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ID: 131502

How to promote order and property rights under weak rule of law / Blattman, Christopher; Hartman, Alexandra C; Blair, Robert A

Blattman, Christopher	Journal Article
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2014.

Summary/Abstract

Dispute resolution institutions facilitate agreements and preserve the peace whenever property rights are imperfect. In weak states, strengthening formal institutions can take decades, and so state and aid interventions also try to shape informal practices and norms governing disputes. Their goal is to improve bargaining and commitment, thus limiting disputes and violence. Mass education campaigns that promote alternative dispute resolution (ADR) are common examples of these interventions. We studied the short-term impacts of one such campaign in Liberia, where property disputes are endemic. Residents of 86 of 246 towns randomly received training in ADR practices and norms; this training reached 15% of adults. One year later, treated towns had higher resolution of land disputes and lower violence. Impacts spilled over to untrained residents. We also saw unintended consequences: more extrajudicial punishment and (weakly) more nonviolent disagreements. Results imply that mass education can change high-stakes behaviors, and improving informal bargaining and enforcement behavior can promote order in weak states.

Key Words

Liberia ; Property Rights ; Land Dispute ; Dispute Resolution Behavior ; Community Education ; Lower Violence

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ID: 173784

Social media use for water conservation education in South Africa: perceptions of Raymond Mhlaba local municipality’s residents / Hove, Charity; Osunkunle, Oluyinka O

Hove, Charity	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

Water scarcity is increasing in South Africa and communities need to be educated about water conservation practices. This article investigated the perceptions of Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality’s residents concerning the use of social media for water conservation education in their community. Through a quantitative methodology, a sample of 383 respondents answered a questionnaire and the main findings were that 75 per cent of respondents did not know about the municipality’s social media platforms. This article recommends that the municipality creates awareness about its social media platforms, increases social media usage and employs persuasive strategies for participation.

Key Words

South Africa ; Diffusion of innovations ; Water Conservation ; Social Media ; Community Education

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