16 familles libanaises (père, mère, et jeune), ont été l’objet d’une étude rétrospective, non aléatoire, afin d’explorer les notions de transmission et de dynamique identitaires, en relation avec les diverses éducations familiales. Les critères d’inclusion furent la cohésion familiale, et le niveau d’instruction des jeunes, supérieur ou égal au Baccalauréat. Les familles étaient choisies selon les principales communautés structurales d’une société pluricommunautaire, à savoir la société libanaise (et plus particulièrement, les communautés confessionnelles, géographiques, et socioéconomiques).L’analyse compréhensive et interprétative des données collectées, suivit une méthodologie de type qualitatif, selon la méthode de théorisation ancrée : 1) établissement de repères interprétatifs initiaux ; 2) co-construction de sens ; 3) analyse inductive / déductive ; 4) catégorisation en cours d’analyse de diverses conceptualisations ; 5) modélisation de ces catégories conceptualisantes en deux étapes (bidimensionnelle, et tridimensionnelle), et dont le résultat fut une modélisation théorique de l’identité individuelle ; 6) usage de cette modélisation afin de proposer une approche originale des transmissions identitaires et des dynamiques identitaires et interculturelles ; et 7) ultimement de dégager une théorisation sur « le cristal interculturel imparfait » (C.I.I.), et sur ses éventuelles et potentielles, applications et implications, en particulier, sur le plan éducatif. Le principal repère interprétatif initial personnel fut dégagé du terme arabe « oumour » : une représentation en termes temporels de l’Existence. Les principales conceptualisations que cette étude permit de catégoriser, sont : 1) la distinction entre trois formes d’appartenance : les identités existentielles, l’identité essentielle liée au sexe (gender), et l’identité nécessaire liée au « oumour » ; 2) la structure tripartite des appartenances existentielles, du fait de la double influence qu’y exercent la famille et la société ; 3) l’individualisation d’un troisième cercle intermédiaire d’appartenance, entre les cercles, privé, et public, qui est le cercle de la « assabiyya » ; 4) le caractère incomplet de chacun des trois cercles d’appartenances ; et 5) le concept de « dynamique identitaire nécessaire » (D.I.N.), qui est la somme indissociable de deux mouvements identitaires nécessaires. Quant à la théorisation du ʺcristal interculturel imparfaitʺ, celle-ci correspond à une simplification, dans un but didactique, de notre compréhension de la structuration de l’identité individuelle, de sa transmission, et de sa dynamique. Elle s’appuie sur deux notions fondamentales : 1) les souscomposantes identitaires, ou particules élémentaires de ce cristal imparfait ; et 2) D.I.N. de l’être, qui dynamise le tout, à travers des processus internes de rationalisation et de relativisation. L’approche interculturelle tient une place de choix, dans cette théorisation, eu égard la compréhension de la transmission et de la dynamique, identitaires. Si bien que l’altérité, se présente comme étant la relation élémentaire de cette structuration. Et dont l’approche use de façon combinée, interactive et obligatoire de trois logiques distinctes : 1) la logique intersubjective et existentielle ; 2) la logique subjective et essentielle ; et 3) la logique nécessaire, quant au sens que donne l’être à son existence, et qui est liée à son « oumour » (à sa D.I.N.). / 16 Lebanese families (father, mother and youth) have been the subject of a retrospective, non-randomized study, to explore notions of identity transmission and dynamics, in relation to the various family educations. Inclusion criteria were family cohesion and the level of youth instruction level, greater than or equal to High School. Families were selected according to the main structural communities in a multi communitarian society, namely the Lebanese society (specifically: confessional, geographic, and socioeconomic communities). The comprehensive and interpretative analysis of data collected, followed a qualitative methodology, according to the grounded theory method: 1) establishment of initial interpretive markers; 2) co-construction of meaning; 3) inductive / deductive analysis; 4) categorization, while analysis is in progress, of various conceptualizations; 5) modeling of these conceptualizing categories in two stages (two-dimensional and three dimensional), the result of which was a theoretical modeling of individual identity; 6) use of this model to propose an original approach o identity transmissions, and identity and intercultural dynamics; and 7) ultimately to reach a theorization about the “intercultural imperfect crystal”, (I.I.C.), and about its eventual and potential applications and implications, especially in terms of education. The main initial interpretive and personal landmark, was that of the Arabic word of “oumour”: a representation, in temporal terms, of Existence. The main conceptualizations that this study made it possible to categorize, were: 1) the distinction between three forms of belonging: the existential identities, the essential gender-related identity, and the necessary “oumour”-related identity; 2) the tripartite structure of existential belongings, due to the double influence carried on by the family and the society; 3) the individualization of a third intermediate circle of belonging, between the private and public, circles, which is the circle of “assabiyya”; 4) the incompleteness of each of the three circles of belonging; and 5) the concept of “necessary identity dynamics” (N.I.D.), which is the sum of two inseparable necessary identity movements. As for the theorization of the “intercultural imperfect crystal”, this corresponds to a simplification, for didactic purposes, of our understanding of the structuring of individual identity, of its transmission, and of its dynamics. It is based on two fundamental concepts: 1) identity subcomponents, or elementary particles of this imperfect crystal; and 2) the N.I.D. of the being, that “dynamizes” the whole, through internal processes of rationalization and “relativization”. The intercultural approach is prominent in this theory, on regard of the understanding of the identity transmission and dynamics.That’s why otherness is presented as the elementary relationship of this structure. And whose approach is characterized by its combined, interactive and mandatory use of three distinct logics: 1) the inter-subjective and existential logic; 2) the subjective and essential logic; and 3) the necessary logic, as to the meaning, that the individual gives to his being, and which is related to his “oumour” (his N.I.D.).

This thesis is on the Turkish-speaking community, comprising Turkish-Cypriots, Turks from Turkey, and Kurds from Turkey, and ethnic community football in London, which has been conceptualised as a transnational social field. It is intended as a contribution in the debates on the growing importance of issues of diasporic communities, their identity politics, and cultural integration in a context of ‘super-diversity’. There are three major analytical themes. The first is transnational diaspora politics, which is redefined to comprise any relationship of power or interest by mobilising diasporic connections. I argue that the Turkish-speaking community uses ethnic football as a means for communal mobilisation around and representation of their ethnic identity in the public space of London, a city of unique political-economic and symbolic significance for the Cyprus Conflict which helped create the Turkish and Greek Cypriot football leagues in London. I show that the Turkish-speaking community has ever since used football to create and maintain a bridge between London and all the different locations of the community including Cyprus, Turkey, Germany, and beyond. The second major theme is collective identities and how they are (re)produced, represented, and manifested in the diaspora. I argue that the nature of the field of ethnic football as a familiar, open, and welcoming space conveniently positioned between the Turkish-speaking private sphere and the British/Londoner public space has been a major factor accounting for the effectiveness of various identity projects to be pursued within this field. Lastly, after presenting the historical link between modern competitive sports and masculinity, I claim that the one defining aspect of all the ethnic identities reproduced within the field is their masculine character. The last analytical theme is the cultural integration of immigrant communities. Without adopting a normative definition of cultural integration, I have considered the implications of involvement in ethnic community football in terms of belonging, social inclusion, marginalisation, and the psychological development and well-being of the individuals involved. The presented and analysed discussion rejects any automatic causal link between involvement in sports and integration or that involvement in mono-ethnic sporting organisations and segregation. Having reviewed a few exemplary organisations, which used football for integration purposes, and the nature of the ethnic community leagues, I have also argued in this thesis that the field of ethnic community football, again due to its specific nature, structure, and position between the private and public spaces, offers a great potential to be engaged by local and national governments in the service of integration policies.

This thesis brings together two responses to the question ‘how can the law extend the timeframe for environmentally relevant decision-making?’ The first response is drawn from the context of institutional investment, and addresses the timeframe and breadth of environmental considerations in pension fund investment decision-making. The second response is related to the context of public environmental decision-making by legislators, the judiciary, and administrators. Three themes underlie and bind the thesis: the challenges to decision-making posed by the particular temporal and spatial characteristics of environmental problems, the existence and effects of short-termism in a variety of contexts, and the legal notion of the trust as a means for analysing and addressing problems of a long-term or intergenerational nature. These themes are borne out in each of the four substantive chapters. Chapter III sets out to demonstrate the theoretical potential of pension funds to drive the reduction of firms’ environmental impact, and, focusing particularly on the notion of fiduciary duty, explores the barriers that stand in their way. Chapter IV provides a practical application of the theoretical recommendations outlined in its predecessor. It provides a framework outlining how pension funds might implement a longer term, more sustainable approach to investing. The second half of the thesis, operating in the context of public environmental decision-making, is centred upon a particularly poignant legal notion with respect to the environment and time: the concept of intergenerational equity. Just as the first half of the thesis deals with the timeframes relevant to investment decision-making by pension funds within the bounds of fiduciary duty, largely a private law affair with public implications, the second half of the thesis is concerned with the principle of intergenerational equity as a means for extending the decision-making timeframe of legislative, judicial and administrative decision-makers. As previous analyses of the concept of intergenerational equity provide little insight into its practical implications when applied to particular factual situation, Chapter V sets out the structure of the principle of intergenerational equity as revealed by case law. Chapter VI brings together the issues from the first three papers by conceptualising intergenerational equity in resource management as an issue of long-term investment. Long-term environmental decision-making faces many obstacles. Individual behavioural biases, short-term financial incentive structures, the myopic pressures of the electoral cycle and the tendency of the common law to reinforce the (often shorttermist) status quo all present significant barriers to the capacity of both private and public decision-makers to act in ways that favour the longer term interests of the environment. Nonetheless, this thesis argues that there is reason for hope: drawing upon the three themes that underlie all of the substantive Chapters, it articulates potential legislative changes and recommends the adoption of particular governance structures to overcome barriers to long-term environmental decision-making.

This study explores the changing nature of filial piety in contemporary society in rural China. With the economic, social and political upheavals that followed the Revolution, can 'great peace under heaven' still be found for the rural Chinese family as in the traditional Confucian proverb,"make yourself useful, look after your family, look after your country, and all is peaceful under heaven"? This study explores this question, in terms not so much of financial prosperity, but of non-tangible cultural values of filial piety, changing familial and gender roles, and economic migration. In particular, it examines how macro level changes in economic, social and demographic policies have affected family life in rural China. The primary policies examined were collectivisation, the hukou registration system, marketization, and the One-Child policy. Ethnographic interviews reveal how migration has affected rural family structures beyond the usual quantifiable economic measures. Using the village of Meijia, Sichuan province, as a paradigmatic sample of family, where members have moved to work in the cities, leaving their children behind with the grandparents, the study demonstrates how migration and modernization are reshaping familial roles, changing filial expectations, reshuffling notions of care-taking, and transforming traditional views on the value of daughters and daughters-in-law. The study concludes that the choices families make around migration, child-rearing and elder-care cannot be fully explained by either an income diversification model or a survival model, but rather through notions of filial piety. Yet the concept of filial piety itself is changing, particularly in relation to gender and perceptions about the worth of daughters and the mother/ daughter-in-law relationship. Understanding these new family dynamics will be important for both policy planners and economic analysts.