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Past work on attitudes toward the use of referenda finds that the most politically informed citizens are more sceptical of its use than their less informed counterparts. An intriguing tension presents itself in that those citizens who may be best equipped for referendum voting, the highly informed and politically sophisticated, are the least likely to support the use of this tool of direct democracy. Using data from Canadian Election Studies, we consider three explanations for relative referenda scepticism among political sophisticates. Our analyses provide evidence to support a confidence in government explanation and a concern for minority rights explanation, but not an incompetent public explanation - a curious finding considering the centrality of citizen competence in the theoretical literature on referenda. [Copyright Elsevier Ltd.]

Recent comparative electoral research shows that both ideological and competence voting are influenced by the degree of party system polarization. However, while the former association is uncontroversial, investigations on the latter have led to contradicting results. This study takes one step back, arguing that polarization rather affects how voters perceive party ideological positioning and competence. Building on literature linking elite polarization to mass partisanship, the study argues that party identification is a strong moderator of party evaluations in polarized elections. Hypotheses are tested with multilevel logit models on a pooled data set of European Election Studies from 1994 to 2009. Results show that partisans are more likely to view their preferred party as the most competent and ideologically close when the environment is polarized, while there is no such effect for non-partisans. [Copyright Elsevier Ltd.]

Receiving media content on the Web, considered as a global information space, is typified by an inherent paradox. Most of the time, information accessibility is not fully exploited. Confronted with « overinformation », users' digital consultation is limited to restricted circles, even « hyperlocal ». Circles are mostly regulated by algorithm selection and by the use of translation and adaptation of the information to a target reader. This tendency accentuates the reader's ethnocentrism, going for a « national preference » imposed. As mediators, journalists, just like teachers, convey prevailing representations and participate in spreading knowledge in society. This PhD thesis looks into professional digital readers' linguistics uses and representations, aka digital journalists. The qualitative research reinforced by quantitative data focuses on three aspects of mediation: reception, production and intercomprehension. The investigation is contextualized in two complementary territories of Southern Europe: Sassari in Sardegna (Italy) and Barcelona in Catalonia, (Spain). The data analysis helps us identify six different profiles of digital readers according to their reading habits and ways of accessing Web content. This study takes inventory of intercomprehension strategies with a strong informational and educational potential. Reading in several languages encourages the comparison and confrontation of information that is culturally, politically and socially different. Understanding those issues and knowing those strategies enables mediators, teachers or journalists, to develop a plurilingual informational competence towards learners or receptors seen as readers citizens. By becoming a "plurilingual researcher" instead of a "multilingual consumer", digital readers would have all the necessary tools to transform information in knowledge. ; La recepción de contenidos mediáticos en la Web, vista esta como espacio de información global, presenta una paradoja: el acceso a la información suele estar infrautilizado. Al ...

The literature studying citizen responses to exposed political corruption is rapidly growing. While some studies explore how information credibility and group identities can reduce the electoral impact of the exposure of corruption, this article addresses different mechanisms for weak electoral accountability for corruption: candidate competence in public works provision and corruption prevalence. It uses a vignette experiment embedded in a national survey in Peru to isolate the causal effect of political corruption on electoral support. The results suggest that even types of corruption with side benefits would be harshly punished when attributed to incompetent politicians. They also indicate that while voters punish corruption more leniently when a candidate is competent, they respond negatively to corruption regardless of the prevalence of corruption, which casts doubt on the idea that voters in highly corrupt environments are acceptant of corruption.

Receiving media content on the Web, considered as a global information space, is typified by an inherent paradox. Most of the time, information accessibility is not fully exploited. Confronted with « overinformation », users' digital consultation is limited to restricted circles, even « hyperlocal ». Circles are mostly regulated by algorithm selection and by the use of translation and adaptation of the information to a target reader. This tendency accentuates the reader's ethnocentrism, going for a « national preference » imposed. As mediators, journalists, just like teachers, convey prevailing representations and participate in spreading knowledge in society. This PhD thesis looks into professional digital readers' linguistics uses and representations, aka digital journalists. The qualitative research reinforced by quantitative data focuses on three aspects of mediation: reception, production and intercomprehension. The investigation is contextualized in two complementary territories of Southern Europe: Sassari in Sardegna (Italy) and Barcelona in Catalonia, (Spain). The data analysis helps us identify six different profiles of digital readers according to their reading habits and ways of accessing Web content. This study takes inventory of intercomprehension strategies with a strong informational and educational potential. Reading in several languages encourages the comparison and confrontation of information that is culturally, politically and socially different. Understanding those issues and knowing those strategies enables mediators, teachers or journalists, to develop a plurilingual informational competence towards learners or receptors seen as readers citizens. By becoming a "plurilingual researcher" instead of a "multilingual consumer", digital readers would have all the necessary tools to transform information in knowledge. ; La recepción de contenidos mediáticos en la Web, vista esta como espacio de información global, presenta una paradoja: el acceso a la información suele estar infrautilizado. Al enfrentarse a la « sobreinformación », la consulta digital de los usuarios se limita a círculos restringidos, incluso « hiperlocales ». Estos círculos están regulados en parte por la selección algorítmica, el uso de la traducción y de la adaptación de la información a un « lector modelo ». Esta tendencia refuerza el etnocentrismo del lector orientado hacia imponer una « preferencia nacional ». Los periodistas y los docentes como profesionales de la mediación transmiten las representaciones dominantes y contribuyen a la difusión del conocimiento en la sociedad. Esta tesis se concibe para entender mejor los usos y representaciones lingüísticas de lectores digitales profesionales,en este caso los periodistas digitales. Esta investigación cualitativa apoyada de datos cuantitativos considera la mediación a través de tres de sus aspectos: la recepción, la producción y la intercomprensión. La investigación se ha desarrollado en dos territorios complementarios en el sur de Europa: Sassari, en Cerdeña (Italia) y Barcelona, en Cataluña (España). El análisis de los datos nos ha permitido elaborar seis perfiles de lectores digitales en función de sus costumbres de lectura y de sus vías de acceso a los contenidos digitales. El trabajo identifica una amplia gama de estrategias de intercomprensión con un fuerte potencial informacional y pedagógico. Leer en varios idiomas fomenta la comparación y la confrontación de informaciones culturalmente, políticamente y socialmente distintas. Entender estos retos y conocer estas estrategias permite al mediator, docente o periodista, fomentar el desarrollo de una competencia informacional plurilingüe para los estudiantes o receptores considerados sobre todo como lectores ciudadanos. Al volverse « investigador plurilingüe » en vez de « consumidor multilingüe », el lector digital tendrá las herramientas para transformar la información recibida en conocimiento. ; La réception de contenus médiatiques sur le Web, entendu comme un espace d'information global, présente un paradoxe. L'accessibilité à l'information y reste souvent sous-exploitée. Face à la surinformation, la consultation numérique des usagers se limite à des cercles restreints, voire « hyperlocaux ». Ces cercles sont régulés en partie par la sélection algorithmique, l'usage de la traduction et de l'adaptation des contenus à un lecteur cible. Cette tendance renforce l'ethnocentrisme du lecteur orienté vers une « préférence nationale » imposée. En tant que professionnels de la médiation, les journalistes comme les enseignants véhiculent des représentations dominantes et participent à la diffusion de connaissances dans la société. Cette thèse s'attache à mieux comprendre les usages et représentations linguistiques de lecteurs numériquesprofessionnels, en l'occurrence des journalistes web. Cette étude qualitative, confortée par des données quantitatives, retient trois aspects de la médiation : la réception, la production et l'intercompréhension. L'enquête s'est déroulée sur deux terrains complémentaires situés au sud de l'Europe : Sassari en Sardaigne (Italie) et Barcelone en Catalogne (Espagne). L'analyse des données a permis d'établir six profils de lecteurs numériques en fonction de leurs habitudes de lecture et moyens d'accès aux contenus en ligne. Ce travail recense un large éventail de stratégies d'intercompréhension avec un fort potentiel informationnel et pédagogique. Lire en plusieurs langues favorise en effet la comparaison et la confrontation d'informations culturellement, politiquement et socialement diverses. Comprendre ces enjeux et connaître ces stratégies permet aux professionnels de la médiation, enseignants ou journalistes, d'encourager le développement d'une compétence informationnelle plurilingue chez des apprenants ou récepteurs considérés avant tout comme des lecteurs citoyens. En devenant « chercheur plurilingue » plutôt que « consommateur multilingue », le lecteur numérique aurait les outils pour transformer l'information en connaissance. ; La ricezione di contenuti mediatici in internet, visto come spazio di informazione globale, presenta un paradosso: l'accesso all'informazione suole essere sottoutilizzato. Incontrandosi con la "sovreinformazione", la consultazione digitale degli utenti si limita a circoli ristretti, addirittura "iperlocali". Questi circoli sono regolati in parte dalla selezione algoritmica, l'uso della traduzione e la adattamento dell'informazione a un "lettore modello". Questa tendenza rafforza l'etnocentrismo del lettore orientato verso l'imposizione di una "preferenza nazionale". I giornalisti e i docenti come professionisti della mediazione trasmettono rappresentazioni dominanti e contribuiscono alla diffusione della conoscenza nella società. Questa tesi è concepita per capire meglio gli usi e le rappresentazioni linguistiche di lettori digitali professionali, in questo caso i giornalisti digitali. Questa ricerca qualitativa sostenuta da dati quantitativi considera la mediazione attraverso tre dei suoi aspetti: la ricezione, la produzione e la intercomprensione. La ricerca si è sviluppata in due territori complementari nel sud europeo: Sassari, in Sardegna (Italia) e Barcellona, in Catalogna (Spagna). L'analisi dei dati ci ha permesso di elaborare sei profili di lettori digitali in funzione delle loro abitudini di lettura e dei loro canali di accesso ai contenuti digitali. Il lavoro individua un'amplia gamma di strategie di intercomprensione con un forte potenziale informativo e pedagogico. Leggere in diverse lingue promuove il paragone e il confronto di informazioni culturalmente, politicamente e socialmente distinte. Comprendere queste sfide e conoscere queste strategie permette al mediatore, docente o giornalista, di favorire lo sviluppo di una competenza informativa plurilingue per gli studenti o recettori considerati in primo luogo come lettori cittadini. Trasformandosi in "ricercatore plurilingue" invece che in "consumatore multilingue", il lettore digitale possiederà gli strumenti per trasformare l'informazione ricevuta in conoscenza.

?his article refers to the current theoretical and policy debate on key competences, skills and qualifications, which every citizen in society must have or acquire, through a process of lifelong learning, in order to be able to cope with the challenges and demands of phenomena such as (economic) globalization, information technologies and multiculturalism as a result of the new character of migration flows. The recommendation of the EU Council and Parliament on key competences for lifelong learning, which include "social and civic competences", is indicative. The purpose of this article is two-fold: Firstly, to provide a contemplative review of some frequently used concepts within educational policy contexts. Secondly, to initiate a discussion on the relation between social capital and social competence, from a learning perspective, focusing on the question: Why is there such a huge interest in social skills and competences today, and what is the role of education (and what kind of education?) in the creation of social capital in society?

The author's aim has been to draw together the threads of political and social science and of sub-specialisms within those broad areas of study and to interpret them in the context of urban and regional planning. Consideration is given to various interpretations of decision making in a democracy, to 'representation' and the public interest, to the opportunities for citizen participation in the planning process, to the range of potential participants, their motivation and competence, to the means which may be employed to secure different levels of citizen involvement; and to the impediments to meaningful participation. Therefore this book will contribute to the closing of the existing gap between theory and practice by drawing together a diversity of themes from political science, philosophy and psychology, community theory and regional science, rendering them comprehensible in the context of planning

The purpose of forest policy is to enhance the sustainable production of benefits of forests to serve the needs of all citizens. Theory of system justification claims that low status groups are the most likely to support, defend and justify existing social systems. This study explores how various aspects of forest related competencies affect satisfaction with the political system and the desire to influence decision making. The effect of competence on system satisfaction and the desire to influence outcomes, is evaluated using survey data on Finnish citizens' attitudes on forest policy. The results were in line with system justification theory: Competence decreases system satisfaction and increases the desire to influence outcomes. The dissatisfaction with the system becomes possible only if people have adequate knowledge. Forestry competent people tend to be satisfied with the system, while people with conservation knowledge tend to be dissatisfied. The challenges to the inclusion of citizens' views in political processes are addressed. ; Peer reviewed

Globalization, understood as a process that has reduced the barriers that separate local contexts from international contexts, has increased and accelerated the economic, cultural, and political interactions among countries, organizations, and citizens (Giddens, 2000). From the business side, firms are increasingly involved in foreign ventures such as outsourcing, off-shoring, exporting, importing and investing in foreign countries that require the correct adaptation of managers to cultural differences. In fact, the inability of managers to face the cultural challenges of doing business abroad is one of the causes of business failures (Johnson, Lenartowicz, & Apud 2006; Black, Mendenhall, & Oddou, 1991). Rather than a lack of ability in the technical aspects of their job, a major factor in business failures (e.g., early return of an expatriate, poor choice of an export market, or problems running a foreign