This dissertation deals with court-executive relations in post-authoritarian Argentina (1983-2006). Specifically, I analyse Supreme Court behaviour in highly sensitive cases to determine whether the tribunal has cooperated with or obstructed the government’s policy preferences in three key policy areas: human rights, economic emergency and pensions. This innovative type of approach – i.e., focusing on a small number of highly sensitive decisions – allows me to concentrate on cases that are genuinely important for the government or, more precisely, for the country’s political administration. There are cases that are significant for the State apparatus but irrelevant for the president (thinking of politicians as self-interested actors). My research uses a rational choice approach to courts, underscoring the strategic nature of judicial behaviour. This vision of judges provides a more accurate account of judicial-executive relations by bringing politics into the study of courts. By focusing exclusively on attitudes and apolitical jurisprudence, other visions take for granted the institutional context. Political stability, for example, cannot be assumed in many developing democracies. My findings indicate that the Argentine Supreme Court has consistently avoided obstructing the president’s policy preferences. Such behaviour is motivated by strategic considerations: judges are risk-averse actors that avoid clashing with the executive. For most of the time, the Supreme Court has operated under unified government, which increases the chances of being punished for anti-government decisions. Two other factors also account for the court’s risk-averse behaviour. First, procedural rules grant the Supreme Court wide discretion over its docket. The tribunal has used such discretion to strategically select the timing of its decisions. Second, recurrent democratic breakdowns have repeatedly led to attacks against the court, such as impeachment, irregular dismissals, and/or enlargements. Third, politicians exert broad control of judicial promotions, allowing them to block the careers of independent, courageous judges that act as a check on political power.

High performance organizations desire to provide services in an effective and efficient manner with positive outcomes; therefore measures of performance and cost can be utilized to gauge such success. Through comparative research and analysis of local governments that have and do not have collective bargaining for law enforcement, findings and results can determine if there is any correlation between employee workforce classification (in collective or non-collective bargaining workplaces), high performance traits, costs and high performance return on costs (HPRC) for law enforcement. A HPRC composite measure was developed and utilized to compare and contrast all of the local governments to determine relationships between performance and costs. Based upon the research, the following findings were discovered for the null hypothesis which compared two forms of collective bargaining - arbitration and mediation - separately to non-collective bargaining localities: 1) Correlation between workforce classification and high performance attributes – mediation (negative – perform at a lower performance level); 2) Correlation between workforce classification and law enforcement costs - arbitration (negative – costs are at a lower level); and 3) No correlation between workforce classification and HPRC. In the preceding three areas, only the model on high performance attributes had a high r square and low variance with adjusted r square; both indicators of a parsimonious model. While correlations arose, further research in this area is warranted in developing a more enhanced and publicly accepted comparable metric of performance, costs and HPRC for law enforcement. In addition, certain control variables illustrated a correlation with the dependent variables as follows: 1) Performance - High median household incomes, density, age, survey quality of life, and city; 2) Law Enforcement Costs per Capita - Non-right-to-work state and county; and 3) HPRC - Median household income and county. A rational choice theory was utilized as the lens of framework in assessing an employee’s motivational behavior in a collective and non-collective bargaining work environment that could contribute to differentials in performance.

The dissertation discusses topics in environmental criminology, which is concerned with crime in relation to the environment where it occurs. The environmental approach is based upon a premise that occurrence of crime in space is neither random nor uniform. On the contrary, various types and forms of criminal activity tend to concentrate in certain places during certain times. Environmental characteristics play an important role in behaviour of individuals, hence it is possible to analyse them as one of the most important determinants of criminal behaviour. The aim of the thesis is to comprehensively introduce to the Czech and Slovak legal and criminological scholarship historical background, development and the main contemporary theoretical approaches in environmental criminology, as well as their implications and utilization in crime analysis and crime prevention. The theoretical part discusses in detail rational choice perspective, routine activity approach and crime pattern theory as an environmental meta-theory. The analytical part introduces the basics of the methods of crime mapping and geographical profiling. It also demonstrates how statistical and mapping techniques can be utilized in practice, using a set of police data concerning thefts from motor vehicles in Prague during the first...

La microéconomie conventionnelle présente le concept de rationalité de manière univoque et étroite comme maximisation de l'utilité espérée. On sait les critiques qui ont été adressées à ce concept tant du point de vue de l'économie comportementale que de celui de la sociologie. Notre objectif est de proposer une lecture de certaines de ces critiques afin de montrer que, pour l'essentiel, elles mettent en évidence la diversité des modes de rationalité. Le problème est, dès lors, de savoir si le constat de cette diversité conduit nécessairement à la récusation du modèle standard. Cette thèse s'inscrit dans la double perspective de la théorie du choix rationnel et de la théorie des jeux. À partir des critiques de l'économie comportementale, nous soutenons que le principe de maximisation constitue un mode de raisonnement local et évaluable au regard du contexte d'action. Mais une telle régionalisation implique une profonde révision de la théorie des jeux standard. La récusation de l'équilibre général, fondé sur le présupposé de la maximisation de l'utilité espérée, comme modèle univoque appelle un nouveau type de formalisation. En ce sens, nous montrons que la modélisation multi-agents permet de penser, de manière contrefactuelle, des interactions entre agents économiques rationnels et situés. Cette méthode nous autorise ainsi à élaborer des scénarios rationalisants qui dessinent des mondes possibles sans trancher entre ces mondes. / Standard microeconomics displays the concept of rationality as the maximisation of expected utility i.e. in a narrow and unequivocal sense. The criticisms against this concept made by behavioural economics or sociology are well known. I aim at providing an analysis of some of them in order to emphasise the fact that they mainly highlight the diversity of reasoning modes. But the issue is to know whether the diversity of reasoning modes necessarily leads to reject the standard model. My intention falls into two fields : the theory of Rational Choice and the Game Theory. From the point of view of behavioural economics, I assume that the maximisation is nothing more than a local reasoning mode that can be assessed in relation to the context of action. But this assumption implies correcting the standard Game Theory as well. The fact that the general equilibrium, based on the maximisation of expected utility, cannot be used anymore as an unique model calls a new kind of formalisation. So, I point out that agent-based modelling allows us to conceive, in a counterfactual way, interactions between rational economic agents in their context. Therefore, in this respect, rational patterns of actions and interactions design possible worlds without having to choose between them.

<div>This thesis combines human and machine intelligence for consensus decision-making, and it contains four interrelated research areas. Before presenting the four research areas, this thesis presents a literature review on decision-making using two criteria: trust and risk. The analysis involves studying the individual and the multi-stakeholder decision-making. Also, it explores the relationship between trust and risk to provide insight on how to apply them when making any decision. This thesis presents a grouping procedure of the existing trust-based multi-stakeholder decision-making schemes by considering the group decision-making process and models. In the first research area, this thesis presents the foundation of building multi-stakeholder consensus decision-making (MSCDM). This thesis describes trust-based multi-stakeholder decision-making for water allocation to help the participants select a solution that comes from the best model. Several criteria are involved when deciding on a solution such as trust, damage, and benefit. This thesis considers Jain's fairness index as an indicator of reaching balance or equality for the stakeholder's needs. The preferred scenario is when having a high trust, low damages and high benefits. The worst scenario involves having low trust, high damage, and low benefit. The model is dynamic by adapting to the changes over time. The decision to select is the solution that is fair for almost everyone. In the second research area, this thesis presents a MSCDM, which is a generic framework that coordinates the decision-making rounds among stakeholders based on their influence toward each other, as represented by the trust relationship among them. This thesis describes the MSCDM framework that helps to find a decision the stakeholders can agree upon. Reaching a consensus decision might require several rounds where stakeholders negotiate by rating each other. This thesis presents the results of implementing MSCDM and evaluates the effect of trust on the consensus achievement and the reduction in the number of rounds needed to reach the final decision. This thesis presents Rating Convergence in the implemented MSCDM framework, and such convergence is a result of changes in the stakeholders' rating behavior in each round. This thesis evaluates the effect of trust on the rating changes by measuring the distance of the choices made by the stakeholders. Trust is useful in decreasing the distances. In the third research area, this thesis presents Rating Convergence in the implemented MSCDM framework, and such convergence is a result of changes in stakeholders' rating behavior in each round. This thesis evaluates the effect of trust on the rating changes by measuring the perturbation in the rating matrix. Trust is useful in increasing the rating matrix perturbation. Such perturbation helps to decrease the number of rounds. Therefore, trust helps to increase the speed of agreeing upon the same decision through the influence. In the fourth research area, this thesis presents Rating Aggregation operators in the implemented MSCDM framework. This thesis addresses the need for aggregating the stakeholders' ratings while they negotiate on the round of decisions to compute the consensus achievement. This thesis presents four aggregation operators: weighted sum (WS), weighted product (WP), weighted product similarity measure (WPSM), and weighted exponent similarity measure (WESM). This thesis studies the performance of those aggregation operators in terms of consensus achievement and the number of rounds needed. The consensus threshold controls the performance of these operators. The contribution of this thesis lays the foundation for developing a framework for MSCDM that facilitates reaching the consensus decision by accounting for the stakeholders' influences toward one another. Trust represents the influence.</div>

The aim of this study is to analyse the Moderate Party and the Swedish Democrats idea development in the issue of migration in 2010-2018. The inquiry consists of the following two research questions. How has the Moderate Party and the Swedish Democrats positions regarding migration developed in 2010-2018? How can institutional theories explain the Moderate Party and the Swedish Democrats idea development? The study is encompassed by three theoretical perspectives also recognised as rational-choice institutionalism, historical institutionalism and discursive institutionalism. In regard to the methodological approach, the study employs the comparative case study design with the most-similar system and is essentially an idea analytical study. The main results reveal that both the Moderate Party and the Swedish Democrats have adjusted their migration policies but to different degrees. The Swedish Democrats promote similar policies in 2010 as in 2018 with smaller alterations while the Moderate Party has customised larger alterations, distinguishing the party’s migration policy from 2010 and 2018. These policy alterations are primarily explained as a result of rational action, societal discourses and critical junctures.

The use of renewable energy as part of the solution for stabilising global warming has been promoted in industrialised countries for the past three decades. In the last ten years, China, a non-democratic and less-developed state, has implemented non-hydro alternative energy sources through top-down, technology-oriented measures and expanded its renewable energy capacity with unprecedented speed and breadth. This phenomenon seems to contradict to the principle of orthodox environmental governance, in which stakeholder participation is deemed as necessary condition for effective policy outcomes. Given that little research has been conducted on environmental politics in an authoritarian context, I first set out to explore the role of the Chinese state in enabling transformation of the renewable energy sector and to understand the ways in which policy elites seek to introduce developmental state and ecological modernisation strategy in the policy area. Second, by adopting principal-agent theory, I explicate how the governance mechanisms have been deployed and how challenges of the expansion of the sector in the governance system with a large territory have being mitigated. Based upon news reports, policy documents, and interviews with 32 provincial officials, business leaders, academic researchers, and NGO practitioners in two subnational governments, I argue that the renewable energy development in China is governed through a hybrid mode of environmental policy model that uses, upon the existing developmental state regime, ecological modernisation as a policy paradigm, which is partially incorporated in the process. Ultimately, I examine in this thesis the possibility of an alternative form of environmental governance in which renewable energy can be diffused in a less-participatory manner, with more direct controls and target-oriented state intervention measures. This thesis challenges the orthodox assumption that the inclusive mode of governance are the only capable form of environmental governance that reaches desired policy outcomes of renewable energy deployment.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T19:20:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Walter B Juniro.pdf: 1159976 bytes, checksum: 491b2d9a633d9c06bfb751ce4235b805 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-05-11 / When we analyze the contemporaneous Brazilian religious camp we can notice great changes in the religious map of the country. At the same time that there is a tendency of reducing the number of affiliations to traditional religions such as catholic and historical protestant, the evangelical churches are spreading around, specially the neopentecostal . One of the main reasons for this change is the use of the Prosperity Theology by the priests of the neopentecostal churches. In this work we propose to build a study of the Prosperity Theology as a success tool used by Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (IURD) in order to increase the affiliation number. The religious phenomena analyses will be made under a theoretical perspective of Religion Sociology, known as Rational Choice, by Rodney Stark. This theory proposes to apply economical theories and the one of Rational Choice to the religious phenomena, taking into account the existing religious pluralism in Brazil where the presence of a State with freedom of religion guarantees a free market for the companies that offer religious service. In this context, the conditions for a religious exploitation in the country are established and the specialists have to offer a service that meets the customers needs in order to survive the market competition. The analysis takes into account not only the religious demand in the Brazilian religious camp but mainly the offer of religious assets made by IURD specialists / Analisando o campo religioso brasileiro contemporâneo, notam-se grandes transformações no mapa religioso do país, numa tendência de queda de fiéis das religiões tradicionais como a católica e a protestante histórica e a ascensão das igrejas evangélicas, particularmente as neopentecostais. Um dos fatores responsáveis por essa transformação é a adoção da Teologia da Prosperidade praticada pelos pastores das igrejas neopentecostais. Este trabalho propõe construir um estudo da Teologia da Prosperidade, apontando-a como um instrumento de sucesso utilizado pela igreja Universal do Reino de Deus para aumentar o seu quadro de fiéis. A análise do fenômeno religioso vai se dar sob a perspectiva teórica da Sociologia da Religião, conhecida por Teoria da Escolha Racional de Rodney Stark. Essa Teoria propõe a aplicação de teorias econômicas e da escolha racional para os fenômenos religiosos, levando em conta o pluralismo religioso presente no Brasil, onde a presença de um Estado laico garante a livre concorrência entre as firmas que oferecem serviços religiosos. Assim, criam-se condições para a explosão religiosa no país, e os especialistas devem oferecer um serviço que atenda à necessidade daquele que busca esse tipo de oferta, para sobreviverem à concorrência. A análise leva em consideração não apenas a demanda religiosa no campo religioso brasileiro, mas principalmente a oferta de bens religiosos dos especialistas da IURD

新的俄羅斯聯邦成立以來，不論俄美或者是俄歐的經貿關係都遠比俄中的經貿關係來得重要，但是，俄羅斯政府卻一再地透過公開宣示要盡力發展同中國間的經貿關係，並且雙方的領導人、政府高層每年還定期會晤來商討相關的事宜。所以，俄中經貿關係的研究就顯得有其重要性與時代性，尤其是俄羅斯聯邦成立之初，在國外不僅面對西方國家有意的圍堵；國內還面臨了嚴重的經濟挫敗與政治亂局，使得俄羅斯必須選擇其他對她可能有幫助的國家，而這也突顯了俄羅斯在俄中經貿關係的發展中是扮演著主導的地位。因此，本論文旨在探討俄羅斯內外在的環境因素對俄中經貿關係的影響，並且從俄羅斯的觀點來探討她的的決策過程。 　　本論文認為：獨立後的俄羅斯所面臨的國際局勢已非過去兩極化的國際體系，在無法完全得知西方國家對於新的俄羅斯所採取的態度情況下，俄羅斯唯有在維護其國家尊嚴與利益的前提，選擇可以令其經濟復甦的政策。由此原始命題可以演繹下列三個邏輯命題：（一）面對美國主導的北約東擴的潛在性威脅，以及西方國家對於經援俄羅斯的態度總是百般刁難、口惠而實不至，造成俄羅斯聯合與她友好的中國，並調整其決策目標取向。（二）在經濟改革上遭到了重大的打擊，並因為外交上的的挫敗所引起的政治上的鬥爭，使得俄羅斯領導階層意識到必須要改變其原本合作的對象，轉而與有共同利益的中國發展政治與經濟的關係。（三）現實上，西方國家已非完全可以信任的合作夥伴，所以，俄羅斯便傾向於選擇在歷史上與情感上較能與自己合作的中國。 　　上述的三個子命題構成本論文的主要核心論點，第壹章：為緒論，說明研究動機與目的、研究範圍、文獻回顧、研究途徑與架構。第貳章：理性抉擇之檢析，這一章主要為討論理性概念之發展與在「理性抉擇典範」下發展的幾個主要的理論，以及理性抉擇在國際關係上的分析運用。第參章：為國際環境因素的分析，這一章主要為分析俄羅斯在這一段期間所面臨到的國際環境因素對她所造成的影響，包括經濟、政治與戰略等層面的衝擊。第肆章：為國內環境因素的分析，這一章主要為分析俄羅斯在這一段期間所面臨到的國內環境因素對她所造成的影響，包括經濟改革挫敗、政治上府會的鬥爭與俄屬遠東地區開發等因素的互動關係，第伍章：為俄中經貿關係發展的前景，這一章主要為探討前面兩章對於俄中經貿關係發展所造成的影響，並對於俄中經貿關係發展的前景做了一番期許與建議。第陸章結論。 / Even though Russian government always openly declarethat they will develop trade relationship with China, and both of their leaders set a date to discuss thease matters. Since Russian Federation were founded, Russian-U.S. and Russian-E.U.’s trade relationship were been far more important than Russian-Sino trade relation. So, research of Russian-Sino trade relationship has it’s significance and urgency. Especially when Russian Federation were established. Externally the Federation face with western countries’ block, internally, they face serious economical failures and chaotic political situations, which force Russia to search for potential aid. Such situation appear that Russia play the leading role in Russian-Sino trade relation. Therefore, this thesis is purporting the discussion of Russia’s internal and external conditions and it’s influence on Russian-Sino trade relation. Also from Russia’s point of view to discuss their decision-making process. 　　Unlike the past polarization world, this thesis consider that after Russia’s independence, Russia faced a new international situation. And unknown to western countries’ policy, Russia have to preserve their national majesty and interests, to choose relevent policy in order to revive their country. From this original topic, I’ll deduction the following three logically propositions: (1) Due to U.S. led NATO expansion eastward, and western countries’ unfriendly manner to aid Russia. Russia ally with their friendly neighborhood-China. Then, Russia will adjust their decision objective. (2) Russia suffered serious economic downturn during “Shock Therapy”, and political conflict caused by Russia’s diplomatic failures. Russia’s leading class realized that they must change strategic partners. Providing political and economical relationship with China would be a better choose for Russia, as they have common interests. (3) Russia tend to choose China, due to historical and emotional factors, as they can't completely trust western world. 　　These three logically propositions above are core topic of this thesis. In accordance with these three points, the thesis will be discussed in six chapters. Chapter one, introduction, it’ll explain the purpose, scope and approaches of this study. Chapter two, an analysis of rational choice, will discuss the concept of ration and some major theories under “rational choice paragon” which analyze on international affairs. Chapter three an analysis of international conditions. This chapter will discuss economical, political, strategic problem it given the change in international environment. Chapter four an analysis of domestic environment. This chapter analyze the changing domestic conditions including failure of its economical reform and political instability. Chapter five outlook of Russian-Sino trade relationship, this chapter provide an insight outlook of potential development of Russian-Sino trade relations. Chapter six conclusion.

本文主旨在以空間理論的方法，探討選舉制度與競選策略的關係。即是以形式化的演繹方法，討論候選人或政黨在不同的選舉制度下，各種策略的選擇會導致何種結果，從而推論出候選人或政黨所應採行的最適策略。全文共有五章，分別略述如下： 　　第一章導論，第一節介紹研究的動機與目的，第二節介紹研究的範圍與方法。 　　第二章則是選舉制度，競選策略與空間理論基本模型的說明。 　　第三章討論單一選區制下候選人的競選策略，包括多數決的二人爭一席模式，相對多數決的多人爭一席模式，與絕對多數決二段投票制。 　　第四章討論非單一選區制下的政黨競選策略，包括頓特最高平均數法名單比例代表制，單記可讓渡投票制，與單記非讓渡投票制。 　　第五章結論，第一節總節主要的研究結果，第二節則提出研究的限制與對未來研究的建議。