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International social work brings about an intercultural encounter between guests and hosts from the North and the South, a division associated with power relations. This type of encounter creates a unique learning space for international social work students. In light of the transformative learning theory, the study examined the retrospective perspective of Israeli social workers regarding their intercultural encounter when visiting India and Ethiopia as part of their international social work training. It focuses on formative experiences, which have the potential to generate transformative learning. Using a qualitative approach and photovoice methodology, data was collected from 14 social workers who had taken part in an international social work program. Three main themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Local professional orientation; 2) Exposure to local social-cultural issues; 3) The intercultural encounter as a mirror of Israeli society. The findings shed light on how formative experiences in a foreign land create a basis for transformative learning. The results suggest the need to replace the term 'culture shock' with the notion of disorienting dilemmas in order to serve the goals of reflective learning from intercultural encounters and context-dependent learning in social work education in general, and international social work education in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Logos: A Journal, of Religion, Philosophy Comparative Cultural Studies & Art (08687692) is the property of Logos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen (ZIB) is the property of Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The exploratory study sought to present a review of scholarly literature and synthesise academic insights encompassing the span of 2010 to 2020, to shed light on the contemporary state of knowledge pertaining the intersection of destination branding and social media. The convergence between destination branding and social media has emerged as a pivotal component within the tourism industry, garnering heightened attention from practitioners and researchers. The methodology implemented was quantitative, using a Systematic Quantitative Literature Review to investigate how researchers study destination branding and social media within tourism literature. Data collection, drawing from a diverse array of scholarly articles sourced from prominent literature databases such as Emerald, Web of Science, Scopus, and Web of Science, was used. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, followed by a Cluster analysis to describe current research. Two types of articles emerged, clearly indicating the disparities between Global North and Global South in terms of the social media and branding dimensions studied, as well as the methodologies employed. Findings show polarisation of the research attention with majority focus on destination case studies from the Global North perspective. This study highlights important existing research gaps and presents a roadmap for future research endeavors.

In this commentary, I reflect on the shortcomings in representing linguistic knowledge in academic publishing. While Klein's 1989 article Schreiben oder Lesen, aber nicht beides, oder: Vorschlag zur Wiedereinführung der Keilschrift mittels Hammer und Meißel calls attention to the overproduction of scholarly knowledge in the context of publish or perish ideologies, I invite us to consider how we distribute knowledge within the spaces of academic publishing with regard to global north and global south scholars and contexts. At present, scholarship about language is largely produced by scholars in WEIRD contexts, that is, western, educated, industrial, rich, democratic societies. This leads to limited outcomes in terms of what we can find out about the nature of language by virtue of excluding a majority of the world's populations and contexts. As we go about questioning the purpose of academic publishing, we also need to consider how to better represent our findings in light of the narrowness of what we have researched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Since the late twentieth century, the global fashion industry has been increasingly embracing the business model known as fast fashion. Characterised by rapid production cycles, fleeting trends, low-cost garments and large-scale production, fast fashion seems to meet consumer demand for affordable and trendy clothing. However, its environmental impact as a major polluter poses significant challenges to sustainability and circularity initiatives. This article presents the results of a systematic literature review, exploring the unsustainable consequences of fast fashion, focusing on both demand and supply side, from a geographical perspective. Using a Global North–Global South framework, it explores differences in socio-economic structures, consumption and production patterns, access to resources and environmental impacts. The analysis suggests that a fair and equitable transition towards a sustainable and circular fashion industry will require the links between business, society and nature to be reconsidered, to avoid perpetuating the inequalities associated with the global linear capitalist economy. The findings highlight the importance of both markets and institutions in sustainable growth. In the Global North, the most frequently discussed topics relate to investment and research and development with respect to new technologies or system innovations often with the support of well-structured political guidance. Conversely, in the Global sustainable initiatives tend to be scattered, country-specific and intricately tied to particular socio-economic and cultural contexts.

Sociology in today's world often seeks to internationalise research and globalise problem solving. However, the so-called ‘global sociology’ is far away from being actually global as it involves in the discussion only specific regions and communities. The voice of other regions, as a rule, is not heard in the established system of connections and positions, and the regions themselves act as passive objects of (re)positioning, which is determined by the needs of specific research carried out by the nominally ‘global’ sociological community. The goal of the current study is to position one of the excluded sociological communities – post-soviet sociology – in global sociology using the North-South analytical framework that is frequently applied in discussions of global academic inequalities. The findings suggest that post-soviet sociology is positioned closer to the Global South, though significant country-based differences are observed. Post-soviet sociology functions as fragmented and disconnected, and this is facilitated by its orientation towards the ‘northern’ standards of knowledge production, which is professed even to the detriment of originality and independence.

Since the late twentieth century, the global fashion industry has been increasingly embracing the business model known as fast fashion. Characterised by rapid production cycles, fleeting trends, low-cost garments and large-scale production, fast fashion seems to meet consumer demand for affordable and trendy clothing. However, its environmental impact as a major polluter poses significant challenges to sustainability and circularity initiatives. This article presents the results of a systematic literature review, exploring the unsustainable consequences of fast fashion, focusing on both demand and supply side, from a geographical perspective. Using a Global North–Global South framework, it explores differences in socio-economic structures, consumption and production patterns, access to resources and environmental impacts. The analysis suggests that a fair and equitable transition towards a sustainable and circular fashion industry will require the links between business, society and nature to be reconsidered, to avoid perpetuating the inequalities associated with the global linear capitalist economy. The findings highlight the importance of both markets and institutions in sustainable growth. In the Global North, the most frequently discussed topics relate to investment and research and development with respect to new technologies or system innovations often with the support of well-structured political guidance. Conversely, in the Global sustainable initiatives tend to be scattered, country-specific and intricately tied to particular socio-economic and cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of corruption, corruption distance, and corruption direction on bilateral foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows using reporting OECD Global North and Global South countries. We first posit that corruption and the absolute difference in corruption levels across a pair of countries are negatively related to a host country's level of FDI. Then we investigate the moderating effect of direction when investing in a more corrupt host country. A PPML gravity model for a panel of 5733 different North and South country pairs over the years 1998–2018 indicates both the presence of corruption and a high corruption distance between country pairs has negative effects on FDI outflows, but investing in the direction of a more corrupt host country has a positive moderating effect. Our results contribute to expand and complement the theories on corruption in FDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the substantive and procedural right to a clean environment. The universal right (based on the 2022 Resolution of the UNGA) is critically analysed from the point of view of its universality in the context of Global North and Global South. The procedural environmental right is less controversial. In this article is analysed within the context of the ECHR and the Aarhus Convention. Environmental Impact Assessment is dealt with from the points of view of environmental information and public participation in environmental matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bitácora Urbano/Territorial is the property of Bitacora Urbano/Territorial and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Globally, multilingualism has become a subject of interest in academic, social and political spheres. In addition, there is consensus among academics as well as politicians regarding the transformation of the linguistic landscape across the world. The common consent is based on the fact that multilingualism has become a norm, especially in the Global North countries that had been declared monolingual societies due to various political considerations. Research has shown that most countries that have been promoting a monolingual ideology have accepted the multilingual state of affairs in most communities and effort is being made to promote multilingualism. However, multilingualism as a concept is understood differently in different parts of the world. Therefore, multilingualism from the Global South perspective should be viewed differently from the Global North perspective. The study was qualitative, therefore, for data collection, a focus group discussion was conducted with four medical students who took the two modules during their first year at a selected South African university. These participants were willing to participate in the research. The results show that languages cannot be separated as standalone entities and should be considered individually. Besides, students use their already existing language practices in order for them to acquire the target languages, a remarkable quality of multilingualism where students can tap into their existing language practices in order to enhance their learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rare consensus points to the question of normativity, with an inclination towards the Eurocentric Frankfurt School of Critical Theory, which seems to have been central to Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS). Given the universality of knowledge exerting pressure on scholars to conform with traditional theoretical perspectives, terrorism studies pose inequality from Eurocentricity emerging in "the battle for hearts and minds" research. Some of these studies fall to the allure of connivance with the progressively "authoritarian demands of Western, liberal state and media practice". Consequently, terrorism research risks being dominated by ethical and logical blindness within established research formations. In Africa, for example, some CTS scholars are subdued to cynically use their Africanity to authenticate the neo-colonial and neo-liberal agenda in terrorism research. This article explores the reimaging of subjugated knowledge through decolonisation of methods in CTS. Rooting for cognitive justice and adequate space for alternative knowledge to imperial science, the article contests the battle for Africa's hearts and minds as a failed process that needs transformation. Consequently, this work is a contribution to epistemological debate between the global North and South, and the subsequent theoretical contestations in CTS. We argue for hybridity by re-constructing alternative frameworks of knowledge production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we scrutinise the importance of researchers' positionality vis-à-vis the 'Global South'/'North' binary in the field of international and comparative education. Accounting for the different places we speak from, we reflect on our past experiences as doctoral researchers examining teachers' role as agents of peace and/or conflict in divided and (post-) conflict societies. In doing so, we challenge the rigidity of the 'North'/'South' demarcation as a singular marker of insider/outsider status. Instead, we propose hybrid positions that are susceptible to change over time and in relation to socio-political contexts and structural power relations. To conclude, we situate our experiences along an intersecting insider-outsider and decoloniality continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation to combat the climate crisis and embrace a greener future. The popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide is quickly surpassing that of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, driven by stringent emissions laws and government incentives. However, EV production emits pollutants and relies on electricity often generated by fossil fuels, raising environmental concerns. Additionally, labor issues and geopolitical tensions arise from resource extraction practices.To ensure a sustainable transition, critical improvements in the procurement supply chain, manufacturing processes (especially battery technology), and labor practices are necessary. Accompanying climate control initiatives outlined in the Paris Agreement are essential for the proliferation of EVs globally.

This article focuses on international students from West Africa and their migration trajectories. Based on in‐depth interviews, we investigate the migration drivers and students' motivations to become international students. Building on the analytical framework of multinational stepwise migration, we also explore their aspirations, obstacles and coping strategies at different stages of their migratory paths. This study maintains that this form of international mobility is not solely driven by academic aspirations. We find that international student migration is an increasingly important part of larger mobility projects for West African students. The paper also relates to facilitators of migration, constrained opportunities in the home countries and restrictive mobility regimes that, in conjunction, have impacted the stepwise migration toward the Global North. To fulfil their broader mobility projects, African students often have to engage in complex stepwise migrations and face various struggles and drawbacks. This study has demonstrated that African students from middle‐class backgrounds are not exempt from these struggles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the subject matter of nativism and cultural trauma of Muslim migrants after 9/11 in Western countries in the novel Exit West (2017) by Mohsin Hamid through the lens of cultural trauma theory (Alexander, Jeffrey et al., 2004). The researchers focus on how nativists treat Muslim migrants as 'the other'. This "othering" is based on emotionally loaded beliefs that are based on socio-cultural differences between Western and Muslim cultures. Correspondingly, the response of Muslims to such treatment is a traumatic one—leading to anxiety, depression, nightmares, and existential crises—that is based on similarly-shaped beliefs: highly emotional and culturally based. The consequences of disrupting migrants' cultural or religious identity include becoming more radically religious or giving up their Muslim religious identity. The current study will lend insight into the pain suffered by Muslim minorities in Western countries and contribute positively to refugee literature. It may also assist in reducing an 'us-versus-them' belief system between those of the Global South and those of the Global North. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a worldwide commitment to a set of ambitious goals that advance sustainable social justice across the globe. Higher education (HE), while featuring in SDG 4: Quality Education, needs to occupy a bolder and more explicit position in the formulation of the SDGs and in their attainment, not only as an instrument toward the achievement of the SDGs but also in the sociocultural consciousness of countries towards a more sustainable and socially just world. Engaging with students in HE around these issues plays a vital role. Given Student Affairs and Services' (SAS) role and position in terms of support and development of students worldwide, it is a key player in supporting HE to become a more effective instrument in advancing the SDGs and in advancing students' attitudes and commitment to SDGs. To explore how SAS can play a more impactful role in advancing the SDGs and SAS' role in and contribution to SDGs around the world, we researched SAS practitioners' awareness of and engagement with SDGs. To collect data, we used a survey with open and closed questions via snowball sampling with self-selected participants from fifty-three countries (N=318). The results of our study suggest that SAS practitioners engage with and utilize the SDGs in a variety of ways across the globe, thus contributing to the role HE plays in advancing SDGs. In exploring the patterns, it emerges that SAS in the Global South (GS) and Global North (GN) engage differently with the SDGs. According to the results of our study, SAS in the GS appears to have more awareness of, engage more deliberately with, and use the SDGs more broadly in their work with students. While there are different trends on the role SDGs play across the global HE sector, the consensus seems to be around the need to discuss and engage with the SDGs more deeply, at curricular and co-curricular levels in higher education. Our research suggests that HE and SAS can do much more to generate awareness of SDGs, particularly in the GN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This conceptual paper presents a decolonial critique of Eurocentric epistemic hegemony in South Africa and its impact on the curriculum. We argue that the propagation of knowledge from the Global North as 'universal' through conceptually vague framings of curriculum internationalization is contributing to the maintenance of Eurocentric hegemony. We explore how to think otherwise about the world, knowledge and curriculum, framing this around a critical understanding of historical and contemporary politics, geopolitics and coloniality of knowledge. This includes an interrogation of historical workings of power and domination, hegemonic and ideological assumptions, and how all this continues to shape knowledge and curriculum. We offer a set of critical questions that can assist academics and curriculum developers in assessing what is amplified and what is silenced in the curriculum. This can contribute to a genuine engagement with diverse global perspectives and promotion of epistemic plurality in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an analysis of how equitable, inclusive, and meaningful partnerships between the Global South and Global North, which have been characterized by challenges (Kumar 2019), can be established and enhanced by minimizing the power dynamics that undermine their intended goals. This article argues for a relook and disruption of the current models of partnerships and collaborations that have over the years not worked well for partners in the Global South by proposing a consideration and adoption of more responsive and mutually beneficial options through the ACE (Aware, Connect, Empower) principles. The ACE principles provide for new ways of action, including alternative strategies for equitable collaborations across cultures and regions. This includes the adoption of the African Ubuntu philosophy advocating for the creation of awareness amongst partners in collaboration with the need for transformations and empowerment to enable students to gain both intentional intercultural and international experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Global South and Global North terminologies, in addition to several other designations, have been used to classify the socio-economic nature of countries for centuries; however, these historical naming conventions carry subtle confusions and tend to tint political discourse. This research explores the classificatory differences in international trade, politics, economic theory, and the media and discusses how such differences inform the narratives surrounding world production and consumption systems, as well as trade. The current evidence suggests that several descriptions of the world economies create misunderstandings and often mischaracterize less developed countries while positively projecting certain countries as more advanced. I argue that, rather than using the current descriptions, the terms "users" and "makers" be adopted to characterize the nature of production and consumption in modern economies. The new terminologies are less arbitrary as they can eliminate the existing semantic problems commonly found in the media and within economic theory and political discourse. The innovative and simpler user/maker dichotomy provides a less prejudiced designation of nations and provides a new research dimension for political economy and management theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By showcasing Sri Lanka's repatriation of hazardous hospital waste to the United Kingdom, this paper explores how the transboundary movement of waste management business model functions in the Global South. It builds on a framework that integrates the market and legal modes of accountability, regulatory capture, and an ethic of accountability. Data were collected using online ethnography and an interpretive case study method. The study demonstrates how the adherence to market and legal modes of accountability and the violation of an ethic of accountability have created loopholes for actors to capture regulatory and institutional provisions, making the transboundary waste management business redundant in the Global South. The traditional business model pursued in waste management has proved inadequate in realizing reciprocal societal rights and responsibilities and promoting public well-being. This has resulted in an erosion of public trust in government and state agencies. Thus, we argue that accountability-based accounting and the ethic of accountability can potentially mitigate the opportunities for regulatory capture, serve the public interests, and protect the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudios Demográficos y Urbanos is the property of El Colegio de Mexico AC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Estudios Demográficos y Urbanos is the property of El Colegio de Mexico AC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sociology in today's world often seeks to internationalise research and globalise problem solving. However, the so-called 'global sociology' is quite some way from being actually global, as it only involves specific regions and communities in the discussion. The voice of other regions, as a rule, is not heard in the established system of connections and positions, and the regions themselves act as passive objects of (re)positioning, which is determined by the needs of specific research carried out by the nominally 'global' community of sociologists. The goal of the current study is to position one of the excluded communities -- post-Soviet sociology -- in global sociology using the North-South analytical framework that is frequently applied in discussions of global academic inequalities. The findings suggest that post-Soviet sociology is positioned closer to the Global South, although significant country-based differences are observed. Post-Soviet sociology is functionally fragmented and disconnected, and this is facilitated by its orientation towards the 'northern' standards of knowledge production, which are professed even to the detriment of originality and independence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state-of-the-art quantum technologies leverage the unique principles of quantum mechanics, which include quantization, uncertainty principle, interference, entanglement and decoherence, to produce useful devices and scientific advancements not possible with classical technologies. As a result, quantum technologies, in particular, offer specific advantages that make communications networks secure and unbreakable and devices with unprecedented levels of accuracy, responsiveness, reliability, scalability and efficiency than classical emerging technologies. These capabilities can contribute significantly to addressing energy, agriculture, climate change, national security, healthcare, education and economic growth challenges. Unfortunately, these developments in these areas have not been evenly distributed between the Global North and the Global South, inadvertently creating a societal and economic gap. Closing this gap is critical to creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for all, thus delivering key sustainable goals. Therefore, to close this gap, this article proposes a quantum diplomacy framework as a means to deliver science diplomacy. Moreover, we discuss how emerging quantum technologies could profoundly impact all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We consider this work a timely and vital intervention to prevent the gap from increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study compared two survey datasets from higher education students in Germany and Ghana regarding access to digital devices; perceived value of digital media, tools, and services used for learning; gap analysis of the actual and desired use of digital teaching and learning formats; and types of media usage profiles among students. The findings underscored commonalities between the two groups, revealing that students in both contexts are equipped with mobile devices, and are highly utilized for their learning. Similarly, both student groups exhibit a preference for utilizing external media, tools and services not owned nor administered by their respective universities. However, a stark contrast emerged in terms of the provision of, and expressed demand for digital teaching and learning formats, attributable to significant disparities in the underlying internet infrastructure and service provision between the two countries. The high intensity in the use of videos, social networks and messaging applications means majority of the students in both contexts were classified as entertainment users of media by means of a latent class analysis. While students in Germany showed differentiation between non-traditional and traditional students in terms of their media usage patterns, there was little differentiation among Ghanaian students. The study concludes by offering suggestions for enhancing support for non-traditional learning and improving digital education in Ghana and similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the 21st century progresses, the level of competition and conflict between the Global North and the Global South continues to increase in intensity. The incumbent hegemonic order, the Western centric United States unipolar order (Global North) is being perceived as entering a state of relative decline in relation to the rise of the Non-Western centric multipolar order (Global South). At this stage, the Global North has defended its hegemonic position against the challenger. These two global orders have rather different visions and approaches to defending or challenging for the status of global hegemon. The Global North takes a rather ideological and messianic approach to prevail in the global competition for power and influence, whereas the Global South is much more pragmatic in their quest to secure their interests and goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for care workers in the global North has spurred the migration of the care workforce, especially of female nurses from the global South. This development is redefining women's roles as breadwinners and the instigators of family migration. However, the migration of nurses from the global South-to-North needs further investigation into how these women are empowered to lead the migration process and the factors that influence the decision. I will explore the roles of migrants' individual skills and competencies along with the demand for care workers in the UK's labour market. This study is based on data from 49 in-depth qualitative interviews with Nepali care workers in the UK and their parents in Nepal. I argue that in the case of the migration of trained nurses from the global South to the North, individual and contextual factors become more important and influential than gender and power relations in the family in the decision-making processes. As a step towards addressing human resource shortages in the health and social care sectors, the UK has recently reached a bilateral agreement with Nepal to recruit Nepali nurses. While the migration of Nepali nurses is likely to increase, empowerment to migrants and adherence to ethical recruitment could be mutually beneficial for participating countries, migrants and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the use of a culturally responsive pedagogy in inclusive classrooms in Kenya. Due to colonisation, the education system in Kenya has for many years reflected a British curriculum and context. Eight teachers in phase 1 and five teachers in phase 2 in four schools were interviewed. The research was conducted in central Kenya where the population is predominantly Gīkūyū (a language of central Kenya) speaking. A case study format was employed in the research. The findings indicated that teachers used Gīkūyū (the people of central Kenya) cultural ways in their teaching in inclusive classrooms but their efforts were undermined by policies that supported western teaching strategies. They said that the language used in learning and teaching, and stories and textbooks did not reflect students' lived experiences and background. Recommendations included using a hybrid curriculum that privileges a culturally responsive pedagogy over western ways in the school curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Annals of Criminology is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

According to general urban ecological understanding, bird species richness declines in highly urban areas due to the increasing extent of built-up areas, and decreasing proportions of green areas. However, this hypothesis is mainly based on studies conducted in cities located in the Global North and rarely in the Global South. We aimed to assess whether existing conceptual understandings of drivers of bird species richness patterns within cities are similar across different regions, specifically Southern Asia (in the Global South) vs. Western Europe (in the Global North). Using avian occurrence data drawn from GBIF (gbif.org), we estimated resident bird species richness in 943 selected grid cells (each cell corresponding to approximately 1 km2 area) distributed in 24 cities, 13 in Southern Asia and 11 in Western Europe. We applied generalised linear mixed models to relate resident bird richness with different explanatory variables of gradients of urbanisation, habitat and climatic factors using the selected grid cells as sampling units. Our results showed that bird richness declined with increasing human built-up and settlement extent (imperviousness) in both regions, but this relationship was stronger in Southern Asia compared to Western Europe. Bird richness also sharply declined in urban areas located far from inland waterbodies, but only in Southern Asia. Our findings suggest that high imperviousness drives bird richness decline, but this process appears to be more pronounced in regions where rapid urbanisation is ongoing. Urban planning integrating green spaces throughout cities is crucial in Southern Asia, as it is in Western Europe, to benefit both people and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]