<p>Postmodernism and neo-liberalism is often thought of as two opposite conceptions of the reality and the world. This thesis takes on a critical view of this assertion and the main purpose was to perform a correlation between postmodernism and neo-liberalism. With different theoretical assumptions about constructions of thoughts, agency and structure and the welfare-state a theoretical framework was created. According to this framework the two isms were correlated to each other and the welfare-state to see if there where similarities or dissimilarities between the isms. The assumptions of this thesis are that there are correlations between postmodernism and neo-liberalism in the constructions of thoughts, namely similar view on epistemology. The two isms also show similarity between each other towards the foundations upon which the modern welfare-state rests. This is mainly manifested in their common view of the institutions of the welfare-state, which the isms both finds problematic. This results in a mutual problematic view on positive freedom, the foundation of legitimacy, the means and economic democracy as they are manifested in a given welfare-state. However, the motive for criticism rests mostly on different justifications for the two isms. Anyhow, their views share doubts about the legitimacy of the welfare-state in common. This even though postmodernism is partly a result of the welfare-politics. This thesis also shows why postmodernism and neo-liberalism at least in a theoretical perspective can not continue to develop side by side.</p>

Postmodernism and neo-liberalism is often thought of as two opposite conceptions of the reality and the world. This thesis takes on a critical view of this assertion and the main purpose was to perform a correlation between postmodernism and neo-liberalism. With different theoretical assumptions about constructions of thoughts, agency and structure and the welfare-state a theoretical framework was created. According to this framework the two isms were correlated to each other and the welfare-state to see if there where similarities or dissimilarities between the isms. The assumptions of this thesis are that there are correlations between postmodernism and neo-liberalism in the constructions of thoughts, namely similar view on epistemology. The two isms also show similarity between each other towards the foundations upon which the modern welfare-state rests. This is mainly manifested in their common view of the institutions of the welfare-state, which the isms both finds problematic. This results in a mutual problematic view on positive freedom, the foundation of legitimacy, the means and economic democracy as they are manifested in a given welfare-state. However, the motive for criticism rests mostly on different justifications for the two isms. Anyhow, their views share doubts about the legitimacy of the welfare-state in common. This even though postmodernism is partly a result of the welfare-politics. This thesis also shows why postmodernism and neo-liberalism at least in a theoretical perspective can not continue to develop side by side.

Peter L. Berger's conception of agency in his earliest writings (c.1954-1960) is logically and empirically inadequate. At the root of this inadequacy is an idealism that prevents him from providing a compelling account of actual empirical agency. Chapter 1 asserts that Berger's earlier works warrant analysis. Chapter 2 discusses Berger's earliest influences, particularly Max Weber and The Swedish Lund School of motif research. Chapter 3 identifies a unique commitment to Christian Humanism at the base of Berger's conception of agency. Chapter 4 clarifies how Berger's Christian humanism interacts with his Weberian, and Parsonian-inspired functional analysis of the American religious establishment. The thesis concludes (Chapter 5) by identifying more specifically how and why Berger's Christian humanism undermines his attempt to empirically ground human agency.

This research seeks to connect the philosophical focus of the agency-structure debate with the practice of management through a comparative study of organisational decision-making in situations involving stakeholder consultation. Set in the context of decision-making following an airport master plan consultation, the study considers how the stakeholder framework can be integrated within institutional theory using institutional logics as a theoretical link between these two literatures. This thesis, which adopts a critical realist perspective, takes a comparative case approach of four airports, each owned in different ways. Interviews with airport managers are supplemented by discussions with stakeholders and industry experts. Two sets of a priori themes were identified from the literature. The first focuses on the institutional logics prevailing in the field and their influence on managers as they make decisions. The second considers four decision-making strategies managers might employ in this situation. Findings centre on the causal powers acting upon airport managers as they make their decisions. Whilst normative isomorphic pressure enables stakeholder consultation, the coercive pressure on the decision-making process deriving from English planning law, the adversarial and oscillating nature of Central Government policy, and a mimetic response to the nature of local authority development plans constrain the actions of airport managers. Indeed, the current bureaucratic form of capitalism limits stakeholder contribution to final master plans. This research makes four main contributions: Firstly, reflecting upon the agency-structure debate from a critical realist perspective has facilitated development of a model integrating the stakeholder framework within institutional theory. Secondly, it improves our understanding of how stakeholder contribution is managed in master planning. Thirdly, the study adds to the growing body of work that employs a critical realist perspective. Lastly, since reconciling conflicting stakeholder opinions may well be of vital importance to the future of the UK’s airport infrastructure, this work has practical significance for airport managers, government policy-makers and stakeholders as they strive to formulate worthwhile airport consultations.

This research seeks to connect the philosophical focus of the agency-structure debate with the practice of management through a comparative study of organisational decision-making in situations involving stakeholder consultation. Set in the context of decision-making following an airport master plan consultation, the study considers how the stakeholder framework can be integrated within institutional theory using institutional logics as a theoretical link between these two literatures. This thesis, which adopts a critical realist perspective, takes a comparative case approach of four airports, each owned in different ways. Interviews with airport managers are supplemented by discussions with stakeholders and industry experts. Two sets of a priori themes were identified from the literature. The first focuses on the institutional logics prevailing in the field and their influence on managers as they make decisions. The second considers four decision-making strategies managers might employ in this situation. Findings centre on the causal powers acting upon airport managers as they make their decisions. Whilst normative isomorphic pressure enables stakeholder consultation, the coercive pressure on the decision-making process deriving from English planning law, the adversarial and oscillating nature of Central Government policy, and a mimetic response to the nature of local authority development plans constrain the actions of airport managers. Indeed, the current bureaucratic form of capitalism limits stakeholder contribution to final master plans. This research makes four main contributions: Firstly, reflecting upon the agency-structure debate from a critical realist perspective has facilitated development of a model integrating the stakeholder framework within institutional theory. Secondly, it improves our understanding of how stakeholder contribution is managed in master planning. Thirdly, the study adds to the growing body of work that employs a critical realist perspective. Lastly, since reconciling conflicting stakeholder opinions may well be of vital importance to the future of the UK’s airport infrastructure, this work has practical significance for airport managers, government policy-makers and stakeholders as they strive to formulate worthwhile airport consultations.

We use an agent-based model to investigate the interdependent dynamics between individual agency and emergent socioeconomic structure, leading to institutional change in a generic way. Our model simulates the emergence and exit of institutional units, understood as generic governed social structures. We show how endogenized trust and exogenously given leader authority influences institutional change, i.e., diversity in institutional life-cycles. It turns out that these governed institutions (de)structure in cyclical patterns dependent on the overall evolution of trust in the artificial society, while at the same time, influencing this evolution by supporting social learning. Simulation results indicate three scenarios of institutional life-cycles. Institutions may, (1) build up very fast and freeze the artificial society in a stable but fearful pattern (ordered system); (2) exist only for a short time, leading to a very trusty society (highly fluctuating system); and (3) structure in cyclical patterns over time and support social learning due to cumulative causation of societal trust (complex system).

Due to the Syrian crisis, several refugee camps were opened in Jordan in 2012 in order to deal with the increasing number of those feeling the conflict. Refugee Spaces whether camps or other urban informalities face the challenge of being in a status of “permanent temporariness” during which they develop into unexplored urban (city-like) formations through the social production of space. Taking the case of the Zaatari refugee camp, this research explores the process during which refugee camps turn into cities. More specifically, it questions how the interplay between human agency and structure produces space in the camp; eventually the city. Al-Souq, the main market street in Zaatari, is chosen to conduct the study, employing an explorative approach accompanied with narrative elements to understand actors’ own perspective. The collected data is analysed thematically and performatively to investigate the two former categories and the way they are drawn upon in producing space. The main findings denote a constructive exceptionality that facilitates space creation as well as a consequential inclusion of refugees in the camp. Furthermore, the occurring spatial construction of Al-Souq indicates that refugees are in fact active agents. Therefore, as indicated by both results, the research concludes by offering an alternative conceptualisation to camps and refugees as opposed to the traditional humanitarian perception of them being temporary and aid-dependent victims, respectively. / Aufgrund der Syrienkrise wurden in 2012 mehrere Flüchtlingscamps in Jordanien geöffnet, um der steigenden, von dem Konflikt betroffenen, Anzahl an Menschen zu helfen. Die Lebensräume für Flüchtlinge, egal ob Flüchtlingscamps oder andere Marginalsiedlungen (urban informalities), unterliegen der Herausforderung in einem „permanenten Zwischenzustand“ (permanent temporariness) zu verbleiben. Innerhalb dieser Zeit entwickeln sich diese Räume durch soziale Raumproduktion (social production of space) in unerforschte urbane (stadtähnliche) Gebiete. Im Rahmen dieser Forschungsarbeit wird der Prozess, innerhalb dessen sich Flüchtlingscamps zu stadtähnlichen Räumen entwickeln, beispielhaft am Fall des Flüchtlingscamps Zaatari aufgezeigt. Im Konkreten wird hinterfragt wie das Zusammenspiel menschlichen Handelns und Struktur zur Raumproduktion und schließlich zu stadtähnlichen Gebilden führt. Al-Souq, die wichtigste Handelsstraße in Zaatari, wird als Studienobjekt herangezogen, um die Wahrnehmungen der Akteure zu beleuchten. Diese Studie folgt einem explorativen Ansatz mit narrativer Analyse. Die erhobenen Daten werden mittels einer thematischen (thematic analysis) und performativen Analyse (performative analysis) ausgewertet, um das Zusammenspiel der zwei genannten Kategorien im Hinblick auf die Raumproduktion zu untersuchen. Die Haupterkenntnisse der Studie zeigen sowohl eine schöpferische Außergewöhnlichkeit welche die Raumproduktion ermöglicht als auch eine daraus folgende Inklusion der Flüchtlinge im Camp durch ein Gefühl der Zugehörigkeit. Ferner zeigt die Auftretende räumliche Konstruktion von Al-Souq, dass Flüchtlinge Handlungsfähigkeit besitzen und herstellen und somit als „active Agents“ verstanden werden können. Aufbauend auf beiden Ergebnissen kann somit geschlussfolgert werden, dass zu der traditionell existierenden Humanitären Perspektive, in der Camps als temporär und Flüchtlinge als hilfebedürftige Opfer gesehen werden, ein alternatives Verständnis zu präferieren ist.

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