Argelia: la lógica subyacente de unas “no elecciones”

El pasado 9 de abril, Argelia celebró lo que se denominó elección presidencial. Esto es algo que ha hecho a intervalos desde 1995 y, por lo general, dichas elecciones han sido motivo de insatisfacción tanto a nivel interno como internacional. Pero, ¿en qué consisten exactamente estos comicios, que han demostrado una y otra vez no estar a la altura de las expectativas de la mayoría? El presente ARI explica que en realidad los comicios no pueden considerarse como tales y que las expectativas creadas en torno al proceso electoral están fuera de lugar. El proceso oficialmente conocido como elecciones presidenciales en Argelia es en realidad un ejercicio de legitimación materializado a través de la movilización de las lealtades del electorado. Las elecciones no se celebran para determinar cuál es el candidato elegido por la ciudadanía, sino más bien para garantizar el respaldo del pueblo a una decisión previamente adoptada por la oligarquía gobernante, legitimando de esta forma dicha oligarquía. La naturaleza formalmente plural de este proceso no debería llevarnos a pensar en ningún momento que existe realmente tal cosa como una carrera presidencial. Así, el candidato del régimen tiene todas las de ganar para convertirse en el próximo presidente, sin existir en realidad competencia alguna; la función del resto de los candidatos no es otra que reforzar el índice de participación agregada y maximizar la legitimidad del régimen, en lugar de desafiar al candidato a la presidencia propuesto por la oligarquía. Esta preocupación por la legitimidad también determina los enfoques y las acciones de los partidos que promueven el boicot y contribuye a que el debate político en Argelia siga siendo eminentemente estéril. La democratización real del sistema político argelino está aún por llegar y que no hay ningún motivo para pensar que los socios occidentales de Argelia han contribuido de forma sustancial a la promoción de la democracia en el país durante las últimas dos décadas o para albergar esperanzas realistas de conseguirlo en un futuro próximo

Cynic Shamelessness in Late Sixteenth-Century French Texts

This article examines the diverse responses elicited by ancient Cynicism's sexual shamelessness in a wide range of sixteenth-century French texts. The outrageous performance of the Cynics, including public sex and masturbation, was always designed to provoke questioning of civilized norms. Many texts express disgust at the antics of Diogenes and his followers. The facetious dialogues of Bouchet and Cholières treat the topic of shamelessness euphemistically. In contrast, Montaigne, in 'L'Apologie de Raimond Sebond', seriously considers the Cynic challenge to normative values, and suggests that Cynicism's commitment to nature shows that the normal definitions of vice and virtue should be inverted, in a daring example of paradiastole

Representations of ancient Cynicism in French texts, 1546-1615

This thesis traces prima facie references to ancient Cynicism in a wide range of French texts from the mid-sixteenth to the early-seventeenth century. Cynicism, a popular philosophical movement in antiquity, was transmitted through a diverse tradition of sayings and anecdotes. The tradition presents the Cynics, and particularly Diogenes of Sinope, turning their lives into humorous and scandalous philosophical performances. By focusing on prima facie representations of Cynicism, I show how early modern writers understood and used Cynic performance for their own purposes. Part I of the thesis is devoted to early modern repositories of Cynicism. I establish the nature and availability of ancient and Medieval sources, and how they are used in neo-Latin and vernacular collections of sayings, miscellanies and encyclopedias. Adaptation and invention of Cynic sayings in collections show how the Cynic tradition encourages improvisation. The discursive treatment of miscellanies illustrates the diverse associations of Cynicism, from idealized, Christian portrayals to titillating discussion of Cynic public sex. Part II concentrates on more developed and playful use of Cynicism. Rabelais uses Cynicism, notably in the prologue of the Tiers Livre, to identify his work with carnival, and to raise the question of the writer's role in society. Paradoxes exploit Cynic performance, which is eminently paradoxical and thereby serves to reveal the scope of early modern paradoxes. The key Cynic practices of shamelessness and freedom of speech are used by early modern authors to raise shocking questions about morality and the body, and to articulate opposition to the status quo. Cynicism stands for a radically free and humorous way of life, which is used by early modern writers to raise strange ideas in seriocomic ways. This thesis fills a gap in intellectual and literary history by providing readings of a large number of little-known texts which allow for new perspectives upon canonical works

Neurasthenia

History and Nature of Neurasthenia: Definition | Introduction by Beard | Earlier writings | Previous titles to condition neurasthenia a neurosisIllustrative Cases: A number of cases taken from a large number met with by writerThe Causation of Neurasthenia: Increasing prevalence of neurasthenia | Heredity a cause | Predisposing and exciting causes | Effect of infectious and toxic diseases | Country and Climate | Age and Sex | Occupation | Intellectual, muscular, and emotional strain | Diseases of the Reproductive system | Abuse of Alcohol etc. | Diseases of the Throat and Nose | Dyspepsia TraumatismThe symptoms of Neurasthenia: Difficulty of classification | Certain fundamental symptoms found in most cases | Headache | Insomnia | Nervousness | Gastric symptoms | Blood in neurasthenia | Circulatory Disturbances | Pulse | Urinary changes | Changes in the Sense organs | The sexual organs | The nervous system | Fears and anxieties | Henri neurasthenia | Various forms | Traumatic neurasthenia.The Diagnosis of Neurasthenia: Not an easy matter | Absence of physical signs | Coexistence with other diseases | Organic diseases of the brain and spinal cord | Hysteria | Hypochondriasis | Anaemia | Lithaemia | Petit Jal | insanity | Diagnosis of Traumatic casesThe Etiology of Neurasthenia: Actual pathology unknown | Various Theories | The nervous theory | Gastric theory | Arguments for and against both | The two theories summed up | Glenard's theory | Anjel's theory | Views of other writers | The theories related to Traumatic neurastheniaNeurasthenia: Prognosis, Complications and Sequelae | Not a fatal disease | Gradual onset | Age of patient | Family history | Circumstances of patient | Certaintÿ of diagnosis | Neuralgias | Writer's Cramp and Chorea | Certain skin disorders | Insanity a sequela | Opium taking | Craving for Alcohol | Organic lesions | May drift into Hypochondriasis if left untreated.The Prophylactic Treatment of Neurasthenia: Importance of it | Must start early in life | Life in towns | Choice of a school | Home surroundings | Food | Sleep | Outdoor exercise | Moral Education | Puberty | Avoidance of Stress and Strain | Choice of Profession or Trade.The Treatment of Neurasthenia: General Indications | Views regarding-drugs | Importance of good surroundings during treatment | Each case to be considered seperately | Gain confidence of patient | Rest | Diet | Massage | Weir-Mitchell's treatment | Seclusion | Overfeeding | Duration of Rest cure | Hydro therapeutics | Various methods | Electricity | Views regarding it | Hypnotism | Drugs | Avoidance of Opium | Hypodermic Transfusions | Paul's method of treatment | Change of air and scene | Suitable companion

Introduction to the study of the mould-fungi parasitic on man

During recent years the attention of Bacteriologists has been directed by the discovery of certain facts to the question of racial variations in the lower and higher pathogenic fungi. It was steadfastly held by the founders of Bacteriology that the individuals of a species uniformly presented, under all circumstances, the type characters of the species; and when these individuals were associated etiologically with certain diseases, they were described as fixed forms. When deviations in form were met with in the same, or closely allied diseases they were categorically put down as new species. Tulasne, for the first time, pointed out the possibility of pleomorphism and he demonstrated that many forms which were currently described as distinct species were in reality merely different stages of development of the same individual. But the value of his discovery and its bearings on the problems of pathology were not recognised for many years, till the recent, greatly enlarged, cultivation of the pathogenic fungi, brought into prominence the fact that the individuals of the several pathogenic species presented astonishing differences under cultivation. When reared side by side in a common soil there are often marked physical differences, sometimes in the matter of colour, or growth-energy ; and when the inquiry is pushed still further, aided by the microscope, minuter, but still characteristic, variations may be discovered, such as alterations in the shape of the cell-elements, or fruit-bearing organs. Sometimes marked differences of another sort are discovered, such as the kind or degree of modification impressed on the soil by the growth of the fungus. If the soil is gelatinous, one individual may liquify the gelatine, while another may not, although both specimens may be, undoubtedly, members of the same species. Many instances might be drawn from the recent study of the lower fungi to illustrate this principle, and in an excellent paper by Adami,* the bacteriologist who doubt its truth may find for his consideration a large collection of well arranged examples. No one who has cultivated the moulds, which are pathogenic on man, on a sufficiently large and extensive scale, collecting his specimens from different countries, can fail to be impressed with the same truth. Fungi-culture has taught us that these Cryptogams are no exception to that general principle that Plants are specially liable to variation under cultivation, a principle which was illustrated by Darwin, in his own masterly style, in his work on "Animals and Plants under Domestication," but, in spite of which, many observers and bacteriologists have worked as if it had never been written at all. It is part of the object of this Thesis to show how wide is the range of these variations, and how differences, perhaps worthy of being considered racial, may be originated by changes in the conditions of cultivation. Extreme caution is needed when we come to deduce inferences; for every step we take into this new field of inquiry may discover facts which may cause us to modify, or even abandon, a previous conclusion. Now we are only at the verge of the unknown and this Thesis is offered as a contribution to aid us forward more by suggestions of facts than by demonstrated .conclusions

Isolation of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes from an Infection of a Pregnant Uterus

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135449/1/ijgo00826.pd

The calculus of dissidence: how the Front des Forces Socialistes became what it is

While Algeria’s rulers bear much of the responsibility for the lack of democratic reform after the advent of formal party-political pluralism in 1989, the political forces notionally engaged in constitutional opposition have their share. This judgment applies in particular to the Front des Forces Socialistes (FFS). Finally legalised in 1989, the FFS from its foundation in 1963 has provided the main template of ‘opposition’ in Algeria but it has not been engaged in genuine opposition, merely dissidence. Media commentary and academic analysis have attributed democratic credentials and reforming ambitions to the FFS on the strength of its discourse, while ignoring the way the party has actually behaved. This flawed approach has also built upon earlier errors in the analysis of the FFS by the French sociologist Jeanne Favret, who misconceived the 1963 rebellion as representing the ‘ultra-modernism’ of the Kabyle middle class and misunderstood the role of tradition in this affair. This paper examines the party’s behaviour since 1989 and the logics of the rebellion of 1963–5, and explains how and why the FFS has always fallen short of opposing the government with a serious democratic project