The Armenian road to democracy - Dimensions of a tortuous process. CEPS Working Document No. 267, May 2007

Focusing on the internal and geo-political dimensions of Armenia’s road to democracy, this paper considers the decision-making structure, the role of leadership, the development of political parties and various changes in Armenian civil society. We aim to shed light on the role of the EU in the democratisation process by looking at the relationship between Brussels and Yerevan, at the instruments and strategies in operation, such as the European Neighbourhood Policy, and at the wider international context in which these changes are taking place

Bridging the Gap: A Pentadic Analysis of Theresa May’s Conservative Conference Speech “Britain after Brexit: A Vision of a Global Britain”

This qualitative study of British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative conference speech “Britain after Brexit: A Vision of a Global Britain” delivered in the fall of 2016 uses pentadic criticism as the basis for its analysis. This contemporary study identifies women as an underrepresented minority in the realm of politics around the world and media as a powerful channel for their portrayal. As the role of women in political leadership is more prevalent in times of crisis around the world, it is exceedingly important to understand the role that the media can play in their portrayal for both foreign and domestic audiences alike. This study reaffirms that more women in leadership within politics is needed for equitable gender representation in politics. May’s speech and her portrayal within the media for both foreign and domestic audiences show that it is possible for women to bridge the gap of gender and politics

Conditions Pertinent for Overcoming Gender Inequality in Political Leadership: A Comparative Analysis of Angela Merkel and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

This qualitative study of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany implements a most different systems design (MDSD) as the basis for its comparative analysis. A cross-examination of Johnson Sirleaf’s and Merkel’s personal backgrounds, their leadership styles in their political careers before they became the heads of their governments, and their level of political participation in democracy or liberalization movements prior to their rise to power is conducted in this study. Key strands of feminist approaches in IR, such as liberal feminism, difference feminism, and postmodern feminism add to this study’s discourse on Johnson Sirleaf’s and Merkel’s rise to political power. The basis for this study is that women comprise an underrepresented minority in the field of politics worldwide. As women in political leadership is more prevalent in times of crisis around the world, it is exceedingly important to understand the conditions under which women political leaders may attain their country’s highest political office. More so, this study identifies some key similar conditions from which Angela Merkel and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf overcame gendered obstacles in politics to reach their country’s highest political offices

Consumer Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Food Safety in Portugal

The recent food crises and its great diffusion through the media had as consequence a reduction of the European consumer's confidence, in general, and of the Portuguese ones in particular, in the products that they buy and consume. These events also served to disclose some of the existing problems in the current marketing chain, in which many sectors result to have low, or no transparency or unknown ones to the consumers. For moreover, these crises had demonstrated that science and technology, in set with the governmental regulation do not offer guarantees that the risks associated with food have acceptable levels. All these questions triggered the interest of researchers to study the impact of food safety related issues on consumer behaviour. The objective of this paper is to increase knowledge on Portuguese consumer perceptions and attitudes towards food safety. Specially, consumers' level of concern about food crises, their view on the safety of several products throughout the supply chain and the assessment of different practices that may reduce food poisoning risks are here analysed. Likewise, the role of labels and the different information channels on purchasing habits are studied. Internet interviews have been used as the main source of information and have been conducted throughout Portugal and addressed to a sample of 1497 persons, representing the different geographic areas and age groups. The results indicate that, with exception of the residence place, the other socio-economic variables play an ever-decreasing role when explaining the consumer behaviour. The factors measuring lifestyle, especially those related to safety, and mainly, consumption experience, seem to be the main aspects explaining Portuguese consumers' perception on food safety. For moreover, one evidences of the reading of labels, the date of caducity is the information more consulted by the consumers, leaving of part other important food safety information and relation diet versus health, such as the instructions of storage and cooking, the nutritional value and the ingredients. In order to restore the confidence lost, an effort of diffusion of clear and truthful information is necessary, for beyond the necessity of an efficient coordination throughout all the marketing chain in order to offer food safety products.food safety, consumer behaviour, perceptions, attitudes, Portugal, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Intergenerationality in a Digital World: Proposals of Activities:Bilingual (EN and PT)

A educação para os media tem ganho um grande fôlego nos últimos anos, porém ainda precisa de passos de gigante, muito em especial ao nível da forma como é tratada e enraizada junto dos cidadãos. Este e-book surge com essa preocupação. As fichas de atividades tão diversificadas, todas elas com uma componente digital, embora não esquecendo em alguns casos a ligação a outros dispositivos não digitais e formas de estar na vida no dia a dia. Estas 20 propostas do e-book Intergeracionalidade e o mundo digital: Propostas de atividades/Intergenerationality in a Digital World: Proposals of activities tentam dar forma a uma necessidade que encontramos de fazer com que as pessoas, além das crianças e dos jovens em espaço escolar e no contexto mais formal, questionem, pensem e ajam sobre as interpelações do mundo mediático e da informação.Media Education has gained momentum in recent years, but this area still needs to be improved, especially in terms of how it is perceived and implemented among citizens. This e-book is the result of this concern. The activities are diverse and include a digital component, without forgetting the connection to other non-digital devices in daily life. These 20 proposals of the e-book Intergeracionalidade e o mundo digital: Propostas de atividades/Intergenerationality in a Digital World: Proposals of activities intend to respond to the need that people, besides children in education, question, think and act on the interpellations of a mediatised world full of information available.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

New England farmers meet immigrant needs

A multi-institution agricultural collaborative is researching ways to help Massachusetts farmers grow and market local immigrants’ favorite home-country vegetables. In a related effort, immigrants are learning techniques for being successful farmers themselves.Immigrants - New England ; Agriculture - New England

Qualidade em agricultura: sistemas de certificação, desafios e perspectivas

Qualidade, quando referida ao sector agrícola, integra toda a cadeia produtiva, desde a provisão de matérias-primas até ao consumo e pode ser vista na óptica do produtor e do consumidor. Os sistemas de garantia e certificação da qualidade existentes na União Europeia, baseados numa abordagem holística, são particularmente complexos e variados, pela diversidade de consumidores existentes. A maioria aplica-se a um mercado diferenciado e apenas um reduzido número e muito diversificado vai além das normas legais, visando a diferenciação dos produtos e a manutenção de determinados padrões de qualidade. O seu desenvolvimento é influenciado por medidas de políticas distintas e, factores económicos e sociodemográficos. Podem classificar- se em função do objecto (produtos ou processos), dos objectivos (consumidor final ou os diferentes intervenientes na cadeia de comercialização alimentar), o conteúdo (rastreabilidade na origem ou modo de produção), os promotores (públicos ou privados), o contexto (local, regional, nacional ou internacional) e, o número de etapas envolvidas na cadeia agro-alimentar

Reseñas

Obra ressenyada: Lorena SALETTI CUESTA y Ana DELGADO SÁNCHEZ, Discurso de las médicas sobre el desarrollo profesional. Miradas Propias. Granada: Universidad de Granada, 2015

The Making of Russian Foreign Policy: Lines of (Dis)continuity in a Process of Affirmation

This paper looks at the dynamics underlying Russian foreign policy, with the aim of identifying drivers, strategies and goals in a process embedded in complexity. The domestic political setting and its interplay with the international context are fundamental elements in the analysis of the projection of Russian power and influence. In a constant search for balance between the national interest, international compromises and the bargaining/concessions duality, Russia has been pursuing a policy of affirmation, both in regional and international terms. However, this has been a course where lines of (dis)continuity produce fragile contours that are not always easy to grasp. Underlying this course are issues about Russian identity and how this plays a role both at the domestic level and in external policy dealings. However, an increasingly assertive tone is noticeable. Whether this is still an expression of a loss of empire not yet overcome or the result of powerful internal developments is here analyzed. This paper aims, thus, to analyze Russian foreign policy making, shedding light on lines of continuity and discontinuity in this continuous, though not linear, search for affirmation.Center for Social Studies; International Studies Association

Como formar professores inovadores com TIC? Reflexões sobre a prática

A educação, a escola, os professores e os alunos têm vindo a adaptar-se às transformações que ocorrem na sociedade, declinando muitos dos paradigmas educativos tradicionais, inovando a forma de ensinar e de aprender com e através das novas tecnologias. Ao nível da formação inicial de professores é fundamental preparar os futuros professores para as inovações educativas e tecnológicas emergentes. Mas estarão os alunos, futuros professores, recetivos a uma nova visão da educação? Mais tecnológica, digital, colaborativa e centrada no desenvolvimento de competências para uma cidadania ativa, informada, esclarecida, crítica e criativa que seja capaz de dar resposta aos problemas e desafios da sociedade do século XXI? Nesta comunicação, pretende-se partilhar algumas práticas, experiências e reflexões da formação inicial de professores, para uma discussão de ideias sobre a formação de futuros professores inovadores com TIC