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As a result of the United Nations' International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (1990-2000), and recent high profile disasters, disaster risk reduction has climbed high on the international political agenda. There has been a paradigm shift from reacting to disasters towards preparing for and mitigating effects of disasters. Among the measures that have been highlighted on the disaster risk reduction agenda are early warning systems. In a Swedish context, there are needs for early warnings for various flood risk types. Municipalities carry big responsibilities for managing flood risks, and early warnings have a potential to facilitate decision-making and ultimately reduce flood losses. The aim of this thesis is to describe how a variety of flood warning signals are used in the risk management process of Swedish municipalities, how they can contribute to the flood risk reducing process, and which factors influence the success of this. The thesis is based on two papers. Paper I is based on interviews with three respondents from Swedish municipalities that have invested in and established local early warning systems. The paper shows that the possible effects from a local early warning system are not only reduced flood losses but also potential spinoff, the occurrence of which is dependent on the well-being of the organisation and its risk management processes. Paper II is based on interviews with 23 respondents at 18 Swedish municipalities, who have responsibilities related to flood risk management, and one respondent who works at SMHI with hydrological warning. The paper shows that municipalities can use a variety of complementary flood warning signals to facilitate decision-making for a proactive flood response. This is however not systematically the case, and is dependent on available resources. The theoretical contribution of this thesis is a development of existing conceptual models of early warning systems with respect to risk management and system contexts, and the use of complementary warning signals. ; Following the United Nations' International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (1990-2000), and recent high profile disasters, disaster risk reduction has climbed high on the international political agenda. Among the measures that have been highlighted are early warning systems – for Swedish municipalities who are responsible for managing flood risks, early warnings have a potential to facilitate decision-making and ultimately reduce flood losses. This licentiate thesis, based on two articles, aims to describe how a variety of flood warning signals are used in the risk management process of Swedish municipalities, how they can contribute to the flood risk reducing process, and which factors influence the success of this. The articles show that the possible effects from a local early warning system are not only reduced flood losses but also potential spin-off benefits, the occurrence of which is dependent on factors such as organisational culture and the functioning of the wider risk management system, and that municipalities can use a variety of complementary flood warning signals to facilitate decision-making for a proactive flood response which, however, is not systematically the case as benefits are dependent on available resources.

The objective of this comparative case study was to investigate and compare how Swedish municipalities gather and use warning information from official and unofficial sources at the municipal level, as well as the circumstances under which that process has a chance to succeed. The overall conclusions of the study are that official and unofficial warnings have the potential to play complementary roles for municipalities making decisions about flood response, giving the municipalities a wider perspective and better opportunity to assess risk and to act appropriately. The required resources for using official warnings and getting access to unofficial warning sources are not evenly distributed among municipalities, and a lack of systematization of access to warning information hinders the flood response potential.

AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly influential in most people's lives. This raises many philosophical questions. One is what responsibility we have as individuals to guide the development of AI in a desirable direction. More specifically, how should this responsibility be distributed among individuals and between individuals and other actors? We investigate this question from the perspectives of five principles of distribution that dominate the discussion about responsibility in connection with climate change: effectiveness, equality, desert, need, and ability. Since much is already written about these distributions in that context, we believe much can be gained if we can make use of this discussion also in connection with AI. Our most important findings are: (1) Different principles give different answers depending on how they are interpreted but, in many cases, different interpretations and different principles agree and even strengthen each other. If for instance 'equality-based distribution' is interpreted in a consequentialist sense, effectiveness, and through it, ability, will play important roles in the actual distributions, but so will an equal distribution as such, since we foresee that an increased responsibility of underrepresented groups will make the risks and benefits of AI more equally distributed. The corresponding reasoning is true for need-based distribution. (2) If we acknowledge that someone has a certain responsibility, we also have to acknowledge a corresponding degree of influence for that someone over the matter in question. (3) Independently of which distribution principle we prefer, ability cannot be dismissed. Ability is not fixed, however and if one of the other distributions is morally required, we are also morally required to increase the ability of those less able to take on the required responsibility.

Nos últimos anos tem surgido no campo das Organizações da Sociedade Civil (OSCs) no Brasil uma perspectiva teórica e prática denominada Desenvolvimento Institucional (DI). Para além de mero aprimoramento técnico-gerencial das organizações, o DI leva em conta seus posicionamentos no ambiente e suas intervenções para desempenhar suas funções de forma eficiente, legítima e sustentável. Nesse diapasão, o propósito deste artigo é discutir se (i) a proposta de DI em OSCs vai ao encontro dos pressupostos teóricos e conceituais da gestão social, tendo como fim imanente a emancipação dos sujeitos nessas organizações, ou (ii) se permanece arraigada nas premissas managerialistas dominantes da gestão estratégica. Argumentamos que, a despeito das ações de DI terem o potencial de promover espaços promissores para práticas comunicativas, reflexivas e emancipadoras de uma gestão social, esta nova corrente se aproxima, teórica e conceitualmente, de uma perspectiva de gestão estratégica do social, descambando para a ortodoxia do gerencialismo.

The objective of this article is to discuss the ideological nature of Jürgen Habermas' theoretical framework regarding his concept of public sphere within his deliberative democratic theory and its assimilation by social management in the field of administration. The study intends to contribute offering a critical approach towards the influence of Habermas on the notion of social management, mainly with regard to the category of public sphere, by relying on the theme of ideology in a capitalist State and a class society. We analyze the evolution and continuity of Habermas' thought about the public sphere and discuss the consonance of the perspective of social management with the assumptions of Habermas' deliberative theory. We then argue that Habermas' theoretical framework points to an ideology of consensus on social developments. In addition, we claim that, inasmuch as Habermas presumes the possibility of a wholly spontaneous and unfettered dialogue, he ends up designing, idealistically, the intersubjective communication and the public sphere as an "ideal" discursive instance – as aprioristic guarantees of success. We conclude that the "real" public sphere should not be conceived as an arena of idealistic communicative conditions but as a genuinely contentious and asymmetrical deliberative space. In addition, an effective public sphere is supposed to encompass both informal public opinion formation and formal decision making, that is, it should promote real sharing of decision-making power, as sustained by the perspective of social management. ; El objetivo de este ensayo es discutir el carácter ideológico de los lineamientos teóricos de Jürgen Habermas acerca de su noción de esfera pública, en el ámbito de su teoría democrática deliberativa, y su apropiación teórica y conceptual por la gestión social en el campo de la administración. Nuestra intención es contribuir con un enfoque crítico a la influencia del pensamiento habermasiano en la conformación del concepto de gestión social, especialmente en lo que se refiere a la categoría de la esfera pública, recurriendo al tema ideología a la luz del Estado capitalista y de la sociedad de clases. Para ello, analizamos la evolución y la continuidad del pensamiento de Habermas acerca de la categoría de la esfera pública y discutimos el alineamiento de la gestión social con los presupuestos teórico-conceptuales de la teoría deliberativa habermasiana. A continuación, argumentamos que el marco teórico habermasiano apunta a una ideología de consenso sobre los desarrollos sociales. Asimismo, argumentamos que, en la medida en que Habermas presume la posibilidad de un diálogo completamente espontáneo y no condicionado, proyecta idealistamente la comunicación intersubjetiva y la esfera pública –como instancia "ideal" de discurso– como garantías apriorísticas del éxito. Concluimos que la esfera pública "real" debe ser entendida menos como una arena de condiciones comunicativas idealistas y más como un espacio deliberativo genuinamente conflictivo y asimétrico, y que una esfera pública efectiva debe comprender tanto la formación informal de la opinión pública como la toma formal de decisiones colectivas, es decir, debe promover la verdadera compartición del poder de decisión, como preconiza la gestión social. ; O objetivo deste artigo é discutir o caráter ideológico dos delineamentos teóricos de Jürgen Habermas acerca de sua noção de esfera pública no bojo de sua teoria democrática deliberativa, bem como sua apropriação teórico-conceitual pela gestão social no campo da administração. Nosso propósito é contribuir com uma abordagem crítica à influência do pensamento habermasiano na conformação da concepção de gestão social, sobretudo no que tange à categoria da esfera pública, recorrendo ao tema ideologia à luz do Estado capitalista e da sociedade de classes. Para tanto, analisamos a evolução e as continuidades do pensamento de Habermas acerca da categoria da esfera pública e discutimos o alinhamento da gestão social com os pressupostos teórico-conceituais da teoria deliberativa habermasiana. Em seguida, defendemos o argumento de que o esforço teórico habermasiano aponta uma ideologia do consenso quanto aos desenvolvimentos sociais, bem como o de que, ao supor a possibilidade de um diálogo completamente espontâneo e não condicionado, Habermas acaba por projetar idealisticamente a comunicação intersubjetiva e a esfera pública enquanto instância "ideal" de discurso como garantias apriorísticas de sucesso. Concluímos que a esfera pública "real" deve ser tomada menos como arena de condições comunicativas idealísticas e mais como espaço deliberativo originariamente conflitual e assimétrico e que uma esfera pública eficaz deve abranger tanto a formação informal da opinião pública quanto a tomada formal de decisão coletiva, isto é, deve promover a efetiva partilha de poder decisório, tal como preconizada pela gestão social.

This paper explores the concept of medical populism to examine how Brazil has responded to the Covid-19 pandemic. Recognising the centrality of discourses in framing health policy, we employ Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to identify and analyse (1) what were the main discursive frames that characterised medical populism in Brazil's Covid-19 crisis? and (2) how were these frames constructed, legitimated and reproduced in discursive meanings, structures and schemes of argumentation? Our study is an effort to inform the literature about medical populism and, more broadly, public health policymaking, administration and governance of health crises. Specifically, we seek to uncover the underlying discursive features of medical populism and expose how they frame public health policy. Our case study shows ample evidence that the main discursive frames underpinning medical populism during the Covid-19 crisis in Brazil reflected the most widely agreed attributes of populism as a strategic political discourse, notably an antagonistic depiction of the health problem, overpoliticisation and moral interpretation of political actors. However, our findings challenge some theoretical assumptions of extant conceptualisations of medical populism, thus providing greater insights into the concept of medical populism by demonstrating how this type of political discourse may incorporate different discursive meanings, structures and schemes of argumentation into its populist repertoire. This can help us anticipate patterns of action and narratives for preparing responses to future public health emergencies in an era of increasing post-truth politics, as populist discourses seem likely to influence public policy and governance for some time.

This paper explores drivers, implications, and trends of professional stratification and hybridisation in the medical profession employed in Brazilian federal university hospitals (HUFs). Drawing on exploratory findings, we examine some repercussions of the migration of university hospitals to EBSERH, a public company established by the federal government to manage and organise HUFs integrated into the Unified Health System (SUS). Our research shows that transferring hospital administration to EBSERH has led to further internal stratification of the medical workforce. The shift from the logic of medical-academic professionalism to the new logic of business-like healthcare, with the adoption of distinct job contracts and more managerial logics of work and control, may well be changing subjective and formal links established between professionals, universities, and hospitals. We identify and discuss trends towards hybridisation and dehybridisation. These findings are relevant because this shift can have profound implications for the academic nature of HUFs and for the future of professionalism within these health and teaching organisations. ; Este artículo explora impulsores, implicaciones y tendencias de la estratificación y la hibridación profesional en la profesión médica empleada en los hospitales universitarios federales brasileños (HUFs). A partir de hallazgos exploratorios, examinamos algunas de las repercusiones de la migración de los hospitales universitarios a la EBSERH, una empresa pública creada por el gobierno federal para administrar y organizar los HUFs integrados en el Sistema Único de Salud (SUS). Nuestra investigación muestra que la transferencia de la administración hospitalaria a la EBSERH ha llevado a una mayor estratificación interna de la fuerza laboral médica. El cambio de la lógica del profesionalismo médico-académico a una lógica empresarial en salud, con la adopción de diferentes regímenes de empleo y modos de trabajo y control más gerenciales, puede estar alterando los vínculos subjetivos y formales que se establecen entre los profesionales, las universidades y los hospitales involucrados. Se identifican y discuten tendencias hacia la hibridación y deshibridación. Estos hallazgos son relevantes porque tales cambios pueden tener profundas implicaciones para la naturaleza académica de los HUFs, así como para el futuro del profesionalismo dentro de estas organizaciones de salud y educación. ; Este artigo explora motivadores, implicações e tendências de estratificação e hibridização profissional na profissão médica atuante em hospitais universitários federais brasileiros (HUFs). Com base em achados exploratórios, examinamos algumas das repercussões da migração dos hospitais universitários para a EBSERH, uma empresa pública criada pelo governo federal para gerenciar e organizar os HUFs vinculados ao Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). A pesquisa mostra que a transferência da administração hospitalar para a EBSERH tem acarretado maior estratificação interna da força de trabalho médica. A mudança da lógica de profissionalismo médico-acadêmico para uma nova lógica empresarial de saúde, com a adoção de distintos regimes empregatícios e formas de trabalho e controle mais gerenciais, podem estar alterando vínculos subjetivos e formais estabelecidos entre os profissionais, as universidades e os hospitais envolvidos. Tendências em direção à hibridização e desibridização foram identificadas e discutidas. Esses achados são relevantes tendo em vista que tais movimentos podem representar implicações profundas para a natureza acadêmica dos HUFs e para o futuro do profissionalismo nessas organizações de saúde e ensino.

A rationale for an individuals-oriented landscape approach to sustainable land-use planning based on an analysis of bio-geo-physical components as well as the human components of the landscape is presented. A toolbox for analysing individuals' decision-making and valuations in the landscape is described. The toolbox can provide evidence on the drivers of individuals' decision-making in the landscape and the decision strategies they apply. This evidence can be used to identify communication needs and to design guidelines for effective communication. The tool for value elicitation separates the instrumental values (means) and end values (goals) of individuals with respect to locations in the landscape. This distinction, and knowledge of the end values in the landscape, are critical for the achievement of policy goals and for spatial planning from a democratic point of view. The individuals-oriented landscape approach has roots in geography and draws on behavioural decision research together with a model for integrating "science and proven experience" that is widely used in public decision-making in the Nordic countries. The approach differs from other scholarly disciplines addressing sustainable land-use planning. It is suitable for application on decision-making problems that include trade-offs between values. An overview of empirical studies is provided in which the individuals-oriented landscape rationale is applied to climate change.

A rationale for an individuals-oriented landscape approach to sustainable land-use planning based on an analysis of bio-geo-physical components as well as the human components of the landscape is presented. A toolbox for analysing individuals' decision-making and valuations in the landscape is described. The toolbox can provide evidence on the drivers of individuals' decision-making in the landscape and the decision strategies they apply. This evidence can be used to identify communication needs and to design guidelines for effective communication. The tool for value elicitation separates the instrumental values (means) and end values (goals) of individuals with respect to locations in the landscape. This distinction, and knowledge of the end values in the landscape, are critical for the achievement of policy goals and for spatial planning from a democratic point of view. The individuals-oriented landscape approach has roots in geography and draws on behavioural decision research together with a model for integrating "science and proven experience " that is widely used in public decision-making in the Nordic countries. The approach differs from other scholarly disciplines addressing sustainable land-use planning. It is suitable for application on decision-making problems that include trade-offs between values. An overview of empirical studies is provided in which the individuals-oriented landscape rationale is applied to climate change.

A rationale for an individuals-oriented landscape approach to sustainable land-use planning based on an analysis of bio-geo-physical components as well as the human components of the landscape is presented. A toolbox for analysing individuals' decision-making and valuations in the landscape is described. The toolbox can provide evidence on the drivers of individuals' decision-making in the landscape and the decision strategies they apply. This evidence can be used to identify communication needs and to design guidelines for effective communication. The tool for value elicitation separates the instrumental values (means) and end values (goals) of individuals with respect to locations in the landscape. This distinction, and knowledge of the end values in the landscape, are critical for the achievement of policy goals and for spatial planning from a democratic point of view. The individuals-oriented landscape approach has roots in geography and draws on behavioural decision research together with a model for integrating "science and proven experience" that is widely used in public decision-making in the Nordic countries. The approach differs from other scholarly disciplines addressing sustainable land-use planning. It is suitable for application on decision-making problems that include trade-offs between values. An overview of empirical studies is provided in which the individuals-oriented landscape rationale is applied to climate change.