Principal-Agent Theory and the EU: Evaluating a Changing Relationship

Principal-agent (PA) theory has been employed to characterize the relationship between states and the international organizations (IOs) that they are members of. While the European Union (EU) has been considered a model for this sort of relationship, the tendency of PA theory to provide a static account of principals and agents has led to the dominant collective principal model declining in goodness of fit as the EU has changed over time. By tracking changes in the EU from its inception as the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) to the passage of the Lisbon Treaty, it is possible to identify structural changes that have strained the institutional relationship between members and the EU. In the current context of the EU, neither the collective principal model nor the multiple principal model can perfectly capture the relationship. Instead, a hybrid approach is needed that recognizes different avenues of re-contracting that are available to specific members. Additionally, the structural progression of the EU has opened up the theoretical possibility of a role reversal between principal and agent. The EU exerts a great deal of control over member-states through proceedings that the Commission initiates to compel members to comply with EU laws, as well as controlling the scope and pace of integration by regulating the procedures of enhanced cooperation and treaty opt-ins. This indicates that states are being given direction by the EU, rather than the reverse. Though the EU is very much unique among IOs, these developments are parsimonious enough that it is possible for them to occur in other institutional arrangements as well. Much of the impetus for these shifts can be found in the European focus on the normative benefits of integration which, instituted in another context, could lead to similar shifts occurring

Communication Department Heads: An Analysis of Positions Available 1990 through 1994

This article presents an analysis of positions available in 1990 through 1994 as communication department heads in the U.S. It is not surprising that over 75% of the listings for department heads indicated that the doctorate or other terminal degree would be required. The doctorate has become a standard feature associated with positions in higher education, and most certainly for senior-level positions. Nearly 95% (94.34%) of the listings indicated that candidates would be appointed at the rank of associate professor or higher. Such positions require candidates to meet all of the standard qualifications for a tenured appointment, including possession of the doctorate

The Art of Framing: Managing the Language of Leadership, by Gail T. Fairhurst and Robert A. Sarr

a book review of The Art of Framing: Managing the Language of Leadership, by Gail T. Fairhurst and Robert A. Sarr

Evaluation of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Available to Wintering Waterfowl in Managed and Natural Wetlands in Western Tennessee

Aquatic and wetland invertebrates are important protein sources for wintering waterfowl in the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley (LMAV). Few studies have evaluated winter invertebrate abundance patterns in the LMAV, particularly in Western Tennessee. I examined aquatic macroinvertebrate biomass, density, and diversity in beaver ponds, moist soil units and flooded, harvested soybean fields in Western Tennessee. Moist soil units and flooded soybean fields are common wetland practices on public lands in Western Tennessee. Beaver ponds offer natural habitat that is greatly increasing in the southeastern United States (Arner and Hepp1989). The objective of this study was to compare invertebrate abundance and biomass of selected invertebrate groups in wetlands important to wintering waterfowl in Western Tennessee. Three beaver ponds at Ames Plantation, three moist soil units and three flooded soybean fields at Chickasaw and Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuges were randomly chosen for intensive study. Monthly samples were collected from January to March in 2003 and 2004 with a benthos core sampler (8.8 cm diameter x 10 cm depth). Invertebrates were counted and identified to family or lowest practical taxa and the density, diversity, and biomass of invertebrates were compared among months and habitat types. A total of 1,077 (2003) and 1,796 (2004) invertebrates were identified from 19 higher taxa and 34 families. Oligochaeta and Diptera were most common in all three habitats. Bivalvia were prominent in beaver ponds whereas Nematoda were highly prevalent in moist soil units and soybean fields. Mean invertebrate biomass in this study ranged from 0.9 g/m2 ± 0.2 g/m2 (x ̅ [sample mean] ± s.e.) in soybean fields to 4.7 g/m2 ± 1.6 g/m2 in beaver ponds. Density of invertebrates ranged from 464/m2 ± 10 m2 in moist soil units to 883/m2 ± 228 m2 in beaver ponds. No differences were detected for density or biomass among beaver ponds, moist soil units, and soybean fields. Generally diversity showed little difference, however, for the month of March, diversity was slightly lower in soybean fields than in beaver ponds or moist soil units. I could not identify one treatment that provided more invertebrate resources than either of the other treatments

Transforming Scholarship Assessed into Scholarship Accessed: Examining the Communication Implications of a Boyer Report

This article presents an overview of the book Scholarship Assessed, by C. E. Glassick et al. The book is an Ernest Boyer project of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The work is clearly designed to extend the original argument made in the book Scholarship Reconsidered, which builds the case for extending the boundaries of what counts as scholarly activity for the nation\u27s faculty at colleges and universities. The text is divided into five chapters that follow Boyer\u27s prologue. In addition, the text attempts to address the concerns raised by Boyer and to develop a general understanding of how all brands of scholarship may be evaluated and assessed in the academy

Shifting Slides: The Effect of John Cage\u27s Solo for Sliding Trombone (1957-58) On Modern Trombone Literature and Pedagogy

The trombone has a limited history concerning literature and technique development. A turning point for the literature of the trombone was with John Cage\u27s Solo for Sliding Trombone. This composition brought about new techniques that would permeate throughout subsequent literature. These new techniques would also impact trombone pedagogy and accepted technique. This paper explains the impact Solo for Sliding Trombone had on the development of the instrument including literature and pedagogy

Graduate Study in the Communication Discipline: An Extension of 1994 Directory Data

This article provides information on the evaluation of communication education programs at the graduate level in the U.S. American society has become virtually obsessed with evaluation and analysis of its educational institutions and programs. Federal investigations have spotlighted a near crisis state in elementary and secondary education. Scholars and investigators within the communication discipline have devoted much effort to the appraisal of instructional programs, particularly at the graduate level. Specific graduate courses, such as argumentation theory have been examined. Specific programs of study, including mass communication have garnered attention. More generally, masters-level programs in speech communication have been evaluated. The Speech Communication Association graduate directory helps to illuminate several important features of study in the communication discipline. The directory contains individual listings from hundreds of masters and doctoral level communication programs throughout the nation. The production of summary data and some degree of speculation regarding the data found in the 1994 graduate directory would be beneficial in a number of ways. Such information would help facilitate decision-making on the part of both potential graduate students and the programs that must attempt to attract them by providing an overall view of graduate study in the communication discipline