Capitalism and the sea: Sovereignty, territory and appropriation in the global ocean

This paper introduces the term ‘terraqueous territoriality’ to analyse a particular relationship between capitalism as a social formation, and the sea as a natural force. It focuses on three spaces – exclusive economic zones (EEZs), the system of ‘flags of convenience’ (FOC), and multilateral counter-piracy initiatives – as instances of capitalist states and firms seeking to transcend the geo-physical difference between firm land and fluid sea. Capital accumulation, it is argued here, seeks to territorialise the sea through forms of sovereignty and modes of appropriation drawn from experiences on land, but in doing so encounters particular tensions thereby generating distinctive spatial effects. By exploring the articulation between sovereignty, territory and appropriation in the organisation of spaces where land meets sea, the article seeks to demonstrate the value of an analytical framework that underlines the terraqueous nature of contemporary capitalism

Kognitive Professionssoziologie : eine theoretische Skizze und eine exemplarische empirische Untersuchung im Feld der Umweltdienstleistungen in der Schweiz

Im ersten Teil der Arbeit werden die theoretischen Grundzuege einer "Kognitiven Professionssoziologie" entwickelt. Ausgehend von einer Explikation des Problembegriffs wird begruendet, dass Problem-Definitionen von Professionellen auf wissenschaftlichen Kategoriensystemen aufruhen muessen. Durch die historische Autonomisierung von Wissenschaft, so die Kernthese, sind solche Problem-Definitionen fuer Laien-Klienten nicht mehr umstandslos verstehbar. Fuer die Bestimmung der Kompetenzen auf Seiten des Professionellen wird an die kognitionspsychologische Expertiseforschung angeschlossen. Auf Berufsgruppenebene sind Zustaendigkeiten durch Problem-Typisierungen abgegrenzt. Es werden mit Abbott (1988) zwei Formen von Abstraktion unterschieden - als Reduktion und Formalisierung bezeichnet -, die daran ansetzen und so als kognitive Mechanismen im Wettbewerb der Berufsgruppen um Bearbeitungszustaendigkeiten wirken. Der zweite, empirische Teil schliesst hieran an. Gestuetzt auf eine schriftliche Befragung (n=3.514) im Feld der hochqualifizierten Umweltdienstleistungen in der Schweiz, konnten die in einer vorangehenden Untersuchung (Mieg 1997, 2000, 2002) gefundenen Zusammenhaenge unter Bezugnahme auf das sog. DPSIR-Modell bestaetigt werden: Die Konkurrenz zwischen Berufsgruppen variiert signifikant mit dem Reduktionsgrad (d.h. dem Ausmass an inhaltlicher Abstraktion), die berufsgruppeninterne Konkurrenz mit dem Formalisierungsgrad (d.h. der Wissenschaftlichkeit) von Problem-Typisierungen. The first part of the thesis develops the outlines of the new theoretical approach of a "cognitive sociology of professions". Starting out from a discussion of the term "problem" the idea is justified that problem-definitions of professionals need to rest on the categorical system of a scientific discipline. As a consequence of the (cognitive) autonomy of science, these problem-definitions may be non-transparent for lay-clients. The analysis of the competences of the professionals on the other hand is based on basic findings of the cognitive psychology of expertise. On the level of professions as groups jurisdictions are analyzed as resting on the typing of problems. Following Abbott (1988) two forms of abstraction - reduction and formalization - are distinguished. Connected to the typing of problems they are basic cognitive mechanisms in the competition of professions for jurisdiction. Resting on this idea the second, empirical part of the thesis is based on a survey in the field of environmental problem-treatment in Switzerland (n=3'514). Referring to the so-called DPSIR-model results of a former survey by Mieg (1997, 2000, 2002) can be confirmed: Inter-professional competition depends significantly on the degree of reduction (that is abstraction in terms of content), intra-professional competition on the degree of formalization (that is "scientific character") of the typing of environmental problems

How Formality Works: The Case of Environmental Professionals

This article provides an overview of our research on environmental professionals in Switzerland over the last twenty years. From the beginning, we were interested in studying how formality functions in this field and how abstraction drives jurisdictional change We started with the goal of examining professsionalization, i.e., the question of whether a new environmental profession arises. Our findings suggest this has not yet occurred; instead, we observe increased scientification of the field, underlining the role of science-based formalization (providing social capital in the form of a science-based language). We analyze a survey on environmental professionals and show how abstraction works: reduction and formalization as two distinct forms of abstraction are specifically related to inter- and intra-professional competition

How Formality Works: The Case of Environmental Professionals

This article provides an overview of our research on environmental professionals in Switzerland over the last twenty years. From the beginning, we were interested in studying how formality functions in this field and how abstraction drives jurisdictional change. We started with the goal of examining professsionalization, i.e., the question of whether a new environmental profession arises. Our findings suggest this has not yet occurred; instead, we observe increased scientification of the field, underlining the role of science-based formalization (providing social capital in the form of a science-based language). We analyze a survey on environmental professionals and show how abstraction works: reduction and formalization as two distinct forms of abstraction are specifically related to inter- and intra-professional competition

Gesundheitskompetenz der Bevölkerung im Umgang mit der Coronavirus-Pandemie

Okan O, de Sombre S, Hurrelmann K, Berens E-M, Bauer U, Schaeffer D. Gesundheitskompetenz der Bevölkerung im Umgang mit der Coronavirus-Pandemie. Monitor Versorgungsforschung. 2020;13(3):40-45