TY - THES A1 - Poliakoff, Serge T1 - From Faking Online Content to Orchestrating Its Creation by Public Workers: Examining Russian Disinformation Production Organisations through Curriculum Vitae Analysis (2013-2024) N2 - This dissertation examines the evolution of Russian digital authoritarianism, focusing on its organisations that produce disinformation, the transition from the Internet Research Agency to the Patriot Media Group and the emergence of ANO Dialog. It shows how the Internet Research Agency operated as a sophisticated "troll farm" during the early stages of the Russo-Ukrainian war, with activities similar to those of a PR firm. The Patriot Media Group absorbed these activities, blurring the lines between media and disinformation and prioritising metrics-driven propaganda over journalistic professionalism. This dissertation identifies the organisation ANO Dialog as a new model, heavily integrated with state structures, combining digital surveillance, repression, and Soviet-style agitation adapted to the digital age. Using a novel methodology of career profile collection and analysis, my research illustrates the institutionalisation and regional expansion of disinformation tactics in Russian digital authoritarianism, highlighting its operational adaptability and evolving infrastructure. KW - disinformation KW - disinformation-for-hire KW - troll farm KW - troll factory KW - propaganda KW - propaganda organisations KW - disinfromation production organisations KW - CV analysis Y1 - 2025 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-16100 ER - TY - THES A1 - Jakob, Dietmar Friedrich T1 - Teilhabegerechtigkeit bei der digitalen Inklusion älterer Erwachsener: Eine Potenzialanalyse von Sprachassistenten T1 - Equity of participation in digital inclusion of older adults: A potential analysis of voice assistants N2 - This cumulative dissertation delves into the complexities and opportunities surrounding older adults’ adoption and use of Voice Assistants (VAs), focusing on digital participation equity from theologic-ethical and social perspectives. Through an extensive series of methodologically diverse studies—including systematic literature reviews, laboratory experiments, surveys, and field studies—the research aims to uncover how older adults perceive, interact with, and are impacted by technologies, such as the particular model “Amazon Echo Show 10, 3rd generation with integrated voice interface ALEXA”. The investigation also seeks to pinpoint the obstacles that impede the adoption of these technologies among this demographic. The research initially demonstrates that older adults can recognize the utility of VAs in various applications, including information retrieval, entertainment, and health management. The findings underscore the importance of these devices in enhancing the quality of life by providing easier access to essential services and facilitating social interaction, even among those who may be physically isolated. However, the dissertation identifies significant concerns among older adults regarding privacy and data security, influencing their willingness to embrace VAs. The devices’ complexity and occasional interaction difficulties—such as command formulation and speech recognition issues—further challenge their usability for this group. A notable and unique aspect of the study is the anthropomorphization of devices by some older adults. This behavior, where users attribute human-like characteristics or emotional connections to VAs, suggests deeper psychological and social dimensions in the user-technology relationship. This phenomenon is examined to understand its implications for technology acceptance and the potential for these devices to mitigate feelings of loneliness and social isolation. In summary, this dissertation provides practical recommendations for enhancing the design, communication, and functionality of VAs to better cater to the needs and preferences of older adults. It underscores the importance of technology development that respects the dignity and autonomy of older individuals, ensuring their digital participation and equity. The work advocates for a comprehensive approach that integrates ethical considerations into technology design and dissemination, thereby promoting a framework that supports the full inclusion of older adults in the digital world. N2 - Diese kumulative Dissertation untersucht die Komplexität und die Möglichkeiten, die mit der Annahme und Nutzung von Sprachassistenten durch ältere Erwachsene verbunden sind, und konzentriert sich auf die digitale Teilhabegerechtigkeit aus theologisch-ethischer und sozialer Sicht. Durch eine umfangreiche Reihe methodisch unterschiedlicher Studien - darunter systematische Literaturauswertungen, Laborexperimente, Umfragen und Feldstudien - zielt diese Forschung darauf ab herauszufinden, wie ältere Erwachsene Technologien wie kommerzielle Sprachassistenten, wie z. B. das spezielle Modell "Amazon Echo Show 10, 3. Generation mit integriertem Sprachinterface Alexa" wahrnehmen, mit ihnen interagieren und von ihnen beeinflusst werden. Die Untersuchung versucht auch, die Hindernisse aufzuzeigen, die die Annahme dieser Technologien in dieser Bevölkerungsgruppe behindern und geht auch auf Tendenzen von Antropomorphisierung der Geräte ein. Die Untersuchung zeigt zunächst, dass ältere Erwachsene den Nutzen von Sprachassistenten in verschiedenen Anwendungen erkennen können, darunter für die Informationsbeschaffung, Unterhaltung und das Gesundheitsmanagement. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen die Bedeutung dieser Geräte für die Verbesserung der Lebensqualität, indem sie den Zugang zu wichtigen Dienstleistungen erleichtern und die soziale Interaktion fördern, selbst bei Personen, die körperlich isoliert sind. Die Dissertation zeigt jedoch auch, dass ältere Menschen Bedenken hinsichtlich des Schutzes der Privatsphäre und der Datensicherheit haben, was ihre Bereitschaft, Sprachassistenten zu nutzen, deutlich beeinflusst. Die Komplexität der Geräte und gelegentliche Schwierigkeiten bei der Interaktion - wie etwa Probleme bei der Befehlsformulierung und der Spracherkennung - stellen eine weitere Herausforderung für die Benutzerfreundlichkeit dieser Gruppe dar. Ein bemerkenswerter und einzigartiger Aspekt der Studie ist die Anthropomorphisierung der Geräte durch einige ältere Erwachsene. Dieses Verhalten, bei dem die Benutzer Sprachassistenten menschenähnliche Eigenschaften oder emotionale Verbindungen zuschreiben, deutet auf tiefere psychologische und soziale Dimensionen in der Beziehung zwischen Benutzer und Technologie hin. Dieses Phänomen wird untersucht, um seine Auswirkungen auf die Technologieakzeptanz und das Potenzial dieser Geräte, Gefühle von Einsamkeit und sozialer Isolation zu mildern, zu verstehen. Abschließend bietet die Dissertation gezielte Empfehlungen zur Verbesserung von Design, Kommunikation und Funktionalität von Sprachassistenten, um den Bedürfnissen und Vorlieben älterer Menschen besser gerecht zu werden. Sie unterstreicht die Notwendigkeit einer Technologieentwicklung, die die Würde und Autonomie älterer Menschen in den Vordergrund stellt und ihre digitale Teilhabe und Gleichberechtigung gewährleistet. Die Arbeit fordert einen ganzheitlichen Ansatz, der ethische Überlegungen in die Entwicklung und Verbreitung von Technologien einbezieht, und setzt sich für einen Rahmen ein, der die vollständige Einbeziehung älterer Menschen in die digitale Welt unterstützt. KW - Human Computer Interation KW - Voice Assistants KW - Older Adults KW - Digital Equity Y1 - 2025 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-15849 ER - TY - INPR A1 - Compaore, Georges A1 - Dabire, Bonayi Hubert A1 - Sangli, Gabriel A1 - Azianu, Komi Ameko A1 - Minoungou, Abdoul Kader A1 - Zoma, Vincent T1 - Analysis of the practices, structures and processes of translocal mobility systems in Burkina Faso BT - key findings from the MiTra|WA survey N2 - This report presents the results of the project “Migration and Translocality in West Africa (MiTra|WA)” with reference to translocal practices in Burkina Faso. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the study ran from 2022 to 2024. The general objective of the project is to analyse the multiple links between the rural areas of departure and urban reception of migrants as well as the impacts on the development of these localities. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research methods. The quantitative component consisted of two types of surveys. First, a household survey in the migrants' area of origin (AoO) to identify the migrants’ belonging to these households. In the second phase, a telephone survey was conducted among migrants in the destination areas (AoD). Then, the focus was on socio-economic data as well as translocal interactions and network relationships. The qualitative component consisted of in-depth interviews with key actors in the different areas of departure and destination of migrants. These include migrants, local administrative officials, leaders of NGOs, associations, community and religious leaders. The results show that migration is a phenomenon experienced by many households in rural areas. There are as many internal migrants as there are international migrants. Of the 537 households surveyed, 405 (75.4%) have at least one migrant. The age structure of migrants shows a predominantly young structure of migrants (82% who are under 40 years old). According to gender, migration is strongly male-dominated (82%). Men are more inclined to international migration (56%). Female migration is precocious. A large proportion of migrants (41%) have no level of education and are mostly single (50%). Translocality, conceptualized in this study as the multifaceted links between the places of departure, transit and residence of migrants, is apprehended through telephone contacts between migrants and their place of origin, in addition to the different forms of mobility: mobility of people, financial resources (remittances), material resources (transfers in kind), intangible resources (ideas, practices, etc.). Exchanges are often bidirectional. Telephone contacts represent 86% of migrants. Migrants visit the household in the area of origin more frequently (41.8%) than they receive household members at their destination (33.9%). More than 66.6% of migrants transfer remittances to their households in rural areas. With regard to the 4-level translocality intensity indicator (Wehner 2022), it can be concluded that over 50% of migrants are located at the two highest levels. Hence, translocality is an important feature of rural-urban migration in Burkina Faso. T3 - Migration, translocality and development in times of climate change. Mitra|WA Working Paper Series - 6 KW - migration KW - translocality KW - translocal practices KW - Burkina Faso Y1 - 2025 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-15862 IS - 6 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Narh, John T1 - Progress, challenges and prospects of the modified Taungya system in Ghana JF - Agroforestry Systems N2 - Forest landscape restoration through agroforestry has been implemented as a Nature-based Solution to deforestation in the Global South with varied outcomes. The Modified Taungya System (MTS) is one of such programmes introduced in Ghana to address socio-economically-induced degradation of forest reserves. For two decades since its establishment, there has not been any examination of  a synthesised findings on the MTS and their implication for the prospects of the programme. Using the PRISMA method to select empirical studies, this article examines the state of reforestation under the MTS by reflecting on the conditions of success and failures of the programme. In doing so, two interrelated arguments are advanced. First, the MTS seems to be successful when farmers are well-educated about the programme and their future benefits in the reserves that they enrich. Second, the MTS has largely failed to achieve its full potentials for forest recovery due to bribery, corruption and nepotism that have bedevilled land demarcation to, and delays in signing benefit sharing agreement with, farmers. There is a need for a thorough sensitisation on the MTS to enhance its transparency. Besides, the MTS needs to be remodified if it would be one of the strategies to contribute to the Bonn Challenge and for a durable climate mitigation. KW - Agroforestry KW - Bioeconomy KW - Climate change KW - Mitigation KW - Modified taungya system KW - Nature-based solution Y1 - 2024 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:101:1-2405100928309.284032809350 SN - 0167-4366 SN - 1572-9680 VL - 98 IS - 3 SP - 767 EP - 782 PB - Springer Netherlands CY - Dordrecht ER - TY - THES A1 - Luzsa, Robert T1 - A Psychological and Empirical Investigation of the Online Echo Chamber Phenomenon N2 - In the public debate it is often assumed that communication in so-called “Echo Chambers” - online structures in which like-minded people share mostly messages that confirm their mutual, shared attitudes - can lead to negative outcomes such as increased societal polarization between groups holding opposing beliefs. This thesis aimed to examine this assumption from a psychological perspective and substantiate it empirically. First, based on existing research and psychological theories, a working definition of Echo Chambers was formulated, that highlights two key factors: Selective Exposure to attitudinally congruent messages and communication in homogeneous networks. Then, three studies were conducted to test links between these factors and two individual-level outcomes that are associated to subjects’ actual behavior: Their False Consensus, that is, how strongly subjects perceive the public in agreement with their own attitudes, and their Intergroup Bias, which reflects to which degree subjects’ identify as members of an in-group that is in conflict with negatively perceived out-groups. The studies employed questionnaire-based, experimental, as well as real-word data driven approaches. Overall, they confirm that exposure to Echo Chamber-like online structures can indeed lead to a more favorably distorted perception of public opinions and to more signs of Intergroup Bias in subjects’ communicational style. Thus, the thesis provides first psychologically founded empirical evidence for effects of online Echo Chamber exposure on behavior-related individual-level outcomes. The results can serve as a basis for further research as well as for the discussion of possible strategies to counter negative effects of online Echo Chambers. KW - False Consensus KW - Echo Chamber KW - Psychology KW - Falscher Konsensus-Effekt KW - Psychologie Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-7419 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ryzhova, Anna T1 - Motivated by political beliefs, not only by language: How Russian speakers in Germany compose their transnational news repertoires JF - Journalism N2 - Extant research in media and migration has been largely apolitical, focusing on how migrants use media to culturally connect with their homeland and keep their family ties. However, in times of increasing international conflicts and polarisation, such as the years leading up to the Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2022, migrant audiences find themselves in a situation when the coverage of national and international politics in the homeland and host country media can differ dramatically. Against this backdrop, this study investigated how Russian speakers living in Germany create and navigate their transnational news repertoires. Grounded in 42 semi-structured interviews with the Russian speakers of the 1 and 1.5 generations in Germany, conducted between May and October 2021, this article identifies three types of transnational news repertoires: (1) politically-motivated news repertoire, (2) truth seeking-motivated news repertoire and (3) situation-motivated news repertoire. The results show that all the news repertoires of all participants are transnational. I argue that in the context of international conflict, not only language but also the participants’ political beliefs play an essential role in their news choice. Future research on migrants in political communication should distinguish research not only along with the language of the media outlets but also along with the political ideologies that they project. KW - Transnational KW - politics KW - Russian KW - Germany Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-15485 VL - 25 IS - 1 SP - 218 EP - 237 PB - Sage CY - Thousand Oaks ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Henkel, Anna T1 - Nachhaltige Digitalisierung. Gesellschaftliche Transformation, autonome Materialität und der Fall des Digital Farming JF - Berliner Journal für Soziologie N2 - Nachhaltigkeit und Digitalisierung sind zwei Tendenzen gesellschaftlichen Wandels, die in verschiedene Richtungen weisen. Nachhaltigkeit wird als angestrebte, jedoch im Ergebnis unzureichend bleibende Veränderung gesehen, während Digitalisierung – erwünscht oder auch nicht – schlicht erfolgt. Diese Diskrepanz zu untersuchen, ist eine Herausforderung auch für die soziologische Theorie. Nachdem Nachhaltigkeit und Digitalisierung bislang meist unabhängig voneinander in den Blick genommen wurden, erlaubt eine materialitätstheoretisch erweiterte Gesellschaftstheorie ein soziologisches Zusammendenken und eine Erklärung für die Unterschiedlichkeit der Dynamiken gesellschaftlichen Wandels: In der spezifischen, nämlich autonomen Materialität der modernen Gesellschaft ist Digitalisierung bereits angelegt, während eine nachhaltige Entwicklung eine Transformation dieser Materialität selbst erfordert. Am Fallbeispiel des Digital Farming wird diese These näher ausgeführt. Den Abschluss des Beitrags bilden Überlegungen zu Herausforderungen, Bedingungen und Möglichkeiten einer nachhaltigen Digitalisierung. KW - Digitalisierung KW - Nachhaltigkeit KW - Gesellschaftliche Transformation KW - Gesellschaftstheorie KW - Materialität KW - Systemtheorie KW - Digital Farming Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:101:1-2024010810053745746335 VL - 33 IS - 3 SP - 289 EP - 318 PB - Springer Nature CY - Berlin ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kling, Julia A1 - Töpfl, Florian A1 - Jürgens, Pascal T1 - Entertainment interspersed with propaganda : how non-legacy-news accounts deliver explicitly political content to mass audiences on Russia’s most popular social network VK JF - Information, Communication & Society (Online ISSN: 1468-4462) N2 - Previous research on political communication on Russia's most popular social network VK has concluded that most users avoid news by not following legacy-news accounts. In this study, we expand the universe of scrutinized accounts with the most-followed non-legacy-news accounts (>100,000 followers) that regularly publish what we theorize to be ‘explicitly political content’ (EPC; N = 355). We delineate a typology of six types of EPC accounts, calculate their aggregate follower counts, and determine how many of them were still (1) accessible from Russia and (2) publishing Kremlin-critical content in October 2022. Our findings indicate that non-critical accounts attracted 26 times more followers than Kremlin-critical accounts. Entertainment-focused EPC accounts had seven times more followers than legacy-news accounts. As a result, they became the primary means through which non-critical EPC reached news-avoidant mass audiences. We identify three dimensions through which autocrats can interweave propaganda and entertainment and highlight promising research paths. KW - social networking sites KW - Vkontakte KW - Russia KW - political communication KW - news avoidance Y1 - 2024 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-18562 VL - 28 IS - 7 SP - 1252 EP - 1269 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Töpfl, Florian A1 - Kravets, Daria A1 - Ryzhova, Anna A1 - Beseler, Arista T1 - Who are the plotters behind the pandemic? BT - Comparing Covid-19 conspiracy theories in Google search results across five key target countries of Russia’s foreign communication JF - Information, Communication & Society N2 - This article advances extant research that has audited search algorithms for misinformation in four respects. Firstly, this is the first misinformation audit not to implement a national but a cross-national research design. Secondly, it retrieves results not in response to the most popular query terms. Instead, it theorizes two semantic dimensions of search terms and illustrates how they impact the number of misinformative results returned. Furthermore, the analysis not only captures the mere presence of misinformative content but in addition whether the source websites are affiliated with a key misinformation actor (Russia’s ruling elites) and whom the conspiracy narratives cast as the malicious plotters. Empirically, the audit compares Covid-19 conspiracy theories in Google search results across 5 key target countries of Russia’s foreign communication (Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Ukraine, and the US) and Russia as of November 2020 (N = 5280 search results). It finds that, across all countries, primarily content published by mass media organizations rendered conspiracy theories visible in search results. Conspiratorial content published on websites affiliated with Russia’s ruling elites was retrieved in the Belarusian, German and Russian contexts. Across all countries, the majority of conspiracy narratives suspected plotters from China. Malicious actors from the US were insinuated exclusively by sources affiliated with Russia’s elites. Overall, conspiracy narratives did not primarily deepen divides within but between national communities, since – across all countries – only plotters from beyond the national borders were blamed. To conclude, the article discusses methodological advice and promising paths of research for future cross-national search engine audits. KW - Search engines KW - algorithms KW - misinformation KW - disinformation KW - conspiracy theories KW - Russia Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-19119 VL - 26 (2023) IS - 10 SP - 2033 EP - 2051 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Beseler, Arista A1 - Toepfl, Florian T1 - Conduits of the Kremlin’s Informational Influence Abroad? How German-Language Alternative Media Outlets Are Connected to Russia’s Ruling Elites JF - The International Journal of Press/Politics (ISSN: 1940-1620) N2 - Extant research on alternative media in Western democracies has focused on scrutinizing their content, organization, production, and audiences. However, the extent to which alternative outlets are linked to powerful foreign actors has not yet been analyzed, despite the fact that a plethora of outlets have openly sided with Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, spreading the Kremlin’s propagandistic narratives. To fill this gap, this study adopts a case study approach. It selects Germany as a revelatory case of a key target country of Russia’s foreign influence efforts, raising the question of how and to what extent German-language alternative media outlets are connected to Russia’s ruling elites. Grounded in qualitative analysis of a wide range of documents, this study proposes a categorization that divides the connections into three different types: organizational, media, and personal connections. Subsequently, it is demonstrated that half of the analyzed German-language alternative media outlets maintain at least one of these three types of connections to the Kremlin. These findings contribute to our knowledge of alternative media, as well as Russia’s overt and covert foreign influence operations, the so-called “active measures.” They also highlight the need for more transparency in alternative media landscapes in democratic contexts across the globe. KW - - KW - propaganda KW - alternative media KW - active measures KW - case study KW - Russia KW - influence Y1 - 2024 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-16755 SN - 1940-1612 SN - 1940-1620 VL - 30 IS - 3 SP - 659 EP - 678 PB - SAGE Publications CY - Los Angeles, CA ER - TY - THES A1 - Pirwitz, Anne T1 - Migrationsfilme als ‚kritische Heimatfilme‘? BT - eine interdisziplinäre Untersuchung semantischer Räume und Chronotopoi der Migration im neuen rumänischen Film (1996–2022) N2 - Seit dem Zusammenbruch des Kommunismus ist die Anzahl im Ausland arbeitender Rumän*innen stark angestiegen. Inzwischen leben fast 20 % der Bevölkerung jenseits der Landesgrenzen. Transnationale Familien­strukturen mit in Rumänien zurückgelassenen Kindern oder Eltern und pluri-lokale Lebensweisen der Migrant*innen sind in kürzester Zeit zu einem alltäglichen Phänomen der rumänischen Gesellschaft geworden. Die Auswirkungen dieser Migration sind von gesamtgesellschaftlicher Relevanz und finden daher immer wieder Eingang in Literatur, Musik und Film. Diese Medien werden dabei von realen Ereignissen inspiriert, greifen aktuelle Diskurse auf und konstruieren eigene fiktionale Wirklichkeiten. Dabei vermitteln sie bestimmte Weltbilder und bieten verschiedene Sichtweisen auf die von ihnen verhandelten Themen an. Zwischen dem Ende der kommunistischen Diktatur 1989 und 2022 entstanden 52 rumänische fiktionale Kurz- und Spielfilme, die explizit Migration ins Zentrum ihrer erzählten Geschichten stellen. Der vorliegende Band untersucht, auf welche Weise die rumänische Arbeitsmigration im postkommunistischen Film verarbeitet wird, welches Bild der rumänischen Heimat und des ‚Westens‘ vermittelt wird, wie diese Räume durch filmische Mittel ästhetisch konstruiert werden und ob es sich bei diesen Werken um eine neue Form des ‚kritischen Heimatfilms‘ handelt. KW - Rumänien KW - Film KW - Migration Y1 - 2024 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:101:1-2409191636377.506847991255 PB - Akademische Verlagsgemeinschaft München CY - München ER - TY - THES A1 - Hagen, Pamina T1 - The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as a City and Nation Branding Tool: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of the Image of International Opinion Leaders N2 - This dissertation examines the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as a tool of city and nation branding, analyzing their role within China's broader soft power strategy and their impact on international perceptions of Beijing and China. Drawing from urban geography, political geography, international relations, and marketing theory, the study explores how mega-events contribute to the construction of national identity and global image. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines qualitative interviews with 16 international diplomats in Beijing and an online survey of 40 foreign journalists who lived and worked in China during the Olympiad. The analysis focuses on two dimensions of image: the city of Beijing and the nation of China. The findings indicate that the 2008 Summer Olympic Games did not fundamentally alter China's international image. While the event successfully projected an image of modernization, efficiency, and confidence, pre-existing concerns about political control and human rights persisted. For Beijing, the Olympics enhanced its visibility as a global city but also highlighted tensions between its traditional identity and its modern aspirations. The media's framing played a decisive role in shaping these perceptions. Overall, the study concludes that the Beijing Olympics functioned as a significant yet limited instrument of soft power. They reinforced China's global presence and urban development goals but fell short of transforming its international reputation. The research contributes to understanding how mega-events operate as strategic tools of geopolitical communication and branding in the context of globalization. KW - Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games KW - Nation Branding KW - City Branding KW - International Image KW - Public Diplomacy Y1 - 2025 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-19052 ER - TY - INPR A1 - Wehner, Stefanie T1 - Regional and gendered aspects of migration: Data-exploration from a multi-local field survey in Ghana (Northern, Eastern and Greater Accra Region) N2 - This study assesses the perception of migrants and migrant households on drivers and structures of translocal mobility and their consequences for livelihoods in Ghana. A bi-local survey was conducted to collect data on households and migrants in the area of origin (AoO) and individuals in the area of destination (AoD). The survey at the AoO was conducted in two research areas (Gushiegu Municipal District in the Northern Region and Fanteakwa District in the Eastern Region). Thesample then covered 75% migrant households and 25% non-migrant households, both randomly selected. The collected data provides information on almost 1,000 migrants and 2,000 non-migrants. Since Greater Accra Region was identified as one major destination, this region was selected as an Area of Destination. In Accra, 50 migrants from Eastern and Northern Region each were randomly selected from the previous survey database. The perception of migrant households and migrants themselves on migration was assessed using descriptive statistics. Over 95% said migration is essential to secure their livelihood and that migration improves the standard of living of the households. The study elucidates the challenges encountered by rural households in agriculture and the strategies implemented to address these issues. The predominant challenges confronting farmers include the escalating costs of agricultural inputs, the prevalence of pests and diseases, and fluctuations in environmental conditions. Moreover, the research highlights robust translocal networks that extend beyond mere financial remittances, encompassing an intangible web of communication, emotions, and aspirations. By traversing spatial and gender dimensions, the study unveils the extensive diversity of migration aspects, demonstrating that migration exerts markedly different impacts on women compared to men and has varying implications for households in the Northern Region versus the Eastern Region. It is evident that female migrants from Northern Ghana constitute the most vulnerable group, grappling with severe food insecurity. In contrast, translocal networks in the Eastern Region facilitate families in leveraging remittances for diversification of their economic base, thereby enhancing their capacity for future development, while those in the Northern region are essential for addressing the existential needs of families. T3 - Migration, translocality and development in times of climate change. Mitra|WA Working Paper Series - 7 KW - migration KW - area of origin KW - area of destination KW - livelihood KW - remittances KW - food security Y1 - 2026 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-20299 ER - TY - THES A1 - Wirth, Olivia T1 - Digital Platforms and Mobile Technologies for Development: Essays on Firm Formalization, Financial Inclusion, and Agricultural Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa N2 - Mobile technologies and digital platforms have expanded rapidly across sub-Saharan Africa, creating opportunities to strengthen state capacity, broaden financial inclusion, and build agricultural resilience. This dissertation examines their development impacts across three settings. Chapter 1 combines novel administrative tax records with high resolution data on mobile network rollout in Uganda to estimate the effects of mobile internet access on firm tax behavior and public revenue. Exploiting plausibly exogenous rollout timing, we find that improved access increases firm formalization and expands the tax base, strengthening revenue collection. Chapter 2 presents a randomized controlled trial in Niger—the world’s most financially excluded country—to identify barriers to adoption of a mobile money platform. Information provision raises awareness but not use, consistent with information being necessary but insufficient for diffusion. By contrast, a modest financial incentive significantly increases both adoption and usage. Chapter 3 uses a household panel collected before and after a severe drought in northern Ghana and exploits variation in rainfall in a differences-in-differences framework to estimate effects on production, income sources and adaptation plans. We find that increasing drought severity lowers soybean yields and revenues and decreases reliance on own-business income and remittances, reflecting broader livelihood impacts. Farmers who use mobile phones to access agricultural information make different input choices and adaptation plans. Taken together, these findings highlight the promise of mobile technologies and digital platforms for development. Their effectiveness, however, depends on complementary infrastructure and local capacity, underscoring the need for scalable, context-specific strategies to harness these tools for inclusive growth and resilience. KW - Digitalisierung KW - Mobilität KW - Landwirtschaft KW - Afrika Y1 - 2026 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:739-opus4-20049 ER -