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A review essay on books by (1) Louis Emmerij, Richard Jolly, & Thomas G. Weiss, Ahead of the Curve? UN Ideas and Global Challenges (Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana U Press, 2001); & (2) Thomas G. Weiss, Tatiana Carayannis, Louis Emmerij, & Richard Jolly, UN Voices. The Struggle for Development and Social Justice (Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana U Press, 2005).

Internal dispute, the crisis surrounding the war in Iraq, arguments concerning the financial perspectives for 2007-2013 and a double negative result of the referenda (in France and the Netherlands) concerning the European Constitution, mean a crisis for the EU. In the year and a half which have expired between 2005 and 2007, many plans have progressed slightly, but little have been concretized. In defense of Prime Minister Verhofstadt's "The United States of Europe", on socioeconomic policies, technological cooperation, unified justice, security policies, diplomacy, and a European army -- a plan that has not found its way to either the public or high political discussions. It is suggested to take it up with a limited number of member states, so that other countries will follow later. In general, the author reproaches European politicians lack of emotion: more open conflicts of Left against Right, large against small, swiftly and non-too-soft -- therein lies the nature of democracy, and therefore also the future of European politics. Figures, References. O. van Zijl

Two ambiguities in the theory of just institutions are explored. If the "fair value of political liberty" is given the weight Rawls claims it should be given, an egalitarian interpretation of justice as fairness emerges. In that case, the lexical ordering of the two principles of justice is impaired, & restrictions in the total system of liberties may be needed to maintain the fair value of political liberty. The difference principle is shown to have two interpretations: the familiar maximin rule & a principle of "compensating inequalities," which are derived from Rawl's contribution curve analysis. This is the principle Rawls uses in his theory of just institutions. However, it is the maximin rule that Rawls seeks to derive from the original position. This derivation is deficient, owing to Rawls's unconvincing argument for an "as-if" risk aversion of rational contractors. Given different "as-if" risk preferences, one can arrive at a utilitarian contract, within the framework of Rawls's original position. The relation between justice as fairness & Rawls's account of civil disobedience is analyzed. Rawls uses the lexical priority rules to decide when civil disobedience is justified, & excludes infractions of the difference principle. This exclusion, while possibly convincing in a strictly egalitarian interpretation of justice as fairness, cannot successfully be defended. Modified HA.

Story research. Doing justice to the complexity of stories from the field
Story research. Doing justice to the complexity of stories from the field
The article derives from the author's thesis Exploring voices exploring appropriate education: practitioners' discourse and focuses on its methodological part.Cilliers claims that scientific research needs new approaches in order to understand complex issues. Lefebvre and Letiche assert that managers and policymakers simplify the complexity of everyday life in their reorganization proposals from higher levels. Smaling sketches what the role of qualitative research can be in studying complex phenomena. In the article it is explained how story research as a form of narrative research methodology can do justice to the complexity of stories from the field.Boje's 'antenarrative', 'antinarrative' and 'narrative' form the conceptual framework to search for diversity within and between told and transcribed stories from the field. A 'paragrammatic' (Gabriel) use of deconstructive tools may help to find the diversity.Boje's 'emplotment' and Holman Jones' 'civic dialogue' offer clues to present the diversity of everyday life in a way that does justice to the complexity of stories from the field. The form of a polylogue was chosen to represent the different stories from the field.

In the Netherlands, as in Germany & the US, the judicial branch of government is assuming increasing importance. Political scientists must work to analyze the relationship between the state & the course of legal development. The increasing importance that society gives to legal discourse is stressed. Also discussed is the relationship between judicial power & the political elite. Suggestions are made for research in this area. M. Meeks

In spite of an approval of the financial perspectives 2007-2013 and the economic boom of the euro zone, "crisis" has not left the EU. It is installed in the institutions, but also and especially it has infected the spirits of European citizens. An article that treats the pros, cons and influences of the EU enlargement from 15 to 25 states, discussing the attitudes of single member states regarding for example immigration, the treatment of files and common questions, pluralistic votes that render difficult processes now that the Rhine-model (a BENELUX and Franco-German alliance) no longer has the upper hand. Furthermore is discussed European Parliament and Justice Court, both influenced in their functioning by the enlargement of the EU. Belgium's future role lies in seeking alliances with same-spirited member states, and to fill in the EU's delivery-gap regarding citizen demands for more justice, freedom and security, and a more uniform Europe as regards energy and foreign policy. References. O. van Zijl

Discussed is policy formation by such authorities as the police, local & national government, bar associations, legal aid agencies, the judiciary, & prison authorities. Emphasized is the quasi-absence of reliable statistical information, good annual reports, & the necessary cooperation of the authorities in opening this area for social science research. Major decisions of the Belgian Dept of Justice over the past ten years are analyzed. HA.

Abstract

Visuals in qualitative social science research

The visual is omnipresent in daily life. Though research is still mainly verbal by nature, visual studies and visual methods have become part of academic social research. This contribution intends to introduce visual methods to students and researchers who are not familiar with the possibilities. First, the reasons why researchers work with visuals are described. Next, following , ) we distinguish between visuals as data, as part of the data collection method and as output of research. Just like in any other research, autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice are the guiding principles when making choices during the research process.