Alliance durability and intra-alliance security dilemma: a case study of the U.S.-Japan alliance in the light of rising China

In recent years, the East-Asian security order has been witnessing a number of disturbances stemming from increased assertiveness of regional security actors, such as North Korea and, to a lesser extent, China. More specifically, the escalation of tensions between China and Japan over the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands has called into question the very viability of the U.S. “hub and spoke” alliance system in the region, with the 60 year old U.S.-Japan alliance at its core. As a relic of bipolar Cold War great power competition, today the alliance faces increasingly complex and uncertain security environment, which effectively challenges the very foundations of the widely celebrated trustworthiness and durability of the security ties between the two nations. Against this background, the thesis conducts a thorough examination of a salient episode, which has occurred and subsequently disturbed the established modes of operation within the U.S.-Japan alliance. In particular, the overarching aim of the study is: a) to uncover and assess the effect exerted by the intensification of an external threat (China) on the severity of intra-alliance security dilemma, with an eroding balance in entrapment-abandonment fears among the allies; b) how this phenomenon have manifested itself throughout the course of the Senkaku contingency; and c) what the identified anxiety-driven processes hold for the enduring quality of the U.S.-Japanese security cooperation. Grounded in theoretical expectations largely derived from the realist school of thought, the paper concludes that, chiefly consistent with realist thinking, the Senkaku crisis and the respective behaviour of allies does point to: 1) the upsurge of intra-alliance security dilemma; 2) the importance of fluctuations in triangular Sino-American-Japanese relationship for the magnitude of abandonment anxiety experienced by the weakest pole in the triangle (Japan); 3) the mitigating role of institutionalization on alliance ties plagued by twin abandonment-entrapment anxieties. Yet, the paper also discovers, contrary to Morrow’s (1991) expectations, the preservation of asymmetrical nature of the alliance, as reflected in high degrees of weaker ally’s direct dependence, in all likelihood, would be detrimental to alliance durability, due to the importance attached to acquired reputations for reliability in the minds of state leaders. Hence, it becomes evident that phenomena such as sustained alliance durability and intensity of intra-alliance security dilemma cannot be fully captured by one all-encompassing realist approach; instead, any future inquiries into the topic of alliance durability would significantly benefit from a harmonious merging of insights from different schools of thought.http://www.ester.ee/record=b5147614*es

Quality of antiretroviral therapy in public health facilities in Nigeria and the perceptions of the end users

The health care industry in Nigeria is increasingly grappling with challenges of meeting end users’ requirements and expectations for quality antiretroviral therapy (ART) service provision. This study sought to explore and describe the quality of antiretroviral therapy in public health facilities in Nigeria and the perceptions of the end users. A descriptive qualitative research design was used in the study in order to generate ideas from end users for improving quality of ART service provision, and prompt additional research activities. Unstructured focus group discussions were conducted with end users (n=64) in 6 locations across the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Data was analysed using the framework approach because it reflects the original accounts and observations of the end users and the Weft QDA version 1.0.1 software to validate the results. Findings revealed that end users were satisfied with uninterrupted antiretroviral drug supplies, courtesy treatment, volunteerism of support group members and quality counselling services. End users expect public health facilities to accept diagnostic results from collaborating facilities, implement continuous quality improvement (CQI), maintain clean and adequate health infrastructure, reduce end user waiting time, reduce stigma, comprehensively assess end users during each clinic visit and ensure uninterrupted ART services. They also expect effective collaboration between healthcare providers and support group members, to enhance the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV). End users identified the following as quality gaps in ART service provision: weak health facility leadership, non-attractive ART service infrastructure, frequently interrupted laboratory services, demotivated and inadequate health care workers, long waiting time, interrupted medicine supplies and inadequate procedure for complaints management. In conclusion, the following recommendations were proffered: deploy and train additional health care workers, integrate ART into regular health services, improve supply chain management of health commodities, and reduce end user overload in clinics. Finally, a best practice guideline for the provision of end user focused ART service provision was developed.Health StudiesD.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies

Semantic discovery and reuse of business process patterns

Patterns currently play an important role in modern information systems (IS) development and their use has mainly been restricted to the design and implementation phases of the development lifecycle. Given the increasing significance of business modelling in IS development, patterns have the potential of providing a viable solution for promoting reusability of recurrent generalized models in the very early stages of development. As a statement of research-in-progress this paper focuses on business process patterns and proposes an initial methodological framework for the discovery and reuse of business process patterns within the IS development lifecycle. The framework borrows ideas from the domain engineering literature and proposes the use of semantics to drive both the discovery of patterns as well as their reuse

The Manchester and Salford Sure Start Plus pilot programme: A baseline evaluation. SCNMCR Report: 12

This evaluation considers the implementation of the Sure Start Plus Pilot (SSPP) programme at the two pilot sites of Manchester and Salford and was commissioned by the teenage pregnancy teams in these cities. It is a local evaluation considering how the programme has been implemented in the context of the national objectives and targets for the two cities. The principal investigators were Julie Wray and Barbara Hastings-Asatourian, supported by an expert project team. The team recognised that the impact of such an evaluation would not be absolutely evident in the short term and the impact of a service aimed at tackling the effects of poverty and levelling out inequality would only be successfully monitored over the longer term. However, short term objectives were set and the evaluation aimed to collect, examine and analyse data that reflected the extent to which SSPP had been implemented and monitored. This was achieved by both quantitative and qualitative methods - examining statistics and capturing the experiences and opinions of the SSPP team. Findings identified marked diversity between Manchester and Salford in the way that SSPP was structured, organised and services provided. Variations existed in the staffing arrangements, partnerships, monitoring approaches and leadership styles. Findings show that where quantitative data required nationally were rigorously collected by the teenage pregnancy teams at the sites, there was clear evidence of movement towards the targets and several examples of unique services and innovative practice. For example the uptake of support packages did increase over the 3 years, new roles with partnership agencies were established and the introduction of posts like the young father’s worker began to have an impact. There were some areas of incomplete data, and some areas where progress towards targets appeared to be less successful. Following thematic analysis, focus group and face to face interview data have suggested why this is the case

The Prolific and other Priority Offender programme: in search of collaborative public management

The purpose of the research was to assess the implementation and management of the Prolific and Priority Offender (PPO) programme, examining the barriers to and enabling factors for managing in partnership, whilst evaluating the settlement between three management models. The research provides evidence for a newer model of management, better suited to deliver on the shared outcomes government requires from its public programmes. Research has shown that although crime is multi-causal, a range of agencies separately intervene into service users’ lives. Collaborative Public Management joins up these interventions to improve crime reduction

Interaction: 'Samhandling' Under Risk

The authors of Interaction: ‘Samhandling’ Under Risk. A Step Ahead of the Unforeseen elucidate new views on emergency-preparedness management and understanding the unforeseen in society and learning processes by introducing the concept of ‘samhandling’, a Norwegian term that connotes interaction, collaboration and cooperation in one word. What are the basic structures of the concept of ‘samhandling’ under risk? How can ‘samhandling’ be created when conditions are unpredictable? These questions served as the springboard for 28 research studies, the results of which are now presented in this anthology, organized in four parts: Educational, Organizational, Operational Samhandling Structures and Theory Construction and The Way Forward. The book conveys new knowledge that forms the basis for a new view on strategic, emergency-preparedness management, and understanding of the unforeseen in society and in learning processes. The approach is interdisciplinary but has a particular focus on disciplines such as pedagogy, psychology, military science, health sciences, and organization and management, applied in various industries and sectors related to practical examples, experiences and challenges. The book’s primary target group is the scientific research communities within these disciplines