In recent years ‘mobility management’—a means of promoting modal shift and alternatives to the journey—has gained importance in continental Europe. Especially in metropolitan areas this approach is seen as a way of improving the effectiveness of traffic system management measures. This paper outlines some key options and constraints of transferring mobility management to rural regions, drawing on evidence gathered from a research and demonstration project currently underway in rural regions of North Rhine-Westphalia. Basic conditions for implementing mobility management in rural regions as well as preliminary findings are presented.

Ziel der vorliegenden Analyse ist es, ein Flughafenkonzept für Nordrhein-Westfalen zu erarbeiten. Dazu werden die wichtigsten Rahmenbedingungen des internationalen Luftverkehrs und der Luftverkehrspolitik in NRW behandelt. Es wird ein Überblick über die Flughafensituation in NRW gegeben. Weiter werden volkswirtschaftliche Effekte des Luftverkehrs beleuchtet (Arbeitsplätze, Wirtschaftswachstum). Dann werden negative externe Effekte des Luftverkehrs, insbesondere Fluglärm betrachtet. Abschließend werden Veränderungsvorschläge für die Flughafenpolitik in NRW entwickelt. / The aim of the present analysis is to elaborate an airport concept for North-Rhine-Westphalia. To achieve this, the framework of international aviation and aviation policy in NRW are treated. Additionally, the analysis will give an overview of the airport situation in NRW. Furthermore, economic effects of aviation are illuminated (jobs, economic growth). Then, negative external effects of aviation are considered, aircraft noise in particular. Finally, suggestions for a consistent airport policy in NRW are developed.

The numbers of people on the move, fleeing from conflict, persecution and violence is increasing and so is the level of violence against those most vulnerable persons. The question why host populations turn against refugees in liberal European democracies as isolated phenomenon has, to my knowledge, not experienced great academic attention. This study investigates what societal conditions need to be fulfilled in order for violence to occur. Deriving from previous research on anti-refugee violence in developing countries and right-wing violence, I suggest the following argument: A high level of knowledge deficit regarding refugees and a high level of relative deprivation causes a high level of insecurity among society, which makes persons more susceptible to anti-refugee mobilisation, making it effective and thus leading to violence. In order to test this hypothesis, I conduct a structured focused comparison, investigating Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, two federal states within Germany. The first showing a high level of anti-refugee violence compared to the latter showing a low level of violence. The evidence found in the study shows some support for the proposed theory. A higher level of insecurity is prevailing in Saxony compared to North Rhine-Westphalia, yet the results are not as distinct as expected. Thus, more research is necessary in order to shed more light onto the phenomenon and develop countermeasures.

Ziel der vorliegenden Analyse ist es, ein Flughafenkonzept für Nordrhein-Westfalen zu erarbeiten. Dazu werden die wichtigsten Rahmenbedingungen des internationalen Luftverkehrs und der Luftverkehrspolitik in NRW behandelt. Es wird ein Überblick über die Flughafensituation in NRW gegeben. Weiter werden volkswirtschaftliche Effekte des Luftverkehrs beleuchtet (Arbeitsplätze, Wirtschaftswachstum). Dann werden negative externe Effekte des Luftverkehrs, insbesondere Fluglärm betrachtet. Abschließend werden Veränderungsvorschläge für die Flughafenpolitik in NRW entwickelt. / The aim of the present analysis is to elaborate an airport concept for North-Rhine-Westphalia. To achieve this, the framework of international aviation and aviation policy in NRW are treated. Additionally, the analysis will give an overview of the airport situation in NRW. Furthermore, economic effects of aviation are illuminated (jobs, economic growth). Then, negative external effects of aviation are considered, aircraft noise in particular. Finally, suggestions for a consistent airport policy in NRW are developed.