Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explain and provide a more in-depth understanding of how the work around the audit of sustainability reports is carried out and what new regulations may mean for the work procedure. Method: The study has been conducted with a qualitative research approach where semistructured interviews were carried out. Furthermore, a deductive approach has been used in order to develop the previous research and to be able to analyze the relationship between theory and practice. Empiricism: The empirical evidence and the collected data consist of a presentation of the companies and the respondents of the interviews. The results of the interviews are presented in a table whose structure follows the interview guide. Conclusion: From this study, we can conclude that the work procedures for both sustainability specialists and auditors when reviewing sustainability reports look relatively similar, however certain limitations are experienced. Both parties express that the effect ofthe new regulation will not change the work procedure during the review but will require additional knowledge and expertise.

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This thesis investigates the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility in Sweden and Latvia, to examine if the implementation has enhanced EU´s legitimacy. Applying a case study methodology, the study conducts a process-tracing approach and collects data from primary sources of national and EU documents. This methodology explores the practical implementation of the instrument towards a green transition, which thenceforth is analysed through the theory of legitimacy.   The thesis is based upon the questions: How has the Recovery and Resilience Facility been implemented by Sweden respective Latvia to support the development towards a green transition?   Has the RRF and its implementation enhanced EU´s legitimacy?   The findings conclude that the instrument has enhanced EU´s legitimacy. Despite ambiguous outcomes in the implementations, the member states interests are adopted. As a result, an advancement of constitutional settlements has led to a further interconnected relationship between the EU and member states. In times of crisis, a coordination of solidary responsibilities is significant, which the EU manages well according to the results.

The purpose of this study was to explore police officer perception of body cameras. There had been little previous research done on the police officer perception of body cameras in rural areas. Several research questions were pursued, including the impact of body cameras on citizens, the impact of body cameras on police officers, use of force and body cameras, body cameras effects on calls, and the officers’ support of body cameras. The study gathered data through qualitative interviews with 16 police officers in East Tennessee to address these questions. Results obtained provided interesting and useful information regarding the police perception of body cameras, which are discussed in detail. Implication of the research as well as ways to further the research are discussed as well.

The notion of democratic deficit has been at the centre of many debates on theEuropean Union for the last 30 years. The reason is, to a certain degree, linked to the lack oflegitimacy of the European Commission, which is not elected and remote from the Europeancitizens. However, the Commission seems to have found a positive way to increase itslegitimacy by the inclusion of civil-society in the decision-making process. The interactionbetween the Commission and two Environmental NGOs will therefore be analysed in order tomake a constructive contribution to the debate. The present paper does not limit itself tonormative statements on reality and considers that there is more to socio-political relationsthan “true” verifiable facts. Therefore, it is not limited to the formal decision-making process,and goes deeper into the socialisation process at play between the different actors. Theoutcome is that the Environmental NGOs studied appears as valuable models for theimplementation of new democratic channels for the representation and participation ofEuropean citizens.

In the light of rising criticism and debate over the legitimacy and accountability of the central international economic institutions, the IMF, World Bank, and WTO, some developments can be seen in how these organizations are reacting to such criticism to improve their legitimacy. The study is comparative in character and aims to explain how these organizations are changing and why this change is occurring now as well as why there are differences in how the three organizations are developing. In taking a constructivist approach to the study of international organizations as actors, it is argued that an understanding of international organizations as bureaucracies with varying degrees of autonomy will contribute to a deeper understanding of their behaviour. The role, mission, and organization of the three organizations is discussed, followed by critique relating to representation and influence for share- and stakeholders, as well as problems of transparency and accountability. Relevant changes in the organizations include increased transparency and use of evaluations, and an increased contact with NGOs. It is argued that NGOs have been an important influencing factor on this development, but also important is the fact that central states have begun to argue for similar changes. These issues have now become important questions in the organizations. The differing roles and character of the organizations has meant that they have responded differently to criticism and have been more or less open to NGOs. Their bureaucratic culture is seen to influence how these issues are interpreted in the organizations. The World Bank has developed the most while the IMF and the WTO have been slower to respond to criticism and engage with NGOs. Significantly these changes arguably amount to a change in what legitimacy means for these organizations.

Yes / This paper develops the notion of ‘Talibanization’ – a concept which stems from the resilience and the determination of the Taliban to remain a dominant player in Afghanistan even after the downfall of their state in 2001. The factors that helped the Taliban to maintain their influence after the disintegration of their state constitute a pattern which could be applied to other conflict-driven areas such as Syria. By critically examining the socio-political conditions in the Syrian district of Jarablus, this paper demonstrates the ways in which the inept post-IS administration is inadvertently helping IS to gain what we call ‘retrospective legitimacy’ a drive which could sustain its influence for many years following its downfall.

The intention of this dissertation is to understand how federal advisory boards are operationalizing Congressional intent of transparency, financial efficiency and balanced board membership. When Congress passed the Federal Advisory Commission Act (FACA) in 1972, these three values were intended to help add legitimacy to the operation advisory boards. Advisory boards have been in use on the federal level since the first term of President George Washington, and they provide valuable expertise on a wide variety of subjects for the government. Currently, over 1,000 advisory boards are operating across the federal government with nearly 25,000 people participating. Collectively, annual operations of these boards approaches a half billion dollars. In the years leading up to the passage of FACA, Congressional hearings revealed deficiencies across federal departments with transparency of advisory board operations, spending practices, and appointment processes which threatened the legitimacy of their use. The FACA law was intended to bring legitimacy back to boards' operation by requiring more transparency, financial efficiency and balance in viewpoints on board appointments. With the law more than 40 years old, this dissertation explores how advisory boards today are operating is relation to the values Congress laid out in legislation. A quantitative exploration was conducted to assess the fidelity to the Congressional values by using publicly available data points. A sample of the 1,000 operating advisory boards was used to conduct the research. Using the results of the quantitative exploration, six case studies were selected for additional examination. Three cases were selected by a systematic method based on the quantitative data, and three additional cases were selected by the unique results from the data. A dozen policy changes were suggested as a result of the quantitative and qualitative examinations to better align present day operation of advisory boards with the Congressional intent. This study may be useful to policymakers who have oversight on advisory board operations. / Doctor of Philosophy / American citizens provide input to the federal government in several ways. Voting for President and Members of Congress is the most visible way. However, serving on one of the approximately one thousand existing federal advisory boards is another way. These are boards and commissions made up of citizens who have expertise in various subjects for which the government needs ideas to help fix problems affecting our country. The focus of these boards ranges greatly. For example, some boards focus on highly specialized medical issues, and others focus on how citizens use the land around national forests. In 1972, Congress passed a law that set some basic guidelines on how these boards should operate. Congress said that boards need to be transparent in how they work so the public can monitor them easily. Congress also noted that the boards need to use the tax money given to them to operate efficiently and try to save money whenever they can. Finally, Congress wanted boards to have people with different points of views represented, so recommendations are not one-sided. Now that the law is over 40 years old, this dissertation examines how closely advisory boards today are following those guidelines Congress wrote in 1972. This dissertation suggests some ways to measure how close they are following the directions, and it looks in-depth to several of them to see how they operate. Finally, the dissertation gives some new suggestions on how all boards can operate to better reflect the ideas Congress wanted.