Community engagement in Australian local governments: a closer look and strategic implications

Public input into decision-making through participatory and deliberative democratic practices has become a widely accepted and legislated responsibility of Australian local governments. At any one time, councils are leading submission processes, workshops and online surveys on a multitude of projects, ranging from long-term community strategic plans to public art projects. The increase in these practices has been exponential, leaving little time for critical reflection. The lack of empirical data to illustrate how community engagement is understood and practised in different councils has hindered sector-wide reflection. This paper presents the findings of the ‘Local Government Community Engagement Census’, a survey of 175 councils – approximately half – from 4 of Australia’s eastern states. This sectoral snapshot provides a picture of how councils understand, prioritise and practise community engagement, allowing critical reflection, an interpretation of implications and suggesting areas for future research.     

The symbiosis between Palestinian ‘Fayyadism’ and Israeli ‘economic peace’: the political economy of capitalist peace in the context of colonisation

Abstract

Recent years have seen both the Palestinian Authority and Israeli government conveying the supremacy of economic approaches over politics to achieve peace and stability. More specifically, the encounter and symbiosis between Palestinian 'Fayyadism' as a professional application of neo-liberal approaches to state-building and economic development, and the Israeli strategy of 'economic peace' towards the Palestinians have shaped much of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict dynamic, with a particularly discernible materialisation in the West Bank. This article critically analyses this dynamic in light of the recently revived theory of 'capitalist peace', which, despite valid criticism, entails considerable similarities with the basic assumptions of 'Fayyadism' and 'economic peace'. While two key dimensions express this symbiosis—security co-ordination and economic normalisation—the article focuses mainly on the economic part, particularly the case of joint industrial zones, which exemplify the most extreme example of this symbiosis.     

Sudden death caused by coronary artery aneurysms: a late complication of Kawasaki disease

The authors describe three cases (two blacks and one Latin American) of sudden death caused by late complications of Kawasaki disease (mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome). At autopsy each heart contained multiple coronary artery aneurysms with luminal stenosis caused by intimal hyperplasia and thrombi. Although virtually all fatal cases of Kawasaki disease occur within six months of the onset of symptoms, there have been other reported deaths up to 14 years after the acute illness. The coronary artery aneurysms of Kawasaki disease may persist and cause death years after the acute illness.     

Reform or Resistance? Local Government Responses to State-Mandated Ethics Reform in Kentucky

Although several studies have examined state and federal regulationof political corruption andethics reform, few studies have extendedtheir focus to local governments. In this study, we examinethe local government response to stale-mandated ethics reformin Kentucky during the 1990s. Based on a quantitative analysisof local government ethics codes in 288 cities, we concludethat local compliance with state-mandated ethics reform hasbeen largely driven by local political factors. Cities withrelatively developed democratic institutions, characterizedby high levels of electoral competition and a strong media presence,were significantly more likely to construct strict ethics ordinances,as were cities reflecting moralistic political cultural values.     

House Poor: How a Drive for Stability Led to a Strategic Rethinking of Cultural Institutions’ Relationship to Their Space

While the financial crisis of 2008?2009 represented an unforeseen and momentous obstacle, the key challenges for many cultural organizations remained constant and revolved around making sound strategic decisions regardless of the financial climate. From the standpoints of three prominent cultural leaders, this article addresses factors that directors must consider in guiding their institution forward, such as maintaining a strategic mix of funding and the delicate balance between mission and space. A key binding element among the institutions chosen is that they all underwent a major capital campaign and the construction of a new facility prior to the crisis.     

Mothers of Violent Children with Mental Illness: How They Perceive Barriers to Effective Help

The goal of the present study was to understand how mothers perceive and experience barriers to effective help for their violent child with mental illness. Data from ethnographic interviews with 26 self-identified mothers of violent children with mental illness were analyzed using grounded theory and focused coding. Our study identified three themes that represent barriers to help: (1) denial of mental illness and severity of violence by treatment providers, extended family, and non-family members; (2) limited access to quality treatment and supports; and (3) a recurring cycle from optimism to hopelessness. To inform policy makers and practitioners on how best to remove these barriers, we draw comparisons between the current sample and survivors of intimate partner violence. Our paper concludes with recommendations for mental health practitioners and family intervention specialists.     

Transfer and Distribution of Gunshot Residue through Glass Windows

Research into the deposition patterns of primer gunshot residue (GSR) beyond a primary target was previously nonexistent. This study aimed to determine the deposition patterns of GSR once a bullet passed through an initial target and continued on its path into additional targets. Multiple repetitions were performed to assess the GSR deposition patterns after a bullet was shot through a closed window into either a dummy or a wall within an enclosed room. Samples were taken from both the primary and secondary target holes as well as from nontarget areas. Significant amounts of GSR were found on all samples. The results show that GSR continues to be deposited along the path of the bullet after passing through a primary glass target. These findings reiterate the lack of probative value in collecting GSR samples from gunshot victims even if they are in an enclosed area separate from the shooter.     

Assessing the Impact of State Human Trafficking Legislation on Criminal Justice System Outcomes

Since 2003, state legislatures in the United States have been active in passing legislation aimed at combating human trafficking. To date, all states have passed laws that criminalize acts of human trafficking, though with significant variation in the penalty structure and associated legal provisions. This article examines what aspects of state human trafficking laws are most impactful at increasing the arrest and prosecution of human trafficking suspects. Using panel data on state laws and associated enforcement actions from 2003 to 2012, this study confirms that more comprehensive state laws that invest in antitrafficking resources are most strongly associated with human trafficking arrests and prosecutions. States that make legislative provisions for victim assistance, law enforcement training, statutory task forces, and mandatory reporting have higher antitrafficking criminal enforcement. The political environment in which state human trafficking laws are enacted also influences their enforcement.