Long-term and sustainable workforce planning in the Armed Forces requires a continuous recruitment at all levels, including officers. This comparative study of motivational factors intends to explore similarities and differences between Swedish and Norwegian cadets when they make their decision to seek further commitment as an officer in their own Armed Forces. The aim of this study is to create an awareness of these factors in order to assist the Swedish Armed Forces to improve the enlistment to officer training. The method used is an inductive textual analysis of Swedish and Norwegian studies conducted between 2007 and 2012. The analysis relates to the collected data, and Fabrizio Battistellis motivation categories are used in the analysis in order to structure motivational factors of the applicants. In this, the sub-questions about the motivational factors are linked to Battistellis typology and are addressed and answered. The study then carries out a comparative analysis of the outcome of the previously inductive approach. The purpose of this is to clarify any similarities and/or differences between the two countries. The study shows that there are some differences in motivational factors that influence Norwegian and Swedish candidates applying to the officer training, but also similarities. All three motivation categories, paleomodern – modern - postmodern, were represented at the two countries' candidates, but also some gender-related differences were found in both countries.

The purpose of the study was to analyse and compare the current Swedish socialist government, which have declared themselves as the first feminist government, with the previous non- socialist government. This is to see if, and if so how, the current government’s policies regarding gender differ from the former government’s policies. This paper has analysed both governments using different feminist theoretical approaches to see which of the perspectives characterize the government’s policies regarding gender, and if there has been a shift towards any of the perspectives. The three feminist theoretical perspectives used were liberal feminism, socialist feminism and postmodern feminism. The method used was an idea analysis, and ideal types of the three theoretical feminist perspectives as the analytical instrument. The material contains public texts released by the governments. The result of the study showed that the government’s policies regarding gender are highly similar and that their policies can be related mainly to the liberal- and socialist feminist perspectives. The result also showed that there has not been a shift towards any of the perspectives since the current government was elected, although only the current government could be related, to a small extent, to postmodern feminism.

In an age where there seems to be a loss of confidence on the transforming power of gospel preaching this study addresses the following hypothesis: “The transforming power of gospel preaching to an audience influenced by post modernism”. The following methodology was used in this study: -- A Literature study -- Practical-theological method A Theological Model for Preaching God has spoken, it is written and preach the word are identified as three essential theological foundations for preaching. Expository preaching is explored as a model that understands the seriousness of the task of accurately and relevantly proclaiming the revealed Word of God. Expository preaching is not a matter of style at all. In fact, the determinative step that decides whether a sermon is going to be expository or not takes place before a single word has been actually written or spoken. First and foremost, the adjective ‘expository’ describes the method by which the preacher decides what to say, not how to say it. The key principles of expository preaching are then discussed. The Postmodern Audience People from all walks of life are exposed, at least to some extent, to the trends and influences of their particular day. Those present in Church services week by week are not exempt from these new ideas, trends and pressures. The intention here is to understand the person influenced by postmodernity. Ten distinct features of postmodernism are explored to understand the impact that they may have on a postmodern influenced congregation. In addition to the distinctive features of postmodernism some of the common features of people from all cultures is explored. Engaging the Postmodern Audience Preaching the gospel may involve confrontation but there are ways to confront and effectively challenge both postmodern beliefs and biblical unbelief. Methods of effective engagement like building relationships, tuning into the secular world and a more apologetic approach are discussed. In addition to this, various practices of effective communicators like a dialogical approach, inductive preaching, storytelling, the use of media and humour are explored. The study recognizes the essential work of the Holy Spirit and an unavoidable focus of Jesus Christ in preaching. An Adjusted Theory for Praxis The thesis tested the transforming power of gospel preaching to an audience influenced by post modernism and confirmed the usefulness of preaching. In the light of the literature study and empirical research conducted at the Central Baptist Church Pretoria, some adjustments in preaching praxis and ministry needs to be prioritised: One, Make more use of the inductive rather than deductive approach in preaching, particularly in the area of evangelism but not exclusively, thereby consciously developing clearer dialogue with the listeners participating in the process reaching conclusions together. Two, In as much as there must be concentrated effort and hard work in the area of methodology and technique the preacher must perpetually cultivate a greater dependence on God the Holy Spirit who ultimately is the Sacred Communicator. / Dissertation (MA (Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

No abstract available / Dissertation (MA(Fine Arts))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Visual Arts / unrestricted

Dr P.W. Marais was an influential preacher in the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (Dutch Reformed Church) in his ministerial career during 3 April 1954 until 5 May 1995. He was an evangelistic par excellence with may people who became converted Christians as a result of his preaching. He worked with a preaching theory of observation, information, progress in thought, self-expression or the heuristic method which he attained from the greatest teacher of all times, Jesus Christ. The pedagogue, H.J.J. Bingle, had a great influence in the development of this theory. The research question is: How does Marais’ theory of preaching agree with his preaching practice? The study shows that there seems to be a large agreement between the two. Another question is: What effect should Marais’ preaching have in the contemporary context which differs by far from the context in which he preached. Will he today be able to reach the postmodern person with his preaching approach? In two instances it would have been a problem for Marais to reach the postmodern listener in this context. On account of the lack of Scripture knowledge of the postmodern listener Marais’ use of texts would not be effective. A proper exegesis would have to be done for the postmodern listener. In other words the context of the text and the context of the listener would have to be brought together. Marais’ theory is lacking in knowledge to implement this. Due to his passion for the Scriptures, his sincerety and his logical reasoning, he could have contributed immensely to the modern preaching. / Dissertation (MA (Reasearch in Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Practical Theology / MA / unrestricted

This study investigates influences on the sustainability of a computers-in-schools project during the implementation phase thereof. The CALIS Project (1992-1996) is the unit of analysis. A qualitative case study research design is used to elicit data, in the form of participant narratives, from people who were involved in the regional management of the Project, as well as teachers who implemented the Project in their classrooms. These narratives are then analysed from a post-modern perspective (Kvale, 1996). The analysis reveals personal, programmatic, physical and systemic influences on the Project. These influences can be identified on all structural levels of the education system (Mooij and Smeets, 2001). Furthermore, metaphoric patterning across narratives is analysed in terms of implicatures, postulated by Relevance Theory (Sperber and Wilson, 1995). Analysis of the data provides evidence in support of Fullan’s (2005) definition of sustainability as a quality of dynamic, complex systems. Personal, programmatic, physical and systemic influences on the Project are found to be interrelated on, and across, structural levels of the system. In addition, influences are dynamically related to the changing Project in particular host environments (Cavallo, 2004). The resulting ecological or viral growth is characteristic of complex systems, where further development is indeterminate. / Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

The focus of this dissertation is to explore contextually relevant ideas through conversation around behaviour problems, specifically bullying, experienced in primary schools situated in the township of Mamelodi. The study explores the relationship around bullying between the members of the school staff involved with the children, the children identified as manifesting bullying behaviour, their families and any relevant community system or individuals as identified by the research participants themselves through conversation. It focuses on providing a description of experiences around bullying behaviour facing the participants by exploring their own perspectives and meanings around their situation and any possible solutions that they may offer. The focus is of an exploratory and descriptive nature to provide a basis for an intervention that is contextually relevant to this community by acknowledging these locally constructed discourses. An ecological approach within a postmodern social constructionist theoretical backdrop is chosen for this study. It is an approach that emphasises the importance of context and the social constructionist influence emphasises the importance of language. Three primary schools in the Mamelodi Township were approached to participate. One ecological case study from one of the three schools is used in the analysis to explore the aims of this research. Data was gathered through semi-structured open-ended interviews. Discourse analysis is used to construct the various discourses emerging from the conversations resulting from the interviews. Through the discourse analysis the various meanings, experience or understanding around bullying are constructed. The interaction of these various discourses and influence that they have on each other are also considered. The possible influence of background discourses of the wider community and society are included. These discourses are presented not as truths but as a plausible a construction of an ecology of bullying grounded in background and events. Using theses discourses some of the possible implications for a contextually and locally relevant intervention programme and further ideas for research are suggested. As the study focuses on contextual relevance, arguments around indigenous psychology, cross cultural research and the role of interpreters are also considered. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Psychology / unrestricted

The researcher aimed to explore the construction of menopause through and by available discourses within South Africa. A postmodern paradigm and social constructionist framework informed the choice of discourse analysis as methodology. South African newspapers containing texts related to menopause were utilised. English articles that are available on a publically accessible library database were selected. The basic guideline for selection of 37 texts was the keyword menopause. The researcher identified and explored eight dominant discourses and two supplementary discourses. The researcher concluded that discourses are interconnected and that each discourse is strengthened or resisted by multiple complementary and conflicting discourses forming a network through which society understands and experiences their reality. Copyright / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Psychology / unrestricted

The purpose of this dissertation was to analyze the narrative works of Alejo Carpentier and Abel Posse within the context of the new Latin American historical novel that revises the Old World-New World Encounter. Focusing on El arpa y la sombra and Los perros del paraíso, the dissertation studied the particular manner in which Latin American novelists, and particularly Alejo Carpentier and Abel Posse, approach and question traditional historiography. The research also compared different novels to identify various trends within the new historical novel that rewrites the foundational period of Latin American literature. This study considered the theories of the new historical novel as proposed by critics such as Seymour Menton, Fernando de Aínsa, Linda Hutcheon, and Brian MacHale. The new novel was examined within the frameworks of postmodern literary and historiographic theories. The study also contemplated the philosophical views that have influenced postmodern thought, and, especially, the ideas of Nietzsche, Heidegger, Lyotard, Harbermas, and Foucault. Research showed two major trends within the new Latin American historical novel. In the case of the first trend, initiated by Alejo Carpentier in 1949 with El reino de este mundo, the novelist’s approach is founded on historicism and factual rigor. The second trend, initiated by Reinaldo Arenas with El mundo alucinante in 1969, is marked by irreverence, parody, irony, and carnavalization. Characterized by intertextuality, dialogism, and anachronism, novels such as Carpentier´s El arpa y la sombra and Posse´s Los perros del paraíso, undermine the values and beliefs instituted by the traditional historiographic paradigm and the discourse of power.

Cette thèse se propose d'étudier les aspects de la relation entre littérature, illusion et sens dans le corpus d'Alessandro Baricco, comprenant aussi bien son travail d’essayiste que ses œuvres de fiction. Nous convoquons de la sorte ses recueils de Barnum (1995) à Una certa idea di mondo (2013), des essais comme Next ou I barbari (2002 et 2008) et ses romans de Castelli di rabbia (1991) à La Sposa giovane (2015) – qui peuvent être analysés de différentes manières, stylistiquement, thématiquement, de manière détaillée ou partielle selon les besoins de l’argumentation. Compte tenu de l'ampleur du sujet, relevant tout autant de problématiques philosophiques que de questions sémiologiques, l’étude est focalisée sur la dialectique entre illusion de (la) réalité et vérité fictionnelle, à travers plusieurs prismes. Nous parcourons ainsi les illusions de la postmodernité en tant que nouvelle ère culturelle et littéraire, les remises en cause de l’illusion référentielle, notamment par le biais de l’aspect figural, soit l’exemplarité des personnages baricchiens. Symptomatiques de la tension entre fiction et réalité, eux-mêmes porteurs de thématiques dialoguant avec l’illusion, telles que le désir, le rêve, l’idée de destin, ils nous permettront d’ouvrir la réflexion sur les influences, la résistance, voire la subversion d’une voix narrative qui répond au réel, le conteste ou le diffracte jusqu’à l’émergence d’une autre signifiance. / This thesis intends to study the aspects of the relationship between literature, illusion and meaning in Alessandro Baricco’s corpus, including both essays and novels. We take interest in his collections, from Barnum (1995) to Una certa idea di mondo (2013), as well as his essays such Next or I barbari (2002 and 2008) and his novels from Castelli di rabbia (1991) to La Sposa giovane (2015) – which can be analyzed in various manners, stylistically, thematically, in detail or partially according to the argumentation’s needs. Given the extent of the subject, raising as many philosophical problems as semiotic questions, the study is focused on the dialectic between illusion of (the) reality and fictional truth, through several prisms. We traverse this way the illusions of postmodernity, as a new cultural and literary era, the reassessment of the referential illusion, especially through the figural aspect, that is the exemplary nature of baricchiens characters. Symptomatic of the tension between fiction and reality, they carry themselves themes relating to the illusion, such as desire, dream, the idea of fate. They will enable us to open reflection on the influence, resistance, even the subversion of a narrative voice that responds to reality, contests it or diffracts it until the emergence of another significance.