bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving human rights NGO ethics and accountability: A critique of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and human rights utopianism
Authors: Schimmel Noam 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis commentary calls for a more critical relationship with human rights NGOs, specifically, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. I argue that their politics, positionality, and power are often obscured by their conflation as intrinsically imperfect organizations that yield power and influence with the moral principles of human rights and with international human rights law itself, which are popularly perceived as unimpeachable and sacred in a secular ethical way. I contend that this conflation—often a deliberate and strategic one espoused by the organizations themselves—undermines the integrity of their work and the capacity to hold them accountable for their human rights advocacy. I illustrate ways in which both organizations have neglected to respect human rights and, specifically, principles of equality and universality. I further argue that both organizations need to be humbler and more honest about the moral, legal, and practical limitations of their work and ways in which it can be compromised. This is due to the exigencies of donor dependency and the politics of fundraising, the social, cultural, and political contexts in which the organizations operate and the expectations and demands of their supporters, and the nature of human rights as a movement, body of law, and expression of moral idealism that can sometimes obscure its prejudices, assumptions, and pathologies of power.
The Beast from the East and drought of summer 2018: an example of compound event impacts upon Ireland's agricultural sector
Authors: Noone Clare , Noone Simon , McClean Deirdre , Thorne Peter 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe most noticeable and damaging manifestation of human‐induced climate change is the increasing likelihood of certain extreme weather events. As defined in the IPCC sixth assessment report, compound extremes can lead to extreme impacts that are much larger than the sum of the impacts due to the occurrence of individual extremes alone. Of these compound weather events, events occurring in close succession have received the least attention to date. In this paper, we explore such a case study of successive events affecting the agricultural sector in Ireland arising from the winter storm of 2018, dubbed the ‘Beast from the East’, followed by the drought of summer 2018 which combined yielded a substantial reduction in agricultural productivity over 2018.
The Rise of the Illiberal Public Sphere
Authors: Štětka Václav , Mihelj Sabina 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis chapter sets out the theoretical framework of the book, centred on the key concept of the illiberal public sphere. We first outline our understanding of illiberalism and explain what makes it distinct from related phenomena such as populism and democratic backsliding. Following from that, we introduce the concept of the illiberal public sphere, and elaborate on the historical relationship between liberalism and the public sphere, as well as on the existing alternatives to the classic ‘Habermasian’ model, indicating that a public sphere can exist outside of the scope of liberal democracy. The chapter then proceeds to identify three ideal-typical stages in the development of the illiberal public sphere—labelled as incipient, ascendant and hegemonic—and charts the contemporary state of the illiberal public sphere in each of the four countries that are at the forefront of our analysis.
Polarized Media, Polarized Audiences? News Sources and Illiberal Attitudes
Authors: Štětka Václav , Mihelj Sabina 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIn this chapter, we explore the extent and impact of polarization in the media systems of our four Eastern European countries. First, we provide empirical evidence of media polarization, measured by ideological bias and political independence of a sample of the most relevant news brands in each country, which demonstrates that media landscapes display the highest level of polarization in Hungary and Serbia, corresponding with the more advanced state of the illiberal public sphere in these countries compared to the Czech Republic and Poland. Building on this data, we explore patterns of people’s news consumption habits, from the perspective of their political and ideological homogeneity or diversity, identifying five specific ‘media repertoires’ that characterize people’s news diets, which reveal different levels of audience polarization across out countries. Finally, we analyse the relationship between these patterns of news exposure and audiences’ attitudes to culturally and politically polarizing issues, revealing significant associations between political-ideological bias of people’s news sources and their political attitudes, as well as their voting behaviour.
Media Trust and News Consumption in the Illiberal Public Sphere
Authors: Štětka Václav , Mihelj Sabina 
Published: June 2024

AbstractChapter 4 examines how the patterns of news consumption outlined in the previous chapter relate to media trust. We start by providing a multi-layered mapping of media trust across the four countries, paying attention not just to the more commonly investigated generalized levels of media trust but also trust in individual news brands. We argue that in a context where generalized media trust declines, people adopt a pragmatic approach to media trust, seeking to follow news sources that may not be completely trustworthy, but nonetheless offer a more credible account than others. Second, we examine the relationship between media trust and news consumption and investigate why people consume media they distrust. Finally, we consider how citizens establish which media are trustworthy. The results suggest that in a context where the illiberal public sphere assumes a dominant position, the normative foundations of media trust start shifting, ultimately leading citizens to place trust in media not because they offer impartial or accurate coverage of public affairs, but because they provide an account of reality they personally agree with or—in the extreme case—because their account of reality is aligned with the one promoted by those in power.
Mainstreaming Illiberalism: The Rise of Immigration and LGBTQ+ Rights as Polarizing Issues
Authors: Štětka Václav , Mihelj Sabina 
Published: June 2024

AbstractChapter 5 zooms in on two polarizing issues—immigration and LGBTQ+ rights—that are central to understanding the rise of illiberalism both in Eastern Europe and globally. We focus on the key actors involved in the process of mainstreaming of immigration and LGBTQ+ rights as key polarizing issues in the four countries—primarily illiberal politicians, but also church leaders and other opinion leaders—and on the extent to which this process was either fostered or hindered by the media. We argue that the role of the media differed depending on how advanced the illiberal public sphere was in a particular country, at a given point in time. When the illiberal public sphere is in an incipient stage, alternative and online outlets play a key role in the promotion of anti-immigrant and homophobic views, while independent mainstream media are still able to instil more liberal attitudes. As the strength of the illiberal public sphere increases, illiberal leaders can count on the support of an ever-wider range of mainstream media outlets, which have capacity to promote illiberal views on a large scale, potentially also leading to shifts in public opinion. At the same time, a well-established illiberal public sphere, which resonates with widespread illiberal attitudes among the citizenry, can also limit the ability of illiberal leaders to steer away from the illiberal agenda. In such a context, the illiberal public sphere becomes a powerful actor in its own right, capable of sustaining illiberalism to some extent independently of elite support.
News Consumption and the Illiberal Public Sphere During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Štětka Václav , Mihelj Sabina 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis chapter focuses on information consumption and the illiberal public sphere during the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, we ask whether countries where polarization is more advanced, and where the illiberal public sphere is more firmly established, responded to the health crisis differently than those where illiberal tendencies are less evident. Drawing on a unique set of qualitative interviews and diaries collected during the first wave of the pandemic, we investigate how the combined effects of disruption caused by the pandemic and attempts to abuse the crisis for political gain affected citizens’ engagement with COVID-19 news, responses to government communication, trust in experts, and vulnerability to misinformation. Our analysis suggests that countries where the illiberal public sphere was more entrenched were at a distinct disadvantage, particularly if governing elites abused the situation to further expand their control over public life. Even though leaders in all four countries initially avoided politicizing the crisis, the more advanced state of the illiberal public sphere in two of the countries—Hungary and Serbia—arguably contributed to turning the public health emergency into a divisive event, sawing distrust in the government as well as in experts, while making citizens potentially more vulnerable to misinformation.
Conclusions
Authors: Štětka Václav , Mihelj Sabina 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis concluding chapter summarizes the main findings across the book and reflects on their broader implications. We first discuss what the comparison between the four countries tells us about the key constitutive processes and tipping points in the rise of the illiberal public sphere, and then outline most recent developments in Eastern Europe and beyond, asking what they might mean for the prospects of the illiberal public sphere. Finally, we offer some suggestions for journalistic practices and media policies with a potential to make media systems more resilient and contain the challenges of illiberalism.
The Third-Year Publication of the Open Access Book Series “Progress in Landslide Research and Technology”
Authors: Sassa Kyoji 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe Kyoto 2020 Commitment for Global Promotion of Understanding and Reducing Landslide Disaster Risk (Kyoto Landslide Commitment 2020: KLC2020) was launched on 5 November 2020 by the adoption of 2020 Kyoto Declaration at the end of the launching session of the Kyoto Landslide Commitment 2020. The KLC2020 was signed by 90 worldwide partners. On 3 November 2021, during the fifth World Landslide Forum (WLF5) held in a hybrid mode (onsite, online-virtual, and pre-recorded modes) in Kyoto, Japan, the ICL and the KLC2020 partners launched the new open-access book series “Progress in Landslide Research and Technology” to promote the Kyoto Landslide Commitment 2020 for global promotion of understanding and reducing landslide disaster risk in 2022.The KLC 2020 Secretariat called for the KLC2020 official promoters which promote the Kyoto Landslide Commitment 2020 and provide the financial support for the implementation of the KLC2020 activities including the Open Access Book Series “Progress in Landslide Research and Technology (P-LRT).” At the same time, the Secretariat called for contribution of articles and voluntary editors. Thanks to strong support and contribution, the P-LRT could publish and edit 4 issues and now we have entered in the third-year publication. This article is the report of founding two issues Volume 1, Issue 1 and Issue 2, and the progress report of Volume 2, Issue 1 and Issue 2 published in 2023, and introduce the collected articles for Vol. 3, Issue 1 published in 2024.
Centrifuge Modeling of Slopes Subjected to Groundwater Flow and Rainfall Infiltration
Authors: Jayakody S. H. S. , Uzuoka Ryosuke , Ueda Kyohei , Saito Kenta 
Published: June 2024

AbstractDue to the severe harm that they cause to society and the economy, landslides have become an infamous topic. Certainly, rainfall is one of the most important external factors that lower soil suction and shear strength, which in turn leads to shallow landslides. Indeed, landslide early warning mechanisms mostly rely on predicted or actual rainfall. However, the absence of a more thorough hydrological process involving groundwater flow means that temporal predictability still poses a challenge. Therefore, understanding the complex hydromechanical process using physical modeling techniques is of utmost importance. This paper aims to confirm the performance of the newly developed centrifuge soil container that facilitates the simultaneous functioning of groundwater flow and rainfall infiltration. Upon the validation of the functioning of the centrifuge chamber, landslide characteristics of unsaturated slopes were examined under the integrated effect of groundwater flow and rainfall. The results show that distinctive characteristics compared to slopes fail under rainfall infiltration.
Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments: Monitoring Landslide Stakeholders’ Contributions
Authors: Matsuoka Yuki 
Published: June 2024

AbstractDisasters caused by landslides have continued to occur in recent years resulting in loss of lives and livelihoods around the world. To prevent such disasters and reduce landslide risk, it is crucial to share good practices from around the world and promote all-of-society engagement. The Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) online platform continues to take stock and monitor non-state actors’ contributions to the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. The platform not only keeps track of their contributions to the Sendai Framework’s global targets, but it also details the hazards each commitment is aiming to address, including landslides. As of 31 March 2023, a total of 116 voluntary commitments have been published on the SFVC online platform. This article provides a statistical analysis of these voluntary commitments, looking into their deliverables, budgets, participating organizations, Sendai Framework targets and Sustainable Development Goals covered, among other variables. The quantitative analysis involves descriptive statistics that provide insights on commitments that are addressing landslides in their disaster risk reduction activities. Additionally, the article presents case studies from the voluntary commitments that demonstrate noteworthy efforts by stakeholders in reducing risks from landslides. As of 31 March 2023, 64 percent of the voluntary commitments published by stakeholders are implementing activities to build resilience against landslides. Initial findings indicate that among the 17 hazards documented on the SFVC online platform, landslides rank as the third most frequently addressed hazard. Although most voluntary commitments address landslides, it would be beneficial to encourage more action and improve current activities specific to landslide risk reduction especially for countries more vulnerable to landslides. The SFVC online platform endeavors to mobilize more stakeholders to address landslides, striving for a world where landslide risks no longer threaten communities.
Regional Debris Flow Hazard Assessment of the Grdelica Gorge (Serbia)
Authors: Marjanović Miloš , Abolmasov Biljana , Krušić Jelka , Đurić Uroš 
Published: June 2024

AbstractRoad infrastructure development is currently very intensive in Serbia. One such example is the Grdelica Gorge, where a new highway was aligned and put into service in 2019. The Gorge has provided a very challenging engineering environment imposing high levels of several hazard types: floods; slides; debris flows; and rockfalls. In this work, the debris flow hazard for the first 15 km of the road route was in focus. The assessment included an expert-driven analysis for identifying potential source areas, coupled with deterministic modelling of the flowing process originating from these source areas, resulting in detailed simulations of the final runout distance, height of deposit, and flow velocity, which are all reliable parameters for mitigating the hazard across the road alignment. A combination of geomorphological criteria, processed in a GIS environment was used to narrow down the search of source areas containing loose, erodible material which easily mobilizes under saturated conditions. The criteria were calibrated by the outlines of the available inventory, acquired by remote sensing techniques. The Digital Terrain Model with 12.5 m resolution was used for running RApid Mass Movement Simulation (RAMMS), using estimated bulk density and friction coefficients as input parameters. Since there was no recent debris flow in the area for the appropriate back-analysis of these parameters, experience-and lab-based estimations were used. Several simulations have reached the road alignment, wherein a few imposed significant threats with respect to deposit height and velocity that require additional attention.
Assessment of the Structural Geological, Hydrogeological, and Geomorphological Relationships of the Athwelthota Landslide, Sri Lanka
Authors: Dissanayaka D. M. D. S. , Weerasinghe A. R. P. , Jayakody S. H. S. , Asano Shino , Bandara K. N. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractLandslides pose a significant threat to Sri Lanka, causing loss of life and property damages. The Athwelthota landslide in Kalutara District, occurred on May 26, 2017, resulting in casualties and severe property destruction. This study focuses on understanding the relationship between structural geology, hydrogeology, and geomorphology in the Athwelthota landslide area to comprehend the causes of landslides. We conducted field surveys, geotechnical investigations, and seismic surveys to gather data on geological features, soil properties, and rainfall patterns. The findings reveal that slope instability is influenced by the shear strength of soil overburden, jointed bedrock, deformation, and highly weathered garnet biotite gneiss. Groundwater flow through geological discontinuities and intense rainfall during the Southwest Monsoon contribute to increased pore water pressure and reduced shear strength, triggering landslides.The study emphasizes the importance of assessing these factors for hazard assessment, early warning systems, and sustainable development in landslide-prone regions. By understanding the geological and hydrological characteristics of the area, it is possible to identify vulnerable areas and implement appropriate mitigation measures. This research is part of a larger project aimed at developing an early warning technology for rain-induced rapid and long-traveling landslides. The insights gained from this study can help land-use planning, infrastructure development, and disaster management strategies in landslide-prone areas, ultimately contributing to the protection of lives, reduction of property damage, and the sustainable development of the region.
An Integration of the Fractal Method and the Statistical Index Method for Mapping Landslide Susceptibility
Authors: Van Duong Binh , Fomenko Igor K. , Gorobtsov Denis N. , Nguyen Kien Trung , Vu Dang Hong , Shubina Daria D. , Pham Ha Ngoc Thi 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAppropriate land use planning and the sustainable development of residential communities play a crucial role in the development of mountainous provinces in Vietnam. Because these regions are especially prone to natural disasters, including landslides, landslide studies can provide valuable data for determining the evolution of the landslide process and assessing landslide risk. This study was conducted to assess landslide susceptibility in Muong Khoa commune, Son La province, Vietnam, using the Statistical Index method (SI) and the integration of the Fractal method and Statistical Index method (FSI). To produce landslide susceptibility zonation (LSZ) maps, eight causative factors, including elevation, slope aspect, slope, distance to roads, distance to drainage, distance to faults, distance to geological boundaries, and land use, were considered. Using SI and FSI models, two landslide susceptibility zonation maps (LSZ) were produced in ArcGIS, and the study territory was categorized into five susceptibility zones: very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. The area percentage of susceptibility zones predicted by the SI model is 10.11, 18.49, 29.71, 28.59, and 13.10%, respectively. Meanwhile, the susceptibility map generated by the FSI model divided the study area into zones with corresponding area proportions of 18.92, 18.71, 20.01, 22.94, and 19.42%. Using the ROC method, the prediction performance of the two models was determined to be AUC = 71.18% (SI model) and AUC = 75.18% (FSI model). The AUC > 70% indicated that the models established a good relationship between the spatial distribution of past landslides and causative factors. In addition, the two models accurately predicted the occurrence of landslides in the study area. The FSI model has improved prediction performance by identifying the role of each factor in the landslide occurrences in the study area and, therefore, may be effectively utilized in other regions and contribute to Vietnam’s landslide prevention strategy.
Procedures and Data Basis
Authors: Lang Frieder R. , Lessenich Stephan , Rothermund Klaus 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe Ageing as Future project combined and used a variety of multidisciplinary, multicultural, multimethodological, and longitudinal approaches. The chapter provides an overview of the approach and the process of the surveys of the various subprojects in Germany, the USA, Hong Kong and also in Taiwan and the Czech Republic.
Time Structures of Ageing: Acting Old Age Between Everyday Abundance of Time and Biographical Time Poverty
Authors: Lessenich Stephan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe qualitative interview study of Ageing as Future centered on time management and time agency in old age. The chapter presents the main findings concerning the guiding question of how retirees deal with the tension between increasing “free” time in everyday life and decreasing biographical time.
Building Scenarios for the Future of Manufacturing
Authors: Fornasiero Rosanna , Tolio Tullio A. M. , Demartini Melissa , Terkaj Walter , Tonelli Flavio 
Published: June 2024

AbstractForecasting future scenarios is an approach that enables companies, governments, and countries to interpolate the most important trends unfolding in a certain context to help tackle the uncertainties of a world that is changing ever more rapidly. The future outlook can be influenced by many different variables and it is reasonable to consider different possible scenarios. This chapter briefly describes the scenarios discussed and validated by the National Cluster of Intelligent Factories as some of the most promising to influence and change production systems. The work is based on the analysis of various trends from economic, social, technological, and environmental dimensions that have been clustered. The expected influence on the manufacturing sector has been discussed and validated with the support of a group of experts.