It has been stressed within social sciences that risk management has focused too much on technical solutions and in order to decrease the risks also social factors have to be taken into account, namely the way people perceive risk. Risk perception is an important research field working on these issues. The aim of the study was in the light of the diverging views between the two paradigms to understand which of the psychometric or the cultural theory paradigm that can to a larger extent explain the flood risk perception of people living in the Tisza River basin. Furthermore the aim was to understand how the gap between experts’ and the public’s view on flood risk communication can be understood as well as how the risk communication could be improved. Data was collected through a survey and interviews. The results show that risk perception can partly be explained by either paradigm. To better understand people’s risk perception studies need to be more empirically based, not treat people’s perception as something too abstract and understand the interaction between individuals, society and the environment. The gap between the public’s and experts’ views is not as large as expected. In order to improve flood risk communication, decision makers need a better understanding of citizens’ perceptions and the motivation to include public perception in flood risk management need to be based on the view that the public could have an important input into risk management.

This study focuses on nationalism in Central and Eastern Europe. Anchored in theories that this region historically has been characterized by a nationalism that is based on the ethnic group rather than on liberal or civic concepts, it is the purpose of this study to explore whether these theories still apply in recent times when the region has been liberalized, for example manifested in the entry to the European Union. The research question has been tested through analysis of the constitutions of a number of Central and Eastern European countries in order to investigate what type of nationalism that the states have codified in their basic political documents. The results show that some of the states give expression to the historical ethnic nationalism in their constitutions, which indicates that the theories still are relevant.

Iron chemistry plays an important role in our world. At the nanoscale, iron oxide nanoparticles (nanomagnetite) have many inherent physical or chemical characteristics that drive potential solutions to real-world problems; appropriation of nanomagnetite’s properties as a “scaffold” for chemistry would further enhance its effectiveness in applications. In an effort to make use of nanomagnetite’s physical properties, a new “Sulfide Green Rust” (sGR) has been synthesized from magnetic iron nanoparticles. The material is crystalline, reactive due to high iron(II) content, and dissolves in the aqueous phase. Nanomagnetite’s magnetic properties were also observed to persist after sGR synthesis. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) confirmed the synthesis of this new FeS2-like material. The crystallinity, composition, and various physical characteristics were examined using a host of techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Mössbauer spectroscopy, CRYO-TEM, Raman spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-to-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. To demonstrate its use, the material was then subjected to a test of its reactive potential, namely water remediation of an orange dye contaminant. Iron serves a function at the macroscale as well regarding water treatment, since iron coagulation-filtration is the industry standard for arsenic treatment. Determining a technology’s merit as a solution goes beyond technical concern, however, as environmental and economic aspects also play important roles. Life Cycle Analysis, or LCA, methodology works to holistically compare each of these facets from cradle to grave. To address the current arsenic drinking water requirements at a case setting in Hungary, the LCA technique was applied on two example arsenic removal technologies, both coagulation-filtration and adsorption. 9 out of 10 considered impact categories tended to favour coagulation-filtration in this small municipality study, however realistic variations in water chemistry and product characteristics led to some overlap of their environmental impact. Electricity did not have a large direct impact, regeneration of the adsorption technology was very costly, and adsorption’s hazardous waste was not reduced compared to coagulation-filtration. Coagulation-filtration is also the cheaper of the two technologies; its highest cost is that of waste disposal, while the highest single expense modeled is that of adsorption media cost.

Influenced by the ideological trend of nationalism, Béla Bartók (1881-1945), an important Hungarian composer in the 20th century, dedicated himself to compositions with native culture. His piano solo work, Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op.20 (1920), is made of traditional Hungarian peasant music. In addition to its melody, mode scale, and the unique rhythm derive from the peasant music, this arrangement is created by using 20th-century compositional technique. Bartók had once claimed that this music piece is the most mature and integrated one among all his transcriptions of folk music. The first chapter of the paper introduces the Béla Bartók¡¦s journey of collecting the folk materials and the musical characteristics of Hungarian folk music, showing its thorough impact on his works. The second chapter discusses the classification of Bartók¡¦s different methods to compose transcriptions of folk music. The third chapter focuses on finding the distinguishing features of Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op.20. The compositional methods about how Bartók made use of the folk music are analyzed from aspects of melodic structure, rhythmic application, and mode scale.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Saarbrücken, 2001.

Thesis (M.S.)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2002. / Thesis advisor(s): Jeff Knopf, Frank Barrett. Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-58). Also available online.

The Bakócz Chapel at St. Adalbert's Cathedral in Esztergom represents the vision of the powerful politician and patron of the arts, Tamás Bakócz. Built between 1506 and 1519, the chapel was unique in Hungary at the time for its strict adherence to Italian Renaissance forms. Although it was King Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490) who first brought all'antica architecture to Hungary, its influence was not widespread. New structures continued to be built with a mix of gothic and renaissance forms into the sixteenth century. Instead of reflecting contemporary Hungarian architecture, the Bakócz Chapel is a successor to late fifteenth-century Florentine chapels. Cardinal Tamás Bakócz was Archbishop of Esztergom, head of the royal chancellery, and controlled Hungarian foreign affairs in the early sixteenth century. The king, Vladislav II (1491-1516) was heavily influenced by his advisors, and Bakócz was his principal counselor. In 1506, when Bakócz began construction on the chapel, he was at the height of his power and aspired to become pope. As his rise from outside the aristocracy to his position as the right-hand of the King demonstrates, Bakócz was politically savvy and extremely ambitious. As he hired architects and craftsmen for his chapel, he had them create a monument that would be a lasting symbol of his wealth, power, and erudition. But Bakócz very specifically did this in a manner that was entirely unlike anything else in Hungary at the time. In the building that was designed to house his remains and be his memorial, Bakócz made the conscious decision to associate himself with Italy. / text

published_or_final_version / Music / Master / Master of Philosophy

This study focuses on nationalism in Central and Eastern Europe. Anchored in theories that this region historically has been characterized by a nationalism that is based on the ethnic group rather than on liberal or civic concepts, it is the purpose of this study to explore whether these theories still apply in recent times when the region has been liberalized, for example manifested in the entry to the European Union. The research question has been tested through analysis of the constitutions of a number of Central and Eastern European countries in order to investigate what type of nationalism that the states have codified in their basic political documents. The results show that some of the states give expression to the historical ethnic nationalism in their constitutions, which indicates that the theories still are relevant.

This thesis is a study of British policy towards three Central European states in the wake of World War I. The aim of this thesis is to illustrate the continual British attempts to promote a union or at least economic cooperation in 'Danubia'. The first section concerns Anglo-Austrian relations. Chapter I. deals with British plans for the federalisation of the Habsburg Monarchy during the war. Chapter II. compares the Austrian policy of the British Delegation in Paris, the Foreign Office in London, and the Military Representative in Vienna. Chapter III. explains British involvement in the reconstruction of Austria. Chapter IV. traces the reasons for British disentanglement from Austrian affairs after the failed * Eastern Locarno'. The second section deals with the x special relationship' between London and Budapest. Chapter I. highlights the role of two British individuals in exploding the x Hungarian myth' in London. Chapter II. shows how the Bolshevik Revolution affected British diplomatic activities in Hungary. Chapter III. documents British involvement in the establishment of the Horthy regime. Chapter IV. analyses the impact of Anglo-French rivalry in Budapest on the whole of Central Europe. Chapter V. elaborates on British economic policy and the rehabilitation of the 'Pariah of the New Europe'. Chapter VI. illustrates the gradual cooling in Anglo-Hungarian relations. The third section concerns Czechoslovakia. Chapter I. examines the conflict between Czechophiles and Czechophobes in London. Chapter II. is an account of British efforts to prevent French domination in Prague. Chapter III. deals with the manoeuvres of Benes in London and Paris, and the cooling in Anglo-Czech relations. Chapter IV. explores the origins of British indifference towards Czechoslovakia, which resulted in the Munich crisis. The thesis concludes that Britain lost interest in Central Europe because of its failed efforts to promote reconcilation in the Danubian triangle.