Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

Social cohesion is key for sustainable development. While social cohesion has suffered in many societies from the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, high levels of social cohesion have helped to overcome critical situations during the pandemic in other societies. As a consequence, protecting and strengthening social cohesion has become an increasingly central goal for most countries and the international community. Despite the strong interest in the topic, the questions of how to define social cohesion and make it an observable phenomenon through proper measurement are still contested, in both academia and policy circles. To date, no consistent, temporally and geographically spread-out data on the different elements of social cohesion exists that would allow for a global analysis of social cohesion. This rather fragmented picture of analytical approaches calls for a more universal definition and measurement of social cohesion. This paper aims to provide a narrow and measurable definition of social cohesion that travels across regions and countries. Conceptually, it proposes a definition of social cohesion that incorporates the core elements of existing and widely used definitions of social cohesion across disciplines (trust, identity, cooperation for the common good). Our contribution is to offer a definition of social cohesion that is broad enough to cover the essentials holding societies together while at the same time keeping it lean enough to analyse the causes and consequences of social cohesion, for instance the relationship between social cohesion and inequalities or political institutions. Methodologically, we propose an application of our concept to the African context. It is not only a first step towards a more global and inter-regional measurement of social cohesion, but also the basis for further knowledge-creation, the identification of patterns of social cohesion and the analysis of its causes and consequences. From a policy-oriented perspective, a more unified definition of the core elements of social cohesion and its measurement can inform policies that aim at protecting and fostering social cohesion. In development cooperation, it will help not only to build indicators for designing programme objectives and for evaluation and monitoring, but also to advance evidence-based theories of change.

Social cohesion is key for sustainable development. While social cohesion has suffered in many societies from the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, high levels of social cohesion have helped to overcome critical situations during the pandemic in other societies. As a consequence, protecting and strengthening social cohesion has become an increasingly central goal for most countries and the international community. Despite the strong interest in the topic, the questions of how to define social cohesion and make it an observable phenomenon through proper measurement are still contested, in both academia and policy circles. To date, no consistent, temporally and geographically spread-out data on the different elements of social cohesion exists that would allow for a global analysis of social cohesion. This rather fragmented picture of analytical approaches calls for a more universal definition and measurement of social cohesion. This paper aims to provide a narrow and measurable definition of social cohesion that travels across regions and countries. Conceptually, it proposes a definition of social cohesion that incorporates the core elements of existing and widely used definitions of social cohesion across disciplines (trust, identity, cooperation for the common good). Our contribution is to offer a definition of social cohesion that is broad enough to cover the essentials holding societies together while at the same time keeping it lean enough to analyse the causes and consequences of social cohesion, for instance the relationship between social cohesion and inequalities or political institutions. Methodologically, we propose an application of our concept to the African context. It is not only a first step towards a more global and inter-regional measurement of social cohesion, but also the basis for further knowledge-creation, the identification of patterns of social cohesion and the analysis of its causes and consequences. From a policy-oriented perspective, a more unified definition of the core elements of social cohesion and its measurement can inform policies that aim at protecting and fostering social cohesion. In development cooperation, it will help not only to build indicators for designing programme objectives and for evaluation and monitoring, but also to advance evidence-based theories of change.

Social cohesion is key for sustainable development. While social cohesion has suffered in many societies from the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, high levels of social cohesion have helped to overcome critical situations during the pandemic in other societies. As a consequence, protecting and strengthening social cohesion has become an increasingly central goal for most countries and the international community. Despite the strong interest in the topic, the questions of how to define social cohesion and make it an observable phenomenon through proper measurement are still contested, in both academia and policy circles. To date, no consistent, temporally and geographically spread-out data on the different elements of social cohesion exists that would allow for a global analysis of social cohesion. This rather fragmented picture of analytical approaches calls for a more universal definition and measurement of social cohesion. This paper aims to provide a narrow and measurable definition of social cohesion that travels across regions and countries. Conceptually, it proposes a definition of social cohesion that incorporates the core elements of existing and widely used definitions of social cohesion across disciplines (trust, identity, cooperation for the common good). Our contribution is to offer a definition of social cohesion that is broad enough to cover the essentials holding societies together while at the same time keeping it lean enough to analyse the causes and consequences of social cohesion, for instance the relationship between social cohesion and inequalities or political institutions. Methodologically, we propose an application of our concept to the African context. It is not only a first step towards a more global and inter-regional measurement of social cohesion, but also the basis for further knowledge-creation, the identification of patterns of social cohesion and the analysis of its causes and consequences. From a policy-oriented perspective, a more unified definition of the core elements of social cohesion and its measurement can inform policies that aim at protecting and fostering social cohesion. In development cooperation, it will help not only to build indicators for designing programme objectives and for evaluation and monitoring, but also to advance evidence-based theories of change.

Only 4% of total municipal solid waste in Lima is recycled. Supermarkets and bodegas are in a unique, highly relevant position for the transition towards a circular economy due to their direct influence on customers’ consumption patterns. This paper explores the role of supermarkets and bodegas for consumer recycling behaviour, looking both at already implemented practices and possibilities for the future. Based on semi-structured interviews conducted with key actors in the recycling sector in 2019 and 2020, we analyse the sector regarding its main actors and their different interests, the interactions between them and the regulatory framework, as well as specific initiatives undertaken to increase recycling. We then compare the main mechanisms through which consumer recycling behaviour can be influenced between supermarkets and bodegas based on the three categories convenience, knowledge and socio-psychological factors. Our in-depth analysis outlines the different pros and cons for each of the three categories in detail.

Only 4% of total municipal solid waste in Lima is recycled. Supermarkets and bodegas are in a unique, highly relevant position for the transition towards a circular economy due to their direct influence on customers’ consumption patterns. This paper explores the role of supermarkets and bodegas for consumer recycling behaviour, looking both at already implemented practices and possibilities for the future. Based on semi-structured interviews conducted with key actors in the recycling sector in 2019 and 2020, we analyse the sector regarding its main actors and their different interests, the interactions between them and the regulatory framework, as well as specific initiatives undertaken to increase recycling. We then compare the main mechanisms through which consumer recycling behaviour can be influenced between supermarkets and bodegas based on the three categories convenience, knowledge and socio-psychological factors. Our in-depth analysis outlines the different pros and cons for each of the three categories in detail.

Only 4% of total municipal solid waste in Lima is recycled. Supermarkets and bodegas are in a unique, highly relevant position for the transition towards a circular economy due to their direct influence on customers’ consumption patterns. This paper explores the role of supermarkets and bodegas for consumer recycling behaviour, looking both at already implemented practices and possibilities for the future. Based on semi-structured interviews conducted with key actors in the recycling sector in 2019 and 2020, we analyse the sector regarding its main actors and their different interests, the interactions between them and the regulatory framework, as well as specific initiatives undertaken to increase recycling. We then compare the main mechanisms through which consumer recycling behaviour can be influenced between supermarkets and bodegas based on the three categories convenience, knowledge and socio-psychological factors. Our in-depth analysis outlines the different pros and cons for each of the three categories in detail.

In den politischen und gesellschaftlichen Verhältnissen Südafrikas finden derzeit Erosionsprozesse statt. Sie sind das Resultat struktureller Veränderungen und paral­lel ablaufender Entwicklungen, die sich gegenseitig verstärken. Die Hoffnungen auf Einnahmen aus dem Tourismus in den Monaten November 2021 bis Februar 2022 haben sich zerschlagen, seitdem nach Entdeckung der Corona-Variante Omikron internationale Reisebeschränkungen erlassen worden sind. Hinzu kommt, dass die Spannungen innerhalb der Regierungspartei African National Congress (ANC) den Präsidenten Cyril Ramaphosa in seiner Handlungsfähigkeit einschränken. Aller­dings sind langsame Fortschritte bei Reformen und positive Tendenzen einer Weiter­entwicklung jenseits des dominierenden ANC erkennbar. So hat sich das Parteien­system nach den Kommunalwahlen im Anfang November zusehends ausdifferenziert. Deutschland und die EU können positive Entwicklungen durch gut ausgerichtete und sensible Hilfe unterstützen, müssen dabei aber stets insbesondere sozioökonomische Faktoren im Blick behalten.

This blog post assesses the outcomes of the UN climate change conference "COP26", which convened in Glasgow, Scotland, between 31 October and 13 November 2021. It assesses what COP26 actually delivered, what this implies for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and international climate cooperation, and what remains to be done as the multilateral climate process moves towards COP27 in Egypt in 2022.

This blog post assesses the outcomes of the UN climate change conference "COP26", which convened in Glasgow, Scotland, between 31 October and 13 November 2021. It assesses what COP26 actually delivered, what this implies for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and international climate cooperation, and what remains to be done as the multilateral climate process moves towards COP27 in Egypt in 2022.

This blog post assesses the outcomes of the UN climate change conference "COP26", which convened in Glasgow, Scotland, between 31 October and 13 November 2021. It assesses what COP26 actually delivered, what this implies for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and international climate cooperation, and what remains to be done as the multilateral climate process moves towards COP27 in Egypt in 2022.

This paper investigates linkages between trade and climate policies by examining commitments made in preferential trade agreements (PTAs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. While environmental protection and economic growth are often perceived as conflicting policy goals, PTAs and NDCs have the potential to encourage mutually supportive approaches to climate and trade governance.

This paper investigates linkages between trade and climate policies by examining commitments made in preferential trade agreements (PTAs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. While environmental protection and economic growth are often perceived as conflicting policy goals, PTAs and NDCs have the potential to encourage mutually supportive approaches to climate and trade governance.

This paper investigates linkages between trade and climate policies by examining commitments made in preferential trade agreements (PTAs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. While environmental protection and economic growth are often perceived as conflicting policy goals, PTAs and NDCs have the potential to encourage mutually supportive approaches to climate and trade governance.

Energy efficiency labels have become an important tool in promoting environmentally friendly products. This paper provides insights into how to enhance the impact of energy efficiency labels in middle-income countries. Discrete choice experiments were conducted in Ghana (N = 876) and the Philippines (N = 797), examining whether appealing to attitude functions (the goals served by attitudes) can increase the effectiveness of energy efficiency labels of air conditioners. Local energy efficiency labels were modified to include different functional appeals to the benefits of energy efficiency of an air conditioner. A latent class approach was used to observe heterogeneities among respondents with regard to product attributes and functional appeals. Overall, we find energy efficiency to be an important attribute, which is valued more by people with higher environmental concern and knowledge. In addition, the effect of energy efficiency labelling can be increased by appealing to immediate attitude functions, to social-adjustive benefits (in Ghana) and to the expression of environmental values (in the Philippines). Functional appeals to delayed monetary savings appear to reduce the label’s impact. Results call for using contextually adapted campaigns to maximize the impact of energy efficiency labelling.

Energy efficiency labels have become an important tool in promoting environmentally friendly products. This paper provides insights into how to enhance the impact of energy efficiency labels in middle-income countries. Discrete choice experiments were conducted in Ghana (N = 876) and the Philippines (N = 797), examining whether appealing to attitude functions (the goals served by attitudes) can increase the effectiveness of energy efficiency labels of air conditioners. Local energy efficiency labels were modified to include different functional appeals to the benefits of energy efficiency of an air conditioner. A latent class approach was used to observe heterogeneities among respondents with regard to product attributes and functional appeals. Overall, we find energy efficiency to be an important attribute, which is valued more by people with higher environmental concern and knowledge. In addition, the effect of energy efficiency labelling can be increased by appealing to immediate attitude functions, to social-adjustive benefits (in Ghana) and to the expression of environmental values (in the Philippines). Functional appeals to delayed monetary savings appear to reduce the label’s impact. Results call for using contextually adapted campaigns to maximize the impact of energy efficiency labelling.

Energy efficiency labels have become an important tool in promoting environmentally friendly products. This paper provides insights into how to enhance the impact of energy efficiency labels in middle-income countries. Discrete choice experiments were conducted in Ghana (N = 876) and the Philippines (N = 797), examining whether appealing to attitude functions (the goals served by attitudes) can increase the effectiveness of energy efficiency labels of air conditioners. Local energy efficiency labels were modified to include different functional appeals to the benefits of energy efficiency of an air conditioner. A latent class approach was used to observe heterogeneities among respondents with regard to product attributes and functional appeals. Overall, we find energy efficiency to be an important attribute, which is valued more by people with higher environmental concern and knowledge. In addition, the effect of energy efficiency labelling can be increased by appealing to immediate attitude functions, to social-adjustive benefits (in Ghana) and to the expression of environmental values (in the Philippines). Functional appeals to delayed monetary savings appear to reduce the label’s impact. Results call for using contextually adapted campaigns to maximize the impact of energy efficiency labelling.