Congress composition and electoral advantage

In 2003, an electoral reform changed the mechanism to assign seats in the Colombian Congress. I simulate the 2006 Senate elections using the previous assignment mechanism to determine which senators benefited from the reform, i.e. would have not been elected had the reform not been made. With the results of the simulation, I use a regression discontinuity design to compare the senators that would have been barely elected anyways with those who would have lost, but were near to be elected. I check the differences in the amount of law drafts presented, the attendance to voting sessions, and a discipline index for each senator as proxy of their legislative behavior. I find that the senators benefiting from the reform present a different legislative behavior during the 4-year term with respect to the senators that would have been elected anyways. Since the differential legislative behavior cannot be interpreted as being better (worse) politician, I examine if the behavioral difference gives them an electoral advantage. I find no difference in the electoral result of 2010 Senate election in terms of the probability of being (re)elected in 2010, the share of votes, the share of votes within their party list, and the concentration of their votes. Additionally, I check the probability of being investigated for links with paramilitary groups and I find no differences. The results suggest that political reforms can change the composition of governing or legislative bodies in terms of performance, but it does not necessarily translate into an electoral advantage.

La pelota no se mancha: Un estudio histórico sobre el desarrollo y la política en FIFA

Esta investigación se centra en la Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) como organización política. Intenta responder dos interrogantes primordiales: 1) ¿cómo la FIFA ha constituido el poder que tiene actualmente y, así, hacerse del monopolio indiscutido del fútbol? Y 2) ¿cómo ha cambiado en el tiempo la política interna de FIFA y su vínculo con la política internacional? Para lograr esto, se realiza un estudio histórico, basado principalmente en documentos, que intenta caracterizar y analizar los cambios de la organización en el tiempo. Se enfatizan las últimas dos presidencias de FIFA, de João Havelange y Joseph Blatter, como casos de estudio.

Análisis de la influencia del conflicto armado de la República Federal Democrática de Nepal en su relación con China e India. Periodo 1996 - 2012

El interés de esta monografía es evaluar la influencia del conflicto armado nepalí sobre las relaciones de Nepal con India y China. Se analiza y se explica como un conflicto armado interno puede influir desde sus causas, desarrollo y desenlace en las relaciones regionales y bilaterales de un país con sus vecinos. El presente texto pretende probar que la guerra civil de Nepal influyo positivamente en sus relaciones con India y China, planteando al país nepalí como un escenario en disputa entre estas dos potencias emergentes. Mediante el Realismo Estructural de Keneth Watlz se evaluaran las lógicas y los patrones de cambio que puedan modificar el sistema conformado por Nepal, China e India, para posteriormente examinar los cambios reales o parciales que sufrieron las relaciones de estos países al termino del conflicto armado.

Campañas electorales y acción legislativa en el senado: un análisis del comportamiento de los partidos políticos durante el año 2014

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo examinar la incidencia de las estrategias de campaña ejecutadas por los partidos políticos colombianos, sobre el comportamiento legislativo tomando como referencia las elecciones senatoriales del año 2014. De esta manera, sostiene que las organizaciones partidistas que demostraron una mayor cohesión al momento electoral, se comportaron de manera disciplinada en el Senado. Por ello, se exponen las distintas estrategias que aplicaron los partidos políticos que lograron una curul en el Senado, con el fin de determinar el grado de cohesión de cada uno de ellos, utilizando como marco los dilemas organizacionales a los que los partidos se ven expuestos. Luego, se relaciona con el trabajo legislativo que tuvo lugar en el primer periodo de la primera legislatura y, se finaliza, con un análisis de la reforma política contenida en el proyecto de equilibrio de poderes.

El uso de las redes sociales en la campaña presidencial de Clara López Obregón en 2014

El presente estudio de caso plantea la descripción detallada del uso de las redes sociales en la campaña presidencial de Clara López. En este documento se analiza la labor desempeñada en las redes sociales como un papel de interacción y comunicación directa con el electorado y su alcance en función de la estrategia comunicativa y publicitaria. Para ello se describe el contexto en el que se desarrolló la campaña, sus fases, la organización de la oficina de comunicación digital y el trabajo desarrollado en cada uno de los campos digitales y así generar unos elementos de conclusión sobre el resultado del uso de estas herramientas, lo que puede ser útil para comprender el papel de las redes sociales en los procesos políticos, especialmente en las campañas electorales.

Sobre l´elecció de bisbes durant el franquisme: els casos de Narcís Jubany (1964) i Jaume Camprodon (1973) per a la seu de Girona

L'objectiu d'aquest article és presentar les circumstàncies i algunes de les actuacions que es produïren a l'hora de fer els dos nomenaments que afectaren la diòcesi de Girona. El primer, per causa de la mort del bisbe Cartañà, enregistrada el 1963; i el segon, motivat pel trasllat del bisbe Jubany a Barcelona, el 1971

La gran obra hidràulica a les conques de la Muga i del Fluvià: dels projectes a les realitzacions (1850-1980)

La tesi aborda, des d'una perspectiva territorial i històrica, el paper que han jugat les grans infraestructures hidràuliques en dues conques fluvials mediterrànies catalanes: la Muga i el Fluvià (província de Girona). Així, s'efectua una reconstrucció retrospectiva del conjunt de projectes de gran obra hidràulica (preses, embassaments, canals complementaris) que, als últims 150 anys, han estat ideats i, en el seu cas executats, a ambdues conques. En aquest procés s'atorga una atenció especial a les justificacions, finalitats, discursos i agents socials que han inspirat la seva concepció i les causes que han conduït al seu èxit o al seu fracàs. Tot plegat es contextualitza dins dels plans, les polítiques i la legislació hidràulica estatals. L'elecció de dos rius veïns proporciona clars elements per a establir una anàlisi evolutiva comparada entre ells. Aquí s'afegirà la influencia del proper riu Ter des del moment en que es decideix l'abastament parcial amb els seus cabals a Barcelona.

Manifestacions musicals a Barcelona a través de la festa: les entrades reials (segles XV-XVIII)

El tema d'aquesta tesi és el factor de la festa en l'articulació de pràctiques musicals a Barcelona en un context que s'estén des del segle XV al XVIII. Concretament, se centra en les anomenades "Entrades Reials", unes celebracions públiques que s'esdevenien en la primera visita del monarca en motiu del seu jurament dels privilegis de la ciutat. L'elecció d'aquest objecte es justifica en primer lloc pel seu potencial per a connectar amb formes de pensament que incideixen en el debat més genèric sobre els processos d'atribució de significacions a la música. Aquestes celebracions esdevenien una important manifestació cultural col·lectiva en les que s'utilitzaven pràctiques musicals comuns a les altres festes més regulars i que conformaven el sistema general festiu: l'acompanyament del seguici per conjunts de trompetes i tabals, les intervencions musicals en el marc de les representacions realitzades al portal de la ciutat i basades en el teatre sacre medieval, les desfilades dels gremis i confraries, que participaven amb les músiques i els balls dels "entremesos" del Corpus, així com els balls privats als palaus o públics als carrers i places que durant les jornades posteriors completava el conjunt de les activitats.

Sobre a conjuntura atual

As características específicas aos sistemas políticos e de partidos existentes em Portugal condicionaram o processo político desde as anteriores eleições legislativas dada a dificuldade em criar uma maioria estável. Situação agravada pela conjuntura internacional e nacional nos domínios económico e financeiro. Como superar os fatores que dificultam a formação de alianças de Governo à esquerda?

Portugal e a Revisão da Lei Eleitoral

Antes da realização do ciclo eleitoral que marcou a vida portuguesa em 2009, houve uma tentativa, que chegou a ser aprovada na generalidade, para alterar a Lei Eleitoral no que concerne às eleições autárquicas e surgiram estudos sobre as possíveis alterações da lei para a eleição da Assembleia da República. As dificuldades sentidas pelo Governo de maioria relativa, chefiada por José Sócrates, na sua ação governatiava, desde logo na aprovação do Orçamento para 2010, trouxera, de novo para a discussão a questão da estabilidade governativa. Este artigo procura mostrar para essa estabilidade - tanto a nível do Poder Central como do Poder Local - não resulta da alteração da Lei, mas da construção de uma consciência democrática.

Sistemas e tecnologias da informação Autárquicos : o impacto da gestão no seu respetivo desenvolvimento

É do conhecimento geral a importância do envolvimento dos dirigentes de topo de qualquer organização na gestão dos seus STI – Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informação – internos. Nas câmaras municipais os dirigentes de topo são o Executivo Municipal eleito pelos respetivos munícipes e, portanto, com fortíssima influência política. As câmaras municipais em si, são organizações estatais que não têm concorrentes diretos, mas a escolha, i.e. a eleição ou reeleição do seu executivo pode ser influenciada pela sua atuação e/ou do partido político a que pertencem. Os STI Autárquicos tem pouca visibilidade exterior à organização e, portanto, pouco ou nada contribuem para o garante de votos necessários à eleição/reeleição do executivo municipal. Por esta razão, embora a maior parte dos executivos municipais reconheça o quanto estes são importantes, nem sempre se envolvem na sua gestão nem lhes conferem o devido destaque ou importância. Com este trabalho pretende-se perceber até que ponto o envolvimento do Executivo Municipal na gestão dos STI Autárquicos é importante e/ou determinante para o seu respetivo desenvolvimento i.e. se tem influência no seu aumento quantitativo e qualitativo.

UK commercial property lease structures: Landlord and tenant mismatch

UK commercial property lease structures have come under considerable scrutiny during the past decade since the property crash of the early 1990s. In particular, tenants complained that the system was unfair and that it has blocked business change. Government is committed, through its 2001 election manifesto, to promote flexibility and choice in the commercial property lettings market and a new voluntary Commercial Leases Code of Practice was launched in April 2002. This paper investigates whether occupiers are being offered the leases they require or whether there is a mismatch between occupier requirements and actual leases in the market. It draws together the substantial data now available on the actual terms of leases in the UK and surveys of corporate occupiers' attitude to their occupation requirements. Although the data indicated that UK leases have become shorter and more diverse since 1990, this is still not sufficient to meet the current requirements of many corporate occupiers. It is clear that the inability to manage entry and exit strategies is a major concern to occupiers. Lease length is the primary concern of tenants and a number of respondents comment on the mismatch between lease length in the UK and business planning horizons. The right to break and other problems with alienation clauses also pose serious difficulties for occupiers, thus reinforcing the mismatch. Other issues include repairing and insuring clauses and the type of review clause. There are differences in opinion between types of occupier. In particular, international corporate occupiers are significantly more concerned about the length of lease and the incidence of break clauses than national occupiers and private-sector tenants are significantly more concerned about leasing in general than public-sector occupiers. Proposed solutions by tenants are predictable and include shorter leases, more frequent breaks and relaxation of restrictions concerning alienation and other clauses. A significant number specify that they would pay more for shorter leases and other improved terms. Short leases would make many of the other terms more acceptable and this is why they are the main concern of corporate occupiers. Overall, the evidence suggests that there continues to be a gap between occupiers' lease requirements and those currently offered by the market. There are underlying structural factors that act as an inertial force on landlords and inhibit the changes which occupiers appear to want. Nevertheless, the findings raise future research questions concerning whether UK lease structures are a constraining factor on UK competitiveness.

Bovine follicle development is associated with divergent changes in activin-A, inhibin-A and follistatin and the relative abundance of different follistatin isoforms in follicular fluid

The aim was to determine whether follicle growth in cattle is accompanied by changes in levels of inhibin-A (inh-A), activin-A (act-A) and different Mr isofomus of follistatin (FS) in bovine follicular fluid (bFF), reflecting differential roles of these proteins during folliculogenesis. Follcles (n= 146) from 2-20 min diameter were dissected from ovaries of similar to 40 cattle. Immunoassays were used to measure total FS, act-A, inh-A, oestradiol (E) and progesterone (P) levels; immunoblotting was used to quanti, the relative abundance of different FS isoforms. Follicle growth from 2-6 mm was associated with a 6-fold increase in inh-A and 30-fold increase in act-A; FS remained uniformly high from 2-10 turn. From 6-2 min, inh-A remained high while act-A and FS fell 3-fold and 2-fold, respectively. Act-A/FS ratio increased 20-fold from 2-6 mm before falling slightly through to 20 mm. Act-A/inh-A ratio increased 6-fold from 2-6 nun before falling 2-fold from 6 to 17-20 mm. These findings imply a marked increase in relative activin 'tone' around the stage at which dominant follicle,;election occurs. When larger follicles (13-20 mm) were subdivided according to E/P ratio, those with high (> 5) E/P ratio had lower (2-fold; P < 0(.)001) levels of inh-A and act-A in comparison to follicles with low (< 5) E/P ratio, but there were no significant diffierences in FS, act-A/inh-A ratio or act-A/FS ratio. Thus follicle size, but not oestrogenic status, has a major influence on the intrafollicular balance between act-A and its opposing factors, inh-A and FS. Six FS isoforms were detected in bFF (apparent Mr: 65, 41, 37, 35, 33 and 31 kDa) averaging 6, 13, 24, 26 13 and 17% respectively of total FS. During growth from 2-20 mm the proportion of total FS represented by 605, 41 and 37 kDa isoforms increased similar to 2-fold while the proportion represented by the 33 and 31 kDa isoforms decreased by 3-fold and 1(.)6-fold, respectively. Treatment of bovine granulosa cells in vitro with FSH and IGF alone or in combination increased total FS secretion up to 12-fold but did not affect the relative abundance of the five different FS isoforms detected. While the functional significance of the intriguing shift in FS isoform abundance in bFF during follicle development remains to be established, we have shown that a marked increase in intrafollicular activin 'tone' accompanies bovine follicle growth from 3-6 min, corresponding to the stage at which the FSH-dependent follicle selection mechanism operates in this species.

Political market characteristics and the provision of educational infrastructure in North India

In this paper, we are concerned with the provision of schools in rural North India, particularly with whether such provision is determined by the demographic and economic characteristics of the region or whether local democracy also plays a role. We find that the probability that a governing party loses an election has a positive effect on the provision of schooling infrastructure, while the margin of victory of the governing party has a negative effect. Political reservation for members of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) has a positive effect on schooling infrastructure in villages with a large SC population, but a negative effect overall.