Aquest estudi qualitatiu empíric de quatre xarxes d'organitzacions no lucratives que promouen els drets dels immigrants als EUA vol contribuir a la bibliografia sobre gestió de xarxes centrant-se en dues tensions paradoxals inherents a la xarxa: unitat/diversitat i cooperació/confrontació. Així mateix, identifica quatre activitats fonamentals, activating, facilitating, framing, capacitating, com a fonts per generar unitat i mantenir la diversitat interna de la xarxa. Aquesta unitat i diversitat mencionades proporcionen poder a les xarxes, el qual es conceptualitza com a "power to" i té quatre bases principals: coneixement, recursos financers, legitimitat i accés. A més a més, l'estudi mostra que les xarxes utilitzen aquest poder, que elles mateixes han generat i a les quals es destina, juntament amb dues activitats més strategyzing, mobilizing per cooperar amb els actors estatals més poderosos i, al mateix temps, enfrontar-s'hi. Aquesta investigació, que utilitza com a eix principal les tensions paradoxals inherents a les xarxes, desenvolupa la bibliografia sobre gestió de xarxes, especialment sobre el lideratge i el poder de la xarxa, i té com a objectiu proporcionar als professionals reflexius un marc conceptual de referència. / Este estudio cualitativo empírico de cuatro redes de organizaciones no lucrativas que promueven los derechos de los inmigrantes en los EE. UU. pretende contribuir a la literatura de la gestión de redes centrándose en dos tensiones paradójicas inherentes a la red: unidad/diversidad y cooperación/confrontación. El estudio identifica cuatro actividades fundamentales, activating, facilitating, framing, capacitating, como fuentes para generar unidad y mantener la diversidad interna en la red. Dicha unidad y diversidad dan poder a las redes, conceptualizado como "power to", y que tiene, principalmente, cuatro bases de poder: conocimiento, recursos financieros, legitimidad y acceso. El estudio, además, muestra que las redes utilizan este poder generado por y para ellas, junto con dos otras actividades strategyzing, mobilizing para cooperar y enfrentarse a actores estatales mucho más poderosos. Usando las tensiones paradójicas inherentes a las redes como foco principal, esta investigación desarrolla la literatura sobre gestión de redes, en particular sobre el liderazgo y el poder de la red, y pretende proveer a los profesionales reflexivos de un marco conceptual de referencia. / This empirical qualitative study  of four interorganizational non-profit networks promoting immigrant rights in the US  contributes to the interorganizational network management literature by focusing on the management of two inherent paradoxical tensions: unity/diversity and cooperation/confrontation. Four leadership activities  activating, facilitating, framing, and capacitating  are found to generate unity and maintain diversity. Unity and diversity, together, build the networks' power: conceptualized as "power to" and as four power bases, namely, knowledge, financial resources, legitimacy, and access. In turn, the networks' power together with two other leadership activities  strategizing and mobilizing  is found to be used by the immigration non-profit networks to both cooperate with and confront powerful state actors. By using paradoxical tensions inherent to networks as its focus, this research further develops both the network leadership and network power literatures, and also aims at providing reflexive practitioners with a guiding conceptual framework.

Den här studien syftar till att lyfta fram, belysa, tolka och öka förståelsen om hur människan i det senmoderna samhället lever med en medvetenhet om sin ändlighet och vilken mening livet får för dem. Som teoretisk och begreppslig referensram ligger den existentiella traditionen. Empirin utgörs av fem självbiografier som tolkas och analyseras utifrån en hermeneutisk metodansats. Självbiografierna är skrivna av personer som diagnosticerats med en obotlig sjukdom och inträtt i evigheten. Resultatet av studien utmynnade i tre faser. Livet rasar samman handlar om de oerhörda olustkänslor som personerna upplever efter vetskapen om att de ska dö. Här behandlas också de svåra prövningar som kroppens svek, nedbrytning och förändring bidrar till. Sökandet efter ett sätt att leva handlar om hur man efter diagnosen försöker finna ett sätt att leva mot ändligheten. Personerna upplever en grundtrygghet av att få leva så normalt som möjligt, få vistas i sitt eget hem och i betydelsefulla omgivningar. Det mest värdefulla för deras välbefinnande är kärleken, stödet och samhörigheten med nära och kära. Med medvetenheten om sin ändlighet fann personerna livet och det viktigaste blev att leva. Att finna livet i dess slutskede belyser de existentiella tankar och upplevelser som uppstår i livets slutfas. I denna fas försöker personerna finna en väg och tillhörighet in i evigheten. / The aim of this study is to highlight, illuminate, interpret and increase understanding of how humans in the late modern society lives with an awareness of their finitude and what the meaning of life will be for them. As a theoretical and conceptual framework is the existential tradition. The empirical data consists of five autobiographies which will be interpreted and analyzed from a hermeneutic methodology. The autobiographies are written by people who have been diagnosed with an incurable disease and entered eternity. The result of the study led to three phases. Life falls apart is about all the incredible feelings of discomfort the persons experience after the knowledge of their forthcoming death. This phase also addresses the difficult trials that body´s betrayal, degradation and change are contributing to. The search for a way to live is about how one after diagnosis is trying to find a way to live against the finitude. The persons experience a fundamental security in living as normally as possible, reside in their own home and in significant surroundings. The most valuable for their wellbeing is the love, support and affinity with friends and loved ones. With the awareness of their finitude the persons found life and the most important thing was to live. Finding life in its final stage highlights the existential thoughts and experience that occurs in life´s final phase. In this phase the persons tries to find a way and belonging into eternity.

El presente trabajo analiza la influencia de los regímenes cambiarios sobre la dolarización de los pasivos empresariales, focalizándose en la diferencia entre regímenes fijos y flexibles. Para hacerlo se utiliza una muestra de 237 empresas de Argentina, Brasil, Colombia y México para el período 1992-2000, la metodología de estimación GMM-system para modelos de panel dinámicos y dos clasificaciones de regímenes cambiarios. Los resultados sugieren que los regímenes cambiarios fijos, así como su duración y volatilidad, influyen positivamente sobre la proporción de deuda en moneda extranjera mantenida por las firmas. Asimismo, se exploran otros determinantes del grado de dolarización de los pasivos corporativos, introduciéndose variables sugeridas por la literatura pero no analizadas hasta el momento. Se observa que la inestabilidad de la economía afecta las decisiones de cartera de las firmas. A su vez, las expectativas de salvataje por parte del Estado y las regulaciones generan problemas de información asimétrica, incentivando a las firmas a tomar un mayor riesgo cambiario. Por último se explora la relación entre la dolarización de los pasivos corporativos y el original sin interno, concluyendo que la reducción de éste último es, en parte, alcanzada vía dolarización de la deuda de largo plazo.

Workplace bullying is creating negative physical and psychological effects on employees and has a serious impact on the organisations’ bottom line. Workplace bullying has been related to excessive absenteeism, high employee turnover and hostile work environments. However, no recent studies on the prevalence of workplace bullying in the South African context are available. This is important because of the multicultural, multiracial composition of the South African workforce, and socio–demographic factors such as race, gender, age, education level and type of industry should be investigated to determine if differences exist with regard to the experience of workplace bullying. The personality resource, sense of coherence, should add an important element to this study, as the results could offer an important indicator for managers to change the employee’s environment in order to render the stimuli to which they are exposed more understandable, significant and manageable. In South Africa, diversity, multiculturalism, affirmative action and equal employment opportunity are words in common currency in a newly democratic country. Literature suggests that if diversity within African organisations is positively experienced, it could enhance harmony and effectiveness within that organisation. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the relationship between workplace bullying, socio–demographic characteristics, sense of coherence and diversity experiences according to the literature; 2) to determine how frequently employees in South Africa experience acts of workplace bullying; 3) to determine if there are significant differences between socio–demographic groups (including race, gender, age, education and industry) with regards to workplace bullying; 4) to determine if there are significant differences between the different types of bullying (direct, indirect, supervisor and colleague bullying) with regards to sense of coherence; and 5) to determine if there are significant differences between the different types of bullying (direct, indirect, supervisor and colleague bullying) with regard to diversity experiences. An availability sample (N = 13 911) was utilised to determine the prevalence of workplace bullying in a sample of South African employees. Frequencies were used to determine the prevalence of workplace bullying for the total sample and MANOVA was used to determine differences between the groups. The results indicated that workplace bullying is a prevalent problem in South Africa, as people experience frequent overall bullying (4% reported being often bullied; 31,1% reported being always bullied). On the socio–demographic characteristics, Blacks experienced a higher level of workplace bullying in comparison with the other race groups, and men and women experience statistically significant differences with regards to workplace bullying. It was evident that older employees experience statistically significantly lower levels of bullying, and a statistically significant difference between those employees with a secondary and tertiary education was found. It seems that the highest levels of direct bullying by supervisors occurred in the government industry, followed by the mining industry. Individuals with a higher SOC experienced lower levels of bullying compared to individuals with a lower SOC. Statistically significant differences were found on all bullying dimensions with regards to diversity experiences. Recommendations were made for future research and organisations. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Workplace bullying is creating negative physical and psychological effects on employees and has a serious impact on the organisations’ bottom line. Workplace bullying has been related to excessive absenteeism, high employee turnover and hostile work environments. However, no recent studies on the prevalence of workplace bullying in the South African context are available. This is important because of the multicultural, multiracial composition of the South African workforce, and socio–demographic factors such as race, gender, age, education level and type of industry should be investigated to determine if differences exist with regard to the experience of workplace bullying. The personality resource, sense of coherence, should add an important element to this study, as the results could offer an important indicator for managers to change the employee’s environment in order to render the stimuli to which they are exposed more understandable, significant and manageable. In South Africa, diversity, multiculturalism, affirmative action and equal employment opportunity are words in common currency in a newly democratic country. Literature suggests that if diversity within African organisations is positively experienced, it could enhance harmony and effectiveness within that organisation. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the relationship between workplace bullying, socio–demographic characteristics, sense of coherence and diversity experiences according to the literature; 2) to determine how frequently employees in South Africa experience acts of workplace bullying; 3) to determine if there are significant differences between socio–demographic groups (including race, gender, age, education and industry) with regards to workplace bullying; 4) to determine if there are significant differences between the different types of bullying (direct, indirect, supervisor and colleague bullying) with regards to sense of coherence; and 5) to determine if there are significant differences between the different types of bullying (direct, indirect, supervisor and colleague bullying) with regard to diversity experiences. An availability sample (N = 13 911) was utilised to determine the prevalence of workplace bullying in a sample of South African employees. Frequencies were used to determine the prevalence of workplace bullying for the total sample and MANOVA was used to determine differences between the groups. The results indicated that workplace bullying is a prevalent problem in South Africa, as people experience frequent overall bullying (4% reported being often bullied; 31,1% reported being always bullied). On the socio–demographic characteristics, Blacks experienced a higher level of workplace bullying in comparison with the other race groups, and men and women experience statistically significant differences with regards to workplace bullying. It was evident that older employees experience statistically significantly lower levels of bullying, and a statistically significant difference between those employees with a secondary and tertiary education was found. It seems that the highest levels of direct bullying by supervisors occurred in the government industry, followed by the mining industry. Individuals with a higher SOC experienced lower levels of bullying compared to individuals with a lower SOC. Statistically significant differences were found on all bullying dimensions with regards to diversity experiences. Recommendations were made for future research and organisations. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

This study discusses true and false conversions and the use of the Ten Commandments in evangelism, viewed from the starting point of a Christian ethical perspective. The use of the Ten Commandments in Evangelism is affirmed by Jesus Himself and also by Jesus’ apostles after His ascension to heaven. The validity of the Ten Commandments is eternal. The modern evangelist has been caught by the snares of Satan with regards to the Ten Commandments. The power of the Ten Commandments in evoking a true sense of sin is being undermined by a sly plan of Satan that causes enmity between the Law and grace. It has basically brought about two schools of thought: those who use the Ten Commandments, and those who reject it. Those who use the Ten Commandments, however, run the risk of using the law in an illegitimate way, and this is termed as “legalism”. On the other hand, those who reject the Ten Commandments are guilty of “Antinomianism”, that literally means “anti-law”. Consequently, all the underlying principles, which God had laid down for the use of the Ten Commandments, are being blatantly disregarded. Instead, the workings and efficacy of the Ten Commandments are exclusively replaced by love and grace. False conversions are the result in both cases. Satan achieves his goal. In opposition to this is the legitimate use of the Ten Commandments as the only means of preventing false conversions. God designed the Ten Commandments in such a way as to firstly reveal His holiness as the only standard that a sinner must meet. As the standard requires absolute holiness and perfection, it brings about a sense of sin. This is because no person can fulfill the standard. Without a true sense of sin, no person can be saved. Within the framework of the Ten Commandments, evidence of the person’s love towards God is comprised through the upholding of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments cannot save anyone, but if the person loves Jesus, they will keep His commandments; a sign of true conversion. The goal of this study was to determine whether any guidelines can be composed to help Evangelists prevent or minimize false conversions, in a Biblically justified manner. The research indicates that without the use of the Ten Commandments during evangelism, many false conversions will ensue. The conclusion of this research is that false conversions can be prevented or minimized through the legitimate use of the Ten Commandments during evangelism. / Thesis (PhD (Ethics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

LA TESIS INVESTIGA Y ANALIZA EL PROCESO DE CREACION Y DE RECEPCION DEL FILME DOCUMENTAL DE LUIS BUÑEL SOBRE LAS HURDES, REALIZADO EN 1933. LA INVESTIGACION ARRANCA CON LOS PROCEDENTES HISTORICOS, METAFORICOS Y VISUALES DE LA OBRA, QUE SE ENCUENTRAN EN LOS VIAJES ANTERIORES DE MIGUEL DE UNAMUNO Y, EN PARTICULAR, DE ALFONSO XIII Y EN EL FOTOPERIODISMO QUE LA VISITA REAL PROVOCO, ASI COMO EN EL ESTUDIO DE GEOGRAFIA HUMANA DE MAURICE LEGENDRE, EN EL QUE BUÑUEL SE INSPIRO ABIERTAMENTE. LA INVESTIGACION PODE DE RELIEVE EL CARACTER ANARCO-SURREALISTA DEL FILME, TANTO EN VIRTUD DEL EQUIPO DE PRODUCCION Y FILMACION QUE LO REALIZO, COMO DE SU PUESTA EN ESCENA. SE ANALIZAN LAS TRAYECTORIAS INTELECTUALES, ARTISTICAS Y POLITICAS DE CADA MIEMBRO DEL EQUIPO, QUE DIERON COMO RESULTADO UN FILME PLURIDISCIPLINARIO DE ESPECTRO CULTURAL AMPLIO: CINEMA, FOTOGRAFIA, POESIA, PERIODISMO, ETNOGRAFIA, HISTORIA DEL ARTE. ASIMISMO, LA TESIS SE DETIENE EN LA DESCRIPCION Y ANALISIS DE LA PUESTA EN ESCENA, EN PARTICULAR DE LAS ESCENAS FABRICADAS. EL ANALISIS DE LA RECEPCION DEL FILME EN LAS DIVERSAS ETAPAS DE LA II REPUBLICA Y DE LA GUERRA CIVIL, ASI COMO DESDE ENTONCES HASTA HOY, CIERRA LA TESIS.

This thesis explores the sense and the implications of the messianicity without messianism, a quasi-concept coined by the thinker Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) in the 1990s that refers to a “structure of experience” characterized by a lack of conclusion. On the one hand, this thesis examines the role that this notion plays within the vast work of Derrida; it aims at demonstrating that it neither indicates a rupture nor it constitutes a mere reformulation of his previous postulates. On the other hand, it establishes a dialogue between this quasi-concept and the use that a number of authors of the XXth century and the beginning of the XXIst, from different contexts and interests, do of the messianic tradition in order to formulate their own understandings of history, linguistics, politics and ethics. This thesis goes in depth into the shortcomings of the proposals of these authors and claims that the messianicity without messianism avoids many of them and offers a more fertile model for describing reality and acting in it. The final aim is to contribute to the reception of this quasi-concept ―which, in our opinion, so far has been slanted and insufficient― and prove that it rescues us from both the risks of the fundamentalisms and those of the paralyzing “everything goes” brought about by the phenomenon of the death of God. / Esta tesis explora el sentido y las implicaciones de la mesianicidad sin mesianismo, un casi-concepto acuñado por el pensador Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) en los años noventa del siglo XX que alude a una “estructura general de la experiencia” caracterizada por la ausencia de conclusión. Por un lado, esta tesis examina el papel que dicha noción desempeña dentro de la vasta obra de Derrida; quiere demostrar que ni supone una ruptura en su obra ni se trata de una mera reformulación de postulados anteriores. Por el otro, establece un diálogo entre este casi-concepto y el uso que una serie de autores del siglo XX e inicios del XXI, desde contextos e intereses distintos, hacen de la tradición mesiánica para formular sus propias concepciones de la historia, la lingüística, la política y la ética. Esta tesis ahonda en las limitaciones de las propuestas de estos autores y defiende que la mesianicidad sin mesianismo evita muchas de ellas y ofrece un modelo más fértil para describir la realidad e intervenir en ella. Todo ello con la voluntad de contribuir a la recepción de este casi-concepto ―que consideramos que, hasta el momento, ha sido sesgada e insuficiente― y mostrar que nos rescata de los riesgos tanto de los fundamentalismos como del paralizante “todo vale” acarreado por el fenómeno de la muerte de Dios.

The thesis explores the subject of purgatory and its relative value for modern people. It summarises: 1. The manner in which biblical texts used to underpin the doctrine; 2. The history of the doctrine within the Roman Catholic Church and the reaction to it during the Reformation and beyond; and 3. Contemporary formulations of purgatory and purgatory-like ideas. The thesis argues, from several perspectives, that a modern formulation of the doctrine is: 1. Reasonable; 2. Biblically consistent; 3. Meets the criteria of an established Tradition at practice within the Church; and 4. Is capable of assisting people in understanding and appreciating the existential questions of death and the after life. The thesis is approached from the angle of a Legal Counsel presenting an argument for acceptance of the thesis. / SYS THEOLOGY and THEOL ETHICS / MTH (SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY)

The reading of four contemporary novels, namely: Credo by Melvyn Bragg, The Catastrophist by Ronan Bennett, Everything You Need by A.L. Kennedy and American Gods by Neil Gaiman explores the prominent position of mythification and remythification in contemporary literature. The discussion of Bragg's novel examines the significance of Celtic mythology and folklore and to what extent it influenced Christian mythology on the British Isles and vice versa. The presentation of the transition from a cyclical, pagan to a linear, Christian belief system is analysed. My analysis of Bennett's novel supports the observation that political myth as myth transformed contains elements and qualities embodied by sacred myths and investigates the relevance of Johan Degenaar's observation that "[p]ostmodernism emphasises the fact that myth is an ambiguous phenomenon" and practices an attitude of "eternal vigilance" (1995: 47), as is evident in the main protagonist's dispassionate stance. My reading of Kennedy's novel explores the bond that myth creates between the artist and the audience and argues that the writer as myth creator fulfils a restorative function through the mythical and symbolic qualities embedded in literature. Gaiman's novel American Gods focuses on the function of meta/multi-mythology in contemporary literature (especially the fantasy genre) and on what these qualities reveal about a society and its concerns and values. The thesis contemplates how in each case the original myths were substituted, modulated or transfigured to be presented as metamyth or myth transformed. The analysis shows that myth can be used in various ways in literature: as the data or information that is recreated and transformed in the creative process to establish a common matrix of stories, symbols, images and motifs which represents a bond between the author and the reader in terms of the meaning-making process; to facilitate a spiritual enrichment in a demythologized world and for its restorative abilities. The study is confirmed by detailed mythical reference. / English Studies / (D. Litt. et Phil. (English))