Social Cohesion Archives - IDRC Research Chairs Network on Forced Displacement

New Policy Brief published by IDRC Research Chair, Myriam Cherti, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco

SHUCHIKARIM — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:42:08 +0000

A new policy brief has been published on “Cities as key policy actors: strengthening urban responses to displacement in the global South’, led by Dr Myriam Cherti, the IDRC Research Chair on Forced Displacement at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) in Rabat. The brief is based on the contributions and discussions we had during our webinar in April.

You can read the policy brief here:

Revolutionary resistance against full autocratization: Actors and strategies of resistance after the 2021 military coup in Myanmar

beatricemarievillade — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 01:18:35 +0000

Authors: Kristian Stokke, Nyi Nyi Kyaw

Abstract

Resistance against autocratization is an important contemporary issue that calls for increased scholarly attention. The global wave of autocratization has generated a proliferation of research on the drivers of autocratization, but fewer studies on the possibilities, strategies, spatialities, and effectiveness of resistance. This article responds to these knowledge needs through a case study of revolutionary resistance against full autocratization in Myanmar after the 2021 military coup. The article examines the junta’s strategies for autocratic control, trace the development of the resistance movement and analyze its strategies, spatialities and effectiveness. The article shows that the coup has been followed by a mass resistance movement that is remarkably successful in countering the regime strategies for authoritarian consolidation and survival. We argue that this effectiveness rests on the movement’s ability to deploy mutually reinforcing strategies of economic, symbolic, political, and armed resistance to contest the military’s claims on state authority, legitimacy, economic resources, and monopoly of armed force. The Myanmar case thus confirms the centrality of civil resistance under full autocratization, but also points to the importance of insurgent political institutions and armed resistance to counter authoritarian repression, legitimation, and co-optation strategies. The case study also shows that the spatialities of resistance strategies – being both embedded in places and territories and extended through spatial networks and scalar strategies – are key contributors to the effectiveness of the movement. This broad mobilization behind a common revolutionary goal offers the best prospect for defeating military dictatorship in Myanmar and provides relevant lessons for similar cases elsewhere.

Travailleurs sociaux libanais à l’épreuve de l’histoire et de l’altérité

beatricemarievillade — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:38:56 +0000

Authors: Houwayda Matta, Rita Chouchani, and Maguy Salameh

FR: Travailleurs sociaux libanais à l’épreuve de l’histoire et de l’altérité

La pratique professionnelle des travailleurs sociaux auprès des populations migrantes expose ces professionnels à des dilemmes majeurs relevant de différents registres. Au Liban, la question des liens interculturels pacifiques entre la population hôte et les déplacés syriens se situe au cœur des préoccupations. Pris dans cette dynamique, les travailleurs sociaux libanais se retrouvent parfois confrontés à leurs propres biais et incertitudes. Ces dilemmes nous ont incité à inviter certains d’entre eux qui travaillent dans ce contexte à faire un retour réflexif sur leurs rapports à cette altérité. Des enjeux profonds issus de cette réflexion interpellent foncièrement la formation.

EN: Lebanese social workers put to the test of history and otherness

The professional practice of social workers working with migrant populations exposes them to major dilemmas of various kinds. In Lebanon, the question of peaceful intercultural ties between the host population and displaced Syrians is at the heart of concerns. Caught up in this dynamic, Lebanese social workers sometimes find themselves confronted with their own biases and uncertainties. These dilemmas prompted us to invite some of them working in this context to reflect on their relationship with this otherness. The profound issues arising from this reflection are of fundamental importance to training.

Travailleurs sociaux libanais à l’épreuve de l’histoire et de l’altérité

Social Media Users’ Online Behavior with Regard to the Circulation of Hate Speech

beatricemarievillade — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:37:29 +0000

Authors: Tadessa Megersa and Abebaw Minaye

Abstract:

Online hate speech is ripping Ethiopian society apart and threatening the values of democracy, human dignity, and peaceful coexistence. The current study argues that understanding people’s responses to hateful posts helps combat hate speech online. Therefore, this study aims to comprehend the roles social media users play in responding to online hate speech. To this end, 14 ethnic-based hate speech posts each with more than 1,000 comments were collected from the public space of four purposefully selected YouTube news channels and four Facebook accounts, which are considered as hot spots for the circulation of hate speech during data collection period. Then, 100 random comments were collected from each hate speech post using “” which automatically extract comments from social media posts in excel format. After extracting a total of 1,400 random comments, 460 of them were removed because they were found irrelevant and unclear to be coded and analyzed. Then, inductive coding was employed to identify, refine, and name codes and themes that describe the main roles played by social media users in reacting to the hate speeches. The findings showed five major roles social media users play in responding to hatful contents: trolling, pace-making, peace-making, informing, and guarding. The paper discusses the findings and provides recommendations deemed necessary to counter online hate speeches.

Social Media Users’ Online Behavior with Regard to the Circulation of Hate Speech

A model of blended family(stepfamily) formation in Ethiopia: a constructivist grounded theory

beatricemarievillade — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:35:27 +0000

Authors: Kumneger Fikre and Abebaw Minaye

This study aimed at developing a model that describes and explains blended family formation in Ethiopia. It is part of an ongoing dissertation entitled “Family functioning experiences of blended families in Ethiopia.” We employed constructivist grounded theory both as a method and result of inquiry. This theory states that knowledge is constructed out of the dynamic interaction between the researcher, participants, and the context. Accordingly, we were informed by the guiding principles, data organization and analytical tools the theory provides. We interviewed fourteen participants drawn from seven families. We developed a model that depicted the major contributing factors to blend, and the procedures partners use to form their families in the context of Ethiopia. The study identified the state partners were in, categorized as problem state and aspiration state, before blending as contributing factors. Problem state refers to the challenging situation partners were in due to several factors. Aspiration state refers to the situation of partners who were seeking for a marriage partner for the betterment of their life. The result also showed partners’ decision and action of blending were influenced by community and family members involvement. We discussed the results in light of the Ubuntu philosophy, the Ukama and the Ujamaa African theories. Finally, we provided recommendations that would give insight to enhance the quality of blended family formation in Ethiopia.