Society & Sustainability

Digital Diplomacy in Kenya

Daniel Oloo Ong’ong’a — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The study examined the digital diplomacy practices of three diplomatic actors, namely the US, the UK, and China, in Kenya. To understand how these actors communicate their messages digitally, the study conducted a content analysis of their X tweets, hashtags, hyperlinks, and visuals. Additionally, the study analyzed the tweet impressions section of the posts to gain insight into individual tweet performance, engagement, followers, and following details. These components are crucial in understanding the digital diplomacy practices of the actors. The results showed that the diplomatic actors prioritized following other diplomatic actors, heads of state, online influencers, organizations, projects, and companies of interest, rather than the local Kenyan digital public. The study also found that the preferred topics of the diplomatic actors were tourism, politics, culture, education, and economic development, among others. The reasons for prioritizing certain actors and topics were to monitor activities, protect interests, push foreign policies, expand networks, counter misinformation, and protect image abroad. The findings are presented in the form of a network analysis of tweets to show the communication strategies adopted by the diplomatic actors to influence or exert power over their followers on X.

Addressing Instability in Afghani (Afghan Currency)

Dr. Abdul Hameed Seerat, Irfan Ullah Stanikzai, Fawad Aryan — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The study aims to explore the monetary policy of the Afghanistan Bank, the instability of the Afghan currency, and the causes and strategies for achieving stability for the Afghan currency. A qualitative approach was used to gain an in-depth knowledge of the issues. By using a semi-structured interview, the professional participants were selected through the snowball sampling technique. All interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed through a thematic analysis framework. The study addressed instability in the Afghani currency and its causes including trade imbalance in favor of imports, smuggling of the foreign reserve, lack of foreign aid, lack of control of the natural resources, lack of foreign investment, inefficiency in monetary and fiscal policy, fluctuation in the international market, the influence of mafia groups in the currency exchange market and their fraudulent propaganda. This study also observes the need for developing strategies, and policies for achieving currency stability, like increasing the balance of exports as compared to imports, preventing the smuggling of foreign reserves, efforts to obtain foreign aid, ensuring political stability, ensuring a congenial environment for internal and external investors, efficient and effective control on monetary and fiscal policy, and preventing mafia groups and their fraudulent propaganda in the currency exchange Markets. The study findings have significant implications for the policymakers to ensure the stability of the Afghan Currency.

Role of Sustainable Tourism in Preserving Cultural Heritage of Afghanistan

Irfan Ullah Stanikzai, Dr. Abdul Hameed Seerat, Wasiq Ullah Humdard — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This comprehensive review investigates the role of sustainable tourism in preserving Afghanistan's cultural heritage, given its rich tapestry of traditions, historical sites, and archaeological treasures. The purpose of the study is to assess the potential of sustainable tourism practices to mitigate the challenges faced by Afghanistan's cultural heritage due to decades of conflict and instability while promoting economic development and community engagement. The study employs a systematic analysis of existing literature, case studies, and best practices from around the world to evaluate the effectiveness and applicability of sustainable tourism approaches in the Afghan context. It examines the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable tourism and their impact on the preservation of cultural heritage.

The findings reveal that sustainable tourism offers significant economic benefits for Afghanistan, including job creation, income generation, and economic diversification. Additionally, it has the potential to foster social and cultural impacts through cultural exchange, community pride, and the revitalization of traditional crafts and practices. Furthermore, sustainable tourism can address environmental considerations by promoting the sustainable management and protection of natural landscapes, archaeological sites, and cultural monuments. The implications of this study highlight the importance of implementing sustainable tourism practices to preserve Afghanistan's cultural heritage. It provides valuable insights and practical examples from successful initiatives in other countries, offering recommendations for policymakers, tourism practitioners, and cultural heritage management stakeholders.

Exploring Journalists’ Intentions Towards Digital Mobile Technologies

Dr. John Demuyakor, Zillah Boye-Doe — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In recent years, the use of digital mobile technologies for journalistic practice has gained much popularity among Ghanaian journalists. In this study, we explored three original Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) variables (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and social influence) and two additional variables, (the cost of smartphones, and the cost of mobile data) to predict the relationship between the five variables, and journalists’ intention to use Digital Mobile Technologies (DMTs). A structured questionnaire was used to solicit data from 281 Ghanaian frontline journalists through an online survey. The respondents were selected by purposive sampling. Structural Equation Modelling analysis of the data showed that, as the cost of smartphones, and the cost of mobile data increases, journalists’ intention to use technology decreases in Ghana. Thus, mobile data and the cost of smartphones had a negative relationship with journalists’ intention to use DMTs. The testing of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and social influence, however, reported a positive relationship with the use intention. The findings from this study have implications for policy change on the reduction of the prices of both mobile data and smartphones to enhance the use of DMTs among journalists in Ghana. Also, the findings from this study could be considered a template for the proper regulation of the use of DMTs for enhanced practice of journalism in Ghana and other developing countries.