Volume 35, Issue 2-3, July - November 2021, Page 410-415
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Impacts of decision-making process on social justice in the infrastructure equity in Ethiopia
International Review of Administrative Sciences, Ahead of Print.
Equity concerns the distribution of resources and is inevitably linked with concepts of fairness and social justice. What are the decision-making processes for fair allocation of infrastructure resources and its effect on social justice in Ethiopia? The article uses structural equation modeling-partial least square software for analysis. Therefore, the article finds that there is infrastructure inequity and social injustice owing to a lack of democratic decision-making and accountability in Ethiopia. Moreover, the Ethiopian government lacks the tools and institutions that provide the foundation for good decision-making processes and democratic accountability. There also exists a low level of social cohesion in Ethiopia today. Hence, the government needs a democratic decision-making process that would bring diverse interests together and solve the lack of intergovernmental relations (IGRs) as well as the lack of democratic accountability to improve citizens’ justice in the infrastructure sector in Ethiopia. As a result, it requires a focus on regional governments’ needs, reacting to their concerns, and keeping them justified on the equitable distribution of infrastructure across regional states in the country. This will also help to save Ethiopia from bloody conflicts.Points for practitionersIn practice, the drive for public management is to increase the quality and efficiency of government-provided services. Professions in government agencies, public enterprises, and trusts that deal with policies and strategies that govern the equitable allocation and administration of public resources make up the public management and administration pathway. As a result, the most important takeaway for professionals is that creating a learning organization is a significant management strategy that public organizations must pursue in exercises.
Equity concerns the distribution of resources and is inevitably linked with concepts of fairness and social justice. What are the decision-making processes for fair allocation of infrastructure resources and its effect on social justice in Ethiopia? The article uses structural equation modeling-partial least square software for analysis. Therefore, the article finds that there is infrastructure inequity and social injustice owing to a lack of democratic decision-making and accountability in Ethiopia. Moreover, the Ethiopian government lacks the tools and institutions that provide the foundation for good decision-making processes and democratic accountability. There also exists a low level of social cohesion in Ethiopia today. Hence, the government needs a democratic decision-making process that would bring diverse interests together and solve the lack of intergovernmental relations (IGRs) as well as the lack of democratic accountability to improve citizens’ justice in the infrastructure sector in Ethiopia. As a result, it requires a focus on regional governments’ needs, reacting to their concerns, and keeping them justified on the equitable distribution of infrastructure across regional states in the country. This will also help to save Ethiopia from bloody conflicts.Points for practitionersIn practice, the drive for public management is to increase the quality and efficiency of government-provided services. Professions in government agencies, public enterprises, and trusts that deal with policies and strategies that govern the equitable allocation and administration of public resources make up the public management and administration pathway. As a result, the most important takeaway for professionals is that creating a learning organization is a significant management strategy that public organizations must pursue in exercises.
Making of the Sacred in India: Religious or Social Othering?
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Sacred in ecclesiastical terms is understood as something kept apart towards attainment of ‘real’ for the social group where real is transcendental. The group is generally considered as one unit, and, therefore, religion in this way becomes instrumental in attainment of higher end of all. Hinduism, when analysed as a religion, provides an epistemic reality of othering in the society and sacred text becomes basis for origin and continuation of peculiar social stratification in India. Looking in this way, Hinduism defies some universal characteristics assigned to the term ‘religion’, especially on the progressive count, and appears to be static and status quoist. This paper is an attempt to highlight such an aspect with the help of a meticulous and erudite analysis by Dr B. R. Ambedkar.
Sacred in ecclesiastical terms is understood as something kept apart towards attainment of ‘real’ for the social group where real is transcendental. The group is generally considered as one unit, and, therefore, religion in this way becomes instrumental in attainment of higher end of all. Hinduism, when analysed as a religion, provides an epistemic reality of othering in the society and sacred text becomes basis for origin and continuation of peculiar social stratification in India. Looking in this way, Hinduism defies some universal characteristics assigned to the term ‘religion’, especially on the progressive count, and appears to be static and status quoist. This paper is an attempt to highlight such an aspect with the help of a meticulous and erudite analysis by Dr B. R. Ambedkar.
The Dalit Soldiers and the Colonial Apparatus: Lived Experiences of the Paraiyans in the Madras Presidency Army, 1801–1895
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
The article deals with the Paraiyans, one of the Dalit sub-caste of the Madras Presidency, and their transformation from a marginalized group to one which was believed to be one of the worthwhile recruits for the colonial army. The narrative delves on their exalted status as a military subaltern within the general set up of the army department and also traces their subsequent socio-political positions in the southern society under the colonial rule after the 1880s. Despite their primary dependence on agriculture for their survival, several of them preferred to be enlisted in the army under the colonial rule in India for better livelihood and social standing. The official/archival documents highlighted that the Madras Presidency army had given much benefit to them and became a source of their social occupational mobility. Thus, It has been given them a new sense of identity and power and their empowerment as a caste.
The article deals with the Paraiyans, one of the Dalit sub-caste of the Madras Presidency, and their transformation from a marginalized group to one which was believed to be one of the worthwhile recruits for the colonial army. The narrative delves on their exalted status as a military subaltern within the general set up of the army department and also traces their subsequent socio-political positions in the southern society under the colonial rule after the 1880s. Despite their primary dependence on agriculture for their survival, several of them preferred to be enlisted in the army under the colonial rule in India for better livelihood and social standing. The official/archival documents highlighted that the Madras Presidency army had given much benefit to them and became a source of their social occupational mobility. Thus, It has been given them a new sense of identity and power and their empowerment as a caste.
Kshatriya Movement Among Koch-Rajbanshis in Assam
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
The Kshatriya movement among Koch-Rajbanshis has been one of the most influential movements during the early 19th century. This article tries to locate Panchanan Barma’s influence within the Koch-Rajbanshi community in the context of Assam. This article also attempts to highlight the ongoing debates over the Kshatriya movement among Koch-Rajbanshis in Assam. It further argues that cultural analysis is necessary to re-examine the Koch-Rajbanshi identity.
The Kshatriya movement among Koch-Rajbanshis has been one of the most influential movements during the early 19th century. This article tries to locate Panchanan Barma’s influence within the Koch-Rajbanshi community in the context of Assam. This article also attempts to highlight the ongoing debates over the Kshatriya movement among Koch-Rajbanshis in Assam. It further argues that cultural analysis is necessary to re-examine the Koch-Rajbanshi identity.
Shifting Focus: Organizing for Revolution, Not Crisis Avoidance, Part 1
Tracing An Archetypal Journey of Protagonists Towards Reforming the Parayar Dalit Identity
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Vanmam centres around the lives of the Tamil Dalit Christian community, Parayars, in the Kandampatti village of South India—a space dominated by the people following the Hindu religion, that is, the so-called upper caste, Naickers and Tamil Dalit Hindu Community, the Pallars. The researcher would trace the archetypal journeys of the protagonists, Saminathan and Jayaraju, by employing the structure of the monomyth as given by Joseph Campbell. The heroes of Vanmam engage themselves towards the upliftment of their community, for which they keep a common goal in mind. This goal is to unite the two Dalit communities, the Parayars and the Pallars, which are divided on the lines of religion. The Parayars cherish the Ambedkarite ideologies that invigorates them to aim for the positions of power and authority. The first step towards this aim was to win the post of president through the village panchayat elections. This was crucial in reforming their identity and strengthening their sense of self. The stages of monomyth help in determining the various aspects of the narrative that are in alignment with it and those that are not. Campbell’s structure of monomyth is an established tool of analysis of the narrative, and the researcher would examine to what extent it can be applied to trace the journeys of the protagonists in Bama’s novel Vanmam.
Vanmam centres around the lives of the Tamil Dalit Christian community, Parayars, in the Kandampatti village of South India—a space dominated by the people following the Hindu religion, that is, the so-called upper caste, Naickers and Tamil Dalit Hindu Community, the Pallars. The researcher would trace the archetypal journeys of the protagonists, Saminathan and Jayaraju, by employing the structure of the monomyth as given by Joseph Campbell. The heroes of Vanmam engage themselves towards the upliftment of their community, for which they keep a common goal in mind. This goal is to unite the two Dalit communities, the Parayars and the Pallars, which are divided on the lines of religion. The Parayars cherish the Ambedkarite ideologies that invigorates them to aim for the positions of power and authority. The first step towards this aim was to win the post of president through the village panchayat elections. This was crucial in reforming their identity and strengthening their sense of self. The stages of monomyth help in determining the various aspects of the narrative that are in alignment with it and those that are not. Campbell’s structure of monomyth is an established tool of analysis of the narrative, and the researcher would examine to what extent it can be applied to trace the journeys of the protagonists in Bama’s novel Vanmam.
Revolution: An Intellectual History
Hidden pressure: the effects of politicians on projects of collaborative innovation
International Review of Administrative Sciences, Ahead of Print.
Collaborative innovation is increasingly put forward as a way of addressing the many wicked problems our society faces today. This article focuses on how politicians indirectly affect projects of collaborative innovation and whether stakeholders experience them as helpful or hindering to the project. The impact of politicians on projects of collaborative innovation are compared across four cases and throughout three project phases (set-up, implementation and sustainment). The results show six ways in which politicians can help projects of collaborative innovation: by providing funding, by making a project a political priority, by connecting stakeholders, by resolving stakeholder conflicts, by unblocking red tape barriers and by extending a collaborative network legitimacy. Furthermore, stakeholders perceived politicians as potentially hindering collaborative innovation projects in three ways: through the adjustment of the project goals, through the loss of a project’s ‘neutral’ status and through blocking or obstructing a project.Points for practitionersOne important point to take away for practitioners is that there appears to be a strong focus among stakeholders on the potentially hindering effects of politicians on collaborative innovation projects (CIPs). Yet, across the four cases, the positive impact of political support played a bigger role. While some of these findings can be case specific, it shows that public servants may benefit from being more open-minded about the potentially positive impact of politicians on CIPs.
Collaborative innovation is increasingly put forward as a way of addressing the many wicked problems our society faces today. This article focuses on how politicians indirectly affect projects of collaborative innovation and whether stakeholders experience them as helpful or hindering to the project. The impact of politicians on projects of collaborative innovation are compared across four cases and throughout three project phases (set-up, implementation and sustainment). The results show six ways in which politicians can help projects of collaborative innovation: by providing funding, by making a project a political priority, by connecting stakeholders, by resolving stakeholder conflicts, by unblocking red tape barriers and by extending a collaborative network legitimacy. Furthermore, stakeholders perceived politicians as potentially hindering collaborative innovation projects in three ways: through the adjustment of the project goals, through the loss of a project’s ‘neutral’ status and through blocking or obstructing a project.Points for practitionersOne important point to take away for practitioners is that there appears to be a strong focus among stakeholders on the potentially hindering effects of politicians on collaborative innovation projects (CIPs). Yet, across the four cases, the positive impact of political support played a bigger role. While some of these findings can be case specific, it shows that public servants may benefit from being more open-minded about the potentially positive impact of politicians on CIPs.
Dalit Entrepreneurship Hard Nut to Crack: Empirical Evidence
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
The life of people born in Dalit families is more challenging than others and the challenges upturn manifold if a downtrodden seek a livelihood in the field of entrepreneurship. Although, entrepreneurship is a risky affair for everyone it discommodes the Dalit community more. The paucity of societal support and resources, and above all lower caste label makes it highly troublesome for Dalit to cross the threshold of entrepreneurship and stay therein. Government and a few other organizations assure to provide all possible facilities and assistance to the Dalit aspirants through diverse schemes but many times these assurances are found outlying from reality. This empirical research article aims to provide qualitative insight into the previously published articles, research papers, and reports allied to the challenges of Dalit entrepreneurship. The thematic analysis technique has been applied for literature review using NVivo Software. The upshots of the study clearly depict that Dalit entrepreneurs are frequently confronted with severe difficulties, particularly due to the unfair conduct of various stakeholders. This research study will make a considerable contribution to the Dalit literature and outcomes will assist the policymakers to enhance the efficiency of entrepreneurial schemes to the expected level.
The life of people born in Dalit families is more challenging than others and the challenges upturn manifold if a downtrodden seek a livelihood in the field of entrepreneurship. Although, entrepreneurship is a risky affair for everyone it discommodes the Dalit community more. The paucity of societal support and resources, and above all lower caste label makes it highly troublesome for Dalit to cross the threshold of entrepreneurship and stay therein. Government and a few other organizations assure to provide all possible facilities and assistance to the Dalit aspirants through diverse schemes but many times these assurances are found outlying from reality. This empirical research article aims to provide qualitative insight into the previously published articles, research papers, and reports allied to the challenges of Dalit entrepreneurship. The thematic analysis technique has been applied for literature review using NVivo Software. The upshots of the study clearly depict that Dalit entrepreneurs are frequently confronted with severe difficulties, particularly due to the unfair conduct of various stakeholders. This research study will make a considerable contribution to the Dalit literature and outcomes will assist the policymakers to enhance the efficiency of entrepreneurial schemes to the expected level.