title: COVID-19, capital flows and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa

authors: Shittu, Waliu Olawale

abstract: The Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region suffered severe economic impacts from COVID-19, despite experiencing some of the lowest numbers of cases and deaths from the pandemic. The attainment of sustainable development in the region was significantly affected partly because of the region’s huge reliance on industrialised economies who were most hit by the pandemic. The SSA countries covered 33 of the 45 countries listed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as least developed countries (LDCs) requiring significant assistance. Moreover, the countries in the region experience some of the lowest inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI), both in comparison to other regions and to the flow of other foreign capitals into SSA. Again, as these countries were more vulnerable to economic shocks because of their lower resilience capacities, the attainment of sustainable development was significantly threatened when COVID-19 resulted in reduced economic activity, foreign investment and deteriorating socio-economic inequalities. Although earlier studies have concentrated on the impact of various cross-border capital flows on economic growth and some development indicators, those studies have not empirically evaluated how this global shock has impacted the inflows of foreign capital and their effects on sustainable development. In view of these, this thesis provides three empirical studies, using data from SSA countries over the period 2000 – 2022.

The first paper evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on the nexus between remittances and sustainable development. Relying on both static and dynamic estimation techniques, the study found that remittance is positively associated with sustainable development, both before and after the threshold, subject to the absorptive capacity of the SSA economies. In effect, there is a minimum level of institutional quality and financial development, below which their effects on sustainable development would be negative; at which the stimulating effect of remittances may be reversed. In addition, COVID-19 was observed to reduce the progress towards sustainable development, directly and when interacted with remittances. 

In the second paper, the impact of the pandemic was estimated in the nexus between FDI and sustainable development. The empirical estimates showed that FDI does not exert a significant impact on sustainable development. When the effect of FDI was further analysed on economic growth, the environment, and human development, the estimates remained consistent. While COVID-19 was found to reduce the levels of economic growth, the environment, human development, and sustainable development, the interaction effect showed that FDI reduces the negative effect of COVID-19 on economic growth and sustainable development. 

The third paper measured the impact of COVID-19 on the aid – sustainable development nexus. The findings revealed that foreign aid facilitates the attainment of sustainable development and many of its goals. Even though the pandemic was found to exert a diminishing effect, foreign aid was not only found to reduce the negative effect of the pandemic but to also enhance the complementary roles of financial and institutional infrastructures on the attainment of sustainable development.

text: COVID-19, capital flows and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa The Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region suffered severe economic impacts from COVID-19, despite experiencing some of the lowest numbers of cases and deaths from the pandemic. The attainment of sustainable development in the region was significantly affected partly because of the region’s huge reliance on industrialised economies who were most hit by the pandemic. The SSA countries covered 33 of the 45 countries listed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as least developed countries (LDCs) requiring significant assistance. Moreover, the countries in the region experience some of the lowest inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI), both in comparison to other regions and to the flow of other foreign capitals into SSA. Again, as these countries were more vulnerable to economic shocks because of their lower resilience capacities, the attainment of sustainable development was significantly threatened when COVID-19 resulted in reduced economic activity, foreign investment and deteriorating socio-economic inequalities. Although earlier studies have concentrated on the impact of various cross-border capital flows on economic growth and some development indicators, those studies have not empirically evaluated how this global shock has impacted the inflows of foreign capital and their effects on sustainable development. In view of these, this thesis provides three empirical studies, using data from SSA countries over the period 2000 – 2022.

The first paper evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on the nexus between remittances and sustainable development. Relying on both static and dynamic estimation techniques, the study found that remittance is positively associated with sustainable development, both before and after the threshold, subject to the absorptive capacity of the SSA economies. In effect, there is a minimum level of institutional quality and financial development, below which their effects on sustainable development would be negative; at which the stimulating effect of remittances may be reversed. In addition, COVID-19 was observed to reduce the progress towards sustainable development, directly and when interacted with remittances. 

In the second paper, the impact of the pandemic was estimated in the nexus between FDI and sustainable development. The empirical estimates showed that FDI does not exert a significant impact on sustainable development. When the effect of FDI was further analysed on economic growth, the environment, and human development, the estimates remained consistent. While COVID-19 was found to reduce the levels of economic growth, the environment, human development, and sustainable development, the interaction effect showed that FDI reduces the negative effect of COVID-19 on economic growth and sustainable development. 

The third paper measured the impact of COVID-19 on the aid – sustainable development nexus. The findings revealed that foreign aid facilitates the attainment of sustainable development and many of its goals. Even though the pandemic was found to exert a diminishing effect, foreign aid was not only found to reduce the negative effect of the pandemic but to also enhance the complementary roles of financial and institutional infrastructures on the attainment of sustainable development.

year: 2025

title: What do we mean by social in relation to learning and the role of teachers?

authors: Earl Rinehart, (Suzanne) Kerry

abstract: The word social is often used as a modifying adjective to describe behaviour of a group, collective, community, society or organisation. There are social actions and we have social problems. We also understand that   human beings are social animals. We require   interaction with others, so we seek relationship/association/affiliation/cooperation with others and we gather in communities. According to Wikipedia, the etymology of the word social comes from “the Latin word socii (‘allies  ’) referring to allied states of the Roman Republic”. We might take from this that to be social is to be in a positive relationship with others as individuals or groups. During the   COVID-19 health crisis our   connections are  virtual through social media   . Other terms we are familiar with are social security, social studies, sociology, social skills, social work.     Social    may also be a description for temporary behaviour—being social   —during a specific period of time.

text: What do we mean by social in relation to learning and the role of teachers? The word social is often used as a modifying adjective to describe behaviour of a group, collective, community, society or organisation. There are social actions and we have social problems. We also understand that   human beings are social animals. We require   interaction with others, so we seek relationship/association/affiliation/cooperation with others and we gather in communities. According to Wikipedia, the etymology of the word social comes from “the Latin word socii (‘allies  ’) referring to allied states of the Roman Republic”. We might take from this that to be social is to be in a positive relationship with others as individuals or groups. During the   COVID-19 health crisis our   connections are  virtual through social media   . Other terms we are familiar with are social security, social studies, sociology, social skills, social work.     Social    may also be a description for temporary behaviour—being social   —during a specific period of time.

year: 2020

title: The New Zealand Wars Documentary Series: Discursive Struggle and Cultural Memory.

authors: Perrott, Lisa

subjects: Television Documentary

abstract: The 1998 television broadcast of The New Zealand Wars documentary series was a significant public event, which had a major impact on a broad range of communities and individuals in Aotearoa New Zealand. This popular television history engaged with issues of historical veracity, race, culture and nationhood and challenged previously dominant discourses associated with these concepts. In doing so, it provoked heated debate, and a re-imagining of 'nation', and also opened up spaces for alternative ways of engaging with historical narrative. 

Informed by post-colonialism, cultural studies and cultural memory, this thesis explores the discursive and affective role of The New Zealand Wars, as it has operated within the turbulent climate of 1990s New Zealand cultural relations. This catalytic function is described in this thesis as a phenomenon of a television series shaped by, whilst also intervening in, processes of cultural colonisation and decolonisation. 

While both of these processes involve the transmission of discourse via cultural forms, the act of cultural decolonisation requires, in addition, the convergence of a number of agents (people and communities, discursive and memory resources) and circumstances, within particular contextual conditions. Such a convergence provided the conditions for the discursive synthesis, which shaped the production, construction and reception of this series. 

The role of audio-visual media (and specifically television documentary) in transmitting cultural memory is significant as it enables the flow of memory through channels or forms (such as visual, oral and aural traditions) that can bring about new perspectives and critical reflections upon colonial discourse and dominant concepts of nation and culture. In addition to these social and intellectual processes of audience engagement, this thesis argues that experiential and affective dimensions of cultural memory can (in these specific circumstances) open up radical spaces, offering the potential for generating awareness and sparking political action. 

These issues are explored through a tripartite analysis of the production context, construction and reception of The New Zealand Wars series. The integration of these three phases of analysis has generated a number of insights into the potential of audio-visual forms, including their producers and audiences, to participate in the negotiation of, and resistance to, colonial discourse. Such insights serve to challenge taken-for-granted constructions of nation and history, and suggest the increasing relevance of alternative concepts such as community-building and cultural memory. Ultimately, this thesis argues that television documentary can serve as a prime site for the articulation of these concepts. The New Zealand Wars serves as a case study, which demonstrates both the potential of this site, and the significance of the social-historical and cultural context in framing this series.

text: The New Zealand Wars Documentary Series: Discursive Struggle and Cultural Memory. The 1998 television broadcast of The New Zealand Wars documentary series was a significant public event, which had a major impact on a broad range of communities and individuals in Aotearoa New Zealand. This popular television history engaged with issues of historical veracity, race, culture and nationhood and challenged previously dominant discourses associated with these concepts. In doing so, it provoked heated debate, and a re-imagining of 'nation', and also opened up spaces for alternative ways of engaging with historical narrative. 

Informed by post-colonialism, cultural studies and cultural memory, this thesis explores the discursive and affective role of The New Zealand Wars, as it has operated within the turbulent climate of 1990s New Zealand cultural relations. This catalytic function is described in this thesis as a phenomenon of a television series shaped by, whilst also intervening in, processes of cultural colonisation and decolonisation. 

While both of these processes involve the transmission of discourse via cultural forms, the act of cultural decolonisation requires, in addition, the convergence of a number of agents (people and communities, discursive and memory resources) and circumstances, within particular contextual conditions. Such a convergence provided the conditions for the discursive synthesis, which shaped the production, construction and reception of this series. 

The role of audio-visual media (and specifically television documentary) in transmitting cultural memory is significant as it enables the flow of memory through channels or forms (such as visual, oral and aural traditions) that can bring about new perspectives and critical reflections upon colonial discourse and dominant concepts of nation and culture. In addition to these social and intellectual processes of audience engagement, this thesis argues that experiential and affective dimensions of cultural memory can (in these specific circumstances) open up radical spaces, offering the potential for generating awareness and sparking political action. 

These issues are explored through a tripartite analysis of the production context, construction and reception of The New Zealand Wars series. The integration of these three phases of analysis has generated a number of insights into the potential of audio-visual forms, including their producers and audiences, to participate in the negotiation of, and resistance to, colonial discourse. Such insights serve to challenge taken-for-granted constructions of nation and history, and suggest the increasing relevance of alternative concepts such as community-building and cultural memory. Ultimately, this thesis argues that television documentary can serve as a prime site for the articulation of these concepts. The New Zealand Wars serves as a case study, which demonstrates both the potential of this site, and the significance of the social-historical and cultural context in framing this series.

year: 2007