Prelims

Exploring Hope

DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES ON CREATING A FAIRER SOCIETY

A fair society is one that is just, inclusive and embracing of all without any barriers to participation based on sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, ethnicity, age, class, ability or any other social difference. One where there is access to healthcare and education, technology, justice, strong institutions, peace and security, social protection, decent work and housing. But how can research truly contribute to creating global equity and diversity without showcasing diverse voices that are underrepresented in academia or paying specific attention to the Global South?

Including books addressing key challenges and issues within the social sciences which are essential to creating a fairer society for all with specific reference to the Global South, Diverse Perspectives on Creating a Fairer Society amplifies underrepresented voices showcasing Black, Asian and minority ethnic voices, authorship from the Global South and academics who work to amplify diverse voices.

With the primary aim of showcasing authorship and voices from beyond the Global North, the series welcomes submissions from established and junior authors on cutting-edge and high-level research on key topics that feature in global news and public debate, specifically from and about the Global South in national and international contexts. Harnessing research across a range of diversities of people and places to generate previously unheard insights, the series offers a truly global perspective on the current societal debates of the 21st century bringing contemporary debate in the social sciences from diverse voices to light.

Previous Titles

• Disaster, Displacement and Resilient Livelihoods: Perspectives from South Asia edited by M. Rezaul Islam

• Pandemic, Politics, and a Fairer Society in Southeast Asia: A Malaysian Perspective edited by Syaza Shukri

• Empowering Female Climate Change Activists in the Global South: The Path Toward Environmental Social Justice by Peggy Ann Spitzer

• Gendered Perspectives of Restorative Justice, Violence and Resilience: An International Framework edited by Bev Orton

• Social Sector Development and Inclusive Growth in India by Ishu Chadda

• The Socially Constructed and Reproduced Youth Delinquency in Southeast Asia: Advancing Positive Youth Involvement in Sustainable Futures by Jason Hung

• Youth Development in South Africa: Harnessing the Demographic Dividend edited by Botshabelo Maja and Busani Ngcaweni

• Debt Crisis and Popular Social Protest in Sri Lanka: Citizenship, Development and Democracy Within Global North-South Dynamics by S. Janaka Biyanwila

• Building Strong Communities: Ethical Approaches to Inclusive Development by Ifzal Ahmad and M. Rezaul Islam

• Family Planning and Sustainable Development in Bangladesh: Empowering Marginalized Communities in Asian Contexts by M. Rezaul Islam

• Critical Reflections on the Internationalisation of Higher Education in the Global South edited by Emnet Tadesse Woldegiorgis and Cheryl Qiumei Yu

Forthcoming Titles

• ‘Natural’ Disasters and Everyday Lives: Floods, Climate Justice and Marginalisation in India by Suddhabrata Deb Roy

• Social Constructions of Migration in Nigeria and Zimbabwe: Discourse, Rhetoric, and Identity by Kunle Oparinde and Rodwell Makombe

• Rural Social Infrastructure Development in India: An Inclusive Approach by M. Mahadeva

• Neoliberal Subjectivity at Work: Conduct, Contradictions, Commitments and Contestations by Muneeb Ul Lateef Banday

• The Emerald Handbook of Family and Social Change in the Global South: A Gendered Perspective by Aylin Akpınar and Nawal H. Ammar

• An Introduction to Platform Economy in India: Exploring Relationality and Embeddedness by Shriram Venkatraman, Jillet Sarah Sam, and Rajorshi Ra

• Unearthing the Institutionalised Social Exclusion of Black Youth in Contemporary South Africa: The Burden of Being Born Free by Khosi Kubeka

Diverse Perspectives on Creating a Fairer Society

Exploring Hope: Case Studies of Innovation, Change and Development in the Global South

EDITED BY

MARCELO SILI (EDITOR-IN-CHIEF)

National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) - Universidad Nacional del Sur, Argentina

ANDRÉS KOZEL

National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) - Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Argentina

SAMIRA MIZBAR

National Assessment Body of the Higher Council of Education, Training and Scientific Research, Morocco

AVIRAM SHARMA

University of Vigo, Spain

AND

ANA CASADO

National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) - Universidad Provincial del Sudoeste, Argentina

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

Emerald Publishing Limited

Emerald Publishing, Floor 5, Northspring, 21-23 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL.

First edition 2024

Editorial matter and selection © 2024 Marcelo Sili, Andrés Kozel, Samira Mizbar, Aviram Sharma, and Ana Casado.

Individual chapters © 2024 The authors.

Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.

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No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying issued in the UK by The Copyright Licensing Agency and in the USA by The Copyright Clearance Center. Any opinions expressed in the chapters are those of the authors. Whilst Emerald makes every effort to ensure the quality and accuracy of its content, Emerald makes no representation implied or otherwise, as to the chapters’ suitability and application and disclaims any warranties, express or implied, to their use.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-83549-737-1 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-83549-736-4 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-83549-738-8 (Epub)

Rahma Bourquia

Sociologist and Anthropologist, Member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco

This book brings together articles by authors from countries on three continents: Africa, Latin America and Asia, presenting experiences of projects and initiatives reflecting the dynamics of development. What emerges from these articles is that many countries that in the past had to live through the colonial experience have, in the post-colonial period, undertaken reconstruction by establishing institutions and putting in place policies to overcome deficits in human development in the fields of education, health and employment, while at the same time deploying technological infrastructures and strengthening both agriculture and environmental conservation. In terms of political institutions, initiatives are being undertaken in several countries to strengthen the democratisation process, and by putting in place mechanisms for social inclusion. There have also been initiatives and significant progress in improving the conditions of women and their integration into the economic fabric, with measures to strengthen their capacities. Other articles deal with immigration policies that make the mobility of populations a phenomenon that promotes human intermingling and preserves links between peoples. Progress has been made, and much remains to be done in the countries of the South, where successful experiments are emerging.

In some countries of the South, young people are trying to assert themselves and express their ideas, driven by a desire to play a part in building their countries. New forms of political expression are emerging to break free from the shackles of the past and make their voices heard, both in their own countries and on the world stage. In most of these countries, civil societies are serving as vectors of innovation in the fields of education, health, democratisation and the fight against corruption. Countries that have experienced social, political and ethnic upheaval have been able to find mechanisms for conflict resolution and reconciliation in favour of appeasement and reconstruction and serve as a model of reference.

At present, all countries are going through a period marked by the end of a pandemic that has revealed the vulnerability of those who were unable to protect themselves against the scourge. The post-pandemic period has also disrupted economies and created inflation, which is not happening without reinforcing inequalities between populations, and testing the resilience of societies to overcome its effects. Today, the Russia–Ukraine war raises the spectre of an upheaval in the global balance of power. Despite all the constraints that accompany this global upheaval, the promising beginnings of a new era are on the horizon. Against this backdrop, the Global South is attempting to chart a new path of hope through the experiences of a development process at work, so that it becomes a plural voice that is heard throughout the world.

In the context of the significant changes that the world is going through, the dynamics of the countries of the Global South, despite structural and cyclical constraints, have become a reality. The chapters in this book reflect the idea of a South that speaks for itself and demonstrates the dynamics of concrete experiences that hold out the promise of hope. By recounting initiatives and projects from countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia, the authors collectively draw up a map of success stories and tell of a hope for the present that presages a promise for the future.

The search for new and innovative ways to improve the quality of life and sustainability of the countries of the Global South is not a solitary task. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world are building new ideas and initiatives every day to change reality with hope. Building the future is a collective task.

Through this work, we have gathered many people who intend to raise their voices and show concrete examples that allow us to affirm the hope for a better future.

We would like to thank all of them for their hard work in the preparation of each of the chapters, which are definitely messages of hope.

Special thanks to the editors of Emerald for believing in this call for Exploring Hope in all the countries of the Global South. They have supported this work with total freedom and breadth of vision, thus contributing to spreading a new message about the reality of the countries of this part of the world.

A special thanks to Rahma Bourquia, who inspired this work and accompanied us with immense wisdom and human quality since its beginning.

To Fernando Calderón Gutiérrez, who has given us his wise words at the conclusion of this work, reinforcing the idea and the call to build a more humane future for all of us who live in the Global South.

Finally, particular thanks to Andrés Kozel, for his advice and support in the construction of new ideas and proposals for the future of the countries of the Global South.