Emergent volunteerism in missing person cases — A Dutch case study

Private Sector-led Urban Development Projects. Management, Partnerships and Effects in the Netherlands and the UK

Young citizens have a strategic role in the movement to care for the environment. They are considered as guardian angels for the environment from the cruel economic development and development. Their involvement in the environmental movement will have a major impact on environmental sustainability. The ecological citizenship movement can be a bridge to bring young citizens to the success of environmentally sustainable development. The ecological citizenship movement is a social activity that focuses its activities on saving the environment from human selfish actions. The purpose of this study is to analyze the importance of the involvement of young citizens in the ecological citizenship movement to realize sustainable development with an environmental perspective. This research uses a literature study approach. Data sources were obtained from the results of reviews of journal articles or books related to ecological citizenship, sustainable development, and case studies on the involvement of young citizens in environmental management. This article consists of three discussions that fit the focus of this research. First, it outlines a description of the ecological citizenship movement. Second, it presents the results of an analysis of the forms of involvement of young citizens in the ecological citizenship movement from various case studies. Third, present the results of an analysis of the importance of the involvement of young citizens in environmentally sustainable development. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that the involvement of young citizens in the ecological citizenship movement and sustainable development programs is very important, because they are the actors responsible for environmental sustainability and development in the future.

The paper discusses implementation and acceptance as crucial elements of a historical-sociolinguistic reappraisal of Haugen’s well-known theory of standardization. The case study that we focus on is the Dutch language in the second half of the eighteenth and the first half of the nineteenth century. In this period, Dutch became an object of political control. Significant aspects of the nationalization of language were the establishment of an officialized orthography (1804) and grammar (1805), which were to be used in the national school system. Education was the societal domain in which the national government tried to secure the transmission of the national language norms. We study the implementation and acceptance of official language norms from two perspectives, viz. by focusing on teaching materials developed for the new national school system, and by analyzing a recently compiled corpus of original language data from this period. We argue that implementation and acceptance, though relatively understudied topics in standardization studies, can usefully be operationalized, and turned into empirical questions that historical-sociolinguistic analysis can answer.

The article discusses the theoretical foundations and applied aspects of deliberative and popular constitutionalism, forms of citizen’ participation in constitutional changes and public initiatives. The author reveals scholarly approaches to understanding interaction between the constituent power and the democratic creation of constitutions and constitutional amendments, taking into account the conceptualization and use of democratic innovations in constitutional design and public space. In the countries of the New and Old Worlds, in the global South and in the countries of the European continent, institutions of popular participation, citizen involvement through assemblies and other forms are actively used. Some of the new forms of democracy are partially enshrined in constitutional norms or legislative acts. Among the forms of civic activity, which at the end of the 20th — first quarter of the 21st century are rightfully considered as various types of democratic innovations, an important place is occupied by the constitutional line of conversations and public constitutional assemblies, mini-publics, citizens’ assemblies, digital participation in the creation of a draft constitution and in legislative activity, participatory budgeting of projects, referendums on the initiative of citizens on constitutionally significant issues, constitutional amendments and draft constitutions. The study notes that in comparative constitutional experience and normative regulation, the meaning and nature of citizens’ assemblies as constitutional institutions are gradually changing, although such changes do not seem obvious. Citizens’ assemblies and other forms of collective participation perform the function of creating a broad informational, legal, organizational and political field for involving citizens and expert opinion; they become the deliberative environment in which issues of constitutional and national importance are discussed, including individual amendments to the constitution or a new draft constitution, legislative acts or legislative initiatives at the national level, but can also be used at the regional or municipal levels. The article used deliberative and epistemological approaches, methods of formal-legal, concrete-historical, comparative constitutional-legal and complex analysis.

This article is devoted to the consideration of the components of the legal provision ofhuman rights in the development of social networks. The issue of the legal status of persons –participants of Internet communication is considered. Such rights include: the right to association;the right to freedom of thought and speech; information rights related to the dissemination,transmission, receipt and use of information. Also, this article covers the issue of illegalmanifestations that entail violations of legal rights and interests. For an individual user, this isillegal access to personal data, disclosure of confidential information; defamation; copyrightinfringement; fraud, misuse of bank data, etc. Covers the security of personal data of users ofsocial networks. The main legal act in force today in the field of personal data protection onthe Internet is the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regardto Automatic Processing of Personal Data. It is determined that social networks strengthen theright to participate in the management of state affairs, including through free elections, providingadditional opportunities for public debate, improving their quality, stimulating democraticprocesses, activity, initiative, awareness and involvement of citizens in issues related to relatedto public administration. It is stated that due to the potential threats arising in connectionwith the functioning of social networks and other institutions of Internet communication, apromising direction is the creation of legal regimes of human rights in terms of regulatingInternet relations to disseminate information while ensuring the balance of interests of allparticipants. and their harmonization with the basics of public order. At the same time, certainproblems, such as reputation protection, protection of intellectual property, should be solvedin line with the already established sectoral regulation, developing it taking into account thespecifics of Internet communication.

In recent years, the concept of “smart city” has been in great demand in the field of applied urban research. The concept of smart city is increasingly used in the context of strategic urban planning and urban management not only as a desirable image of the future, but also to describe the processes that are currently taking place and significantly changing the usual nature of the habitat of a person – a city dweller. The article focuses not so much on technological and informational, but rather on socio-political aspects of the “smart city”, giving examples of both solutions coming from government agencies and power institutions, and initiatives of public organisations and citizens aimed at the development of the urban environment and the formation of a “human-centred” space for life. It is noted that a promising direction in modern urbanism is participatory design, the main principle of which is the involvement of local communities in the development of improvement projects and activation of the potential of urban locations. It is concluded that the involvement of citizens themselves in the design process and joint adoption of project decisions, including the development of smart city, helps to better understand real problems and needs, contributes to the resolution of conflict situations while preserving the inherent diversity of the city and, thus, correlates with the basic principles of democracy.

Given the urge to meet the energy objectives of the Paris climate agreement, the Dutch government developed the SDE+ subsidy scheme to expedite renewable energy resource development. Although most renewable technologies are included within the subsidy scheme, battery storage systems are excluded. This paper aims to explore the opportunities of a prosumer to become a prosumager (consumes, produces and stores energy) through a techno-economic assessment. First, a technical analysis is carried out through an energy management optimization model that maximizes the prosumager's profits during different scenarios with and without storage inclusion. Secondly, an economic assessment via Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) is conducted to quantitively compare between the different scenarios through Net Present Value (NPV) and Equivalent Annual Annuity (EAA) calculations. A Dutch case study is presented that involves solar photovoltaic generation (PV), and Lithium-ion batteries within the premises of an industrial customer located in Flevoland, the Netherlands. Based on this study, final conclusions and recommendations are highlighted.

This article is devoted to the analysis of the quality of local legislation at the level of prefecture-level city with districts in the PRC. The author of the article analyzed in detail the existing problems of local legislation in China using statistical data from think tanks. Even though the People's Republic of China is a unitary state, the legislation in China has a multi-level system with the central government playing the dominant role. This is expressed in the right of state authorities, represented by people's congresses at various levels, to adopt normative legal acts within the framework specified in the Constitution of the PRC and the Law on Lawmaking. Even though the terms of reference of prefecture-level cities with districts are limited to the issues of ensuring the livelihoods of the local population, urban and rural construction, protecting the environment and ecology, there are certain problems and imperfections in their legislative activities. Some of these problems are systematic and require nationwide regulation, while the others are directly related to shortcomings in the activities of local authorities. Since the granting of powers of local legislation in 2015 to prefecture-level cities with districts, sufficient time has passed to assess their quality in terms of the legality, validity and expediency of the adopted regulatory legal acts, protection of the rights and interests of citizens and legal entities, proposed innovations. Within the framework of this position, the author assesses the quality of rule- making activity in prefecture-level cities with districts on the example of a sample of six cities, investigates the causes of existing problems and gives recommendations for their elimination and improvement of the legislative process.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of current food systems to feed populations around the world. Particularly in urban centers, consumers have been confronted with this vulnerability, highlighting reliance on just-in-time logistics, imports and distant primary production. Urban food demand, regional food supply, land use change, and transport strategies are considered key factors for reestablishing resilient landscapes as part of a sustainable food system. Improving the sustainability of food systems in such circumstances entails working on the interrelations between food supply and demand, rural and urban food commodity production sites, and groups of involved actors and consumers. Of special significance is the agricultural land in close proximity to urban centers. Calling for more holistic approaches in the sense of inclusiveness, food security, citizen involvement and ecological principles, this article describes the use of a new decision support tool, the Metropolitan Foodscape Planner (MFP). The MFP features up-to-date European datasets to assess the potential of current agricultural land use to provide food resources (with special attention to both plant- and animal-based products) and meet the demand of city dwellers, and help to empower citizens, innovators, companies, public authorities and other stakeholders of regional food systems to build a more regionalized food supply network. The tool was tested in the context of the food system of the Copenhagen City Region in two collaborative workshops, namely one workshop with stakeholders of the Copenhagen City Region representing food consultancies, local planning authorities and researchers, and one in-person workshop masterclass with MSc students from the University of Copenhagen. Workshop participants used the tool to learn about the impacts of the current food system at the regional and international level with regard to the demand-supply paradigm of city-regions. The ultimate goal was to develop a participatory mapping exercise and test three food system scenarios for a more regionalized and sustainable food system and, therefore, with increased resilience to crises. Results from this implementation also demonstrated the potential of the tool to identify food production sites at local level that are potentially able to feed the city region in a more sustainable, nutritious and way.

The aim of the article: The main aim of the article is to present the essence and significance the institution of civic budget as a tool not only allowing citizens to actively participate in the process of deciding about the directions of spending public funds, but also a tool to determine the directions of social expectations, the essence and importance of social participation. Hypothesis: The hypothesis accepted in the study stipulates that the growing popularity of the civic budget makes it an effective tool for social participation. Methodology: The study was based on a literature review, legal acts, information on the functioning of the civic budget in Lodz as well as a questionnaire conducted among the city residents. Results of the research: The civic budget in Lodz has been functioning for eight years, and during this time it has been constantly contributing to the idea of citizen involvement in the decision-making process. Although the budget procedure itself is undergoing numerous corrections and transformations, as the ongoing political, social and macroeconomic changes must be taken into account, it is still a basic tool enabling active participation and involvement of citizens. The matters it concerns are important to the community, and the civic budget offers an opportunity to express their opinions on key issues. The conducted survey indicates that Lodz is a positive example of using the participatory budget mechanism in the city management process. The sustained high (on a Polish scale) turnout confirms the inhabitants’ interest and willingness to change the public space, thus positively influencing the building of a sense of local community.

This Special Issue of the Journal of the Knowledge Economy focuses on how advanced European cities develop strategies towards becoming “smart cities”, based on the many possible innovative usages of network infrastructures and Internet-based applications, through the engagement of open innovation ecosystems. Part of these strategies is to develop new types of innovation approaches in urban areas, which are characterized, firstly, by a high level of citizen involvement in co-creating Internet-based applications in all sectors of the economy and society; secondly, by the emergence of new forms of collaboration among local governments, research institutes, universities, and companies. Such strategies and the resulting "innovation ecosystems" are becoming increasingly relevant given the growing economic and social issues and opportunities that cities are currently facing. This special issue investigates these smart city strategies through four smart city case studies and two papers addressing horizontal issues. The case studies aim to analyze the currently emerging strategies and policies related to identify how the opportunities of the Future Internet are being used for the socio-economic development of urban areas. The four cases also address how cities are redefining their innovation structures and how they started to experiment citizens involvement within the context of open innovation, and present lessons learned that are of interest to smart city stakeholders.

This study compares the historical preservation systems of Philadelphia, USA and Seoul, South Korea, focusing on regulatory content and implementation procedures to identify the necessary institutional elements for achieving sustainable preservation and utilization of urban heritage. As cities worldwide increasingly emphasize sustainable preservation, this research explores how regulatory frameworks and implementation strategies influence preservation outcomes. The study finds that Philadelphia's adaptive reuse-focused preservation system, which integrates both physical and intangible values, fosters a balance between conservation and modern utilization. In contrast, Seoul's preservation system remains more focused on physical conservation, with strict regulations that limit adaptive reuse and community involvement. Case studies, including Philadelphia’s Old City Historic District and Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village, demonstrate that Philadelphia’s integrated, flexible system with proactive public-private cooperation leads to more sustainable outcomes. The study concludes that for sustainable preservation, cities should adopt a regulatory approach that balances preservation with utilization, integrates the city’s historical context, and ensures ongoing management through dedicated institutions and regular reviews. Additionally, public-private cooperation, citizen involvement, and diverse financial support policies are essential for successful preservation outcomes. This comparison offers valuable insights for cities seeking to improve their historical preservation systems through sustainable conservation and utilization.

Renewable Energy Communities (REC) are an emerging initiative that aims to contribute to the energy transition towards a more decentralised system in Europe by encouraging local communities to come together and invest in and operate renewable energy assets together.Decision-making processes of these communities need to be supported by adequate tools, which also can be used in the formation of the community groups in the first place. In this paper a case-study of four European small-town communities in Berchidda (Italy), Ollersdorf (Austria), Ispaster (Spain), and Kökar (Finland) carried out in the context of the LocalRES project is presented, where a participatory design methodology has been applied to co-create community supporting tools. Feedback gathered during four citizen workshops is presented, showing that to optimally support RECs in their formation and operation three main topics need to be supported: (1) the technical realisation and potential upgrades of the energy system, i.e., visualising energy generation and consumption on an individual and a community level, (2) the financial and economic implications of investments, i.e., calculating costs and return on investment for the individual and for the community, as well as (3) the social dimension and communication between community members and other relevant stakeholders, i.e., helping with community building and community engagement. The participatory process presented in the case studies does not only serve to gather requirements for tool design, but it also is a useful vehicle to bring together all interested citizens and understand their needs and concerns. A summary of this detailed citizen feedback is also presented.

Media and Communications Regulation and the Public Interest Introduction Regulation and the Role of the State Regulation, Civil Society and the Public Sphere Market Innovation versus Social Democratic Values Introducing the Case Studies Regulation and the Public Interest From Government to Governance The Theory of Regulation Strategies of Regulation New Labour, Social Democracy and Regulation The European Context The UK Context Regulation and the Public Interest Ofcom's Core Purposes: A Discursive Struggle Media Regulation and the Implied Audience The Communications Act 2003: In Whose Interest? Ofcom's Remit: Interpreting Its Primary Duties Actions to Further Citizens' and Consumers' Interests Citizen Interests in a Wider Perspective Ofcom as a Regulatory Agency Ofcom's Remit and Rationale From Guiding Principles to Working Practices Core Business: Telecommunications, Spectrum Management and Media Plurality Ofcom as an Institution in the Public Sphere The Content Board and (Communications) Consumer Panel Defining Citizen and Consumer Interests in Practice Public Views of Regulation Conclusion Ofcom's Review of Public Service Television Introduction Public Service Broadcasting in the 1980s and 1990s Ofcom's Remit in Reviewing Public Service Television Ofcom's First Review of Public Service Television A Public Service for All Ofcom's Second Public Service Television Review Ofcom's Consultation on the Second Review Conclusion Media Literacy A New Lease of Life for an Old Policy A Puzzling Task for the New Regulator Definitional Diversity in Europe Media Literacy as a Neo-Liberal Policy The Politics of Media Literacy From Media Literacy to Digital Participation From Principles to Practice From Individual Skills to Social Capabilities Conclusion Advertising Regulation and Childhood Obesity Introduction Regulating Advertising to Children The Challenges of Evidence-Based Policy Regulatory Action and Reaction Regulatory Effectiveness? Reflections on Evidence-Based Policy Conclusion Community Radio Introduction The Community Radio Order 2004 Regulating Community Radio Evaluating Ofcom's Regulation of Community Radio Conclusion Conclusions A Change of Direction The Power to Make Policy On the Value of an Independent Regulator Conclusions Afterword

The successes and failures of participants in civil society in specific situations as well as legitimized or delegitimized goals help to define civil society. By studying the specific strategies and citizens’ activities with respect to the details of the context, we can get a clearer image of the peculiarities of civil society. The paper, devoted to a well-known civic dispute involving the historic Romuva movie theater, discusses the functionality of civil society during this conflict. The study is based on the case study method; therefore the data representation is contextual and cannot be generalized to the whole of Lithuania, but it can provide plenty of information on the analyzed object. Post-communist civil societies face different challenges than Western societies, as they have arisen in a different context; hence they face a specific problem: to form, justify, and legitimate the civil society. By analyzing the civil struggle surrounding the Romuva cinema, we examine the lack of civil society legitimacy in the face of the different interests of citizens, business, and government. What challenges and problems confront citizens who take it upon themselves to defend the public interest? The study showed the lack of legitimacy of noninstitutionalized civil society groups. In view of the activities of government bureaucracies, or rather of their failures, and the pragmatic interests of businessmen, it turned out that citizens’ enthusiasm, creativity, and critical reasoning are not sufficient in order to protect the public interest, as noninstitutionalized civic groups’ activities are not considered legitimate and thus are often not taken into account.