Suchergebnisse

International audience ; The specter of "population explosion" is often invoked today and even to be convinced that it is possible to find in population growth the cause of poverty in many countries. In fact, abusive appeals to demography are often made to confer a kind of scientific justification on programs of action which have heavily ideological connotations. It is therefore necessary to keep in mind the findings of the science of population in order to understand the notably different situations, and to grasp the mechanisms which explain why and in what way demographic changes vary in time and space. These same findings call for an in-depth analysis of development policies. ; Es frecuente hoy día evocar el fantasma de una «explosión demográfica» y estar convencidos de poder atribuir al crecimiento de población la razón de la pobreza de muchas naciones. En realidad, la «demografía» se utiliza mal muchas veces, para dar una apariencia de justificación científica a programas de acción con fuerte carga ideológica. Por consiguiente, es necesario considerar las enseñanzas de la ciencia de la población para comprender la notable diversidad de las situaciones, así como para aceptar los mecanismos que explican las causas y la manera de las variaciones demográficas en el tiempo y en el espacio. Estas mismas enseñanzas exigen un estudio atento de las políticas de desarrollo. ; Lo spettro di un'"esplosione demografica" viene spesso invocato oggi e persino per convincersi che in molti paesi è possibile trovare nella crescita della popolazione la causa della povertà. Di fatto, gli appelli abusivi alla demografia sono spesso fatti per conferire una sorta di giustificazione scientifica a programmi d'azione che hanno connotazioni fortemente ideologiche. È quindi necessario tenere a mente i risultati della scienza della popolazione per comprendere le situazioni notevolmente diverse e per comprendere i meccanismi che spiegano perché e in che modo i cambiamenti demografici variano nel tempo e nello spazio. Questi stessi ...

International audience ; The specter of "population explosion" is often invoked today and even to be convinced that it is possible to find in population growth the cause of poverty in many countries. In fact, abusive appeals to demography are often made to confer a kind of scientific justification on programs of action which have heavily ideological connotations. It is therefore necessary to keep in mind the findings of the science of population in order to understand the notably different situations, and to grasp the mechanisms which explain why and in what way demographic changes vary in time and space. These same findings call for an in-depth analysis of development policies. ; Es frecuente hoy día evocar el fantasma de una «explosión demográfica» y estar convencidos de poder atribuir al crecimiento de población la razón de la pobreza de muchas naciones. En realidad, la «demografía» se utiliza mal muchas veces, para dar una apariencia de justificación científica a programas de acción con fuerte carga ideológica. Por consiguiente, es necesario considerar las enseñanzas de la ciencia de la población para comprender la notable diversidad de las situaciones, así como para aceptar los mecanismos que explican las causas y la manera de las variaciones demográficas en el tiempo y en el espacio. Estas mismas enseñanzas exigen un estudio atento de las políticas de desarrollo. ; Lo spettro di un'"esplosione demografica" viene spesso invocato oggi e persino per convincersi che in molti paesi è possibile trovare nella crescita della popolazione la causa della povertà. Di fatto, gli appelli abusivi alla demografia sono spesso fatti per conferire una sorta di giustificazione scientifica a programmi d'azione che hanno connotazioni fortemente ideologiche. È quindi necessario tenere a mente i risultati della scienza della popolazione per comprendere le situazioni notevolmente diverse e per comprendere i meccanismi che spiegano perché e in che modo i cambiamenti demografici variano nel tempo e nello spazio. Questi stessi ...

The article provides a systematic assessment of the Italian political transition through the results of three national elections, from 1994 to 2001, covering a wide variety of topics. In particular, the residual polarization assumed by the previous literature is found theoretically flawed & empirically disproved. The more recent center-periphery cleavage has evaporated with the demise of the Northern League. Far from being "winning," the political extremes are stable or losing; parties of the center, in turn, are declining at a faster pace than in comparable democracies, & their numbers are, by 2001, among the smallest, whereas they were the strongest 10 years ago. As a consequence, the Italian case shows the whole set of standard conditions for bipolar, centripetal competitions, though two problems remain: fragmentation, which might be cured with the electoral reform, but is not the main, nor the most deviant feature, of the present system; & a deep destructuration crisis, whose indicators distinguish more sharply the Italian parties from their European counterparts, & whose effects might be felt for a long time & significantly depress the system performance of the main political actors. 13 Tables, 55 References. Adapted from the source document.

This article analyzes the composition of the parliamentary groups of Forza Italia in both branches of the Italian parliament, comparing the 1994, 1996, & 2001 data. By so doing, it attempts to contribute to a better knowledge of the political movement, Forza Italia, the party founded by Prime Minister Berlusconi. After describing the social & political characteristics of the parliamentarian elite, the criteria utilized for the recruitment of the parliamentarians & their places of origin, the article analyzes the nature of Forza Italia & the changes the new party brought into the Italian political system. In the end, it raises the questions of its suitability to support its leader in order not to repeat the failure of 1994; & whether Forza Italia will be able to lead the Italian transition to completion within the mould of a majoritarian democracy. 13 Tables, 1 Figure, 31 References. Adapted from the source document.

This article evaluates the trends of democratization over the last 10 years, focusing on the new transitions to democracy taking place in Central-Eastern Europe & sub-Saharan Africa, the two regions where this political process has lately been more pervasive. The basic question addressed is whether the conditions that favored the democratic wave originating in Portugal in the mid-1970s are still able to explain the political transformations that followed the breakdown of the Berlin Wall. For many, the implosion of communism makes any such comparisons impossible. After summarizing some crucial variables suggested by the literature to explain democratic transitions & consolidation, the author tests this hypothesis in both Central-Eastern Europe & sub-Saharan Africa. Initial findings show that, in many cases, the variables that favored democratic transitions before 1989 continued to operate in similar ways thereafter. A few differences aside, in the most recent cases, a number of basic economic, institutional, & cultural conditions continue, as they did earlier, to favor or frustrate democratization. 8 Tables, 42 References. Adapted from the source document.

Gives an overview of the contributions of major economists & researchers to the research published in Il Politico. Some common themes are discussed: reflections on the free market, the role of the state & economic planning, analyses of the economies of socialist countries & their transitions to the market, & the study of the process of economic & monetary integration in Europe. Discusses how these themes have developed over the years in the publication. E. Miller

Examines the democratic transition and consolidation process in South Africa; the Apr. 1994 multi-racial elections, regional economic integration, politics in southern Africa, constitutional revision, and other issues; 6 articles. Summaries in English p. 290-2.

This article explores Linz's contributions to political science from the perspective of his analysis of the dynamics of contemporary political regimes. Building on a profound knowledge of the case of Spain, Linz first offered the most important definition & analysis of an authoritarian regime. Then, he moved on to articulate one of the most significant comparative interpretations of the breakdown of democratic regimes, stressing that most often the opponents of democracy come from within its own ranks. His next tasks included analysis of the different transition paths from authoritarian rule, identification of the conditions leading to the birth of new democracies, & suggestions of the steps to be made in order to consolidate a viable democratic regime. Always keeping in mind the Spanish case, Linz has in fact become a true historical comparativist & has illuminated some of the most important problems faced by contemporary political systems. This article ends by spelling out five principles that have guided Linz's intellectual enterprise, that remain at the heart of his explanations, & that can be fruitfully applied by other scholars. The rich, dense, abundantly footnoted, thoroughly researched essays by Juan Linz are a constant source of inspiration, hypotheses to be followed, ideas, & knowledge. 30 References. Adapted from the source document.

In 1970, a new institutional arena for interpolitical party competition was introduced in Italy with the creation of fifteen regions. This paper aims at developing the topic of territorial differentiation of the Italian party system. It highlights facets & features of regional party arenas through a comparison between these arenas & the national system. Five systemic properties are taken into account: fragmentation, concentration, competitiveness, net volatility, & regionalism of voting behavior. The various indexes measuring these dimensions have been computed from both regional & national election results. It appears that a general nondifferentiation between local & national arenas has occurred, with a few relevant exceptions. Also investigated is whether these properties & the pattern of regional voting have undergone any significant change during the transition from the so-called "first" to the "second" Italian Republic. Some distinctive cases &, overall, four clusters of local party systems are identified, & some hypotheses concerning the reasons for the emergence of the various patterns are offered. Notably, a "personal factor" in several southern regions may be regarded as relevant. 7 Tables, 3 Appendixes, 47 References. Adapted from the source document.

International audience ; [In the face of demographic pessimism, what can the science of the population say? It is necessary to analyze the reality in relation to the fears of Malthus, thus unheard evolutions, then the demographic deceleration of which the real reasons must be examined. And the reality leads to taking into account the demographic questions in their interactions with the political and cultural situations, the diversity of the population of the planet and the evolution dependent on the rhythm of the demographic transition.] ; Face au pessimisme démographique, que peut dire la science de la population ? Il faut analyser la réalité par rapport aux craintes de Malthus, donc des évolutions inédites, puis la décélération démographique dont les véritables raisons doivent être examinées. Et la réalité conduit à prendre en compte les questions démographiques dans leurs interactions avec les situations politiques et culturelles, la diversité du peuplement de la planète et l'évolution dépendante du rythme de la transition démographique. ; Di fronte al pessimismo demografico, cosa può dire la scienza della popolazione? È necessario analizzare la realtà in relazione alle paure di Malthus, quindi a evoluzioni inaudite, quindi alla decelerazione demografica di cui devono essere esaminate le vere ragioni. E la realtà porta a prendere in considerazione le questioni demografiche nelle loro interazioni con le situazioni politiche e culturali, la diversità della popolazione del pianeta e l'evoluzione dipendente dal ritmo della transizione demografica.

International audience ; [In the face of demographic pessimism, what can the science of the population say? It is necessary to analyze the reality in relation to the fears of Malthus, thus unheard evolutions, then the demographic deceleration of which the real reasons must be examined. And the reality leads to taking into account the demographic questions in their interactions with the political and cultural situations, the diversity of the population of the planet and the evolution dependent on the rhythm of the demographic transition.] ; Face au pessimisme démographique, que peut dire la science de la population ? Il faut analyser la réalité par rapport aux craintes de Malthus, donc des évolutions inédites, puis la décélération démographique dont les véritables raisons doivent être examinées. Et la réalité conduit à prendre en compte les questions démographiques dans leurs interactions avec les situations politiques et culturelles, la diversité du peuplement de la planète et l'évolution dépendante du rythme de la transition démographique. ; Di fronte al pessimismo demografico, cosa può dire la scienza della popolazione? È necessario analizzare la realtà in relazione alle paure di Malthus, quindi a evoluzioni inaudite, quindi alla decelerazione demografica di cui devono essere esaminate le vere ragioni. E la realtà porta a prendere in considerazione le questioni demografiche nelle loro interazioni con le situazioni politiche e culturali, la diversità della popolazione del pianeta e l'evoluzione dipendente dal ritmo della transizione demografica.

When Italo Calvino wrote "Le città invisibili" in 1972, he was aware of the period of transition that urban life was facing. The 'city' is a polysemous subject, and since it encompasses issues related with both the man-made environment and the human experience itself, the concept of the city must be examined by using multidisciplinary methodologies. The utopian space is symbolic: it is created through an act of deliberate volition, and each planning starts with the spatial configuration of buildings in order to establish relationships between objects and beings. The utopian political and social frame of mind shapes the topography and the blueprint of the utopian city. The project stems from the mind of the author as a mere speculation, and it is built and made real through textuality: it is a non-place that does not exist outside the text. The essay focuses on two moments in the long history of utopian cities: the relationship between architectural theories on the ideal city and utopia during the Renaissance; and the relationship between normative and legislative utopia (both having the city as their prime expression), and the Arcadian-pastoral utopia (for which the garden and the relation of human beings to nature is essential). In this last case, the author will take into consideration the utopian city of the 19th Century, and look at two architectural schools, the constructivist and the cultural one.