The "school of life" : differences in U.S. and Canadian settlement policies and their effect on individual immigrants' experience

A growing body of literature suggests that language proficiency in the main language of the destination country is one of the most significant factors in the integration of immigrants. This study examines the overall differences in U.S. and Canadian settlement policy, using the provision of language courses as an example of the ways in which adult immigrants are integrated into the host society. Eleven Haitian women in both countries were interviewed to compare the way in which participants accessed key settlement information and resources as well as their language acquisition. The findings reveal that Canadian-based participants were much more likely to cite professional institutions ("formal facilitators") for referrals, whereas American-based particpants were more likely to learn from "informal facilitators." The findings also highlight differences in access and completion rates of language classes. Implications for how national settlement policy affects individual immigrants and their language acquisition are analyzed in the discussion.

The "school of life" : differences in U.S. and Canadian settlement policies and their effect on individual immigrants' experience

A growing body of literature suggests that language proficiency in the main language of the destination country is one of the most significant factors in the integration of immigrants. This study examines the overall differences in U.S. and Canadian settlement policy, using the provision of language courses as an example of the ways in which adult immigrants are integrated into the host society. Eleven Haitian women in both countries were interviewed to compare the way in which participants accessed key settlement information and resources as well as their language acquisition. The findings reveal that Canadian-based participants were much more likely to cite professional institutions ("formal facilitators") for referrals, whereas American-based particpants were more likely to learn from "informal facilitators." The findings also highlight differences in access and completion rates of language classes. Implications for how national settlement policy affects individual immigrants and their language acquisition are analyzed in the discussion.

THE EFFECT OF GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION AND EMPLOYMENT FLUCTUATIONS ON RURAL SETTLEMENT TRENDS

Structural changes in the economy and spatial and inter-settlement differences in living standards and quality of life lead to fundamental alterations in the national settlement system. Settlement polarisation is gathering momentum, along with the movement of rural population from Russia’s east and north to its southern and metropolitan regions. These processes benefit urban agglomerations. Typological differences between regional settlement systems, still poorly understood but essential for strategic and spatial planning, are growing. This article draws on the concept of the geographical demographic situation; it uses official statistics on Russian regions and Kaliningrad municipalities and settlements to explore the connection between rural settlement trends and employment fluctuations caused by structural shifts in Russian regional economies. It is shown how settlement polarisation affects differences in settlement trends of meso- and microdistrict levels. Regions are identified that have a capacity for rural-urban migration and corresponding rural employment structure and trends.

SPATIAL ASPECTS OF THE REGION’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

One of the most relevant issues causing concern of the world community is the ensurance of sustainable development. The problem was raised in the second half of the 20th century and has not been solved up to the present yet. The main idea of the article is to consider the spatial factor of sustainable development. The author shows that there is a high level of territories’ socio-economic differentiation in the Russian Federation. The problem of increasing polarization both between the center and periphery, and between the town and countryside has become particularly urgent. Rural areas are significantly lagging behind in terms of the population’s level and quality of life, and the rates of socio-economic development. The trends of rural extinction are intensifying and, as a result, there emerge the sparsity of economic space, and the decrease in stability of the national settlement system and development of countries as a whole. The increase of socio-economic problems in rural areas requires strengthening of the state regulation concerning the territories’ spatial development

Trends of Rudaw's Weekly Press Discourse in Raising Public Awareness of National Issues

This research is an attempt to present and discuss the subject of the journalistic discourse in the Kurdish press and educating the public on national issues, which are determined by the political and economic framework of the country through the elements of national sovereignty, international relations and economic policy. Citizen, the land and the country together so the researcher considered stop to search the facts related to the process of communication and those messages addressed to the general public through the press institutions lead us to reach the results in a scientific description and accurate analysis of the subject by which the researcher means As long as one of the scientific methods used in communication research based on the method of content analysis and questionnaire in the form of fieldwork in order to obtain the desired results. One of the most important results obtained by the researcher is the need for a unified press letter applied in all media institutions in order to preserve the safety of citizens and the security of the country, for it is observed that the Kurdish media do not adopt a unified view concerning national issues, in this case, the news on the Western Kurdistan. This approach to national issues should be eliminated and the Kurdish media should adopt a uniform media discourse in addressing such issues in order to crate a sense of national settlement and security.

On de-risking and de-dollarizing intra-BRICS trade via smart contracts

This study explores the existing systemic barriers to intra-BRICS national currency use (“de-dollarization”) in currency swaps and trade finance. The author examines the current de-dollarization initiatives, as well as the actual levels of de-dollarization in Russia’s intra-BRICS settlements (as a representative sample), to find gaps between de-dollarization goals and current initiatives and offers a near-term phased solution to overcome these gaps and de-risk trade within BRICS. It is found that 1) the New Development Bank’s Contingency Reserve Arrangement has built-in systemic barriers which are preventing direct currency swaps between BRICS member states; 2) the Euro is replacing the Dollar as Russia’s preferred settlement currency within BRICS, indicating a gap between Russian traders’ settlement currency choice and BRICS de-dollarization priorities; and, furthermore, 3) while payment and settlement systems are being integrated and FinTech applications are being explored, efforts to fundamentally address the systemic market factors preventing national settlement use are missing. A phased solution is proposed to address the fundamental market barriers to national currencies by using smart contracts to de-risk intra-BRICS trade. Specific mechanisms are outlined to promote trade contracts in national currency and reduce dependency on both the Dollar/Euro and Western institutions (such as the IMF and Western commodities markets), a high-level architecture is proposed, and implementation considerations are discussed.

Putting knowledge into action: a social work perspective on settlement house research

This chapter aims to explore the link between 'Settlement House research' and the shaping of social work as a profession in two ways. First, by providing an overview of research topics and the methodological diversity. This overview is based on a sample of individual and collective studies that can be traced back to the initiative of social settlements or national settlement associations. Second, two studies are examined in greater depth, focusing on their implications for the emerging social work profession.

"Aqui começa o Brasil”: penal colonization, territorialization and border construction of the Oyapock river. 1853-1927

The Oyapock River has been the border between France and Brazil since the Treaty of Bern came to resolve a centuries-old dispute between the two states. Only populated by indigenous communities and a few adventurers, the two banks of the river are untouched by any lasting colonial and national settlement before the second half of the 19th century. Penal colonization is the formula adopted by the two states to fill the "void" of a border to be formalized. The criminal models circulate and are reinterpreted by participating with great intensity in the making of the territory.

Corporate Governance Development with E-voting Services

The paper discribes the method of remote voting at shareholders meetings via the Internet. The methodology of the study is based on the theory of agent costs. It means that costs associated with the exercise of control are important to investors within making investment decisions. The author considers conditions to the digitalization of voting processes: the Russian legislative framework; Internet access in the country; development of digital voting services; the provision of remote voting services by registrars and the Information Disclosure Center of JSC National Settlement Depository. The paper presents results of the analysis of the practice of using electronic voting services in Russian public companies. It has been proved that the creation of the Internet voting infrastructure has contributed to the activity growth of shareholders’ participation in Annual General Meetings. This, in turn, has a positive effect on the quality of corporate governance in these companies. The theoretical and practical significance of the study is to generalize the practice of using electronic voting technology in Russian corporations.

Urban System in Serbia—The Factor in the Planning of Balanced Regional Development

This paper analyzes the basic characteristics of Serbia’s urban system after World War II. The term urban system is largely determined by the use and functioning of the space in which it exists. We used the methods common in urban geography, notably the Rank-Size Rule and the Law of the Primate City with the aim of identifying the basic regularities, as the first step in an in-depth study of an under-researched topic. The research seeks to contribute to explaining the causes of the previous and current situation in the national settlement network, as a prerequisite for planning the future organization of the settlement network. Our study, conducted in Serbia, finds polarization apparent in the prominent domination of the capital city in terms of population, and this is a key feature of Serbia’s urban system. The current situation is the result of an intensive process of urbanization, but also of the establishment of new administrative boundaries after the disintegration of Yugoslavia. The study also seeks to suggest the most appropriate development model for Serbia’s urban system that could help overcome the extreme population concentration in Belgrade and create a basis for organizing an optimal system of centers. Keeping in mind that uneven regional development is determined by the features of the urban system, polycentric development is a common model for overcoming extreme polarization on a global level.