This thesis makes a comparative study of local government autonomy in Britain and Sweden within the local economic development policy area. It argues for local government autonomy to be viewed in terms of both a vertical dimension concerning local government's autonomy vis-à-vis national government (national context) and a horizontal dimension relating to its autonomy vis-à-vis local social and economic forces (local context). A policy area approach is advocated as the strength of, and the balance between, factors influencing local government autonomy, both vertically and horizontally, may be modified by the particular characteristics of the policy area. For example, the local economic development policy area is characterized as a grey zone respecting the intergovernmental relationship and a "mixed-economy" concerning the public-private sector relationship. The concept of autonomy is distinguished into policy-making independence (measured as local authority cooperation with other actors in economic development policies) and capacity for action (measured in terms of four local authority roles in the local economy). These are tested empirically regarding the influence of the local context and the relationship between them examined. The dominant trend in both countries is that the more local authorities intervene in the local economy (extend their capacity for action), the greater their cooperation with other actors (the more restricted their policy-making independence). / digitalisering@umu

This thesis is a critical evaluation of the content, form and technique of traditional and modern praise poetry in Northern Sotho. Chapter 1 presents the aim of the study and the method of research and defines the concepts of poetry and praise poetry. Praise poetry is viewed from a traditional and modern perspective. Chapter 2 deals with the content and technique of praise poetry. Content consists of oral praise poetry lauding the heroic deeds of men in battles and casual encounters. Modern praise poetry comments on current events. Devices for rapid composition of the praises are discussed. Techniques differ between poets and according to time, place and occasion. Chapter 3 covers the traditional praises of chiefs, warriors, initiates, animals, birds, divining bones and totem praises, examining them from the perspective of content and form. The praises extol human achievements, peculiar animal characteristics and the interpretation of "mawa" of divining bones. Chapter 4 deals with the development and transition from traditional to modern form as well as the reciprocal influence. The content and form of modern praises of chiefs, academics, community leaders, animals, birds, divining bones, man-made objects and some natural phenomena are discussed. Many modern poets have also written praises of fictional characters. Chapter 5 compares oral and written praise poetry by concentrating on the similarities and differences between traditional and modern praise poetry. This study shows that there are differences in of theme, rhyme, beginning and ending, sentence length and significant emphasis on man-made objects such as cars and locomotives as exceptional modes of transport for commuters. Chapter 6 concludes the study and proves that praise poetry is a living or dynamic entity which will continue to exist. Praise poetry highlights persons, interpersonal relationships, attitudes and values derived from an African conceptions of the universe. / African Languages / D.Litt. et Phil (African Languages)

O Estado Federal brasileiro é marcado por desigualdades econômicas e sociais entre as suas regiões, assim como por desigualdades dentro dessas regiões, que estabelecem uma relação de causa e efeito com as condições da educação fornecida aos seus habitantes. Um dos objetivos fundamentais da República federativa brasileira é a redução das desigualdades geográficas. Nesse cenário, medidas voltadas à garantia de igualdade de acesso e qualidade na educação básica pública entre os entes federativos de um determinado Estado Federal são fundamentais, com implicações a um só tempo sociais e econômicas. Nesta tese, analisamos os contornos normativos específicos do Estado Federal brasileiro em matéria de educação básica pública, examinando-os sob a ótica da contribuição que possam trazer para a promoção da igualdade na educação entre os seus entes federativos. A promoção do equilíbrio do desenvolvimento e do bem-estar em âmbito nacional é o objetivo das normas para a cooperação entre os entes federativos em relação às matérias de competência material comum da União, dos Estados-membros, do Distrito Federal e dos Municípios, entre as quais está a educação. Essas normas, que deveriam ter sido fixadas por lei complementar específica para o setor educacional, ainda se encontram pendentes de regulamentação. Diante dessa indefinição, a crescente referência, na legislação, ao regime de colaboração, o qual deveria orientar os diferentes entes federativos na organização dos seus sistemas de ensino e pautar a articulação do sistema nacional da educação, parece ter a função de apoiar práticas informais erráticas, em lugar de institucionalizar formalmente o modo como os entes federativos devem colaborar entre si, dando ao federalismo cooperativo brasileiro um alcance limitado, em comparação às possibilidades abertas pela Constituição Federal. Com o objetivo de melhor compreender os contornos do federalismo cooperativo brasileiro, com respeito a essa temática, fazemos uma análise comparativa entre Brasil e México, Estado que também se organiza sob a forma federativa, buscando compreender, em ambos os países, qual é a proteção constitucional conferida ao direito à educação básica pública, de que igualdade na educação básica pública falam as Constituições brasileira e mexicana, como estão distribuídas as competências legislativas e materiais, na área da educação básica pública, procurando identificar, ainda, a aplicação mínima de receitas em educação básica pública em cada país, assim como os mecanismos de compensação e colaboração existentes nos ordenamentos jurídicos brasileiro e mexicano, no que concerne à matéria. A comparação nos permite afirmar que cada um desses Estados Federais protege o direito à educação de forma distinta, traz preocupações específicas quanto ao problema das desigualdades geográficas, distribui de modo particular as competências legislativas e materiais, no que concerne à educação básica pública, apresentando diferentes formas de compensação e colaboração entre seus entes federativos. As semelhanças e diferenças levantadas lançam luzes sobre o ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, permitindo sua melhor compreensão dentro do modelo de federalismo cooperativo. / The Brazilian Federal State is marked by economic and social inequalities between its regions, as well as by inequalities within the regions themselves. These inequalities are reflected in the education provided to its citizens in a relation of cause and effect. Among the fundamental goals of the Brazilian federal republic is the reduction of such geographic inequalities. In this scenario, it is fundamental to incorporate means, with both social and economic implications, that are directed towards guaranteeing equal access to and quality of public basic education, which in turn means to determine the roles of the various constitutive units of the federal state in achieving this goal. In this thesis, we analyze the specific normative features of the Brazilian Federal State in the area of public basic education. These features are examined with the view to identify the relative contributions of the federal constitutive units (federal union, member state, municipality) for the promotion of equality in education. On the national level, the norms for the cooperation between the federal units on matters concerning areas where they share executive responsibility have the expressed objective to promote a balance on the levels of development and well-fare among the countrys regions. One of these areas of shared executive responsibility is education. However, the norms mentioned, which should have been fixed by a complementary law specific to the area of education, are still pending ordinance. Faced with this lack of definition, the increasing reference in the legislation to the concept regime of collaboration, i.e. the rules that are to guide the federal units (i.e. the member states and municipalities) in the organization of their systems of education, as well as determine the articulation of the national system of education, appears to have the effect of supporting informal and erratic practices instead of formally institutionalizing the way in which the federal units ought to cooperate. This state of being serves only to limit the reach of Brazilian cooperative federalism compared to the possibilities opened for by the Federal Constitution. With the objective of gaining a better understanding of the features of Brazilian cooperative federalism in regard to this subject matter, we offer a comparative analysis of Brazil and another federal state, Mexico. For both countries the analysis aims to comprehend and map the extent of constitutional protection that is granted to the right to public basic education, which kind of equality the Constitutions of Brazil and Mexico mention concerning public basic education, and how the legislative and executive competences are distributed in the area of public basic education. Moreover, the analysis seeks to identify the declared minimum revenue to be spent on public basic education in each country, as well as to trace the existing mechanisms of compensation and collaboration concerning public basic education in the legal systems of Brazil and Mexico. The comparison allows us to affirm that both these federal states protect the right to education in a distinct manner, that they include specific concerns regarding the problem of geographic inequalities, that they distribute legislative and executive competences in the area of public basic education in a particular manner, and present different forms of compensation and collaboration among their federal units. The similarities and differences brought forth shed light on and permit a better understanding of the Brazilian legal system as part of the cooperative federalism model.

Between the Promise of Specificity and the Demand for Evidence – A study of knowledge and the approach to knowledge in socially oriented non-profit, private and public sector organizations In the social work field it is possible to identify two parallel processes in time. On the one hand a qualitative developmental process―even towards a form of standardization―where central concepts are academisation, professionalization, scientifically produced knowledge, expertise and evidence based methods. Simultaneously, there is a drive to create the conditions for increased diversity, where hopes are especially being pinned on the non-profit sector. In spite of representations and expectations concerning the non-profit sector and its so-called specificity, however, much of existing research lacks a comparative perspective, i.e., studies where non-profit organizations are related to comparable activities in the private and public sector. The aim of the study―with special focus on issues concerning evidence based knowledge in social work―is to compare and analyse whether and in that case how employee conceptions differ between the sectors, and whether and in what way non-profit employees and their activities can be said to fulfil the expectations of contributing to increased diversity. Data is from a questionnaire directed to about 1300 social work employees. The results show a greater interest in research and more marked efforts at professionalization in the public sector, while above all in the non-profit sector there was skepticism about science paired with reservations about work carried out in a professional way. In the non-profit, but also in the private sector, issues of ethics, views of humanity and values were paid greater attention. Also stressed here was the importance of creating relationships, the unique human encounter, genuine commitment, and human kindness.  However, there was significant uniformity across all sectors in the use of methods, where three dominated: solution focused measures, network support/therapy, and psychosocial work.

In Sweden prostitution is by many considered to be a social problem that primarily affects women. To counteract prostitution is a political priority and as a result the purchase of sexual services is prohibited by law. Since the law that prohibits the purchase of sexual services entered into force it has been continuously debated and widely disputed. The aim of this thesis is to compare the image of prostitution found in the travaux préparatoires of the law with four sex workers’ view of the phenomenon. A discourse analysis is performed to establish which images of prostitution appear in theory and in practice. The results show that the images of prostitution in the travaux préparatoires of the law differ widely from the views expressed by the interviewees. The discourses identified in the travaux préparatoires unanimously emphasize the injurious effects of the prostitution and the exposed situation of the sex workers. In the discourses identified in the interview material the businesslike aspects of prostitution and the sex workers’ autonomy is emphasized. The results raise questions about the completeness of the travaux préparatoires and bring the need for studies where different groups of sex workers are questioned to the fore.

S’inscrivant dans le cadre des débats de la doctrine polonaise sur le régime de l’arbitrabilité objective et la nécessité de réviser le droit polonais de l’arbitrage, l’objectif général de la présente thèse est d’analyser la notion d’arbitrabilité au travers des solutions adoptées par les droits distinctifs de la famille romano-germanique et du système Common Law, afin d’étudier leur efficacité quant à la soumission des litiges du droit privé à l’arbitre. Suivant les tendances actuelles en arbitrage interne et international, notamment en droit français et polonais, une telle analyse des solutions législatives comparées permet de nourrir utilement les discussions sur le modèle de l’arbitrabilité.À cet égard, la présente étude cherche, en premier lieu, à vérifier l’hypothèse selon laquelle le critère polonais de l’arbitrabilité ne remplit pas son rôle, ne constituant pas un indicateur pertinent des litiges arbitrables. En deuxième lieu, elle vise à répondre à la question de savoir si, à la suite des processus de libéralisation du droit de l’arbitrage, il s’est développé un concept d’arbitrabilité « transnationale ». Enfin, confrontant le processus de libéralisation des critères d’arbitrabilité au risque de l’incertitude juridique qu’il engendre, la présente étude pose la question du besoin de redéfinition des limites de l’arbitrabilité face aux attentes de la justice privée fonctionnelle.Pour cerner la notion d’arbitrabilité sur le plan théorique, la présente étude adopte une approche descriptive, qu’incarne l’analyse stricto sensu de l’arbitrabilité, d’avant d’interroger l’application concrète de ce concept dans les différents domaines du droit, dans une perspective plus prospective. Une telle démarche permet une appréciation lato sensu de la notion d’arbitrabilité. / As part of the debates of the Polish doctrine on the arbitrability regime and the need to revise the Polish law of arbitration, the general objective of this thesis is to analyse the notion of arbitrability through the solutions adopted by the distinctive legislations of the Romano-Germanic family and the Common Law system, in order to examine their effectiveness as regards the submission of private law disputes to the arbitrator. Following the current trends in domestic and international arbitration, particularly under French and Polish law, such an analysis of comparative legislative solutions tends to enrich discussions on the arbitrability model.In this respect, the present study seeks, first, to test the hypothesis that the Polish criterion of arbitrability does not fulfill its role, not constituting a relevant indicator of arbitrable disputes. Secondly, it aims to answer the question of whether, as a result of the liberalization process of arbitration law, a concept of "transnational" arbitrability has been developed. Finally, confronting the process of liberalization of arbitrability criteria with the risk of the legal uncertainty, this study raises the question of the need of redefinition of the arbitrability limits, facing the expectations of a functional private justice.In order to define the notion of arbitrability theoretically, the present study adopts a descriptive approach, embodied by the analysis of arbitrability in the strict sense, before questioning the concrete application of this concept in the different domains of law from a more prospective perspective. Such an approach allows the analysis of the notion of arbitrability in the broad sense.

This thesis is a critical evaluation of the content, form and technique of traditional and modern praise poetry in Northern Sotho. Chapter 1 presents the aim of the study and the method of research and defines the concepts of poetry and praise poetry. Praise poetry is viewed from a traditional and modern perspective. Chapter 2 deals with the content and technique of praise poetry. Content consists of oral praise poetry lauding the heroic deeds of men in battles and casual encounters. Modern praise poetry comments on current events. Devices for rapid composition of the praises are discussed. Techniques differ between poets and according to time, place and occasion. Chapter 3 covers the traditional praises of chiefs, warriors, initiates, animals, birds, divining bones and totem praises, examining them from the perspective of content and form. The praises extol human achievements, peculiar animal characteristics and the interpretation of "mawa" of divining bones. Chapter 4 deals with the development and transition from traditional to modern form as well as the reciprocal influence. The content and form of modern praises of chiefs, academics, community leaders, animals, birds, divining bones, man-made objects and some natural phenomena are discussed. Many modern poets have also written praises of fictional characters. Chapter 5 compares oral and written praise poetry by concentrating on the similarities and differences between traditional and modern praise poetry. This study shows that there are differences in of theme, rhyme, beginning and ending, sentence length and significant emphasis on man-made objects such as cars and locomotives as exceptional modes of transport for commuters. Chapter 6 concludes the study and proves that praise poetry is a living or dynamic entity which will continue to exist. Praise poetry highlights persons, interpersonal relationships, attitudes and values derived from an African conceptions of the universe. / African Languages / D.Litt. et Phil (African Languages)

O Estado Federal brasileiro é marcado por desigualdades econômicas e sociais entre as suas regiões, assim como por desigualdades dentro dessas regiões, que estabelecem uma relação de causa e efeito com as condições da educação fornecida aos seus habitantes. Um dos objetivos fundamentais da República federativa brasileira é a redução das desigualdades geográficas. Nesse cenário, medidas voltadas à garantia de igualdade de acesso e qualidade na educação básica pública entre os entes federativos de um determinado Estado Federal são fundamentais, com implicações a um só tempo sociais e econômicas. Nesta tese, analisamos os contornos normativos específicos do Estado Federal brasileiro em matéria de educação básica pública, examinando-os sob a ótica da contribuição que possam trazer para a promoção da igualdade na educação entre os seus entes federativos. A promoção do equilíbrio do desenvolvimento e do bem-estar em âmbito nacional é o objetivo das normas para a cooperação entre os entes federativos em relação às matérias de competência material comum da União, dos Estados-membros, do Distrito Federal e dos Municípios, entre as quais está a educação. Essas normas, que deveriam ter sido fixadas por lei complementar específica para o setor educacional, ainda se encontram pendentes de regulamentação. Diante dessa indefinição, a crescente referência, na legislação, ao regime de colaboração, o qual deveria orientar os diferentes entes federativos na organização dos seus sistemas de ensino e pautar a articulação do sistema nacional da educação, parece ter a função de apoiar práticas informais erráticas, em lugar de institucionalizar formalmente o modo como os entes federativos devem colaborar entre si, dando ao federalismo cooperativo brasileiro um alcance limitado, em comparação às possibilidades abertas pela Constituição Federal. Com o objetivo de melhor compreender os contornos do federalismo cooperativo brasileiro, com respeito a essa temática, fazemos uma análise comparativa entre Brasil e México, Estado que também se organiza sob a forma federativa, buscando compreender, em ambos os países, qual é a proteção constitucional conferida ao direito à educação básica pública, de que igualdade na educação básica pública falam as Constituições brasileira e mexicana, como estão distribuídas as competências legislativas e materiais, na área da educação básica pública, procurando identificar, ainda, a aplicação mínima de receitas em educação básica pública em cada país, assim como os mecanismos de compensação e colaboração existentes nos ordenamentos jurídicos brasileiro e mexicano, no que concerne à matéria. A comparação nos permite afirmar que cada um desses Estados Federais protege o direito à educação de forma distinta, traz preocupações específicas quanto ao problema das desigualdades geográficas, distribui de modo particular as competências legislativas e materiais, no que concerne à educação básica pública, apresentando diferentes formas de compensação e colaboração entre seus entes federativos. As semelhanças e diferenças levantadas lançam luzes sobre o ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, permitindo sua melhor compreensão dentro do modelo de federalismo cooperativo. / The Brazilian Federal State is marked by economic and social inequalities between its regions, as well as by inequalities within the regions themselves. These inequalities are reflected in the education provided to its citizens in a relation of cause and effect. Among the fundamental goals of the Brazilian federal republic is the reduction of such geographic inequalities. In this scenario, it is fundamental to incorporate means, with both social and economic implications, that are directed towards guaranteeing equal access to and quality of public basic education, which in turn means to determine the roles of the various constitutive units of the federal state in achieving this goal. In this thesis, we analyze the specific normative features of the Brazilian Federal State in the area of public basic education. These features are examined with the view to identify the relative contributions of the federal constitutive units (federal union, member state, municipality) for the promotion of equality in education. On the national level, the norms for the cooperation between the federal units on matters concerning areas where they share executive responsibility have the expressed objective to promote a balance on the levels of development and well-fare among the countrys regions. One of these areas of shared executive responsibility is education. However, the norms mentioned, which should have been fixed by a complementary law specific to the area of education, are still pending ordinance. Faced with this lack of definition, the increasing reference in the legislation to the concept regime of collaboration, i.e. the rules that are to guide the federal units (i.e. the member states and municipalities) in the organization of their systems of education, as well as determine the articulation of the national system of education, appears to have the effect of supporting informal and erratic practices instead of formally institutionalizing the way in which the federal units ought to cooperate. This state of being serves only to limit the reach of Brazilian cooperative federalism compared to the possibilities opened for by the Federal Constitution. With the objective of gaining a better understanding of the features of Brazilian cooperative federalism in regard to this subject matter, we offer a comparative analysis of Brazil and another federal state, Mexico. For both countries the analysis aims to comprehend and map the extent of constitutional protection that is granted to the right to public basic education, which kind of equality the Constitutions of Brazil and Mexico mention concerning public basic education, and how the legislative and executive competences are distributed in the area of public basic education. Moreover, the analysis seeks to identify the declared minimum revenue to be spent on public basic education in each country, as well as to trace the existing mechanisms of compensation and collaboration concerning public basic education in the legal systems of Brazil and Mexico. The comparison allows us to affirm that both these federal states protect the right to education in a distinct manner, that they include specific concerns regarding the problem of geographic inequalities, that they distribute legislative and executive competences in the area of public basic education in a particular manner, and present different forms of compensation and collaboration among their federal units. The similarities and differences brought forth shed light on and permit a better understanding of the Brazilian legal system as part of the cooperative federalism model.

This diploma thesis entitled Accounting and Tax Frauds from Comparative Perspective of Czech and American Law and Practice analyses accounting frauds and tax frauds in the Czech Republic with added comparative aspects from the US. The purpose of the thesis divided to 6 chapters is to provide a complex and comprehensive analysis from the perspective of accounting, legal and justice system and police investigation and to propose original policy solutions how to improve combating this sophisticated economic criminal activities. This thesis is grounded in an interdisciplinary context and applies economics, taxes, accounting, law, criminology and forensic science. It also combines theoretical background with practical case study analysis. Stemming from the case study analysis and the comparative perspectives from the US, this thesis proposes practical solutions proposals for the police work. One of the common features of both Czech and the US system is the essential role of experts. The added value of this thesis includes 10 different proposals in the legislative, institutional, informational and practical police area, such as establishing special police unit tasked with accounting and audit frauds, protection of whistleblowers, more severe punishments, uniform tax software and electronic evidence, better coordination between police and the tax authorities, improving the education of policemen in the economic, tax and accounting area, cooperation with academia and police internships of economics students and also enhanced international cooperation. One cross-cutting finding is the absolute necessity of close and long-term cooperation and coordination between police, judiciary, tax authorities and academia, sharing knowledge, information and know-how and critically analysing recent trends and practical issues. That is the only way how to effectively improve the fight against this complex white-collar crime.

Until recently, the legal position of domestic workers in South Africa could be described as a relic of the nineteenth century, when the contract of employment and the common law defined the employer-employee relationship. The legal rules which regulate the relationship between the domestic worker and her employer are examined. International labour standards and the legal position of domestic workers in other countries are considered. Cognisance is taken of the social phenomenon which finds domestic workers at the convergence of three lines along which inequality is generated, namely gender, race and class. Furthermore, the unique economic forces at play in this sector are examined. The law will be stretched to its limits when attempting to resolve what is, essentially, a socio-economic problem. However, the working lives of a million people are at stake. The legislature has a constitutional, political and moral responsibility to attend to reform in this sector as a matter of urgency. / Private Law / LL.M.