Spot The Future Ethnography:
Preliminary Results
Inga Popovaite
STF ethnographer (CEU)
Structure

Methodology

People

Challenges

Real action

Common beliefs
Methodology

Qualitative analysis of the STF platform

On-line coding, off-line analysis with RQDA

Supplemented by focus group discussion
(based on preliminary findings)

161 original posts (June 10th)

782 original comments

Administrative posts/comments excluded
People


Young, socially active and community-oriented
Different backgrounds, different skills and work
spheres;

Hungry for real-life changes;

Not afraid to take the leading role
Challenges
Macro level


Natural environment (climate, landslides,
littering, environmental issues, energy issues);
Socio-economical environment (medical
services, public education, illiteracy, public
infrastructure, public transportation, poor sanitation,
poverty, migration, unemployment, lack of trust lack
of publicity and transparency,corruption,human
rights)
“He found out that his kids spend a lot of time in
school <...> everyday and they come back
exhausted with no energy or time to even study,
do their homework and play and they became
accustomed to have the easy answer for the
questions and not to search for the answers
themselves because obviously they have not time
or energy to do so, this besides the fact that every
day in school he is a sitting passively listening to
teachers and the curriculum itself has lots of
problems”
Mezo level

Bureaucracy;

Vertical hierarchy;

Relations with governmental institutions;

Competitiveness and a lack of collaboration in
the NGO world;

Top-bottom approach;

Traditional solutions;

Lack of trust and support;
“What Jumpstart faces in Georgia, is not dissimilar to other
countries: there are challenges with building activism, lack of
creativity in trying to solve issues, lack of trust in using technology
over traditional methods, many organizations are set in their ways.
Donor support is often lacking in grassroots, experimental
initiatives, which go unnoticed or ignored in favor of 'tried and true'
establishments. This creates an environment where it is difficult for
large established actors to innovate or experiment, and also keeps
creative approaches from reaching their potential through a lack of
funding.”
Micro level



Lack of team cooperation spirit in the society;
Lack of motivation: feeling that one can not
change anything, no decisions on policy level,
skepticism, passiveness, lack of support for
creative and innovative approaches;
Financial insecurities (for freelancers);
“<...> basically the challenge was 'things in
ourselves we don't like and want to change' - and
the common thing that came up was a lack of
engagement in activities, indifference and
everything being predictable so a belief that your
actions won't be effective”
Real Action
Armenia


14 initiatives/projects (overlapping);
Care about environment, both nature and urban, and try to be
self-sustainable and eco-friendly;

Alternative economy models;

Concerned about education and aim to gain various skills;

Strive for a more inclusive and more empowered society;

Keywords: environment, alternative economy,
inclusiveness, empowerment.
Egypt

27 initiatives/organizations/projects (overlapping)

Eco-friendly initiatives stand out;

Gender issues;

Education;

Community development;

Solidarity;

Capacity building;

Improving media;

Keywords: eco-friendly, urban planning, gender issues,
education, development, solidarity and media
improvement
Georgia

30 initiatives/projects/organizations (overlapping);

Art;

Innovative IT approaches;

Urban planning;

Urban/Environmental activism;

Gender issues;

Charity;

Media;

Cyclists' and pedestrian rights;

Keywords: IT, urban planning, environmental, gender
issues, safety (in the road/on the sidewalk), solidarity,
media.
Common beliefs






Bottom-up;
Changes delivered locally and on a smallscale first;
Cooperation;
Although there are strong leaders, the main
value is placed on a team work;
DIY, arts-and-crafts, simple engineering,
sustainable living initiatives;
Newest technologies and open-source data
(mapping).