This thesis presents an analysis of the public sphere in the environment of two different media types. The analysis is performed on the basis of the extent of different participants in the media contents which were related to the declaration of the ban on selling alcohol spirits in the Czech Republic in September 2012. The theoretical part of the paper is focused primarily on the definition of the basic concepts, such as new and traditional media, the public and the public sphere, then also on normative theories in general, along with a more detailed view on the normative theory of the public sphere, within which the paper is focused on participatory and discursive model of Jürgen Habermas. The second part of the paper provides on the basis of quantitative research, which was preceded by qualitative analysis, an empirical comparison of the extent of different participants and their access to the content of both media types. It also provides an overview of applied topics and contextual frameworks through which was a declaration of the ban on selling alcohol spirits in the media reported. In the conclusion, there is a statement which is based on the evaluation of the collected data. It was concluded, that the public sphere in the internet environment is not, considering the extent of participation of...

The present research study is a deconstructive collaborative project situated within a postmodern paradigm. The research is premised on a notion that disability has been constructed by societies to reflect their values and norms. Despite various ancient and contemporary worldviews stabilising this normative paradigm, disability has remained a shifting and fleeting concept. For the most part, it has cast the disabled identity in more negative and alienating ways than positive. The Christian cultural context of Lesotho within which the study is situated has not done any better in terms of portraying people with disabilities. Instead, it has inherited the legacy of the ancient Mediterranean world and further re-read it in the light of the demands of contemporary society on the disabled identity. For instance, people with disabilities are still constructed as „sinners‟, „monsters‟, „add-ons‟, and pathological burdens who cannot by themselves survive the challenges of the contemporary world. Using the ideas of Foucault and Derrida, the study examines ways in which such a notion of disability is not only linguistically unstable but also founded on the binary opposites. The participatory nature of the study brings the important voices of people with disabilities to further destabilise the notion of disability and to deconstruct the dominant disability story. The immersion of this study within the participatory ethics and consciousness of Kotzé and Heshusius respectively, has led to an ambitious proposing of the participatory model of disability. The latter has leanings towards metaphors of the church as communion founded on and nurtured by the theologies of embrace, interdependence, healing and botho. It also resonates with the metaphor of the church as expounded in I Corinthians 12. As members of the body of Christ, no member can suffer without the rest of the body feeling the same. If one member of the body is disabled all the body is disabled. Alienating and marginalising others has no place in such a metaphor of church as communion, since by its own definition, all belong to and participate within it. / Practical Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

The present research study is a deconstructive collaborative project situated within a postmodern paradigm. The research is premised on a notion that disability has been constructed by societies to reflect their values and norms. Despite various ancient and contemporary worldviews stabilising this normative paradigm, disability has remained a shifting and fleeting concept. For the most part, it has cast the disabled identity in more negative and alienating ways than positive. The Christian cultural context of Lesotho within which the study is situated has not done any better in terms of portraying people with disabilities. Instead, it has inherited the legacy of the ancient Mediterranean world and further re-read it in the light of the demands of contemporary society on the disabled identity. For instance, people with disabilities are still constructed as „sinners‟, „monsters‟, „add-ons‟, and pathological burdens who cannot by themselves survive the challenges of the contemporary world. Using the ideas of Foucault and Derrida, the study examines ways in which such a notion of disability is not only linguistically unstable but also founded on the binary opposites. The participatory nature of the study brings the important voices of people with disabilities to further destabilise the notion of disability and to deconstruct the dominant disability story. The immersion of this study within the participatory ethics and consciousness of Kotzé and Heshusius respectively, has led to an ambitious proposing of the participatory model of disability. The latter has leanings towards metaphors of the church as communion founded on and nurtured by the theologies of embrace, interdependence, healing and botho. It also resonates with the metaphor of the church as expounded in I Corinthians 12. As members of the body of Christ, no member can suffer without the rest of the body feeling the same. If one member of the body is disabled all the body is disabled. Alienating and marginalising others has no place in such a metaphor of church as communion, since by its own definition, all belong to and participate within it. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

Les pays de l’UEMOA ont recours depuis quelques années aux Partenariats Public-Privé (PPP) pour faire face à une demande en infrastructures publiques loin d’être satisfaite par le seul budget de l’Etat. Au-delà des difficultés financières, il s’avère difficile de construire des modèles de gouvernance durables et socialement acceptables pour conduire ces processus. Ainsi notre problématique concerne l’indentification des modèles adéquats de gouvernance des PPP dans le contexte des pays de l’UEMOA. Le cadre théorique mobilisé à cet effet s’inspire de la théorie des coûts de transaction, de la théorie de l’agence, du nouveau management public et des contributions récentes à l’analyse des modèles de gouvernance de PPP. Ainsi, une grille d’analyse des données empiriques composée de quatre macro-dimensions (exogène, organisationnelle, projet et qualité du service) est déduite. Dans une posture du constructiviste pragmatique, une méthodologie qualitative basée sur deux études de cas a été privilégiée. La collecte des données, effectuée en deux phases séparées d’un an, a permis l’analyse de régularités. 42 entretiens semi-directifs, auprès des acteurs impliqués dans deux processus PPP, ont été réalisés. Il s’agit du Programme de Vérification des Importations- Nouvelle Génération (PVI-NG) au Bénin et du pont Henri Konan Bédié d’Abidjan en Côte D’Ivoire. Le traitement et l’analyse des données sont effectués à l’aide du logiciel N’vivo. Certes, l’analyse des résultats a permis d’identifier trois modèles (coercitif, normatif/mimétique et participatif) de gouvernance de PPP ; mais dans la pratique, c’est à une combinaison, des trois modèles, dosée selon le PPP qu’on assiste. Un système propositionnel de 28 principes relatifs aux trois modèles est déduit pour améliorer le management des processus PPP. / Recently, WAEMU countries have been using PPPs to meet the demand for public infrastructure which is far from being met by the state budget alone. Added to financial difficulties, difficulties in building sustainable and socially acceptable governance models for these public projects are faced. Thus, our problem concerns the identification of adequate models of PPP governance in WAEMU context. The theoretical framework mobilized for this purpose is based on the theory of transaction costs, agency theory, new public management and recent contributions to the analysis of PPP governance models. Thus, an empirical data analysis grid composed of four macro-dimensions (exogenous, organizational, project and quality of service) is deduced. In a pragmatic constructivist posture, a qualitative methodology based on two case studies was favored. The data collection, carried out in two separate phases of one year, allowed the analysis of patterns. 42 semi-directive interviews were conducted with stakeholders involved in two PPP processes. These are the New Generation-Import Verification Program (PVI-NG) in Benin and the Henri Konan Bédié Bridge in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Data processing and analysis is carried out using the N'vivo software. The results highlight three PPP governance models: coercive, normative / mimetic and participatory; but in practice, it is a combination of the three models, assayed according to the PPP. A propositional system of 28 principles relating to the three models is deduced to improve the PPP processes management.

This study is non-empirical and its design is based on three forms of analysis: conceptualisation, theoretical justification and strategic considerations for a participatory model in the water services sector in South Africa. In terms of the conceptualisation, the study addresses the old and new paradigms of sustainable development. First, it argues that for many years the concept of sustainable development has long dominated the development discourse. Second, the theoretical justification traces the evolution and meanings of sustainable development and also patterns and trends of the legacies of colonialism and apartheid. The descriptive analysis of apartheid and colonialism suggests a new development path for inclusive people-centred development. The study therefore postulates that in the South African context, sustainable development is both a political and a historical construct. This is the basis within which sustainable development should be understood. Third, the study concludes that context plays an important part in understanding and challenging the immoral and unjust practices of colonialism and apartheid which have militated against sustainable human development. The study further provides a description of the local government and water sectors and their underpinned legislative and policy framework, and notes impressive results in the delivery of basic water supply since 1994. However, the study argues that in order for municipalities to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities as water services authorities, they need to adopt a participatory model towards sustainable development since this is currently lacking. In doing so, the water services sector needs to overcome dangers of parochialism which were more evident from the supply-driven policy of the government. The study therefore draws lessons from three Latin American countries: Chile, Bolivia and Nicaragua, and proposes a new developmental path which conforms to the principles of sustainability. This development path is represented in the form of a dynamic, diagrammatic model for participatory sustainable development. This model displays successive stages and cycles of transaction between stakeholders. The model represents a decision support system which provides a conceptual framework for the diagnosis, consolidation and analysis of information. The model is thus a useful tool which can be applied in the public sector during project or programme implementation. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

This study is non-empirical and its design is based on three forms of analysis: conceptualisation, theoretical justification and strategic considerations for a participatory model in the water services sector in South Africa. In terms of the conceptualisation, the study addresses the old and new paradigms of sustainable development. First, it argues that for many years the concept of sustainable development has long dominated the development discourse. Second, the theoretical justification traces the evolution and meanings of sustainable development and also patterns and trends of the legacies of colonialism and apartheid. The descriptive analysis of apartheid and colonialism suggests a new development path for inclusive people-centred development. The study therefore postulates that in the South African context, sustainable development is both a political and a historical construct. This is the basis within which sustainable development should be understood. Third, the study concludes that context plays an important part in understanding and challenging the immoral and unjust practices of colonialism and apartheid which have militated against sustainable human development. The study further provides a description of the local government and water sectors and their underpinned legislative and policy framework, and notes impressive results in the delivery of basic water supply since 1994. However, the study argues that in order for municipalities to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities as water services authorities, they need to adopt a participatory model towards sustainable development since this is currently lacking. In doing so, the water services sector needs to overcome dangers of parochialism which were more evident from the supply-driven policy of the government. The study therefore draws lessons from three Latin American countries: Chile, Bolivia and Nicaragua, and proposes a new developmental path which conforms to the principles of sustainability. This development path is represented in the form of a dynamic, diagrammatic model for participatory sustainable development. This model displays successive stages and cycles of transaction between stakeholders. The model represents a decision support system which provides a conceptual framework for the diagnosis, consolidation and analysis of information. The model is thus a useful tool which can be applied in the public sector during project or programme implementation. / Development Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)