Artha Journal of Social Sciences

Balancing Economic Growth and Local Needs: Community-Driven Approaches to Township Development in South Africa

Hlanganani Mnguni, Mandla Mubecua — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper explores the potential of community-driven approaches to foster sustainable and equitable development in South African townships, which face persistent socio-economic challenges rooted in apartheid-era inequalities. Using a systematic review of qualitative, secondary data, the study employs the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) framework to examine how leveraging local assets, participatory decision-making, and cooperative initiatives can address these issues. Findings reveal that while investment and entrepreneurial activity in townships have increased, benefits often fail to reach residents, exacerbating disparities. Community-driven strategies, such as cooperatives and community-based organizations, demonstrate transformative potential by creating jobs, fostering local entrepreneurship, and aligning development with residents' needs. Case studies, including the Gugulethu Cooperative Development Project and the Soweto Urban Farmers’ Cooperative, highlight their effectiveness in promoting economic growth, social cohesion, and sustainability. The paper concludes that collaborative efforts between government, private sector, and civil society are essential for scaling these strategies. Recommendations include prioritizing participatory approaches, supporting cooperatives, addressing infrastructure deficits, and promoting ethical investment. Community-driven models offer a viable pathway to inclusive and sustainable development in South African townships.

Key words: Community, Economic growth, Economic development, Township, socio-economic issues.

The Wellbeing Equation: Work-Life, Support, and Satisfaction in Policing

Dhanush M R, Shobha C — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Policing is characterized by high occupational demands that often disrupt work–life balance (WLB). Grounded in Conservation of Resources (COR) theory and Work–Family Enrichment theory, this study examine the structural relationships between perceived social support, job satisfaction, and WLB among police personnel in Bengaluru, India. A cross-sectional survey of 400 officers was conducted using stratified random sampling, and Structural Equation Modelling was employed to test direct and indirect effects. The results indicated that social support significantly predicted job satisfaction and WLB. Job satisfaction also positively influenced WLB and partially mediated the relationship between social support and WLB. The findings highlight the importance of relational resources in promoting occupational and cross-domain well-being in high-demand professions.

Local Governments’ Responses to the Impact of Climate Change in Selected African Countries: A Review

Christopher Dick-Sagoe — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Climate change has severe and disproportionate impacts on Africa, where vulnerability is heightened by limited adaptive capacity and overdependence on climate-sensitive sectors. While national-level adaptation initiatives have received wider intellectual investigation, little is researched on how key actors, such as local governments, respond to climate change across the African continent. Using a traditional review approach, this article examines the outcomes and challenges of local governments’ climate change adaptation initiatives in selected African countries. Drawing exclusively on multi-level governance, vulnerability frameworks, and institutional theory perspectives, this article provides a synthesis of local climate change adaptation responses across diverse African countries. I find that while some African countries face nascent and fragmented climate change adaptation frameworks, a few have effectively integrated climate change into decentralised planning systems. Despite these efforts, constraints such as inadequate coordination, weak institutional capacity, limited financial resources, and dependence on donor-driven initiatives result in largely short-term and reactive interventions. There is a need to prioritise sustainable financing mechanisms, enhance coordination across governance levels, and strengthen local government capacity to support context-specific and effective adaptation.

Editorial

Deepak Johnson K. — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

From Boom to Ban: The Implications of India’s Online Gaming Act, 2025

Neeraj Kumar, Maya K — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, marks an important turning point in India’s digital policy landscape. It introduces a nationwide ban on real-money games in India, a major regulatory shock that has affected several companies and employment in the sector. The government claims that the bill is a safeguard to society against addiction, fraud, and social harm. We examine the gaming industry's growth potential in India, its economic contribution, and the implications of the ban, drawing on the experiences of China's restrictive model and Korea's success in E-Sports. Given the specific context of India, this Act may offer a regulatory approach that protects consumers, while ensuring sustainable growth practices for the country's online gaming economy.

The World Was Silent When Biafrans Died

Satyaki Dasgupta — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000