Gacaca and DDR : the disputable record of state-building in Rwanda

State-building is currently considered to be an indispensable process in overcoming state fragility: a condition characterized by frequent armed conflicts as well as chronic poverty. In this process, both the capacity and the legitimacy of the state are supposed to be enhanced; such balanced development of capacity and legitimacy has also been demanded in security sector reform (SSR), which is regarded as being a crucial part of post-conflict state-building. To enhance legitimacy, the importance of democratic governance is stressed in both state-building and SSR in post-conflict countries. In reality, however, the balanced enhancement of capacity and legitimacy has rarely been realized. In particular, legitimacy enhancement tends to stagnate in countries in which one of multiple warring parties takes a strong grip on state power. This paper tries to understand why such unbalanced development of state-building and SSR has been observed in post-conflict countries, through a case study of Rwanda. Analyses of two policy initiatives in the security sector - Gacaca transitional justice and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) - indicate that although these programs achieved goals set by the government, their contribution to the normative objectives promoted by the international community was quite debatable. It can be understood that this is because the country has subordinated SSR to its state-building process. After the military victory of the former rebels, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the ruling elite prioritized the establishment of political stability over the introduction of international norms such as democratic governance and the rule of law. SSR was implemented only to the extent that it contributed to, and did not threaten, Rwanda's RPF-led state-building.

Towards a new design of South American integration? Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series, Special Issue January 2013

The design of South American integration is becoming different. This has been quite common in the trajectory of over six decades of initiatives aimed at generating institutional frameworks to facilitate regional integration. However, even when it has become apparent that the previous design is undergoing a new process of change, it would be difficult to predict for how long the one that is beginning to take shape will remain in effect. The experience of recent decades suggests great caution in forecasts that are optimistic about any eventual longevity. Several factors are contributing to this redesign. Some are external to the region while others are endogenous. The combination of these factors will influence the future design of South American integration. If past lessons are correctly capitalized and certain advantage is derived from the leeway provided by a decentralized international system with multiple options, we can anticipate that what will predominate in the region will be multidimensional integration agreements (with political and economic objectives at the same time) and with cross-memberships and commitments. If this were the case, the actual impact on regional governance, social and productive integration and the competitive insertion at a global scale will depend largely on the following factors: the quality and sustainability of the strategy for development and global and regional insertion of each country; the combination of a reasonable degree of flexibility and predictability in the commitments made and their corresponding ground rule, and the density of the network of cross-interests that can be achieved as a result of the respective regional integration agreements, reflected in multiple transnational social and production networks.

Table 2.- Bryozoa collected during the LAMPOS expeditions between Punta Arenas and the northernmost tip of the Antarctic Peninsula

The 78 bryozoan species collected by the German R/V "Polarstern" during the LAMPOS cruise in April 2002, encompassing the Scotia Arc archipelagos between Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctic Peninsula, were studied to discern the biogeographical patterns of the Magellan region of South America, the Scotia Arc archipelagos and the Antarctic. The resulting dendrogram shows three clusters: an isolated one with the three easternmost archipelagos and the other two linking some of the northern and southern Scotia Arc archipelagos with Tierra del Fuego. A more comprehensive analysis using all the species previously recorded from the Scotia Arc archipelagos and adjacent areas (214 spp.) produced a clearer zoogeographical pattern without isolated clusters of localities. The Antarctic Peninsula plus the Scotia Arc archipelagos form a large cluster distinct from the Magellan-Falkland Subantarctic area. A third analysis making use of 78 genera present in the study area plus Australia and New Zealand reinforces this pattern, showing two clusters: one uniting South America and the Australian-New Zealand realm and the other linking the Scotia Arc archipelagos with the Antarctic Peninsula. These results indicate that the Scotia Arc archipelagos represent merely a very narrow bridge connecting two different bryozoan faunas with only a few bryozoan species in common between the study areas.

Circular - Clemson University, Extension Service.

Some issues are in revised editions.

Bulletin.

At head of title: Farmer's reading course.

Report.

Report year for 1888- ends Dec. 31; for June 30.

Handbook of South American Indians.

Includes bibliographies.

University of North Carolina Extension leaflets.

Also issued in various subseries.

University of North Carolina extension bulletin.

At head of title: University extension division.

Annual report of the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture ... and ... Annual report of the Experimental station ...

Issued also in Michigan. Legislature. Joint documents 1841-97.

Extension bulletin.

Some numbers are revised editions.

Bulletin /

Description based on: 77, rev. 1965; title from cover.

The relative importance of vascular structure and function in predicting cardiovascular events

OBJECTIVES We sought to assess the prognostic utility of brachial artery reactivity (BAR) in patients at risk of cardiovascular events. BACKGROUND Impaired flow-mediated vasodilation measured by BAR is a marker of endothelial dysfunction. Brachial artery reactivity is influenced by risk factors and is responsive to various pharmacological and other treatments. However, its prognostic importance is uncertain, especially relative to other predictors of outcome. METHODS A total of 444 patients were prospectively enrolled to undergo BAR and follow-up. These patients were at risk of cardiovascular events, based on the presence of risk factors or known or suspected cardiovascular disease. We took a full clinical history, performed BAR, and obtained carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and left ventricular mass and ejection fraction. Patients were followed up for cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the independent association of investigation variables on outcomes. RESULTS The patients exhibited abnormal BAR (5.2 +/- 6.1% [mean +/- SD]) but showed normal nitrate-mediated dilation (9.9 +/- 7.2%) and normal mean IMT (0.67 +/- 0.12 mm [average]). Forty-nine deaths occurred over the median follow-up period of 24 months (interquartile range 10 to 34). Patients in the lowest tertile group of BAR (<2%) had significantly more events than those in the combined group of highest and mid-tertiles (p = 0.029, log-rank test). However, mean IMT (rather than flow-mediated dilation) was the vascular factor independently associated with mortality, even in the subgroup (n = 271) with no coronary artery disease and low risk. CONCLUSIONS Brachial artery reactivity is lower in patients with events, but is not an independent predictor of cardiovascular outcomes in this cohort of patients. (C) 2004 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Florida International University College of Medicine 1st Accreditation Planning Weekend, Feb 16-18, 2007 - Agenda

Agenda for the FIU College of Medicine's First Accreditation Planning Weekend, February 16-17 2007.

Gerodontology teaching amongst European dental schools – A European College of Gerodontology survey.

Introduction: In 2009, the European College of Gerodontology (ECG) published the Gerodontology undergraduate teaching guidelines. Seven years later it conducted a survey to explore the current status of Gerodontology teaching amongst the European dental schools.
Methods: The ECG Education Committee developed an electronic questionnaire that was emailed to the Deans or other contact persons in 185 dental schools in 40 European countries. The questionnaire recorded the prevalence, contents and methodology of Gerodontology education. Two weeks later a reminder was sent to non-respondents.
Results: The first wave of responses included 70 dental schools from 28 European countries. Gerodontology was included in the undergraduate curricula of 77% of the respondents and was compulsory in 61% of them. The course was usually offered in senior students and was interdisciplinary; the educators included dentists, physicians, nurses and other care providers. Lecturing was the most common educational technique (75%), and the most common topics included medical problems in old age, pharmacology and polypharmacy, the association between general and oral health, nutritional and chewing problems, xerostomia and prosthodontic management. Clinical training was usually offered within the dental school clinics (50%) and less often in remote locations (nursing homes, geriatric hospitals, day centers).
Key Conclusions: An increasing number of European dental schools teach Gerodontology at the undergraduate curriculum. The study is still ongoing, but a "worst case scenario" has to be born in mind, where dental schools, who failed to participate in the survey, may not be teaching in Gerodontology.