Suchergebnisse

How does the European Commission in monitoring the implementation of European directives? When grabs the Commission and the national execution deviates from the policy as laid down in a directive, and when not? And what are the reasons? In the article 'Is Big Brother Watching? Oversight Commission on the National Implementation of EU Directives' looks at those questions. Adapted from the source document.

Abstract

The appeal and challenges of creative research methods

Attention for the use of creative research methods in various scientific disciplines is increasing. In this article, several reasons are given as to why researchers are drawn to these methods. The challenges that researchers may face in using these methods are also described. The article ends with a brief outlook on the possible future of creative methods, pointing to how they can contribute to acquiring acknowledge and tap into different types of knowledge.

Experiential knowledge of young people from a family home: Interviewing with photo cards as a method for data collection
This article describes the method of interviewing with photo cards, with the aim of making the experiential knowledge of young people from a family home operational. This article describes the reasons and experiences of a group of researchers with this way of interviewing. The article ends with the evaluation and the conclusion of this way of interviewing.

"Comprises manumission letters from 1722 to abolition of slavery in 1863. Each description contains the name, age, sex, and race of the slave, reason for release, the amount paid, and name of the owner as far as is known. Compiler has consulted records from archives of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao dating from 1722-1845 (deposited in the Public Record Office in The Hague) and records from 1845-63 in the archive of the Ministry of Colonial Affairs. Includes indexes on names of freed men and women and their former owners"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 58

Abstract

Visuals in qualitative social science research

The visual is omnipresent in daily life. Though research is still mainly verbal by nature, visual studies and visual methods have become part of academic social research. This contribution intends to introduce visual methods to students and researchers who are not familiar with the possibilities. First, the reasons why researchers work with visuals are described. Next, following , ) we distinguish between visuals as data, as part of the data collection method and as output of research. Just like in any other research, autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice are the guiding principles when making choices during the research process.

In the present article the author starts off with a discussion of the Barcelona process and the main reason for its failure: namely the fragility of the Oslo peace process. The second topic focuses on the genesis of the Union for the Mediterranean of July 2008 as a follow-up of the Euromediterranean Partnership dated 1995, and its relevance for both its North African and European shores. Included are the institutional and procedural structures, and an analysis of the place conflict resolution holds within the Union for the Mediterranean, the latter illustrated by the recent Gaza War. O. van Zijl

The state of Dutch political thought in the seventeenth century is reviewed. Three main approaches are discussed: (1) The critical approach is represented by P. de la Court, who, influenced by Hobbes, defended a more democratic type of government. (2) The historical-philological movement, represented by J. Lipsius, Boxhornius, & Burgersdijk, was based on Aristotelian metaphysical concepts to develop a more systematic base for historical research. This movement influenced the development of the typical research style of the political sciences in Germany. (3) B. de Spinoza's passion-reason theory led to an analytical political science, exemplifying the typical method of integrating theory & empirical (historical) information. Modified HA.

An examination of G. A. Almond's approach in the field of comparative res on pol'al systems, contained in his Introduction to THE POLITICS OF DEVELOPING AREAS, Princeton, NJ: 1960. His functional approach compares Western & nonWestern systems in terms of a common conceptual framework. However, there are theoretical & practical objections to Almond's work. There is, for instance, no clear theoretical reason why he selects particular functions rather than others; & when applied to existing systems, it becomes very difficult to distinguish pol'al soc'ization from recruitment. The functions presented in the Introduction are not made operational, & this difficulty must be solved before Almond's scheme may become a useful tool in comparative res. IPSA.

Several reasons are listed to explain why Belgium always was & still is a very staunch supporter of European integration & the European Union (EU). Drawing on personal experience as a permanent representative of the Belgian government to the EU, the significant role played by this country in building a united Europe is illustrated with a report of the meetings in Nice, France, & Laken at which the current 15 member states of the EU struggled with procedural & content questions pertaining to the future enlargement of the organization to 25 or 27 members. The give-and-take nature of these meetings, Belgium's valuable input, but also concessions it had to accept, & the accomplishments of the Laken Declaration are discussed. Z. Dubiel