“Refugee Voices,” New Social Media and Politics of Representation: Young Congolese in the Diaspora and Beyond

This article examines the role of new social media in the articulation and representation of the refugee and diasporic “voice.” The article problematizes the individualist, de-politicized, de-contextualized, and aestheticized representation of refugee/diasporic voices. It argues that new social media enable refugees and diaspora members to exercise agency in managing the creation, production, and dissemination of their voices and to engage in hybrid (on- and offline) activism. These new territories for self-representation challenge our conventional understanding of refugee/diaspora voices. The article is based on research with young Congolese living in the diaspora, and it describes the Geno-cost project created by the Congolese Action Youth Platform (CAYP) and JJ Bola’s spoken-word piece, “Refuge.” The first shows agency in the creation of analytical and activist voices that promote counter-hegemonic narratives of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, while the second is an example of aesthetic expressions performed online and offline that reveal agency through authorship and ownership of one’s voice. The examples highlight the role that new social media play in challenging mainstream politics of representation of refugee/diaspora voices.

Conceptualising public-private partnerships: a critical appraisal of approaches to meanings and forms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to survey various meanings attached to a public-private partnership (PPP) and related aspects in Western literature, and identify commonalities and differences between them. Additionally, the article intends to critically assess conflicting and overlapping views on contractual and institutional PPPs, their forms and models, and draw insights for transitional economies. Design/methodology/approach – The article contrasts and compares views on PPP meanings, forms and models within Western PPP literature, and also draws comparisons with understanding of partnership aspects in the Russian language sources. The paper examines theories underpinning PPPs, builds connections to PPP advantages and drawbacks, and provides critical assessment of net benefits that PPPs may bring along to the society. Findings – The article concludes that future PPP research in transitional countries such as Kazakhstan and Russia, particularly in the area of organisational and power arrangements in partnerships, may delineate new concepts such as government as a guarantor of a PPP project, social significance of a PPP project, and risk management in a country’s contextual environment. Practical implications – In transitional countries, in which PPPs are in their infancy, clarification of theoretical positions, and identification of commonalities and differences between meanings attached to the PPP terminology may enable better decisions by researchers and practitioners in their selection and further development of partnerships and related concepts. Originality/value – Research in the field of PPPs in transitional countries such as Russia and Kazakhstan is in its infancy. The paper intends to contribute to the body of knowledge about PPPs by providing detailed account and categorisation of their principal meanings, forms, models, underpinning theories, and drawing insights for future research in transitional countries.

Inclusão social e suas abordagens na Ciência da Informação: análise da produção científica em periódicos nacionais no período de 2001 a 2010

Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar como a temática inclusão social tem sido abordada na área de Ciência da Informação, a partir da análise da produção científica publicada nos periódicos nacionais da área. Além disso, verificar quais maneiras de inclusão são recorrentemente abordadas na área da ciência da informação, mostrar as tendências de uso do conceito de inclusão social nos artigos científicos da área de Ciência da Informação, constatar como se apresenta o conceito de inclusão social relacionado ao profissional da informação e analisar se há relação com outras disciplinas. Foram feitas buscas em seis periódicos no período de 2001 a 2010. Utilizou-se como método de análise o referencial da análise de conteúdo de Bardin. Constituíram o corpus de análise 30 artigos que tratavam da temática inclusão social. Como resultados identificou-se que a inclusão social, no que se refere às publicações da área de Ciência da Informação, em geral, está voltada a inclusão digital e ao uso das Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação. Ademais, identificou-se, ainda, relações com o profissional da informação, em que este deve servir como mediador entre a informação e os meios nos quais estas informações estão inseridas e os usuários.

From social action to business action - A qualitative research on the professionalization process of a blogger: Case P.s. I Love Fashion -blog

Blogging is one of the most common forms of social media today. Blogs have become a powerful media and bloggers are settled stakeholders to marketers. Commercialization of the blogosphere has enabled an increasing number of bloggers professionalize and blog as a full-time occupation. The purpose of this study is to understand the professionalization process of a blogger from an amateur blogger to a professional actor. The following sub-questions were used to further elaborate the topic: What have been the meaningful events and developments fostering professionalization? What are the prerequisites for popularity in blogging? Are there any key success factors to acknowledge in order being able to make business out of your blog? The theoretical framework of this study was formed based on the two chosen focus areas for professionalization; social drivers and business drivers. The theoretical framework is based on literature from fields of marketing and social sciences, as well as previous research on social media, blogging and professionalization. The study is a qualitative case-study and the research data was collected in a semi-structured interview. The case chosen to this study is a lifestyle-blog. The writer of the case blog has been able to develop her blog to become a full-time professional blogger. Based on the results, the professionalization process of a blogger is not a defined process, but instead comprised of coincidental events as well as considered advancements. Success in blogging is based on the bloggers own motivation and passion for writing and expressing oneself in the form of a blog, instead of a systematic construction of a successful career in blogging. Networking with other bloggers as well as affiliates was seen as an important success factor. Popularity in the blogosphere and a high number of followers enable professionalization, as marketers actively seek to collaborate with popular bloggers with strong personal brands. Bloggers with strong personal brands are especially attractive due to their opinion leadership in their reference group. A blogger can act professionally either as entrepreneur or blogging for a commercial webpage. According to the results of this study, it is beneficial for the blogger’s professional development as well as career progress, to act on different operating models

The Mobility Turn in the Social Science

The paper describes the latest upsurge in the interest in the different forms of mobility in the contemporary world. In the social science this process is often called the mobility turn. In the text it is argued that theoretical underpinnings of the mobility turn are rooted mainly in the different variants of theories of globalization. The text describes: mobility as one of the key elements in the varying concepts of globalization; ways in which mobility was analyzed in the globalization literature; main sources of the mobility turn; crucial arguments in favor of introducing “mobilities” as a separate field of research; and the most important critical remarks concerning the mobility turn.

Design as a critical research

Historically the imaginary and the hegemonic thinking, in the Western globe north, has been marked by the epistemology and capitalists archetypes. Notwithstanding the design seem as a practice and discipline shielded on a simplistic discourse of functional / communicative efficiency, wandering through by multiple aestheticism apparently neutral in relation to the symbolic, but in fact they never are, because what really hapens is that the aesthetic appearance of the generated forms will always be a review of the powers ruling. We start from the understanding that the act of creating an aesthetic artifact, will also be a movement of inscription in a discursive platform (that precedes it), is in itself an narrative act and that fact represent a certain take place in relation to certain symbolic reality. On reflection shown if it sees design as a discipline and / or an instrument of action, whose operational relevance tends to question and simultaneously rehearsing a response, in which more than why interests answer to why. Apparently the design is a content mediator, but also, it is structure, is body, is idea. We think a design praxis as discipline and enrollment tool of critical thought and social transformation. For guiding research in this text, we propose the following question: Can the Design want for themselves an engagement with the symbolic in order to be an active part in the production of critical thinking in the place where it belongs? Methodologically our argument will be present in two differents moments: 1. a first, exploratory nature where we rescue the draw issues in the practice of design and 2. a second analytical nature concerning the subject issues (graphic and / or utility ) design and how it incorporates formal rites, political events and social practices of contemporary everyday life. We consider the praxis of design as a discipline and critical thinking enrollment tool as agents of social transformation. With this study we seek for contribute phenomenology design by studying the artifacts of configuration as well as the possible messages they convey and what impact they may have on the social network.

Responsabilidade social empresarial: o caso de uma indústria alimentícia no estado do Pará

The theme of corporate social responsibility (CSR) provides discussion and analysis and relatively recent, particularly in the last twenty years, has grown into the world as well as in Brazil, the interest on the involvement of the business sector in social activities or projects facing combating poverty. However, a lack of socialization of successful experiences in the practice of CSR and clarity and consensus concepts generate deviations of understanding on the subject and the structuring of interventions. This research aimed to reveal how corporate social responsibility of the IMA Food was developed from Project Nursery Saci. The research took place under a qualitative approach of descriptive-explanatory, conducted through semi-structured interviews and non-participatory observation and interviewed 35 people in total. The interpretation and analysis of data occurred through a categorical content analysis, having as theoretical approach to socioeconomic CSR. The results showed that the major form of social responsibility of the Food IMA is based on a classical approach of CSR, focusing on philanthropy. The absence of a more systematic management of the project and reflect the fragility, instability and lack of commitment towards the community. The contributions generated by the project are substantial and important, but do not reach the development occasioned by the company. However, none of this invalidates the initiative of the organization's commitment to the community, however, requires a reassessment and restructuring of the proposal in a way that leverages the performance of the project and the company itself and it can more effectively contribute to society

O controle democrático no financiamento e gestão do orçamento da seguridade social no Brasil

A gestão dos recursos da Seguridade Social deveria passar integralmente pelos fundos sociais vinculados às políticas de saúde, previdência e assistência social, sob o comando de conselhos compostos de forma paritária entre os representantes governamentais e não governamentais para acompanhar e fiscalizar essas políticas sociais, o que implicaria redesenho das relações entre Estado e sociedade, instituindo formas de participação e controle democrático. Apesar de avanços e das experiências diferenciadas desses conselhos no âmbito da Seguridade Social, eles esbarram em limites concretos impostos pela política econômica para o controle democrático, destacando-se dois: a existência da Desvinculação de Recursos da União, que retira recursos da Seguridade Social, e o fato de uma parcela importante da execução orçamentária acontecer fora dos fundos públicos da Seguridade Social. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT

Ontologia do espaço : critica da critica da entificação social do ser enquanto pressuposto a uma teoria espacial interpenetrada a “ontologia do ser social”, de Gyorgy Lukacs

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Humanas, Departamento de Geografia, Programa de Pós Graduação em Geografia, 2015.

Trabalho, trabalhadores e questão social na sociabilidade capitalista

Este ensaio, por meio de revisão da literatura, analisa as transformações societárias em curso que afetam o mundo do trabalho e a vida em sociedade, provocando o acirramento da questão social, compreendida como resultante das contradições entre capital e trabalho. Em linhas gerais, tendo em vista o acúmulo de conhecimento produzido no campo das ciências sociais e humanas acerca do tema, são apresentados elementos acerca das alterações desencadeadas no mundo do trabalho e seus reflexos para os trabalhadores em tempos de crise do capital. Dentre as consequências dessas transformações estão a intensificação e a expansão de formas precárias de trabalho, o agravamento do pauperismo, o avanço do desemprego, a informalidade, as subcontratações, a miséria e a perda de direitos sociais. Tal quadro esboça, para o conjunto da classe trabalhadora, por meio de organizações e lutas coletivas, desafios com vistas à superação da sociabilidade capitalista. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT

Prostituição masculina em Belo Horizonte : evidências da questão social

Este artigo resulta de pesquisa com homens que praticam a prostituição, também conhecidos como garotos de programa, em Belo Horizonte. Estudos sobre o tema e a utilização de entrevistas com enfoque qualitativo contribuíram para a compreensão desta dinâmica societária presente nos diversos territórios e espaços da vida social. A partir das entrevistas foi possível conhecer de forma aproximativa como vivem e sobrevivem estes indivíduos, que possuem histórias, atribuem significados às suas vidas e criam cotidianamente formas de sobrevivência num cenário marcado por preconceito, estigma, discriminação, opressão, exploração e violência. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT

A representação social do microempreendedor individual na publicidade do Sebrae

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Comunicação, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação, 2015.

Revisitando el imaginario formal e ideológico del constructivismo Ruso

El constructivismo ruso se define como una práctica artística que respondió a las demandas sociales y culturales de una nueva sociedad. Se desarrolló como movimiento vanguardista que se propuso realizar un programa de vinculación de la obra artística con la vida, dejando atrás las formas del arte burgués y abriendo nuevas posibilidades a las funciones del arte en las condiciones sociales de la Revolución. El presente trabajo se propone la actualización de ese legado, me-diante apropiaciones irónicas de algunos de sus productos, en relación con las representaciones del heroísmo y el triunfalismo, del héroe y las masas, en los procesos políticos y culturales de la actualidad. En la medida que ese género de lenguaje ha sido utilizado en otros contex-tos, y las formulas constructivistas desbordan su enclave original en otras coor-denadas geopolíticas, este proyecto procura aprovechar las formulaciones ideoestéticas que fueron sustento de las propuestas constructivistas y productivis-tas al respecto de las experimentaciones del fotomontaje, la faktura y la factogra-fia.

Creación Colectiva: doble lectura de un proceso artístico. Estética y Relación en un experimento performático contemporáneo

Esta tesis indaga en la interacción entre los aspectos estéticos y relacionales que tienen lugar en un proceso de creación colectiva. Durante los últimos años han proliferado multitud de formas de colaboración artística, a menudo asociadas a movimientos de preocupación social o a comunidades ideológicas y alejadas de los circuitos institucionales, moviéndose entre nuevas posibilidades de autogestión y espacios alternativos de difusión. A fin de entender en primera persona cuáles son las implicaciones de la inclusión del "otro" en el proceso creativo individual, realizamos una experiencia autogestionada de creación colectiva en Barcelona entre los años 2007 y 2011. El presente estudio propone una doble lectura crítica del experimento, planteada en dos niveles paralelos: el nivel de la propia construcción artístico-estética y el nivel de las relaciones que se establecieron entre los participantes a lo largo del proceso. A través del abordaje empírico, la doble lectura crítica y el estudio teórico del contexto, demostramos que la colectivización y "relacionalización" del hecho creativo contribuyen a la rehumanización de la práctica artística, socializando los procesos, contextualizando los mensajes y proponiendo el diálogo como principal herramienta de creación. ———— ABSTRACT This thesis explores the interaction between the aesthetic and relational aspects that take place in a process of collective creation. During the last few years, many new forms of artistic collaboration have proliferated, often associated with socially engaged movements or ideological communities, away from institutional art circuits, moving between new possibilities of self-management and alternative show spaces. In order to understand first-hand what the implications of the inclusion of the “other” are in the individual creative process, we conducted a self-managed collective creation experience in Barcelona from 2007 to 2011. This study proposes a double critical reading of the experiment, displayed in two parallel levels: the level of artistic-aesthetic construction itself and the level of relations established between participants throughout the process. Through the empirical approach, double critical reading and a theoretical study of the context, we demonstrate that the collectivization and "relationalization" of the creative act contribute to re-humanizing the artistic practice, socializing processes, contextualizing messages and proposing dialogue as the main tool of creation.

Forms of the Postmodern Historical Novel : Christoph Ransmayr, Daniel Kehlmann, Wolfgang Hildesheimer

L’émergence du postmodernisme aux Etats-unis, mouvement esthétique rejetant les dogmes modernistes, date des années 1960. En s’imposant, durant les dernières décennies du 20ème siècle, comme le paradigme esthétique de l’architecture, des arts et de la littérature, le postmodernisme a également créé les conditions propres à une renaissance du roman historique. Cependant, la fiction historique postmoderne constitue maintenant une nouvelle forme du genre basée sur la parodie, l’ironie et le scepticisme envers les discours dominants. Cette nouvelle forme ne se limite plus à la présentation des récits dans un cadre historique réaliste. Elle remet plutôt en question la validité et par conséquent la nature même du discours historique, problématisant et mettant ainsi à l’avant le processus d’interprétation et de reconstruction du passé. Dans cette optique, la fiction historique contemporaine reflète les débats actuels sur les formes de l’historiographie, débats lancés par Hayden White. Dans les années 1980, la fiction historique a de nouveau fleuri dans l'espace culturel allemand tout comme ailleurs. Le présent mémoire analyse des formes postmodernes de la fiction historique en se basant sur trois romans historiques de langue allemande parus entre 1981 et 2005: Die Schrecken des Eises und der Finsternis de Christoph Ransmayr, Die Vermessung der Welt de Daniel Kehlmann et Marbot : Eine Biographie de Wolfgang Hildesheimer. L’analyse s'appuie sur divers modèles de la fiction postmoderne, en particulier sur le schéma de catégorisation du roman historique élaboré par Ansgar Nünning. Le mémoire montre dans quelle mesure ces romans appliquent des moyens stylistiques typiques pour le postmodernisme et portent un regard critique ou comique sur l’histoire et la culture allemande et autrichienne.