Journal of Sociology: Bulletin of Yerevan University
The journal publishes papers on sociological and interdisciplinary analysis of actual problems of the modern society, without limiting its scope of interests with any particular direction. We are interested in both theoretical and applied research studies focused on contemporary issues in the field of social work and social administration.
Yerevan State University Publishing House
IN SEARCH OF POLITICAL WILL: COMBATING EMERGING SECURITY THREATS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
The paper examines how political will may limit state power in tackling new security threats in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It identifies the multiple security challenges and how these are exacerbated by limited commitment (or a lack of it) by political actors, who could employ proactive or creative policy action or programs to tackle security crises on the sub-continent. Drawing from a repertoire of existing literature and theorizing political and national security, the paper presents a textual analysis of the situation, arguing that military power or capacity is significantly enhanced or limited by the political action of leaders in SSA countries. It recommends, among others, proactive political action and a comprehensive approach, given the complex nature of the situation, in tackling conventional and emerging security threats on the sub-continent.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sheriff Folarin, Victory Iyoha, Marvellous Onah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
DIGITAL NOMADS AS POLITICAL FACTOR AND A HYPOTHETICAL POLITICAL ACTOR
Digital nomadism is a relatively recent yet rapidly expanding phenomenon characterized by a form of mobility in which work becomes location-independent and everyday life is organized through continuous movement. As a distinct group within contemporary cross-border migration processes, digital nomads appear not only as objects of state and institutional policies but also display elements of political agency. This article supplements existing multi-level analytical frameworks for studying migration by introducing several conflict-laden themes and proposing a typology that captures the internal heterogeneity of the category commonly identified as “digital nomads.” Such heterogeneity reveals differentiated value orientations within neo-nomadic communities and enables preliminary assumptions regarding potential political platforms corresponding to these orientations. Noting the absence of political forces within existing nation-states capable of representing some of these interests, the article explores the possibilities for digital nomads to emerge as political actors through participation in new, network-based forms of organization and self-organization.
digital nomads, mobility, migration, social citizenship, political subjectivity, nomadic identity, sovereignty, freedom, belonging, networked communities
Copyright (c) 2025 Irina Miller https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
THE GENDERED CONSTRUCTION OF LEADERSHIP AND FOLLOWERSHIP IN ARMENIA’S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
This article analyzes the gendered construction of leadership and followership within Armenia’s educational system, drawing on theoretical frameworks from gender studies and qualitative fieldwork conducted in public schools. Despite the heavy feminization of the teaching profession, authority and leadership in Armenian society remain culturally coded as masculine, producing a structural paradox in which women educators hold formal instructional authority yet encounter symbolic devaluation. Empirical findings from interviews and classroom observations show that these gendered expectations shape how authority is interpreted and enacted, particularly in male students’ varied acceptance or resistance to women as legitimate knowledge holders. The study demonstrates that gendered cultural norms continue to structure leader–follower relations in educational contexts and argues for a more critical engagement with how institutional practices reproduce or challenge patriarchal assumptions. The study contributes to scholarship on gender and educational leadership by demonstrating how cultural schemas and institutional norms continue to influence authority relations within Armenian schools
archetypes, collective unconsciousness, critical frame, education, followership, gender, leadership, stereotypes
Copyright (c) 2025 Hasmik Gevorgyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
HELPING PROFESSIONS IN A NEW WAR REALITY: EDUCATION TRENDS
Every crisis brings new challenges for the helping professionals: physicians, social workers, psychologists, as well as pedagogues and communication specialists. The new reality requires changes in the education system to help professionals by integrating new skills and competencies into their professiograms. Helping professionals have to be prepared to work in unusual physical conditions, threats and uncertainty, develop competence to act in emergencies to increase the safety of their beneficiaries. Lack of such skills not only makes the intervention complicated for helping professionals but also worsens the consequences of the crisis for society. This article examines the experience of helping professionals in Armenia, who were actively engaged in the processes of support and assistance to the people of concern throughout numerous crises that have happened in Armenian society since 2020: Covid-19 pandemic, the 44-day war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), and the forcible displacement of Armenians from Artsakh to Armenia. The qualitative research unveiled the skill gaps that made the crisis response efforts more challenging for the helping professionals. Based on these findings the authors drafted the recommendations aimed at refining the education of helping professionals. Global crises have become a new normal, making crisis-management skills essential for helping professionals as the required support shifts across stages - from medical and social aid to social-psychological and then psychological assistance - demanding an intersectional, multidisciplinary response. Educating specialists for crisis-shaped environments requires updating professiograms to include rapid response, ethical and clear communication, trust-building, empathy, stress and trauma management, teamwork, volunteer engagement, and professional self-care. These suggestions entail adjustments and enhancements to their skill sets and competencies, as well as revisions to their professional frameworks
Copyright (c) 2025 Nvard Melkonyan, Yuliana Melkonyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
STRATEGIC COORDINATION AND POLICY CAPACITY: EXECUTIVE INSTITUTIONS AS DRIVERS OF GOVERNANCE INNOVATION IN ARMENIA
This article examines the transformation of executive institutions in the Republic of Armenia through the lens of political sociology, viewing them not merely as administrative structures but as arenas of struggle for symbolic and material capital, spaces for the reproduction of power relations, and agents of institutional change. Employing Bourdieu's neo-institutional optics, Evans's concept of state autonomy, and Mann's theory of state capacity, the study analyzes the dialectic between formal rules and informal practices in the process of administrative modernization. Particular attention is paid to the sociology of reform actors - the bureaucratic elite, the expert community, and international organizations - and the mechanisms of their interaction in the space of state policy. Empirical analysis reveals a contradiction between the discourse of modernization and practices of patrimonial governance, between the formal rationality of Weberian bureaucracy and personalized networks of influence. The study demonstrates that the success of administrative reforms is determined not by technical solutions but by profound transformations of the habitus of civil servants, the restructuring of power relations within the bureaucratic field, and changes in the symbolic economy of public administration. This analysis connects contemporary sociological frameworks with Armenia's ongoing executive authority reforms, examining how institutional design intersects with political culture and governance capacity in a post-Soviet context.
Copyright (c) 2025 Marina Margaryan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
NAVIGATING A GLOBAL CRISIS AWAY FROM HOME: CHALLENGES AND COPING MECHANISMS OF FOREIGN NATIONALS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN SOUTH AFRICA
This paper looks at the experiences of foreign nationals in South Africa during the COVID-19 lockdown by exploring the challenges they faced and the coping mechanisms they employed. The COVID-19 lockdown affected almost everyone living in South Africa, but foreign nationals who often have pre-existing vulnerabilities seem to have been severely affected. Existing studies show the impact of COVID-19 on locals, and limited research shows the impacts of the lockdown on foreign nationals and how they handled such challenges in South Africa. This paper uses the social networks theory to understand how foreign nationals have dealt with COVID-19-induced challenges. Methodologically, the paper used qualitative methodology where data was collected through document analysis and in-depth interviews with foreign nationals from various African countries. The key findings are that foreign nationals faced challenges like limited access to healthcare facilities, hunger, loss of employment, xenophobia and their social networks helped them to cope with these challenges. The paper concludes that the South African government lacked the political will to handle the challenges faced by foreign nationals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the government should show political will in future pandemics or state of emergency by ensuring that what it promises, its policies and its practice align.
Copyright (c) 2025 Paddington Mutekwe https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERCEPTIONS OF CHILDHOOD
The article explores the evolution of the position, role, and status of childhood and children as a social category through the lens of sociological thought. In particular, it examines the religious, economic, political, and social influences that have shaped the historical dynamics of childhood perceptions. The article also analyzes the process by which sociology has come to recognize childhood, especially in the context of the concepts "sociological child" and "pre-sociological child” and discusses the current discourse on the interpretation of childhood from constructivist perspectives. Further, the article reflects on how these evolving perceptions influence decision-making concerning children, the development of child protection policies, and the nature of research conducted on children. The analysis synthesizes the multilayered and polysemous nature of childhood as a shifting social status that is shaped by historical, political, and social contexts. This understanding highlights the need to reframe the “position” of the child as a subject in the broader context of the transition from a vulnerability-based approach to one grounded in children's rights.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tatevik Karapetyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
RETHINKING SOLIDARITY THROUGH WELFARE TECHNOLOGY FOR OLDER ADULTS
The welfare state is under pressure. Demographic changes, high expectations for services, and limited resources demand new approaches to service provision. In Norway, national authorities advocate for the use of technology and the involvement of volunteers in health and care services. This paper explores the relationship between solidarity, technology and volunteerism by asking whether the use of technology in health service delivery aligns with the values of solidarity. The empirical basis of the paper is qualitative sub-studies from the research project Caring Futures, as presented in three articles. The sub-studies reveal that technologists strongly support increased use of technology. By framing technology as a means to promote autonomy, they implicitly downplay human dependency. As a result, technology appears to conflict with a concept of solidarity rooted in mutual interaction. In contrast, relatives of nursing home residents recognise and accept dependency. Rather than attempting to eliminate it, they embrace dependency as a foundation for social connection, mutual responsibility and solidarity.
Autonomy, elderly care, solidarity, technology, volunteerism, welfare state
Copyright (c) 2025 Brita Gjerstad, Inger Lise Teig https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
USER INVOLVEMENT IN POVERTY POLICY STRUCTURES AS AN APPROACH TO GIVE A VOICE TO PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY AND TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL COEHISION
Solidarity and social inclusion, which are often used as synonyms in professional discourse on social work, are understood to date with too little focus on the structural level in politics, economics and social services. Furthermore, in the implementation of projects to promote social cohesion, marginalized groups such as people affected by poverty have so far been insufficiently involved in identifying commonalities between groups of people and in joint activities. Therefore, following the user involvement approach and on a structural level, I argue that political, economic and social conditions as well commitment must be in place. In the case of people affected by poverty, who are a very heterogeneous group, at least in Switzerland, mechanisms are needed to enable these groups to identify and voice their concerns and bring them to the attention of the appropriate political, economic or social decision-makers in a targeted manner. Using two research-based projects from poverty policy in Switzerland, I follow to answer the research question: How can people affected by poverty be given a voice in the structures and decision-making processes of poverty policy? The theoretical framework is based on the user involvement approach. Using participative, qualitative and quantitative research methods I answer the question with the potential impact, challenges and conditions of an implementable platform and training courses for professionals from politics, economics and social services, as well as for people affected by poverty. This differentiated knowledge of people affected by poverty and the fulfillment of the requirements of all those involved, a structure of exchange supported by social policy and led by external professionals, willingness to learn and work together, clear communication, or reimbursement of travel expenses, are necessary to strive for a truly sustainable and inclusive society, rather than one that merely appears to be so. However, it should be noted that potential impact has been identified and that further long-term impact and international comparative analyses are necessary to gain comprehensive knowledge.
Copyright (c) 2025 Emanuela Chiapparini https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
CULTURE OF CORRUPTION AS A KEY ISSUE IN ANTI-CORRUPTION METHODOLOGY AND POLICIES (ON EXAMPLES OF ITALY AND ARMENIA)
The aim of this article is to examine the presence of a culture of corruption in public administration systems, assess its negative impact on governance, and evaluate anti-corruption methodologies for enhancing governmental effectiveness. In this context, we explore various manifestations of corruption in public organizations and analyze international experiences - particularly the case of Italy - where we conduct a comprehensive review of its anti-corruption policies and highlight their significance in fostering an effective governance system. The more we know about the causes of corruption, the better we can decide which policy instruments to use to combat corruption. Corruption is a phenomenon that gains public visibility in democratic regimes because in such regimes there are freedom of press, freedom of expression, free party organizations, and opposition to the governments on duty. However, although democracy has the merit of not hiding corruption, not confronting and not containing acts that are harmful to the public interests can be lethal to democracy itself by generating autocratic governments that place themselves above political institutions (Ribeiro, 2000). The study examines the framework and methodologies of anti-corruption policies in the Republic of Armenia, comparing them with the experience of Italy. The theoretical foundation for addressing the issues discussed in this research is based on classical and modern theories of public administration, political science, and sociology. The study employs analytical, comparative, and systemic methods. Italy - being surrounded by European countries, possessing a more institutionalized governance system, and having a more democratic and socially mature society - finds itself in a relatively advantageous position in combating corruption compared to Armenia. Nonetheless, Italy still faces persistent corruption-related challenges. In contrast, Armenia’s situation is shaped by its Soviet legacy, the Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict, and the inefficiencies in governance since independence, all of which have contributed to the persistence of a culture of corruption. Despite significant legislative advancements in recent years, systemic inefficiencies remain. Addressing corruption requires time, skilled professionals, strong managerial will, and other critical factors. International experience in managing state institutions plays a crucial role in shaping Armenia’s anti-corruption efforts. With the purpose of providing better conditions for the adequate understanding of corruption, this article seeks to systematize some of the main theoretical reflections on the subject, highlighting attempts to conceptualize and classify it, as well as some of the approaches developed with the aim of understanding its causes and devising strategies for its control.
Copyright (c) 2025 Edgar Kalantaryan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
CONFLICT-DRIVEN MOBILIZATION IN PROTRACTED CONFLICT: A MULTI-LEVEL CONCEPTUAL SYNTHESIS FROM THE KARABAKH CASE
This synthesis article examines conflict-driven mobilization in the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by integrating findings from five distinct papers. Framed by a multi-level analytical perspective, the paper investigates how micro-level emotional and moral motivations, meso-level group identity and collective dynamics, and macro-level structural inequalities and historical legacies converge to drive conflict-driven mobilization. Drawing upon a qualitative research design that combines document analysis, process tracing, semi-structured interviews, and participatory methodologies, the synthesis addresses the central question: How do interdependent emotional, collective, and structural factors fuel mobilization in protracted conflicts? Looking into evidence from the historical evolution of civic movements to their transformation into armed struggles, the paper reveals that mobilization is not solely a rational, calculated act but is deeply rooted in personal and collective grievances. Furthermore, the integration of participatory approaches underscores the value of context-sensitive research in capturing the lived experiences of conflict-affected communities. Ultimately, the proposed multi-level theory advances existing conceptual frameworks in the sociology of conflict mobilization and offers a heuristic tool for understanding similar dynamics in other protracted conflict zones.
Copyright (c) 2025 Smbatyan, Hayk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN E-HEALTH LITERACY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: A COMPARATIVE STUDY AMONG YOUTH AND ADULTS IN SHIRAZ, IRAN
One of the key factors in societal progress is the improvement and enhancement of individuals' psychological well-being. With increased psychological well-being, individuals gain the ability to solve problems and successfully overcome challenges. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between e-health literacy and psychological well-being among youth and adults in Shiraz, based on Neuman's Health Theory. This study employed a survey method, and the statistical population included all young and adult residents of Shiraz, Iran. Based on Cochran's formula, 600 individuals were selected through stratified random sampling. Data collection tools included questionnaires, and SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. The results indicated a significant relationship between e-health literacy and psychological well-being among both youth and adults in Shiraz. Additionally, multivariate regression analysis showed that the psychological well-being of youth and adults in Shiraz was similar, with no significant differences between the two groups. Based on the findings of this study and Neuman's Health Theory, the higher the level of e-health literacy in a society, the greater the psychological well-being of its individuals. Consequently, society and its members will experience less anxiety, stress, and preoccupation. Therefore, to enhance psychological well-being as a crucial dimension of health and a factor in societal progress, it is recommended to increase the use and improvement of e-health literacy with the help of community members and officials.
Psychological well-being, e-health literacy, youth-adults
Copyright (c) 2025 Sahar Hojatifar, Dr.Majid Movahed Majd, Dr.Serajeddin Mahmoudiani https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE: CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS OF RISK IN ARMENIA
Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) remains a critical yet underreported issue in Armenia due to deeply rooted cultural, social, and legal barriers to reveal potential risks. This study explores the challenges surrounding the disclosure of CSEA cases, examining the roles of victims, families, professionals, and legal institutions in addressing this form of violence. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the research highlights how stigma, fear of social repercussions, and distrust in authorities contribute to the silence surrounding CSEA. The paper also investigates the role of gatekeepers in facilitating or hindering disclosure and research efforts involving child victims. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive methodologies that align with local traditions while maintaining scientific rigor and ethical integrity. Findings suggest that improving legal frameworks, strengthening victim support services, and fostering public awareness are essential steps toward breaking the silence and ensuring child protection in Armenia.
Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA), Armenia, Expert Interviews, Child Protection, Public Health, Disclosure Barriers and Facilitators, Cultural Sensitivity, Social Stigma
Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA)
Copyright (c) 2025 Yuliana Melkumyan, Veronika Odinokova, Mira Antonyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
THE FACULTY OF SOCIOLOGY, YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY, TURNS 20։ A Greeting Message to the Professional Community
Copyright (c) 2024 Lyudmila Harutyunyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
THE STUDY OF IMPACT OF GENDER ROLE ATTIDTURE ON MARITAL SATISFACTION OF EMPLOYED WOMEN AND MEN IN THE CITY OF SARI (NORTHEN IRAN)
The present research tried to identify the level of marital satisfaction of employed women and men and examine the effect of factors affecting their marital satisfaction such as gender attitude in Sari city, Iran. To this end, number of participants were randomly selected for taking part in a survey. After collecting the required data, they were analyzed and their results were presented. According to the results of present study, it was shown that women have more modern attitudes toward gender roles than men, and that men report a higher traditional attitude toward women, which is consistent with many studies also men had more marital satisfaction than women. Also, based on the results of current study, the most influential independent variables on the level of marital satisfaction of the respondents were gender of the respondent, acceptance rate of gender role (traditional) attitude, and the amount of division of gender tasks. Moreover, according to the results, the more traditional participants were the more they were satisfied with their marriage. Also it was revealed that with the increase in the level of perceived fairness of the division of household labor, the level of participation of family members in the division of household labor rose. Also, it was found that by increasing the amount of division of household labor between couples, their marital satisfaction improved. Lastly, this research presents the idea that the acceptance of traditional gender roles among couples as an important aspect of people's beliefs about marriage and family responsibilities and its role in the division of household labor can have a significant relationship with marital satisfaction. Therefore, by carrying out the present study, it was shown that considering the role of gender attitude and its impacts of marital satisfaction should not neglected and it seems there should be further studies to consider some other important factors, including women's employment and men's participation in household labor to reach more reliable results.
perceived fairness of the division of household labor
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Esmaeil Riahi, Fatemeh Afradi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
EXPLORING SOCIAL PROTEST POTENTIAL IN MODERN ARMENIAN SOCIETY: INSTITUTIONAL TRUST AND SOCIAL-DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
This study investigates the potential of protests in contemporary Armenian society. Considering the global rise of social protests evolving into significant social movements worldwide and the ongoing movements in Armenia, it is crucial to investigate the protest potential within modern Armenian society. The article is based on secondary data analyses gathered using representative sampling for Armenia and implementing face-to-face interviews conducted by the Caucasus Research Resource Center Armenia (CRRC). The article aims to understand the potential of protests and the factors influencing individuals' inclination toward protest activities. One of the article's main findings is that more than half of the respondents show a propensity for engaging in protest actions. Additionally, several key variables emerge as significant factors influencing this inclination. Among them are sex, education, and marital status play pivotal roles in the decision-making process regarding participation in anti-government protests. Furthermore, place of residence appears to be a determinant, with urban dwellers exhibiting a greater predisposition toward participation in anti-government protests compared to their rural counterparts. There are several reasons why rural inhabitants tend to participate less in protests. Geographical distance, and cultural peculiarities, such as differing social values and community dynamics, may lead to less participation. Additionally, distrust toward main state institutions contributes to the perception that individuals should participate in anti-government protests. Moreover, the study demonstrates that citizens' perceptions of state unfairness and institutional disregard are more significant drivers of potential protest activity than economic conditions.
Copyright (c) 2024 Gayane Harutyunyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
BEING SECURITY CONSCIOUS: ANALYSING SOCIAL MEDIA SECURITY-ORIENTED MESSAGES IN CREATING SECURITY ALERTNESS IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA
This study investigated the role of social media in creating security alertness in Imo State, Nigeria. The research design for this study was a mixed-methods approach employing survey and content analysis. The data indicated that both Imo State Blog and Imo State New Media Facebook pages featured security-related information but with variable rates. Imo State Blog had 11 security-related postings within one year, whereas Imo State New Media published merely 7 posts over the same period. Also, findings suggested that the majority of people had frequent exposure to security-related posts on social media platforms and were aware of security alertness messages sent through these platforms. It was concluded that social media plays an essential role as a medium for enhancing security alertness and encouraging community safety behaviours within the region.
Copyright (c) 2025 Emeka Williams Etumnu, Lauretta Chinenye Nwosu , Cynthia N. Jumbo , Clinton Chukwuma Ogu , Chukwudumebi Kelechi Amadi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Pazos Alonso, C. (2022). Francisca Wood and Nineteenth-Century Periodical Culture: Pressing for Change. Cambridge: Legenda (Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone Cultures, 35), 250 pp. ISBN 978–1–78188–799–8.
Héloïse Elisabeth Marie-Vincent Ghislaine Ducatteau
Copyright (c) 2024 Héloïse Elisabeth Marie-Vincent Ghislaine Ducatteau https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
TRAUMATIC PAST AND THE POLITICS OF MEMORY: WHAT SHOULD BE AND SHOULD NOT BE THE ARMENIAN APPROACH?
Armenia has a history marked by traumatic and harrowing events. In the 20th century, it endured the Armenian Genocide, recognized as the first genocide of such magnitude committed against an ethnic group by a state government with the intention of erasing all existence and memory of it from the land where the Armenian people originated. A nation that has endured genocide must learn lessons to prevent such atrocities from happening again. Failure to draw the right conclusions and implement appropriate policies in a timely manner can result in similar threats reemerging. Every nation must remember its traumatic events in a manner that enables and encourages necessary policies and actions. If similar risks and threats reappear, it may indicate that the nation has either failed to remember its traumatic past in a way that serves it instrumentally and pragmatically or has not remembered it at all. Have Armenians adequately remembered their Genocide? If so, why is there a resurgence of the risk of another genocide affecting the Armenian population, not only in Karabakh but also in Armenia, in modern times? Do Armenians need to reconsider their politics of memory in this context, and if so, are they doing it correctly? This paper critically addresses these questions, accompanied by a brief conceptual exploration and case studies.
Copyright (c) 2024 Arthur Atanesyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTEGRATED SOCIAL SERVICES SYSTEM IN ARMENIA
There are many approaches in the literature that describe the integrated social services concept and analyze the processes, mechanisms and the purposes of integrating social and/or other multispectral services. The models of integration are also the object of some analysis, but still there is a lack of description of the services’ integration models, and a necessity in clearly defining and describing them. The article comes to fulfill this gap, and also to analyze the experience of the Republic of Armenia in integrating social services. The reform lasted almost 10 years, and still the country struggles the difficulties in ensuring the effectiveness and accessibility of those services. Hence, the article is aimed at revealing the main problems and omissions that have occurred and still exist within the frame of the reform. For achieving the main goals proposed for the article, the following research methods have been used: documentary analysis, focus group discussions, and participant observation. The main results of the research make obvious that Armenia passed two main phases for integrating social services. During the first phase the country was able to ensure only co-location of the state agencies that were responsible for provision of social services, locating them in one building with one reception, but no more. For fulfilling the reform, the second phase of integration was launched in 2021, and during that phase the integration was performed with the usage of the principles of structural and functional changes as a model of integrating social service. Meanwhile, for making the whole system work, Armenia needs to go forward and achieve also integration of the procedures, protocols and databases of the services, as well as ensuring the change in the cultural and organizational norms of the newly established system, enhancing cooperation and partnership between the staff of integrated services. This will certify the implementation of another model of integrating social services that is full integration model.
Copyright (c) 2024 Yevgine Vardanyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF NGO STAFF IN BANGLADESH, FOCUSING ON STRESS AND COPING
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) played a pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic by being at the forefront of responding to the global upsurge in humanitarian needs. The purpose of this study is to find out the factors associated with stress among NGO staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study employed qualitative phenomenological research design and the data were collected using in-depth interviews from fifteen NGO staff. Thematic analysis technique was adopted for the data analysis. This study identified numerous stressors, including challenges of work-life balance, social isolation, and access to treatment facilities. Seven out of fifteen respondents stated that the extended hours they worked during COVID-19 had an impact on their ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The majority of the respondents felt anxious about getting access to treatment facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic due to higher treatment costs and limited treatment facilities. The respondents used a variety of coping mechanisms to deal with these stressors, including communicating and spending time with friends and family members, and engaging in fun activities such as watching movies, crafting, gardening, and reading. NGO staff’s daily lives and their mental health were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study recommends the need to assess the stress of NGO staff so that early measures can be taken by concerned NGO agencies, such as employers, to take proactive measures to mitigate their stress during pandemics or other emergencies.
Copyright (c) 2024 Shajeda Begum, Rubayat Kabir , Md Sanaul Haque Mondal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
TEACHING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN CHINA: A NEW UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM
This paper highlights the global issue of academic integrity, particularly in Chinese higher education institutions (HEIs). While policies and classes on integrity exist, comprehensive training opportunities are lacking. To address this, seminars targeting graduate students at one high-level research university in Shanghai have been initiated, aiming to foster competencies for international collaboration and ethical awareness. In the first seminar, various misconduct cases were discussed, including cheating on coursework, exam impersonation, and academic falsification in the Chinese higher education context. Reflecting on the issues and implications this seminar raised, this paper advocates for continued effort towards developing academic integrity training at Chinese HEIs, which would ultimately contribute to enhancing a culture of integrity in Chinese higher education.
Copyright (c) 2024 Elena Denisova-Schmidt, Zhaoheng Xu, Qi Wang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
FACTORS PREDICTING PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY ENLARGEMENT IN SETTLEMENTS OF RA
In 2022, the elections of local self-government bodies in the Republic of Armenia ended the process of community enlargement, which was started in 2011.The community enlargement process deviated several times from the initial implementation methodology, and was conceptually revised in 2018 after the velvet revolution. Currently, multiple deviations and changes from the prescribed approaches have created a situation where a number of communities have been enlarged using the pre-2018 methodology and the rest using the post-2018 methodology. As a result, there was no coincidence that complaints arose, especially among the population of small rural settlements related to the possible deterioration of the socio-economic condition of settlements, the weakening of local self-governance and the disproportionate increase of dependence on large settlements. Illegitimate communal enlargement implies an uncontrollable increase of mistrust among the population towards the policies implemented at the local level and those who implement them, which can lead to the disruption of public life. In this context, the lack of knowledge related to the public perceptions of the changes implemented in the enlarged communities, especially in the context of the discussed problems and the risks arising from them, makes the implementation of research aimed at clarifying the abovementioned issue more than relevant. In April-June 2024, a survey was conducted in the enlarged communities of RA, with the aim of identifying, in addition to a number of research problems, public perceptions of the impact of community enlargement in individual settlements and the factors affecting them. As a result of the ordinal regression analysis carried out in this context, it becomes clear that among a number of research variables, only social capital, place leadership and population dispersion index in enlarged communities meet the statistical assumptions for inclusion in the specified regression model. The odds ratios calculated in the later stages of the model construction show that in the case of social capital, place leadership and dispersion index, the transition to each next category increases the probability of recording positive perceptions of community enlargement among the population. Thus, the proposed hypothesis is also confirmed, according to which: Each 1-level increase in social capital, place leadership and dispersion index in enlarged communities increases the probability of recording positive perceptions of community enlargement impact among residents.
Copyright (c) 2024 Vahan Yengidunyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
DEVELOPMENT OF PARENTING SKILLS IN A SCOPE OF GROUP SOCIAL WORK
Parenting skills play a crucial role in shaping children's development and well-being. This aticle presents a comprehensive review of the literature and research on the development of parenting skills, focusing on various factors influencing parenting practices, interventions aimed at enhancing parenting skills. In order to study the native experience of developing parenting skills, the program of group work implemented in 2022-2023 in "Shogh" community-based children's day centers operating under the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) was presented. The mission of the researched project was to form a conscious and positive approach to parenting in Armenia, and the goal was to develop the parenting knowledge and skills of parents of school-age children. For its evaluation, 2 main methods were used: "Before and after" evaluation and "The most significant change" survey, after which a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the obtained results was performed. The authors argue that a review of both theoretical and research literature indicate that the development of parenting skills has a direct impact on the child's socio-psychological development, on the dynamics of family relationships and, in general, on the child's well-being and social responsibility.
Copyright (c) 2024 Anahit Sahakyan, Anna Voskanyan, Liana Mkrtchyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF WAR AND THEIR TRANSGENERATIONAL DIMENSION
This paper is about the psychological effect of war. By the welding of the explanatory potential of psychoanalysis and anthropology, it argues that victims of armed conflict, particularly if protracted, construct a melancholic response (Yordanova, 2018). Often, people on the move are met with hostility by the host countries or may find themselves in the social periphery. This fosters ambivalence towards the new environment as an expression of vulnerabilities. The paper suggests an intergenerational aspect to the above dynamic, too. Children, exposed to violence, lack the emotional and cognitive maturity to grasp what they have lived through. Yet, overwhelmed with their own feelings of loss, their parents fail to help them deal with the trauma. Thus, children identify with the parents’ complicated grief and the assumption of an idealized pre-war past versus scarce future opportunities. Finally, the paper examines the intersections between individual war trauma, cultural memory and power dynamics in post-conflict societies. Using my field work in Sarajevo (2012, 2018), I argue that war survivors avoid the construction of a consistent war narrative in the first person because they need the state-recognized version of history to be re-written (Yordanova, 2015). The ambiguity of their experience in war, the inadequacy of language to convey horror, and the clash of private memories with the official discourse drive them to alternative forms of expression. Survivors and their children use art, humour, tattoos, scarring, and landscape to explain the war and get connected to each other. In the post-war environment, the narrative of veterans who were most exposed to warfare becomes muted in order not to challenge the political status-quo.
Copyright (c) 2024 Kalina Yordanova https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
THE STRUCTURE OF PATRIOTISM AS A UNIVERSAL VALUE IN THE SYSTEM OF VALUE ORIENTATIONS OF RUSSIAN STUDENTS AND ITS PRACTICAL PROJECTIONS
The article delves into the structural aspects of patriotism as a universal value within the value system of Russian student youth. It aims to pinpoint and analyze practical manifestations of patriotism among this demographic. The relevance of this study is underscored by several factors: the presence of various external threats that necessitate a strong societal cohesion, with patriotism serving as a key factor in achieving this; and the ongoing efforts in contemporary Russia to reinforce traditional values, including patriotism, making it crucial to understand how these values are embraced by student youth. The authors of the article aim to analyze the ways in which patriotic values are expressed among Russian student youth. They utilize empirical data gathered from completed questionnaires by first-year students who participated in the competition "Facts of Russian Statehood." By examining these materials, the researchers seek to identify and generalize the specific features of how patriotism is manifested among this demographic. The authors highlight the features of the patriotic manifestation among students in the content aspect (patriotism is a broad category), associative (patriotism is a multi-level concept), and activity (patriotism has a clear practical content).
Copyright (c) 2024 Dmitry Chekmenev, Ekaterina Efimova, Elena Davydova https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
TERRITORIAL MANAGEMENT AS A PRACTICE OF REPRODUCTION OF THE SOCIAL SPACE. TERRITORIAL MANAGEMENT IN THE SPHERE OF SOCIAL-SPATIAL PLANNING, SPATIAL ORGANIZATION AND CONTROL
Interactions between society and social spaces due to the continuous increase in the complexity of social relations are subjected to permanent reinterpretations. In this context, the previous mechanisms of development and reform of spaces are being replaced by more systematic and multi-vector practices. Currently, socio-spatial planning approaches are considered the most applicable in the context of spatial development and reform, which, based on the representativeness of planning processes and decision-making, offer an effective toolkit for the interaction of society, the expert community and state institutions. At the same time, however, emphasizing the need to ensure the technical standards of spatial reform, strictly professional processes of reform are relatively separated, placing them under the system of spatial organization. The engagement of the professional community, state institutions and society in the process of spatial reforms inevitably leads to the formation of a specific role-status decision-making system, where each subject is endowed with a certain right to make decisions and the power. In this way, the interactions between place leadership and process management emerge, which as a result reproduce the existing system of spatial control. As it becomes clear from the analysis of approaches related to spatial reform, there is a comprehensive system of knowledge on socio-spatial planning, spatial organization and control, but there is a lack of knowledge in the context of highlighting the interrelationships between the above-mentioned concepts, which is also a consequence of not considering the mentioned components in one general conceptual unit. In the framework of this work, an attempt is made to overcome this limitation by offering a new approach to the concept of territorial management (which is already in use) as a practice combining the components of socio-spatial planning, spatial organization and control of spatial reform, within the context of which a new definition of territorial management is also given.
A SHOCK-RESPONSIVE SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM: ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK
The paper discusses the concept of a "shock-responsive social protection system", the main options for shock-responsive social protection: including design tweaks, piggybacking, horizontal and vertical expansions, and alignment. Some key criteria are discussed in terms of evaluating the ability of social protection system to respond to emergencies. Some conclusions are presented as offers in terms of preparing for an effective response to shocks as well.
social protection and shock-responsive social protection system
Copyright (c) 2024 Marine Yarmaloyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
DRUG ABUSE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN ALGERIA: THE CASE OF TEBESSA PROVINCE
The study discusses the phenomenon of drug abuse and its relationship to the spread of domestic violence directed against women and its impact on the lives of abused women in the state of Tebessa - Algeria. These actions are considered violations of a system of moral values that are unacceptable within society, because they have repercussions on its most important social system, which is the family. The study used the descriptive approach because it helps in understanding social phenomena in their natural context, as the phenomenon is documented and described in a detailed and accurate manner. The snowball sample was relied on, which represented a group of women who were exposed to various types of domestic violence resulting from drug abuse and practiced against them. The interview tool was relied upon to collect data and information. The results of the study showed that drug abuse is related to the spread of domestic violence against women, as this affects the quality of family life. Drug abuse is also considered one of the causes that contribute to the spread of violence against women, and has led to disturbance and disintegration of family relationships and ties. This requires combating the phenomenon of drug abuse, because eliminating it in turn includes eliminating all the various social phenomena within the social and family structure.
Copyright (c) 2024 Khaoula Nachi, Kaltoum Messaoudi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
CONCEPTUALIZING AND MEASURING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF YOUTH INDEPENDENCE IN ARMENIA
As youth transition from childhood dependence to adult independence, various dimensions such as financial, economic, mental, daily life independence, and civic participation come into play. The methodology involves quantitative interviews, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, expert interviews, document analysis, and an academic literature review. The youth independence index encompasses financial independence, economic independence, mental independence, daily life independence, providing a comprehensive approach to understanding and measuring youth independence. Each sub-index is meticulously justified and evaluated using a variety of indicators. Analyzing data from 625 young people aged 18-35 in Armenia, the study reveals insights into the landscape of youth independence. Civic participation stands out as a key area for improvement, while mental and daily life independence demonstrate the highest levels. The analysis considers factors such as age, gender, education, and location, highlighting significant disparities and correlations. The article concludes with considerations for policy interventions and discussions on the representativeness of the chosen sub-indices. The comprehensive framework proposed in this research contributes valuable insights to the field of youth studies, offering a nuanced understanding of the dynamics of youth independence in Armenia.
Copyright (c) 2024 Marina Galstyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0