suggests that the South African city is not only a result of apartheid policy, but also a product of a modernist development mentality, and reflects the importation of associated planning models and ideals. Modernist planning is premised on technocratic and utilitarian ideals. According to Iyer (1995: 19), such models, which are “based on efficiency, the motor vehicle, engineering and maintenance standards, spatial segregation of land uses, rigid zoning, and so on, have produced environments that lack human quality, expression and identity” (Iyer 1995: 19). The built environment is expected to “provide its users with an essentially democratic setting, enriching their opportunities by maximising the degree of choice available to them” (Bentley & Alcock, 1985: 9). In other words, the built environment needs to be a living space that is responsive to the community it serves. A responsive environment is an environment that allows people to enrich their lives. It creates positive and livable living spaces. Urban design is an approach to design that seeks to establish responsive environments. Urban design interventions may be used to improve the many adverse conditions created by apartheid policy and the modernist way of thinking. The study area in this research, Merebank, is situated approximately 15 kilometres south of the city of Durban and is one of the oldest Indian residential areas in KwaZulu-Natal.See Map 1. Merebank is one of the suburbs particularly affected by the laws of apartheid and modernist planning. It is a highly controversial area having many urban design faults. The aim of this dissertation is to analyse the study area, examining the planning and design problems that negatively affect the area, and to explore possible design interventions that can be used to counteract or improve these conditions. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

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A participatory evaluation method used to evaluate development projects is applied to the public library. The Tholulwazi Library, Besters Camp, Inanda - the first library established by the Durban Municipal Library service in an informal settlement - is the case used in the study. The developmental context of public libraries in South Africa in the 1990s provided part of the justification for this approach. This context relates to community demands for libraries along with other development services, as well as claims of developmental and educational benefit used to motivate for public library funding. Diminishing public budgets and calls for efficiency and effectiveness in the public service, suggest the need to evaluate and demonstrate impact and community benefit. In addition a survey of the literature on library evaluation since the 1970s indicates that useful, easily applicable methods of library evaluation are unavailable to the practitioner, hence the justification for considering models developed in other sectors. This thesis surveys the library evaluation literature, and then looks to trends in the evaluation of social service and development projects and programmes. An approach which combines a systematic and objectives-oriented approach, effected by a participatory methodology is selected and applied to the Tholulwazi Library. The evaluation takes place via a questionnaire survey of a group of library users (students), a use register and library counter-based survey; supplemented by existing population data on the Besters area. A work group consisting of library staff and user representatives, facilitated by the author, conducted the evaluation. The evaluation results reflect on the validity of library planning, and quantify and qualify the extent and type of use of students users, and the benefit derived. These results are analysed in relation to library objectives, and the coincidence or deviation commented upon. Recommendations for action in the management of Tholulwazi Library are given, as well as recommendations applicable to the planning and establishment of new libraries in other informal settlements and townships. Suggestions as to further use of this evaluation approach are given, in addition to comments on the relevance and applicability of the methodology. These focus on the strategic and managerial benefit of demonstrating a link between library resources and activities (funded by public moneys), to use and user benefit. The use of a participatory methodology is shown to be technically necessary in demonstrating this link, as well as politically strategic. Valid and appropriate decision-making by management needs input from all levels, hence the value of utilising 'multiple realities' of all groupings involved with delivery at a particular service point, in such an evaluation. The approach used suggests a more conscious approach to management of libraries generally. It points to specific, periodic reflection on and analysis of the role of the library as a social institution and the societal problems addressed. This includes analysis of the library environment, focusing on existing and potential target groups. The analysis applies in relation to conscious planning procedures, as well as ongoing monitoring and periodic evaluation of endeavours. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1997.

A participatory evaluation method used to evaluate development projects is applied to the public library. The Tholulwazi Library, Besters Camp, Inanda - the first library established by the Durban Municipal Library service in an informal settlement - is the case used in the study. The developmental context of public libraries in South Africa in the 1990s provided part of the justification for this approach. This context relates to community demands for libraries along with other development services, as well as claims of developmental and educational benefit used to motivate for public library funding. Diminishing public budgets and calls for efficiency and effectiveness in the public service, suggest the need to evaluate and demonstrate impact and community benefit. In addition a survey of the literature on library evaluation since the 1970s indicates that useful, easily applicable methods of library evaluation are unavailable to the practitioner, hence the justification for considering models developed in other sectors. This thesis surveys the library evaluation literature, and then looks to trends in the evaluation of social service and development projects and programmes. An approach which combines a systematic and objectives-oriented approach, effected by a participatory methodology is selected and applied to the Tholulwazi Library. The evaluation takes place via a questionnaire survey of a group of library users (students), a use register and library counter-based survey; supplemented by existing population data on the Besters area. A work group consisting of library staff and user representatives, facilitated by the author, conducted the evaluation. The evaluation results reflect on the validity of library planning, and quantify and qualify the extent and type of use of students users, and the benefit derived. These results are analysed in relation to library objectives, and the coincidence or deviation commented upon. Recommendations for action in the management of Tholulwazi Library are given, as well as recommendations applicable to the planning and establishment of new libraries in other informal settlements and townships. Suggestions as to further use of this evaluation approach are given, in addition to comments on the relevance and applicability of the methodology. These focus on the strategic and managerial benefit of demonstrating a link between library resources and activities (funded by public moneys), to use and user benefit. The use of a participatory methodology is shown to be technically necessary in demonstrating this link, as well as politically strategic. Valid and ii appropriate decision-making by management needs input from all levels, hence the value of utilising 'multiple realities' of all groupings involved with delivery at a particular service point, in such an evaluation. The approach used suggests a more conscious approach to management of libraries generally. It points to specific, periodic reflection on and analysis of the role of the library as a social institution and the societal problems addressed. This includes analysis of the library environment, focusing on existing and potential target groups. The analysis applies in relation to conscious planning procedures, as well as ongoing monitoring and periodic evaluation of endeavours. / Thesis (M.I.S.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1997.

Nel presente lavoro si intende descrivere la partecipazione giovanile leggendola attraverso i costrutti - a livello individuale, familiare e sociale - che la letteratura ipotizza essere alla base di tale impegno, e che ritiene possano in qualche modo prevederlo. Obiettivo generale della ricerca è quello di approfondire il tema dell’azione sociale giovanile fornendo un’ipotesi di modello predittivo della stessa pensato per le sue due forme maggiormente diffuse: il volontariato e l’impegno politico. La struttura della ricerca è articolata in tre fasi distinte e susseguenti: la prima studia gli antecedenti dell’azione sociale a partire dalle macro categorie identificate da Penner (2004) nel suo modello teorico di previsione dell’impegno volontario; da questa discende la seconda fase che ha come obiettivo quello di testare il modello teorico di Penner (2004) utilizzando le variabili che nella prima fase si sono rivelate discriminanti rispetto alla variabile outcome (azione volontaria); la terza fase, infine, intende testare un modello di previsione dell’impegno politico a partire dal modello frutto delle elaborazioni delle prime due fasi. / The present research is focused on the emerging adults’ social action, considering individual, familial and social constructs. The present work intend to describe young participation in the social context through constructs that the literature consider as the bases of social action, and that, in the same time, can make previsions about it. The general aim is to test a predictive model of emerging adults social action especially for the two main forms of it: volunteerism and politic activism. The structure of the research project is articulated in three different phases: the first one studies the antecedents of social action starting from macrocategories identified by Penner; the second one tests the theoretical model of volunteerism (Penner, 2004); the third phase tests a prevision model of politic activism starting from volunteerism model (Penner, 2004).

A realidade social perdeu sua unidade, sendo tarefa do ator construir a coerência da sua ação em um mundo que não possui centro. Este diagnóstico da modernidade, presente na sociologia da experiência, faz com que a análise volte-se para a compreensão do modo como os atores atuam em meio a esse social heterogêneo. Considerando a economia solidária um caso privilegiado desse processo, esta investigação teve como objetivo compreender a relação com o trabalho nessas práticas. Deste modo, procurou-se contribuir para o debate em torno da questão: há outro trabalho na “outra economia”? O modelo analítico desenvolvido, fundamentado na perspectiva de François Dubet, considerou que a relação com o trabalho na economia solidária é atravessada por três dimensões: a do projeto de economia solidaria (seus princípios e expectativas); a dos requerimentos de eficácia da atividade produtiva; e a da luta por autonomia (entendida como o anseio do ator em conformar uma relação com o trabalho permeada por identificação subjetiva e reconhecimento dos demais). A tese central defendida foi a de que a relação com o trabalho na economia solidária é caracterizada por uma dupla pluralidade, tanto das distintas dimensões e dos sentidos a elas vinculados, como das formas como os atores articulam tais significações para compor a sua relação com o trabalho. No intuito de testar essa tese, realizou-se um estudo empírico em três empreendimentos da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre, de diferentes segmentos econômicos (metalúrgico, reciclagem e confecção). Os procedimentos metodológicos desenvolvidos centraram-se em 34 entrevistas semidiretivas em profundidade, fundamentadas na articulação dos pressupostos metodológicos da entrevista compreensiva de Kaufmann e das bases da entrevista episódica de Flick. Os resultados do estudo empírico evidenciaram a capacidade interpeladora das três dimensões, ao mesmo tempo em que expressaram a não redutibilidade dos trabalhadores a nenhuma delas. Mesmo que os resultados desta dissertação não permitam afirmações contrastantes sobre a existência (ou não existência) de outro trabalho na “outra economia”, esta investigação oferece subsídios relevantes para o debate acerca dessa problemática. Por um lado, o estudo das diferentes dimensões da relação com o trabalho apontou para a presença de distintas barreiras para a realização do possível caráter alternativo do trabalho na economia solidária: 1) a variedade de obstáculos produtivos nos empreendimentos e a correlata necessidade de um esforço compensatório dos trabalhadores; 2) a incongruência entre o projeto de economia solidária e as vivências cotidianas dos trabalhadores; 3) e, por fim, a recorrência de concepções negativas de si, que restringem a luta por autonomia. Por outro lado, por meio da tipologia da relação com o trabalho na economia solidária, baseada nos diferentes modos de como os atores articulam os sentidos ligados às distintas dimensões, foi possível identificar a existência de seis tipos: o de conservação, o de filiação, o centrado no ofício, o pessoalizado, o gerencial e o engajado. A presença desses diferentes tipos de relação com o trabalho destaca a atividade de atores plurais em contextos, também eles, plurais, o que evidencia a inadequação de duas figuras redutoras: a que mitifica o trabalhador ao supor um vínculo integral com o projeto de economia solidária e a que o reduz à procura emergencial pela sobrevivência. / Social reality has lost its unity. As a result, actors are now tasked with building coherence of action in a world that has no center. This diagnosis of modernity, present in the sociology of experience, places the focus of analysis on developing an understanding of how actors act in the midst of social heterogeneity. By focusing on the solidarity economy, a good example of the phenomenon mentioned, the research objective here was to understand the relationship between the labourer and his/her labour, within the solidarity economy. As such, the goal of this dissertation is to contribute to the debate surrounding the question: is there other labour in the "other economy"? The analytical model developed here, based on the perspective of François Dubet, argues that the relationship with labour in the solidarity economy possesses three dimensions: the project of solidarity economy (its principles and expectations), the requirements of the effectiveness of the productive activity, and the struggle for autonomy (understood as the actor’s desire to conform a relationship with the labour permeated by subjective identification and recognition of others). The central thesis defended is that the relationship with labour in the solidarity economy is characterized by a dual plurality; the three dimensions and the meanings related to them and the ways in which actors articulate these significations to compose their relationship with labour. In order to test this proposition, an empirical study was carried out on three enterprises in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, in different economic segments (metallurgy, recycling, and sewing). The methodological procedures developed in this project focused on 34 semi-directive, in-depth interviews, based on the articulation of the methodological suppositions of Kaufmann’s comprehensive interview and the foundations of Flick’s episodic interview. The results demonstrate not only the interpelative capacity of all three dimensions, but also that labourers within the solidarity economy are not reducible to any single dimension. Even if the results of this dissertation do not allow for contrasting statements concerning the existence (or non-existence) of other labour in the "other economy", this research does provide relevant contributions to the debate on the proposed problem. On one hand, the study of the various dimensions of the relationship with labour points out the presence of three unique barriers to the realization of the possible alternative character of labour in the solidarity economy. One, a variety of obstacles to production within the enterprise that the labourer must overcome through enhanced efforts. Two, the incongruity between the solidarity economy project and the worker’s everyday experiences. Lastly, three, the recurrence of negative conceptions of oneself, which restrict the struggle for autonomy. On the other hand, by means of a typology of the relationship with labour in the solidarity economy that is based on the different ways of how actors articulate the meanings attached to the three dimensions, it was possible to identify the existence of six types of relation with labour: conservation, affiliation, centering on the métier, focus on personal sociability, management, and engagement. The existence of these different types of relationship with labour point out the activity of plural actors in contexts, likewise, plural, which highlight the inadequacy of two reducing figures: the mythification of the worker to assume an integral bond with the solidarity economy project and the reduction of the actor to a struggle for survival.

Les récentes recherches en entrepreneuriat tendent à accorder une primauté aux perspectives processuelles. Cependant ces dernières ne permettent pas encore de comprendre tous les dispositifs situationnels qui influencent la performance située et la légitimité de l’entrepreneur. Il s’agit là de mettre le doigt sur la réalité des institutions informelles dont la capacité structurante est parfois mal évaluée. Pour cela, il fallait sortir d’une perspective rationnelle et individuelle de l’entrepreneuriat afin de l’approcher comme action sociale tributaire des injonctions contextuelles. Ainsi, l’analyse ethnographique des relations et interactions entre dix mini-laiteries dans un contexte africain révèle la prégnance de logiques de proximité constituant non seulement des ressources mais aussi des contraintes. La seule légitimité des institutions formelles et des objets techniques ne suffit pas toujours à compenser le coût d’un isolement relationnel. L’interaction est une ressource qui produit des contraintes. La performance de l’agent dépendra de la stratégie déployée pour socialiser avec les dispositifs habilitants. / Recent research in entrepreneurship field tends to give primacy to processual perspectives. However, they do not yet make it possible to understand all the situational devices that influence the located performance and the legitimacy of the entrepreneur. The point consists of studying the reality of the informal institutions whose structuring capacity is sometimes badly evaluated. For that, it was necessary to move from a rational and individual perspective of the entrepreneurship to approach it as social action dependent on the contextual injunctions. Thus, the ethnographic analysis of relations and interactions between ten mini-dairies in an African context reveals the importance of proximity logics constituting not only resources but also constraints. The mere legitimacy of formal institutions and technical objects is not always enough to offset the cost of relational isolation. Interaction is a resource that produces constraints. The performance of the agent will depend on the strategy deployed to socialize with the enabling devices.

No passado, Muribeca dos Guararapes, bairro periférico do Município de Jaboatão dos Guararapes, possuía grande influência econômica no Estado, conseqüência da grande produção açucareira. Hoje, estigmatizado como local violento e com uma população limitada por inúmeras carências socioeconômicas, o bairro, dividido em áreas bem definidas e com dinâmicas próprias, abriga muitos trabalhadores do Aterro de Resíduos Sólidos da Muribeca. Em meio a todos os problemas a que estão submetidas pessoas que vivem em locais como aquele, detectamos através de uma observação possível graças aos vinte e cinco anos de magistério lá exercidos, que existem pessoas no bairro, tomando para si a responsabilidade de fazer algo que minimize aquele estado de carências e proporcione condições para uma melhor perspectiva de vida, através de ações muitas vezes motivadas por ensinamentos religiosos, adquiridos nas diversas denominações religiosas lá existentes. As pessoas observadas são possuidoras de um carisma muito evidente, expresso nas ações sociais que praticam, embora, nem sempre sejam reconhecidas pelos seus pares. Divulgar as atividades de promoção humana daquelas pessoas é uma forma de evidenciar os valores obscurecidos de uma gente teimosa que tenta, através de pequenas ações, construir outra realidade / In the past, the suburb from the Jaboatão dos Guararapes city, Muribeca dos Guararapes had a great economic trade in the state due to its large sugar production. Now, it has pointed as a violent area and with a limited population by innumerable social and economic need. The quarter is divided onto defined and self-dynamical areas. It also shelters many workers from the Solid Residues Center of Muribeca. In despite of all its matters that this people have been living on situations like those workers live. We have observed through the twenty-five years of teaching there. It is noticed that there are persons taking to themselves the responsibility to do something that may minimize the necessity and to provide better conditions and life expectation by plans and contributions helped by religious thoughts shown from many religious denominations. The people watched are detained with charisma, expressed on their social care they do, besides it has not always been accredited by their neighbors. Releasing this work from those people is a way to identify the unrecognized values from people who wants, by they small part, to change their reality