1. Governance failure and wildfire escalation : a multi-level analysis of institutional preparedness, corruption, and emergency responseDaraz Umar, Štefan Bojnec, Younas Khan, 2026, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Wildfire escalation is increasingly threatening ecosystems and communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, particularly in forest and rangeland landscapes where eco- logical flammability interacts with human activity. While environmental and climatic drivers are well studied, governance factors remain underexplored despite their decisive role in shaping how ecological risk translates into disasters. Regional forests show consid- erable ecological diversity, including chir pine-dominated stands, mixed temperate conifer forests, broadleaved oak-associated systems, and shrub rangeland mosaics, each differing in fuel structure and fire behavior. Dependence on fuelwood collection, grazing, and forest access further influences ignition probability and fire spread. This study examines how governance failures influence wildfire risk and severity through a Governance-Fire Risk Framework. Governance is treated as a determining institutional condition affecting prevention capacity, regulation of hazardous land use, fuel management, and emergency response effectiveness. A cross-sectional survey of 540 stakeholders from rural (Dir Lower, Dir Upper) and peri-urban districts (Swat, Mansehra, Abbottabad) was analyzed using SPSS (version 26) and AMOS (version 24) (CFA and SEM). Governance failure significantly escalates wildfire risk through delayed emergency response, regulatory non-compliance, political interference, and weak institutional coordination. Institutional preparedness and response capacity reduce risks, whereas corruption intensifies them. Corruption functions through illegal land conversion, diversion of fire management resources, procurement irregularities, nepotistic staffing, and selective enforcement, increasing ignition sources, fuel accumulation, and response delays. Rural districts show stronger governance-fire linkages. Wildfire escalation in KP is governance-driven in interaction with ecological conditions and community dependence on forest resources. Effective mitigation requires anti-corruption measures, rapid response systems, stronger enforcement, and improved preparedness. The study offers a transferable governance-focused framework for wildfire management in fire-prone developing regions.
Ključne besede: wildfires risk escalation, governance failure, institutional preparedness, corruption, emergency response, fire management, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Objavljeno v RUP: 27.02.2026; Ogledov: 485; Prenosov: 10
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2. Gender role reversal in gig economy households : a sociological insight from Southeast Asia with evidence from PakistanDaraz Umar, Štefan Bojnec, Younas Khan, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The rapid growth of the gig economy and digital platforms is challenging traditional gender roles, particularly in developing countries where structural inequalities continue to shape labor and household dynamics. Despite growing global interest in gender equity and digital inclusion, limited research has examined how gig work, digital access, and women’s income contributions interact to influence household gender dynamics within culturally conservative contexts. This study aimed to investigate the multidimensional impacts of women’s participation in gig work on time use redistribution, intra-household decision making, gender ideology, and role reversal within households in Pakistan. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from a representative sample of married couples engaged in the gig economy across urban and peri-urban areas of Pakistan. A quantitative analysis was conducted employing a combination of an analysis of variance, ordinal logistic regression, hierarchical multiple regression, and structural equation modeling to evaluate the direct and indirect relationships between constructs. The findings revealed that women’s gig work participation significantly predicted enhanced digital access, greater income contributions, and increased intra-household decision-making power. These, in turn, contributed to a measurable shift in gender ideology toward equality norms and a partial reversal of traditional gender roles, particularly in household labor division. The study concludes that the intersection of economic participation and digital empowerment serves as a catalyst for progressive gender restructuring within households. Policy implications include the need for gender-responsive labor policies, investment in digital infrastructure, and targeted interventions to support empowering women in non-traditional work roles.
Ključne besede: gig economy, digital inclusion, women's empowerment, gender ideology, intra-household decision making, role reversal
Objavljeno v RUP: 04.02.2026; Ogledov: 464; Prenosov: 5
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3. Cultural narratives, social norms, and psychological stigma : a study of mental health help-seeking behavior in Peshawar, PakistanDaraz Umar, Štefan Bojnec, Younas Khan, Zakir Hussain, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Introduction: Mental health stigma remains a major barrier to accessing psychiatric care worldwide, with pronounced effects in culturally traditional societies such as Peshawar, Pakistan. In the Pashtun cultural context, the code of Pashtunwali—an honor-based system—shapes social attitudes and behaviors, potentially influencing mental health help-seeking patterns. This study examines how cultural narratives, social norms, and stigma interact to affect help-seeking behavior in this sociocultural setting. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a stratified random sample of 400 adults aged 19 years and above in Peshawar. Data were collected using culturally validated instruments, including the Mental Illness Stigma Scale (MISS) and a Social Norms Scale. Bivariate analyses employed simple linear regression and binary logistic regression to examine individual relationships between variables. Multivariate analyses, including multiple linear regression and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), were used to assess combined effects and mediation pathways. Results: Cultural narratives had a positive impact on help-seeking behavior, explaining 42% of its variance. Stigma showed a significant negative association, decreasing help-seeking likelihood by 26% for each unit increase. Social norms demonstrated a positive association with help-seeking behavior and indirectly reduced stigma. Collectively, these variables accounted for 68% of the variance in help-seeking likelihood. Discussion: The findings highlight the pivotal role of culturally resonant narratives and supportive social norms rooted in Pashtunwali in improving mental health service utilization. Addressing stigma while reinforcing positive cultural frameworks can substantially enhance help-seeking behavior in Peshawar and similar sociocultural contexts.
Ključne besede: cultural narratives, mental health stigma, social norms, psychiatric help, structural equation modeling (SEM)
Objavljeno v RUP: 28.08.2025; Ogledov: 1585; Prenosov: 12
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