Opposition-based learning (OBL) was recently proposed to extend di erent machine learning algorithms. The main idea of OBL is to consider opposite estimates, actions or states as an attempt to increase the coverage of the solution space and to reduce exploration time. OBL has already been applied to reinforcement learning, neural networks and genetic algorithms. This thesis explores the application of OBL to ant algorithms. Ant algorithms are based on the trail laying and following behaviour of ants. They have been successfully applied to many complex optimization problems. However, like any other technique, they can benefit from performance improvements. Thus, this work was motivated by the idea of developing more complex pheromone and path selection behaviour for the algorithm using the concept of opposition. This work proposes opposition-based extensions to the construction and update phases of the ant algorithm. The modifications that focus on the solution construction include three direct and two indirect methods. The three direct methods work by pairing the ants and synchronizing their path selection. The two other approaches modify the decisions of the ants by using opposite-pheromone content. The extension of the update phase lead to an approach that performs additional pheromone updates using opposite decisions. Experimental validation was done using two versions of the ant algorithm: the Ant System and the Ant Colony System. The di erent OBL extensions were applied to the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) and to the Grid World Problem (GWP). Results demonstrate that the concept of opposition is not easily applied to the ant algorithm. One pheromone-based method showed performance improvements that were statistically significant for the TSP. The quality of the solutions increased and more optimal solutions were found. The extension to the update phase showed some improvements for the TSP and led to accuracy improvements and a significant speed-up for the GWP. The other extensions showed no clear improvement. The proposed methods for applying opposition to the ant algorithm have potential, but more investigations are required before ant colony optimization can fully benefit from opposition. Most importantly, fundamental theoretical work with graphs, specifically, clearly defining opposite paths or opposite path components, is needed. Overall, the results indicate that OBL ideas can be beneficial for ant algorithms.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate how the publication of books in Swedish about Native Americans for children and young people developed and changed between 1890 and 2008. Translations into Swedish of such books from 1860 onwards are commented on. The terms "Native American", "Indian" and "Indigenous" are discussed. Postcolonial theory forms the basis of an examination of the means by which the American Indian peoples were presented with regard to language, identity, and opposition to colonization. The first chapter comprises a summary of Native American history and literature. Chapter Two deals with books about Native Americans in Sweden during the period 1860‒1965, while Chapter Three continues the study of such books from 1966 to 1985. The fourth chapter is devoted entirely to the author Stig Ericson and his books for juveniles, and aims to present an in-depth analysis of Swedish books about Native Americans in the period when he was writing. Chapter Five deals with such books published in Sweden during 1986‒2008.  Widespread publication of traditional books about Native Americans, with confrontation between American Indians and Whites as their major theme, continued until the mid-1960s. Subsequently, there was a shift in narrative perspective in favour of the Native American view, while the books in general became more documentary and ideological in nature. White people were presented as villains; Native Americans became the victims of progress. Post-1985 only a few books of this type were published, and readers turned to other genres.

Opposition-based learning (OBL) was recently proposed to extend di erent machine learning algorithms. The main idea of OBL is to consider opposite estimates, actions or states as an attempt to increase the coverage of the solution space and to reduce exploration time. OBL has already been applied to reinforcement learning, neural networks and genetic algorithms. This thesis explores the application of OBL to ant algorithms. Ant algorithms are based on the trail laying and following behaviour of ants. They have been successfully applied to many complex optimization problems. However, like any other technique, they can benefit from performance improvements. Thus, this work was motivated by the idea of developing more complex pheromone and path selection behaviour for the algorithm using the concept of opposition. This work proposes opposition-based extensions to the construction and update phases of the ant algorithm. The modifications that focus on the solution construction include three direct and two indirect methods. The three direct methods work by pairing the ants and synchronizing their path selection. The two other approaches modify the decisions of the ants by using opposite-pheromone content. The extension of the update phase lead to an approach that performs additional pheromone updates using opposite decisions. Experimental validation was done using two versions of the ant algorithm: the Ant System and the Ant Colony System. The di erent OBL extensions were applied to the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) and to the Grid World Problem (GWP). Results demonstrate that the concept of opposition is not easily applied to the ant algorithm. One pheromone-based method showed performance improvements that were statistically significant for the TSP. The quality of the solutions increased and more optimal solutions were found. The extension to the update phase showed some improvements for the TSP and led to accuracy improvements and a significant speed-up for the GWP. The other extensions showed no clear improvement. The proposed methods for applying opposition to the ant algorithm have potential, but more investigations are required before ant colony optimization can fully benefit from opposition. Most importantly, fundamental theoretical work with graphs, specifically, clearly defining opposite paths or opposite path components, is needed. Overall, the results indicate that OBL ideas can be beneficial for ant algorithms.

This thesis is a qualitative study based on interviews conducted in early 2007 and aims at getting an understanding of the political environment from an opposition party’s point of view in Northern Sudan. The study is also trying to illustrate how good governance and democracy are building on each other and that good governance is a pre-requisite for democracy. In this perspective Sudan has a long way to go. The main assumption is that women are key to good governance and internal democracy and a democratic society. If the party excludes women, it can not be representative, participatory or equitable and inclusive. The thesis is therefore looking at the structures of one opposition party, the Umma Party, and women’s political participation in the party. This description is then analysed in light of Good Governance’s characteristics of participation, representativeness, equity and inclusiveness in the political society arena. The following questions were asked and answered: • What are the basic features of the political environment within which Sudanese opposition parties operate? • What are the leadership structures and decision making processes of the Umma Party in North Sudan? • How do women access these structures and processes? The main finding is that the Umma Party and Sudan do not fulfill the characteristics or the indicators to claim good governance or democracy – not within the party and not within the country.

<p>This thesis is a qualitative study based on interviews conducted in early 2007 and aims at getting an understanding of the political environment from an opposition party’s point of view in Northern Sudan.</p><p>The study is also trying to illustrate how good governance and democracy are building on each other and that good governance is a pre-requisite for democracy. In this perspective</p><p>Sudan has a long way to go. The main assumption is that women are key to good governance and internal democracy and a democratic society. If the party excludes women, it can not be representative, participatory or equitable and inclusive.</p><p>The thesis is therefore looking at the structures of one opposition party, the Umma Party, and women’s political participation in the party. This description is then analysed in light of Good Governance’s characteristics of participation, representativeness, equity and inclusiveness in the political society arena. The following questions were asked and answered:</p><p>• What are the basic features of the political environment within which Sudanese opposition parties operate?</p><p>• What are the leadership structures and decision making processes of the Umma Party in North Sudan?</p><p>• How do women access these structures and processes?</p><p>The main finding is that the Umma Party and Sudan do not fulfill the characteristics or the indicators to claim good governance or democracy – not within the party and not within the country.</p>

<p>This thesis deals with the problematic question of aid as a helping hand to states that are in the process of developing democracy. It focuses on the Sub Saharan African region as a critical case, and furthermore upon the aid contributions made by the European Union during the time period of 1996-2006. The main ambition is to explore the real effect of aid on the democratic process, but also to explore other variables that might have effect. The method used is regression analysing of a database called The Quality of Government database Cross – Section Time-Series May 2008. The database has later been modified to suit my specific needs and aid has been recoded. This thesis is meant to be a theory testing study, and the theories tested will be related to the independent variables such as aid as a democratic helping hand as well as theories of corruption, political participation and military rule in the search for democracy. </p>

Under what conditions does the Egyptian Society of the Muslim Brothers (SMB) fracture? The 1996 formation of the Wasat party by a group of former Muslim Brothers has attracted significant scholarly attention, although most studies focus on the ideological differences between the groups. By neglecting the organizational angle these studies are unable to explain why some ideological differences lead to group fracture, and why in the case of the SMB this occurred in 1996 and not before. This paper will argue that the SMB splits when high levels of state repression combine with internal organizational conflict, specifically the lack of stable, consultative internal dispute-resolution mechanisms. Empirical tests charting levels of state repression and SMB internal politics throughout the period 1981-2010, covering variation on the dependent, as well as both independent variables, strengthen the theory. / text

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Le créancier qui entame la procédure simplifiée de recouvrement des créances instituée par les Etats de l’OHADA est exposé à des complications processuelles qui tiennent au risque d’inéligibilité à la procédure, au risque de prescription de la créance, au risque de contestation abusive, au risque de nullité du titre injonctif, au risque d’inexécution du titre exécutoire, surtout dans les affaires transfrontalières et dans les contentieux qui touchent les personnes morales de droit public. Ces risques rendent la procédure complexe, longue et coûteuse pour les sociétés commerciales et les institutions financières. La procédure ainsi peinte est également inapplicable pour les artisans, les commerçants et les micro-entreprises qui portent souvent des créances modestes, mais dont la consolidation, à l’échelle des dix-sept Etats de l’OHADA, peut atteindre des milliards. Ces difficultés portent à s’interroger sur la manière dont d’autres Etats ou organisations régionales ont résolu les problèmes qui se posent aujourd’hui aux Etats de l’OHADA. L’étude explore à cette fin le droit de certains pays européens, notamment le droit allemand qui, grâce à sa procédure injonctive, arrive à étudier huit millions de requêtes par an et à accepter 90% des demandes. Les règlements du Parlement européen et du Conseil sur la lutte contre les défauts de paiement constituent aussi un champ d’investigation car, ces instruments abordent des problèmes qui ont échappé au législateur de l’OHADA, notamment ceux qui touchent au besoin de déjudiciarisation, de simplification de la procédure et à la livre-circulation des titres exécutoires dans l’espace l’OHADA. Cette analyse prospective, doublée des enseignements de la pratique, permet de mettre en évidence les « Best Practices » et les réformes nécessaires pour faire de la procédure simplifiée de recouvrement un instrument efficace de lutte contre les retards et les défauts de paiement dans les Etats de l’OHADA. / A creditor who initiates the simplified debt collection procedure established by the OHADA States is exposed to procedural complications that hold on to the risk of ineligibility to the procedure, the risk of prescription of the claim, the risk of abusive dispute, the risk of nullity of injunctive title, the risk of non-execution of the enforceable title, especially in cross-border cases and in litigation affecting legal entities of public law. These risks make the procedure complex, lengthy and costly for corporations and financial institutions. The procedure thus depicted is also inapplicable to craftsmen, traders and micro business that often carry small debts, the consolidation of which, on the scale of the seventeen States of OHADA, can reach billions. These difficulties lead to question oneself how the other States and regional organizations solved the problems now facing the OHADA States. The study explores, for this purpose, the law of some European Parliament and Council’s regulations on the fight against defaults also constitutes a field of investigation because these instruments address the problems that escaped OHADA’s legislator, particularly those relating to the need for diversion, simplifications of procedure and to the free movement of enforceable titles within OHADA. This prospective analysis, coupled with lessons learned from practice, allows to highlight the “Best Practices” and the reforms needed to make of the simplified recovery procedure an effective instrument to fight against delays and defaults to pay in the States OHADA.