Representation of the Electorate in the Eerste Kamer: An Analysis of Political Representation in the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament

This paper aims to assess to what extent the Eerste Kamer, one of the chambers of the Dutch parliament, provides political representation. This is done by comparing three models of political representation to the political reality. These three models are the trustee, the delegate, and the resemblance models. All three models and their respective characteristics are explained in the paper before moving to the analysis. The paper concludes that political representation is not realized through these three models in the instance of the Eerste Kamer, as it fails to fulfil key characteristics of all three. The paper also evaluates some possible solutions for increasing political representation in light of these models. Keywords: Delegate, Eerste Kamer, Trustee, Political Representatio

Granting Nature Legal Rights: A Shift Towards an Ecocentric Conception of Nature in Germany?

This interdisciplinary research paper is centred around the concept of environmental personhood as a means of tackling the impending climate crisis. More specifically, it focuses on how the implementation of legal personhood as a juridical tool could lead to a shift towards a more ecocentric conception of nature. A philosophical approach will highlight the underlying discussion of the worth we grant nature and its correlated socio-cultural tradition. A legal approach will set this into the context of the German constitution and examine this issue by proposing constitutional amendments. Keywords: Environmental Personhood, Legal Personhood, Ecocentrism, German Constitution, Socio-Cultural Traditio

Not New, but Nearly Forgotten: An Undervalued Treatment for Addiction Combining LSD and Hypnosis

Hypnosis and psychedelics have long been used as adjuncts to psychotherapy for a range of psychiatric disorders such as addiction. However, the results were unsatisfactory as only a few patients successfully responded to each treatment. Therefore, combining them (= “hypnodelic” therapy) might prove to have an additive value for therapeutic outcomes. This review provides an outline of studies in which hypnosis and LSD are used in conjunction to aid the therapeutic process in drug addict patients. It was found that hypnodelic therapy produced significantly greater improvement on most scales (e.g. depression, anxiety) of the Psychiatric Evaluation Profile (PEP) questionnaire compared to other combinations of treatment techniques. Additionally, ego-dissolution and transcendent experiences were associated with converse levels of global functional brain connectivity. It is concluded that hypnodelic therapy deserves renewed scientific interest because it represents a promising treatment technique for drug addict patients. &nbsp

Maastricht Student Journal of Psychology and Neuroscience, ed 10 colofon: Colofon MSJPN ed 10

Colofon for MSJPN ed 1

Neurobiological Correlates of Decision-Making in Framing Conditions

Human decision-making is a complex process, of which the neurobiological correlates are not well understood. Several theories have been proposed, among others Prospect theory which assumes a different evaluation of gains and losses of the same value. De Martino et al. tested the influence of the “framing effect” on decision-making and we aimed to replicate their study as some of the findings remained unclear. A general tendency to act in accordance with the frame was shown in a behavioural study. In order to uncover the underlying neural correlates, participants performed the same task in an fMRI scanner. Even though the amygdala could not be linked to framing, increased activity in the ACC when making frame-incongruent decisions was established. This can be related to acting in a more rational manner. Furthermore, activity in the cerebellum was increased when making a choice, indicating the involvement of this brain area in decision-making under uncertainty

Freedom and Equality for the Sake of National Independance? The Liberalism of Fukuzawa Yukichi and its Shortcomings

Fukuzawa Yukichi is considered to be one of the most important Japanese philosophers during the Meiji period (1868-1912) who is known for his strong advocacy of liberal values such as freedom and equality. His plea contained the political demands of liberalising Japanese society and reforming its strict social hierarchy. However, within the logical structure of Fukuzawa’s argument, these principles only assume an instrumental value in which they are conceived as a means to secure Japan’s national independence, which ultimately weakens his endorsement of liberalism. The case of Fukuzawa Yukichi thereby constitutes a particularly important example of how the instrumental approach towards liberal rights by philosophers in Meiji Japan undermined the liberal movement itself and contributed to its own decline and the corresponding rise of nationalism. Keywords: Liberalism, Nationalism, Fukuzawa Yukichi, Meiji Japan, Japanese Philosoph

Gender-Based Violence During the Armenian Genocide: An Inclusive Perspective

This paper analyses atrocities during the Armenian genocide through a gendered lens. Asking to what extent men and women have been differently affected by gender-based violence, Carpenter’s framework is applied that specifically recognises men’s often-overlooked victimisation of gender-based violence. The application concludes that men were, just like women, victims of gender-based violence during the Armenian genocide, but that the rationales behind the targeting of women and men greatly differed. It follows that, while Carpenter is right in arguing that gender-based violence against women and men cannot be prevented separately from each other, as the gender roles naturalising the violence depend on one another, the mainstreaming of gender in atrocity-prevention and treatment should still safeguard female-tailored sexual violence prevention and treatments, given their remaining higher victimisation and the additional underlying rationales for their victimisation that do not apply to men. Keywords: Armenian Genocide, Atrocity-Prevention, Gender-Based Violenc

Does Resistance Training Have Positive Effects on Redox Homeostasis in the Human Body?

Regular aerobic or resistance training are related to better body composition, greater physical and mental health, and a reduction in all-cause mortality. Physical exercise also lowers the risk for diseases that are related to chronic oxidative stress like cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Paradoxically, exercise induces oxidative stress in the body. This review aims to investigate the positive effects of resistance training on redox homeostasis in the human body. From the studies reviewed here, it can be concluded that regular resistance training leads to training adaptations of the antioxidant system. These adaptations enable the body to cope better with future oxidative stress induced by exercise or other bodily or environmental factors. This effect has been demonstrated over different ages, gender, health status, as well as resistance training intensities. Therefore, it should be recommended as a general health behavior for the prevention and potential therapy of a wide range of diseases

Will the Real Scrutinizer Please Stand Up? The Role and Control of the French European Affairs Committee Over Its Executive

While traditionally considered the losers of European integration, scholars argue that national parliaments have clawed their way back to European affairs. The Lisbon Treaty has also sought to formally empower the national legislatures. However, little academic attention has focused on studying through which channels national parliaments have a say in the supranational arena. This explorative research aims at tackling this issue by analyzing what role the French European Affairs Committee (EAC) plays in EU affairs’ scrutiny and control of the executive. Through a qualitative design based on interviews with EAC members and content analysis, this paper shows that this French committee makes use of police-patrol oversight, rather than fire-alarm scrutiny to follow its executive’s behavior in the EU. However, the EAC remains legislatively powerless in the face of EU negotiations in the Council. Interviews reveal nonetheless that this is not perceived as a problem, as many respondents explain that national interests align at the supranational level, regardless of one’s political affiliation. This contradicts the argument of the importance of opposition in scrutinizing executive conduct. Instead, the French EAC is best conceived as an information hub, for other deputies and citizens, which reinforces the communicative function of the national legislature. This, in turn, questions the legitimacy of empowering national parliaments to solve the democratic deficit of the EU

Repairing the Link? Civil Society’s Role Regarding Accountability Deficits of the German Government in EU Affairs

National governments acting in the Council of the European Union can rarely be held to account by parliaments and the public. This is because secrecy prevails in Council negotiations, and institutions of democratic scrutiny often lack information and resources to effectively control the executive. This study focuses on the involvement of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as a potential remedy to the lack of democratic control over governments’ positions in Council negotiations. Examining the German case, a qualitative analysis of 13 interviews with German CSO representatives shows that CSO involvement concentrates on direct dialogue with the German government: Although lacking formal sanctioning powers, CSOs engage in an informal, voluntary consultation with policy-makers, based on co-dependency. Thus, they enact a loose form of social accountability with the German government. In this role, CSOs are however constrained by several factors, such as access to policy-making arenas. The paper further shows that CSOs seldom trigger formal scrutiny mechanisms by alarming the Bundestag or the public on potential governmental wrongdoings. Therefore, they rarely make use of their second potential role as political accountability facilitators. As a result, this raises the question whether CSOs’ impact on the accountability deficit can make up for the lack of popular scrutiny in EU policy-making