There have been many studies on media (mis)representations of the Middle East and Iran. However, the experts and analysts who serve as major sources for those representations (and for government policy making) have not been systematically studied. This project studies discourses and networks of widely published Iran experts during the first year of the presidency of Iran’s Hassan Rouhani (2013-2014), the period during which unprecedented direct U.S.-Iran diplomacy paved the way for the historic nuclear agreement with Iran. Norman Fairclough’s three dimensional critical discourse analysis method and Peter Haas’s Epistemic Community approach are employed to study discursive as well as non-discursive (networked) characteristics of the most widely published U.S. Iran experts during this time period. Results identify five major epistemic communities that, altogether, represent the spectrum of U.S. Iran experts: neoconservatism, liberal interventionism, containment (tactical engagement), strategic engagement, and rapprochement. These five epistemic communities are described in detail throughout the five results chapters. Findings show that these experts influence the terms of media representations as well as the foreign policy making process. Findings also show that experts operate in a web of discursive as well as networked affiliations (i.e., epistemic communities) in order to be able to develop and circulate their discourses. It is however important to recognize that epistemic communities are not uniform in terms of formation stage, cohesion and level.

Partindo de acontecimentos recentes que evidenciam o aparecimento do tema da felicidade em pronunciamentos governamentais, em eventos de organizações internacionais, na assinatura de declarações, entre outros, esta pesquisa procura rastrear atuações que teriam contribuído para essa ascensão política da temática referida. Realizando uma reconstituição histórica relativa à produção de pesquisas sobre bem-estar subjetivo, constatou-se o papel decisivo exercido pela Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (OCDE) no sentido de promover maneiras de conceber e mensurar o progresso que vão além da consideração do PIB (Produto Interno Bruto). Examinando os Fóruns Mundiais realizados pela OCDE nos últimos anos, foi possível identificar ocasiões decisivas para de incentivo à utilização de dados de pesquisas sobre bem-estar subjetivo por parte dos governos. A partir da perspectiva oferecida pela literatura sobre comunidades epistêmicas, a presente dissertação traz elementos para a compreensão da valorização do discurso científico no cenário político contemporâneo. / Considering the recent emergence of the theme of happiness, highlighted in governmental discourse, in congresses organized by international organizations, or in recently signed statements, among similar events, this research tries to track the actions that may have contributed to the political rise of the subject mentioned. Undertaking a historical reconstitution of the production of research on subjective well-being, we found that the decisive role was played by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), who tried to promote alternative ways of conceiving and measuring progress beyond the sole consideration of GDP (Gross Domestic Product). By analyzing the Global Forums organized by the OECD in recent years, it was possible to identify crucial occasions on which the use of research data on subjective well-being by governments was enhanced. From the perspective offered by the literature about epistemic communities, this thesis brings elements which help understanding the value of scientific discourse in the contemporary political scenario.

Partindo de acontecimentos recentes que evidenciam o aparecimento do tema da felicidade em pronunciamentos governamentais, em eventos de organizações internacionais, na assinatura de declarações, entre outros, esta pesquisa procura rastrear atuações que teriam contribuído para essa ascensão política da temática referida. Realizando uma reconstituição histórica relativa à produção de pesquisas sobre bem-estar subjetivo, constatou-se o papel decisivo exercido pela Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (OCDE) no sentido de promover maneiras de conceber e mensurar o progresso que vão além da consideração do PIB (Produto Interno Bruto). Examinando os Fóruns Mundiais realizados pela OCDE nos últimos anos, foi possível identificar ocasiões decisivas para de incentivo à utilização de dados de pesquisas sobre bem-estar subjetivo por parte dos governos. A partir da perspectiva oferecida pela literatura sobre comunidades epistêmicas, a presente dissertação traz elementos para a compreensão da valorização do discurso científico no cenário político contemporâneo. / Considering the recent emergence of the theme of happiness, highlighted in governmental discourse, in congresses organized by international organizations, or in recently signed statements, among similar events, this research tries to track the actions that may have contributed to the political rise of the subject mentioned. Undertaking a historical reconstitution of the production of research on subjective well-being, we found that the decisive role was played by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), who tried to promote alternative ways of conceiving and measuring progress beyond the sole consideration of GDP (Gross Domestic Product). By analyzing the Global Forums organized by the OECD in recent years, it was possible to identify crucial occasions on which the use of research data on subjective well-being by governments was enhanced. From the perspective offered by the literature about epistemic communities, this thesis brings elements which help understanding the value of scientific discourse in the contemporary political scenario.

No description available.

The political economic pressures of development contribute to unsustainable environmental practices in developing countries, and marginalize civil society participation. This dissertation looks at the following countries where policymakers are faced with strong incentives to foster rapid economic growth. In Jamaica, the bauxite industry demands mining rights in sensitive mountainous ecosystems. In Mexico, the tourist industry demands access to construct in vulnerable coastal environments in the southeast. In inland Mexico, unregulated agriculture threatens ecosystems in the Yucatán Peninsula. Finally, tourist and energy industries in Egypt demand access for infrastructure in sensitive ecosystems in the Red Sea region. In all of the cases, the preferences of these sectors threaten to displace local communities, while creating unsustainable pressures on the environment. At the same time, the projected revenues from these sectors justify continued environmental exploitation. In response, transnational networks of environmental advocates and epistemic communities mobilized throughout the 1990s, lobbying the Global Environment Facility for conservationist projects in each country, and then lobbying governments to effectively implement the projects. This research finds that three conditions were necessary for transnational networks to influence policies associated with project implementation. First, networks must generate an internal scientific agreement on the dimensions of the environmental problem. By doing so, they can delegitimate competing arguments, strengthening their own claims. Second, networks must build social ties with policymakers in powerful agencies. Social ties increase the likelihood that policymakers will adopt the norms of the network. Third, networks must reframe the discourse on environmental management. At present, policymakers and industry argue that environmental management should be assessed by its contribution to economic development, validating only those policies that lead to sustained revenue generation. By reframing environmental management as an issue impacting the well-being of domestic populations, networks can argue for the greater participation of actors marginalized by the dominance of privileged productive sectors in resource management. Moreover, by linking sustainable resource use to the interests of domestic populations, networks can generate political capital to oppose the most unsustainable environmental practices. This research thus builds on the epistemic communities approach by highlighting the importance of democracy in knowledge building and environmental governance.

No description available.

One of the biggest challenges in contemporary global environmental governance is the future of marine biodiversity. Over the years, increased fishing efforts in previously remote areas drove many fish stocks to scarcity. The Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) emerged to solve the international fishery crisis, on the assumption that they would provide a forum where Member States may agree and discuss binding rules for the conservation and management of fish stocks within its geographical area of responsibility. Although some agreements existed for more than 60 years, many authors agree that they have not been fully effective in promoting the maintenance and conservation of fish stocks. There are many reasons that might explain the lack of effectiveness, one of them being that science is not very often listened to in the political decision-making process. In this research, the influence of knowledge and science in shaping policy decisions will be observed and analyzed. Therefore, the use of the epistemic communities theory, that which forms part of the constructivist turn in international relations -- was used to answer the main question posed here: when does power listen to science? When it does, does it bring more effectiveness in terms of knowledge, input from epistemic communities, does it induce states to change their behavior, and do these influences lead to policies, which can credibly improve biomass? Using process tracing, through elite interviews, and with a systematic compilation and study of meeting reports from three RFMOs: the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR); the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT); and the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), the final conclusion is that they may listen to science, but their strategy, allies, and the ways in which it occurs differ case-by-case. / Um dos maiores desafios na governança ambiental global contemporânea é o futuro dos ecossistemas e da biodiversidade marinha. Ao longo dos anos, o aumento do esforço de pesca nas áreas anteriormente remotas levou muitas populações de peixes à escassez. As Organizações Regionais para o Ordenamento Pesqueiro (OROPs) surgiram para resolver a crise internacional de pesca, através um fórum onde os Estados-Membros podem acordar e discutir regras vinculativas para a conservação e gestão dos recursos pesqueiros no âmbito da sua área geográfica de responsabilidade. Embora alguns acordos existam há mais de 60 anos, muitos pesquisadores concordam que os mesmos não têm sido totalmente eficazes para promover a manutenção e conservação dos recursos pesqueiros. Muitas razões podem explicar a falta de eficiência no manejo, uma delas é que, o aconselhamento cientifico não é muitas vezes considerado nas decisões políticas. Nesta pesquisa, a influência do conhecimento e da ciência na tomada de decisões políticas serão avaliadas. Para isso, a teoria das comunidades epistêmicas, que faz parte da veia construtivista em Relações Internacionais, foi usada para responder à principal questão colocada aqui: quando é que o poder ouviu a ciência? E isso trouxe mais eficiência em termos do conhecimento proveniente das comunidades epistêmicas induzir os Estados a mudarem seu comportamento e a influência levar a políticas que aumentem a biomassa dos estoques pesqueiros? Com o uso de process tracing, por meio de entrevistas com atores e uma compilação sistemática dos relatórios das reuniões anuais, as OROPS: CCAMLR, ICCAT e CCSBT foram estudadas, e a conclusão final é que, os tomadores de decisão podem ouvir a ciência, porém, a estratégia, os aliados e a forma como a influência se desenvolve varia caso a caso.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo compreender o papel do Banco Mundial como consolidador e articulador de comunidades epistêmicas em dois projetos elaborados conjuntamente com Brasil e Argentina na década de 1990. Considerando abordagens de teoria das relações internacionais sobre incorporações de novos atores na participação de tomada de decisão compartilhada, mais especificamente de comunidades epistêmicas, assim como os documentos oficiais dos projetos, analisamos a terceira fase das reformas na área de C&T no Brasil e a reforma na área de educação superior na Argentina. / This thesis aims to understand the World Bank\'s role as consolidator and articulator of epistemic communities in two projects developed jointly with Brazil and Argentina in the 1990s. Considering approaches to international relations theory on incorporation of new actors in the participation of shared decision making, more specifically of epistemic communities, as well as official documents of the projects, we analyze the third phase of reforms in the area of science and technology in Brazil and reform in the Higher Educations area in Argentina.

Baseando-nos nos princípios da perspectiva sociocultural da aprendizagem como elemento norteador e compreendendo que a alfabetização científica deve ser considerada um dos objetivos do ensino de ciências, nesta pesquisa procuramos investigar a ocorrência das práticas epistêmicas durante o desenvolvimento de uma atividade de interpretação e discussão de um artigo científico adaptado sobre o tema dinâmica populacional de elefantes marinhos. Essa análise se justifica uma vez que as práticas epistêmicas são consideradas pela literatura como ações que contribuem para o desenvolvimento da alfabetização científica. Nesta pesquisa, consideramos o grupo formado pela professora e seus estudantes como uma comunidade epistêmica de práticas, tendo em vista que ao longo da atividade os sujeitos compartilharam os mesmos objetivos tentando compreender a dinâmica populacional dos elefantes marinhos. Analisamos um conjunto de dados contendo transcrições e gravações de áudio e vídeo de duas aulas de Biologia que fazem parte de uma sequência de ensino investigativa. Mapeamos as aulas segmentando-as em unidades menores (episódios e sequências discursivas) com vistas a identificar as práticas epistêmicas por meio da análise das interações discursivas ocorridas entre os participantes da atividade. Como resultado de nossa investigação, identificamos um repertório de práticas epistêmicas menos variado em comparação com outros estudos realizados anteriormente. Entretanto, o número de ocorrências de práticas epistêmicas foi significativo, indicando que a atividade contribuiu para que as atividades subsequentes da sequência de ensino investigativa fossem desenvolvidas com sucesso. / Based on the principles of the sociocultural perspective of learning as a guiding element and understanding that scientific literacy should be considered one of the objectives of science teaching, in this research, we seek to investigate the occurrence of epistemic practices during the development of an activity of interpretation and discussion of an adapted scientific article on the dynamic population theme of elephant seals. This analysis is justified since epistemic practices are considered by the literature as actions that contribute to the development of scientific literacy. In this research, we consider the group formed by the teacher and her students as an epistemic community of practices, considering that throughout the activity the subjects shared the same objectives trying to understand the population dynamics of the elephants. We analyzed a set of data containing transcriptions and audio and video recordings of two Biology classes that are part of a sequence of an inquiry-based learning sequence. We map the classes by segmenting them into smaller units (episodes and discursive sequences) in order to identify the epistemic practices by analyzing the discursive interactions that occurred between the participants of the activity. As a result of our research, we have identified a less varied range of epistemic practices compared to previous studies. However, the number of occurrences of epistemic practices was significant, indicating that the activity contributed to the success of the subsequent activities of the inquiry-based learning sequence.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo compreender o papel do Banco Mundial como consolidador e articulador de comunidades epistêmicas em dois projetos elaborados conjuntamente com Brasil e Argentina na década de 1990. Considerando abordagens de teoria das relações internacionais sobre incorporações de novos atores na participação de tomada de decisão compartilhada, mais especificamente de comunidades epistêmicas, assim como os documentos oficiais dos projetos, analisamos a terceira fase das reformas na área de C&T no Brasil e a reforma na área de educação superior na Argentina. / This thesis aims to understand the World Bank\'s role as consolidator and articulator of epistemic communities in two projects developed jointly with Brazil and Argentina in the 1990s. Considering approaches to international relations theory on incorporation of new actors in the participation of shared decision making, more specifically of epistemic communities, as well as official documents of the projects, we analyze the third phase of reforms in the area of science and technology in Brazil and reform in the Higher Educations area in Argentina.