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History shows that the development process as we know today, built largely by a dominant logic derived from science and technology born in the West. The capitalist world system , as a process well extended all around the world, has made the promotion of individuation which has gradually fragmented and interfered with the construction and consolidation of the practices promoting community based interests within the same space. Indeed, during his geographic extension, he has succeeded in some cases, to break the wire of solidarity and reciprocity. In the case of Chad, this dominant process has caused antagonism between the bearing support actors of development policies and popular actors acting through pre-existing structures. These antagonisms have considerably hindered the actions for improvement of living conditions of population. It is in this context that the present work deals with an analysis on place of practices based on popular production of goods and services in policy development in Chad. Based on a historico-systemic framework, the author highlights the pre-colonial characteristics of popular practices then, period by period, introduces the dominant development policies. Within each period (colonial, postcolonial centralized then democratic), one wondered about the content and scope of each of such of policies, and their effects on environment and forms of popular response to the so-called political. The thesis presented, highlights the need for a reinterpretation of development policies, to reconsider popular practices not as object to modernize but rather as potential development and popular actors as part of the development process of their country. ; L'histoire montre que le processus de développement tel que nous le connaissons aujourd'hui, est bâti dans une large mesure, par une logique dominante découlant de la science et de la technologie née en Occident. A travers le système-monde capitaliste , il s'est imposé un peu partout dans le monde une individuation qui graduellement, fragmente et rend difficile la construction et la consolidation de pratiques privilégiant l'intérêt collectif dans un même espace. Durant son parcours, il est arrivé dans certains cas, à rompre le fil de la solidarité et de la réciprocité. Dans le cas du Tchad cette logique dominante a provoqué des antagonismes entre les acteurs d'appui porteurs des politiques de développement et, les acteurs populaires agissant au travers des structures préexistantes. Ces antagonismes freinent considérablement les actions d'amélioration des conditions de vie de la population. C'est dans ce contexte que le présent travail propose une analyse sur la place des pratiques populaires de production de biens et de services dans les politiques de développement au Tchad. Sur la base d'un cadre d'analyse historico-systémique, l'auteur met en évidence les caractéristiques précoloniales des pratiques populaires puis, période par période, situe les politiques dominantes de développement . A chaque période (coloniale, postcoloniale centralisée puis démocratique), il s'interroge sur le contenu et la portée de chacune des politiques, leurs effets sur le milieu étudié et, les formes de réponses populaires face aux dites politiques. La thèse ainsi présentée, met en évidence la nécessité d'une réinterprétation des politiques de développement, de façon à reconsidérer les pratiques populaires non pas comme objet à moderniser mais plutôt comme potentiel de développement et, les acteurs populaires comme partie prenante du processus de développement de leur pays. ; (POL 3) -- UCL, 2012

Pidevalt kasvava inimkonnaga suureneb ka vajadus toiduainete ja põllumajandussaaduste järele, kuid samas haritava maa ressurss väheneb erinevate tegevuste tulemusel. See toob kaasa vajaduse hakata senisest rohkem tähelepanu pöörama väärtusliku põllumaa määratlemisele ja säilitamisele. Eestis puudub üldine arusaam väärtuslikust põllumaast ja selle määratlemise alustest, kuna väärtuslike põllumaadega seotud temaatikat on vähe uuritud. Käesoleva magistritöö eesmärgiks on välja selgitada väärtuslike põllumaade määratlemise alused kohalike omavalitsuste (KOV) tasemel Tartu maakonna näitel. Antud eesmärgi saavutamiseks on püstitatud uurimisülesandeid, mille abil selgitatakse välja Tartu maakonna KOV-ide arusaamad väärtuslikest põllumaadest ja nende määramise kriteeriumid ja põhimõtted. Uurimustööks vajalikud andmed on kogutud intervjuu ja ankeetküsitluse meetodil. Ankeetküsitlus põhines erinevate tasandite planeeringute eelnevalt uuritud taustal ning intervjuude käigus saadud informatsioonil. Analüüsitud andmete põhjal selgus, et väärtusliku põllumaa määratlemisel lähtuvad KOV-id konkreetse valla vajadusest, mis väljendub peamiselt viljakate maade ja põllumajandustegevuse säilitamise soovis ning põllumaade täisehitamise vältimises. Väärtuslikku põllumaad määratakse enamasti KOV-i algatusel ja üldplaneeringus määratud väärtusliku põllumaa alade määratlejateks on vallavalitsuse spetsialistid ja konsultandid. Enamus KOV-e lähtub väärtusliku põllumaa määratlemisel haritava maa viljakuse hindepunktist ehk boniteedist. Küsitletud valdades muutuvad põllumaad väärtuslikuks alates 30 hindepunktist ja sellest suurema väärtuse puhul. Uurimus näitas, et peaaegu kõik küsitletud KOV-id on arvamusel, et väärtuslikke põllumaid on vaja Eestis säilitada. Käesoleva uurimistöö lõpptulemusena selgus, et Tartu maakonna konkreetses uuritavas vallas toimub väärtusliku põllumaa määratlemine üldplaneeringu alusel ning väärtusliku põllumaa määratlemiskriteeriumid ja -põhimõtted sõltuvad valla kohalikust olukorrast ja eesmärkidest. ; The need for food and agricultural production grows along with the ever increasing human population. At the same time there is a decrease of existing arable land resources which is a result of different activities. Therefore it is necessary to pay more attention to designating and preservation of valuable arable land. In Estonia there is no universal approach to valuable arable land or the principles for designating it, as the topic of valuable arable land has not been studied comprehensively. The objective of this Master's thesis was to establish the principles for designating valuable arable land at the level of local governments, based on the example of Tartu County. For achieving this objective, the author formulated research tasks for determining the approaches of the local governments of Tartu County as well as the underlying criteria and principles. The research data were collected through interviews and questionnaires. The questionnaire was based on the different level plan studied beforehand and on information received from the interviews. The analysis of the data indicated that while designating the valuable arable land, local governments consider the local needs of the rural municipality, expressed foremost in the wish to preserve fruitful land and agricultural activities and in the prevention of building on arable land. The valuable arable land is usually designated in the initiative of the local government, and the persons who designated it in the general plan were local government specialists and consultants. While designating the valuable arable land, majority of the local governments rely on the fertility and quality points given to the land. In the rural municipalities surveyed, the arable land with more than 30 points was designated valuable. The study showed that almost all local governments that were surveyed considered that valuable arable land in Estonia should be preserved.

This spotlight revisits the dynamics and prognosis outlined in the late 1980's published in Déforestation en Afrique. This book on deforestation in Africa utilized available statistical data from the 1980's and was a pioneering self-styled attempt to provide a holistic viewpoint of the ongoing trends pertaining to deforestation in Africa; of root causes and of the challenges facing the conservation community. Here, the same author searches for an explanation for the 'commercial fiasco' of that book and uses the recent Global Forest Resource Assessment (GFRA) published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO, 2010), concluding that (i) this overall prognosis turned out to be slightly pessimistic vs. the actual forest evolution as recorded by FAO, but that (ii) deforestation in Africa still continues at 0.5% per annum, and (iii) success stories are few and Africa remains the continent where major deforestation continues apace. The analysis of ten African countries 'at risk' because of a combination of an economic slump coupled with a high deforestation rate confirms a likely relationship between these two factors. The lack of attention paid to deforestation in Africa raises concerns that "throwing money at the problem" – the best solution that the international community has found so far – may not be constructive in the least. Résumé Un livre publié en 1991, écrit par l'auteur utilisait les données statistiques des années 80 sur les forêts Africaines, données telles que disponibles à l'époque. Ce livre représentait une première tentative, non sollicitée, de fournir un tableau holistique des tendances d'alors sur la déforestation en Afrique, de s'interroger sur les causes profondes de ce phénomène et sur les défis à relever dans ce domaine. Dans le présent article, l'auteur cherche les raisons du fiasco commercial du livre et effectue des calculs sur les données les plus récentes sur les forêts Africaines telles que publiées par l'Organisation des Nations-unies pour l'agriculture et l'alimentation (plus connue sous son sigle anglais FAO). Les principales conclusions de cette rapide analyse sont (i) les projections sur le futur des forêts Africaines effectuées dans le livre de 1991 se révèlent marginalement pessimistes par rapport à la réalité observée (sur la base des projections de 1991 et sur une base 100 en 1990, les forêts africaines restantes seraient dans une fourchette de 77,2 à 87,8%, l'indice réel étant 89,9%), cependant, (ii) la déforestation continue en Afrique à un rythme de 0,5% l'an, peu différent du taux de 0,56% dans les années 90 et (iii) les réussites Africaines dans la lutte contre la déforestation sont peu nombreuses et ce continent reste le plus exposé à ce fléau dans le monde. Le livre de 1991 contenait également l'identification de dix pays Africains « à risque » à cause d'un cumul de stagnation économique et de fort taux de déforestation. L'observation des évolutions récentes confirme que ces pays sont « mal partis ». En conclusion, l'auteur regrette le manque d'attention à la déforestation en Afrique, au moment même où le monde célèbre « Rio + 20 » ; l'auteur craint également que la tactique habituelle de la communauté internationale « jeter de l'argent sur le problème » ne fonctionne pas, des causes fondamentales de la déforestation comme le manque de politiques publiques efficaces ou la corruption endémique réclamant plus que de l'argent pour être extirpées.

This first part of this paper consists of a personal review of the scientific nature of Criminal Law (which is rejected), of the constant influence of Politics on Law (whichis regrettable) and the deductive or inductive legal method (which is demythologised,because much of it constitutes wishful thinking). As a result of these assertions, it isargued that the system is made for man and not man for the system; what matters is that a legal solution for a social conflict be reasonable, rather than systematic. Applying these conclusions to the traditional problem of the criminal liability of legalentities, it is understood that the reply should not be abstract, but concrete, and should it prove to be advantageous for the ends pursued by Criminal Law, it isadvisable to legally declare this liability, despite its being fictitious, because the Lawis not a product for philosophy but for real life. The author believes that currently this advantage is provided by the belief that this statement reinforces general prevention asthe objective of Criminal Law. In the second part of this paper, the principles that should orient the introduction of this question in the Spanish legal code are indicated, differentiating the legal liability of a physical person who commits a crimeand the liability of a legal entity, which has created the necessary setting for it. Finally, constructive criticism is made of the proposed organic law of 15 January 2007, which reforms that Spanish legal code of 1995, introducing the criminal liability of legalentities. ; La primera parte del trabajo constituye una revisión personal del carácter científico del Derecho penal (que se rechaza), de la influencia constante de la Política sobre el Derecho (que se lamenta) y del método jurídico deductivo o inductivo (que se desmitifica, porque en él hay mucho de voluntarismo). Como consecuencia de este planteamiento se sostiene que el sistema es para el hombre y no el hombre parael sistema, y que lo que importa de una solución jurídica para un conflicto social esque sea razonable y no sistemática. Aplicando las conclusiones obtenidas al tradicional problema de la responsabilidad penal de las personas jurídicas, se entiende que la respuesta no ha de proceder en abstracto sino en concreto, y, si resulta alguna ventajapara los fines del Derecho penal, es oportuno declarar legalmente esa responsabilidad,aunque se trate de una ficción, porque el Derecho no es un producto filosófico sino para la vida. El autor piensa que en la actualidad la citada ventaja la proporciona la creencia de que con esa declaración se fortifica la prevención general como fin del Derecho penal. En la segunda parte del trabajo, se apuntan los principios que deberían orientar la introducción de esta cuestión en el Código penal español, distinguiendo entre la responsabilidad personal del individuo que comete materialmente el delito y la responsabilidad de la persona colectiva que ha proporcionado el marco adecuado para ello. Finalmente, se critica constructivamente el proyecto de ley orgánica de 15 de enero de 2007, por el que se reforma el Código penal español de 1995 para introducir la responsabilidad penal de las personas jurídicas.

Регулирование имущественных договорных отношений и в семейном праве прямо привязывалось к гражданскому праву. Одновременно выделялась специфика этих отношений. 26 декабря 2011 года был принят Кодекс Республики Казахстан «О браке (супружестве) и семье» (далее КоБ(С)С РК), а ранее действовавший Закон о браке и семье Республики Казахстан от 17 декабря 1998 года утратил свою силу. В КоБ(С)С РК наряду с действующими сделками как договоры супругов относительно их имущества, договоры супругов о предоставлении взаимного содержания, договоры о содержании детей, появились новые договоры: договор суррогатного материнства, договор о передаче ребенка на патронатное воспитание, договор об оказании медицинских услуг при применении вспомогательных репродуктивных методов и технологий. В данной статье дается характеристика договоров, заключаемых супругами, предлагается их классификация. Также автор говорит о договорах, которые можно разработать и вывести на законодательный уровень, предлагает их классификацию. ; The development of matrimonial relations shows that the regulation of contractual relations in the family law directly tied to the civil law. The specificity of these relationships separates out at the same time. Having said all that the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan On Marriage and Family (thereafter, the Law) came into force on 26th December 2011, and the previous Law of Republic of Kazakhstan On Marriage and Family expired on December 17, 1998. The term «marriage» pays attention to that it has no meaning; even more it has no legal significance with respect to such act as the Code. Therefore, it is not clear why the legislator has used the term under consideration. The Law was first divided into general and special parts. What was the need for this? What is the purpose of such parts? If the legislator had in mind the fact that within a regulatory act is necessary to show the separation to substantive and procedural norms, he (the legislator) has done it unsuccessful. Almost all of the above historical laws that governing marital relations, contained both material and procedural rules in the structure already, and this fact does not hinder their practical application and development in general. Separation of the law into general and special parts is not a new legal structure and it does not constitute a legal load. Although the previous Law (December 17, 1998) was a voluminous and in sufficient detail governing the matrimonial relations statute (there were 7 sections, 29 chapters, 213 articles), adopted a new Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan On Marriage and Family has become more voluminous codified act (now it consists of 283 articles, more than 100 articles of which are new). The new contracts such as contract of surrogate motherhood agreement, contract of transfer child to foster care, contract of the provision of medical services in the application of assisted reproductive methods and technologies came into existence in the Law, together with the current transaction as a contract of couples on their property, contract of spouses to provide mutual maintenance, contracts for the content of children. In this article the author gives a description of agreements concluded by spouses, suggests their classification, trying to hold comprehensive analysis of contracts entered into by the spouses, as well as contracts that can be developed and put into legislation.

Рассматриваются основные направления формирования современных центрально-азиатских исследований в Китайской Народной Республике с начала 2000-х гг., при этом акцент делается на магистерских и кандидатских диссертациях. Исследования не ограничиваются специальностями «Мировая экономика», «Мировая политика» и «Международные отношения», а количество университетов, в которых выполняются работы по Центральной Азии, превышает три десятка. Большинство работ посвящено актуальным проблемам развития отношений КНР с государствами Центральной Азии. Признанным центром по количеству и качеству работ в последние несколько лет стал Синьцзян-Уйгурский автономный район и его академические и научно-исследовательские структуры. ; During the 2000s China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), one of the most efficient database systems of different kinds of knowledge, opened for use. The database granted not only access, but also an opportunity to download the full-text documents in science literature from China. Search capabilities provided an access to Master and PhD papers (or dissertations for Degree) in many spheres including regional science Central Asia research. It was new for a foreign author to get any paper from 2002 to 2010 in International Relations (IR), Regional Economy, International Law, World Politics, Modern History and other spheres of interest that was submitted to different Universities in the People's Republic of China. Chinese Universities started to prepare staff for Research Centres on problems of Central Asia all around China. These were Xinjiang University, Shihezi University, Lanzhou University (Province of Gansu), Yanbian University (Province of Jilin), Shanghai University, Normal University of Inner Mongolia, Tonji University (Shanghai), etc. Dissertations were on different kinds of regional interactions including regional security system after 9/11 and the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) by Yang Lianhai, Xu Xiaoli, Yin Yugang, Zhao Guoli, Zheng Fangyun, Fang Weiwei, He Yuejun, Li Jian, Pi Yixia, Huang Yi, Wang Minghua, Wang Zhirun, Li Jiang, Chen Lum Ling Yongfeng, Wang Zaiyun, Sun Yanming, Zhang Manping, Liu Jingyou, Deng Xiaoyan, Jiang Xingwei. Regional crime and security cooperation is the top ic of U.Maimat. Xu Haomiao, Tian Xia, Xu Juan deal with Islam as the main religion for the people in the region of Central Asia. Zheng Xueping considers economic cooperation. Some young authors major in energy development of Central Asia and the surrounding Chinese provinces including Xinjiang-Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). These are Wang Lulu, Lin Suiming, Tan Yuelong, He Dan, Long Hailiang, He Lunzhi, Shao Yanbo, Song Jifang, Li Rui. Papers submitted to the Degree of Master of International Law are mainly written by Xinjiang University scholars (Xu Ai, Ling Ling, Fang Jing, Wang Xiaofeng, Xing Rong, Xu Xiaoyan and others). XUAR integration within the regional cooperation mechanisms is the main subject of the research papers of Liu Lanqin, Wang Zhifei, Chen Shuxiang, Meng Yanjun, Sun Li, Huang Chao, Guo Minghui, Fu Yinxin. Ge Shixiang, Li Tong, Zhang Yachen, Lan Qiang, Wei Wenting, Ma Ai, Xu Haina, Yu Haibo, Li Xu, Ma Bin, Wang Dehua, Ren Shuangping, Hao Zhengang, Lu Dongchao, Shi Liying, H.Kudratov, Li Hongliang, Jiao Fan deal with different actors' activity in the newly formed international relations system in Central Asia. These authors are mainly representatives of the new-wave scholars of Central Asia Research Centers, such as Xinjiang University. Partially, the goal of these papers is to build new work groups for research work all around China.

Las décadas del 50 y 60 fueron un período de profundas transformaciones para el conjunto de los países latinoamericanos. En la convergencia de estos cambios se inscribió un amplio y heterogéneo espectro de proyectos políticos que tendrán en común la voluntad de avanzar en una transformación social profunda. Todos estos procesos se dieron en el marco del crecimiento de la llamada «nueva izquierda», como también de la emergencia de distintas organizaciones guerrilleras en la región. La figura de Tomás Amadeo Vasconi resulta «paradigmática» como trayectoria biográfica, seguida por numerosos intelectuales provenientes de las ciencias sociales y de la educación que, en los convulsionados 60 y 70, iniciarían un proceso de radicalización política. El artículo analiza distintas etapas de su pensamiento educativo inicial de carácter desarrollista-funcionalista en Argentina; en Chile, donde se produce su conversión al marxismo vía estructuralismo francés. Y finalmente en su exilio en Panamá, Venezuela y Cuba, donde su reflexión se centra en las dictaduras militares y la revolución truncada en América Latina. El trabajo busca dar a conocer a un autor que ha sido relevante en la discusión sobre las tensiones educativo-políticas de esas décadas tan convulsionadas. ; 1950's and 1960's were a period of time with big changes for every Latin America country. The convergence of these changes involved a wide and diverse range of political projects sharing a desire to develop a deep social change. All of these processes were developed in a context of a «New Left» as well as an emergence of several guerrilla organizations in the region. So the presence of Tomas Amadeo Vasconi is a «paradigm» as a biographical guide followed by many thinkers from social and education sciences during troubled 1960's and 1970's which began a political radicalization process. This paper discusses several stages of his former educational-functional thought developed in Argentina; also, Chile where he becomes Marxist thanks to French structuralism; and finally, the exile in Panama, Venezuela and Cuba where his reflection was focused on military dictatorship and the failed Latin America revolution. Finally this paper reveals an author who has been relevant to discuss educational and political issues of those troubled decades. ; As décadas de 1950 e 1960 foram um período de profundas transformações para o conjunto dos países latinoamericanos. Na convergência destas mudanças se inscreveu um amplo e heterogêneo espectro de projetos políticos que terão em comum a vontade de avançar em uma transformação social profunda. Todos esses processos se deram no quadro do crescimento da chamada «nova esquerda», bem como da emergência de distintas organizações guerrilheiras na região. A figura de Tomás Amadeo Vasconi resulta «paradigmática» como trajetória biográfica, seguida por numerosos intelectuais provenientes das ciências sociais e da educação, que nos convulsionados anos de 1960 e 1970 iniciariam um processo de radicalização política. O artigo analisa distintas etapas de seu pensamento educativo inicial, de caráter desenvolvimentista-funcionalista, na Argentina; no Chile onde se produz sua conversão ao marxismo via estruturalismo francês. E, finalmente, em seu exílio no Panamá, Venezuela e Cuba onde sua reflexão se centra nas ditaduras militares e na revolução truncada na América Latina. O trabalho busca apresentar um autor que foi relevante na discussão sobre as tensões educativo-políticas de décadas tão convulsionadas. ; Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación

My research makes a contribution to the study of relations between Italy and France in the second half of the nineteenth century. Specifically, it deals with the crucial period which extends from the Franco-Prussian War to the adherence of Italy to the Triple Alliance (with Austria and Prussia) which came in response to the French occupation of Tunisia. It is within this context that the emergence of the Italian author Edmondo De Amicis (1846-1908) is to be understood. De Amicis dedicated two of his works to France, Ricordi di Parigi (1879) and Ritratti Letterari (1881), in which can be found portraits of a number of well-known French authors such as Alphonse Daudet, Emile Zola, Emile Augier and Alexandre Dumas fils. The systematic study of De Amicis' biography and the retrieval of many authoritative sources have greatly contributed to current knowledge on De Amicis' relationship with France. The existing sources have now been greatly enriched by a considerable number of unpublished journalistic writings and personal letters. In addition, information has been collected with regard to the French reception of De Amicis' works, many of which came to be highly appreciated in translation. Thus, the picture which emerges is that of an intellectual of European standing, committed to the divulgation of the literary innovations of French naturalisme and, above all, to defending the values of freedom championed by the French Revolution. ; Le travail s'insère dans la vaste perspective des études sur les rapports entre la culture italienne et la culture française dans la seconde moitié du XIX siècle. En particulier nous avons pris en examen la période 1870-1883, c'est-à-dire les années de la conclusion de la guerre franco-prussienne, jusqu'à la crise diplomatique de Tunis (1881) et au passage de l'Italie à l'alliance politique et militaire avec l'Autriche et l'Allemagne. (1886). Dans la vaste production littéraire de De Amicis (connu presque seulement pour la publication de son roman Cuore), la France joue un rôle non secondaire, comme le témoignent le volume Ricordi di Parigi (1879) et le recueil Ritratti letterari (1881). Le but de notre recherche a été d'abord l'analyse approfondie de ces deux livres. Ensuite nous avons fait une enquête systématique sur l'ensemble de la production de De Amicis – en examinant pour la première fois plusieurs périodiques littéraires et politiques – où nous avons retrouvé beaucoup d'autres témoignages importants. En outre, grâce à l'étude de la biographie de De Amicis, nous avons reconstruit ses voyages et ses séjours en France (1873, 1878, 1880), et nous avons retrouvé le nom d'autres intellectuels français, avec lesquels De Amicis a établi des liens d'amitié et de collaboration. Enfin, à travers l'analyse de la correspondance privée de certains protagonistes de cet échange, nous avons acquis d'autres données. Nous avons ainsi mis à jour de nombreux témoignages de la remarquable réception en France des œuvres de De Amicis. Il a été beaucoup traduit en France et la critique française l'a considéré dès sa première œuvre (La vita militare, 1868) comme un des écrivains les plus importants d'Europe. Le bilan final de nos recherches confère à De Amicis un rôle très important dans les rapports entre la France et l'Italie, aussi bien au niveau culturel que politique

"Independent Russia is approaching the start of its third decade of post-Soviet existence. After the economic chaos of the Boris Yeltsin decade and the recovery and stabilization of the Vladimir Putin decade, Russia's leaders have high ambitions for a return to great power status in the years ahead. Their aspirations are tempered, however, by the realities of Russia's social, economic, and military shortcomings and vulnerabilities, laid painfully bare by the stress test of the recent global financial crisis. Looking ahead, some also calculate that Russia will be increasingly challenged in the Far East by a rising China and in the Middle East by an Iran that aspires to regional hegemony. As a result, Moscow is already seeking to strengthen Russia's ties with Europe and the United States. The West is seen as crucial to Russia's modernization as well as a hedge against what may develop to Russia's east and south in coming decades. This process of Russia's anchoring itself more firmly in the West will proceed with lots of tactical hiccups and sporadic crises. Nevertheless, it will bring consequences and opportunities for U.S. diplomacy and strategic development, some of which the Barack Obama administration's policy of 'reset' is already reaping. But Russian policy toward the United States is conditional on a U.S. approach that engages Russia in positive ways. If that policy were to change, it could push Russia and China closer together on some issues in an effort to constrain the United States."--P. 1 ; Format not distributed to depository libraries. ; "January 2011." ; Includes bibliographical references (p. 30-39). ; Executive summary -- Introduction -- Putin's record -- Medvedev's challenge -- Demographic determinism -- Price paradox -- Corruption complex -- Military malaise -- The 'Near Abroad' -- China -- Iran -- Implications for the United States -- Notes -- About the author. ; "Independent Russia is approaching the start of its third decade of post-Soviet existence. After the economic chaos of the Boris Yeltsin decade and the recovery and stabilization of the Vladimir Putin decade, Russia's leaders have high ambitions for a return to great power status in the years ahead. Their aspirations are tempered, however, by the realities of Russia's social, economic, and military shortcomings and vulnerabilities, laid painfully bare by the stress test of the recent global financial crisis. Looking ahead, some also calculate that Russia will be increasingly challenged in the Far East by a rising China and in the Middle East by an Iran that aspires to regional hegemony. As a result, Moscow is already seeking to strengthen Russia's ties with Europe and the United States. The West is seen as crucial to Russia's modernization as well as a hedge against what may develop to Russia's east and south in coming decades. This process of Russia's anchoring itself more firmly in the West will proceed with lots of tactical hiccups and sporadic crises. Nevertheless, it will bring consequences and opportunities for U.S. diplomacy and strategic development, some of which the Barack Obama administration's policy of 'reset' is already reaping. But Russian policy toward the United States is conditional on a U.S. approach that engages Russia in positive ways. If that policy were to change, it could push Russia and China closer together on some issues in an effort to constrain the United States."--P. 1 ; Mode of access: Internet.

Place is characteristically imbued with a multiplicity of meanings contingent on the specificities of the society, time and space in which place is perceived. It is essentially subjective, relational and differential. As such, virtual multiplicity is the main characteristic of place where the virtual is understood as the sum of the real, a subjective mental act, and a motive or confusion. Space, conversely, is that which has no virtuality in it; it is objective. Accordingly, at least in theory, it is hard to distinguish between virtual and actual places. Outside of theory, virtual place typically suggests a system of representations that aims to convey through the senses an imagined or illusionary reality. Virtual place is mostly associated with places constructed using computational technology; most popular among them are massive multiuser online games (MMOGs). Lately, scholars are increasingly using such MMOGs to virtually construct or reconstruct historic places. The interpretation of such historic places depends on the affordances of the medium through which place is perceived and the ways in which such a medium is socially deployed and interpreted. This dissertation explores (1) the ways in which MMOGs are perceived and (2) the formative effect virtual reconstructions of historic places using gaming technology exercise on the interpretation of such places.Using two popular MMOGs as a case study, this dissertation shows that the perception of such places is conditioned by the suggestive technical affordances of the medium in addition to complex socio-historical forces. These conditions predispose expert users of MMOGs to perceive these virtual places in ways different than new users. New users perceive virtual environments in ways similar to the ways they perceive the actual environment: They assume an isomorphic relationship between the virtual reconstruction of a given place and its actuality. They value the formal and multi-sensory aspects of the environment. Expert users, on the other hand, perceive the virtual environment from a structural and functional perspective and pay less attention to its formal and sensory qualities. They seek novel and interesting social activities, increased technical knowledge and improved social status.This dissertation also uses the ancient settlement of Sirkap, located in modern-day Pakistan, as a case study, to demonstrate that the use of gaming technology to virtually reconstruct a historical place may entail a change in the interpretation of archaeological records. Most conventional historical accounts of Sirkap use two-dimensional site maps and city plans as the primary media to represent the urban fabric of the ancient settlement. The medium lends itself to interpret the Block D Apsidal Temple complex as the dominant socio-religious structure in the affluent northern parts of the settlement. When the author developed an interactive three-dimensional reconstruction of Sirkap using gaming technology--a medium that allows users, through their avatars, to explore the settlement from the standpoint of a pedestrian--it was immediately obvious that the aforementioned Block D Apsidal Temple complex did not demand such an interpretation. Instead, this study argues that, at least in the affluent northern parts of the settlement, the northern gate, its adjacent fortifications, and the Block A stupa court were the dominant structures. Such an interpretation leads the authors to question the canonical understanding of the role of the state and its military apparatus in the socio-religious life of Sirkap.

Jennifer Milioto Matsue's ethnographic account of Tokyo hardcore in the late 1990s situates the scene both within the context ofJapanese society and underground music scenes in urban centers around the world. The author characterizes this enclave of hardcore music making as both distinctively Japanese and simultaneously comparable to other music scenes outside Japan. Matsue's research spans from 1996 to 1999 and revolves around the band Jug and the club or "livehouse" they frequent, 20,000volt. Other bands and participants on the periphery of this particular group are discussed, although the ethnographer is most intimately involved with Jug, and eventually joins them during a few live performances as a guest vocalist. Crucial to Matsue's narrative is a concept of performance that includes both acts onstage and (inter)personal contributions within the scene. Making Music in Japan's Underground: The Tokyo Hardcore Scene is divided into four chapters that progressively delve into the tightly-knit world of Tokyo hardcore. The first chapter gives context for the ethnography, providing an overview of Tokyo at the end of the century and establishing the dominant traits of American and Japanese hardcore music. While not attempting the dubious task of defining a genre, Matsue begins by outlining the basics of American hardcore, briefly touching on the genre's birth out of the punk rock movement, and its subsequent connection to both grunge and alternative rock in the 1990s. Taking punk tempos and speeding them up, hardcore is described by the All Music Guide (cited by Matsue) as incorporating guitars with a "monochrome" timbre and "half-shouted lyrics venting the most inflammatory sentiments the singers and songwriters could devise". Leftist politics are central to the early strain of hardcore in the United States and, as Matsue writes, citing Roy Shuker, the music created in the hardcore scene was "initially distinct from mainstream production systems".While Matsue fails to explain how and when hardcore made its way to Japan, her cursory overview of American hardcore allows her to compare and contrast the Japanese scene with its Western antecedent. Stylistically, the hardcore scene in Japan that she analyzes is "a range of musics loosely connected under the umbrella style of hard core . [incorporating] a guitar rock or kitschy punk aesthetic, with quite a lot of screaming . or intensive mumbling". Although independent modes of musical production remain important, radical politics are far less prevalent, and the performative aggression is more about momentary release than attempting to effect permanent political or social change. Matsue writes, "Performance in the scene allows participants a space to negotiate distinct individual and collective identities that can at times be further characterized by a sense of resistance, but this resistance is often temporary, even playful". This description is in keeping with Matsue's understanding of play. In her usage, play denotes a temporary leisure activity outside of work. Play also encompasses her definition of performance, which is specifically the creation of music onstage and the methods of production and distribution offstage (such as creating promotional flyers or starting independent record labels) that perpetuate the scene and facilitate live performances. Play can also include shifting aspects of one's identity and persona that may result in resistance against conventional societal roles, although in a fashion that is not permanent.

Análisis evaluativo de diversos enfoques geográficos sobre el espacio, su revelación con el Estado, entendido en su binomio poder y dominación. Se revisa la concepción de un poder unidimensional y la producción de espacio; así como las versiones del poder multidimensional, consumo del espacio y territorialidad. La concepción del espacio como producto-reflejo de la sociedad, se critica a la luz de concepción materialista del espacio. A nivel histórico, se estudian las estrategias y conflictos resultantes de la conformación de nuevos territorios y las limitaciones de acción del Estado frente a las decisiones locacionales de las grandes corporaciones multinacionales. Se fortalecen segmentos del Estado nacional, pero, a la vez, este pierde poder de decisiones ante las fuerzas internacionales y, principalmente frente a los problemas y tenciones internas. La autora sugiere diversos temas de investigación necesarios de cubrir urgentemente, tales como la relación territorio y espacio; naturaleza de los movimientos sociales de la base territorial; naturaleza del Estado contemporáneo y las relaciones ante los planes económicos y políticos y, finalmente, los limites de intervención del Estado y los problemas de legitimidad del poder. SUMMARY This is evaluative analysis of different geographic focuses concerning space-state relationships, taking into account a power and domination binomial. The concept of a unidimensional power and space production is revised; as well as versions of multidimensional power, space consumption, and territorial relationships. The space concept is taken into account as a product-reflection of society and criticized from the viewpoint of a materialistic viewpoint, strategies and conflicts are studied as the results of the confirmation of the new territories the large multinational corporations. Segments of the national state are stringency but, at the same time, the state loses its decision making powers in reference to international forces and principally in reference to problems and internal tensions. The author suggests several necessary and urgent investigative themes, such as territorial and space relationships, the nature of the social movements encountered in the territorial base, the nature of the contemporary state and of the its relationships in accordance with economic and political plants and finally, the intervention limits of the state and the problems of power legitimacy RESUME A partir d'une vision géographique, on présente et analyse les thèmes suivants: l'espace, la relation celui-ci avec l'Etat, entendu comme un bionome pouvoir et domination. On revise les concepts de pouvoir unidimensionnel et de production d'espace; de pouvoir multidimensionnel, consommation et territoriale. Le concept d'espace comme produit-réflexe de la société, est critiqué en se basant sur la conception matérialiste de l'espace. Au niveau historique, on étudie les stratégies et les conflicts qui résultent de la conformation de nouveaux territoires. On étudie aussi les limitations de l'action de l'Etat en face des décisions d'ubiquation des grandes corporations multinationales. En même temps que se fortifié certaines parties de l'Etat national, il y a une diminution de son pouvoir de décision devant des forces internationales et surtout en face de problèmes et de tensions internes.L'auteur suggère plusieurs thèmes d'investigation urgents, comme : la relation entre territoire et espace; nature des mouvements sociaux à base territoriale; nature de l'Etat contemporain et ses relations avec les plan économiques et politiques et enfin : les limites de l'intervention de l'Etat et les problèmes de légitimité du pouvoir.

In recent years, tourism has experienced increasing interest from researchers in various areas, a fact that has resulted not only in a diversity of approaches from which this theme can be treated, but also in the uncovering of the interconnections that exist between tourism and the development of the economy of transport and of society. Thus, tourist growth in each country has been the subject of several studies, ranging from economics to the political and cultural aspects associated with publicizing the country as well as to the links between tourism and transport developments. Research on the institutions promoting tourism and the magazines in which it is advertised has led to an understanding of the role that professionals such as engineers have played in promoting the activity and how they have long regarded it as a form of development for the economy and for transport. The study of travel guides is another possible approach to understanding the links between tourism and transport. Utilitarian in their nature, travel guides are a reflection of the economic, social, cultural and technological changes that, over time, have been introduced into travel for cultural purposes or for summer vacations, and which gradually have come to be participated in by increasingly larger social groups. The analysis of various tourist guides allows for an approach to various themes, particularly the different forms of transport and the new industries that technological and industrial development have made available for travelers/tourists. Analyzing the 20th century tourism phenomenon thereby implies understanding all the economic, social, political and technological changes that were initiated in the second half of the 18th century and which eventually brought about today's phenomenon of 'mass tourism'. Access to tourist travel – for improving knowledge, for leisure or even for therapeutic reasons – at the beginning of the 18th century, a privilege of the aristocracy, was gradually extended to include the rich bourgeoisie. Throughout the 19th century, it embraced even wider social strata through the development of transport and communications. However, in the 20th century its high level of growth allowed tourism to become, for many regions and even for some countries, one of the main sources of income and an important support for the economy. Throughout the 20th century, new achievements were established in the world of work, such as the right to paid holidays, which contributed largely to increase the numbers of those who could spend their leisure time getting to know other places and other cultures. Many of the changes that occurred in tourism were determined by the technological and industrial innovations that generated an increase in and a broadening of new means of transport. As Catherine Bertho Lavenir observes, "les voyages changent comme changent les techniques" (Lavenir 1999: 9). According to this author, today's characteristics of tourism are the result of an evolution marked by three distinct moments, separated by technological changes. The first period was the age of coaches and railways. The article seeks to examine the links that, from the late 19th century into the early decades of the 20th, were established in Portugal between tourism and transport, connecting them with the strategies followed by railway companies, cycling associations, the Automobile Club of Portugal (1903) and Sociedade de Propaganda de Portugal (1906) in the promotion of tourism travel within Portugal and abroad.

Полития Борны, существование которой на территории бывшей римской провинции Далмации в первой четверти IX в. фиксируется франкскими источниками, традиционно считается колыбелью раннесредневековой хорватской государственности. Между тем, характер данной политии и то, каким образом она была связана с хорватами как раннесредневековой gens, остается во многих отношениях неясным. Автор доказывает, что дукат Борны состоял только из двух политических единиц: собственно хорватской политии с центром в районе Книна и небольшого гудусканского вождества в Гацке. Борна был вождем хорватов, группы людей, которая постепенно развилась в этническую единицу под руководством христианизированной военной элиты, противопоставившей себя сначала аварской, а затем и франкской верховной власти. Гудусканы составляли отдельную natio, чья идентичность никак не была связана с хорватами. Известия источников, касающиеся важных институтов дуката Борны, таких как praetoriani и castella, указывает на существование всех необходимых условий для трансформации этой политии в раннее государство «дружинного» типа. Между тем, быстрое усиление пост-аварской книнской элиты, происходившее около 800 г. и приведшее к формированию дуката Борны, следует объяснять не столько внутренними социально-политическими факторами, сколько внешними импульсами, связанными с существенным изменением политической ситуации на западе Балкан вследствие франкской экспансии. При этом процесс стабилизации хорватской групповой идентичности и превращения ее в базовую идентичность этнополитической общности был весьма длительным, заметно уступая в своих темпах процессу становления на территории, где к середине IX в. оформится «страна хорватов» (Regnum Chroatorum), надлокальной политической организации. ; Borna's polity attested by Frankish sources in the territory of the former Roman province of Dalmatia in the first quarter of the 9th century is traditionally considered by many to be the cradle of the early medieval Croatian statehood. Meanwhile, the exact character of this polity and the way it was linked with the Croats as an early medieval gens remain obscure in many respects. It is argued by the author that Borna's ducatus consisted of only two political entities, the Croat polity proper, with its centre in the region of Knin, and a small chiefdom of the Guduscani in the region of Gacka. Borna was the chief of the Croats, a group of people that gradually developed into an ethnic unit under the leadership of a christianized military elite opposed first to the supreme power of the Avars and then to that of the Franks. The Guduscani as a single whole constituted a separate natio whose identity was in no way connected with that of the Croats. The evidence concerning the important institutions of Borna's ducatus such as praetoriani and castella points to the existence of all the necessary conditions for transforming the polity into an early state the administrative apparatus of which would be based on the ruler's retinue of warriors. Meanwhile, the rapid reinforcement of the post-Avar Knin elite that took place c. 800 and led to the formation of Borna's ducatus should be explained by external impulses connected with a considerable change of political conditions in the Western Balkans following the expansion of the Franks rather than by any internal social factors. For all that, the process of the stabilization of the Croats' group identity and its transformation into basic identity of an ethnopolitical community was very durable, the rate of the process being considerably inferior to that of the formation of a supralocal political organization in the territory of the future «land of the Croats» (Regnum Chroatorum).

Анализируются известия независимого и официального русского летописания второй половины XV в. о династических войнах между представителями московского княжеского дома. Основное внимание уделено наиболее известным представителям так называемой галицкой ветви московских князей, их личным характеристикам и военно-политической деятельности. В результате обращает на себя внимание неоднозначность информации, даже содержащейся в официальных летописях. Сделаны выводы о необходимости пересмотра устоявшихся в науке оценок данных событий и предположения относительно их возможных трактовок. ; In the Russian historical science there has developed a tradition of perception of the opponents of Prince Vasily II Vasilyevich in the fight for the grand throne. Galician princes are seen either as an unconditionally progressive power, but in any case they are confronted with the Moscow Prince. Accordingly, there is a tradition to evaluate their moral qualities. It is typical that both models are based on similar, though not absolutely identical sources. At present, it is necessary to dwell on the activities and personalities of the princes of Zvenigorod and Galicia on the basis of all available sources of the chronicles, both the official ones dated back to the end of the 15th century and independent ones (North-Russian chronicles and those written in the principalities neighboring to Moscow). Discrepancies or repeated news allow seeing the main parties of the conflict and their actions with the eyes of contemporaries and immediate descendants, at least partly. Using both types of Russian chronicles makes it possible to consider different interpretations of events chroniclers, from neutral to promotional ones. Particular attention is paid to the three Galician princes who openly opposed to Vasily II. The analysis of their actions, motives (often presumable) and the results led to the conclusion that these princes did not act as a unified opposition except for the brief period of 1433-1434. But at that time the reasons and goals of their struggle against Vasily II were not identical. Basically, that family sought to compliance with the principle of family seniority when inheriting the Grand Prince's throne, with the exception of Prince Vasily the Kosoy (Squint-eyed). But judging by the fact that the fight between Vasily Vasilyevich and Vasily Yuryevich ended by blinding of the loser the case was not typical because blindness was not a norm in the political struggle in Russia. Perhaps, this conflict was the cause of public insult of Vasily the Kosoy at the wedding of Vasily II. The author pays attention to the lack of available research sources enabling discussion about the personal characteristics and moral qualities of the princes. In particular, it is doubtful to speak of exceptional ferocity of Vasily Yuryevich and perfidy or duplicity of Dmitry Shemyaka. In this context, for example, it seems to be unreasonable to discuss the assertion that Shemyaka cheated Bishop Iona of Ryazan in 1446. In conclusion we can say that in the chronicle sources of the second half of the 15th century there is a lack of reasons to demonstrate the struggle between the two principles of succession. Moreover, the grand code of 1472 suggests that the only legitimate way to transfer the grand power was the observance of seniority, regardless of the double violation of that order by that time.