Search

In recent years, there appears to be a growing consensus among policymakers in both the East and the West, that the decades of global peace after the Cold War has now come to an end, and that the world is facing mounting security risks to the future of humanity. Among those challenges, the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict poses particularly significant risks to regional and global security, and is closely related to many other contemporary international crises involving European states and their allies, particularly the Russo-Ukrainian War, the nuclear proliferation in Europe, and the military disputes between the Iran-backed Houthis and EU forces. But why has the U.S.-Iran relationship deteriorated so dramatically over the past years, and what are the future risks its presents to the international community? While extensive scholarly works have been conducted to examine the ideological, historical, and geopolitical variables that fuel this observed escalating antagonism, no study to date has formal-modelled the complex interactions between Tehran and Washington into a two-level game. Utilizing an infinitely-repeated game theory approach, this research presents a comprehensive analytical framework that explains how interrelated political factors at both the international and the domestic level jointly shape the dynamic of this bilateral relationship. We contend that the domestic rally effect created by risk-oriented diplomacy, incompatible ideological stances and political values, the increasing polarization within U.S. Congress, and the mounting rivalry between Israel and the Iran-led Axis of Resistance convince policymakers from both sides that their utilities can be maximized in a non-cooperative game. Based on our models, it can be forecasted that there is hardly any chance Washington and Tehran will concede to the other's security demands in the foreseeable future. Thus, the risks of high-intensity conflict escalation due to miscalculation will continue to upsurge in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many contemporary efforts to govern global challenges are driven by combinations of numbers and futures. This special section proposes the novel concept of 'quantified futures' as a way of grasping this widespread entanglement. Because existing scholarship has largely treated quantification and futurisation as discrete governing technologies, their intersections have remained undertheorised and underexplored. In this introductory article, we discuss similarities between quantification and futurisation to build an integrated analytical framework that outlines how quantified futures operate across transnational policy domains by shaping the salience, scope and urgency of global challenges and their solutions. The special section at large cautions against overly optimistic expectations regarding the capacity of quantified futures to tackle global challenges. Rather, it underscores the need to enquire into the mutually reinforcing effects between, on the one hand, the growing use of quantified futures and, on the other hand, the increase and diversification of global challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments around the world have instrumentalised the idea of cities as innovation hubs in the drive for economic competitiveness and governance of anticipated futures. Producers of global indicators have identified cities as key actors in the global competition for talent – a race for human capital taking place against rapid technological changes, and political and social disruptions. In this article, we examine the rise of global cities as innovation hubs and its role in tackling global challenges. Using qualitative content analysis and conceptual analysis of strategies from rival cities in Europe (Amsterdam vs Copenhagen) and Asia (Singapore vs Hong Kong), we unpack how future cities are articulated and constructed in the nexus of migration and knowledge policy. We find that global indicators are actively used to produce more 'robust futures' that shape policymaking and strategies of cities while delimiting alternatives and potential 'creative future visions' in addressing global challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global challenges call for timely social--ecological transformation. There is a substantial amount of literature on social--ecological transformation, increasingly replacing and going beyond 'sustainability'. However, the concept itself is used very inconsistently. This paper aims at identifying and systematizing the strains of argumentation that encompass the social--ecological transformation. Adding German-speaking literature to the Anglophone debate, we systematize as we follow the concept's genesis to its varieties of use within context-based (spatial, temporal, and societal) disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary debates. Building on the various strands of contemporary use, this paper aims at contouring the epistemologies of the concept. Lastly, we illustrate the roles of geographical research approaches and the assigned methodology. We argue that the strands tend to drift apart and cannot be seen nor used as a singular uniform approach. We identify the key dimensions of how scholars use social--ecological transformation, unearthing underlying epistemologies. To conclude, we delineate key elements that geographical research on social--ecological transformation must address, laying the foundation for further scholarly debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harnessing science‐based policy is key to addressing global challenges like the biodiversity and climate crises. Open research principles underpin effective science‐based policy, but the uptake of these principles is likely constrained by the politicisation, commoditisation and conflicting motives of stakeholders in the research landscape. Here, using the mission and vision statements from 129 stakeholders from across the research landscape, we explore alignment in open research principles between stakeholders. We find poor alignment between stakeholders, largely focussed around journals, societies and funders, all of which have low open research language‐use. We argue that this poor alignment stifles knowledge flow within the research landscape, ultimately limiting the mobilisation of impactful science‐based policy. We offer recommendations on how the research landscape could embrace open research principles to accelerate societies' ability to solve global challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article posits and defends an argument that a cosmopolitan common mind approach is essential for resolving global challenges that cannot be resolved by individuals working independently from one another, such as achieving global peace, cleaning the environment, and improving public health. A 'cosmopolitan common mind' refers to an intersubjective recognition across states, cultures, or continents. This argument of the cosmopolitan common mind is centred on Philip Pettit's theory of the common mind and ethical cosmopolitanism. Pettit argues that a common mind is a shared mind. The standard account of cosmopolitanism claims all human beings are members of the human community. This account is based on three key ideals: individualism, egalitarianism, and universalism. Cosmopolitanism considers individuals rather than nations or states, giving them equal moral status across the world without any discrimination. A cosmopolitan common mind can direct collective action across cultures or continents to resolve global problems. Terrorism and climate change are global problems that are not the products of individual actions but collective actions. For instance, pollution is created by many people working together. If people all together create pollution, they all together can stop it. The problems of establishing global peace and clean ecology are similar to preventing pollution because they are beyond the ability of any lone individual to solve. If it is not impossible, there is a need to develop a cosmopolitan common mind to acquire the common good. The research concludes that the cosmopolitan common mind approach can be a promising framework for resolving contemporary challenges. In qualitative research methodology, I use empirically informed philosophical analysis to critically evaluate documentary resources, including journal papers, academic books, and the proceedings of conferences and congresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is facing complex global societal challenges including accelerating climate change, a pandemic, rising social inequalities also in well-functioning welfare states, cultural and linguistic diversity, and a renewed call for racial justice. Developmental psychology can make strong contributions to address these and other global challenges because developmental psychologists have the necessary theoretical, methodological, and empirical knowledge. This paper discusses (1) the usefulness of a relational developmental theoretical perspective, (2) implications for study designs and methodologies, (3) which competences should ideally be fostered early on to prepare adults to cope with global societal challenges that need high levels of futureoriented, cooperative, and collective efforts, and (4) the implementation gap between what is known in developmental psychology and what is done in educational settings. Overall, this paper is a plea for strong voices from developmental psychology to help solve current and future global societal challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introduction of the special issue on 'Global Challenges for Developmental Psychology' argues that although developmental science is international, a European perspective is important, for at least three reasons: developmental psychology stems from Europe, there are specific themes and issues within Europe that ask for evidence-based solutions, and research in Europe with its many languages and fault-lines can be exemplary for global research. Global challenges are asking for future-oriented, cooperative, and collective efforts. Futureorientation can be found within the papers of this special issue on two levels: (1) when future developments guide the choice of research topics, and (2) when children need to be prepared for the future. The first level describes to which future challenges researchers aim to contribute knowledge, e.g., when investigating climate change, social inequalities, or digital technologies. On the second-level researchers aim to develop means to prepare children for a positive future, e.g., by fostering democratic and political competencies, by understanding children's rights, by offering interventions to prevent bullying, or by stimulating school engagement. Tackling global challenges also asks for cooperative and collective efforts. This implies that research should be considered as teamwork. The papers in this issue offer very nice examples of precisely that. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to propose an approach towards reducing differences between national economies and living standards existing between the world's wealthiest and least affluent nations. Design/methodology/approach: A systemic review identifies the impeding purpose as proposed above: an entirely new initiative. Findings: The efforts recommended are vital for preserving the human species and ensuring the integrity of our planet. For both the future of the human species and the planet itself, it is essential to reduce the divide between wealthy and poor. Now is the time to give force to the types of implementation necessary to meet these combined goals. Research limitations/implications: This essay avoids dissecting problems of current geopolitical and ideological character. Despite their sometimes contentious nature, they are often reduced by intelligent diplomacy. Originality/value: The study proposes a holistic approach to bridging the North-South divide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International field trips provide opportunities for interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary learning experiences which can be transformative. Whilst these projects are becoming popular with increasing focus on internationalisation of the curriculum, tackling global challenges and encouraging student mobility, there is scant literature on the critical pedagogical approaches which support the design and delivery of transformative learning experiences. The study described herewith examined the transformative pedagogies used to facilitate learning during interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary field trips and placements. Objectives of the study included (1) evaluating the impact of two projects related to student interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary field trips; (2) identifying best practice of teaching and learning design; and (3) providing recommendations for future higher education (HE) arrangements. The findings show that transformative learning experiences must be carefully integrated into the design of international field trips, setting up pivotal learning moments and suitable challenges which enhance reflexivity, shared learning and problem-solving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the role of a code of ethics for judges in connection to a contemporary definition of responsive 'T-shaped' judicial professionalism and the professional-ethical questions which can arise in judicial decision-making regarding politically and societally controversial issues. The paper's case study focuses on climate-change related litigation in Dutch courts. First, a theoretical framework which conceptualises practical and ethical elements of T-shaped judicial professionalism as 'virtuous judgecraft', building on the work of Kritzer and Van Domselaar, addresses the knowledge, skills, and ethical mindset that judges need for fulfilling their roles in relation to this notion of professionalism. Next, the paper analyses to what extent connections with guidelines of the Dutch Guide to Judicial Conduct (GJC), considered in light of the developed framework of virtuous judgecraft, can be recognised in the approaches of judges in the landmark Urgenda judgments. Based on this analysis, the paper presents conclusions regarding the value of the GJC for enhancing judicial performance and for explaining judgments, in particular those which involve complex societal issues, to parties and the general public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an obvious premier degré contradiction in commemorating Dada centenaries. The movement was famously against permanence and yet Dada has become enshrined in popular culture, exhibitions, catalogues, and indeed academic research. To paraphrase a Dada slogan, perhaps the true Dada researcher should be against research into Dada. But let us not be too fetishistic or precious about Dada. To borrow from Delia Ungureanu's magisterial comparative study of surrealism, where is Dada in the 21st-century, and what does it mean to understand that question not so much in terms of conscious practice (such as contemporary performance art) but in relation to the pan-human, pan-historical phenomena cherished by Dadaists and which can be forgotten in the rush to eulogise Dada nihilism, such as ethics and peace, radical humanism, socio-political engagement, and the question of how to live well with oneself and with others? The world is on fire, and Dada is both dead and all around us. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the World Council of Churches (WCC) celebrates its 75th anniversary, the world faces many challenges, including ecological crises, violence, pandemics, systemic poverty, racism, gender‐based violence, human rights violations, and the war in Ukraine that began in 2022. Taking as its basis the Unity Statement agreed at the WCC's 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 2022, which met around the theme "Christ's love moves the world to reconciliation and unity," the article argues for an "ecumenism of the heart," of which the statement spoke, as a path to unity. It underlines that this is a "public theology" based not on political abstinence but on a passion for and renewed commitment to the world. The article concludes by exploring the challenges of such a public theology for justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engaging people with controversial and emotive issues that are inherently complex is challenging, especially when those issues are multifaceted or multidisciplinary, span environmental, economic, social, and political contexts, are global in scope, or where circumstances and implications differ spatially. Teaching such issues requires teachers and learners to navigate a challenging landscape of nuance and conflicting perspectives; immersive place-based learning might facilitate more meaningful exploration of such issues, but this has not previously been studied. In a multi-institution international study, we surveyed 164 participants (12 groups; 9 institutions) before and after an immersive fieldtrip in South Africa to assess perceptions on contentious issues. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests showed that participants had statistically significant opinion shifts for 17 of 18 statements, including those where change was likely due to improved knowledge or indicative of deeper attitude shifts. Generalised Linear Modelling revealed that propensity for opinion shifts was not influenced by demographics (age, gender), location (country of origin) or trip type (formal or informal). We conclude that in an increasingly complex world, context-relevant immersive experiences that facilitate deep learning by providing opportunities to explore contentious issues in situ are an ever-more valuable tool, not just for attainment but also for developing personal perspectives and as a catalyst for societal transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SCAN, an online survey, measured access to diagnosis, treatments and monitoring of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) patients globally. Between September and November 2019, NET patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) completed an online, semi‐standardized survey with 54 patient questions and 33 HCP questions. A total of 2359 patients with NETs and 436 HCPs responded. Misdiagnosis was common (44% [1043/2359]). Mean time to diagnosis was 4.8 years (standard deviation [SD], 6.2). Compared with global figures (60% [1407/2359]), the availability of 68Ga‐DOTA positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) was significantly lower in Asia (45% [126/280]) and higher in Oceania (86% [171/200]). HCPs reported that 68Ga‐DOTA PET/CT was free/affordable to fewer patients in Emerging and Developing Economies (EDE) than Advanced Economies (AE; 17% [26/150] and 59% [84/142], respectively). Compared with global data (52% [1234/2359]), patient‐reported availability of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) was significantly lower in Asia (31% [88/280]) and higher in Oceania (61% [122/200]). Significant differences were observed in average annual NET specialist costs between AE and EDE ($1081 and $2915, respectively). Compared with AE, patients in EDE traveled further for NET specialists (1032 [SD, 1578] and 181 [SD, 496] km, respectively). Patients and HCPs both recommended referral to HCPs that were more knowledgeable in the field of NETs and had better access to NET experts/specialist centers. National care pathways, enhancing HCP NET knowledge and ensuring effective diagnostics and access to appropriate treatments are crucial to improving patient survival and NET care worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beginning of the 21st century for the fuel and energy complexes of most countries is characterized as a period of active restructuring and a fundamental shift in developmental priorities. The basis of these changes is technological development. Industry 4.0 technologies have particular importance in achieving maximum optimization of production processes. In the same way, they are applicable in establishing effective interaction between the energy sector and other sectors of the economy. The authors outline an approach to assessing the country's fuel and energy balance state through the selected properties: sustainability, accessibility, efficiency, adaptability and reliability. Hence, a model of the fuel and energy complex was created on the example of the Russian Federation, considering the country's territorial and functional division. The methodology is based on scenario modeling of the influence level of external challenges in conjunction with the accompanying technological development. The mathematical model allowed forecasting changes in the properties of the energy system. The scientific significance of the work lies in the application of a consistent hybrid modeling approach to forecast the state of the fuel and energy balance. The results of the study are useful in compiling scenarios for the regional and entire development of the fuel and energy complex. Further model improvements should include an expansion of the number of counted industries and their relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We should rethink individual and collective positions that promote and sustain the health of the planet and people in an era of increasing uncertainty and unpredictability concerning various threats to our lives and the livelihoods of all living species on Earth. This fundamental rethink is a prerequisite before radical societal change is implemented to respond more effectively to persistent global problems than numerous ineffective responses during the last 50 years. Our positionality, which defines and is mutually defined by fundamental values and worldviews, will influence how we anticipate or discount the risk and threats to our common future. This contribution follows a period of documentary research and personal reflections at the Ecumenical Institute at the Château de Bossey, in Switzerland. The aim was to reconsider a global, conceptual framework that acknowledges pluralism and includes an ecumenic and ecological interpretation of people–environment interrelations. Given that ecumene, economy, and ecology have the same linguistic roots in ancient Greek philosophy, combining them with core principles of human ecology creates an inclusive and wholistic framework for repositioning ourselves using eco-ethical principles and equitable and just values in a world of persistent problems that threaten life on Earth. This repositioning can begin by reconnecting children and adults with natural ecosystems, and three approaches currently applied are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper traces how the self-understanding of soil science has changed in relation to ideas of societal relevance and academic legitimacy. While soil science was established as an academic discipline with strong links to agriculture, this link was largely lost around 1980. This led to a perceived crisis of the discipline, which has been followed by a long process of redefining its self-understanding. Building on document analysis and qualitative interviews, this paper traces five ways in which soil scientists have re-articulated the relevance of soil science, and analyses if and how these re-articulations are linked to new kinds of research practices and new self-understandings of soil science as a discipline. We conceptualise these re-articulations of relevance as different epistemic commitments that have provided soil scientists with a repertoire of relating their research to societal and environmental problems. At the same time, we also highlight how this epistemic diversity has created tensions in the discipline's self-understanding. Related to recent calls to further integrate different kinds of soil-related knowledge, we argue that these tensions still need to be turned into productive interaction to create synergy instead of competition between different ways of articulating relevance—allowing different kinds of soil-related research to thrive, both in their distinct regimes of relevance, and in a fruitful co-production. This paper shows that studies of how ways of articulating relevance change over time can provide new insights to debates about what conditions support science in gaining societal relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is in a period of rapid change. Climate chaos is leading to floods, droughts and exacerbating inequality. In this article, we ask, in such a context, what is the role of mathematics education and, in particular, what can mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) do in supporting teachers to respond to global challenges, and the associated injustices, within their mathematics classrooms? We review work done within critical mathematics education and develop a model for reflection on the role of the MTE. We report on work taking place in one university in the UK where, since 2015, MTEs have been encouraging teachers to address global issues in their classrooms. One role which has emerged for an MTE is in supporting the translation of scientific work on climate change into classroom tasks. In England, the spaces for such work are being squeezed in an education system increasingly subject to conservative political forces. We conclude the article by considering possibilities for MTEs to provoke a generic questioning of assumptions, which we argue is possible even within such constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is in a period of rapid change. Climate chaos is leading to floods, droughts and exacerbating inequality. In this article, we ask, in such a context, what is the role of mathematics education and, in particular, what can mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) do in supporting teachers to respond to global challenges, and the associated injustices, within their mathematics classrooms? We review work done within critical mathematics education and develop a model for reflection on the role of the MTE. We report on work taking place in one university in the UK where, since 2015, MTEs have been encouraging teachers to address global issues in their classrooms. One role which has emerged for an MTE is in supporting the translation of scientific work on climate change into classroom tasks. In England, the spaces for such work are being squeezed in an education system increasingly subject to conservative political forces. We conclude the article by considering possibilities for MTEs to provoke a generic questioning of assumptions, which we argue is possible even within such constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transboundary challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, energy transformation and the Covid-19 pandemic put vast pressures on generating solutions. They also call for updated teaching providing the required capabilities for international business (IB) and -entrepreneurship (IE) students. This paper presents a teaching initiative supporting master's students to develop an overview of such contemporary and timely challenges and global concerns. The course, developed jointly by two universities and first administered in 2020 at LUT University, combines economic, social, and environmental sustainability aspects with managerial and entrepreneurial issues on IB, triggering the students to rethink and critically address ways forward. Students develop skills and competences to tackle complex real-life problems in collaboration with others, facilitating their entrepreneurial, global mind-set and sensitivity to cultural issues in IB. Thus, the presented teaching approach and course initiative contributes to theory and practice of teaching IB, by presenting how key challenges in contemporary IB can be incorporated in international business education of universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the longstanding debate over how to characterize the EU as a global actor, knowledge is conspicuously missing. We introduce the term Knowledge Power Europe to emphasize the importance of knowledge for the EU's foreign policy efforts, particularly as they relate to addressing the urgent and complex global challenges that have become central to the EU's global strategy. Conceptually, we show how considering the EU as a knowledge power can help overcome the limitations of other EU power concepts, and empirically, we justify our characterization by providing evidence of the use and role of knowledge in terms of what the EU is, says, and does. We conclude by discussing how a knowledge power approach can help advance an understanding of the EU's capacity for global leadership and power in global governance efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crises and global challenges are pervasive in contemporary politics and societies worldwide. Climate change, economic recessions, humanitarian crises, health emergencies, wars and international conflicts put tremendous pressure on the functioning of democratic political systems and other government models. This study is located in the special issue for the 25th anniversary of the British Journal of Politics and International Relations. Leveraging an original longitudinal dataset covering more than 700 governments and 400 elections in 21 democracies dating back to the 1940s, we show that completing the constitutionally mandated term is increasingly difficult for ruling parties in Western Europe. Short-termism raises serious questions about democratic governments’ ability to manage global challenges effectively. Considering the potentially detrimental consequences of short-termism, we contribute to the scientific examination of the politics of global challenges, shedding light on effective and ineffective management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Future Day is a 24-h round-the-world global conversation about the futures and represents a new kind of futures method. Launched for the first time by the Millennium Project in 2014, it is an open large-scale global participatory discussion among self-selected future-oriented people from around the world. The work introduces the main characteristics of the WFD method, the protocol of analysis, first considerations about its strengths and weaknesses, and the main results of the 2021 application on March 1. The results are reported in form of suggestions and solutions aggregated in clusters and macro-clusters related to some of the global challenges facing humanity and set a common agenda for further discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core argument of this paper is that a new stage of a rather complex co-existence and co-evolution of space organizations is being entered with the emergence of public-private collaborative organizations driven by digitalization, sustainability and safety. Contrary to expectations of some fifteen years ago and except for a few notable cases in space communications, the New Space economy is seeing the formation of a new public and semi-public " era " of orbital space economy and in-orbit servicing in association with diversified funding schemes and a niche sector of new technological and business innovations in a global system of increasing fragmented production. These innovations relate to environmental and safety concerns, cost reductions, shorter life cycles, as well as a bolder market approach to non-space sectors. The emerging organizations address global challenges and are gradually engaging an increasing number of business firms and startups, together with research and technology organizations. They clearly gain from the New Space, but are mostly driven and funded by diversified funding schemes, with space entrepreneurship and equity investors balanced by an increasingly relevant role of public funding driven by digitalization, sustainability and safety , together with emerging public and semi-public goods. • The rise of so-called New Space is continuing to redefine the power dynamics and contours of an emergent complex and multi-institutional context. • Management and organization scholars have started to explore space venturing and its associated organizational efforts, the implications of which will be explored below through ideal type analysis. • TNew national security and climate change issues emerge. Innovation in space created by the interplay of public and private sector institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces the Work/Technology 2050 study of the global Millennium Project and its main results. The article highlights how (invited) experts from different countries see the development of work and technology until 2050 and how they assess the three featured scenarios based on these views. In terms of technology, the study focused on the potential effects of artificial intelligence, while the role of basic income was given special consideration in the development prospects of work. In connection with the scenarios, the study produced hundreds of proposals for action under five different themes. Besides presenting and evaluating these scenarios and proposals for action, the Finnish authors of the article provide their own reflections and some critical remarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we address the limitations of sustainable development as an orienting educational horizon of hope and change, given that mainstream development presumes the possibility of perpetual growth and consumption on a finite planet. Facing these limitations requires us to consider the inherently violent and unsustainable nature of our modern-colonial modes of existence. Thus, we propose a shift from "education for sustainable development" to "education for the end of the world as we know it." We contend that the predicament we face is not primarily rooted in ignorance and thus solvable with more knowledge, nor primarily rooted in immorality and thus solvable with more normative values; rather, it is rooted in denials that stem from harmful desires for and investments in the continuity of the securities and satisfactions promised by modernity-coloniality. Faced with these denials, we emphasize a collective need to "grow up" so that we might "show up" differently to do the work that is needed as we face unprecedented global challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I reflect on the current state of critical internationalization studies, an area of study that problematizes the overwhelmingly positive and depoliticized approaches to internationalization in higher education. I note that, despite growing interest in this approach, there is a risk that critiques will circularly result in more of the same if we do not attend to the full complexity, uncertainty, and complicity involved in transforming internationalization. In an effort to continue this work, and clarify the distinctions between different approaches to critical internationalization studies, I offer two social cartographies: one of different theories of change in relation to internationalization, and one of different layers of intervention. Finally, I ask what kind of internationalization might be adequate for responding to today's many global challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed at identifying the Entrepreneurial role of Saudi universities in facing global challenges and revealing the most prominent features of the Singularity University as a model for the Entrepreneurial universities. The study also aimed to reach some proposals that would help transform Saudi universities into pioneering universities in light of the uniqueness university model. To achieve this goal, the study used the descriptive and analytical approach. The study reached several results, the most important of which were: technology plays a decisive role in shaping the future of learning and education in the coming decades, the Singularity University is not a traditional educational institution, but rather an institution that provides grants to young and innovative researchers through work with large companies to provide a platform to discuss future technology trends. Also, the Singularity University is a global community for learning and innovation that uses smart technologies to address the biggest challenges in the world with the aim of building a better future for all, and that the core disciplines such as strategy, leadership and innovation must develop in order to accommodate the accelerating pace of change and not rely on linear thinking, old frameworks. The University of Singularity through its programs and activities, it provides us with the mentality, tools and resources to successfully move on the journey of transformation towards leadership, as the results of the study showed the need to strengthen the Entrepreneurial role of Saudi universities in facing global challenges to achieve the goals of the vision 2030 of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to build a prosperous economy. The study reached some proposals that would help transform Saudi universities into pioneering universities in light of the exclusivity university model, The most important of which is the need for Saudi universities to create a scientific environment that stimulates creativity and innovation, and to apply the concept of a productive Entrepreneurial university to obtain additional sources of funding and making use of the proposed actions to improve the practices of Saudi universities to transform into Entrepreneurial universities and enhance their role in facing global challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The result of the work of an international group drawn from different regions and confessional traditions, the text is intended as a resource for churches and Christians worldwide in advance of the WCC's 11th Assembly, to take place in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 31 August to 8 September 2022. It offers biblical and theological reflections on the assembly theme, inspired by a biblical verse – "For the love of Christ urges us on" (2 Cor. 5:14) – against the backdrop of critical issues confronting churches and humanity as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We currently face significant, anthropogenic, global environmental challenges and the role of ecologists in mitigating these challenges is arguably more important than ever. Consequently there is an urgent need to recruit and train future generations of ecologists, both those whose main area is ecology, but also those involved in the geological, biological and environmental sciences. Here we present the results of a horizon scanning exercise that identified current and future challenges facing the teaching of ecology, through surveys of teachers, students and employers of ecologists. Key challenges identified were grouped in terms of the perspectives of three groups: students, for example the increasing disconnect between people and nature; teachers, for example the challenges associated with teaching the quantitative skills that are inherent to the study of ecology; and society, for example poor societal perceptions of the field of ecology. In addition to the challenges identified, we propose a number of solutions developed at a workshop by a team of ecology teaching experts, with supporting evidence of their potential to address many of the problems raised. These proposed solutions include developing living labs, teaching students to be ecological entrepreneurs and influencers, embedding skills‐based learning and coding in the curriculum, an increased role for learned societies in teaching and learning, and using new technology to enhance fieldwork studies including virtual reality, artificial intelligence and real‐time spoken language translation. Our findings are focused towards UK higher education, but they should be informative for students and teachers of a wide range of educational levels, policy makers and professional ecologists worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The background of this study was to explore the Old Testament vision of shalom and determine how it was relevant to its holistic mission, Bible translation, transformational development and the world's challenges and trends. The aim of this research was to create a framework to serve practitioners and theorists associated with the Bible translation movement and its intersection with transformational development. The setting for the study was the consideration of factors affecting Bible translation and transformational development in the context of global challenges and trends. The methodology of the study included literature surveys integrated with analysis of data from global sources. Results from the study included an understanding of the relevance of shalom , and integration with holistic mission, including integral mission, and intersection with transformational development. Analysis of global challenges and trends was combined with an existing framework for transformational development that included Bible translation as a mission. The conclusion was that the church was called to be faithful stewards of knowledge and resources. This included an understanding of the relevance of the vision for shalom , integrated with holistic mission, transformational development and Bible translation that addressed in full or in part global challenges and trends that resulted in the framework produced by this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communities on the planet are faced with complex challenges: changing relations within and between human communities, changing relations with ecological and climatic conditions, and shifts in technology-human interconnections. The complex interconnections across issue areas – migration, environmental degradation and new technologies, for example – demand that scholars increasingly think across theories, paradigms, specialisms and disciplines. But how should we 'hold things together' as we try to make sense of complex realities in International Relations (IR)? This introductory article to the Special Issue 'Facing human interconnections: thinking International Relations into the future' discusses the open thematic of 'human interconnections' that is used to loosely structure the contributions. Analysis of human interconnections, as understood here, does not have a precise or fixed definition but is considered an open-ended notion with varied meanings and dimensions. Indeed, the authors engage it here in varied ways to explore their empirical, theoretical and political concerns. Yet, this notion also allows for interesting new questions to be posed on the potential and limits of IR as it faces the future, and debates around how we see interconnections between issue areas and '-isms', how IR constructs 'humans' or 'non-humans' in interconnections, and what is at stake in bringing to our attention unacknowledged interconnections. Here we set out why human interconnection is an interesting notion to work with and why we need to keep its meaning open-ended. We also provide an account of six different orientations we observe amongst the authors tackling the dynamics of human interconnections in this Special Issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are a number of challenges in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease outbreak encountered by many countries in the world. This commentary divides them into those encountered by (health) care delivery systems and those encountered by affected communities and states. There are also a number of stressors experienced by humanitarian field workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. They are divided into those caused by personal/family issues, isolation and difficulties to travel/ evacuate and those caused by different and sometimes contradictory information on COVID-19 response as well as limited ability to follow the guidelines on self-protection from the virus in the field. The commentary includes information from relevant national and global sources on COVID-19 and information collected by the author during the provision of stress management for humanitarian field staff. The author expresses his personal opinion on a number of challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reflects on the state of cultural studies today. It asks to what extent cultural studies can move with the times, now that we live in a radically altered world dominated by global challenges such as climate change, the rise of China, and technological transformation. It points to the importance of focusing on cultural studies' institutional and material conditions of possibility if it is to continue to exist as a distinct intellectual field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As societies face unprecedented challenges that are global in scope and "more-than-wicked" in nature, educators and educational policy makers emphasize the importance of deepening knowledge about the causes of these problems, creating policies to address them more efficiently, and offering more compelling moral arguments that might persuade people to change their convictions, and – as a consequence – their behaviour. These concerns shape how policies on the study of interculturality are approached in contemporary teacher education in our contexts in Canada and the UK. Our research, however, positions these as problems that cannot be solved with improved information, enhanced cross-cultural skills, or moral claims, because they are rooted in modernity's systems, which structure the possibilities for co-existence on the planet. We see these problems as ontological challenges of being that emerge from a modernist ontology rooted in colonial violences. Our approach therefore explores an orientation to intercultural education which enables student teachers to expand their understanding of cultural and ecological relationships beyond existing frameworks of modernist knowledge, politics, and economic systems. In this paper, we share some of our current learning about the affordances and limitations of dominant approaches to intercultural education, and then explore how the method of "social cartography" can enable engagement with ontological problems in teacher education in a way that generates possibilities for imagining decolonial learning futures, beyond modernity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare severity of visual field (VF) loss at first presentation in glaucoma clinics in England and Tanzania. Methods: Large archives of VF records from automated perimetry were used to retrospectively examine vision loss at first presentation in glaucoma clinics in Tanzania (N = 1,502) and England (N = 9,264). Mean deviation (MD) of the worse eye at the first hospital visit was used as an estimate of detectable VF loss severity. Results: In Tanzania, 44.7% {CI95%: 42.2, 47.2} of patients presented with severe VF loss (< −20 dB), versus 4.6% {4.1, 5.0} in England. If we consider late presentation to also include cases of advanced loss (-12.01 dB to -20 dB), then the proportion of patients presenting late was 58.1% {55.6, 60.6} and 14.0% {13.3, 14.7}, respectively. The proportion of late presentations was greater in Tanzania at all ages, but the difference was particularly pronounced among working-age adults, with 50.3% {46.9, 53.7} of 18–65-year-olds presenting with advanced or severe VF loss, versus 10.2% {9.3, 11.3} in England. In both countries, men were more likely to present late than women. Conclusions: Late presentation of glaucoma is a problem in England, and an even greater challenge in Tanzania. Possible solutions are discussed, including increased community eye-care, and a more proactive approach to case finding through the use of disruptive new technologies, such as low-cost, portable diagnostic aids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The governance dimension of global digital cooperation is underdeveloped. • Environmental policy and governance literature offers insights that help to address digital cooperation challenges. • Policy leaders, knowledge-based expertise and polycentric governance arrangements can help to improve digital cooperation. • The UN can model processes and institutions for digital cooperation based on successful environmental governance arrangements. The digital age brings great promise for human development. Yet, the benefits of digital technology can only be realised by mobilising global cooperation to close persistent digital divides and address the harms, risks, and uncertainties of digitalisation. To date, the global digital landscape is dominated by private technology companies and a few governments of technologically advanced countries, while less developed countries and civil society actors effectively have no voice. The goal of the United Nations's (UN) Digital Cooperation initiative is to maximise the benefits and minimise the costs of digital transformation while ensuring that no-one is left behind. The UN's Digital Cooperation identifies the main directions for action but also acknowledges that persistent governance gaps undermine its cooperation efforts. This paper argues that we can learn how to improve global cooperation to govern the digital space by drawing on experiences from global environmental governance. Based on an extensive literature review, I show how existing governance gaps in global digital cooperation can be analysed and addressed. Specifically, I focus on the implications for the UN and identify which roles and functions it could take. Online misinformation is used as a compelling illustration of how lessons derived from environmental governance can inform responses to digital problems. The paper outlines an agenda that can set UN Digital Cooperation on a path towards success in mitigating the uncertainties the digital future will bring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides the „big picture” of the humatt story, discussing cultural evolutions and current global challeng-es, including the influence ofhumans on the environment. It mentions, among other issues, a synthesis of sustainable development, formulating and promoting a lifestyle that would facilitate the reasonable satisfaction ofthe needs of all people throughout the world, be environmentally friendly, and not exceed the carrying capacity of ecosystems. The text is future-oriented study, mapping the potential opportunities and threats associated ivith development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of evolving global challenges and opportunities, this article explores the kind of leadership that moves beyond the philosophy of dependence which pervades many of the everyday assumptions of educational leadership practice. The article argues for educational leadership that places relational freedom, self-determination, and critical reflexivity as the driving aim of distributed leadership by teachers, students and others in non-positional leadership roles. A project arising from the International Teacher Leadership initiative is examined in order to offer practical illustration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of globalised trends changing the rural environment is often thought to require environmental and ecology-focused policies and actions. But many of the problems have human (societal) causes, and solutions need also to be primarily culturally based. This essay, drawing on the 'CHeriScape' network in western Europe, explores the advantage of seeking a more comprehensive, integrative response to rural change using the twinned concepts of landscape and heritage. It discusses recent developments in conceptualising landscape and heritage, and how these could support effective culturally based approaches that are participatively democratic and also take account of human behaviour. After brief summaries of evolving paradigms for landscape and heritage, and of global challenges, the paper suggests that a landscape–heritage nexus, familiar to the lay public but capable of nuanced and fluid application, offers an effective way ahead. It concludes by identifying some obstacles that hinder the effective implementation of such an approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protection of human rights and the promotion of social justice is a shared spirit manifested within all social work. Islands of local concern are directly affected by global stresses and inequalities, and the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development has created a space for repositioning social work globally in addressing these challenges. This article opens up definitions and examples of international social work, arguing the need for integrating an international outlook within social work education and policy in order that the emerging workforce, wherever they may be, are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values for international action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists' participation in foreign policy strategies fill very few pages in the studies of the international relations of non-hegemonic countries. This text analyses a case study of the science diplomacy of Serbia - a small non-hegemonic country without considerable resources - in the context of the culture of memory as a global challenge. First of all, certain concepts are introduced to interpret the relationship between science and diplomacy; second, the case is described and analysed and the mechanisms of articulation are presented that allow the plausible operability of science diplomacy as a shared space for the consolidation of foreign policy strategies; finally, an evaluation and conclusions are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the researcher's personal experiences, ethnographic interviews, observations and literature search, this paper investigates whether the rural elderly Shona people in Zimbabwe believe they possess mathematical knowledge. Second, it investigates and critically analyses how the Shona the Shurugwi County of Zimbabwe use indigenous mathematical knowledge and innovations to solve challenges they meet in their daily lives. And third, it specifically analyses the mathematics involved in building, clay pot making, traditional medicine preparation and mixing ratios and proverbs used in poems and stories. In this, observation and experience show that some of the elderly are reluctant to share their knowledge about local medicine preparation methods, and mixing ratios applied to make some medicines. Hence, as a way forward, the paper recommends the sharing of mathematical indigenous knowledge by rural communities to solve local challenges, thus, academics and researchers should record and formalize indigenous knowledge as it may contribute to a bank of African knowledge suitable for African socio-economic development, and knowledge that may also benefit other people in the world. And in conclusion, it is argued that rural folk hold rich mathematical knowledge, and the use of inexpensive and user-friendly innovations for family upbringing and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food supply chains are increasingly associated with environmental and socio-economic impacts. An increasing global population, an evolution in consumers' needs, and changes in consumption models pose serious challenges to the overall sustainability of food production and consumption. Life cycle thinking (LCT) and assessment (LCA) are key elements in identifying more sustainable solutions for global food challenges. In defining solutions to major global challenges, it is fundamentally important to avoid burden shifting amongst supply chain stages and amongst typologies of impacts, and LCA should, therefore, be regarded as a reference method for the assessment of agri-food supply chains. Hence, this special volume has been prepared to present the role of life cycle thinking and life cycle assessment in: i) the identification of hotspots of impacts along food supply chains with a focus on major global challenges; ii) food supply chain optimisation (e.g. productivity increase, food loss reduction, etc.) that delivers sustainable solutions; and iii) assessment of future scenarios arising from both technological improvements and behavioural changes, and under different environmental conditions (e.g. climate change). This special volume consists of a collection of papers from a conference organized within the last Universal Exposition (EXPO2015) “LCA for Feeding the planet and energy for life” in Milan (Italy) in 2015 as well as other contributions that were submitted in the year after the conference that addressed the same key challenges presented at the conference. The papers in the special volume address some of the key challenges for optimizing food-related supply chains by using LCA as a reference method for environmental impact assessment. Beyond specific methodological improvements to better tailor LCA studies to food systems, there is a clear need for the LCA community to “think outside the box”, exploring complementarity with other methods and domains. The concepts and the case studies presented in this special volume demonstrate how cross-fertilization among difference science domains (such as environmental, technological, social and economic ones) may be key elements of a sustainable “today and tomorrow” for feeding the planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In his first address as President of the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), Nicholas Crane discussed how the themes of exploration, technology and education have influenced and inspired geographical thinking from the 1500s to the present day. The President also emphasised that geography - as a united discipline that reaches the wider population - makes, and can continue to make, important contributions to issues of global significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]