title: D-semigroups and constellations

authors: Stokes, Tim E.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: In a result generalising the Ehresmann–Schein–Nambooripad Theorem relating inverse semigroups to inductive groupoids, Lawson has shown that Ehresmann semigroups correspond to certain types of ordered (small) categories he calls Ehresmann categories. An important special case of this is the correspondence between two-sided restriction semigroups and what Lawson calls inductive categories. Gould and Hollings obtained a one-sided version of this last result, by establishing a similar correspondence between left restriction semigroups and certain ordered partial algebras they call inductive constellations (a general constellation is a one-sided generalisation of a category). We put this one-sided correspondence into a rather broader setting, at its most general involving left congruence D-semigroups (which need not satisfy any semiadequacy condition) and what we call co-restriction constellations, a finitely axiomatized class of partial algebras. There are ordered and unordered versions of our results. Two special cases have particular interest. One is that the class of left Ehresmann semigroups (the natural one-sided versions of Lawson’s Ehresmann semigroups) corresponds to the class of co-restriction constellations satisfying a suitable semiadequacy condition. The other is that the class of ordered left Ehresmann semigroups (which generalise left restriction semigroups and for which semigroups of binary relations equipped with domain operation and the inclusion order are important examples) corresponds to a class of ordered constellations defined by a straightforward weakening of the inductive constellation axioms.

text: D-semigroups and constellations In a result generalising the Ehresmann–Schein–Nambooripad Theorem relating inverse semigroups to inductive groupoids, Lawson has shown that Ehresmann semigroups correspond to certain types of ordered (small) categories he calls Ehresmann categories. An important special case of this is the correspondence between two-sided restriction semigroups and what Lawson calls inductive categories. Gould and Hollings obtained a one-sided version of this last result, by establishing a similar correspondence between left restriction semigroups and certain ordered partial algebras they call inductive constellations (a general constellation is a one-sided generalisation of a category). We put this one-sided correspondence into a rather broader setting, at its most general involving left congruence D-semigroups (which need not satisfy any semiadequacy condition) and what we call co-restriction constellations, a finitely axiomatized class of partial algebras. There are ordered and unordered versions of our results. Two special cases have particular interest. One is that the class of left Ehresmann semigroups (the natural one-sided versions of Lawson’s Ehresmann semigroups) corresponds to the class of co-restriction constellations satisfying a suitable semiadequacy condition. The other is that the class of ordered left Ehresmann semigroups (which generalise left restriction semigroups and for which semigroups of binary relations equipped with domain operation and the inclusion order are important examples) corresponds to a class of ordered constellations defined by a straightforward weakening of the inductive constellation axioms.

year: 2017

title: Why do I need research and theory? A guide for social workers, by Jennifer Anderson-Meger[Book Review]

authors: Hunt, Sonya

abstract: This article reviews the book “Why do I need research and theory? A guide for social workers”, by Jennifer Anderson-Meger.

text: Why do I need research and theory? A guide for social workers, by Jennifer Anderson-Meger[Book Review] This article reviews the book “Why do I need research and theory? A guide for social workers”, by Jennifer Anderson-Meger.

year: 2017

title: Culture and collaborative conservation? Inter-cultural difference and the Maungatautari Project

authors: Harms, Matthew

subjects: Inter-cultural navigation

abstract: This thesis situates and examines the role of sociocultural difference and biculturalism in the Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain project, a multi-stakeholder community-based biodiversity conservation project in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island. In the project, Mana Whenua (local indigenous Māori groups) and Pākehā (New Zealanders of British and European descent) from the area endeavour to interact and partner in the non-profit Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust (MEIT) as its primary stakeholder groups. Utilizing sociocultural anthropology, three years of participant observation, participant interviews, fieldwork data and contextualizing history, the role of culture and issues of biculturalism and partnership are examined in relation to the respective sociocultural backgrounds and identity of project participants. Findings indicate that sociocultural difference in the form of varying beliefs, values, attitudes, practices and protocol, and identity/cultural politics have led to dissonance and strained stakeholder interrelations that negatively affected the project. In some instances, a post-colonial ‘neo-paternalism’ marginalised local Māori cultural input and needs in the project. At other times project participants successfully bridged inter-cultural differences. In these occurrences they created a collaborative, complementary, bicultural partnership which valued, sought to understand, and incorporated differing sociocultural aspects, advancing project goals. Further analysis identified an ongoing risk of future multi-stakeholder dissonance relative to culturally-derived disparate views on such issues as cultural harvesting, species reintroductions and care, ecotourism, development on the mountain, and biodiversity research. Normative solutions are identified which can aid Maungatautari stakeholders and other culturally-heterogeneous multi-stakeholder conservation groups work toward and produce inclusive, inter-cultural partnership.

text: Culture and collaborative conservation? Inter-cultural difference and the Maungatautari Project This thesis situates and examines the role of sociocultural difference and biculturalism in the Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain project, a multi-stakeholder community-based biodiversity conservation project in the Waikato region of New Zealand’s North Island. In the project, Mana Whenua (local indigenous Māori groups) and Pākehā (New Zealanders of British and European descent) from the area endeavour to interact and partner in the non-profit Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust (MEIT) as its primary stakeholder groups. Utilizing sociocultural anthropology, three years of participant observation, participant interviews, fieldwork data and contextualizing history, the role of culture and issues of biculturalism and partnership are examined in relation to the respective sociocultural backgrounds and identity of project participants. Findings indicate that sociocultural difference in the form of varying beliefs, values, attitudes, practices and protocol, and identity/cultural politics have led to dissonance and strained stakeholder interrelations that negatively affected the project. In some instances, a post-colonial ‘neo-paternalism’ marginalised local Māori cultural input and needs in the project. At other times project participants successfully bridged inter-cultural differences. In these occurrences they created a collaborative, complementary, bicultural partnership which valued, sought to understand, and incorporated differing sociocultural aspects, advancing project goals. Further analysis identified an ongoing risk of future multi-stakeholder dissonance relative to culturally-derived disparate views on such issues as cultural harvesting, species reintroductions and care, ecotourism, development on the mountain, and biodiversity research. Normative solutions are identified which can aid Maungatautari stakeholders and other culturally-heterogeneous multi-stakeholder conservation groups work toward and produce inclusive, inter-cultural partnership.

year: 2018