Building Peace and/or Gender Equality. Changing Attitudes around Peace, Development and Security in International Cooperation in Rwanda.

The times following international or civil conflicts but also violent revolutions often come with unequal share of the peace dividend for men and women. Delusions for women who gained freedom of movement and of roles during conflict but had to step back during reconstruction and peace have been recorded in all regions of the world. The emergence of peacebuilding as a modality for the international community to ensure peace and security has slowly incorporated gender sensitivity at the level of legal and policy instruments. Focusing on Rwanda, a country that has obtained significant gender advancement in the years after the genocide while also obtaining to not relapse into conflict, this research explores to what extent the international community has contributed to this transformation. From a review of evaluations, findings are that many of the interventions did not purse gender equality, and overall the majority understood gender and designed actions is a quite superficial way which would hardly account for the significative advancement in combating gender discrimination that the Government, for its inner political will, is conducting. Then, after a critique from a feminist standpoint to the concept of human security, departing from the assumption (sustained by the Governemnt of Rwanda as well) that domestic violence is a variable influencing level of security relevant at the national level, a review of available secondary data on GBV is conducted an trends over the years analysed. The emerging trends signal a steep increase in prevalence of GBV and in domestic violence in particular. Although no conclusive interpretation can be formulated on these data, there are elements suggesting the increase might be due to augmented reporting. The research concludes outlining possible further research pathways to better understand the link in Rwanda between the changing gender norms and the GBV.

Mercato dell'informazione, posizionamento dei media e distorsioni: Un'analisi attraverso l'algoritmo Wordfish

Una stampa libera e plurale è un elemento fondante di ogni sistema democratico ed è fondamentale per la creazione di un’opinione pubblica informata e in grado di esercitare controllo e pressione sulle classi dirigenti. Dal momento della loro creazione i giornali si sono imposti come un’importantissima fonte di informazione per l’opinione pubblica. La seconda metà del Novecento, inoltre, ha conosciuto innovazioni tecnologiche che hanno portato grandi cambiamenti nel ruolo della carta stampata come veicolo di trasmissione delle notizie. Partendo dalla diffusione della televisione fino ad arrivare alla rivoluzione digitale degli anni ’90 e 2000, la velocità di creazione e di trasmissione delle informazioni è aumentata esponenzialmente, i costi di produzione e di acquisizione delle notizie sono crollati e una quantità enorme di dati, che possono fornire moltissime informazioni relative alle idee e ai contenuti proposti dai diversi autori nel corso del tempo, è ora a disposizione di lettori e ricercatori. Tuttavia, anche se grazie alla rivoluzione digitale i costi materiali dei periodici si sono notevolmente ridotti, la produzione di notizie comporta altre spese e pertanto si inserisce in un contesto di mercato, sottoposto alle logiche della domanda e dell'offerta. In questo lavoro verrà analizzato il ruolo della domanda e della non perfetta razionalità dei lettori nel mercato delle notizie, partendo dall’assunto che la differenza di opinioni dei consumatori spinge le testate a regolare l’offerta di contenuti, per venire incontro alla domanda di mercato, per verificare l’applicabilità del modello utilizzato (Mullainhatan e Shleifer, 2005) al contesto italiano. A tale scopo si è analizzato il comportamento di alcuni quotidiani nazionali in occasione di due eventi che hanno profondamente interessato l'opinione pubblica italiana: il fenomeno dei flussi migratori provenienti dalla sponda sud del Mediterraneo nel mese di ottobre 2013 e l'epidemia di influenza H1N1 del 2009.

The influence of handling and exposure to a ferret on body temperature and running wheel activity of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

In order to determine a stress response, two groups of twenty male golden hamsters were either exposed to a ferret or handled by a human. The hamsters' body temperature and running wheel activity were measured as stress correlates. Half of the hamsters' cages were equipped with a functional running wheel to determine whether the presence of a running wheel might reduce stress. Exposure to the ferret was followed by a significant increase in body temperature and running wheel revolutions: however, running wheel activity did not change after handling. Body temperature increased less after handling in hamsters living in a cage with a functional running wheel than in those with a non-revolving running wheel. This suggests that hamsters with a functional running wheel reacted less strongly to acute stress caused by handling. On the other hand, temperature increase after the exposure to a ferret was not affected by the presence of a running wheel. Both exposure to a ferret and handling caused stress in golden hamsters, as demonstrated by an increase in body temperature (emotional fever). Stress caused by handling was much milder than stress caused by the ferret. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impulses for an Effective and Modern Data Protection System

A substantial reform of data protection law is on the agenda of the European Commission as it is widely agreed that data protection law is faced by lots of challenges, due to fundamental technical and social changes or even revolutions. Therefore, the authors have issued draft new provisions on data protection law that would work in both Germany and Europe. The draft is intended to provide a new approach and deal with the consequences of such an approach. This article contains some key theses on the main legislatory changes that appear both necessary and adequate.

Geocenter coordinates estimated from GNSS data as viewed by perturbation theory

Time series of geocenter coordinates were determined with data of two global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs), namely the U.S. GPS (Global Positioning System) and the Russian GLONASS (Global’naya Nawigatsionnaya Sputnikowaya Sistema). The data was recorded in the years 2008–2011 by a global network of 92 permanently observing GPS/GLONASS receivers. Two types of daily solutions were generated independently for each GNSS, one including the estimation of geocenter coordinates and one without these parameters. A fair agreement for GPS and GLONASS was found in the geocenter x- and y-coordinate series. Our tests, however, clearly reveal artifacts in the z-component determined with the GLONASS data. Large periodic excursions in the GLONASS geocenter z-coordinates of about 40 cm peak-to-peak are related to the maximum elevation angles of the Sun above/below the orbital planes of the satellite system and thus have a period of about 4 months (third of a year). A detailed analysis revealed that the artifacts are almost uniquely governed by the differences of the estimates of direct solar radiation pressure (SRP) in the two solution series (with and without geocenter estimation). A simple formula is derived, describing the relation between the geocenter z-coordinate and the corresponding parameter of the SRP. The effect can be explained by first-order perturbation theory of celestial mechanics. The theory also predicts a heavy impact on the GNSS-derived geocenter if once-per-revolution SRP parameters are estimated in the direction of the satellite’s solar panel axis. Specific experiments using GPS observations revealed that this is indeed the case. Although the main focus of this article is on GNSS, the theory developed is applicable to all satellite observing techniques. We applied the theory to satellite laser ranging (SLR) solutions using LAGEOS. It turns out that the correlation between geocenter and SRP parameters is not a critical issue for the SLR solutions. The reasons are threefold: The direct SRP is about a factor of 30–40 smaller for typical geodetic SLR satellites than for GNSS satellites, allowing it in most cases to not solve for SRP parameters (ruling out the correlation between these parameters and the geocenter coordinates); the orbital arc length of 7 days (which is typically used in SLR analysis) contains more than 50 revolutions of the LAGEOS satellites as compared to about two revolutions of GNSS satellites for the daily arcs used in GNSS analysis; the orbit geometry is not as critical for LAGEOS as for GNSS satellites, because the elevation angle of the Sun w.r.t. the orbital plane is usually significantly changing over 7 days.

Earth gravity field recovery using GPS, GLONASS, and SLR satellites

The time variable Earth’s gravity field provides the information about mass transport within the system Earth, i.e., the relationship of mass transport between atmosphere, oceans, and land hydrology. We recover the low-degree parameters of the time variable gravity field using microwave observations from GPS and GLONASS satellites and from SLR data to five geodetic satellites, namely LAGEOS-1/2, Starlette, Stella, and AJISAI. GPS satellites are particularly sensitive to specific coefficients of the Earth's gravity field, because of the deep 2:1 orbital resonance with Earth rotation (two revolutions of the GPS satellites per sidereal day). The resonant coefficients cause, among other, a “secular” drift (actually periodic variations of very long periods) of the semi-major axes of up to 5.3 m/day of GPS satellites. We processed 10 years of GPS and GLONASS data using the standard orbit models from the Center of Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE) with a simultaneous estimation of the Earth gravity field coefficients and other parameters, e.g., satellite orbit parameters, station coordinates, Earth rotation parameters, troposphere delays, etc. The weekly GNSS gravity solutions up to degree and order 4/4 are compared to the weekly SLR gravity field solutions. The SLR-derived geopotential coefficients are compared to monthly GRACE and CHAMP results.

Die deutschen Verfassungsreformen : patriotische Reden und Betrachtungen

Boberach: An die Behandlung der "Revolutions-Ergebnisse nach englischen und französischen Vorgängen" und der "Gallomanie in Deutschland" schließen sich Überlegungen zu den Wahlreformen und zur Preßgesetz-Reform. Ferner wird "die Bodenentlastungsfrage" erörtert. Für die Reichsverfassung wird als Vorbild Großbritannien, nicht Frankreich empfohlen und der Siebzehner-Entwurf kritisiert, weil er die Rechte der Einzelstaaten, besonders Bayerns, zu wenig berücksichtigt. Solange kein Erbkaisertum möglich ist, sollen drei oder fünf von den Fürsten und Städten gewählte Bundeskommissäre neben dem Reichsministerium an der Spitze stehen. Friedrich Wilhelm IV. ist zum Kaiser unfähig. - Wentzke: Keine Umwandlung des Staatenbundes in den Bundesstaat, sondern Festigung der Bundesverfassung durch eine Reichsverfassung. Kritik des Siebzehner-Entwurfs: Gegen die Unterstellung des bairischen [sic!] Heeres unter die Zentralgewalt: schwarz-rot-gold nur n e b e n den Landesfarben. Unmöglich können die Fürsten im Oberhaus n e b e n ihren Untertanen sitzen. Für erbliches Kaisertum, vorläufig aber ist nur ein Reichsverweser möglich, da Österreich zu sehr bedrängt wird. Seufferts Vorschlag: die in der bisherigen Bundesverfassung vereinten Fürsten und Städte ernennen drei oder fünf Vertrauensmänner bei der Reichsregierung als Bundeskommissäre neben dem Reichsministerium. "Indem den Dynastien so eine organische Wirksamkeit in der Reichspraxis zugeteilt wird, befreunden sie sich mit der Reichsverfassung und mit dem Kaisertum." Die Plenarversammlung des Bundes ernennt 1/4 der Mitglieder des Reichsgerichts und die Hälfte der lebenslänglichen Mitglieder des Oberhauses, während die andere Hälfte von den Ersten Kammern der Einzelstaaten gewählt wird. Gegen den bairischen Verfassungsentwurf ... und gegen die Erhebung des unfähigen Preußenkönigs, den die Deutsche Zeitung empfiehlt

The invention of democratic parliamentary practices in the Helvetic Republic

In this book, leading historians of the French, Batavian, Helvetic, Cisalpine, and Neapolitan revolutions bridge the gap between the historiographies of the so-called Sister Republics and explore political culture as a set of discourses or political practices. Parliamentary practices, the comparability of "universal" political concepts, late-eighteenth-century Republicanism, the relationship between press and politics, and the interaction between the Sister Republics and France are all examined from a comparative, transnational perspective.

Racing against Time: Varying Patterns of Social Mobilization in Serbia and Georgia

After the collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, a number of actors started to engage in the power struggle for the opportunities to shape the new order in successive nation-states. In Serbia and Georgia historically hegemonic Orthodox Christian churches were among the firsts in the frontlines for political and economic power. More than a decade has passed since the so-called Coloured Revolutions in Georgia and Serbia, and the Orthodox churches still remain participants of an ongoing socio-political transition of these states. The revival of public role of religion appeared temporary in Serbia followed by a gradual decline of an influence of the Orthodox Church over political life and legal process. However, in Georgia the public and political role of religion increased rather than declined albeit changed shape. Examining the degree to which the two Orthodox churches can influence the political agenda in Serbia and Georgia, the paper attempts to understand how church-State relations work in practice. By bringing rich empirical data from the field (70 interviews with (arch)bishops, priests and religious clerics in Georgia and Serbia added to field observations), the paper reflects on the themes under which the two Orthodox churches mobilize public protest in Serbia and Georgia. The paper further looks at varying State responses and their broader implication for church-state problematique.

Covert or Overt Intervention? The Reagan Administration in Latin America

In my thesis I looked at Cold War interventionism by America. In the Post WWII period, many countries were searching for freedom from colonial rule, and many were attracted to the idea of communism or socialism. In this context of a destabilized world and power struggle between the U.S.A and the U.S.S.R., revolutions often became points of interests and parts of this larger power play. Any type of revolution was a destabilization, in a system that was unstable at best, and peace between the powers rested precariously on the idea of “Mutually Assured Destruction.” I would like to look more specifically, at the Latin American Region, which seemed full of upheaval, and was an area of much intervention, especially during the Reagan Administration. This administration had varying goals and conflicts about the region. The large amount of interventionism in the 1980s was in part a response to the Vietnam War, which was seen as an American failure, since prevention of communism did not occur. Following this, American strength needed to be shown again in the international stage, especially in Latin America, due to its close proximity to America. I would like to explore the intervention in Grenada and see if it followed a pattern of intervention in the region. This will be contrasted with the case of Nicaragua, which seemed more typical of interventions in the region. The causes of intervention in the region as well as the reasons these interventions took such different courses will be explored and investigated.

Entre el testimonio y la autobiografía, Cartucho y la construcción de una memoria poética/política

Cartucho. Relatos de la lucha en el norte de México de Nellie Campobello es un libro excepcional que debido a su posicionamiento político y a la originalidad de su propuesta estética ha sido ignorado y despreciado, siempre a la sombra de los textos canónicos de la literatura de la revolución mexicana. Leemos el texto de Campobello bajo las claves del testimonio y de la autobiografía. Su construcción de una mirada infantil para contar desde una perspectiva villista los enfrentamientos en el norte revolucionario implica un rechazo del registro realista así como la indagación de una reescritura poética-política que recrea una memoria radical, a-moral y provocativa de los hechos de la revolución.

Lenguaje y política en Esteban Echeverría, Juan Bautista Alberdi y Francisco Bilbao

Echeverría, Alberdi y Bilbao pueden ser considerados tres de los pensadores más representativos de las lecturas que el siglo XIX hiciera sobre la Revolución independentista en América. Sus construcciones teóricas fueron elaboradas a la luz de las consecuencias políticas de la Revolución, pero también a partir de la lectura de una serie de teóricos políticos franceses que, de manera contemporánea, pensaban el proceso revolucionario francés. Situar a estos autores en el contexto de los debates intelectuales del momento es un modo de ampliar la lectura y de descubrir las principales particularidades de un pensamiento que se define ante las nuevas condiciones de la política moderna.

Distantes espejos y reflejos de un mismo sol : el "sentimiento solar" de Julio Cortázar como culminación de su Antropología poética en poética histórica

La singular trayectoria de Julio Cortázar traza una parábola que parte de su inicial situación como escritor mentalmente colonizado (Jauretche) para arribar a una toma de conciencia político-histórica que lo impele a denunciar el genocidio cultural perpetrado por el imperialismo norteamericano y a defender las revoluciones socialistas de su tiempo. En este sentido, nuestro trabajo pretende indagar en la conversión de su antropología poética en poética histórica, entendiendo que los problemas metafísicos que plantea la primera desde una dimensión estrictamente literaria se abren al campo geopolítico a través de la confluencia entre política de la literatura y política del escritor (Rancière). Seleccionamos para ello un amplio corpus de textos y analizamos la evolución de la poética cortazariana en relación a la configuración de los sujetos populares. Observamos que éstos se muestran inicialmente como una alteridad radical (Baudrillard) respecto del yo enunciador, para constituir posteriormente la encarnación de un paradigma cultural que posibilita una existencia auténtica a través de la solidaridad y el encuentro con los otros (García Canclini). Finalmente, nos detendremos en el “sentimiento solar" y en los “hombres-puente" como símbolos de un Cortázar maduro y esperanzado que propone el equilibrio entre polaridades como condición necesaria para la verdadera revolución.

Trajectories and outcomes of the 'Arab Spring' : comparing Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria

Almost three years have passed since the 'Arab Spring' began in late 2010. In the major sites of popular uprisings, political conditions remain unsettled or violent. Despite similarities in their original opposition to authoritarian rule, the outcomes differed from country to country. In Tunisia and Egypt, processes of transiting from authoritarian rule produced contrasting consequences for democratic politics. Uprisings led to armed rebellion in Libya and Syria, but whereas Gaddafi was overthrown, Asad was not. What explains the different trajectories and outcomes of the Arab Spring? How were these shaped by the power structure and levels of social control of the pre-uprising regimes and their state institutions, on the one hand, and by the character of the societies and oppositional forces that rose against them? Comparing Tunisia with Egypt, and Libya with Syria, this paper discusses various factors that account for variations in the trajectories and outcomes of the Arab Spring, namely, the legacy of the previous regime, institutional and constitutional choices during "transition" from authoritarian rule, socioeconomic conditions, and the presence of absence of ethnic, sectarian and geographic diversity.