This thesis constitutes a case study of how an Islamic institution in London is produced as an object of knowledge. It develops an argument by Maussen about mosques in Western Europe, which suggests that they ‘do not have a self-evident, clear and constant meaning’. On the basis of a literature review, he points to how academics have shaped ‘the processes of the production of meaning’ regarding these mosques, something that has political consequences for knowledge. This thesis builds on his work by shifting the research focus to a specific example of an Islamic institution, and including a broader group of actors involved in its production as an object of knowledge. For this research, I undertook an ethnographic study of the institution, holding a junior position within the leadership as a way of learning about its everyday life. This material is complemented by other forms of data, such as research literature, archival sources, media accounts, Council documentation, Parliamentary proceedings, maps, images, and photographs. The thesis has three ‘threads’, which fall into six chapters. The ‘public sphere’ thread comprises three chapters, which look at the institution’s representation by and engagement with three sets of actors: researchers, state representatives, and journalists. A ‘community’ chapter explores local productions of meaning: specifically, how the community’s internal complexity shapes understandings of the institution. Finally, the ‘history’ thread comprises two explorations: perspectives on the meaning of its foundational moment, and its relationship with the history of its built environment. Each of the chapters offers a way of reading the institution, while there are also matters of internal heterogeneity, and further temporal and material complexities in its construction as an object of knowledge. The thesis conclusion proposes the metaphor of ‘palimpsest’ to describe the resultant complexity of meaning in play.

This thesis examines the activities of the Statistical Society of London (SSL) and its contribution to early statistics-conceived as the science of humans in society-in Britain. The SSL as a collective entity played a crucial role in the formation of early statistics, as statisticians envisaged early statistics as a collaborative scientific project and prompted large-scale observation, which required cooperation among numerous statistical observers. The first three chapters discuss how the SSL shaped the concepts, practices, and institutions of statistical data production. The SSL demonstrated how the use of a hierarchical division of labour and blank form minimised observers' leeway to exercise individual observational skills and ensured uniformity in the production of statistical facts. This arrangement effectively depreciated first-hand observation in statistics and allowed statisticians to rely on the statistical facts collected by other people. It prompted the SSL to launch the Journal of the Statistical Society of London to serve as a virtual storage of observed facts where one could share their data for further aggregation and retrieve that of others for their analysis. The statisticians also engaged in contemporaneous discussion on the best mode of a statistical office with a view towards producing complete and internationally comparable statistical facts. The SSL's endorsement of the Belgian Central Statistical Commission model and the International Statistical Congress was intended to support the introduction of uniformity into statistical data at both the national and international levels. The last two chapters of this thesis discuss how the SSL's activities contributed to the historical formation of human sciences and the emergence of social scientists. Statisticians demanded the recognition of a scientific field which, independent from natural science, studied people as social beings and whose discourses moulded the treatment of the people they studied. The SSL's activities helped statisticians not only establish their scientific expertise but also develop their unique scientific ethos. Statisticians learnt not to trust their personal observations since individuals could see only a partial, and potentially distorted, picture of society. Instead, statisticians disciplined themselves to patiently wait for the accumulation of statistical facts and analyse data in their entirety because this was the only way, they believed, to truly understand the complex relationships people had with each other. The SSL's activities assisted statisticians' conception of statistical fact and produced a new kind of intellectual inquirer who patiently collected statistical facts as the basis of knowing and intervening in people's lives.

I dagsläget har revisorn ett obegränsat skadeståndansvar vilket innebär att revisorn i princip kan bli stämd på mångmiljonbelopp om hon åsidosätter god revisionssed. Till följd av detta har det på senare tid setts en tydlig tendens till att utvecklingen för skadestånd inom revisionsbranschen är oroväckande. Antalet skadeståndskrav har ökat väsentligt på kort tid och de krav som ställs mot revisorn uppgår allt oftare till betydande belopp. Olika organisationer arbetar nu med att förändra reglerna kring revisorers skadeståndsansvar. En önskan är att låta revisorernas nuvarande skadeståndsansvar övergå från obegränsat till begränsat, för att på så sätt få ner antalet stämningar samt minska stämningsbeloppen som ställs mot revisorerna.Denna uppsats är kopplad till en studie om revisorers skadeståndsansvar som genomförts av London Economics. Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka hur revisionsbranschen påverkas av en eventuell begränsning av skadeståndsansvaret. För att uppfylla syftet har studien utförts genom att intervjua tre utvalda revisorer, som var och en har en lång erfarenhet inom revisionsbranschen.En sammankoppling av noga utvald teori och insamlad empiri, i form av en analys, har genererat konkreta slutsatser om hur revisionsbranschen kan komma att påverkas av en begränsning i revisorns skadeståndsansvar. Bland annat anses en lagstiftad begränsning som den bästa lösningen samt att de stora revisionsbyråerna kan komma att bli ännu större på marknaden. Den viktigaste slutsatsen är att revisorerna är positivt inställda till en begränsning av ansvaret. / Uppsatsnivå: C

This thesis is a study of the ‘race relations’ work of Christians in the sixties in England, with specific reference to a Methodist church in Notting Hill, London. As such, it is also a study of English racisms: how they were fought against and how they were denied and facilitated. Additionally, the thesis pays attention to the interface of ‘religion’ and politics and the radical restatement of Christianity in the sixties. Despite a preponderance of sociological literature on 'race relations' and 'religion' in England, there has been a dearth of historical studies of either area in the post-war period. Therefore, this thesis is an important revision to the existing historiography in that it adds flesh to the bones of the story of post-war Christian involvement in the politics of 'race', and gives further texture and detail to the history of racism, 'race relations', and anti-racist struggles in England. Moreover, the thesis implicitly challenges the received wisdom of the decline of the churches in the sixties and shows an active engagement of Christians with politics. Using a wide range of private and public archives and interviews, the thesis takes a micro-study of the Notting Hill Methodist Church and places it within its wider contexts: how English Christians approached 'race' and 'race relations', what kinds of racialised political engagements existed in Notting Hill, and what kinds of racisms were expressed in England. The contextualised and detailed micro-study has enabled the thesis to capture the texture and depth which is needed to better understand 'race' and 'race relations' in post-war England. In doing so, the thesis sheds detailed light on some active 'civil rights' struggles in England and therefore challenges the received wisdom which views these struggles as being an American rather than an English (or British) story.

This dissertation argues that the Williams Harvey's novel conceptualization of the circulation developed from a set of concerns and sensitivities that Harvey shared with merchants and courtiers, and that it emerged at the courts of King James and King Charles, alongside a new conceptualizations of commercial circulation. As a brother to merchants and a physician to kings during the commercial crises of the 1620s, Harvey was exposed to ways of thinking about circulation that he used to make sense of the disparate observations he made about the motion of the heart and blood. Harvey's famous quantitative argument, the thought experiment at the center of his conceptualization of the blood, was an exercise in accounting. Through a process of "reckoning," and "by laying of account," Harvey balanced blood like a merchant balances books, conceptualizing arterial and venous blood as fungible. Harvey showed that there was a recirculation of blood through the heart. Over time, these aspects of Harvey's circulation became easier to overlook; the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed the most tangible artifacts of Harvey's mercantile sociability, such as his fine Persian rugs or the collection of marvels contained in the library and museum that Harvey established at the College of Physicians of London. By situating Harvey among courtiers and royal patrons who were concerned with the circulation of cloths, dyestuffs, coin, and bullion, this dissertation aims to add to the burgeoning literature on the scientific revolution that posits a multitude of different scientific practitioners with diverse philosophical commitments and varied connections to other facets of early modern life, while stressing key conceptual changes in Harvey's thought.

No description available.

Dans un contexte largement plus inclusif qu’oppressif, la communauté juive nouvellement réadmise depuis 1656 s’installe, se forme et se construit tout au long du XVIIIè siècle à Londres : au groupe de Crypto-Juifs fragilisé par les persécutions de l’Inquisition et qui trouve là la promesse d’un nouveau départ et de nouvelles espérances, se joint un flot d’immigrants d’Europe de l’Est, qui ne cesse d’enfler. Avec quelques marchands et financiers prospères, et une grande majorité de familles vivant plus difficilement de l’artisanat, du colportage, de l’usure ou de la charité, les deux congrégations fondent leurs institutions religieuses, éducatives, caritatives, voire politiques, et tâchent de s’intégrer dans une société aux valeurs de laquelle elles s’avèrent particulirement perméables. La question du maintien de l’identité juive se pose dès lors avec force, soulevant les problèmes d’acculturation et d’assimilation, voire de conversion. / In a largely more inclusive than oppressive environment, the newly reaccepted Jewish community sets up and builds up in London, during the course of the eighteenth century: a stream of eastern-Europe immigrants which never stops swelling, adds up to the small group of Crypto-Jews, weakened by the persecutions of the Inquisition, which finds here the promise of a fresh start, and new hopes. With a few prosperous mer-chants and financiers and a vast majority of modest individuals, earning a small living as craftsmen, pedlars, usurers or depending on charity, the two congregations found their religious, educational, charitable, and even political institutions, and try to inte-grate in a society to the values of which they prove to be particularly permeable. The question of the preservation of the Jewish identity arises, bringing up the problems of acculturation, assimilation and conversion.

Au XVIe siècle, Londres est soumis à plusieurs mouvements de grande ampleur. La croissance démographique de la ville, fondée sur des flux migratoires de personnes jeunes et parfois pauvres, est sans précédent, de même que le développement économique de la ville. À cela s’ajoute le passage à la réforme, initié par les souverains Tudor à partir des années 1525-1530. Dans un tel contexte, on doit s’interroger sur deux mouvements parallèles qui affectent alors Londres : le nombre et la qualité des cérémonies publiques (entrées royales, spectacles civiques pour l’élection du Lord maire) ne cesse de croître alors que se développe une abondante et inédite offre en spectacles payants (théâtre, combats d’animaux, escrime…). Si un certain nombre de travaux se sont interrogés sur les connexions possibles entre les mutations que connait Londres et la prise d’importance des spectacles publics, peu d’études ont été consacrées à la comparaison des deux types de spectacles d’un point de vue politique, économique, social et culturel.Une telle comparaison révèle l’importance des spectacles dans la fabrique d’une société londonienne animée de grandes mutations. Tout d’abord, les cérémonies sont l’occasion pour les magistrats de Londres d’élaborer un discours théorique sur un gouvernement idéal au service du « bien commun » du corps civique. Mais les magistrats entendent le réaliser pratiquement, en optant pour un mode d’organisation et de financement qui fait participer toutes les institutions et un maximum de Londoniens à un même idéal civique. Ensuite, les spectacles payants, qui se plient à des contraintes économiques, politiques et religieuses, contribuent également à la fabrique sociale du Londres Tudor. La monarchie et les différentes institutions londoniennes considèrent que la fréquentation des spectacles comme un « honnête divertissement », qui contribue au maintien de la paix sociale dans Londres. Une étude précise des acteurs dans ces différents spectacles montre que ce sont les mêmes « spécialistes » du spectacle qui participent aux cérémonies et donnent des représentations payantes dans Londres.Toutefois, dans le dernier tiers du XVIe siècle, ce modus vivendi se fissure. Alors que la situation financière de Londres se dégrade, les cérémonies deviennent un objet de discorde entre institutions et au sein des institutions civiques. Parallèlement, les spectacles publics échappent en partie au contrôle du pouvoir, révélant le manque de coopération entre les différents acteurs institutionnels. La municipalité semble dès lors considérer les spectacles plus comme un danger pour l’ordre public que comme un moyen de l’assurer. / Sixteenth-century London underwent three important transformations. First, a dramatic demographic expansion was due to the arrival of thousands of young migrants, often poor, who settled every year in the city. Second, under the Tudor dynasty, London became the economic center of England, and the number of prosperous Londoners soared. Finally, Henry VIII initiated a process of religious reformation.From 1533, a growing number of expensive ceremonies (royal entries and civic spectacles) were organized by London authorities. In the same way, public representations of drama, bear baiting or fencers prizes are more and more numerous. This thesis would like to investigate the link between the economic, political and religious transformations and the development of a market-economy of spectacles in London.The study of the people involved in the organization of the ceremonies reveals that they are the same than those that give public representations in London and private spectacles at the royal court.Comparing ceremonies and public recreations demonstrates that, from Henri VIII to Elizabeth I, spectacles played a major role in the social integration of migrants in the urban society. On one hand, ceremonies were the occasion for London magistrates to elaborate new civic rhetoric and ideology in which the common wealth was the core value. For civic magistrates and corporations officers, the common wealth was not simply a set of discourses, it had to be achieved through the organization and the funding of the ceremonies. On the other hand, public spectacles which were constrained by economic, religious and political imperatives, contributed to the same civic integration. The Privy Council and the London institutions considered public spectacles as a form of “honest recreation” that should be encouraged. The existence of such cheap spectacles was thought to be useful to maintain the public order in an ever growing metropolis. In the 1580-1590’s, the modus vivendi surrounding spectacles was broken. The dire economic and financial situation of the city created some tensions regarding funding of ceremonies in the London institutions among the members, and between the monarchy and the City. The public spectacles became also a problem, because livery companies and parish vestries refused to collaborate with the civic magistrates. For the City fathers, the public spectacles were becoming a menace more a menace that an asset in the effort to enforce social order.

Le réseau routier est un outil technique ancré dans son territoire. Sa conception, sa construction et son entretien sonttraditionnellement vus comme étant le reflet des conditions géographiques et économiques du milieu. Ce doctoratanalyse l’impact du contexte réglementaire et administratif du réseau sur les choix techniques effectués.La comparaison de l’évolution des réseaux de transport urbains au XXème siècle dans les régions londonienne etparisienne montre en effet des divergences importantes. Cependant, une forte continuité historique existe, aussi bien enFrance qu’au Royaume-Uni, dans la sélection des solutions techniques adoptées. Ce travail de doctorat identifie le faitque cette stabilité est le reflet de la stabilité du cadre légal. L’analyse historique effectuée exclue clairement l’approcheinstitutionnaliste du comportement des administrations et entreprises en charge du réseau. En effet, au cours de cettelongue période, ces dernières ont beaucoup changé, les personnels aussi, mais les réactions des agents demeurent trèssimilaires.Depuis les années 1990, les administrations et institutions en charge du réseau ont été profondément réformées. Cesréformes ont été menées sur fond de crise financière, de baisse dramatique du retour sur investissement desinfrastructures routières et de la chute partielle de compétitivité du mode de transport automobile.Ces réformes conservent des spécificités nationales fortes mais la seule explication trouvée à leur cohérence globale estle fait que le réseau routier ne peut plus être considéré comme une défaillance du marché. Les outils de collecte depaiement à l’usage existent, sont de plus en plus couramment utilisés, et il serait logique de voir l’infrastructure routièreentrer rapidement dans le cadre des autres industries de réseau. / A road network is an infrastructure rooted in its territory. Its design, construction and maintenance are traditionally seenas mostly conditioned by the local physical environment and its economic conditions. This doctorate however analysesthe impact of the regulatory and administrative environment on design choices.An included historical comparison between London and Paris XX century urban networks highlights very different trendsin design choices. However, consistent decision making patterns have developed independently over time in the Britishand French networks. This doctorate demonstrates that these decision making biases are dictated by the legal frameworkof each country, which constrains government’s ability to take part in the road network development process. Becauseadministrative structures have significantly changed over time, they cannot explain the observed consistency.Since the 1990’s, urban transport network administrations and institutions have been profoundly reformed. These reformshave been made in the context of financial crises, reduction in infrastructure economic return and partial loss ofcompetitiveness of the automobile as a mode of transport.These reforms are different from country to country, but the only identified reason that would explain this trend is the factthat the road infrastructure is no longer a market failure. Pay-per-Use technologies of the road infrastructure are alreadyavailable, and represent a profound change in market structures. Some governments and national administrations arefinding themselves increasingly confined to regulatory duties and it is only logical to expect the road infrastructure totransform itself into a typical utility, operated by private companies.

La présente thèse de doctorat consiste en une enquête sur la construction du paysage nocturne par la publicité lumineuse, spécifique aux métropoles occidentales depuis la fin du XIXe siècle. Elle s’est appuyée en particulier sur trois études de cas, New York, Londres et Paris, et a cherché à éclairer les circulations d’idées, de techniques et de design qui ont animé ces espaces. Elle interroge notamment la pertinence de la notion de « modèle américain » et souligne les échanges et les apports réciproques entre l’Europe et les États-Unis. Le propos est organisé en trois grandes parties, subdivisées en trois chapitres chacune et il s’y ajoute une série d’annexes. Le livre premier, intitulé « de l’incandescence en publicité : le temps des pionniers » porte sur le premier grand dispositif technique de la publicité lumineuse, celui de la lampe à incandescence, qui s’imposa de la fin du XIXe siècle à la fin des années 1920. Le second livre a pour titre « l’ère du néon : au cœur de la culture populaire ». Il se concentre sur la mise au point et la diffusion des tubes luminescents. Il montre comment la culture populaire s’appropria le néon, à la fois par la fréquentation des hauts-lieux de la publicité lumineuse et par son intégration dans l’art. Enfin, le troisième livre invite à « repenser la publicité, des années 1970 à nos jours », et met en évidence les changements à l’œuvre avec la montée des préoccupations écologiques et énergétiques et le renouvellement des acteurs de publicité lumineuse. Trois évolutions majeures marquent cette période : l’accélération du phénomène de mondialisation ; l’essor de la politique institutionnelle du logo ; la multiplication des écrans vidéo. / The subject of this doctoral thesis is a study of the construction of the nocturnal landscape using illuminating advertising, specific to large Western cities since the end of the XIXth century. It is supported in particular by three case studies: New York, London and Paris and will examine the circulation of ideas, techniques and design used in these locations. The relevance of the concept of the “American model” will be examined, with particular reference to the exchanges and mutual contributions between Europe and the United States. This thesis will be divided into three main sections, each sub-divided into three chapters and supplemented with appendices. The first section, titled “Incandescence in advertising: the pioneers” will examine the first significant technical device used in illuminating advertising, i.e. the incandescent lightbulb, used principally from the end of the XIXth century to the end of the 1920s. The second section, titled “The neon era – at the heart of popular culture” will concentrate on the development and deployment of fluorescent tubes. It will be demonstrated how popular culture appropriated neon lighting, both in its use in the high spots of lighted advertisements and by its inclusion in arts. Finally, the third section titled “Re-thinking advertising from the 1970s to today” will concentrate on changes brought about by the rise of sensitivity to ecological and energy concerns as well as changes in the people involved in the use of lighted advertising. Three major developments mark this period: acceleration of the global phenomenon, the rise of institutional policies involving logos and lastly, the multiplication of video screens.