Suchergebnisse

The people of Ghana are gearing themselves up for general elections in December 2 008. Election 2 008 would be a historic fifth consecutive national poll since the start of the current constitutional democratic dispensation in 1 992. The transitional presidential election of November 1 992 was highly disputed by the opposition parties leading to their boycott of the subsequent parliamentary poll that December. The acrimony no doubt had arisen from the fact that the outgoing military regime that had metamorphosed into a political party to contest that election was perceived to have rigged elections. It was from such shaky foundation that Ghana's current dispensation has blossomed. The subsequent elections (1996, 2 004, and 2 004) have been more peaceful and generally free and fair. In 2 000, there was a peaceful alternation of power from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). Ghana's electoral successes have made it a paragon of good governance and peaceful coexistence in the West African sub-region which over the last decade and half has been better known for a spiral of violent conflict (Frempong 2006: 157). ; Introduction Issues of democracy and elections Brief historical background The transition election of 1992 Innovations in electoral politics The Electoral Commission The Legislature, Executive and Judiciary Political Parties Civil Society Organizations Voter Education Election Observation/Monitoring Strategies for Peace Traditional Authorities The Media Challenges Conclusion Bibliography

The weaknesses and gaps that the discipline of political science maintains to this day in Latin America cannot be explained without taking into account its checkered history as a consequence of the coups d'état that prevented the consolidation of democratic states, the repression of military regimes in universities and economic backwardness. The damage that authoritarianism produced in political science was considerably greater than that suffered by the other social sciences, because its object of study is directly related to democracy. Only with the arrival of the democratic transition processes did the development of the discipline have a significant boost, but only regional cooperation will be able to offer answers to Latin America. ; Las debilidades y vacíos que la disciplina de la ciencia política mantiene hasta nuestros días en América Latina no se explican sin tener en cuenta su accidentada historia como consecuencia de los golpes de Estado que impidieron la consolidación de los Estados democráticos, la represión de los regímenes militares en las universidades y el atraso económico. El daño que produjo el autoritarismo en la ciencia política fue considerablemente superior al sufrido por las demás ciencias sociales, porque su objeto de estudio se relaciona directamente con la democracia. Solo con la llegada de los procesos de transición democrática el desarrollo de la disciplina tuvo un impulso importante, mas solo una cooperación regional podrá ofrecer respuestas a América Latina.

Replies to Colin Hay's comments (2000) on Garrett's 1998 book, Partisan Politics in the Global Economy, which claims that social democracy continues to be both distinctive & successful in cases where powerful left-of-center parties are allied with strong & centralized trade union movements. Hay asks whether this means that countries without entrenched corporatist institutions must give in to global market forces by shrinking state activism. Here, scant evidence is found for the claim that the international integration of financial markets has been associated with a reduction in fiscal activism in the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) countries. This is consistent with Garrett's partisan mediation thesis. An effort is made to take up Hay's challenge of analyzing policy developments without recourse to Garret's institutional typology. It is shown that fiscal policy in the OECD had been considerably more restrictive where governments have committed to fixed exchange rates. It is argued that European countries have nonetheless chosen to fix their exchange rates as part of the broader regional integration project. It is suggested that the Eurozone may well not be dominated by conservative fiscal policies. The European Central Bank is unlikely to be as conservative as the Budesbank & the political & economic incentives for fiscal prudence in the Eurozone are weaker than under the European Monetary System. 4 Tables, 1 Figure, 15 References. Adapted from the source document.

E. Gellner (see SA 25:3/I6412) has suggested that a process is occurring of liberalization of ongoing regimes in many countries. The French Revolution was not viewed as the revolution until long after it occurred; it actually appears better understood as a failure of the liberalization which occurred in England & the United States. This myth was carried on by the USSR, but with that country's loss of attraction for Western intellectuals, it has lost its appeal. A comparison is made of the concept of liberalization as it is viewed in southern & eastern Europe. Neither liberty nor equality was identified with democracy in the nineteenth century, as they came to be by many people in the twentieth; the two in fact are not identical, nor can either be identified automatically with the Left. In Plaidoyer pour une liberalisation manquee (A Defense for a Failed Liberalization), Ernest Gellner (London School of Economics & Political Science, England) notes Aron's view of revolutions as failed liberalizations. It appears, however, that the changes involved in movement from agricultural to industrial society automatically undermine the old basis for power, creating a radical discontinuity which seemingly has to produce revolution. Aron seems to feel that ideocratic states cannot be expected to liberalize, but in fact the need for an educated technical class seems to make liberalization necessary. In addition, growing prosperity in such states makes concessions relatively cheap for their governments. W. H. Stoddard.

A study is reported which was conducted in Thrre Haute, Ind, in the Sum of 1967, using transcripts of the 'Speak Out' Program at radio station WAAC. It is noted that open mike radio forums or telephone call-in shows are offered by over 1,000 stations across the US & offer an interesting pattern of PO activity for the res'er. Interviews were obtained with 8 persons known to be frequent callers. All scored high on measures of conservatism, ego strength, & citizen duty. Data from a more general survey of callers which yielded 111 usable returns, & a survey of public leaders (mayoral candidates, members of the city council, & Sch board members) yielding 40 usable returns are also utilized. 'Speak Out' tended to appeal more to older people & to persons of relatively Ls. A comparison of the content of 'Speak Out' transcripts with front pages of the community's morning (Republican) paper shows a striking localism in the radio forum. 'I he program emphasized themes that differed from those emphasized in the local press & focused on criticism & complaint. Listening to 'Speak Out' was found to affect the behavior of people in the community. They appeared to develop a sense of participating in a common & concretely shared experience. It is concluded that this 'open mike' forum makes an important contribution to the functioning of local democracy. Further res on this previously unexplored COMM medium is urged. 3 Tables. Modified HA.

El objetivo del estudio consiste en describir los cambios que afectan a enfermería dentro del sistema educativo durante el proceso previo y posterior al establecimiento de la democracia en España. Se parte de la siguiente hipótesis: las diferencias en la organización social y política influenciaron la evolución de la enfermería española manteniéndola dentro de los esquemas del neopositivismo y los enfoques exclusivamente técnicos hasta la llegada de la democracia. La relación entre los sistemas de organización social y política en España ha determinado la evolución de un perfil específico de enfermería en el sistema educativo. Para comprender la integración de asignaturas como la antropología del los cuidados en los programas educativos de la enfermería española hay que se considerar los factores culturales, interculturales y transculturales que constituyen las claves para el entendimiento de los cambios en la educación enfermera haciendo posible la adopción de una perspectiva holística en los currículos. Hasta la llegada del sistema democrático en 1977, la educación en la Enfermería española fue solamente de naturaleza técnica y los roles de las enfermeras se limitaban al cumplimiento de tareas y procedimientos definidos por el pensamiento burocrático característico del paradigma racional tecnológico. Conclusiones: Durante el largo período predemocrático la enfermería española estuvo bajo la influencia del pensamiento neopositivista y técnico, lo cual se plasmaba en los currículos educativos. La integración en los currículos de materias humanísticas y antropológicas que facilitaban el enfoque holístico se produjo tras la integración de la enfermería en la Universidad en 1977 coincidiendo con los inicios de la democracia en España. ; DOI:10.5294/aqui.2010.10.3.1The aim of this study is to describe the changes in nursing education during the process prior to and after the establishment of democracy in Spain. It begins with the hypothesis that differences in social and political organization influenced the way the system of nursing education evolved, keeping it in line with neopositivistic schemes and exclusively technical approaches up until the advent of democracy. The evolution of a specific profile for nursing within the educational system has been shaped by the relationship between the systems of social and political organization in Spain. To examine the insertion of subjects such as the anthropology of healthcare into education programs for Spanish nursing, one must consider the cultural, intercultural and transcultural factors that are key to understanding the changes in nursing education that allowed for the adoption of a holistic approach in the curricula.Until the arrival of democracy in 1977, Spanish nursing education was solely technical in nature and the role of nurses was limited to the tasks and procedures defined by the bureaucratic thinking characteristic of the rational-technological paradigm. Consequently, during the long period prior to democracy, nursing in Spain was under the influence of neopositivistic and technical thinking, which had its effect on educational curricula. The addition of humanities and anthropology to the curricula, which facilitated a holistic approach, occurred once nursing became a field of study at the university level in 1977, a period that coincided with the beginnings of democracy in Spain. DOI:10.5294/aqui.2010.10.3.1 ; Objetivo: descrever as mudanças que afetam a enfermagem no sistema de ensino durante o período pré e pós-estabelecimento da democracia na Espanha. A hipótese de partida é: as diferenças na organização social e política influenciaram a evolução da enfermagem espanhola mantendo-a dentro do positivismo e das abordagens puramente técnicas até a chegada da democracia. A relação entre os sistemas de organização social e política em Espanha determinou o desenvolvimento de um perfil específico da enfermagem no sistema de ensino. Para compreender a integração de disciplinas como a antropologia do cuidado nos programas de educação da enfermagem espanhola é necessário considerar factores culturais, interculturaisl e transculturais fundamentais para a compreensão das mudanças no ensino de enfermagem. Isso permites a adoção de uma perspectiva holística nos currículos. Até o advento da democracia em 1977, o ensino da enfermagem na Espanha era apenas de natureza técnica e os papéis dos enfermeiros eram limitados ao cumprimento de tarefas e procedimentos definidos pelo pensamento burocrático característico do paradigma racional da tecnologia. Conclusões: durante o longo período pré-democrático, a enfermagem espanhola esteve sob a influência do pensamento técnico neo-positivista, que foi incorporado nos currículos educacionais. A integração de matérias humanísticas e antropológicas no currículo, que facilitou a abordagem holística, chegou depois a integração da enfermagem na universidade em 1977, o qual coincide com o início da democracia em Espanha.

There is a significant trend in Latin America of extending term limits for the presidency in order to allow reelection. There is also evidence that incumbency advantage matters of those presidents seeking reelection in different countries typically win their electoral bids. Based on a dataset of I37 elections in 18 countries in Latina America, this paper describes the evolution of different reelection schemes since the transition to democracy, reports the success rates for presidential incumbents and estimates the impact of incumbency on electoral margins controlling for institutional and economic variables. Adapted from the source document.

Hugo Chávez's government combines features of historical populism with a more recent variety that some sociologists have denominated «neopopulism». The novelty is that, unlike the older populisms, Chávez has turned out to be prone to militarism. Like other movements of this type, the Chávez government has an ambiguous relationship with the democratic institutions and an accentuated emphasis on short-term solutions that undermine respect for the institutions and for democracy itself. These are the reasons that explain the way in which delegative populisms shift towards an authoritarianism that tends to reproduce totalitarian government schemes. (nuevaSoc/DÜI)

Examines the role of the state & its relations with society & the private sector. Flaws in the social democratic state should be remedied by democratic innovations in the organization of the state, including public administration, & correction of corporate irresponsibility. The parallel growths of the state & corporate power, with an underlying erosion of public services, following the 1970s are discussed. Policies of the New Labour government have in some cases opened arenas for democratic control over the public sector. A more participatory democracy & active citizenry are emphasized for improved state function & corporate responsibility. L. Collins Leigh

The notion of participatory democracy is currently present in all public policies. Gradually instituted in the health sector, from the 1980s, this notion allowed the recognition of users rights and users expertise, and the end of the doctor-patient bond. This evolution led to the promulgation of successive laws which legislate the term "health democracy". However, users are still struggling to find a place in primary care organizations, even though local care appears to be a determining factor in improving the health system. The Territorial Professional Health Communities, territorial organizations aiming to improve the organization and coordination of primary health care, are the major points of the latest national health strategies. However, the absence of legislation on the place given to users in these new organizations leads to some interrogations about the integration of health democracy in primary care. This exploratory study aimed to identify the levers and obstacles to users participation in these new organizations and to define the modalities of action in favor of a real participation process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with users, representatives and patient-experts and with professionals involved in CPTS projects, in Gironde. The results showed that the persistence of a medico-centered vision and the culture of isolated professional exercise, the lack of knowledge about the health associations present in the territory and the lack of training and support for professionals in participatory methods were the major obstacles to the establishment of this participation. These results have led to several recommendations such as the establishment of a recognized consultation mechanism, closer ties with local elected officials, legislation, better training and the improvement of methodological support. These results are also an opening to further studies on the issue. ; La notion de démocratie participative est actuellement présente dans l'ensemble des politiques publiques. Instituée en milieu ...

"Veritas"--Cover. ; Jonathan Swift / William Makepeace Thackeray -- The idea of a university / John Henry Newman -- The study of poetry / Matthew Arnold -- Sesame and lilies / John Ruskin -- John Milton / Walter Bagehot -- Science and culture / Thomas Henry Huxley -- Race and language / Edward Augustus Freeman -- Truth of intercourse -- Samuel Pepys / Robert Louis Stevenson -- On the elevation of the laboring classes / William Ellery Channing -- The poetic principle / Edgar Allan Poe -- Walking / Henry David Thoreau -- Abraham Lincoln -- Democracy / James Russell Lowell. ; Mode of access: Internet.

Los Presupuestos Participativos han venido siendo objeto de interés social y político, por las oportunidades que ofrecen desde su potencialidad para promover una ciudadanía activa, responsable y con capacidad de incidencia en las políticas públicas. Asimismo, sugieren la posibilidad de formular un modelo de participación que incida en la concepción de Democracia Participativa. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los límites y potencialidades de los presupuestos participativos, a través del proceso desarrollado en El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz) entre 2016 y 2017. La metodología aplicada incluye el análisis de los datos de participación, de las propuestas ciudadanas y del grado de ejecución de estas. Las conclusiones confirman a los Presupuestos Participativos como experiencias que alimentan la noción de Democracia Participativa. ; Participatory budgets have been the object of social and political interest, because of the opportunities they offer with regard to their potential for promoting an active, responsible citizenship with the capacity to influence public policies. They also suggest the possibility of formulating a model of participation that can result in the genesis of participatory democracy. The aim of this work is to assess the limits and potentialities of participatory budgets by analyzing the process developed in El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz) between 2016 and 2017. The applied method includes analyses of participation data, citizen proposals and the degree of implementation of citizen proposals. The conclusions confirm that participatory budgets are experiences that nurture the notion of participatory democracy

Democrazia: etimologicamente significa "governo del popolo", una forma di governo nella quale il potere decisionale spetta al popolo. L'idea di democrazia non è univoca, nel corso della storia ha trovato diverse modalità di applicazione tutte caratterizzate dalla ricerca della forma ideale capace di dare l'effettivo potere decisionale al popolo. Generalmente siamo portati ad associare l'idea di democrazia ad una forma di governo, è certamente vero che molti governi nazionali implementino una loro forma democratica ma è anche vero che il concetto di democrazia è molto più vasto e può essere applicato in qualunque contesto in cui sia richiesto di prendere una decisione su un argomento. Negli ultimi anni grazie all'avvento di internet, il concetto di democrazia si è evoluto ed ha portato alla nascita dei concetti di e-democracy (una forma di democrazia diretta esercitata attraverso l'ausilio di strumenti digitali) e democrazia fluida (un modello ibrido tra la democrazia diretta e quella rappresentativa). Entrambi questi concetti sono stati concretizzati in software che mirano a fornire gli strumenti per implementare una democrazia. L'idea di democrazia ha innumerevoli forme e implementazioni ma, è possibile estrarre delle caratteristiche comuni? in altre parole, è possibile individuare un modello per le varie forme di democrazia? Nel corso di questa trattazione cercherò di rispondere a questa domanda individuando le componenti essenziali di un modello democratico e valutandone le principali implementazioni. Farò anche un analisi dei principali software per l'e-democracy che valuterò sia dal punto di vista tecnico che democratico (analizzando quale modello implementino).