Suchergebnisse

Known as highly mobile cattle nomads, the Wodaabe in Niger are today increasingly engaged in a transformation process towards a more diversified livelihood based primarily on agro-pastoralism and urban work migration. This book examines recent transformations in spatial patterns, notably in the context of urban migration and in processes of sedentarization in rural proto-villages. The book analyses the consequences that the recent change entails for social group formation and collective identification, and how this impacts integration into wider society amid the structures of the modern nation state

The Woɗaaɓe, a group of Fulɓe pastoralists in Niger, practice two contrasting forms of marriage. The first, called kooɓgal, is clan endogamous and based on betrothal arrangements between families; the second, called te'egal, is generally clan exogamous and based on elopement of already married women with men from other clans. The paper elaborates on the cultural rules of te'egal marriage and its socio-political dimension. Sanctioned in a ceremonial framework of inter-clan alliances (ngaanka), te'egal marriage is of significance for structuring the political relations between Woɗaaɓe clans, and as a culture-specific feature of distinction it is crucial in defining ethnic group membership. By interpreting the complex of ngaanka and te'egal with Mauss' concept of 'total prestation' as a form of reciprocal exchange, the paper shows that these institutions, despite their inherent conflict potential, have an integrative function and play a central role for identity construction and cultural reproduction. Ngaanka partnership opposes clans as rivals about each other's women, yet also ties them together through the kinship bonds resulting from te'egal inter-marriage.

This thesis consists of five essays on the management and economics of patents. I empirically analyze economic phenomena which influence the corporate use of patents. The thesis is structured into two parts. In the first part, I analyze the role of strategic patenting motives, the role of incentives for firms to have their patented technology included in industry standards, and determinants of cross-licensing. I show a number of interrelations between these factors and the patenting and filing behavior of firms as well as with the resulting patents. The second part of the thesis addresses the risk of unauthorized imitation of proprietary technology or trademarks ("product piracy") as well as with the resulting reaction in the protection strategies of firms. I show that firm strategic aspects such as research and development (R&D) activities abroad or the general R&D activity of the firm correlate with the risk of product piracy. I also show evidence that firms react to cases of unauthorized imitation with a stronger use of formal protection strategies (such as patents) as opposed to informal protection methods such as trade secrets or a faster time to market. The empirical analyses are based on a number of different samples at the firm and patent level. I use several microeconometric techniques such as regression, survival and matching methods. The work discusses the implications of the results for innovation incentives, technology (especially patent) policy and for the management of intellectual property protection. ; Diese Dissertation befasst sich mit der Nutzung von Patenten durch Firmen. In fünf verschiedenen Forschungsaufsätzen wird die Rolle von verschiedenen Faktoren, welche das betriebliche Patentierungsverhalten beeinflussen, empirisch untersucht. Die Arbeit ist in zwei größere Teile gegliedert. Im ersten Teil werden in drei Aufsätzen strategische Patentierungsmotive wie Blockade oder Patenttausch, die Rolle von Anreizen zur Einbeziehung patentierter Technologie in Industriestandards sowie Determinanten der Kreuzlizenzierung untersucht. Es wird eine Reihe von Zusammenhängen dieser Phänomene mit dem Patentierungs- und Patentanmeldeverhalten sowie mit Charakteristika der resultierenden Patente (z.B. Patenwert) belegt. Der zweite Teil der Arbeit befasst sich mit dem betrieblichen Risiko der unerlaubten Nachahmung von geschützter Technologie oder Markennamen ("Produktpiraterie") sowie mit den resultierenden Reaktionen in der Schutzstrategie von Firmen. Es wird gezeigt, dass firmenstrategische Aspekte wie Forschungsaktivitäten im Ausland oder die Forschungs- und Entwicklungsintensität mit dem Risiko von unerlaubter Nachahmung in einer deutlichen Beziehung stehen. Darüber hinaus wird dargestellt, dass Firmen auf Fälle unerlaubter Nachahmung mit einer tendenziell stärkeren Nutzung von formellen Schutzrechten wie Patenten reagieren und nicht auf informelle Strategien (z.B. Geheimhaltung, schnellerer Markteintritt) ausweichen. Die Dissertation stützt sich in der empirische Umsetzung auf eine Reihe von unterschiedlichen Samples auf Firmen- sowie auf Patentebene und nutzt verschiedene mikroökonometrische Verfahren wie Regressions-, Survival- und Matchinganalysen zur Auswertung. Die Arbeit zeigt Implikationen der verschiedenen Ergebnisse für Innovationsanreize, Technologiepolitik (insbesondere Patentpolitik) sowie für den betrieblichen Schutz geistigen Eigentums auf.

Zs.-Fassung ; Summary

"This volume helps us understand the transformations of terrorist organisations, and the conflicts they are involved in, by broadening the perspective on what is considered terrorist learning. Using a variety of methodological approaches and empirical data, the volume offers a look at the clandestine inner lives of groups from different continents and ideological backgrounds in order to explore from whom they learn and how, and what the outcomes are. Their internal and external interactions are examined within their socio-political contexts to illuminate how they adapt to challenges or fail to do so. Unpacking the question of 'how do terrorists learn' helps us to grasp not only changes of violent means of action but also of operational and strategic approaches and, ultimately, even transformations of the ends pursued. The chapters demonstrate that terrorist learning is not principally different from that of other human organisations. The contributors draw on conceptual frameworks of organizational learning, but also broaden the scope beyond the organizational framework to acknowledge the variety of forms of informal and decentralized learning characteristic of much contemporary terrorism. This book will be of much interest to students of terrorism studies, violent extremism, organisational studies and International Relations"--

"This volume helps us understand the transformations of terrorist organisations, and the conflicts they are involved in, by broadening the perspective on what is considered terrorist learning. Using a variety of methodological approaches and empirical data, the volume offers a look at the clandestine inner lives of groups from different continents and ideological backgrounds in order to explore from whom they learn and how, and what the outcomes are. Their internal and external interactions are examined within their socio-political contexts to illuminate how they adapt to challenges or fail to do so. Unpacking the question of 'how do terrorists learn' helps us to grasp not only changes of violent means of action but also of operational and strategic approaches and, ultimately, even transformations of the ends pursued. The chapters demonstrate that terrorist learning is not principally different from that of other human organisations. The contributors draw on conceptual frameworks of organizational learning, but also broaden the scope beyond the organizational framework to acknowledge the variety of forms of informal and decentralized learning characteristic of much contemporary terrorism. This book will be of much interest to students of terrorism studies, violent extremism, organisational studies and International Relations"--