Tidigare forskning inriktad på adoptivföräldrars upplevelser av föräldraskapet eller support och stöd från samhälleliga instanser är inte omfattande, speciellt inte i svensk forskning. Syftet med den här studien var att undersöka adoptivföräldrars upplevelse av stödfunktioner och samhällsservice under de första fem åren efter hemkomst med adoptivbarnet eftersom det är viktigt att få ett perspektiv på stödet från samhället under de tidiga åren då det adopterade barnet knyter ann till familjen. Studien utfördes genom intervjuer med fyra adoptivföräldrapar plus den ena föräldern till ett adoptivbarn. Intervjuerna utforskade hur de upplevt sitt handlingsutrymme i förhållande till deras tillgänglighet av samhälleliga resursinstanser under det tidiga föräldraskapet. Resultaten analyserades utifrån Amartya Sens teoretiska perspektiv capability approach som mäter hälsa genom att accentuera individens behov och frihet att själv välja vad som uppfattas som nödvändigt och viktigt.  Resultaten visade att adoptivföräldrarna överlag var nöjda med relationen de haft med skola, barnhälsovård, socialtjänst och övriga resursinstanser. En viktig del av handlingsutrymmet för familjerna var även privata relationer med andra adoptivföräldrar och adoptivbarn. Även internet nätverk eller grupper för adoptivfamiljer var dem till viss mån behjälpliga. Trots det menade föräldrarna att förståelsen för deras adopterade barns behov i alla samhälleliga instanser behövde förbättras, både överlag för adopterade barn, men även att de individuella behoven för adopterade barn behövde uppmärksammas mer.

La thèse a pour objectif de développer une relation alternative entre les droits de l’Homme et l’économie. A cette fin est entreprise une analyse approfondie de l’idée d’usage public de la raison. Les concepts fondamentaux de l’économie politique, tels que la société civile et l’État, sont ainsi revisités dans un cadre conceptuel qui est, à l’origine, fondé sur la notion de majorité chez Kant, mais qui, dans le même mouvement, va au-delà de cette notion pour rendre compte du pluralisme de la société civile. / The dissertation attempts to account for an alternative connection between human rights and economics. It suggests that this connection involves a comprehensive analysis of the idea of public use of reason. The fundamental concepts of political economy, such as civil society and state, are then re-visited within a conceptual framework which is originally based on Kant’s notion of becoming mature, but at the same time, surpassing it in the extent of the pluralistic society.

En plus de vingt-cinq d’existence, le développement durable n’a pas produit les changements escomptés sur le plan structurel, institutionnel ou même scientifique. En ce qui concerne le plan scientifique, depuis la première formulation du concept en 1987, de nouveaux courants interdisciplinaires en sciences sociales ont émergé produisant de nouveaux concepts, proposant de nouvelles méthodologies et affirmant certains principes éthiques. La thèse s’intéresse tout particulièrement au courant du développement humain articulé autour des travaux d’Amartya Sen (approche par les capabilités) et de Manfred Max-Neef (approche par les besoins) et à celui de l’économie écologique duquel émerge une conception forte de la soutenabilité ainsique les concepts de fonctions et de services écosystémiques. Une articulation entre ces deux courants ainsi qu’une réflexion sur l’éthique de la responsabilité et la justice permettent de re-conceptualiser le développement durable, concept relativement mal défini et ambigu, sous la forme d’un développement humain responsable ancré dans la soutenabilité forte et la justice sociale. Cette articulation, réalisée dans une perspective transdisciplinaire, permet de proposer un nouveau cadre conceptuel qui pourrait d’une part,favoriser un aménagement responsable du territoire et, d’autre part, renforcer l’épistémologie de la géographie pour qu’elle puisse pleinement assumer son rôle d’étude des interactions Nature-Société. La réflexion théorique est mise en pratique au sein de deux réserves de biosphère périurbaines, l’une en France(Réserve de Biosphère de Fontainebleau-Gâtinais) et l’autre au Chili (Réserve de biosphère de La Campana-Peñuelas). / In twenty-five years, sustainable development has not delivered the expected outcomes in terms of structuraland institutional changes as well as scientific changes. Regarding scientific changes, since the firstintroduction of the concept of sustainable development by the Brundtland commission in 1987, newscientific fields of interdisciplinary reasearch in social sciences have emerged producing new conceptualtools, proposing new methodologies and asserting certain ethical principles. From the one hand, the thesis isinterested in the field of Human Development which is structured around the work of Amartya Sen (theCapability Approach) and Manfred Max-Neef (the Fundamental Needs approach). On the other hand, thethesis is interested in the field of Ecological Economics from which emerges a strong conception ofsustainability as well as the concepts of ecosystem functions and services. The thesis aims to establish a linkbetween these two fields of research to shift from sustainable development, a relatively ambiguous concept,to responsible human development clearly rooted in strong sustainability and social justice. This articulationis carried out in a transdisciplinary perspective. In the first place, this articulation enables to provide a soundconceptual framework that could help to strengthen the epistemology of geography for studying Nature-Society interactions. In addition, this articulation could help to promote a responsible land planning. Thisnew conceptual framework is tested in two peri-urban biosphere reserves in France (Biosphere ReserveFontainebleau -Gâtinais ) and Chile (Biosphere Reserve La Campana - Peñuelas).

This thesis analyzes how the interests of minority and majority groups in state-led development practices can be bridged, with the Indian tribals affected by the Sardar Sarovar Dam Project (SSP) serving as a context for my analysis. The SSP threatens the livelihoods of approximately 100,000 people with displacement, who are primarily comprised of Indian tribal minorities. The construction of the SSP makes tribals more vulnerable to the risks associated with development-induced displacement, such as landlessness, joblessness, homelessness, marginalization, and food insecurity. When analyzing the SSP, a lack of adequate compensation, resettlement, and legal protection for the tribals becomes apparent. This has led to discussions of human rights violations among the national and international community, raising concerns regarding the protection of minority groups affected by state-led development. Attention is placed on what it means to be a citizen of a country in terms of legal representation and state protection, and how the under-representation of societal groups can lead to the creation of second-class citizens. The objective is to go beyond current discussions of human rights neglect in the context of the SSP by analyzing the position of minority rights in state-led development practices.

Mobility and Pathways to Autonomy of Women: A study of informal workers in fisheries sector in Kerala, India Mobility defined as the freedom and ability to move has intrinsic and instrumental values in promoting human development. Paid work which involves mobility associated with work can be a ‘capability-enhancing’ experience when such mobility improves opportunities and enhances freedoms. However, the existing studies have neither examined nor measured mobility with its multiple domains for women. My thesis fills this gap in research by exploring the multiple domains of gendered mobility by measuring mobility as a single construct and analysing whether mobility is a ‘capability’ for women workers which improves autonomy and agency. It is inter-disciplinary as it is situated at the confluence of development studies, human geography and sociological disciplines. The following features of the thesis make it unique in the development studies discipline. First, the contextual setting is unique as it is based in Kerala, which is a socially progressive state in India. The thesis unearths the underlying structural constraints in the Kerala model of social development for transformation of women workers under patriarchy. It is a comparative study which examines the household autonomy and agency of two types of informal women workers in the post-harvest fisheries, namely ‘peeling workers’ linked to production chains and ‘fish vendors’ who are self-employed. Second, the capability approach provides the theoretical framework for the analysis of mobility of women as capability and it introduces a new concept of ‘transformational mobility’. By examining mobility using the Rasch Rating Scale Model (RSM) for the first time in development studies, the thesis operationalises capability measurement by introducing the measurement scale of mobility of women workers which empirically delineates the multiple domains of mobility based on the constraints faced by women. Third, the mixed methods research design using survey data and qualitative interviews of women workers provide better insight and contextual understanding of women’s work. An innovative method, namely, the Crisp set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (CsQCA), explores the causal mechanisms that bring about ‘transformational mobility’ in women workers. The thesis empirically proves the significance of social and human capital factors like caste, low education of spouse and marital status along with the underlying patriarchal structures that determine pathways to transformational mobility and decision making of women. Lastly, the qualitative analysis using classic grounded theory contributes to the emergence of substantive theories for women workers which reflect contrasting agentic behaviour of peeling workers and fish vendors in the context of Kerala. The lack of collective agency among peeling workers questions the claims of Kerala model of development in improving the agency of women. The findings confirm that work mobility associated with informal low paid work is not necessarily a capability for women in fisheries.

This thesis conducts a theory comparison to determine which theory of social justice is best suited to address health inequalities. The theories used are the capability approach by Amartya Sen and Göran Therborn's theory on inequalities. Within the capability approach, two accounts specified on health capabilities will be regarded as well. These are the health capability approach by Ruger and the theory of health justice by Venkatapuram. The theory comparison is done by making use of a non-ideal theory framework, based on the theory by John Rawls and the critiques on it given by several authors, as well as the developments in the ideal/non-ideal theory debate. Non-ideal theory provides guidance towards reducing inequalities and enhancing justice and can therefore be useful for a theory on health inequalities. The developed non-ideal theory framework consists of five criteria to which the respective theories are compared to determine whether they fulfil the criteria. Comparing the theories to the framework will give an insight in which theory is best suited for reducing health inequalities. Therborn's theory on inequalities has proven to fulfil most of the criteria in the non-ideal theory framework and can therefore be regarded as best suited to reduce health inequalities.

Human rights advocates have expressed their concern about the marginalisation of human rights principles and the actual or potential human rights implications of WTO agreements. The international economic law and human rights law have been developed as two parallel regimes, yet trade and economics have been at the centre of most developing agendas in modern time. There has been a persistent desire to achieve a universal multilateral trading system by both Global North and Global South. The Agenda 2030 is not an exception to emphasise the importance of such a trading system as one of its targets calls for a ‘universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory, and equitable multilateral trading system’. Furthermore, the desired multilateral trading system is presumed to facilitate other development goals of the Agenda. Although peoples’ living standards are increasing worldwide, substantial inequalities remain between and within countries. If we only focus on legal rights and freedoms, people may live on the verge of an adequate standard of living and are thus not able to improve one’s well-being beyond that and lead the life one has reason to value. Hence, this study aims to go beyond the legislative protection of human rights by applying Amartya Sen’s capability approach which focuses on the ethical notion of human rights. Additionally, the approach focuses on the expansion of peoples’ capabilities and freedoms to achieve what one value doing and being. If a universal multilateral trading system is assumed to be beneficial for trade, economy, and to achieve development goals, will the outcomes of such system be beneficial for all peoples’ capabilities to lead the lives they have reason to value? The main findings of this study suggest that the political economy of world trade facilitates a subordination of countries in which some are benefitted, while others are stuck with the production of goods associated with low wages and unhealthy work conditions. This may affect the distribution of intergenerational equity and sustainability, affecting capabilities of many generations to come. One significant conclusion of this study is that legislative protection of human rights is not enough to target detrimental structures and to ensure everyone the kind of life and living standards one has reason to value.

Magister Educationis (Adult Learning and Global Change) - MEd(AL) / The main objective of the research is to analyze critically how the curriculum at a Community College in the Western Cape prepares young adults for the world of work in the fields of Travel and Tourism and Small Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) and develops their capabilities to become functioning members in society. I was guided by concepts such as knowledge and skills necessary to enhance employability as well as people‟s wellbeing and capability development. The data was gathered through interviews and analysis of national and institutional policy documents. The analysis of documents helped me to understand the curriculum‟s orientation to the world of work and its responsiveness to personal and social needs of young adults. The interview data helped me to reflect on the main research question, “What are the perspectives of academic staff, industry/sector representatives and young adults themselves on the knowledge and skills needed in the curriculum to prepare young adults for the world of work?” My research shows that the curriculum of the ABET Level 4 programme has become more vocationally oriented. It prepares students for the world of work in a general way; but there are some limitations. There is no practical work experience or work exposure as in the curricula of programmes at TVET colleges and universities. The research also found that the formal curriculum in combination with the extra-curricular activities had benefits for students in terms of personal development and equipping them to function better in their social environments. However, offering these activities depends on efforts made by lecturers over and above their normal duties and on donations from various sources. Extending or sustaining this combination of activities requires adequate staffing and resources. Finally the research highlighted various barriers students encountered and suggested that many of these barriers arise from structural constraints in the world of work and society. The research suggests that it is necessary but not sufficient to focus on the employability of young people and to equip them with knowledge and skills to prepare them for the world of work; it is also necessary to look beyond employability and consider the wellbeing of students (Powell, 2012; Jackson, 2005; Baatjes and Baatjes, 2008; Ngcwangu, 2019; Motala and Pampallis, 2007). Therefore my research suggests that education should not have a narrow focus and that the curriculum should integrate vocational and general education (Young, 1999). Furthermore, there should be a holistic approach in the curriculum which responds to multiple objectives including preparation for work and for functioning effectively in other areas of one‟s life. This implies that the curriculum should prepare students for the world of work AND take into account their well-being, dreams and aspirations for a better life.

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This study used the capability approach as a lens to understand teacher quality from both the perspective of educational leaders and practicing teachers in a rural community in central Malawi. The overarching question of this research study was “How can the capability approach inform our understanding of teacher quality from both the perspective of educational leaders and practicing teachers?” The focus questions to guide this research were: What do national educational leaders value in a quality teacher? What do rural, Malawian, female teachers value in teaching? How do these teachers pursue and achieve what they value in teaching? This study included qualitative data collection and analysis of two specific contexts: the official context of educational leadership and educational policy in Malawi and the teacher context of daily life working in a rural school in Malawi. The official context was concerned with the larger field of educational policy that impacts education in rural Malawian communities. These data were collected through document review and semi-structured interviews with educational leaders at primary schools, secondary schools, school zone leaders, and teacher training college staff. Additional data about the official context were collected via review of documents regarding the official definition of quality teaching. The research site for investigating the teacher context was a rural community in the central region of Malawi. Data were collected through interviews and observation of female, primary school teachers from four school sites within a single school zone. The discussion and analysis of the data collected in both research contexts include the values of teacher participants, the ability of the teachers to achieve their valued functionings, common constraints experienced by teachers, as well as comparison of the valued functions of teachers to the valued teacher functions defined by official documents and educational leaders. The discussion and conclusions from this research include policy recommendations regarding teacher quality and thoughts on the further application of the capability approach to understanding teacher quality.