Search results for "DEMOCRACY"
showing 10 items of 657 documents
Do social networks bridge political divides? The analysis of VKontakte social network communication in Ukraine
2014
New electronic forms of political communication have become increasingly popular in countries with weak democratic institutions. The effectiveness of these new forms of association in altering political behavior, however, remains uncertain even in developed democratic regimes. This paper investigates connections between regional variation in electoral behavior and regional distribution of electronic social networks in the case of Ukraine's polarized and institutionally unstable democracy. Our analysis of online networks shows that, somewhat contrary to conventional wisdom, electronic communication does not bridge political divides. This finding casts doubt on the effectiveness of online for…
Architettura e urbanistica, presupposti e partecipazione
2012
In analysing the relationship between architecture and urban planning, this paper starts from Leonardo Benevolo’s declaration (in 1963) that defines the latter as “a part of politics required to concretize each operational program”. So, while waiting for the long expected reform, urban planning – once as well as today – needs a complete overhaul to get a better understanding of its role and relationship with politics. The other reference is to one of the founders of this field of research, Patrick Geddes, and his definition of “civic science” (1915). This allows us to stress how modern Geddes’ urban and social planning was. The subject is analysed at its various historical stages, and the m…
Кoнцeптуaльнi зacaди мicцeвoгo caмoврядувaння: вибрaнi acпeкти
2016
It is very important to envestigate tbe theoretical foundations of the local govcmment before the research of its functioning. They provide the most completc ccweruge of philosophical and poiitical aspects of the phenomenon of local democracy. The scienlifrc potential of self-governing idcas discloscd in the aggregate theoretical structures, basie concepts and categories. In the concepts the common elements of the models of local govemment in their dynamics are refiectcd. Ali concepts of local government start from trying to solve the problem: Does the community have a separate, distinct from state power, whether it is independent from the state public corporation or firm incorporated in th…
Classroom discussions: Possibilities and limitations for democratic classroom practices
2017
Are students offered possibilities to experience democratic practice in classrooms? Using an analysis of empirical data from classroom discussions in lower secondary school, this article identifies and explores two different types of classroom discussions which give students different positions: a conversation in which students are positioned as ‘poll respondents’, and a more deliberative conversation which positions students as learning debaters. The two forms of classroom discussions are discussed due to the way they give different meaning to democracy, and due to whether the student positions in the classrooms imply contribution to the subject matter and what is considered valuable knowl…
L’eterno ritorno del problema del metodo
2022
Fabio Ciaramelli’s book L’ordine simbolico della legge e il problema del metodo proposes a convincing methodological perspective for legal knowledge in contemporary constitutional democracies. The central claim is that a middle path between strong objectivism and absolute discretion exists. Ciaramelli thinks that the key concept for legal methodology is that of “symbolic order”. In this paper I deal with this notion and try to emphasize some features of it from a perspective slightly different from Ciaramelli’s one.
Emerging and Traditional Donors in the ‘Post-Busan’ Context: Assessing Brazil’s and Finland’s Cooperation Practices in Mozambique
2015
At the same time as the ‘emerging donors’ have gained relevance in the development cooperation system, they have also challenged established principles of aid. This article compares Brazil's and Finland's development cooperation practices in the light of recent global tendencies in the aid architecture. Based on empirical research carried out in Mozambique, Brazil, and Finland, the article gives a detailed review of the institutional and historical settings of each bilateral cooperation. The authors then analyse how two central concepts reinforced during the Busan High Level Forum have been put into practice by a ‘new emerging’ and a ‘traditional Nordic’ donor. For ‘development effectivenes…
Democracy, poverty and civil society in Mozambique
2015
National elections were held in Mozambique for the fifth time in October 2014. As a state, Mozambique – like many ‘fourth-wave’ transition countries – fulfils the formal criteria of democracy. But to what extent are the mechanisms of accountability implemented? In Africa, two issues have been identified as key impediments for successful democratic transition: failure to improve the welfare of the poor and the ‘pre-modern’ character of civil society. In Mozambique, robust economic growth has been accompanied by growing inequality, while traditional civil society organisations (CSOs) have become increasingly visible on local level since the political transition in 1994. Based on the analysis …
Growth Into Citizenship: Framework for Conceptualizing Learning in NGO Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa
2018
This article develops a theoretical framework for analyzing adult learning in projects aiming to strengthen citizenship implemented by nongovernmental organizations, especially in the contexts of sub-Saharan Africa. On the basis of a review of international development research, we suggest that a new framework should address the need for a conceptualization of learning as a gradual process and for capturing the gap between ideal models and everyday experiences of citizenship. We argue, building on John Dewey’s philosophy, for a framework of growth into citizenship, and introduce the notions of learning as reorganization of habits and the method of democracy as an avenue for learning as nove…
The Rocky Road of Growing into Contemporary Citizenship: Dewey, Gramsci, and the Method of Democracy
2015
Characterized by globalization, increasing pluralism, and new complexities of citizenship, the contemporary world poses challenges to the ways in which we conceptualize of the processes of searching for shared solutions to ever-complicated social problems. While the political rhetoric emphasizes the value of citizens’ participation, engagement, and “voices,” there are increasing feelings of frustration, incapacity, and disinterest on behalf of the citizens regarding the supposed eff ects of their political engagement. In order to conceptually grasp the problem of searching for shared solutions and the related challenges to education, we draw on John Dewey’s idea of the method of democracy a…
Building and Testing a Comparative Interface on Northwest European Historical Parliamentary Debates : Relative Term Frequency Analysis of British Rep…
2022
Tensions between the people and parliament over representation are a normal feature of representative democracies. In this paper, we demonstrate how digital humanities analysis tools help in answering questions about the timing of debates on popular representation, tensions over its realization, and representatives’ changing perceptions on their parliamentary role. Our long-term approach to the conceptual history of political representation is based on the analysis of digitized parliamentary debates as nexuses of multi-sited political discourse. We combine computer-assisted distant and context-sensitive close reading to consider diachronic trends and synchronic political struggles surroundi…