The choice for EU theorists: Establishing a common framework for analysis

European Union (EU) studies have entered a highly contentious and, arguably, creative phase. A range of theoretical perspectives, seemingly quite highly differentiated from one another, now compete for influence and lsquospacersquo. However, the questions remain: is EU studies developing theories which are truly competing theories? Or is it developing theories that do not compete so much as they aim to explain distinctly different pieces of the EU puzzle? This paper responds directly to these two questions, while reviewing recent literature on EU governance. It argues, first, that we lack theories of EU governance that are true rivals; and, second, that leading models explain different outcomes at different levels in a multi-level system of governance. The result is somewhat phoney debates between compatible theories masquerading as rivals, and between lsquocomparative politicsrsquo and lsquointernational relationsrsquo approaches. Above all, perhaps, we find middle range theories posing as general or lsquometa-theoriesrsquo. In the absence of a plausible general theory of EU governance, theorists must choose precisely which type of outcome theywish to explain

La conservación del pavo en los Estados Unidos

El tipo tradicional de pavos en los EEUU es más ligero y delgado que el tipo industrial. Los pavos fueron usados en sistemas de crianza extensiva para autoconsumo y venta local. Hubo muchas variedades distintas usadas en este sistema, y casi todos llegaron a ser muy raros en años recientes. Censos de pavos cumplidos en la década 1990 revelan que poblaciones de tipos tradicionales son muy reducidas. Varias organizaciones, incluyendo la American Livestock Breeds Conservancy y Slow Foods empezaron a promover el pavo tradicional para fiestas especiales como El Día de Gracias en el cual el pavo es la comida preferida. Por estos programas la demanda para el pavo tradicional ha crecido mucho, de modo que las poblaciones de pavos tradicionales va creciendo mucho año tras año

Elastic stability and electronic structure of pyrite type PtN2: A hard semiconductor

The elastic properties and electronic structure of PtN2 with the pyrite structure (PtN2(C2)) were studied with first-principles calculations. The crystal structure is demonstrated to be elastically stable with a lower energy than the metastable fluorite structure proposed before. The calculated shear modulus of 214 GPa suggests that PtN2(C2) is harder than some well known hard materials such as TiN and SiC. The high elastic moduli are attributed to a stacking of corner-shared PtN6 octahedra bonded by strong N-N covalent bonding. In contrast to the metallic fluorite-type phase, PtN2(C2) is semiconducting with an indirect band gap

The Diversity and Causality of Welfare State Reforms Explored with Fuzzy-Sets

comparative methodology, fuzzy-sets, welfare state reforms, social expenditures, socio-economic performance,