Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs <p>Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal&nbsp;is concerned with developing a better understanding of social change and cultural cohesion in cosmopolitan societies. Its focus lies at the intersection of conflict and cohesion, and in how division can be transformed into dialogue, recognition and inclusion. The Journal takes a grounded approach to cosmopolitanism, linking it to civil society studies. It opens up debate about cosmopolitan engagement in civil societies, addressing a range of sites: social movements and collective action; migration, cultural diversity and responses to racism; the promotion of human rights and social justice; initiatives to strengthen civil societies; the impact of ‘information society’ and the context of environmental change.</p> <p><strong>This journal&nbsp;does not charge any type of article processing charge (APC) or any type of&nbsp;article submission charge.</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> en-US <p id="copyrightNotice">Authors who submit articles to this journal from 31st March 2014 for publication, agree to the following terms:</p> <p>a) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution License</a> that allows others to share and adapt the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.</p> <p>b) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.</p> <p>c) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See&nbsp;<a href="http://sparceurope.org/what-we-do/open-access/sparc-europe-open-access-resources/open-access-citation-advantage-service-oaca/">The Open Access Citation Advantage Service</a>).&nbsp;Where authors include such a work in an institutional repository or on their website (ie. a copy of a work which has been published in a UTS ePRESS journal, or a pre-print or post-print version of that work), we request that they include a statement that acknowledges the UTS ePRESS publication including the name of the journal, the volume number and a web-link to the journal item.</p> <p>d) Authors should be aware that the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) License permits readers to share (copy and redistribute the work in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the work) for any purpose, even commercially, provided they also give appropriate credit to the work, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. They may do these things in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests you or your publisher endorses their use.</p> <p>For Volume 5 No 3 (2013) and before, the following copyright applied:</p> <p>Authors submitting articles to UTSePress publications agree to assign a limited license to UTSePress if and when the manuscript is accepted for publication. This license allows UTSePress to publish a manuscript in a given issue. Articles published by UTSePress are protected by copyright which is retained by the authors who assert their moral rights. Authors control translation and reproduction rights to their works published by UTSePress. UTSePress publications are copyright and all rights are reserved worldwide. Downloads of specific portions of them are permitted for personal use only, not for commercial use or resale. Permissions to reprint or use any materials should be directed to UTSePress.</p> ccsjournal@uts.edu.au (Dr Hilary Yerbury) utsepress@uts.edu.au (UTS ePRESS) Tue, 27 Aug 2024 10:20:57 +1000 OJS 3.1.2.4 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 Transcending Boundaries: Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) as a Transnational Icon of Cosmopolitanism https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/8692 <p class="CCS1spara">Cosmopolitanism studies regained popularity in the 1990s. Case studies on individuals are finally emerging, mainly on celebrities, but they are still dominated by Western actors and limited to charitable movements for the poor and the ill. To fill this gap, we bring the South Korean music group Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) into the discourse. The research questions are, in what respects does BTS represent a cosmopolitan outlook? What kind of behaviours and actions do they demonstrate? How do their behaviours and actions influence others? We adopt cosmopolitanism and the transnational actor concept to answer these questions. We use a descriptive-qualitative approach through the use of primary and secondary sources. As a result, we found that anti-racism and anti-discrimination are the two main issues that represent BTS’ cosmopolitan views. Their practices are reflected in their daily conversations, music, donations, and advocacy. They spread their influence to large-scale fans through various media.</p> Annisa Rizkyta, Abubakar Eby Hara, Bagus Sigit Sunarko, Djoko Susilo Copyright (c) 2024 Annisa Rizkyta, Abubakar Eby Hara, Bagus Sigit Sunarko, Djoko Susilo http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/8692 Mon, 26 Aug 2024 08:46:11 +1000 The Socio-economic Transformation in Makassar Tribe Gift-giving Tradition: Reconstructing Social Welfare Strategy https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/8847 <p class="CCS1spara"><span lang="EN-US">The gift-giving tradition in Jeneponto, the land of the Makassar Tribe, has undergone significant transformation over time, reflecting changes in socio-economic ethics within societies. This study explores the evolution of this tradition and its profound impact on contemporary socio-economic values. It examines how gift-giving has transitioned from a simple act of goodwill and cultural exchange to a complex phenomenon influenced by consumerism, status, and economic disparities. Drawing from ethnographic research analysis, this research delves into the cultural and social significance of gift-giving in various contexts. It sheds light on how traditional values, such as reciprocity and generosity, have been reshaped by commercialization and global consumer culture. Furthermore, it investigates the consequences of these changes on individuals and communities. The study also discusses the ethical dilemmas arising from the commodification of gift-giving, including issues of authenticity, social inequality, and environmental sustainability. It highlights the need for a more conscious and responsible approach to gift-giving in the current situation.</span></p> Fatjri Nur Tajuddin, Afidatul Asmar Copyright (c) 2024 Fatjri Nur Tajuddin, Afidatul Asmar http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/8847 Mon, 26 Aug 2024 08:48:25 +1000 Resistance Across Borders: Belarusian Civic Activism in Exile under (Trans-)National Repression https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/8965 <p>The mass protests following the rigged 2020 presidential elections in Belarus led to unprecedented repression, resulting in the liquidation of over 1,600 NGOs, the imprisonment of hundreds of activists, and the displacement of thousands. After relocating, these activists continued to mobilize resources and use digital platforms to sustain and expand their support networks across borders. Urban activists played a pivotal role in this transformation, though they acutely felt the challenges of relocation due to their dependence on physical urban spaces and their ties to support networks and governmental bodies. This paper investigates the challenges faced by urban activists, post-relocation, as well as their resource mobilization strategies, utilizing surveys of 47 Belarusian NGOs and conducting 20 in-depth semi-structured interviews with urban development experts. It contributes to the understanding of civic activism in exile, emphasizing the strategic use of resources to reorganize activity and resist transnational repression of authoritarian regimes.</p> Vasil Navumau, Olga Matveieva, Tetiana Gorokhova Copyright (c) 2024 Vasil Navumau, Olga Matveieva, Tetiana Gorokhova http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/8965 Mon, 26 Aug 2024 08:50:54 +1000 Cosmopolitanism over Ethnonationalism through Social Movement: The Case of Anti-CAA Movement in India https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/8787 <p>Ethnonationalism based on religion has had a significant impact in the modern history of India. While celebrating its diversity as a democratic nation, the country has also witnessed numerous ethnic movements, tensions, violence as well as assertion of cultural and ideological values by one dominant group over another. The ‘State’ often gets involved in these conflicts directly or indirectly. The case of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 is a recent example relating to issues of citizenship and discrimination based on religion that sparked a nationwide movement. The citizens condemned the enactment of CAA as anti-democratic and against the secularistic ideology of India. Drawing upon the case of Anti-CAA movement across India the paper argues that social movements serve as a platform to revisit and realize the ideologies of cosmopolitanism.</p> Terbi Loyi Copyright (c) 2024 Terbi Loyi http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/8787 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:38:23 +1100 Involving Kyai and Thug Networks In Oil and Gas Company CSR Communication https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/8938 <p>This paper explores local partners' communication strategies in the ExxonMobil Cepu Limited CSR program in Bojonegoro Regency, East Java. The research data comes from in-depth interviews with 25 informants. They consist of representatives of oil and gas companies, governments, journalists, NGOs, and Corporate Social Responsibility beneficiaries. The results show that the local partner's strategy in building symmetrical two-way communication with stakeholders can be understood at three levels. First, there is the process of social integration. The involvement of local elites, kyai, thug networks, and a grassroots approach in CSR communication is part of social integration. Second, there is social protection. The participatory communication network that has been built in the initial phase ultimately gives rise to a commitment to protect the program run by local partners. The depth of the relationship between local partners and stakeholders forms the third level, relations and social cohesion that give birth to a relationship of give and take.</p> Ahmed Taufiq, Pawito, Andre N. Rahmanto, Drajat Tri Kartono Copyright (c) 2024 Ahmed Taufiq, Pawito, Andre N. Rahmanto, Drajat Tri Kartono http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/8938 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:40:32 +1100 Government Communication and Social Cohesion: A Contradiction of Words in Action? https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/9182 <p>This article presents the findings of a 2022 doctoral study that examines the government's communication for social cohesion in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipal Area, also known as the city of Durban, in South Africa. The findings and recommendations are applicable to social cohesion globally as evidenced by news reports of violence against women in New York, anti-LGBTQIA+ laws in Uganda, anti-Moslem and anti-Christian sentiments. The study employing a Likert-type questionnaire and focus group discussions revealed that government communication, measured against the Social Cohesion Index, surreptitiously changes mindsets but is undermined by its actions. Participants perceive slow service delivery, corruption, unfair implementation of affirmative action, racism, homo- and trans-phobia, marginalization of the disability sector, tribalism and dearth of leaders, as hindrances. The LGBTQIA+ and disability sectors are victimised limiting their inclusion in the economy and access to services. Recommendations include appointing credible leaders as social cohesion ambassadors, fair implementation of affirmative action policies and communication substantiated by tangible public services.</p> Vasanthakokilam Naidoo Copyright (c) 2024 Vasanthakokilam Naidoo http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/mcs/article/view/9182 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:41:49 +1100