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The present study reviews the foci, symbols and interpretations that the European media use to formulate and spread the political message about the "clash of civilizations". This means observing how this cultural clash is articulated in political discourse and how this is then reflected in the leading European media. To carry out this study, we compared the frames found in several significant political discourses (Bush, Ahmadinejad, Sarkozy, Gül) and those encountered in the coverage of these same discourses in the following European newspapers: The Guardian, Le Monde, Frankfürter Allemaigne. Through this specific case, the research also explores what is the process of the frame elaboration and which conditions make political discourse more effective and attractive for the media to assimilate them. ; Peer reviewed

Der von Lorraine Bluche, Veronika Lipphardt und Kiran Klaus Patel herausgegebene Sammelband untersucht an 13 Fallbeispielen Entwürfe einer europäischen Identität aus den letzten hundert Jahren. Auch wenn der Band nur einen kleinen Ausschnitt aus den je nach nationalem Ursprung, Wissensfeld und politischem Kontext unterschiedlichen Konstruktionen von europeanness präsentiert, bietet er doch spannende Studien, die einen guten Einblick in die Komplexität und Weite des Forschungsfeldes vermitteln. ; The anthology Der Europäer – ein Konstrukt. Wissensbestände, Diskurse, Praktiken (The European as Construct. Fields of Knowledge, Discourses, Practices) edited by Lorraine Bluche, Veronika Lipphardt and Kiran Klaus Patel presents thirteen case studies of European identity concepts within the last hundred years. Although the volume can only deliver selected insights into the inexhaustible construct of Europeanness, varying in their national origin, background discourse and political context, the papers are intriguing and show the breadth and complexity of the research field.

В статье дается характеристика современного состояния подготовки молодежи к военной службе в Российской Федерации. Для выявления современного состояния педагогической системы подготовки молодежи к военной службе был проведен анализ школьной программы по допризывной подготовке. При подготовке статьи автор опирался материалы диссертационных исследований по данной проблематике и практический опыт педагогической деятельности. ; The article deals with modern state of the youth training for military service in the Russian Federation characteristics. School programme on pre-conscription training had been analysed to reveal modern state of pedagogical system of the young people training for military service. When working at the article the author leaned upon the materials of theses research on the given subject and the practical experience of pedagogical activity.

This review's starting hypothesis is that in the 16th and 17th centuries there was already a Spanish national identity, which was particularly strengthened from the reign of King Philip II. The very idea of the existence of national identities in the Early Modern Age is often not accepted in the current academic debate on the matter, either in Spain and in general. This research will thus discuss this issue, first from a semantic and conceptual perspective, and then from a strictly historical one. According to this approach, Spanish national identity developed and took shape as a result of the convergence in this period of different discourses, symbolic constructions, and cultural phenomena, which will be presented and discussed here. Adapted from the source document.

В настоящей статье представлена системная модель политического процесса, которая продолжает оставаться одной из самых известных и распространенных в политических исследованиях. Даны определения главных понятий модели и выделены ее структурные элементы. Рассматриваются особенности среды, в которой разворачивается политический процесс, виды требований к политической системе и основные политические результаты нормативно-правовые акты, надзор и оценка. ; In the article the system model of public policy process is presented as one of the most known and shared in political researches. Definitions of the model constituents are given and its structural elements are allocated. Features of policy process environment are revealed, kinds of requirements to political system and the basic policy outcomes like laws, oversight and evaluation are considered.

Turkey has long, since 1959, been trying to be the member of European Union (EU). The last 20 years witnessed many renovations in the education systems of almost all EU members and Turkey. In order to study the similarities and differences between the teacher education system of Turkey and those of some other EU countries, a comparative study was carried out. This paper aims to present a cross-national perspective on the education within initial teacher training systems of three European countries: England, France, Germany, and the candidate member Turkey. The main concern of the research is to identify, analyze, explain and discuss the similarities and differences across the teacher education systems of the societies mentioned. © 2009.

У статті проаналізовано сутність та механізми професійного самовизначення особистості, основні чинники цього процесу, цілеспрямована й системно утворююча роль освіти. Доводиться необхідність модернізації сучасної освіти в контексті спрямування на підвищення ефективності її впливу на професійне самовизначення особистості в системі ринкових та демократичних трансформацій. ; This article is devoted to the essence and mechanisms of professional self-determination of a person, main factors of this process, purposeful and system-formative role of education were analyzed in the course of research results of which are being defended. A need of modernizing of the contemporary education in the context of aiming at increasing its effect upon the individual professional self-determination in the system of market and democratic transformations is proved.

Euro-Mediterranean Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM) ; La présente note analytique propose de faire l'état des lieux permettant d'évaluer le poids des compétences dans l'ensemble de la migration tunisienne et de tenir compte de certaines caractéristiques de cette catégorie de migrants. La note analyse ensuite les perspectives d'évolution du phénomène, compte tenu du contexte économique et social de la Tunisie et des demandes émanant des pays de l'emploi dont les politiques s'orientent vers une migration de plus en plus sélective, touchant la main-d'œuvre qualifiée et les compétences en particulier. Enfin la note présente une évaluation de l'impact de la migration des compétences sur le développement en Tunisie, et ce, dans le cadre de la problématique du lien entre migration et développement.

To abate problems resulting from increased car use, hard transport policy measures have been introduced. Such measures often meet public disapproval, are politically infeasible, and may alone be insufficient. As a consequence, alternative soft transport policy measures have been proposed. These measures are designed to motivate individuals to voluntarily reduce car use. This paper reviews implementations of soft transport policy measures in Japan, Australia, UK, and several other countries. The review underscores the effectiveness of soft transport policy measures in general and points to a variety of positive outcomes. Yet, the variety in the results makes it hard to infer why the measures are effective. Several gaps of knowledge are also identified. A companion paper will discuss these and identify research needs.

AbstractTeenage marriage within the Malay community of Singapore was thrust under the national spotlight by the government in recent years. Though identified as one of the major social challenges confronting the Malay community, there is still at present, a gross lack of research necessary for an objective understanding of the phenomenon. The adverse implications of the lacunae are reinforced by instant solutions and prescriptions aimed at eradicating the problem. Utilising data obtained from interviews and responses to a survey administered to Malay teenage married couples, this paper examines dominant perceptions of teenage marriage in Singapore and their ramifications on policies and programmes. It is hoped that this paper can contribute towards a more objective understanding of the problem so vital for effective policy making.

AbstractIn the process of human development, apart from family, political parties and religious groups, industry, government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) represent three fundamental social groupings and policy forms. In the past few years, NGOs have come to attract attention as a form of social community. This article is based on long-term empirical research into China's NGOs. It embarks upon this endeavor first through an explication of their definition and categories, as well as the social basis, central functions and property rights associated with NGO development, positing a number of important theoretical perspectives. Utilizing this basis the author will conduct specific analysis of policy characteristics and problems associated with the development of NGOs in China and will provide an outlook on future growth trends.

Although much has been written in the past 50 years about the pedagogical value of The Sociological Imagination, one section of Mills's book has been underutilized for far too long. Namely, the essay in the appendix, "On Intellectual Craftsmanship," has been rarely invoked by sociologists discussing the significance of The Sociological Imagination for teaching and learning. Given that the appendix is explicitly about doing research and engaging in the scholarly process, this oversight may be understandable; however, we argue that there is much to be found in the appendix that serves the needs of teachers and learners alike. The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the pedagogical insights that are implicit in Mills's recommendations for being intellectual craftspersons.

Wide recognition that families in the child welfare system experience multiple stressors has resulted in the development of a range of prevention and intervention strategies at individual, family, and policy levels.1 This article reports on a research study with minority immigrant families. The aim was to understand stressors they perceived as contributing to child welfare interventions, and services they found helpful or unhelpful. Using the conservation of resource (COR) theory, the findings highlight the erosion of resources that increases their vulnerability. Themes that emerged were: loneliness, betrayal, hopelessness, and financial and language struggles. Application of the COR theory combined with contextual insights from participant perspectives can guide policy and practice to focus on resource gain and prevent resource attrition.

Family centers have emerged as a focal point of considerable interest for those looking for alternatives to highly bureaucratic and residual approaches to child welfare programs and services. These centers are seen to incorporate the best elements of ecological and strengths-based family practice, bringing together professional and community members in a supportive, inclusive, and nonstigmatizing environment. However, much of the research on family centers is grounded in urban neighborhoods or has failed to distinguish between urban and rural contexts. This paper presents results from an exploratory study that highlighted issues relevant to the establishment and operation of family centers in rural communities. Implications for policy makers and planners, as well as rural family and child welfare practitioners, are discussed.