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This special issue about the practice of local referendums in the Netherlands and Flanders, Belgium, focuses in particular on the relationship between referendums and the consensus model of democracy. On the one hand, referendums are widely conceived of as a typical majoritarian device. On the other hand, the legal possibility of referendums forces political elites to reach broad agreement, in order to prevent a popular vote in which decisions would be recalled. The three contributions to this issue demonstrate that consensus democracy influences the debate about referendums in the legislative, as well as how the practicalities are organised, in more varied ways. Studies of independent referendum bodies in the Netherlands and question wording in referendums in Flanders show that the nature of consensus democracy enables both countries to find solutions to potential problems, but also brings new problems. Guidelines for how these may be prevented in future referendums are provided. Adapted from the source document.

One of the most important problems in political science is party choice. Choice problems of a general nature have been studied by psychologists & market-researchers. Models from these fields are applied to political choice behavior. Research here was based on the principles of the 'attitude-model', which incorporates cognitive & affective aspects, integrated by means of combination rules. Focus is on identification of central attributes that characterize the 14 Dutch political parties in parliament. This was done by utilizing multidimensional scaling representations & by presenting a set of prespecified attributes to a group of individuals. The investigation pointed out 3 dimensions representing the 14 parties: the leftist-religious & government dimension, the nongovernment group, & a 3rd dimension, which could not be labeled. Discrepancies between these results & those of earlier research are due to differences in methods of data collection. The need for additional information is stressed. 3 Tables, 2 Figures. Modified HA.

A study of the relation between the nature of municipal elections in Belgium & the degree of Ur'ization of municipalities. 5 categories of electoral patterns are discerned: elections without competition; totally local; predominantly local; mixed; predominantly nat'l. Operationalizations of Ur'ization in Belgium from previous res are used. A positive r is found between growing Ur'ization & a shift from local to predominantly nat'l electoral pattern. This does not mean that the predominantly nat'l electoral pattern is found exclusively in the highest category of Ur'ization, nor that the exclusively local electoral figure & elections without competition occur only in Ru regions. But it is a fact that the gravity center of the more nat'l electoral patterns lies in the Ur'ized municipalities & towns, whereas the gravity center of local electoral patterns lies in Ru municipalities. Findings support the hyp of the "tenuous zone," formulated by S. Groenman (see SA A1165). 2 Graphs, 1 Table. Modified HA.

While increasingly more people live in cities, urban peripheries are expending at the cost of nature. This book explains how sustainability can be achieved by urban redevelopment and upcycling. The large-scale processes of urban redevelopment in this book are based on a successful brownfield project in Netherlands, the Paleiskwartier in 's-Hertogenbosch. 'Designing for sustainability through upcycling' tells the inside story of nearly three decades how policies were made, decisions taken, designs created, how the projects developed in phases and how the city government partnered the private sector in a unique way. A series of essays and short interviews with key players involved – including directors, designers, developers and city-officials – provides a detailed overview of how this project was actually realized. This book offers first-hand information of 30 years of development as told by master-planner Shyam Khandekar. Professor Vinayak Bharne places the process of upcycling in the context of developments from other parts of the world. A must-read for those on the threshold of undertaking a brownfield redevelopment process in their city

Changing together is learning together. A participatory action research project on the role of the internist in promoting a healthy lifestyle
This article describes the first three stages of an action research project. Following eight methodological principles of participatory action research, this article aims to give insight in the nature of the challenges and dilemmas involving internists, patients and patient representatives in the research process mention. Dilemmas included giving space versus limiting participation together with operating efficiently versus being flexible and honoring the input of all participants equally. It was a challenge to reflect not only on the content and procedures but also on everybody's role in the learning process. In conclusion, action research offers a critical base for a participative and reflective method but it is also a challenge for busy healthcare practices that focus on content and concrete action and less on the learning process. Because reflection on the learning process is important for scientific standards, we suggest to give monitoring and reflection a central place in the action research cycle.

The present article is a discussion of De spankracht van de Europese Unie. Gaan democratie en uitbreiding samen? (The EU tension capital. Do democracy and expansion go together?), an assembly of essays that are rated highly interesting by its reviewers. Characteristic for the European Union is its wish to be both democratic and effective. To nourish national and regional diversity, and establish a large internal market at the same time. To promote citizen and stakeholder participation, and respond in an effective and rapid way to all sorts of new challenges. The guiding principle of the book is the question whether the nature of the EU allows the achieving of these different topics at the same time. An edition in the interest of political scientists, but more so for politicians and policy makers, marked by a tendency for pessimism amongst the different contributors. As stated in the conclusion; a perfectly normal characteristic of complex political systems going through institutional crisis to reemerge at a later date with renewed stability. References. O. van Zijl

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

Preliminary Material -- Abschnitt: Freilegung des Tatbestandes einer dreifachen Vollendung des Deutschen Idealismus -- Abschnitt: Konkurrierende Denkwege: Fichte – Schelling – Hegel Eine biographische Annäherung -- Abschnitt: Vorlage des Vollendungsanspruchs von Schellings Identitätssystem 1801 -- Abschnitt: Platonisch-theogonische Vertiefungen 1802 – 1804 -- Abschnitt: Einsprüche: Das Identitätssystem und seine Weiterungen. Überprüfung der Schellingkritik Fichtes 1804 – 1806 -- Abschnitt: Ende oder Vollendung? Schellings Spätphilosophie im Widerstreit -- Abschnitt: Schellings Lehre von der Wahrheit als Unverborgenheit. Wiedereinholung einer Gegenstellung -- Abschnitt: Vollendung der Vernunftwissenschaft als System? Nachfragen -- Abschnitt: Wege zum absoluten Wissen. Ein synoptischer Überblick -- Abschnitt: Problematisierung des Anfangs der Onto-theo-Logik -- Abschnitt: Fragen nach der End- und Vermittlungsfunktion der Ideenlogik -- Abschnitt: Wege und Wesen der Wahrheit. Bereitstellungen zum Widerstreit -- Abschnitt: Hegel im Widerstreit -- Abschnitt: Beiträge zum Streit über die veränderte, ungeschriebene Lehre und die populären Schriften -- Abschnitt: Richtigstellungen. Fichtes populäre Grundsätze über die Natur und das Göttliche unter Anklage -- Abschnitt: Ausblicke auf die strittige Über-, Unter- und Gleichordnung der Gottesliebe (Amor Dei intellectualis) -- Abschnitt: Apologien zu zwei verrufenen populären Schriften in ihrem Zusammenhang -- Hauptstück Das vollendete System der Wissenschaftslehre: Einleitung – Grundlegung – Ausfaltung. Nachkonstruktion der ungeschriebenen Lehre -- Abschnitt: Markierung des veränderten historischen Anknüpfungspunktes -- Abschnitt: Grundlegung der aufsteigenden Einheits- und Vernunftlehre. Eine Durchsicht (W.L: 1804-II, 10.-15. Vortrag) -- Abschnitt: Grundlegung der Wahrheitslehre -- Abschnitt: Grundlegung und Grundzüge der Erscheinungslehre -- Abschnitt: Ausfaltung der Grundlagen (Principien der Gottes-, Sitten- und Rechtslehre, 1805) -- Abschnitt: Vom Vorrang der ungeschriebenen Lehre (Zu Grundsätzen der Erlanger Wissenschaftslehre 1805) -- Abschnitt: Einsichten in das gegenwärtige Zeitalter vollendeter Nicht-Besinnung -- Quellen (mit Siglen) -- Namenverzeichnis.

With the local elections in 2006, new organizational schemes have been applied by the Flemish government to the 308 municipalities. These schemes included institutional reform aimed to change the outset of local government. In this article we studied the influence of these reforms in practice. Are they actually carriers of change? We thereby focused on the direct aspects linked to these reforms. While many instruments of reform had indirect intended effects, acceptance & action among key decision-makers (both voters & local governors to the extent of their discretion) to use them directly becomes crucial. Our analysis has shown that, with some exceptions, direct autonomous space for action was only limitedly used, hence reducing the chances for indirect change. While it is still too early to fully assess the foreseen indirect effects, in our opinion it is crucial to understand the nature of these local reforms within the central (Flemish) bargaining arena. The latter seems to have transformed the new schemes of local governmental organization to the path-dependent art of the political feasible. Tables, Figures. Adapted from the source document.

New technologies, climate change, infectious diseases and major crises like the BSE-affair make us realize that our knowledge of risks threatening our society is very limited. The shaping of the responsibilities of our physical safety has to be rethought. The WRR makes a strong case that government, companies and citizens alike should learn to cope pro-actively with uncertainties. This way they can be more aware of the vulnerability of nature, society and the people in it. The council gives suggestions how the government can stimulate this process. - De zorg voor fysieke veiligheid is met steeds meer onzekerheden omgeven. Nieuwe technologieën, maar ook de klimaatproblematiek, nieuwe infectieziekten en grote incidenten zoals de BSE-crisis, doen ons beseffen dat kennis over risico's voor de samenleving beperkt is. De vormgeving van verantwoordelijkheid voor fysieke veiligheid moet daarom op een nieuwe leest worden geschoeid. De Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid bepleit dat overheid, bedrijven en burgers proactief leren omgaan met onzekerheid, om zodoende bewuster te worden van de kwetsbaarheid van mensen, samenleving en natuurlijke omgeving. De raad doet in dit rapport suggesties voor de wijze waarop de overheid dit proces kan bevorderen.

Although the 2006 local elections can hardly be described as 'historical,' there is sufficient evidence to distinguish remarkable characteristics associated with this elections. For the first time in decades, turnout has been growing. This evolution can be explained by several factors. This article emphasizes besides the impact of changes in the electoral rules, transformations in demographic structure of the population & the stake of the elections the importance of the media campaign surrounding the elections. However, in spite of this (national) campaigns, there are more than enough indications that local politics keeps its local 'nature.' Secondly, the 2006 elections were the first ones organized after the transfer of the responsibility for municipality legislation from the federal state to the regions. This means that each region designed its own local government architecture & electoral rules. Yet, in practice, the consequences of this transformation seem to be very limited. Thirdly, & particular in the Flemish region, 'strong mayors' arose from the ballot stations (with the Antwerp mayor as the most spectacular case). The consequences of this trend will in the future be the issue of a new debate concerning the relations between council, board of alderman & mayor. Adapted from the source document.

Confronted with acute SE problems, the Socialist & the Christian Democratic trade unions in 1976 strengthened their "Common Trade Unions" Front' (with about 2 million members out of a total of 2,300,000 wage- & salary-earners in Belgium) in view of negotiating with employers & with the government, for which the trade unions have submitted a common platform. This common front has antecedents on the local, regional, & professional levels, but has never been & never will be of a permanent nature. This is due as much to historical, as to ideological causes. The principle of class struggle is basic to the socialist union, & christian doctrine is basic to the Christian Democrat concept. The two unions are imbalanced in their linguistic division. Socialists dominate the French-speaking South, while the Christians dominate the Flemish-speaking North. Each confederation wants to maintain its identity. From the employer's view (& to some extent completely independent from the trade union's common front) representatives of employer's organizations have launched the idea that a new & comprehensive "social contract" should be negotiated. The Christian Democratic Union favors such a pact, but since the socialist trade union rejects this idea--which would lead to a further integration in the capitalist system--the probability for such a pact to be realized at present is rather low. Modified HA.

Article 34 of the European Convention on Human Rights prescribes that individual applications must be directed against one of the Convention States. Consequently, private actors involved in proceedings against other private actors before domestic courts must complain about State (in)action in their application to the European Court of Human Rights. In other words, originally 'horizontal' conflicts must be 'verticalised' in order to be admissible. Although such verticalised cases make up a large portion of the Court's case law, the particular nature of these cases, as well as procedural issues that may arise in them, has not received much attention. To fill this gap, this book offers a detailed examination of verticalised cases coming before the Court. The characteristics of and the Court's approach to verticalised cases are explored by means of an in-depth analysis of four types of verticalised cases (cases related to one's surroundings; cases involving a conflict between the right to reputation and private life and the right to freedom of expression; family life cases; and employer-employee cases). On the basis of this analysis, it is argued that the Court's current approach to verticalised cases poses problems for private actors, Convention States and the Court itself. In presenting recommendations for the resolution of these problems, the book concludes with a proposal for a new approach to verticalised cases, consisting of a redesigned third-party intervention procedure.