Forging their path in the Brussels bubble? Civil society resistance within the domestic advisory groups created under the EU trade agreements

Academic and policy interest in civil society participation in the European Union's trade policy has been growing since the late 1990s. We analyse civil society's engagement with the Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs)-consultation mechanisms established by the European Commission at the implementation stage of its free trade agreements. While the Commission's formal rationale for the DAGs is partnership with civil society, in fact this relationship involves a marked power and resistance dynamic. We focus on civil society's agency and resistance, develop a conceptual framework laying out different possible types of resistance, and empirically demonstrate the wealth of both overt and subtle resistance practices employed by DAG members. Most of this resistance is (moderately) comprehensive and directed against the DAGs' rationalities and technologies. While showing that DAGs are deeply contested, our study also provides a nuanced analysis of resistance with particular attention for divisions between business and non-business members

Doba Rudolfa II. se zřetelem k vybraným německy psaným listinám z let 1578-1598. Historicko-jazykovědná studie.

Předkládaná bakalářská práce se zabývá analýzou vybraných pěti německy psaných listin, vydaných Rudolfem II. v Praze v letech 1578-1598, které jsou tak dokladem německého jazyka kanceláří na českém území v 16. století. V práci je pojednáváno o politických a společenských poměrech v českých zemích v poslední čtvrtině 16. a na počátku 17. století, představena je osobnost a život Rudolfa II. a jeho vztah k Praze. Dále jsou nastíněny hlavní prvky a osobnosti kulturního života v rudolfinské Praze, alchymie a vědy, následovány popisem pražské kanceláře Rudolfa II. se zřetelem na německý jazyk. Cílem práce je provést textologickou analýzu se zaměřením na externí a interní rysy listin, a tím tak přispět k výzkumu německého jazyka kanceláří v poslední čtvrtině 16. a na začátku 17. století na území českých zemí.The presented thesis deals with an analysis of five selected documents written in German and published by Rudolf II in Prague between 1578 and 1598. The textual source material therefore serves as an illustration of the German language used in the offices located on the Czech territory in the 16th century. The thesis is concerned with the political and social attitudes in the Czech lands in the last quarter of the 16th and at the beginning of the 17th century; the figure of Rudolf II and his relationship to Prague are also presented. Furthermore, the thesis mentions the main features and figures of the cultural life in Rudolfian Prague, alchemy and science, followed by a chapter describing Rudolf II's Prague office with regard to German as the language of the Prague office. The aim of the thesis is to textologically analyze the documents with a focus on their Macrostructure and Microstructure and therefore contribute to the research of the German language used in the offices in the last quarter of the 16th and at the beginning of the 17th century in the territory of the Czech lands.Institute of Germanic StudiesÚstav germánských studiíFilozofická fakultaFaculty of Art

Participation of civil society in EU trade policy making : how inclusive is inclusion?

In response to growing contestation and politicisation of trade policy, policy makers have aimed to enhance the 'inclusiveness' of trade policy through the institutionalisation of deliberative forums in which civil society organisations participate. However, it is not clear whether these processes actually enhance inclusiveness. This article adds to our understanding of this question by, first, developing an analytical framework (the 'inclusiveness ladder') and, second, applying it to the civil society mechanisms (CSMs) of European Union (EU) free trade agreements. The unique feature of CSMs is their focus on ensuring that the actual implementation of trade agreement does not run counter to sustainable development principles. Specifically, our empirical research involves a mixed methods analysis of primary and secondary sources and a survey of civil society participants. We find that CS is largely included at the level of logistics and partly at the level of information sharing, whereas monitoring capacities remain limited and impact on policy-making is quasi-absent. Moreover, results suggest differences between business participants, who seem largely satisfied with the lower steps on the 'ladder', and non-governmental actors who insist on policy impact. Finally, we outline avenues for further research and reflect on policy implications

Listiny Maxmiliána II. a Rudolfa II. jako historiolingvistický pramen, se zvláštním zřetelem k textologickým aspektům. Příspěvek k výzkumu jazyka kanceláří.

The presented thesis deals with a textological analysis of fifty documents written in German and published by Maximilian II. in Vienna between 1564 and 1574 and Rudolf II in Prague between 1578 and 1608. The thesis is concerned with the political-cultural, religious and social attitudes in the Czech lands in the second half of the 16th and at the beginning of the 17th century, offices, German as the language of the offices and the praxis of the offices during the reign of Maximilian II. and Rudolf II. The aim of the thesis is to textologically analyze with a focus on the Macrostructure and Microstructure of the selected documents, their comparison and therefore contribute to the research of the German language used in the offices in the second half of the 16th and at the beginning of the 17th century in the time of Habsburg.Předkládaná diplomová práce se zabývá textologickou analýzou padesáti německy psaných listin, vydaných Maxmiliánem II. ve Vídni v letech 15641574 a Rudolfem II. v Praze v období 15781608. V práci se pojednává o politicko-kulturních, duchovních a společenských poměrech v českých zemích v druhé polovině 16. a na počátku 17. století, kancelářích, němčině jako jazyku kanceláří a kancelářské praxi za doby Maxmiliána II. a Rudolfa II. Cílem práce je provést textologický rozbor se zaměřením na strukturu i jazykové prostředky vybraných listin, vzájemně je porovnat a přispět tak k výzkumu německého jazyka v kontextu jazyků kanceláří v době Habsburků ve druhé polovině 16. a na začátku 17. století.Ústav germánských studiíInstitute of Germanic StudiesFaculty of ArtsFilozofická fakult

Kepastian Hukum terhadap Pelaku Tindak Pidana Delik Biasa yang Diselesaikan dengan Mediasi ( Studi Kasus Kecelakaan Lalu Lintas yang Menyebabkan Kematian)

Traffic accident often causes the accident both small or big scales, the small scale causes light injury while the death. It is ruled in Article 310 of the Act Number 22, 2009 regarding the Traffic and Land Transportation states that the settlement of the violation of the act is done through litigation. However, there is the settlement outside the court in the level of investigation by the police by restitution given by the violator to the victim that can be material or immaterial form. The settlement of non-litigation is not recognized in the criminal law but it can be found in the society.Traffic accident with caused the death of an ordinary offense, not a complanit based offense. In a sense, the law enforcement officers or police remains under an obligation to process the case even though no report of casualties and others, and even if the perpetrator and the victim\u27s family has made peace efforts, but the legal process continues

3D Simple Monte Carlo statistical model for GaAs nanowire single photon avalanche diode

GaAs based nanowire single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) has been demonstrated with extremely small afterpulsing probability and low dark count rate, and hence it has attracted wide attention for the near infrared applications. However, there is a lack of model to accurately evaluate the avalanche breakdown performance in nanowire SPAD with a spatially non-uniform electric field. In this work, we have developed a three-dimensional (3D) Simple Monte Carlo statistical model for GaAs nanowire SPADs. Model validation includes ionisation coefficients of GaAs and avalanche gain in GaAs nanowire avalanche photodiode. We also apply our model to predict the device performances of breakdown probability, mean time to breakdown and timing jitter, which are essential parameters for SPAD design. Simulating a PN junction GaAs nanowire SPAD design using our model, we found that device performances have little dependence on the primary carrier injection type, but the nanowire doping concentration requires optimization for high performance SPAD design and operation

Use of health systems and policy research evidence in the health policymaking in eastern Mediterranean countries: views and practices of researchers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Limited research exists on researchers' knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) in the eastern Mediterranean region (EMR). This multi-country study explores researchers' views and experiences regarding the role of health systems and policy research evidence in health policymaking in the EMR, including the factors that influence health policymaking, barriers and facilitators to the use of evidence, and the factors that increase researchers' engagement in KTE.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Researchers who published health systems and policy relevant research in 12 countries in the EMR (Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) were surveyed. Descriptive analysis and Linear Mixed Regression Models were performed for quantitative sections and the simple thematic analysis approach was used for open-ended questions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 238 researchers were asked to complete the survey (response rate 56%). Researchers indicated transferring results to other researchers (67.2%) and policymakers in the government (40.5%). Less than one-quarter stated that they produced policy briefs (14.5%), disseminated messages that specified possible actions (24.4%), interacted with policymakers and stakeholders in priority-setting (16%), and involved them in their research (19.8%). Insufficient policy dialogue opportunities and collaboration between researchers and policymakers and stakeholders (67.9%), practical constraints to implementation (66%), non-receptive policy environment (61.3%), and politically sensitive findings (57.7%) hindered the use of evidence. Factors that increase researchers' engagement in KTE activities in the region were associated with involving policymakers and stakeholders at various stages such as priority-setting exercises and provision of technical assistance.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Researchers in the EMR recognize the importance of using health systems evidence in health policymaking. Potential strategies to improve the use of research evidence emphasize two-way communication between researchers and policymakers. Findings are critical for the upcoming World Health Report 2012, which will emphasize the significance of conducting and translating health research to inform health policies.</p

A national cross-sectional study on nurses' intent to leave and job satisfaction in Lebanon: implications for policy and practice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lebanon is perceived to be suffering from excessive nurse migration, low job satisfaction, poor retention and high turnover. Little is known about the magnitude of nurse migration and predictors of intent to leave. The objective of this study is to determine the extent of nurses' intent to leave and examine the impact of job satisfaction on intent to leave. Intent to leave was explored to differentiate between nurses who intend to leave their current hospital and those intending to leave the country.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional design was used to survey nurses currently practicing in Lebanese hospitals. A total of 1,793 nurses employed in 69 hospitals were surveyed. Questions included those relating to demographic characteristics, intent to leave, and the McCloskey Mueller Satisfaction Scale. Univariate descriptive statistics were conducted on sample's demographic characteristics including gender, age, marital status and educational level. Bivariate associations between intent to leave and demographic characteristics were tested using Pearson Chi-square. Differences in satisfaction scores between nurses with and without intent to leave were tested using t-test and ANOVA f-test. A multinomial logistic regression model was created to predict intent to leave the hospital and intent to leave the country.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An alarming 67.5% reported intent to leave within the next 1 to 3 years, many of whom disclosed intent to leave the country (36.7%). Within nurses who reported an intent to leave the hospital but stay in Lebanon, 22.1% plan to move to a different health organization in Lebanon, 29.4% plan to leave the profession and 48.5% had other plans. Nurses reported being least satisfied with extrinsic rewards. A common predictor of intent to leave the hospital and the country was dissatisfaction with extrinsic rewards. Other predictors of intent to leave (country or hospital) included age, gender, marital status, degree type, and dissatisfaction with scheduling, interaction opportunities, and control and responsibility.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Study findings demonstrate linkages between job satisfaction, intent to leave, and migration in a country suffering from a nursing shortage. Findings can be used by health care managers and policy makers in managing job satisfaction, intent to leave and nurse migration.</p