Underminerer naturaliseringsprogrammet demokratiet? De danske naturaliseringskrav i lyset af Habermas’ demokratiteori

The group of Danish non-citizens is large due to strict naturalization demands. Are these demands reason- able? Speci cally, do they undermine their own ends if we evaluate the demands in light of the fact that successful applicants gain full democratic rights? In light of Habermas’ description of autonomy as the central democratic virtue, the paper discusses whether the demands stimulate the central citizenship virtue here de ned as ‘democratic autonomy’; a theoretical ideal which ts in the Danish case. Based on a sceptical evaluation of the naturalization demands in general and of the Danish language test in speci c, the paper discusses the merits of a possible alternative naturalization program. is program is also sketched on the basis of Habermasian ideas.

De fagprofessionelle, behovsfortolkning og legitimitet i ældreplejepolitikken

Hvilken rolle burde borgere og plejepersonale tilskrives i udviklingen af politik på ældreplejeområdet? Det dominerende synspunkt tilskriver dem en begrænset rolle. Det er dog væsentligt, at der her er tale om en klassisk magtkamp i behovspolitikken: Hvem skal kunne bestemme de legitime behov i velfærdsstaten? Flere peger på relevansen af Jürgen Habermas’ komplekse teoriudvikling for afklaring af legitimitet i behovspolitikken. Tilgangen er først og fremmest relevant, fordi den peger på de funktioner, den demokratiske velfærdsstat bør påtage sig i forhold til at sikre behovskommunikationen på tværs af samfundet. Med afsæt i Habermas’ egen tænkning såvel som de nyeste udviklinger i ældreplejen tilføjer artiklen, at vi bør have skarpere blik for de udfordringer for en sådan tværgående kommunikation, der skyldes forskelle i erfarings- og forståelsespositioner, der bunder i graden af omsorgsafhængighed. Den udfordring åbner op for at tilskrive fagprofessionelle i ældreplejen er særlig rolle som brobyggere i den demokratiske diskussion om legitimitet i ældreplejepolitikken. Det kræver dog, at de også tilskrives en mere aktiv rolle som behovsfortolkere i samarbejde med plejekrævende borgere, end aktuel plejepolitik tilskriver dem

Recognition in Leadership under Budget Pressure

When and why is NPM difficult to reconcile with recognition in leadership? How could budget management and recognition in leadership be combined? Recognition in leadership of frontline workers in the welfare state requires awareness that frontline workers have to manage a difficult balancing act in their recognition relationships with citizens. It can be difficult in itself for a public leader to acknowledge the complexity of the frontline worker's work, especially if they have not been in it themselves. In cases where frontline workers' recognition is material and their discretion in specific cases can affect budgets, there is pressure on the leader to ensure that expenses don't get out of hand. NPM has been introduced for the purpose of budgetary control in cases where frontline workers must exercise discretion and judgment with some autonomy from management. For the frontline worker, the middle manager's budgetary focus limits the ability to exercise autonomous judgment on a professional and ethical basis. This can create mistrust towards the leader. This is especially true when the leader tries to coach and acknowledge the employee in ways that are strategically intended to appear trustworthy and appreciative. What are the possibilities for recognition in leadership within this framework