Projects
Contemporary American fiction between local and global knowledge - Richard Powers, David Foster Wallace, and the novel of information. University of Antwerp
The Local, The Global, and the Intellectual Universe of Izutsu Toshihiko: An inquiry into the question of how to understand other cultures Ghent University
Toshihiko Izutsu was one of the world's leading experts in Islam studies in the 20th century, and, moreover, an outstanding philosopher and pioneer in comparative and intercultural philosophy. In Izutsu's work a methodological foundation for a philosophy of the practice of intercultural understanding is ideally inherent. To uncover this methodology would be the most important contribution of this project.
When is ‘local’ truly local? An analysis of (un)sustainable food choices through a contextualized life-cycle assessment KU Leuven
From production to consumption, foods have historically shaped human societies through agricultural production and the green revolution and continue to do so. In the past years, the sustainability of food products and the agro-food industry has been increasingly focused upon. On the demand side, consumers become aware of the ecological, social, and economic impact of their food choices, potentially altering their purchase decisions toward ...
Local is hot: innovative approaches to unravel the benefits of local over broadcast applications of lime and phosphate fertilizers in weathered soils KU Leuven
Crop productivity in the highly weathered soils in Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from soil acidity and phosphorus (P) deficiency. The adoption of P fertilizer and lime by farmers to boost plant productivity is very small because of a very low and variable return on investment in fertilizers. It has repeatedly been found that local dosing of fertilizer granules in combination with local compost or manure doses has very strong effects on enhancing ...
Implementation of Local Content Policies in Africa: An analysis of Uganda's Oil and Gas local content policy KU Leuven
To promote local participation in resource-based industries, countries have introduced local content policies (LCPs). This policy is particularly popular in oil-producing countries. In most cases, the rationale for LCPs entails the promotion of economic growth, development, and diversification via ensuring that local people benefit from and take part in oil and gas resources (Kalyuzhnova et al., 2016; Acheampong, et al. 2016; Adedeji, et al., ...
The Local Council: Cornerstone or Fragment of Local Democracy? Belgian Councillors in a Comparative Perspective Ghent University
This project is turned to the role of local councillors in a changing governmental environment. More in particular it focuses on the vision of local councillors on: a) local democracy, government and policy b) the position/functioning and influence of (members of) the local council in (a) c) their political recruitment en career development d) their role perception and behaviour in their function as a local councillor. The project is ...
Policy Research Centre - Governmental organization in Flanders II: local governance. The impact of networks on local policy, politics and management Ghent University
Local governments become involved in a more network-like governance context. 'Local policy' and 'local straegy', often used in terms of 'autonomous organisation', become the product of these interactions. This evolution provokes questions on the meaning of 'local politics' and 'local policy', on the capacities of municipalities to function in these networks and on the way municipalities should organise themselves.
The shape and impact of ideological competition in local politics. A study of local party manifestos in Flanders Ghent University
This project wants to take a closer look at the shape and impact of ideological competition in Flemish local politics. By means of a quantitative analysis of local party manifestos we study the structure of electoral conflict and the differences between parties. Combined with other data we will also assess the role of ideological competition for voters, candidates and coalitions.