Suchergebnisse

Рассматривается структура политической системы субъекта Российской Федерации. В работе основное внимание уделено формированию и развитию политической восприятия при дисбалансе взаимоотношений между социальным порядком, социальными массами и их социальным поведением. Была выбрана депривационная теория развития политической напряженности, наиболее адекватно отражающая особенности политической ситуации в Южном регионе. Показано, что эмоциональное восприятие политического порядка является одним из аспектов формирования поведенческого компонента групповой политической установки. Предложено использовать уровень восприятия как индикаторный параметр политической напряженности. В основе мониторинга уровня эмоционального восприятия лежат первичные измерения по технологии семантического дифференциала Ч. Осгуда. С дальшейшей интерпретацией данных по ранее разработанной в рамках теории катастроф психосемантической феноменологической модели. ; Consider the structure of of the political system of the Russian Federation. In the work focuses on the formation and development of political perception with imbalance of the relationship between social order, social masses and their social behavior. Was selected theory of deprivation of development political tensions, most adequately reflecting the specific situation in the Southern region. It is shown that emotional perception of the political order is one of the aspects of the formation of a behavioral component of the group political installation. Proposed to use the level of perception as Indicative of political tension. The basis for monitoring the level of emotional perception are primary measurement technology of semantic differential Charles Osgood. Farther interpretation of the data on previously developed psychosemantic phenomenological model within the framework of the theory of catastrophes.

1 The underwater visual environment -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Definition of terms -- 1.3 The photic environment -- 1.4 Underwater vision and ultraviolet light -- 1.5 Dynamic changes in underwater light - spatiotemporal properties -- 1.6 The underwater polarized light field -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 2 The optical system of fishes -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.1 Optics -- 2.3 Accommodation -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 3 Optical variability of the fish lens -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Lens shape -- 3.3 Relative focal length (Matthiessen's ratio) -- 3.4 Spherical aberration -- 3.5 Chromatic aberration -- 3.6 Functional significance of fish lens quality -- 3.7 Concluding remarks -- References -- 4 Visual pigments of fishes -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Visual pigment structure -- 4.3 Receptor types -- 4.4 Distribution of visual pigments -- References -- 5 Retinal structure of fishes -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Diversity of retinal structure -- 5.3 Differentiation, structure and connectivity of retinal cells -- 5.4 Cyclic changes of cell morphology in the outer retina -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 6 Electrophysiological characteristics of retinal neurones: synaptic interactions and functional outputs -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Receptive field organizations: spatial and spectral aspects -- 6.3 Voltage-dependent conductances -- 6.4 Specific synaptic interactions -- 6.5 Efferent inputs -- 6.6 Concluding remarks -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- References -- 7 Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators of the fish retina -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Neurotransmitters of the distal retina -- 7.3 Neurotransmitters of the proximal retina -- 7.4 Summary -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- References -- 8 Tectal morphology: connections, neurones and synapses -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Retinal projections -- 8.3 Tectal position and lamination -- 8.4 Tectal afferents -- 8.5 Intrinsic structural organization of the tectum -- 8.6 Tectal efferents -- 8.7 Concluding remarks -- Abbreviations -- References -- 9 The physiology of the teleostean optic tectum -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 General physiological properties -- 9.3 Tectal input pathways: the retinotectal pathway -- 9.4 The marginal fibre pathway -- 9.5 The retinal efferents (retinopetal component) -- 9.6 The tectoreticular pathway -- 9.7 Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- References -- 10 The visual pathways and central non-tectal processing -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Visual structures in the diencephalon including the pretectum -- 10.3 Visual structures in the telencephalon -- 10.4 Visual structures in the ventral mesencephalon -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- References -- 11 Behavioural studies of fish vision: an analysis of visual capabilities -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Behavioural methods -- 11.3 Visual capabilities -- References -- 12 Development of the visual system -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Development of the optics of the eye -- 12.3 Development of the retina -- 12.4 Development of the optic tectum -- References -- 13 Haplochromis burtoni: a case study -- 13.1 Introduction -- 13.2 Visually guided behaviour -- 13.3 Social regulation of growth -- 13.4 Retinal structure -- 13.5 Retinal growth -- 13.6Summary -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 14 Vision in elasmobranchs -- 14.1 Introduction -- 14.2 Physiological optics -- 14.3 Tapetum lucidum -- 14.4 Retinal anatomy and physiology -- 14.5 Concluding remarks -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- References -- 15 Stimulus, environment and vision in fishes -- 15.1 Introduction -- 15.2 The underwater light environment -- 15.3 Visual adaptations to the environment -- 15.4 Fish as visual stimuli -- 15.5 Summary -- References -- Species index.

Розкрито особливості забезпечення легітимності публічної влади в сучасних умовах України. Зазначено, що поняття "легітимність" враховує юридичну (законність певної дії чи статусу) і етико-психологічну (визнання та підтримка тієї чи іншої дії, явища, інституції як правомірних і справедливих). Доведено, що складові легітимності як результат інтеракції влади й громади характеризується постійною напругою відносин і потребує серйозного теоретико-методологічного забезпечення. Обґрунтовано низку положень про специфіку й напрями підвищення рівня легітимності публічної влади. ; Problem setting. Under the conditions of the modern development of democracy, public authorities and their officials become the subject of special attention from the public, and the level of trust to them becomes an indicator of the society's readiness for serious reforms. Positive perception and approval of the activities of public institutions (their legitimacy) increase the effectiveness of social and managerial transformations. At the same time, today in Ukraine there is a rather low level of public confidence in various public authorities that is related not only to the actual achievements of their activities but also to a large extent due to a negative assessment based on the emotional perception of the results. Consequently, the lack of public support for actions and programs that are implemented by public authorities contributes to the emergence of prerequisites for social tension, destructive processes and crisis situations in society.Recent research and publications analysis. The disclosure of this problem has been made in the writings of such classics as M. Weber, J. Habermas, J. Coleman, T. Parsons, R. Patnam, F. Fukuyama and others. The main element of their legitimacy is social trust. In the domestic scientific literature, for the most part, the problem of political trust is highlighted, which was studied, in particular, in the works of such scholars as E. Bystrytskyi, S. Biloshytskyi, E. Holovakha, V. Ihnatov, A. Kovalova, O. Krutii, V. Maltsev, I. Martyniuk , S. Naumov, V. Nechyporenko, N. Panina, A. Khokhlova and others.Highlighting previously unsettled parts of the general problem. The works of the above-mentioned authors raise important aspects of achieving the legitimacy of public authority. However, in the science of public administration, these topics are considered sporadically, only some of its aspects are disclosed. The process of practical expansion of interaction between the authorities and the community forms the necessity for a more profound theoretical and methodological substantiation of the process of ensuring the legitimacy of public authority. The purpose of this article is to reveal the theoretical and methodological foundations for ensuring the legitimacy of public authority in the current conditions of Ukraine, that is, the determination of the principal provisions, the observance of which would promote the existence of high social trust in the implementation of social policy as an effective factor in the development of the society.Paper main body. In the article, the substantiation of the conclusions is based on the definition of the content of basic concepts. Thus, the notion of "legitimacy" (from the Latin legitimus - legality, lawfulness) includes both a legal component (the legality of a certain action or status) and ethical and psychological (recognition and support of one or another action, phenomenon, institution or official as lawful and fair). Legitimacy is, on the one hand, a characteristic of the power of managerial interaction, and on the other, the socio-civic side, it manifests itself as social trust. The dynamism of the indicated interaction leads to constant tensions of relations – reduction or increase of social trust and corresponding changes in legitimacy. Actually, the permanent process of restoration and strengthening legitimacy is defined as legitimization, and the possible state of its weakening is accordingly characterized by delegitimization. Therefore, the legitimacy of public authority means that its activity receives a high level of social trust – a positive perception and approval by the public. The article substantiates the position that a high level of legitimacy of public authority is ensured by a system combination of at least five areas of activity – conceptual-strategic, normative-legal, institutional-functional, performing and competency-based and informational-communicative. And because of the interactive nature of public governance, these areas should be supplemented and reproduced in the relevant perspectives of public perception and approval of the public policy. Conclusions and perspectives for further research. Thus, the problem of the legitimacy of public authority in modern conditions of Ukraine is very topical, since the further consolidation of relations between government and society, as well as the successful implementation of reforms, depends on its solution. Identifying and taking into account the theoretical and methodological foundations for ensuring the legitimacy of public authority will enable the establishment of effective dialogue with the public, and form a responsible attitude towards modernization. Prospects for further research on the proposed topic can be seen in the coverage of specific aspects of forming social trust in public authorities.

Розкрито особливості забезпечення легітимності публічної влади в сучасних умовах України. Зазначено, що поняття "легітимність" враховує юридичну (законність певної дії чи статусу) і етико-психологічну (визнання та підтримка тієї чи іншої дії, явища, інституції як правомірних і справедливих). Доведено, що складові легітимності як результат інтеракції влади й громади характеризується постійною напругою відносин і потребує серйозного теоретико-методологічного забезпечення. Обґрунтовано низку положень про специфіку й напрями підвищення рівня легітимності публічної влади. ; Problem setting. Under the conditions of the modern development of democracy, public authorities and their officials become the subject of special attention from the public, and the level of trust to them becomes an indicator of the society's readiness for serious reforms. Positive perception and approval of the activities of public institutions (their legitimacy) increase the effectiveness of social and managerial transformations. At the same time, today in Ukraine there is a rather low level of public confidence in various public authorities that is related not only to the actual achievements of their activities but also to a large extent due to a negative assessment based on the emotional perception of the results. Consequently, the lack of public support for actions and programs that are implemented by public authorities contributes to the emergence of prerequisites for social tension, destructive processes and crisis situations in society.Recent research and publications analysis. The disclosure of this problem has been made in the writings of such classics as M. Weber, J. Habermas, J. Coleman, T. Parsons, R. Patnam, F. Fukuyama and others. The main element of their legitimacy is social trust. In the domestic scientific literature, for the most part, the problem of political trust is highlighted, which was studied, in particular, in the works of such scholars as E. Bystrytskyi, S. Biloshytskyi, E. Holovakha, V. Ihnatov, A. Kovalova, O. Krutii, V. Maltsev, I. Martyniuk , S. Naumov, V. Nechyporenko, N. Panina, A. Khokhlova and others.Highlighting previously unsettled parts of the general problem. The works of the above-mentioned authors raise important aspects of achieving the legitimacy of public authority. However, in the science of public administration, these topics are considered sporadically, only some of its aspects are disclosed. The process of practical expansion of interaction between the authorities and the community forms the necessity for a more profound theoretical and methodological substantiation of the process of ensuring the legitimacy of public authority. The purpose of this article is to reveal the theoretical and methodological foundations for ensuring the legitimacy of public authority in the current conditions of Ukraine, that is, the determination of the principal provisions, the observance of which would promote the existence of high social trust in the implementation of social policy as an effective factor in the development of the society.Paper main body. In the article, the substantiation of the conclusions is based on the definition of the content of basic concepts. Thus, the notion of "legitimacy" (from the Latin legitimus - legality, lawfulness) includes both a legal component (the legality of a certain action or status) and ethical and psychological (recognition and support of one or another action, phenomenon, institution or official as lawful and fair). Legitimacy is, on the one hand, a characteristic of the power of managerial interaction, and on the other, the socio-civic side, it manifests itself as social trust. The dynamism of the indicated interaction leads to constant tensions of relations – reduction or increase of social trust and corresponding changes in legitimacy. Actually, the permanent process of restoration and strengthening legitimacy is defined as legitimization, and the possible state of its weakening is accordingly characterized by delegitimization. Therefore, the legitimacy of public authority means that its activity receives a high level of social trust – a positive perception and approval by the public. The article substantiates the position that a high level of legitimacy of public authority is ensured by a system combination of at least five areas of activity – conceptual-strategic, normative-legal, institutional-functional, performing and competency-based and informational-communicative. And because of the interactive nature of public governance, these areas should be supplemented and reproduced in the relevant perspectives of public perception and approval of the public policy. Conclusions and perspectives for further research. Thus, the problem of the legitimacy of public authority in modern conditions of Ukraine is very topical, since the further consolidation of relations between government and society, as well as the successful implementation of reforms, depends on its solution. Identifying and taking into account the theoretical and methodological foundations for ensuring the legitimacy of public authority will enable the establishment of effective dialogue with the public, and form a responsible attitude towards modernization. Prospects for further research on the proposed topic can be seen in the coverage of specific aspects of forming social trust in public authorities.

Nature experiences and participation in nature-based activities are increasingly recognised as beneficial to public and individual health, yet in most societies, the ability for people to take advantage of opportunities to acquire these benefits is unequal. Social constructs such as gender and disability, as well as levels of income and education, influence to what extent individuals can engage with nature, and there is growing concern over the increased disconnectedness from nature in urbanised societies. Nature-based tourism and outdoor recreation is argued to have an important role to play in rekindling this relationship between humans and the natural environment. Based on this, there is a real need to examine people's access to nature through nature-based tourism. This thesis studies access to nature through the four perspectives of infrastructure, conflicts of interests, exclusion and collaboration, in order to broaden the scope of how nature-based tourism can support equal opportunities to nature experiences. The included papers employ mixed-methods research from three case study areas in Sweden, with a particular focus on the southern Jämtland mountains. The four perspectives that constitute the framework of this thesis are expressed in each of the papers. Paper I reviews research on infrastructure for touristic purposes, and lays the foundation for paper II, where I examine the role of recreational trails in handling issues of collaboration and conflicts of interests in a mountain area affected by land-use conflicts. Paper III investigates exclusion from outdoor recreation activities from a gender perspective, and paper IV researches how accessible infrastructure, intended for people with disabilities to access protected areas, can give rise to conflicts between the competing interests of nature conservation and accessibility. Together, the findings in these papers suggest that although equal access to nature is desirable, there is a need to problematize the many layers of the concept. Improved access for one group can reduce access for another, and facilitated access to natural areas can cause problems of crowding and environmental degradation. This paradox requires further highlighting. Moreover, I argue that the call for a reconnection with nature to foster environmental responsibility, and to counteract declining public health in societies is exclusive, as constructs of gender and disability give unequal prerequisites to nature engagement. Despite this, access to nature is a democratic right, so although there is a need to recognise the complexity of access, I advocate for collaborative efforts to enhance access to nature for marginalised groups, and to consider aspects of access in land-use conflict management. ; Vid tidpunkten för disputationen var följande delarbete opublicerat: delarbete 4 inskickat. At the time of the doctoral defence the following paper was unpublished: paper 4 submitted.

Anthropocene has been considered a geological period of high risk due to the indiscriminate use of natural resources and the lifestyle taken by the world population, to the detriment of ecosystem conservation. The problem requires a transdisciplinary scientific approach due to its complexity. As a contribution to studies in the anthropocene, this article aims to add resilience to the peacebuilding and show its potential in the integrated response of the different systems or levels of analysis. This approach can find a favorable echo in the study on the levels of complexity of resilience, to mobilize and succeed in situations of disasters-conflicts. At the end, we discuss some aspects for Integrative modeling, which works as lens through which the levels at which risk and vulnerability factors can be addressed. This lens supports a holistic understanding of the individual, community or nation factors that can provide a more relevant and integrative perspective on resilience for peacebuilding in a disaster context.

According to Plato, a good state administration ("best"/ideal state) can only be combined with a good society ("best"/ideal society), and a good society can only be achieved with a good education ("best"/ideal education). He saw it as possible: "It must be able to be turned towards the most luminous aspect of existence, the direction we call -good-, right? Yes, education is the art of turning this power of the soul - for the good - and finding the easiest and most unfailing way for it. Education only leads him to the good side. It is up to us, the founders of the state, to lead people towards the knowledge of what we regard as the highest, to bring them out of the darkness into the light" (p.236-237). Since education is an idea-based and therefore an "ideological device" (Althusser, 2010), it acts as a kind of bridge between the state and society (Wiborg, 2000). This is the importance of analyzing Plato's Republic in terms of education policies.

The main purpose of the current research is to identify the coping strategies adopted by the parents of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The birth of a child with a disability, who strays from the ideal and does not correspond to the expectations of parents causes a shock, which triggers an ample and complex mourning process. Within families in the constellation of which there is a child with autism, a series of stressors and tensions manifests plenarily, difficulties arise, and that is why, for the stress and the diagnosis in itself to be managed as correctly as possible and to the benefit of the child, but also of the family, certain coping strategies are employed. The manner in which the parents choose to manage the stress, the manner in which they adopt and implement a certain coping strategy, the existing connection between coping strategies, and the stages of mourning are main aspects that will be treated in the current research.

Beginning in the late nineteenth century a promising ranching sector developed on the Mato Grosso frontier with Paraguay. The most lucrative markets for cattle products were in neighboring Paraguay, Uruguay, and in the southeast of Brazil. For the most part markets were distant from the region of production, while fiscal revenues were always limited, hence the state attempted to impose its regulations and taxes as it could. Residents found their incomes were constrained at the best of times, and any "outside" impositions were simply obstacles to the prosperity of their communities and businesses. The result was that like similar regions across the globe cattle and cattle product smuggling became normal. The profits were significant enough that even local government officials were involved. The result was a long-running "battle" between the state and local producers to tap the potential promised by ranching that simultaneously promoted and inhibited the development of the region. This article explores these contradictory aspects of ranching settlement along the Brazil-Paraguay border.

Frontmatter -- Table des matières -- Introduction / Groenman, S. / Turcan, P. -- Première partie: Rapports généraux de synthèse -- 1. Caractéristiques économiques des régions en retard / Turcan, P. -- 2. Aspects sociologiques des régions en retard / Groenman, S. -- 3. Relations entre la planification et la politique économique régionales et la planification et la politique économique nationales / Winiarski, B. -- 4. Rapports entre les secteurs et les régions / Mihailovic, K. -- 5. Politique régionale et pôles de croissance / Penouil, M. -- 6. Intégration économique européenne et développement régional / Frey, L. -- 7. Les problèmes régionaux et l'intégration supranationale / Davin, L. E. -- 8. Les institutions du régionalisme / Buch, H. -- Deuxième partie: Résumés des rapports nationaux et appendices statistiques -- Note introductive -- 1. Autriche: Région sud-orientale / Streit, M. / Kubinzky, K. A. / Gordesch, J. -- 2. Belgique : Liège / Davin, L. E. -- 3. Bulgarie: Sud-Est Rhodopes / Bradistilov, D. / Popov, P. -- 4. Espagne: Les zones en retard de la Catalogne / Trias-Fargas, R. -- 5. France : Aquitaine / Penouil, M. -- 6. Italie : Pouilles / Frey, L. -- 7. Pays-Bas : Noorden des Lands / Groenman, S. -- 8. Pologne : Les régions en retard de Legnica-Glogow, de Konin et de Turoszow / Winiarski, B. -- 9. République Fédérale d'Allemagne: Eifel / Voigt, F. / Pôtzsch, R. / Frerich, H. / Radel, R. -- 10. Suède: Västerbotten / Bylund, E. / Erson, O. -- 11. Suisse: Fribourg / Valarché, J. / Gaudard, G. -- 12. Tchécoslovaquie: Slovaquie orientale / Krizan, M. / Kutka, J. / Brunner, F. -- 13. Yougoslavie: Monténégro / Mihailovié, K. / Ivandevic, P. / Srebrié, B. -- Backmatter

Easterlin formulates one of the most popular fertility theories. He supports that fertility follows some regular cycles, with large birth cohorts producing small cohorts,
and vice versa. There are two complementary aspects in this theory: the effect of the relative number of the young adults (relative cohort size), and the effect of the wages and unemployment (relative income); the second one being a subjacent mechanism to the first one. Thus, individuals from a large cohort face up to the deterioration of their standard of living relative to their parents. They will make then adjustments to preserve the comparative positions and therefore their material aspirations, particularly adjustments in family life such as the decline in fertility. Thus, the induced fertility
by the large cohort effects makes this one reverse the next cohort size.

В статье отражены нормы международного и национального законодательства, обеспечивающие защиту прав и свобод детей. Основное внимание автором акцентируется на осуществлении современной политики России в сфере правовой защиты детей, направленной на приведение российского законодательства в соответствие с нормами международных договоров, и в первую очередь Европейской социальной хартии (пересмотренной), а также выявлении в указанной сфере проблемных вопросов, подлежащих скорейшему устранению. ; The article reflects the norms of international and national legislation providing children's rights and liberties protection. The author pays special attention to the realization of modern Russian policy in the sphere of legal assistance to children aimed at adjusting Russian legislation in accordance with the norms of international treaties and, first of all, European Social Charter (a reviewed one) and also to the revelation of problem aspects in the mentioned sphere which must be eliminated as soon as possible.

Cet article tente de retracer une histoire, celle de l'évolution de ma propre réflexivité durant le temps d'une thèse intitulée « Aménager les frontières des périphéries européennes. La frontière Serbie/Croatie à l'épreuve des injonctions à la coopération et à la réconciliation » (thèse de doctorat, Tours, Université François-Rabelais, 2016). Mon propos ici est de rendre compte d'une conviction, la nécessité de s'engager dans une démarche réflexive et critique avant, pendant et après la production de la recherche en elle-même. Cet article constitue ainsi une tentative de démonstration par l'exemple de l'intérêt d'une telle posture. Je vise, d'une part, à exposer comment j'ai construit mes réflexions épistémologiques, par une déconstruction progressive des cadres théoriques classiques (nationalistes, post-socialiste, post-yougoslave) choisis ou imposés. D'autre part, j'expose les aboutissements de cette réflexivité, c'est-à-dire principalement ma prise de conscience de la colonialité du savoir (et du mien en particulier). Cette gymnastique m'a permis de parfois dépasser certaines limites de mon travail, et plus souvent d'en rendre compte, mais aussi d'accepter l'indépassable lié à certains aspects de ma situation de recherche, de la manière dont je l'ai énoncée et conduite. Mener ce type d'exercice et en rendre compte contribuent alors à mieux préciser les conditions de validité scientifique de ces travaux, à mieux situer le propos et l'apport du chercheur, sa position et donc sa positionalité.

"Marxs Wager explores the interconnections between the various classical sociological thinkers by focusing on their relations (direct and indirect) to the work of Karl Marx. In the process we are offered fascinating new insights into Marx, together with new ways of looking at figures as various as Herbert Spencer, Auguste Comte, Harriet Martineau, Emile Durkheim, Georg Simmel, Max Weber, Thorstein Veblen, W.E.B. Du Bois, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Sigmund Freud. The result is an intellectual feast for sociologists." John Bellamy Foster, author, The Return of Nature: Socialism and Ecology Marxs masterpiece Capital (Das Kapital) was ignored and misread, or selectively and creatively interpreted by the generation of social scientists that came after him. With a focus on how Durkheim, Weber, and Simmel attempt to supplement what they call historical materialism or to engage in debates about socialism, this book details the significance of their references to Marxs Capital and other writings. Although the classical sociologists did not have access to most of Marxs published and unpublished works as we do today, they share his concern with how empirically detailed and scientifically valid knowledge of the social world may inform historical struggles for a more human world. This commitment can be called Faustian, after the title character of the poet J. W. von Goethes tragic epic of modernity, insofar as Marx and the classical sociologists hope to translate theory into practice while making a pact or wager with the diabolical social, political, and economic forces of the modern world. 'What I call "Marxs wager" in the title of this book is a more severe version of Fausts, since it entails both patient understanding and vigorous action. Like Goethes resolve in dedicating his life to the completion of his masterpiece as the supreme expression of his life, Marx never wavers in his commitment to produce a work that maps the possible directions for human history and that also calls for social change. For Marx, the scholarly aspect of this wager lies in the risk of miscommunication and misunderstanding, while the political aspect lies in the danger of defeat and discontent' (from the Preface). Thomas Kemple is Professor of Sociology at the University of British Columbia, Canada. His articles appear in Theory, Culture & Society, Journal of Classical Sociology, and Rethinking Marxism. He is the author of Reading Marx Writing: Melodrama, the Market, and the Grundrisse (1995), Intellectual Work and the Spirit of Capitalism: Webers Calling (2014), and Simmel (2018). .

The gathering and harmonisation of international statistical data in a multidisciplinary environment are key to international comparative analysis and policy work. The availability of timely, accurate statistical information enables policy-makers, practitioners, researchers and other stakeholders to address a wide range of issues in today's rapidly-evolving global economic and social landscape.The use of traditional data such as official administrative statistics however has some shortcomings. Traditional data in general takes long to be published and used because they are subject to a long technical and sometimes political process of harmonization and validation. Also, traditional data does not cover all topics of interest for territorial cohesion.Increasingly, data and information from analysing internet activities or social media can be used for observing territorial development trends. New developments for the availability and use of big data may help to overcome the shortcomings and bring new and interesting opportunities to support policy with up-to-date information relevant for territorial analysis.Currently, the interest from policy makers is growing as the sources for Big Data (Facebook, Google, Twitter, Instagram or blogs for example) contain valuable information, which can normally be hard to gather, and these data can be collected with very short notice. This means that Big Data could provide a more regular, cost-effective and harmonised data collection and provide an opportunity to more easily address new issues of interest.The aim of this ESPON activity is to further develop ways and methodologies for using existing big data sources and platforms to develop and measure indicators for territorial monitoring and analysis. In addition, these methodologies should be applied for indicators measuring the housing dynamics in European cities and the wellbeing of European citizens, in particular related to their housing and living situation. Finally, these methodologies should be made available and applicable to others for measuring these and other aspects in cities.