Cette thèse part du constat que les cadres théoriques explicatifs des relations d’emploi sont plus adaptés au contexte occidental et ne permettent pas d’expliquer les réalités des pays en développement en général et de l’Afrique subsaharienne en particulier. Elle s’appuie sur les pratiques d’informalisation des emplois miniers par l’externalisation au Ghana et en Côte d’Ivoire pour proposer une théorie appropriée au contexte de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. La question principale de la recherche est la suivante : quelles logiques orientent les acteurs dans leur positionnement face au processus d’informalisation des emplois miniers en Afrique de l’Ouest ? De cette question principale ont découlé les questions secondaires à savoir : que comprendre de l’option des entreprises minières pour les pratiques d’informalisation des emplois? Comment expliquer les stratégies gouvernementales dans l’encadrement ou non de ces pratiques? Et que dire des stratégies de l’acteur syndical ou des communautés locales (autorités/chefferies traditionnelles) face à ces pratiques? Pour répondre à ces questions, la thèse s’est appuyée sur une comparaison des contextes coloniaux anglophone et francophone de l’Afrique de l’Ouest pour s'interroger sur l’influence des trajectoires et traditions institutionnelles sur les logiques des acteurs contemporains des relations d’emploi. Elle a mobilisé des ressources théoriques complémentaires issues de l’institutionnalisme historique, des variétés de capitalismes, de l’histoire des pays et des théories du système monde et du capitalisme périphérique. La méthodologie est quant à elle basée sur un devis qualitatif, avec une analyse multiniveau et des études de cas comparatives d’entreprises minières au Ghana et en Côte d’Ivoire. Au total, quatre entreprises minières à raison de deux par pays (une entreprise originaire du Canada et une autre originaire de l’Inde dans chacun des pays hôtes) ont été étudiées. Des entrevues ont été réalisées auprès de 33 personnes ressources identifiées au sein de ces entreprises et dans les institutions sectorielles et nationales des relations industrielles. Cette approche méthodologique a permis d’appréhender les contextes nationaux des relations d’emploi dans les deux pays étudiés, mais aussi les logiques mobilisées par les acteurs, aux échelles nationales et des entreprises, face aux pratiques d’externalisation des emplois. L’analyse des données collectées a permis de constater qu’au niveau des acteurs gouvernementaux des deux pays, la logique a évolué de l’organisation juridique autour de l’emploi formel à durée indéterminée comme norme à la déréglementation et à l’intégration des pratiques d’externalisation grâce aux réformes introduites dans le cadre des programmes d’ajustement structurel. Dans les deux pays, l’influence des organisations internationales notamment le FMI et la BM est déterminante dans l’adoption de cette posture idéologique de la régulation flexible des relations d’emploi. Les logiques patronales d’informalisation des emplois dans les deux pays s’inscrivent, quant à elles, dans des dynamiques de rationalisation de la gestion et donc de maximisation des profits. Toutefois, la thèse a permis de mettre en évidence un effet « pays d’origine de la mine » qui peut affecter la forme de la pratique d’externalisation adoptée, particulièrement en Côte d’Ivoire où les mécanismes de suivi de l’application de la loi ne sont pas aussi contraignants qu’au Ghana. Enfin, les logiques syndicales s’inscrivent davantage dans le cadre institutionnel national d’organisation de l’action syndicale. Au Ghana, la nature décentralisée de l’organisation syndicale est plus favorable à l’exclusion des travailleurs externalisés alors que le cadre centralisé ivoirien se prête davantage à l’unité d’action entre travailleurs externalisés et travailleurs de l’entreprise utilisatrice. En somme, la thèse soutient que pour comprendre les logiques d’acteurs syndicaux et gouvernementaux face aux pratiques d’informalisation des emplois, il convient de considérer le degré d’autonomie des États par rapport à l’influence des institutions internationales notamment la BM, le FMI et l’OIT. Au-delà de ces organisations, il importe aussi de savoir la façon dont le facteur colonial continue d'influencer les pratiques et logiques d’acteurs de ces pays notamment par le maintien des modèles juridiques hérités, l’utilisation par les tribunaux de la jurisprudence des anciennes puissances colonisatrices et l’alignement des pratiques institutionnelles contemporaines sur les modèles de ces anciennes puissances. Pour ce qui est des entreprises, les données de la thèse appuient l’idée que les pratiques d’externalisation s’inscrivent dans une logique de maximisation des profits, mais elles sont modulées en fonction du contexte national d’implantation des entreprises. Dans un environnement où il y a un mécanisme de suivi rigoureux de l’application des lois, toutes les entreprises ont tendance à avoir des pratiques similaires. En revanche, dans un contexte où le mécanisme de suivi est moins efficace et moins rigoureux on a tendance à observer des comportements d’entreprises qu’on peut relier à leurs pays d’origine. Finalement, les niveaux de responsabilités et la place accordés aux autorités locales dans les contextes nationaux peuvent entraîner l'implication plus ou moins importante de ces dernières dans les pratiques d’emploi. / This thesis starts from the observation that the theoretical frameworks explaining employment relations are more adapted to the Western context and make it difficult to explain the realities of developing countries in general and sub-Saharan Africa in particular. It draws on the practices of informalization of mining jobs through outsourcing in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to propose an appropriate theory to the West African context. The main question of the research is the following: what logic guides the actors in their positioning facing the process of informalization of mining jobs in West Africa? From this main question arose secondary questions, like: What to understand from the practice of jobs informalization in the mining companies? How can we explain government strategies regarding the regulation or lack of regulation of these practices? And what can we say about the strategies of the union actor or local communities (traditional authorities/chiefdoms) regarding these practices? To answer these questions, the thesis relied on a comparison of the English-speaking and French-speaking colonial contexts of West Africa to question the influence of trajectories and institutional traditions on the logics of contemporary actors of employment relations. It mobilized complementary theoretical resources from historical institutionalism, varieties of capitalism, the history of countries and theories of the world system and peripheral capitalism. The methodology is based on a qualitative estimate, with a multilevel analysis and comparative case studies of mining companies in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. A total of four mining companies, two companies per country one from Canada and another one from India in each of the two countries, were studied. Interviews were conducted with 33 individuals selected within these companies and in sectoral and national industrial relations institutions. This methodological approach made it possible to understand the national contexts of employment relations in the two countries studied, but also the logics mobilized by the actors at the national and company levels, relating to jobs outsourcing. The analysis of the data collected has shown that at the level of the government actors of the two countries, the logic has evolved from the legal organization around formal permanent employment to deregulation and the integration of outsourcing practices through reforms introduced under structural adjustment programs. In both countries, the influence of international organizations, particularly the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, is decisive in the adoption of this ideological posture of flexible regulation of employment relations. The employers' logic of jobs informalization in the two countries is more in line with the dynamics of rationalization of management and therefore maximization of profits. However, the research has revealed a "country of origin effect" in those mining companies. This effect affects the form of the outsourcing practice adopted, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire where the mechanisms for monitoring the application of the law are not as restrictive as in Ghana. Finally, Union logics are aligned with the national institutional framework, which organize union action. In Ghana, the decentralized nature of union organization is more favorable to the exclusion of outsourced workers, while the Ivorian centralized framework lends itself more to unity of action between outsourced workers and workers from the mining company. Ultimately, the thesis argues that to understand the logics of union and government actors faced with the practices of informalization of mining jobs through outsourcing, it is appropriate to consider the degree of autonomy of countries in relation to the influence of international institutions, notably the WB, the IMF and the ILO. Beyond these organizations, it is also important to know the way in which the colonial factor continues to influence the practices and logic of actors, particularly through the maintenance of inherited legal models, the use by courts of case law of the former colonizing powers and the alignment of contemporary institutional practices on the models of these former powers. As for companies, the data from the thesis supports the idea that outsourcing practices are part of a profit maximization logic, but they are modulated according to the national context in which the companies are established. In an environment where there is a rigorous monitoring mechanism for law enforcement, all companies tend to have similar practices. On the other hand, in a context where the monitoring mechanism is less effective and less rigorous, we tend to observe behaviors of companies that can be linked to their countries of origin. Finally, the levels of responsibilities and the place granted to local authorities in national contexts can lead to more or less significant involvement in employment practices.

Denna studie handlar om att undersöka hur olika aktörer i Region Värmland, som jobbar inom både den offentliga sektorn och det privata näringslivet, arbetar med att utveckla regionens plats varumärke. Fallstudiens syfte undersöks i relation till hållbar utveckling, typiska utmaningar som uppstår i det arbetet och hur de jobbar med varumärket i relation till platsutveckling och besöksnäring. För att få en djup och analytisk förståelse av aktörernas perspektiv och arbetssätt så har denna fallstudie genomfört nio stycken intervjuer. Åtta med aktörer från hälften av alla kommuner i Värmland och en med organisationen Visit Värmland. Akademisk litteratur och avhandlingar har använts som teoretiskt underlag för att stödja den kvalitativa informationen. Kommunernas information står som utgångspunkt för hur offentliga aktörer i Värmland jobbar. Medan intervjun med Visit Värmland fungerar som en större utgångspunkt för hur privata aktörer jobbar. Aktörerna redovisar intressanta punkter i undersökningen, några jobbar olika med att utveckla Värmlands varumärke  i relation till efterfrågan, engagemang och potential. De flesta jobbar tillsammans eller likadant när det kommer till hållbar utveckling. Typiska större typiska utmaningar i deras arbeten är likadana för både offentliga och privata.  Studiens resultat redovisar hur offentliga och privata aktörer jobbar i Värmland med att utveckla regionens plats varumärke, samt vad som skiljer kommunernas arbeten åt och vad för delar av arbetet de prioriterar i jämförelse med andra. Studien har också kommit fram till hur arbetet och typiska utmaningar skiljer sig mellan privata och offentliga aktörer som en intressant jämförelse i arbetssätt. Aktörerna samarbetar också aktivt med varandra inom olika projekt och arbeten för att uppnå bästa möjliga resultat. Tillsammans med att ett starkt kommunikationsnät finns etablerat mellan aktörerna i näringslivet runt om i Värmland. / This study is about investigating how different actors in Region Värmland, who work in both the public sector and private business, work to develop the region's place brand. The purpose of the case study is examined in relation to sustainable development, typical challenges that arise in that work and how they work with the brand in relation to place development and the hospitality industry. In order to gain a deep and analytical understanding of the actors' perspectives and working methods, this case study has conducted nine interviews. Eight with actors from half of all municipalities in Värmland and one with the organization Visit Värmland. Academic literature and dissertations have been used as a theoretical basis to support qualitative information. The municipalities' information is the starting point for how public actors in Värmland work. While the interview with Visit Värmland serves as a larger starting point for how private actors work. The actors report interesting points in the survey, some work differently to develop Värmland's brand in relation to demand, commitment and potential. Most people work together or in the same way when it comes to sustainable development. Typical major challenges in their works are the same for both public and private. The results of the study have helped to report how public and private actors work in Värmland to develop the region's place brand, as well as what distinguishes the municipalities' work and what parts of the work they prioritize in comparison to others. The study has also concluded how the work and typical challenges differ between private and public actors as an interesting comparison in working methods. The actors also actively collaborate with each other within various projects and works to achieve the best possible results. Together with the fact that a strong communication network has been established between the actors in the business world around Värmland.

Levin, J. (2024). The importance of health promotion work in grief processing - A qualitative study on different actors approaches to support young adults due to parental death. Bachelor thesis in Public Health Science. Department of Social Work, Criminology, and Public Health. University of Gävle, Sweden. The aim of this study was to investigate how different actors work to support bereavedadults between 18 to 29 years old due to parental death in a major city in Sweden. Method: A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews with four individuals that work for organisations that support the specific age group in bereavement. The data was analysed with thematic analysis and ended up with three main themes: The meeting with young adults in bereavment; Conditions for promoting health; Opportunities for improvement. The results showed that knowledge and methods differed between, public, private, and non-profit actors. Overall, the organisations experienced that they used methods which were successful in promoting well-being in young adults. They experienced capabilities to create and maintain supportive environments. The result alsoshowed that during the meetings with young adults, multiple deficiencies were revealed about other actors that the young adults had contacted for support. The conclusion of this study showed positive effects but also lacking of support in different actors approach with young adults in bereavment. Further research is needed in this field to deepen the knowledge of the effects of the used methods. It should also be studied based on the young adult’s experiences of support. An advantage may be to use practice based research where different actors, affected individuals and researchers together can come up with strategies that prevent poor health, improve supportive environments and increase the well-being of young adults in bereavment.  Keywords: young adults, bereavement, parental death, support, different actors

The thesis explores the potential of one way of facilitating and stimulating collaboration in Library and Information Science (LIS), through a specific scientific collaboration activity: creating, sharing and reusing data collection instruments, such as interview guides, questionnaires, and observation protocols. The four studies reported in the thesis can be read as a linear narrative, each study building on the previous and contributing to the following ones. Together the four studies describe the process exploring social and contextual aspects of LIS; developing requirements and designing a working prototype collaboratory; and evaluating how the prototype collaboratory was perceived by LIS professionals. Overall, the results show that whereas the benefits of an LIS collaboratory reported by the study participants focused on the greater good for LIS, the challenges reported focused on the individuals’ perspectives. Hence, a tension exists between supporting the greater good, and challenges for individuals concerning sharing and reusing data collection instruments in an LIS collaboratory. The thesis emphasizes the implications for the LIS discipline when new ways of working with data collection instruments would be introduced; the implications of addressing needs of a diverse target audience; and the implications for further design iterations of an LIS collaboratory, including rewarding contributions, and ensuring quality content in a collaboratory. / <p>Academic dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science at the University of Gothenburg and the University of Borås to be publicly defended on Wednesday 11 June 2014 at 13.15 in lecture room E310, University of Borås, Allégatan 1, Borås</p>

Clear changes occurred in the field of conventional arms control in the last two decades. States adopted a multitude of norms on especially small arms control in various multilateral control instruments. In addition, non-governmental advocacy actors often established themselves as active participants in control debates with governments. The changes are surprising because they took place in the security sphere and therewith in an area traditionally understood to be the exclusive domain of governments. This research project investigates the significance of the changes for the traditional understanding of security governance. Specifically, it investigates the emergence of control norms and the role and policy impact of non-governmental actors in the promotion of the norms. It asks whether the normative changes and significance of nongovernmental actors therein challenge the understanding of security governance that underpins many established approaches to international relations theory.

Miljöproblem kan ses som ett växande problem. Studien visar hur stor kunskapen är hos gemene man angående särskilda miljöproblem och dess risker. I denna studie tas problemet upp angående miljö- och hälsofarliga metaller som ansamlas i slammet hos svenska reningsverk. Metallerna kan ge allvarliga hälsoeffekter på människan och förekommer i en rad kända vardagliga produkter. Studien grundar sig i en enkätstudie med 200 deltagande respondenter och syftet är att mäta deras kunskapsläge. Respondenterna är indelade i en yngre och en äldre åldersgrupp. Skillnader och likheter har analyserats mellan de yngre och de äldre. Studien tar upp miljö- och hälsokonsekvenser för respektive metall samt dess förekomst i olika varor och produkter. Det allmänna kunskapsläget om miljöproblem och dess risker tas upp, samt om metaller kan renas i svenska reningsverk eller inte. En annan del av studien behandlar gemene mans tillförlitlighet till olika aktörer som har förmågan att sprida information om miljöproblem och dess risker. Respondenterna får även svara på vilka vägar av informationsspridning de själva föredrar.Enkätundersökningen är indelad i en kvantitativ och en kvalitativ del. Den kvantitativa delen har kommit fram till att den äldre åldersgruppen visar sig ha högre kunskapsnivå än den yngre åldersgruppen vad gäller de fyra olika metallerna rent allmänt. De har även större kunskap vad gäller metallernas hälsoeffekter och förekomst i varor och produkter. Den yngre åldersgruppen har dock bättre kunskap om miljöproblem och dess risker i allmänhet samt om metaller kan renas i reningsverk eller inte. I den kvalitativa delen undersöker vilka spridningsmetoder respondenterna föredrar samt vilka aktörer de känner störst tillförlitlighet till. Respondenterna föredrar att kunskap bör förmedlas genom bland annat skolväsendet och media. Tillförlitliga aktörer anses inom informationsspridning vara myndigheter, forskare och organisationer. / Environmental problems can be seen as a growing problem. The studie will show how big the knowledge of ordinary people in specific environmental problems and risks are. In this study the issues concerning environmental and health hazardous metals that accumulate in the sludge at the Swedish treatment plants are analysed. The metals may have serious health effects on humans and appear in a series known everyday products. The study is based on a survey with 200 participating respondents and the purpose is to measure their knowledge. The respondents are divided into a younger and an older age group. Similarities and differences have been analysed between the younger and the older ones. The study addresses the environmental and health impacts of each metal, and its incidence in different goods and products. The general state of knowledge about the environmental problems and risks will be addressed, as well as if metals can be purified in Swedish sewage or not. Another part of the study deals with the common man's reliability to the different actors who have the ability to disseminate information about environmental problems and risks. The respondents have also answer what routes of dissemination of information they prefer.The survey is divided into a quantitative and a qualitative part. The quantitative part has come to the conclusion that the older age group have a higher level of knowledge than the younger age group in terms of the four metals in general. They also have greater knowledge regarding the metals health effects and occurrence of goods and products. The younger age group has a better understanding of environmental problems and risks in general and about if metals can be purified in wastewater treatment or not. In the qualitative part the study examines the methods of dissemination respondents prefer and which actor they feel the greatest reliability to. Respondents prefer that knowledge should be conveyed by including the school system and the media. Reliable traders considered in the dissemination of information to be authorities, researchers and organizations.

When directors in professional Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) practice inclusive casting, or, in other words, cast an actor with a disability in a role that is not written with a disability, several provocative questions emerge: What are the social implications of inclusive casting? How might stories on stage change due to inclusive casting? What does inclusive casting mean for professional TYA companies and directors? How might performers with disabilities examine their personal and professional relationship to disability when participating in inclusive casting? How might a young audience’s perspective change when inclusive casting is implemented? This thesis examines these questions through interviews with directors, performers, and young audience members. / text

La présente thèse porte sur l'analyse des impacts du crédit dans le cadre d'une problématique générale de la microfinance et en particulier sur un terrain empirique de la ville de Ouagadougou, au Burkina Faso. Notre thèse démontre d'abord les mécanismes par lesquels les crédits sont octroyés et gérés en mettant en perspective certains aspects de la théorie de l'agence. Du côté de l'offre, nous étudions trois Systèmes Financiers Décentralisés (SFD) et leurs politiques de crédit. Nous analysons comment les trois SFD s’efforcent de servir les exclus aux financements des banques classiques et d'encadrer toute recherche de profit dans cette même vision. De l'autre côté, il est question de la demande et de la gestion du crédit par les PME. Là, nous découvrons les facteurs déterminants de la demande de crédit ainsi que les modes de fonctionnement des PME. Cette thèse procède aussi à l'analyse de la performance socio-économique des SFD. Cette analyse nous révèle des signaux importants sur leurs performances et des questions pertinentes en ce qui concerne leur gestion. Nous saisissons également la dynamisation du milieu rural par le transfert de l'épargne de la ville vers la campagne comme une perspective de solidarité qui mérite un approfondissement et des appuis. La thèse expose la ramification des impacts notamment sur le revenu, l’emploi et l'exclusion sociale à l'instar du concept de la chaîne d'impacts tel que prôné par David Hulme. Par ailleurs, notre thèse révèle la nécessité d'évaluer les actions à partir des objectifs des acteurs en proposant une théorie dans ce sens. Enfin, la thèse fait une analyse critique des options possibles pour l'avenir de la microfinance. Dans tout cela, notre thèse démontre que les acteurs continuent d'afficher des positions souvent contradictoires en fonction de leurs logiques et stratégies. C'est en effet, dans ces conditions et particulièrement dans l'observation et l'analyse de ces logiques et stratégies que nous suggérons des recommandations par type d'acteurs avant de tirer des conclusions. / The present thesis relates on the analysis of the impact of the credit within the framework of general problems of microfinance and in particular to an empirical ground of the town of Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso. This thesis shows initially the mechanisms by which the credits are given and managed by putting into perspective certain aspects of the agency theory. On the offer side, we study three Decentralized Financial Systems (DFS) and their credit policies. We analyse how the three DFS endeavour to finance people excluded from the financings of the traditional banks and to frame any search for profit in this same vision. On the demand side, it is a question of the demand and the management of the credit by SME. There, we discover the determining factors of the application for credit as well as the operating modes of SME. This thesis also carries out the analysis of the socio-economic performance of the DFS. This analysis reveals to us important signals on their performances and relevant issues with regard to their management. We also seize the dynamisation of the rural area by the transfer of the savings of the city towards the countryside as a prospect for solidarity which deserves a deepening and supports. The thesis exposes the ramification of the impact in particular in terms of income, employment and social exclusion following the concept of the chain of impacts as preached by David Hulme. In addition, this thesis reveals the need for evaluating the actions starting from the objectives of the actors by proposing a theory in this direction. Lastly, the thesis makes a critical analysis of the possible options for the future of microfinance. All in all, our thesis shows that the actors continue to post often contradictory positions according to their logics and strategies. It is indeed, under these conditions and particularly in the observation and the analysis of these logics and strategies, that we suggest recommendations by type of actors before drawing the conclusions.

What conditions lead to confidence among civil war combatants that they will not face accountability for perpetrating sexual violence? This study investigates the causes of impunity for sexual violence among armed actors. It develops a theoretical framework which identifies three explanations for armed group impunity for sexual violence, namely (1) flawed prohibitions inside an armed group; (2) negligent enforcement by its authorities; and (3) pardons in the form of amnesties during the peace process. Adopting a two-pronged approach, the study first explores the associations between amnesties arising from concluding peace agreements and post-settlement levels of sexual violence in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and South Africa. A small-scale, events-based dataset of sexual violence by governments and rebel groups in the first three years after war was constructed. The second and main part of the study is a comparison between two rebel groups in Burundi’s civil war (1994-2008), CNDD-FDD (National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for the Defence of Democracy) and Palipehutu-FNL (Palipehutu-Forces for National Liberation) and their practices of prohibition and punishment of wartime sexual violence, taking into account also the possible influence of amnesties. Based on original data from 19 focus groups of ex-combatants from these rebel organisations, it is found that flawed prohibitions and negligent authorities are the main explanations for armed group impunity. The findings do not support amnesties as a cause of armed group impunity for sexual violence. Moreover, additional findings suggest that accountability for sexual violence is triggered by dependency on civilian support, while impunity is facilitated by an armed group’s ability to secure recruits, material and other resources without the help of local communities.

This study explores the concepts of vulnerability, agency, and actors with relation to the capability development and deprivation of women with physical disabilities in Lusaka, Zambia. Based in the human development paradigm and Sen and Nussbaum’s Capabilities Approach, it seeks to critically explore what impact being born, raised, and living as a woman with a physical disability in a developing country has on the development of capabilities. It also seeks to identify and analyze the involved processes, actors, and environmental factors. A main finding is that capability deprivation for women with physical disabilities is not simply caused by disability, or by gender, but by a multitude of factors. These include: the environment, social contexts, and relative poverty in which the women live; the particular cultural repertoires that surround them; and the actors with whom they interact. However, disability can, and often does, exacerbate the complex life situations in which the women find themselves.