Introduction

Taking for granted new perspectives of nationalism in China's twenty-first-century global politics, this book introduces the everyday micro and macro-social levels of political, cultural, and economic behaviours and practices of individuals and States in society. It analyses the transformations surrounding the public domain of States and their national boundaries. Indeed, examples ranging from the UK's withdrawal from the European Union (EU) to the global social contexts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including China's politics of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), have shown evidence of growing "global nationalism”. By putting the case of China's BRI, the book advances the multi-scale dimensions of nationalism. It inserts the double face of foreign public policy and global Chinese activities. Based on a sociological-political perspective, the book reveals interactions emerging from "inside” and "outside” domains of States and their public actions. It also shows evidence of the role of culture in the global political economy. In addition, China's BRI puts forward distinct roles of culture, interests, and economy. These interactions run as the key features of the reception of the Chinese foreign policy. Specifically, technologies, development projects, trade, agro-industry, cyber-technologies, expertise, labour, military, and individuals and States' normative ambitions disclose new perspectives on nationalism and political economy. Contributors in this book explore these transactions between nationalism and economic politics by drawing on different cases from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Managing risk in commercial property development projects during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from China

The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest global health crisis in years. China is the first market primarily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with unprecedented lockdown measures bringing real estate and other economic activities to a standstill. This study has two objectives: (1) to identify the risks critical to the risk management of commercial real estate (CRE) development projects based on the project life cycle stages and (2) to identify the stages most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk factors at different stages. Three rounds of the Delphi study were conducted with nine experts involved in the construction project. The findings indicate that the construction, lease and sale phases are prone to significant risks. Additionally, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) identified ‘health and safety risk' as the most critical risk factor during the construction phase and ‘marketing and payback risk' as the most critical risk factor during the lease and sale phase. This study enhanced the effectiveness of risk management practices for implementing CRE development projects in China.

Assistance tools for the evaluation of machine learning algorithm performance: The decision tree-based tools developed by the Medical Imaging and Data Resource Center (MIDRC) Technology Development Project (TDP) 3c effort

MIDRC was created to facilitate machine learning research for tasks including early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and assessment of treatment response related to the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The purpose of the Technology Development Project (TDP) 3c is to create resources to assist researchers in evaluating the performance of their machine learning algorithms. An interactive decision tree has been developed, organized by the type of task that the machine learning algorithm is being trained to perform. The user can select information such as: (a) the type of task, (b) the nature of the reference standard, and (c) the type of the algorithm output. Based on the user responses, they can obtain recommendations regarding appropriate performance evaluation approaches and metrics, including literature references, short video tutorials, and links to available software. Five tasks have been identified for the decision tree: (a) classification, (b) detection/localization, (c) segmentation, (d) time-to-event analysis, and (e) estimation. As an example, the classification branch of the decision tree includes binary and multi-class classification tasks and provides suggestions for methods and metrics as well as software recommendations, and literature references for situations where the algorithm produces either binary or non-binary (e.g., continuous) output and for reference standards with negligible or non-negligible variability and unreliability. The decision tree has been made publicly available on the MIDRC website to assist researchers in conducting task-specific performance evaluations, including classification, detection/localization, segmentation, estimation, and time-to-event tasks. © COPYRIGHT SPIE. Downloading of the is permitted for personal use only.

Rethinking North–South Research Partnerships Amidst Global Uncertainties: Leveraging Lessons Learned from UK GCRF Projects during COVID-19

International research and development projects (or grand challenge projects) consist of multicultural, multi-country, multi-sectoral, and multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed at poverty reduction. They are usually conceived as partnerships between actors in the global north–south. The COVID-19 pandemic was a major unexpected disruption to ongoing projects and challenged their already complex management. The aim of this paper is to present evidence on how international development projects were impacted by COVID-19 with a particular focus on the relationship between research institutions in the north and south. We conducted a mixed-methods research study, combining a reflective exercise with the co-author team and a survey with principal investigators, project managers, and capacity development leads drawn from 31 Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) projects funded through the UK government's Official Development Assistance (ODA) and focused on social–ecological system research. The survey contained closed- and open-ended questions in order to (i) demonstrate how those involved in managing projects adapted to risks, including both threats and opportunities, presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and (ii) consider the implications for tailoring adaptive management approaches in international research projects amidst uncertainties, with a special focus on enhancing equities in global north–south partnerships. The paper offers the following recommendations on designing, planning, and implementing international research and development projects: (i) devolve project management in order to enhance project resilience and improve north–south equities;(ii) allocate dedicated resources to enable equitable north–south research partnerships;(iii) rely more on hybrid and agile approaches for managing a project's life cycle;and (iv) improve resource flexibility, transparency, and communication through enhanced funder–implementer collaboration.

Developing Eldercare in Ageing Societies: A Qualitative Study on Misaligned Visions and Caged Change Agents

Eldercare is facing current demands to develop due to changing demographics with increasing populations of elderly over the age of 85 combined with smaller populations of young people able to provide care and contribute to care via their taxes. The need for development of quality and safety was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Swedish government subsidies aimed at developing municipalities responsible for publicly managed eldercare have only been evaluated to a limited extent and the realisation of visions of future eldercare is shrouded in mystery. The study aims to explore the development work and strategies in Swedish municipal eldercare organisations, specifically in terms of alignment between democratic visions at political and strategic levels and operationalisation at operational levels. 28 interviews with development leaders were conducted in 14 Swedish municipality organisations between March and October 2021. The interviews focused on supporting roles and functions, responsibilities and collaborations, visions and operationalisations, and the follow-up and evaluation of eldercare development. A thematic analysis resulted in the main theme "top-down handling of unmanageable alignment” and the subthemes "shaping a high road for change;” "sticking to visions, hopes, and respect for practice;” and "self-serving focus on politics.” The quality of alignment strategies and putting the strategic vision into practice were related to organisation size and resources. A gap between strategic and operational levels was accentuated in terms of inconsistent responsibilities in following through with development projects and development being characterised by top-down initiatives and resources at the strategic level but strained implementation abilities at operational levels. Peripherally located change agents with legitimacy at multiple organisational levels are suggested to ease top-down as well as bottom-up drive, which could increase a vertical alignment of visions and practice.

Beyond Total Cost Management (TCM) to Systemic Value Management (SVM): Transformational Trends and a Research Manifesto for an Evolving Discipline

Total cost management (TCM) has developed as a systematic approach to managing resources, costs, profitability, and risks throughout the lifecycle of any enterprise, program, facility, project, product or service. However, a number of trends are today creating a new socio-technical scenario, characterized by increasing volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), which is affecting the strategic scope and applicative dimensions of TCM. A logic of sustainability and multi-stakeholder value is increasingly required to account for the competing and multi-dimensional needs of customers, employees, partners, and large stakeholder ecosystems. This article presents a review of cross-disciplinary literature and the use of authors’ engagement and consolidated expertise in the field to drive a group model building process aimed to design a conceptual framework and a research manifesto for the evolving TCM discipline. The study provides a classification of nine major trends and evaluates the impact of those trends on a number of TCM dimensions. Next, a research agenda is showed, including nine trajectories for scholars and practitioners engaged to support the evolution of TCM towards a new idea of systemic value management (SVM). The study advances the current knowledge on value-based and sustainable approaches to management and offers to experts and practitioners a basis to implement innovative development projects in the field of TCM.

Building provincial capacity for sustainable agricultural mechanisation in Nepal

This project was originally envisaged as an 18-month development-oriented project based in Provinces 1 and 2 of the Nepal Terai. It aimed to build solidarity and teamwork around the drive for agri-mechanisation in each of these two provincial governments. Unfortunately, the short time frame paired with intensive efforts to establish new relationships and then the onset of COVID-19 meant that there was limited scope to deeply develop these new relationships and fully build the envisaged roadmap process and plans. Regardless of this, the project has made some essential steps in improving provincial agri-mechanisation planning and implementation, including: (1) substantial capacity developed though placement of engineering experts within the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), the Ministries of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives (MoLMAC), various cooperatives and agricultural knowledge centres;(2) new and deepened relationships with and between key stakeholders, and particularly between NARC and provincial government, as well as with and between various cooperatives;(3) development of the first quantification of the status of agri-mechanisation on the Nepal Terai - indicating that there is high potential for rapid mechanisation if some key constraints are addressed;(4) publication of the learnings for a review of mechanisation in India and Bangladesh, and what that means for Nepal's agri-mechanisation planning;(5) regional learnings and new collaborations with various stakeholders in Nepal and West Bengal;(6) a national symposium on agri-mechanisation on the Nepal Terai, with a large number of supported individuals attending and learning from the national Agrimechanisation Fair;(7) development of a "roadmap" process that can be used more widely with additional further development;and (8) technical guidance and relationship building to improve the scaling of government supported custom hire centres in Province 1.

Integration of the Principles of Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems CFS-RAI from the Local Action Groups: Towards a Model of Sustainable Rural Development in Jauja, Peru

The Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) are shown as suitable instruments to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in rural areas. Local Action Groups (LAGs) have proven to be effective governance structures for the implementation and management of rural development projects based on participation and collective action. This research integrates the implementation of the LAG from the CFS-RAI Principles for the design of a rural development strategy. The foundations of these new structures are analyzed and the process of creating a LAG linked to the El Mantaro Regional Development Center (RDC) of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), in the Junín region (Peru), is described. The methodological process incorporates the “Working With People” (WWP) approach and the LEADER (Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l’Économie Rurale) specificities for the analysis of empirical information obtained in surveys and workshops, with 350 people involved in the process. The results indicate that the LAGs, as multi-stakeholder partnerships linked to the RDC, are a novel way to integrate the CFS-RAI principles from participation, proximity management, strengthening local communities and promoting sustainable development through projects. These results contribute to the empowerment of civil organizations and motivate their participation in local political decisions related to sustainable rural development.

Sweet success in farm tourism and beekeeping

It is reported that agritourism and beekeeping have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pacific region to emerge as key strengths of the second phase of the Pacific Agribusiness Research in Development Initiative (PARDI 2). This ACIAR-supported project is mentoring and training farmers, and building capacity for farmer organisations, to develop agribusinesses in the Pacific region. Development of business skills in agritourism and beekeeping is supporting farm business sustainability and profitability. Connecting new and expanding businesses to mentors and advisers is also building knowledge and facilitating industry development.

Estimating Pedestrian Flows on Street Networks

Problem, research strategy, and findingsCity governments and planners alike commonly seek to increase pedestrian activity on city streets as part of broader sustainability, community building, and economic development strategies. Though walkability has received ample attention in planning literature, most planners still lack practical methods for predicting how development proposals could affect pedestrian activity on specific streets or public spaces at different times of the day. Cities typically require traffic impact assessments (TIAs) but not pedestrian impact assessments. In this study I present a methodology for estimating pedestrian trip generation and distribution between detailed origins and destinations in both existing and proposed built environments. Using the betweenness index from network analysis, I introduce a number of methodological improvements that allow the index to model pedestrian trips with parameters and constraints to account for pedestrian behavior in different settings. I demonstrate its application in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge (MA), where estimated foot traffic is compared during lunch and evening peak periods with observed pedestrian counts.Takeaway for practiceThe proposed approach can be particularly useful for TIAs, neighborhood plans, and large-scale development projects, where pedestrian flow estimates can be used to guide pedestrian infrastructure and safety improvements and public space investments or for locating pedestrian priority streets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONTEXTUALIZING LISTED MOROCCAN FIRMS' RESILIENCE DURING COVID-19: EVIDENCE FROM A SECTORIAL ANALYSIS

In light of the unprecedented global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, resilient companies are more likely to survive the crisis's repercussions. More than 11.000 SMEs were bankrupted in Morocco because of the crisis, but not even one listed company has been dissolved in previous years. Moreover, the crisis has been a real opportunity for some industries that emerged during 2020. This scientific contribution aims at determining the main factors explaining the financial resilience of the different listed companies on the Casablanca Stock Exchange between 2020 and 2021. As a result, we detected some resilience factors in this turbulent economic context based on the disclosed financial information's descriptive and analytical examination. Our study highlights that the financial and ICT sectors are the first to overcome the complications of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the vigilant regulation and numerous demanding development projects based entirely on digital technology as a tool for economic performance. Our research is one of the first studies in the Moroccan context to assess the impact of the recent worldwide pandemic on listedfirms' resilience. In addition, this study highlights the importance of boosting economic recovery through investing in the digital industry.

Optimizing Scrum's Effectiveness in Distributed Software Development Environment during the Pandemic Era: A Systematic Literature Review

The event of the Covid-19 pandemic and the prerequisite for social distance has caused significant disturbances in the realm of work, including software development companies, including software development companies. The implementation of Work From Home (WFH) is a step taken by the government and private organizations to remain productive in the pandemic era. Currently, there are many methods that companies can implement to support the software development process. The Scrum method is part of agile methods that can speed up and adaptability in software development project management. This study discusses a systematic literature review on optimizing the effectiveness of Scrum in a distributed software development environment during the pandemic era. Using data systematically extracted from this work, we offer a strategy to increase the effectiveness of Scrum implementations in a distributed software development environment during the pandemic era. This approach helps practitioners and researchers to better understand the problems of distributed software development projects and develop more effective project management solutions. © 2022 IEEE.

Socially responsible investment (SRI) Sukuk as a financing alternative for post COVID-19 development project

Purpose>COVID-19 has disrupted the economic development of both advanced and emerging markets. In addition to the stimulus packages to adjust the economic shock from COVID-19, regulators around the world are searching for innovative mechanisms to rebuild the economy. The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of SRI Sukuk to serve as an Islamic social finance solution for development projects to mitigate the adverse economic effects of COVID-19.Design/methodology/approach>This study uses a mixed-method research framework. The authors use a systematic literature review following the recommendations of Bowen (2009) to identify critical challenges financing PPP projects using SRI Sukuk. In the next phase, the authors interview participants involved in an SRI Sukuk financed PPP project to get more significant insights on the challenges identified through the literature review process.Findings>The authors identify the need for greater transparency for SRI financed PPP projects. Also, organisational and legislative challenges are limiting the attractiveness of SRI Sukuk as a financing mechanisms for post-COVID development projects.Practical implications>SRI Sukuk is an emerging financing concept, and the use of such an Islamic financial instrument in financing development projects can serve as a viable alternative for policymakers in a post-COVID economic environment.Social implications>The successful completion of the development projects integrating the concept of Social Maslahah through SRI Sukuk in Malaysia could encourage other emerging economies to use such innovative Islamic financial instrument for economic development in post-COVID environment.Originality/value>This paper is unique, as it provides evidence on the potential of SRI Sukuk to finance large scale public-private partnership projects.

Remote site supervision of a project in rural Uganda during Covid restrictions

Engineers for Overseas Development is a UK-based charity specialising in development projects across rural Africa. Each project provides opportunities to upskill both local construction workers and UK engineer volunteers, who take responsibility for design and site supervision. In January 2022, the charity’s Cardiff branch delivered the first phase of a much-needed English teaching nursery and primary school in Uganda. In a first for the charity, construction was supervised entirely remotely due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. This paper outlines how this was achieved, highlighting the challenges and solutions developed.

One belt one road project and its economic effects

The Silk Road which one of the most important commercial networks as international throughout the history is aimed to revive with modern methods in order to increase its activity and effectiveness. In this regard, within the scope of the Project which will operate on three continents are made improvements of rail, sea and roadways. Also economic interaction initiatives are carried out in some regions as well. Thus, it is expected to increase that the economic growth of the countries involved in the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Project, especially in China. In this context, the activities of the countries involved in the Project, foreign trade values and transportation data were examined in the study. After 2013, an increase was observed in foreign trade and transportation data. This increase is higher especially in countries where physical projects are carried out. It is thought that relations between countries will become stronger with completion of substructure, increase of trade and security, and also eradication of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Planning behind Closed Doors: Unlocking Large-Scale Urban Development Projects Using the Stakeholder Approach on Tenerife, Spain

Santa Cruz Verde 2030 is an inner-city megaproject that will transform the local oil refinery into an urban neighborhood in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The project is expected to reconfigure Santa Cruz’s tourism model significantly, while applying rather undemocratic planning practices. This paper explores Santa Cruz Verde 2030, focusing on the perception of local stakeholders. My research builds on 18 qualitative interviews with planning authorities, the city’s mayor, political parties, experts from the real estate sector and residents. I identify a large perception gap among the interviewees. While the project’s initiators praise the participatory process, other stakeholders feel neither informed nor integrated. In particular, the “behind closed doors” planning approach has provoked resentment among citizens. In contrast, the possible impact on tourism of the project has given rise to less discussion. This contributes to the “stealthy” touristification strategy that has already transformed large areas of Santa Cruz’s waterfront in past decades. Hence, this paper adds to the ongoing discussion on how to design megaprojects in a more sustainable way, for example, by ensuring political consensus and learning from former megaprojects.

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified resource conflicts and indigenous resistance in Brazil. (Special Section: Pandemics and sustainability.)

Indigenous peoples in Brazil have suffered disproportionately from the COVID-19 pandemic due to limited access to an already precarious public health system together with continued attacks on their cultures, their territories and their way of life. These attacks come as part of the government's attempts to further neoliberal development and undermine environmental and indigenous rights, taking advantage of what the Minister of Environment called 'a moment of calm while the press is focusing on the pandemic'. The pandemic has intensified environmental conflicts affecting indigenous peoples, both in amplifying conflicts but also in sparking new acts of resistance and self-protection of indigenous lives and territories. Based on case studies and monitoring of rapidly evolving social media and WhatsApp posts, the researchers analyse these processes through a political ecology lens. The researchers find confirmed cases and deaths amongst indigenous peoples centred around tourism hotspots, mining sites, and other development projects. Yet the presence of these risks, and long term conflicts related to land-grabbing and resource theft linked to said development, has in some cases strengthened community ties and increased capacity for active resistance. While some Mebengokr.. (Kayap..) communities in the Amazon have fled further into the forest to maintain isolation, others have expelled gold-miners from their villages. Tupinamb.. and Patax.. communities in the Northeast have set up blockades to keep people, and the virus, out. The retomadas, or reclaiming of land, of the Tupinamb.., Patax.. and Patax..-H..h..hai in Bahia State, are a case in point: the long-term struggle to reclaim their lands has strengthened community ties and capacity for active resistance. The recent road blockades of the Mebengokr.. (Kayap..) incorporated demands for COVID-19 support into a long history of demands for compensation for the negative impacts suffered from mining and road construction in their territories. At the national level, indigenous movements, which have grown in strength and number in the fight against Bolsonaro's 'politics of extermination' and through engagement of a new cohort of indigenous youth who had access to higher education, were able to draw on social media and indigenous led court cases to help counteract the 'genocide by omission' that has been worsened by the pandemic.

The Move towards Multilateral Aid in Ireland's Overseas Development Programme (2008–2019)

Since 2015 the focus is on sustainable development. In terms of Ireland's relative performance over the past decade, Fig. 2 shows ODA as a percentage of GNI for OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries in the years 2009 and 2019. Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments, including the commitment by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of ODA/GNI to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries;ODA providers are encouraged to consider setting a target to provide at least 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries.3 Ireland historically had a high share of ODA allocated to least developed countries (LDCs). Driven by an agenda to make provisions for the poorest countries of the world as set out in the priorities of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) project initiated in 1998, Irelands bilateral spending accounted for 71% of total ODA in 2008.4 Figure 3 documents the level of official spending on bilateral and multilateral programmes since the turn of the century.

Attitudes of Communities in Rural Areas towards the Development of Wind Energy

The objective of the study was to demonstrate attitudes towards wind energy facilities in the area of the Korsze Commune. The results of the study were processed using structure indices calculated from the respondents’ answers, which were analyzed in terms of social and economic factors. The study revealed that both the NIMBY syndrome and the lack of civic engagement influence attitudes towards renewable energy technologies in rural areas. The NIMBY (“not in my backyard”) term describes negative public attitudes towards proposed development projects. However, some trends towards more pronounced attitudes can be observed, depending on socioeconomic conditions. The research results imply that the measures taken to promote renewable energy technologies should be designed differently depending on the socioeconomic situation of the targeted audience. Young people might be reached via social media appropriate to their age, and through campaigns promoting local investments. For older people, traditional ways of communication can be used, but the information transmitted should include specific benefits for the whole society as well as for individual households. The conducted research revealed that, despite the fact that many authors deny the occurrence of NIMBY syndrome in relation to the wind energy, the NIMBY problem has occurred in the Korsze Commune. The biggest challenge in the survey was the unwillingness of the residents to participate in it, which only confirms the lack of social involvement.