The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between state and civil society. The last decades there has been major changes across state, market and civil society. During these changes, civil society has become an important part of the welfare service. In this study an idea-driven public partnership (IOP) in Malmö is examine. My theoretical starting point is Gramsci’s concept of hegemony, integral state, consent-coercion and Jonathan Davies concept of creeping managerialism. Using interviews and document studies I am able to deepen the understanding of state-civil society relationships. The result of the analysis shows that the case study is an example of when civil society is compliant to the hegemonic order. This can be understood on the basis that civil society is also part of the hegemonic order. The strong actors in civil society, together with the state and capital, are all part of the historical bloc that governs society. Lastly, the study indicates managerialism in the partnership.

EU’s international role as a normative power can be questioned as the current foreign policy of the Eastern Partnership implies a limit to the union’s ability to democratize. An alignment with EU norms is often seen through a dichotomy of compliance or non-compliance, overlooking other forms of resistance stemming from a nexus of international compliance pressure, and defiance pressure from hybrid regime structures. This applies to Georgia, a pro-EU country in the Eastern Partnership, committed to EU norms while maintaining a skewed playing field in favor of incumbents. Through the application of a theoretical framework developed in memory studies, a range of rhetorical adaptation strategies employed by the ruling party regarding electoral reforms delineates a norm navigation. A qualitative content analysis of statements and events relating to the long-contested electoral system during 2015-2019 shows a variation of strategies used, pointing in a direction of increased pressure to align with prescribed EU norms. Whether EU or domestic political forces can be credited is difficult to determine, yet the nuances of norm resistance are important to analytically separate from overarching labels, as states’ rhetorical commitments need a critical perspective to better understand the limits to EU’s normative power in the Eastern Partnership.

This case study seeks to understand the scope of governance in addressing HIV/AIDS issues in Ethiopia by making use of HIV/AIDS partnership forums that exist in the country. All individuals representing the government sector, the NGO sector, the for profit sector and HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO) both at the national level and in the three regions namely Oromia Region, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) and Addis Ababa have been interviewed. Additional data were gathered using a PARTNER tool survey and also relevant documents have been analyzed. The social capital and governance theories create a framework where actors enjoy partnerships and use the benefits in both policy making and implementation. With the help of a problem tree and thematic analysis the study describes the causal effect relationship of the factors affecting partnerships and their ultimate consequence in maximizing social capital and governance. Accordingly, the thesis identifies the specific effects of the 2009 law on partnership endeavors in particular and HIV/AIDS policy implementation in general. Moreover, the study points out the existence of insufficient partnership in both decision making and policy implementation.

Education in South Africa is a key concern because the South African education system is underperforming compared to many other developing countries despite the large capital investment made by the South African government and its private sector. South African children are routinely underachieving and rate not only among the worst in the world, but often among the worst in the Southern African region and in Africa as a whole. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore whether Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is a suitable model for improving the quality of education in South African rural communities.The objective of the study was answered in a two-phase approach. The first phase developed an understanding of the challenges that prevents the delivery of quality education in South African rural communities with experts in education. The second phase determined the suitability of PPP to improve the quality of education in South African rural communities and the critical success factors for implementing PPP in education from interviews with PPP practitioners.The findings of the study revealed that PPP is a suitable model to improve the quality of education in South African communities and a PPP framework was proposed by the researcher that indicates the benefits of implementing PPP, the critical success factors of PPP and the barriers of PPP in education. The study also highlighted conditions that must be met to achieve quality education in South African rural communities through PPPs.The research concludes by making recommendations to both the government and the public sector in light of the findings of this research. Limitations for the study were highlighted and other variables to be researched that are important to further understanding of PPP as a model to improve the quality of education in South African rural communities were suggested. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Strengthening health care systems in government meant cost containment and improved equity. Escalating costs and poorly constructed strategies are weakening the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery in health care. This has a negative impact on value creation and internal processes as critical elements such as human capital, information and organisational capital are not aligned with strategies and roll-out plans for HIV/Aids interventions. This research study therefore questioned the extent to which these strategies have impacted on the roll-out plans for HIV/Aids interventions, and investigated if the utilisation of public-private partnerships (PPP) resulted in applying fiscal reponsible mechanisms in health care reforms (effectively, efficiently, economically and equitably (4Es)). Trends in the new public management (NPM) movement inspired a shift towards business-like reforms and saw PPP as a mechanism that improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery as it offered the promise to strengthen the capacity of government policy. The study aimed to put forward value-creating strategies and develop a best practice model that strengthened government’s policy capacity by providing efficient, effective, economical and quitable service in health care and thereby improving strategies that impact on the roll-out plans for HIV/Aids. This comparative study comprised four international case studies (developed and developing countries) which presented benchmarks against which the performance of the national case study was measured. A better understanding of the influence which different ideologies had on the architecture of international and global governance structures was gained as it highlighted and compared the key issues that influenced strategies for HIV/Aids intervention between the developed and developing countries. Results of the study indicated that there are conflicting views between government departments in how to achieve value-for-money outcomes and their application of risk allocation. The conflicting views widened the gap between public and private governance structures and relations. The focus of the PPP definition as applied in the national context of health care is not percieved as being health-specific or effective as it excludes some forms of interactions occurring in the health sector. PPP goals emphasised efficiency, affordability and value-for-money approaches, while health care goals emphasised the interest of the “patient” and public health. / Thesis (PhD (Public Affairs))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA) / unrestricted

The lack of positive communication between parents and educators in the Texas district under study is a problem because it interferes with learners' academic success. The purpose of this mixed method study was to understand the communication gap between educators and parents in Title I elementary schools in that district. Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems and Epstein's parental involvement model formed the theoretical framework to address the importance of communication between educators and parents as related to student academic achievement. The quantitative portion of the study was carried out through descriptive survey research. The case study method was used for the qualitative portion of the study with data gathered from interviews. The data represented responses from the parent (n = 42) and educator (n = 119) surveys, interviews (n = 10), and a focus group (n = 8) to uncover both educators' and parents' perceptions of communication in the learning environment. Results revealed constructive concerns associated with lack of accessibility, education trust, parent educational background knowledge, collaborative partnerships, continuous communication, and guides to blueprints of learning expectations. The findings indicated the need for an intervention involving a 4-session parent-educator training program designed to implement positive partnerships and to eliminate and bridge the existing communication gap. This project study could promote social change in Title I schools because it conveys an improved understanding of communication gaps within the learning environment. Specifically, this study provides a plan to help parents and educators engage in positive communication to support students' academic success.

The violence of the Niger Delta host communities against the international oil companies (IOCs) is rampant and dogged. The extent of violence that occurs is harmful to communities, individuals, and oil companies that provide a certain degree of economic stability to the region. The Nigerian government faces a major challenge of resolving community violence in Nigeria. This case study used social exchange theory to better understand the causes and consequences of the lack of community trust against the oil companies that is pervasive in the region. Purposeful sampling was used in the selection of 10 community members, 8 representatives of the oil industry, and 3 government officials. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and documents provided by participants. These were inductively coded and then analyzed using a constant comparative technique. Findings revealed that participants perceived a lack of adequate collaboration among stakeholders and the application of inadequate management strategies of the IOCs and government having an impact on the degree and frequency of community violence. The implications stemming from this study include recommendations to the Nigerian government and IOCs to precede policy formulation with thorough consultation, engagement, and negotiation with the stakeholders for their acceptance before implementation of policy. This collaborative action may encourage corporate engagement and management that is positively viewed by the communities in the Niger Delta.

Local public agencies turn to public-private partnerships (PPPs) to allow greater participation by private firms in delivering public services. In the last 25 years, private organizations had been reluctant to form PPPs with local government agencies because of the complex procurement processes and the bureaucratic business environment. Guided by the decision theory and complex adaptive systems theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to identify what information leaders within third-party administrators (TPAs) need regarding the contracting process in the formation of PPPs. The data collection process consisted of face-to-face interviews with 4 executive leaders of 3 Wisconsin state licensed TPAs and examination of contracts and plan service agreements (PSAs) between TPAs and local government agencies. Dada was analyzed using the Yin 5-step data analysis method and cross-case analysis. The results indicated that TPA leaders must understand collaborative leadership, key players, roles and responsibilities, and specialized services in the formation of a PPP; change and transfer of controlling interest, and understanding the strengths and weakness of contract provisions are complex business systems that influence the decision to form a PPP; ERISA and compliance with applicable federal and state laws are critical contract stipulations to consider in the formation of PPPs; that market assessment, health care reform, and transparency between private and public partners are critical in the formation of PPPs. The implications for social change include new insights for PPP leaders that may enhance the effectiveness of social services and save taxpayers' money.

The impact of public private partnership (PPP) on Dallas, Texas economic development activities is debated through many forms of academic studies. The purpose of this study was to bridge the research gap in PPP impact on sustainable economic development from the perspectives of PPP practitioners. The central research question focused on the PPP executives' perspective on the evaluation of PPP programs within a 5-year period (2005 - 2010) in Dallas, Texas. The theoretical framework of this study was based on the policy feedback theory. A qualitative case study design was the case study approach and purposeful sampling interviews were the data collection tool; 7 participants agreed to participate in the study and provided data and information through participating in the interview. The participants were representative of the total population with 2 participants from the public sector, 2 participants from the for-profit private sector, 2 participants from nonprofit community development organizations, and 1 member from city council. A comparison to secondary data was performed to ensure reliability and protect against bias. Research findings provided indicators to PPP's successful design, lessons learned, and PPP executives' and policy makers' evaluation standards as well as suggestions for improvement. The social impact of this study on governance and a clearer understanding of PPP provides insights on the best use of public resources attempting to increase government performance efficiency.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第20350号 / 工博第4287号 / 新制||工||1664(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市社会工学専攻 / (主査)教授 小林 潔司, 教授 大津 宏康, 准教授 松島 格也 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM