The study builds on Deborah Stone’s foundational work exploring the mechanics of causal narratives and their implications for framing problems, assigning responsibility, and guiding policy solutions. The purpose of this research is to unravel the complexities of causal narratives in contemporary politics and understand their profound influence on public policy and society at large. In the digital age, where information is abundant and the traditional gatekeeping role of media has diminished, causal narratives have become increasingly multifaceted. The study aims to explore how these narratives, influenced by the intersections of natural phenomena, human actions, politics, risk, and media, shape public understanding and policy directions. The study employs an extensive review of existing literature, covering works from political science, media studies, and public policy. This includes analyzing seminal texts like Deborah Stone’s “Policy Paradox” and recent studies on media’s evolving role in political discourse. Today’s causal narratives are multifaceted, influenced by a myriad of factors including political agendas, scientific findings, and media portrayals. In conclusion, the research highlights the dynamic nature of causal narratives in the digital age and their significant impact on public policy and societal outcomes. It underscores the need for nuanced understanding and strategic approaches in crafting and interpreting these narratives.

The rapid growth of e-commerce in South Africa has increased the demand for efficient last-mile delivery. Motorcycle delivery drivers play a crucial role in the last-mile delivery process to bridge the gap between retailers and consumers. However, these drivers face significant challenges that impact both logistical efficiency and their socio-economic well-being. This study critically analyzes media narratives on the safety and working conditions of motorcycle delivery drivers in the e-commerce sector in South Africa. The thematic analysis of newspaper articles identified recurring themes. This study reveals critical safety and labor vulnerabilities affecting motorcycle delivery drivers in South Africa’s e-commerce sector. Key findings include heightened risks of violence, hijackings, and road accidents, exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure and safety gear. Coupled with low wages, job insecurity, and limited benefits, these conditions expose drivers to significant precarity. Policy interventions are urgently needed for driver safety and sustainable logistics. By integrating insights from multiple disciplines, this study offers a comprehensive understanding of the complex challenges within this rapidly growing sector.

This paper aims to analyze the narratives that have emerged in the process of bureaucratic reform in Indonesia. The analysis is conducted using the Narrative Policy Framework at the mesa level. Using data from articles published in 6 credible national media about “bureaucratic reform” from 2010 to 2023. The collected data was classified according to the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) elements in the article: Issue setting, the cause of the issue, plot, character (villain, victim, hero), and recommendations for solutions offered. There were 31 articles analyzed. The result showed that the main plot in the process of bureaucratic reform in Indonesia is based on the corrupt bureaucracy and the slow public service provided. The victims in the plot are the people who will access the services. The villains of the narrative are civil servants who do not improve the required competencies. The heroes of the narrative are several government institutions (Ministry of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform, Commission of Corruption Eradication, and The Audit Board of The Republic of Indonesia) that are considered to expose the problem.

This paper explores diverse conceptualizations of leadership, emphasizing its profound impact on individuals and organizations. Leadership's influence on followers' daily lives, necessitating adaptation to modern complexities. Various theories offer distinct perspectives: distributed leadership emphasizes shared expertise. While charismatic leadership focuses on vision alignment. Authentic leadership promotes ethical climates, while Emotional Intelligence theory emphasizes emotional competencies. Ethical leadership underscores moral conduct. Five Domains Leadership highlights talent management and strategy execution, while Leadership Transition Theory discusses dynamic changes. Other theories include direct/indirect leadership, entrepreneurial leadership, and leader-member exchange. Participative leadership explores decision-making styles, and situational leadership aligns styles with follower maturity. Trait and behavioral theories focus on inherent traits and learned behaviours. This review underscores leadership's complexity, offering insights into its diverse conceptualizations and practical implications across contexts.

Indonesia, as a maritime country, has many coastal areas with fishing villages that have significant potential, especially in sociological, economic, and environmental aspects, to be developed as models for sustainable development. Indonesia, with its long-standing fishing traditions, showcases the abundant potential and traditional that could help address global challenges such as climate change, rapid urbanization, and environmental and economic issues. This study aims to develop a conceptual model for sustainable cities and communities based on local potential and Wisdom towards the establishment of a Blue Village in the fishing village of Mundu Pesisir, Cirebon, Indonesia. The urgency of this study lies in the importance of developing sustainable strategies to address these challenges in coastal towns. This study involves an interdisciplinary team, including experts in sociology, social welfare, architecture, law, economics, and information technology. Through the identification of local natural and sociocultural resources, as well as the formulation of sustainable development strategies, this study develops a conceptual Blue Village model that can be applied to other coastal villages. The method employed in this study is qualitative descriptive, involving the steps of conducting a literature review, analyzing local potential, organizing focus group discussions, conducting interviews, and finalizing the conceptual model. The study employed, a purposive sampling technique, involving 110 participants. The results of the study include the modeling of a sustainable city and community development based on local potential and Wisdom aimed at creating Blue Villages in Indonesia, and It is expected to make a significant contribution to the creation of competitive and sustainable coastal areas capable of addressing the challenges of climate change and socioeconomic dynamics in the future.