Britishness and Muslim-ness: differentiation, demarcation and discrimination in political discourse

The Britishness agenda found in political speeches, reporting and opinion editorials is here posited as a form of ‘new racism’, as it emphasises the difference between ‘them’, Muslims, and ‘us’, non-Muslim Britons, and uses that difference as a defining demarcation. Twenty-first-century political discourse invested in the Britishness agenda works to eradicate distinctions between British Muslims and non-British Muslims, and even the distinction between those guilty of terrorist atrocities and those who have nothing to do with them. Muslims are framed within this discourse as the problem within multiculturalism, and the problem with multiculturalism. The difficulty of a demand to ‘be more British’ is laid bare

Vegetation associated with Wollemia nobilis (Araucariaceae)

Wollemia nobilis Jones et al. (Wollemi Pine) is restricted to four sites growing in warm temperate rainforest typical of the canyons in the Blue Mountains and Wollemi National Parks. 88 vascular plant species were recorded from four sites. The tree canopy at all sites is dominated by Wollemia nobilis, Ceratopetalum apetalum, Doryphora sassafras and Acmena smithii. A large number of fern and vine species dominate the forest floor. Site 1 contains more species than the other sites, possibly due to its diversity of topographic features. Similarity analysis indicates that sites 2 and 3 are the most similar and sites 1 and 4 are least similar in floristic composition. 54% of plant species were recorded at one site only. Ceratopetalum apetalum, Blechnum cartilagineum and Wollemia nobilis were found to contribute most to the similarity between sites

Voucher Privatization, Households´ Demand for Consumption Goods and Financial Assets and Implications for Macroeconomic Policy

The paper analyzes the impact of voucher privatization scheme on behavior of households and its consequences for macroeconomic policy. The stylized facts of the voucher privatization scheme are described for the Czech case. The consumption as well as portfolio decision of households during the voucher scheme are modeled within the framework of consumption function and a system of demand functions for financial assets. The envelope theorem is used to modify the standard AID system. The empirical results are presented. The paper concludes that the interdependence between privatization and macroeconomic stability should be better understood by policy makers in transitional countries that are going to adopt a similar approach of privatization to the one applied in the Czech Republic.voucher privatization macro policy

Voucher Privatization, Households´ Demand for Consumption Goods and Financial Assets and Implications for Macroeconomic Policy

The paper analyzes the impact of voucher privatization scheme on behavior of households and its consequences for macroeconomic policy. The stylized facts of the voucher privatization scheme are described for the Czech case. The consumption as well as portfolio decision of households during the voucher scheme are modeled within the framework of consumption function and a system of demand functions for financial assets. The envelope theorem is used to modify the standard AID system. The empirical results are presented. The paper concludes that the interdependence between privatization and macroeconomic stability should be better understood by policy makers in transitional countries that are going to adopt a similar approach of privatization to the one applied in the Czech Republic.Voucher privatisation. Macroeconomic policy. Asset demand. Czech.

Britain First: More than the mere sum of the parts left over by the BNP and EDL

Britain First is a new far-right party that has made waves in its confrontational approach and Islamophobia. Here, Chris Allen profiles the group, writing that while in many ways they are a traditional far-right organisation, they are more than the mere sum of the parts left over by the BNP and EDL

Matthew Lyon, The Sedition Act, and Freedom of Speech in Federalist America

Very little has been written about the political career of Matthew Lyon, who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1796 to 1800. Only a few biographies of his life have been written, which has contributed to the general lack of knowledge concerning his political affairs. The purpose of this thesis, then, is to identify Matthew Lyon the man, as well as his time in history, the Federalist Era. Special attention will be dedicated to Lyon’s controversial presence in the U.S. House, his violation of the Sedition Act of 1798, and the status of freedom of speech during the latter part of the Federalist Era. Cluster Bloc analysis will be used in order to ascertain the level of opposition Lyon encountered during his expulsion proceedings, as well as the level of support achieved for the Sedition Act. Matthew Lyon arrived in America in the 18th Century as an indentured servant from Ireland. After being released from the requirements of his indentured servitude Lyon began a life-long struggle for status and recognition. He was viewed as an outsider who relentlessly fought to become an insider. He attempted to become an insider in Federalist America through business ventures and political exploits. Lyon would eventually own many businesses and factories throughout New England. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Revolutionary War, Lyon believed that he was ideally suited for politics, both local and national. Once in the U.S. House of Representatives he continued his quest for acceptance and recognition through actions largely negative in nature. Expulsion proceedings were put into motion on more than one occasion to oust him from Congress, with the most celebrated cause being a physical altercation with his Federalist enemy Roger Griswold on the House floor. Lyon believed himself to be a complete Republican. His Federalist enemies saw him as a Republican as well, but for different reasons. In short, the Federalists detested his presence in Congress, and this attitude towards Lyon was reflected in the passage of the Sedition Act, as well as his prosecution for violating the act. After his stormy four years in Congress and his jail sentence, Lyon moved west to Kentucky where he again took up his entrepreneurial and political activities. Through the use of Cluster Bloc and other primary and secondary sources, the analysis will show that the group of Congressmen who voted in favor of Matthew Lyon’s expulsion will be the same one that voted in support of the Sedition Act, and that the Federalist Era, although not the only period of American History to witness repressive legislation, was embarrassingly intolerant of the First Amendment rights of American citizens