Throughout the 20th century, Illinois supported winning candidates in twenty-three out of twenty-five presidential elections. However, in the 21st century, Illinois supported winning candidates in two out of five presidential elections. The state’s divergence from national trends followed three partisan shifts that occurred in the mid-to-late 20th and early-21st centuries. These shifts altered the state’s partisan preferences. While the causes of each shift varies, Illinois’s changing demographics, the concentration of its population in the Chicago Metropolitan area, and the rise of the post-industrial economy, caused the state to depart national trends as Illinois increasingly supported Democrats.

This thesis uses a case study of mountain gorilla conservation in Rwanda and the DRC to explore how diverse connections and disconnections influence idea circulation and disseminate different forms of inclusion and exclusion of particular people and groups. It is embedded within a theoretical framework that brings together three bodies of literature on non-governmental organisations (NGOs), transnational networks and ideational power to ask questions about network interactions and what they mean in terms of idea circulation. The thesis addresses three research questions: What do transnational networks look like on the ground; what do (dis)connections look like and what do they mean in terms of idea circulation, inclusion and exclusion; and (how) do transnational networks operate to include and circulate the ideas of more marginalised groups in society? This thesis presents results from a survey of the work of 281 conservation NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa, which maps out the institutional context of mountain gorilla conservation and raises questions about the interactions, equality and inclusiveness of the sector. Having identified mountain gorilla conservation as a suitable case study for this research, the thesis explores the political and environmental history of the Virungas, looking at how the two interact and influence (dis)connections. Using data gathered from semi-structured interviews, this thesis introduces the key actors, structures and processes involved in mountain gorilla conservation in Rwanda and the DRC and explores the connections between them. It shows how connections based on perceptions of expertise, staff movement and the professional and social circles people move in cause certain ideas to be respected and circulated, whilst other people and their ideas are ‘accidentally’ excluded. At the same time ‘strategic’ disconnections, which result from personal and organisational conflicts, can prevent idea circulation and lead to project duplication in some areas and a lack of projects in others. The thesis also examines NGO and state claims that ‘the idea (for interventions) came from the community’. It argues that, with exceptions, in a context of ‘sensitisation’ of communities to conservation and a complex political history, NGOs and states often define community ‘ideas’ themselves and do not typically have processes in place to foster local ideas, potentially excluding some of the more marginalised groups in society.

The purpose of this thesis is to establish what specific forces influence whether or not a democratic setback within one nation will diffuse to peripheral states. Past studies devoted to this topic have largely suggested that diffusion essentially functions like a contagious disease, where the likelihood of "infection" is primarily based upon the level of interaction between states. This thesis however proposes that the interaction of the signal generated from a democratic state's collapse and the receptiveness of neighboring nations to this signal ultimately determines when and where diffusion will occur. In order to test the validity of this thesis' claims, the level of democracy within the neighboring states of all failed democratic governments spanning the years 1842-2002 are examined during the first years following such system breakdowns within a large-N quantitative research design. Ultimately this study leads to the conclusion that the interaction of signals and receptivity play a major role in the diffusion of democratic setbacks.

This dissertation entitled: “Policy Options in The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): An Overview from 1960 to 2006” entails to develop an analytical framework with the intention of looking at various policy options that could guide the leadership in mapping out a roadmap for sustainable development in the reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The research recognises that suitable policies which can provide solutions for the political and socio-economic problems of the DRC must be sought within the geographic, demographic, religious and ethnic context of that country. Hence, the dissertation departs from the premises that the diagnosis of the solution needed to remedy problems afflicting many African nations such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo begins with the inherent problem of governance. Consequently, the study investigates sources of bad governance and factors which have led to the collapse of a state beginning with the historical consequence of colonialism and the mismanagement by successive regimes. These factors are largely responsible for the decimation of potentially, Africa’s wealthiest nations, reducing them to being amongst the poorest in the world. Beyond the context of the continental policies, the dissertation examines the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s own Post Conflict and Reconstruction policy. Also for consideration is the areas of priority that needs focussing on if a post conflict and reconstruction policy is to be successful. This includes ensuring that peace and security prevails by stabilising the country through the reform of the security sector. Security in this context must be understood in its broad format which includes human security. On the other hand, the study also presents the argument that policies alone are not sufficient to create a functioning state that is of service to its people. For the future and prosperity of the Congo, it is essential not only to have the correct policies only, but also a leadership, at all levels, that will embrace and implement them. / Dissertation (MAdmin)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA) / unrestricted

The DRC has recently embarked on a new SEZ project. The country does not have a history of success with SEZs, however, much like other African countries. This paper investigates the past and current legal frameworks governing SEZs in the DRC, in an attempt to identify their weaknesses and strengths, with the ultimate goal of finding room for improvement and preventing the failures from the past from occurring again. Because the DRC cooperates closely with South Africa on SEZ regulation, the paper also delves into the South African experience, to see whether the DRC can already draw lessons from South Africa. The study then formulates a number of recommendations including that a new fiscal and non-fiscal incentive framework should be established. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2014 / gm2015 / Centre for Human Rights / LLM / Unrestricted

What determines governance quality in authoritarian settings? The existing literature on governance concentrates on democratic governance and provides no ready answer. By focusing on the world’s largest authoritarian country, China, this study delineates an authoritarian model of governance quality. In the model, I argue that in order for good governance to occur, an authoritarian government must have both the ability and the desire to govern well, and the current authoritarian government in China has both. Specifically, its ability to govern well comes from 1) its sovereignty within the territory, 2) its fiscal resources, and 3) its party-state structure blended with decentralization, term and age limits, and performance-based promotion. Its desire to govern well comes from 1) the regime’s need for political legitimacy; 2) good governance as an important source of political legitimacy; 3) the decay of alternative sources of legitimacy; 4) the double uncertainty of authoritarian politics that compels leaders to highly active in delivering good governance. I formulate key hypotheses and test them with a variety of original datasets. The Chinese County Governance Data are collected from county government websites. The data on county-level public opinion are constructed through Multilevel Regression and Poststratification (MRP) based on the 2010 Chinese General Social Survey and the 2000 national census data. County leader characteristics are collected from Database of Local Officials. The empirical analysis general supports the model. My study reveals an authoritarian logic of governance which centers on the party state’s top-down control and the regime’s insecurity about political legitimacy. My study also demonstrates that China’s model of governance is not shared by most authoritarian countries today.

In 2012, a new monkey species, Cercopithecus lomamiensis (lesula), was discovered in the Central Congo basin. Lesula is a semi-terrestrial rainforest guenon endemic to the area. Using a systematic grid approach, three terrestrial camera trap surveys (two inside the Lomami National Park; one in the buffer zone) were conducted over three years to capture the cryptic species. The objectives of my study were to expand knowledge on the behavioral ecology of lesula and evaluate lesula’s sensitivity to hunting threats. The main findings from my study included: confirmation of terrestriality and diurnality, births clustering during the wet season, social group living of one male and multiple females, and high impact of hunting on group size. By studying the latest added species to the Cercopithecini tribe, my thesis helps to better understand the ecological diversity occurring within this radiation of African primates and contributes to the species’ long-term conservation efforts. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Since 1986, the State of Michigan has developed a policy of financial receivership for fiscally distressed local governments. This system entailed local democratic suspension, as the State government installed an Emergency Manager with complete power over the locality. Occupation primarily affected majority-black cities, was imposed without any real recourse, and lasted as long as State officials desired. A framework of indefinite temporary occupation in international politics highlights the structural ways in which Michigan’s subnational policy is juridically enabled, a symptom of structural financial and racial disinvestment, for the benefits of privileged elites, and contingent on national apathy. Additionally, the application of this lens delineates the systemic ways in which Emergency Management undermines local democracy even after the headlines proclaim its end.

This study aims to identify my personal choreographic approach to physical theatre-making and then to experientially expand on it by engaging with Joanne Butterworth‘s five-tier Didactic-Democratic spectrum model for choreography. Being accustomed to, and trained predominantly in, one mode of approaching choreography has become limiting. Butterworth‘s model may aid me in expanding choreographically in the context of physical theatre-making. My research is located in a qualitative paradigm. I use an auto-ethnographic, practice-as-research approach to conduct my research. To apply my practice-as-research approach, I use concrete experience, reflective observations, abstract conceptualisation and active experimentation as outlined by Kolb‘s Experiential Learning Cycle. Kolb‘s model provides an overall structure to this study, but is also the way in which I frame and read each of the three separate choreographic processes that I use in the study. The concrete experience I consider in this study is The Entertainer, a work which I choreographed in 2017. To establish a baseline for my research, I retrospectively reflect on The Entertainer to locate it on Butterworth‘s model by using units of analysis that link to the five tiers of the model. These units of analysis are the choreographer‘s role; performer‘s role; choreographer‘s input; performer‘s input; pedagogical positioning of social interaction; instruction methods; and the pedagogical positioning of performers. By using these units of analysis to consider The Entertainer, I position my initial approach to physical theatre choreography along the spectrum of Butterworth‘s model. I then use Kolb‘s abstract conceptualisation to plan how I will move beyond my initial approach to choreography as located on Butterworth‘s model. I do this by selecting tiers that lie to the extremes of my initial approach on the model. I employ Kolb‘s active experimentation, to choreograph two works, WALK and Swem, that each align with one of the extremes. I utilise the extremes since they are the furthest removed from each other and, as a result, challenge me to approach choreography in two ways that are not just completely different from each other, but also from my initial choreographic approach. Each of the three choreographic processes in this study (consisting of a choreographic approach and a resulting choreographic product) starts a new cycle of Kolb‘s Experiential Learning. I use each rehearsal period, along with panel and performer reflections, to create a thick description by means of a choreographic score based on the choreographic approach of each work. To create these three choreographic scores (the physical documentation of the rehearsal period), I also utilise other auto-ethnographic tools, such as journaling and reflective questions. Each score serves as concrete experience that I retrospectively analyse to locate the choreographic approach on Butterworth‘s model. To choreograph WALK and Swem, I utilised a rehearsal period spanning three weeks with the same three performers to calibrate reflection by asking them to complete reflection sheets based on rehearsals. Three panel members were required for expert analysis and therefore have at least a Master_s degree (with choreography as focus) and at least three years‘ experience of choreographing in physical theatre. These panel members attended two rehearsals of each choreographic work and, like the performers, completed reflection sheets in order to mediate my subjective experience of each choreographic approach for a thicker description of the choreographic instance. The panel also completed reflection sheets based on choreographic tracks (see following paragraph) observable in performance to mediate their experience of each choreographic product with my own subjective view. I identify similarities between a greater range of inputs (my own perspective, the perspective of the performers and the panel), to layer my thick description of the choreographic process as a whole. Since Butterworth‘s model is focused on choreographer-performer interaction and roles, it focuses on the choreographic approaches (rehearsals) and not on the choreographic products that result from each approach. I therefore highlight choreographic tracks that link to Laban Movement Studies. These are the treatment of the theme; general space usage; approach to the kinesphere; utilisation of shape; dynamics of movement (Effort); application of elements of choreographic craft; incorporation of soundscape; arrangement of choreographic structure; and integration of structural components/ assimilation methods. / Dissertation (MA (Drama))--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Drama / MA (Drama) / Unrestricted

In 1993, the Swedish National Agency for Education, Skolverket, coined and implemented the so-called collective morals mission, or “värdegrundsuppdraget,” which subsequently led up to the publication of a new national syllabus for upper-secondary school, LPF94. The collective morals mission constituted the values to be taught in Swedish schools and also positioned the Swedish school system ideologically. However, following its publication, teachers found it difficult to understand how they are to carry out and understand said mission, difficulties that seem to still be present today. Therefore, this project presents a qualitative study on how English teachers reflect upon, and relate their teaching to, the collective morals mission, how they do it, along with the possibilities the English subject has in conveying these aspects of fostering, through explicit education on the subject. Based on prior, personal observations the initial hypothesis was that the English subject is often forgotten, in relation to other subjects, in terms of providing students with education related to the collective morals. However, this is not due to English teachers not acknowledging opportunities for the subject to convey content, but because of the strong selective traditions of the subject, focusing education on form and not content, as it is a foreign language. To evaluate this hypothesis, semi-structured interviews with four English teachers were conducted and three separate curriculum analysis were carried out. This enabled an understanding of how the collective morals evolved over time and became what they are today. The results partly confirmed the initial hypothesis. Teachers do implement many features of the collective morals; however, they do not explicitly characterize them as such. The curricula analyses show a progression of the collective morals to be implemented in the explicit grading criterion for passing grade. These results are discussed, and conclusions regarding what that means for English teachers are presented.