Between 2000 and 2015 the Millennium Development Goals were the focus of much global attention and activity. They were selected in light of astounding poverty, with over 1 billion people at the time living on less than $1 per day. In a sense the MDGs were morally undeniable. The focus of this study is MDG2, universal primary education. It sets out to establish how and why MDG2 came to be selected. Whilst its selection seems obvious, for years developing countries complained about the short-sightedness of prioritising primary over secondary and tertiary education (Klees 2008). A task force commissioned by the World Bank and UNESCO at the time showed that the Bank’s rate of return analysis on primary education was flawed. It argued that developing countries need highly educated people to be economic and social entrepreneurs, develop good governance, strong institutions and infrastructure. In this way MDG2’s selection is problematic. Using case study method, first the literature is examined. Three hypotheses are generated: one based on a rational synoptic theory, one on critical theory and one on world society theory. A range of data are used to establish findings and test hypotheses. The study then considers implications of the findings for theory and the policy process. The findings show that priorities promoting more equal opportunities, such as MDG2, were gradually preferred. Whereas priorities promoting more equal outcomes, such as elimination of trade barriers, were gradually excluded. The study finds no evidence that the General Assembly ever voted on the list of 8 MDGs. Rather, the MDGs were selected by elite policy actors, addressing multiple interests. The study considers the assertion that marginalization of the poor does not happen because people harbor ill will toward them, rather because “The poor have no friends among the global elite” (Pogge 2011, p. 62).

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:12:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Retido.pdf: 19733 bytes, checksum: 6aad255badc436a06364517de2344ab6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-13 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The present PhD dissertation discusses the relationship between the Critical Theory of Society and empirical social research as elaborated in the work of the Institute of Social Research of Frankfurt, particularly after 1931, during the period in which it was under the direction of Max Horkheimer. Thus, it investigates to what extent such a nexus considered part of this theory s immanent coherence can be found in the research carried out in the United States and published as The Authoritarian Personality. The first chapter is dedicated to the reconstruction of Horkheimer s notion of interdisciplinary materialism. The discussion is based on his inaugural lecture as the Institute director, and on his essays published during the 1930s. In the second chapter, the main empirical social research projects carried out by the Institute members, in Germany and in the United States, are presented. The third chapter is dedicated to Theodor W. Adorno, his critique of Sociology and his views about the accomplishment of empirical research in the scope of Critical Theory. The last chapter is dedicated to an analysis of The Authoritarian Personality, seeking connections between the theory and procedures and instruments, and also between theoretical elaborations on their results. / A presente tese discute a relação entre a Teoria Crítica da Sociedade e a pesquisa social empírica no Instituto de Pesquisas Sociais de Frankfurt, a partir de sua direção por Max Horkheimer, e investiga em que medida esse nexo considerado interno à teoria pode ser encontrado na pesquisa realizada nos Estados Unidos e publicada sob o título de The Authoritarian Personality. O primeiro capítulo é dedicado à reconstrução de ideia de materialismo interdisciplinar, proposto por Horkheimer, a partir de seu discurso inaugural como diretor do Instituto e de seus textos teóricos produzidos na década de 1930. No segundo capítulo, são apresentadas as principais pesquisas sociais empíricas realizadas pelos intelectuais do Instituto tanto na Alemanha, quanto no exílio americano. O terceiro capítulo é dedicado às críticas e reelaborações de Theodor W. Adorno a respeito de sua visão sobre a realização de pesquisas empíricas no âmbito da Teoria Crítica. O último capítulo é destinado às análises de The Authoritarian Personality, em busca de suas conexões com a teoria a partir tanto de seus procedimentos e instrumentos, quanto de suas elaborações teóricas a respeito de seus resultados.

Precis The Thesis comprehensively describes and explains basic concepts of Steiner-Vallentyne Left-Libertarianism. The introductory part compares this school of Left-Libertarianism with other approaches and advocates the method of critical theory of society being used, which was formulated by Marek Hrubec, successing classical authors of critical theory. This method divides the analyzed phenomena into three phases - critique, explanation and normativity. The critical phase describes relation between the analyzed and reality, while defining the analyzed against it. Explanation clarifies positive elements, which are consequent from the critique of reality and ultimately, the normative phase formulates a specific conception of the elements' realization. In this Diploma Thesis the critical phase is represented by defition of Left-Libertarianism against dominant streams in contemporary political philosophy, with the accent on its differentiation from related approaches, constituting their conception on one's freedom - especially rawlsian liberalism and classical libertarianism. Explanatory phase is dedicated to basic concepts of Left-Libertarianism, their historical roots and theoretical principles on which they are constituted. Finally, the normative phase presents the concept of universal basic income, which...