'Defending the rights'. An integrated model of collective action for "public water" in Italy

In many communities, supplying water for the people is a huge task and the fact that this essential service can be carried out by the private sector respecting the right to water, is a debated issue. This dissertation investigates the mechanisms through which a 'perceived rights violation' - which represents a specific form of perceived injustice which derives from the violation of absolute moral principles – can promote collective action. Indeed, literature on morality and collective action suggests that even if many people apparently sustain high moral principles (like human rights), only a minority decides to act in order to defend them. Taking advantage of the political situation in Italy, and the recent mobilization for "public water" we hypothesized that, because of its "sacred value", the perceived violation of the right to water facilitates identification with the social movement and activism. Through five studies adopting qualitative and quantitative methods, we confirmed our hypotheses demonstrating that the perceived violation of the right to water can sustain activism and it can influence vote intentions at the referendum for 'public water'. This path to collective action coexists with other 'classical' predictors of collective action, like instrumental factors (personal advantages, efficacy beliefs) and anger. The perceived rights violation can derive both from personal values (i.e. universalism) and external factors (i.e. a mobilization campaign). Furthermore, we demonstrated that it is possible to enhance the perceived violation of the right to water and anger through a specifically designed communication campaign. The final chapter summarizes the main findings and discusses the results, suggesting some innovative line of research for collective action literature.

The Arab Spring: A Litmus Test for the EU’s Women’s Rights Policy in the Euro-Mediterranean Area? Bruges Regional Integration & Global Governance Paper 1/2013

The promotion of women’s rights is described as a priority within the external action of the European Union (EU). As a result of the Arab Spring uprisings which have been ongoing since 2011, democracy and human rights have been pushed to the forefront of European policy towards the Euro-Mediterranean region. The EU could capitalise on these transformations to help positively reshape gender relations or it could fail to adapt. Thus, the Arab Spring can be seen to serve as a litmus test for the EU’s women’s rights policy. This paper examines how and to what extent the EU diffuses women’s rights in this region, by using Ian Manners’ ‘Normative Power Europe’ as the conceptual framework. It argues that while the EU tries to behave as a normative force for women’s empowerment by way of ‘informational diffusion’, ‘transference’ ‘procedural diffusion’ and ‘overt diffusion’; its efforts could, and should, be strengthened. There are reservations over the EU’s credibility, choice of engagement and its commitment in the face of security and ideological concerns. Moreover, it seems that the EU focuses more intently on women’s political rights than on their social and economic freedoms.

Consultations on the affirmative action statement of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Item 288-A

Affirmative action in employment in Oklahoma : a report of the Oklahoma Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

Item 288-A

Treaty provisions relating to the rights of inheritance, acquisitions, and ownership of property in force between the United States and other countries /

Mode of access: Internet.

The Revised code of the laws of Virginia : being a collection of all such acts of the General assembly, of a public and permanent nature as are now in force; with a general indes. To which are prefixed, the constitution of the United States; the declaration of rights ; and the constitution of Virginia. Published pursuant to an act of the General assembly, entitled "An act providing for the re-publication of the laws of this commonwealth," passed March 12, 1819...

Has a supplement.

Affirmative action in the 1980s : dismantling the process of discrimination : a proposed statement of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

Jan. 1981.

Affirmative action plan for Illinois Department of Human Rights /

Description based on: 1987; title from cover.

Affirmative action plan for Illinois Department of Human Rights /

Description based on: 2003/2004.

Affirmative action plan for the handicapped for Illinois Department of Human Rights /

"July 1, 1987."