Social policy in the Caribbean, its history and development: the evolution of social policy and its modern influences in the Caribbean

"A lecture delivered to the ECLAC/CDCC Training Workshop in Evidence-based Social Policy Formulation for the Caribbean, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago 28-31 October 2002 and Kingston, Jamaica, 26-28 November 2002"

Reconciling History and International Law: Territorial and Maritime Claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea

High-ranking Chinese military officials are often quoted in international media as stating that China cannot afford to lose even an inch of Chinese territory, as this territory has been passed down from Chinese ancestors. Such statements are not new in Chinese politics, but recently this narrative has made an important transition. While previously limited to disputes over land borders, such rhetoric is now routinely applied to disputes involving islands and maritime borders. China is increasingly oriented toward its maritime borders and seems unwilling to compromise on delimitation disputes, a transition mirrored by many states across the globe. In a similar vein, scholarship has found that territorial disputes are particularly intractable and volatile when compared with other types of disputes, and a large body of research has grappled with producing systematic knowledge of territorial conflict. Yet in this wide body of literature, an important question has remained largely unanswered - how do states determine which geographical areas will be included in their territorial and maritime claims? In other words, if nations are willing to fight and die for an inch of national territory, how do governments draw the boundaries of the nation? This dissertation uses in-depth case studies of some of the most prominent territorial and maritime disputes in East Asia to argue that domestic political processes play a dominant and previously under-explored role in both shaping claims and determining the nature of territorial and maritime disputes. China and Taiwan are particularly well suited for this type of investigation, as they are separate claimants in multiple disputes, yet they both draw upon the same historical record when establishing and justifying their claims. Leveraging fieldwork in Taiwan, China, and the US, this dissertation includes in-depth case studies of China’s and Taiwan’s respective claims in both the South China Sea and East China Sea disputes. Evidence from this dissertation indicates that officials in both China and Taiwan have struggled with how to reconcile history and international law when establishing their claims, and that this struggle has introduced ambiguity into China's and Taiwan's claims. Amid this process, domestic political dynamics have played a dominant role in shaping the options available and the potential for claims to change in the future. In Taiwan’s democratic system, where national identity is highly contested through party politics, opinions vary along a broad spectrum as to the proper borders of the nation, and there is considerable evidence that Taiwan’s claims may change in the near future. In contrast, within China’s single-party authoritarian political system, where nationalism is source of regime legitimacy, views on the proper interpretation of China’s boundaries do vary, but along a much more narrow range. In the dissertation’s final chapter, additional cases, such as South Korea’s position on Dokdo and Indonesia’s approach to the defense of Natuna are used as points of comparison to further clarify theoretical findings.

Geometry and topography in James Joyce's Ulysses and Finnegans Wake

Following the development of non-Euclidean geometries from the mid-nineteenth century onwards, Euclid’s system had come to be re-conceived as a language for describing reality rather than a set of transcendental laws. As Henri Poincaré famously put it, ‘[i]f several geometries are possible, is it certain that our geometry [...] is true?’. By examining Joyce’s linguistic play and conceptual engagement with ground-breaking geometric constructs in Ulysses and Finnegans Wake, this thesis explores how his topographical writing of place encapsulates a common crisis between geometric and linguistic modes of representation within the context of modernity. More specifically, it investigates how Joyce presents Euclidean geometry and its topographical applications as languages, rather than ideally objective systems, for describing visual reality; and how, conversely, he employs language figuratively to emulate the systems by which the world is commonly visualised. With reference to his early readings of Giordano Bruno, Henri Poincaré and other critics of the Euclidean tradition, it investigates how Joyce’s obsession with measuring and mapping space throughout his works enters into his more developed reflections on the codification of visual signs in Finnegans Wake. In particular, this thesis sheds new light on Joyce’s developing fascination with the ‘geometry of language’ practised by Bruno, whose massive influence on Joyce is often assumed to exist in Joyce studies yet is rarely explored in any great detail.

Geography, History and Natural Sciences: an interdisciplinary teaching approach with GIS

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a technology that deals with location to support better representations and decision making. It has a long tradition in several planning areas, such as urbanism, environment, riskiness, transportation, archeology or tourism. In academics context higher education has followed that evolution. Despite of their potentialities in education, GIS technologies at the elementary and secondary have been underused. Empowering graduates to learn with GIS and to manipulate spatial data can effectively facilitate the teaching of critical thinking. Likewise it has been recognized that GIS tools can be incorporated as an interdisciplinary pedagogical tool. Nevertheless more practical examples on how GIS tools can enhance teaching and learning process, namely to promote interdisciplinary approaches. The proposed paper presents some results obtained from the project “Each thing in its place: the science in time and space”. This project results from the effort of three professors of Geography, History and Natural Sciences in the context of Didactics of World Knowledge curricular unit to enhance interdisciplinarity through Geographic Information Technologies (GIT). Implemented during the last three years this action-research project developed the research practice using GIS to create an interdisciplinary attitude in the future primary education teachers. More than teaching GIS the authors were focused on teaching with GIS to create an integrated vision where spatial data representation linked the space, the time and natural sciences. Accumulated experience reveals that those technologies can motivate students to learn and facilitating teacher’s interdisciplinary work.

UV and visible photoconductivity of undoped diamond films: morphology and related electrical transport phenomena

UV and visible photoconductivity and electrical features of undoped diamond thin films grown by microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition (MP-CVD) on silicon and copper substrates are studied. The results are correlated with morphology properties analysed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and micro-Raman. The photoconductivity presents several bands from 1.8 to 3.8 eV that are dependent on the substrate used to grow the samples in spite of some common bands observed. The J-V curve tin DC) in samples grown on Si has a rectifier behaviour (Schottky emission) in opposition to the samples grown on Cu that have no rectification (SCLC conduction). With these results we can conclude that diamond based optoelectronic devices behaviour is controlled by two kinds of structural defects localized in microcrystal and in its boundaries. A general structure model for the optoelectronic behaviour is discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

UV and visible photoconductivity of undoped diamond films: morphology and related electrical transport phenomena

UV and visible photoconductivity and electrical features of undoped diamond thin films grown by microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition (MP-CVD) on silicon and copper substrates are studied. The results are correlated with morphology properties analysed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and micro-Raman. The photoconductivity presents several bands from 1.8 to 3.8 eV that are dependent on the substrate used to grow the samples in spite of some common bands observed. The J-V curve tin DC) in samples grown on Si has a rectifier behaviour (Schottky emission) in opposition to the samples grown on Cu that have no rectification (SCLC conduction). With these results we can conclude that diamond based optoelectronic devices behaviour is controlled by two kinds of structural defects localized in microcrystal and in its boundaries. A general structure model for the optoelectronic behaviour is discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

An historical catalogue of portraits, representing distinguished persons in the history and literature of the United Kingdom.

Catalog of an exhibition held at the British Institution for Promoting the Fine Arts in the United Kingdom.

Paradigms lost:integrating history and organization studies

This article reviews recent attempts at mapping research paradigms in Management and Organizational History and argues that the old distinctions between supplementarist, integrationist, and reorientationist approaches have been superseded by attempts at integrating historical research in organization studies. A typology of these integrationist approaches differentiates between pluralist and unitary integration, as well as between models based on either historical theory or organization theory. Each has distinct weaknesses and strengths, but essentially all limit their integration of historical research paradigms to only a few. As a result, there is a danger that history might become reduced to a methodology, an empirical endeavor, narrative representations, or indeed be considered the subject of research rather than a research approach in its own right. I argue that all of these present an impoverished picture of the rich research traditions available in the discipline of history, which has unique insights and approaches to offer to the study of organizations.

Significant history and historical orientation : Ugandan students narrate their historical pasts

In 2012, Uganda celebrated 50 years of independence. The postcolonial era in the country has been marked by political turmoil and civil wars. Uganda, like many other postcolonial states in Africa, cannot be described as an ethnically or culturally homogenous state. However, history education has globally been seen as a platform for constructing national identities in contemporary societies. At the same time, it is assumed that specific historical experiences of countries influence historical understanding. This study takes its starting point in the theories of historical consciousness and narrativity. A narrative could be viewed as a site where mobilization of ideas of the past to envisage the present and possible futures is made and hence the narrative expresses historical orientation. Through the concept of historical orientation historical consciousness can be explored, i.e. what history is viewed as significant and meaningful. The aim in the study is to explore in what ways students connect to their historical pasts.   The study explores 219 narratives of 73 Ugandan upper secondary students. Narratives elicited through written responses to three assignments. Designed to capture different approaches to history: either to start from the beginning and narrate history prospectively or to depart from the present narrating retrospectively. The colonial experience of Uganda affected the sampling in the way that students were chosen from two different regions, Central and Northern Uganda. The comparison was a way to handle the concept of ‘nation’ as a presupposed category. Narrative analysis has been used as a method to explore what the students regarded as historically significant and what patterns among the narratives that point towards particular historical orientations.   The empirical results show how different approaches to history, a prospective or a retrospective approach, influence the student narratives. For instance, valued judgments on past developments were more common with the retrospective approach. The results also show differences in evaluating past developments according to regional origin. Students from northern Uganda were generally more inclined to tell a story of decline. Also, it is argued that the student narratives were informed by a meta-narrative of Africa. It was as common to identify oneself as African as it was to identify as Ugandan.

Influence of application mode of universal adhesives on bond strength performances and enzymatic activity of coronal and radicular dentin

Objective: The aims of this thesis were to analyze the application mode of the universal adhesives (UA) and to give instructions for clinical procedures. The etching mode of UA on the bond strength to dentin and on the risk of retention, marginal discoloration, marginal adaptation and post-operative sensitivity (POS) was analyzed by two systematic reviews. Three in vitro studies were conducted: 1) evaporation mode of a UA on coronal dentin; 2) cementation approach on radicular dentin; 3) adhesion of metal brackets to enamel. Materials and methods: Two systematic review were conducted firstly, then in vitro study to investigate the evaporation mode in presence or not of pulpal pressure by means of μTBS, and the enzymatic activity using in situ zymography, at T0 and T6. The cementation of a fiber into radicular dentin with different resin-cements was studied, by push-out bond strength evaluation. Orthodontic brackets were cemented according to 4 adhesive protocols and shear bond strength test was conducted. Two adhesive removal techniques were evaluated, and spectrophotometry was used. Results: The probability of POS occurrence was less in SE. SEE approach seems to perform better than SE. Air-drying resulted in higher μTBS. Suction-evaporation, aging and ER mode increased MMPs activity. Differences in NL expression were present at T0 for fiber post study, and the aging produced an increase in marginal infiltration. Brackets cemented with new universal cement with previous etchant application showed good μTBS values. Conclusion: SEE performed better than SE and TE with UA in terms of uTBS. Evaporating with air-drying is better for UA in terms of uTBS and enzymatic activity. Aging and choice of resin cement for cementation of fiber posts influenced the PBS. Brackets cementation with a new resin- cement seems to offer the highest bond strength and leaves more cement remnants after the bracket removal.

De la nostalgia a la reflexión : un recorrido por "La canción de la pena eterna", de Wang Anyi

La novela "La canción de la pena eterna" (1995), de la escritora Wang Anyi, es considerada actualmente un clásico moderno de las letras chinas. El objetivo de este trabajo se articula sobre la base de dos orientaciones. Por un lado, se realiza un extenso recorrido interpretativo por la novela, atendiendo a distintos criterios para extraer conclusiones sobre la motivación e intencionalidad de la escritora. Por otro lado, a partir de esas conclusiones, se sitúa la novela en el canon literario chino, en virtud de su propia caracterización, las influencias recibidas y su posible contribución.

Desolació i pèrdua d'identitat : anàlisi de Pluja Negra i Flors d'Estiu

La bomba atòmica "representa la perfección del hombre por su parte 'malvada'. Ya no podemos ser más malvados, inteligentes y defensivos" (Sloterdijk, P.; 2003. p. 218 ). Aquesta és la reflexió de Peter Sloterdijk sobre la humanitat que ha provocat aquesta barbàrie, sent conscient que aquesta no pot ser més maligna ni provocar més dolor, després de destruir conscientment una ciutat sencera junt amb els seus habitants innocents. Però com es van sentir els hibakusha, supervivents de l'atac nuclear, i a què van quedar reduïts els ciutadans d'Hiroshima i de Nagasaki, havent patit aquesta maldat en la pròpia pell? Després d'aquesta tragèdia, molts d'aquells que van sobreviure van decidir explicar la seva experiència, donant lloc al conegut com genbaku bungaku o literatura de les bombes atòmiques. En aquest estudi hem escollit dues de les obres més importants del gènere per tal d'analitzar com aquesta vivència va afectar a les seves víctimes. En primer lloc, hem analitzat Flors d'Estiu, de Tamiki Hara, primer relat en ser publicat que, en poc més de vint pàgines, descriu l'infern viscut pel propi autor i com aquesta visió de l'apocalipsi i el sofriment absolut el va marca per sempre més. En segon lloc, hem analitzat Pluja Negra, escrita per Mabusi Ibuse, autor que, tot i no haver sigut testimoni directe de la tragèdia, va aconseguir copsar el sentiment dels hibakusha, escribint una de les millors novel·les del gènere. Per tal d'estudiar les obres hem seguit un camí del general al particular. Analitzant el context històric, ens hem pogut fer una idea de què va significar la postguerra, des de la política sota la guia nord-americana a la reconstrucció econòmica i també una societat que, perdent-ho gairebé tot, va haver de tornar a començar. Després, hem volgut endinsar-nos en la literatura del període, analitzant, junt amb el propi genbaku bungaku, dos dels gèneres més importants, el burai ha o escola decadent, i el nikutai bunaku o literatura de la carn. Finalment, hem analitzat les pròpies obres, veient com els textos es veuen impregnats de tristesa i confusió. Després de veure com tota la seva vida s'esmicolava en qüestió de segons, els protagonistes d'aquests dos textos queden totalment desolats, veient com ho han perdut tot, des de la seva identitat fins la seva esperança en la pròpia humanitat.

Plecs solts poètics catalans dels segles XVI i XVII relatius al bandolerisme: Un inventari

Inventari que recull les notícies que l’autor ha pogut aplegar sobre plecs solts poètics en llengua catalana de temàtica relacionada amb el bandolerisme (des de l’arribada de la impremta a Catalunya fins al final del segle XVII). També ofereix l’edició del text de tres d’aquests plecs solts, impresos a la segona meitat del segle XVI, inèdits modernament i poc coneguts. Es tracta d’una «sèrie» sobre dos germans bandolers, caps de colla: Janot i Montserrat Poc

De Heródoto a Lope : nota a El mejor alcade, el rey

Article sobre les al·lusions i anècdotes tradicionals que fa servir Lópe de Vega a les seves obres. Concretament es tracta un episodi del llibre El mejor alcalde, el rey