Search results for "Politics"
showing 10 items of 2266 documents
Solutions to replace quantity with quality in science.
2012
In their recent letter, Joern Fischer and others [1xAcademia's obsession with quantity. Fischer, J. et al. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2012; 27: 463–474See all References[1] tackled one of the major problems in modern science: the obsession with quantity. Perspicaciously, they showed how targeting for quantity has faded out creativity and reflection from science. Fischer and others ended their letter with the words: ‘Starting with our own university departments (but not stopping there), it is time to take stock of what we are doing. We must recreate spaces for reflection, personal relationships, and depth. More does not equal better.’ Utopian as it may be, we applaud this statement.Unfortunately, Fi…
Some Reflections on the Economic and Political Organisation of Private Neighbourhoods
2005
The spreading of privately organised and often gated neighbourhoods in many regions of the world has triggered a widespread discussion about the relations between social and urban development. This paper presents some reflections on the economic and political organisation of this type of housing. First, the club goods theory is used to explain the potential attractiveness of this form of housing for developers, local governments as well as residents. However, the club goods theory alone does not enable one to understand the global but regionally differentiated development. Therefore, second, this paper proposes to view the analysis of private neighbourhoods as club economies against the bac…
Sustainable Food vs. Unsustainable Politics in the City of Palermo: The Case of an Organic Farmers' Market
2011
The island of Sicily, Italy, and its main city, Palermo, appear an ideal scenario for sustainable food provisioning: the former being the first region in Italy for organically cultivated land, the latter Italy's fifth largest city. This article explores ideals and practices of sustainable urban food systems through an example of environmental consumer activism in Palermo. It does this by narrating the story of an organic farmers' market created by citizens and producers. The article reflects critically on understandings of food-related ‘sustainability’ held by the actors involved, showing the difficulties of operationalizing the concept for qualitative, socio-cultural research. It also high…
Subversion of land-use plans and the housing bubble in Spain
2011
The exceptional rhythm of the construction of residential dwellings in Spain between 1997 and 2006 and its geographical contrasts are explained by a time of economic expansion, a political and social context favourable to unlimited growth and excessive and untempered municipal land-use plans with passive or complicit regional governments. The lack of effective land-use regional plans and the discrediting of municipal land-use plans are a manifestation of a deliberate subversion of public planning to subordinate the public interest to the developer's demands. This article concludes by presenting a panorama of the disturbing consequences of this urban development model.
The influence of EU policy on local policy-making, governance and urban change. Evidence from Porto, Portugal
2021
Porto has long been a site of experimentation in the field of European urban policies, implemented through different initiatives and supported by EU funding. The paper describes the different urban regeneration experiences that have been undertaken by the city, analyses the nature of the policy instruments which have been implemented, and in what ways they relate to local policy-making, governance and development. What emerges from this analysis is a more complex perspective of the relationship between local/national/European policies, which needs a broader understanding of local processes to understand the emergence and transfer of the holistic approach promoted by the EU.
Fifty Years of International Catholic–Lutheran Dialogue: Much Consensus, Little Fellowship?
2020
This article presents an overview and an assessment of the international Catholic–Lutheran dialogue through fifty years. During the process, a theological rapprochement that few had dreamt of when the work began has been manifested. In the text Facing Unity (1984), even a detailed plan for a processual realization of Catholic–Lutheran church fellowship is sketched. However, this plan has not been implemented, and the achieved doctrinal convergence has not been transformed into concrete forms of unity. The author also seeks to uncover some of the main causes of this impasse, largely reflecting challenges in contemporary ecumenism.
Det er jo bare et spill"? : en studie om dataspill og selvopplevelse
2012
Masteroppgave i samfunnskommunikasjon- Universitetet i Agder, 2012
E-deltakelse, sosiale medier og politikk : partienes tilstedeværelse i sosiale medier
2009
Masteroppgave i informasjonssystemer- Universitetet i Agder 2009 På grunn av sviktende oppslutning om partier og valg er e-deltakelse er et svært aktuelt tema. E-deltakelsesprosjekter har ofte problemer med få deltakere, derfor ønsker man å undersøke hvordan sosiale medier kan brukes for e-deltakelse. Valgkamp på internett har vært et tema siden stortingsvalget i 2001. I 2008 hadde presidentkandidat Barack Obama stor suksess med å bruke sosiale medier i den amerikanske presidentvalgkampen. Av den grunn fokuseres det på deltakelsesformen ”valgkamp”. Studiens problemstilling er ”Hva er partienes strategi for, og erfaringer med, sosiale medier i innledningen til stortingsvalgkampen 2009, og hv…
Visuell retorikk hos ideelle hjelpeorganisasjoner på internet
2012
Masteroppgave i samfunnskommunikasjon- Universitetet i Agder 2012
Porsgrunn kommune "likes" Facebook : en studie om bruk av sosiale medier i kommunal sektor
2012
Masteroppgave i samfunnskommunikasjon- Universitetet i Agder 2012 Facebook has until recently been used by private individuals rather than governmental organizations. Figures from Difi (Agency for Public Management and eGovernment) says that Facebook has 2,5 millions Norwegian members per 01.2012. This study will explore what are the factors that come into play, when Porsgrunn municipality adopt Facebook to improve inhabitants' dialogue, their cooperation and democratic development. Current research shows that the participation of inhabitants, is very important for the municipality if they want to succeed in their use of Facebook. Even more importantly is the municipality´s will to listen, …