It is recognized that international relations are reinforcing a patriarchal and western status quo. The study examines how the UN resolutions on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) have contributed to changing the gendered security discourse. Previous literature argues that the gendered discourse creates dichotomies dividing the genders, creating binary divisions stating women as peace/victims and men as war/agents. The study aims to investigate how the ”WPS” pillars of protection and par- ticipation are formulated in the UN resolutions. Grounded in a feminist theoretical framework con- stituted by prominent perspectives of Radical- and Postcolonial feminism, ideal types are con- structed. The study examines what indicators of radical- and postcolonial feminism are identified in the problem formulation of “WPS” in the strategically selected resolutions 1820, 1889 and 2467, and what in the formulation remains unproblematized. The methodology is based on Bacchi’s “What’s the Problem Represented to be?” (WPR) tool, suited for “postmodern” discourse analysis of policy documents. International relations have become more “reflexive” moving the security dis- course towards “Human security”. Similarly, contemporary feminism has become more intersec- tional when creating the women-subject. The analysis finds Radical feminist indicators, however implicit, throughout the material. Sexual violence is, in correspondence with human security, for- mulated as a structural/political issue. The women-subject is however created homogeneously, an absence of intersectionality is shaping formulations. Postcolonial feminism is merely found in solu- tion formulations of the most recent resolution 2467. The formulations in 2467 changed to include a more intersectional approach and a heterogeneous women-subject. Enabling some contextual fac- tors. Finally, the dominating subject construction identified in all resolutions is characterized as “women need protection”. The construction entails women’s deviance from the male norm. The formulation ultimately indicates that women still are separated from agency.

Modern energy saving technologies are become increasingly mature, easier to implement and financially profitable. Both the European Union and the Swedish government have directives with goals regarding energy savings for the year 2020 and 2030. Here, making buildings more energy efficient plays a large role as around 40% of the total energy usage in Europe can be related to buildings. Constructing new, nearly zero energy houses is currently very popular, but as a vast majority of all buildings in a country like Sweden are older buildings, built before 1980, a majority of the used energy will come from these buildings. Hence, there is plenty of incentive for carrying out energy saving actions and investments in older buildings. From previous research and interviews with energy consultants, it can be concluded that energy saving actions are not being carried to the extent that is possible. This thesis aims to find out why this is and mainly what the main obstacles are when implementing energy saving solutions in older buildings. A case study, consisting of eight interviews with energy consultants and real estate owners was carried out in order to get an understanding of the current situation and the different stakeholders views on this issue. The results showed that, at least in the represented cases, there is a will among real estate owners for moving forward with energy saving. An understanding has also recently emerged where most real estate owners realize that there are great financial incentives connected to implementing energy saving solutions to current, older buildings. However, increased will of making a change has not yet resulted in a majority of buildings having installed energy saving solutions. One factor for this is that each building is its own individual case and therefore needs to be handled individually due to different conditions and are therefore suitable for different energy saving actions. Other factors include lack of technical and financial understanding among some real estate owners, slow decision making processes and ownership types. The research explores theories related to decision makings to provide a comprehensive overview regarding the current situation of energy saving in Sweden, as well as a contribution to the theoretical literature regarding decision making / Modern teknik inom energibesparing blir allt mer mognare, lättare att implementera och finansiellt lönsamt. Både den europeiska unionen och den svenska regeringen har direktiv med mål för energibesparing för år 2020 och 2030. Här spelar byggnader en viktig roll, då byggnader står för ca 40 % av den totala energianvändningen i Europa. Att bygga nya, nära noll energi byggnader är för närvarande väldigt populärt. Men i ett land som Sverige, där majoriteten av alla byggnader är äldre byggnader, kommer majoriteten av energianvändningen fortfarande från dessa. Därav finns det stora incitament till att genomföra energieffektiviserande åtgärder på äldre byggnader i Sverige. Från tidigare studier och intervjuer med energikonsulter kan det fastslås att energibesparande åtgärder ej genomförs i den grad som det är möjligt. Målet med denna rapport är att utröna varför det är så samt vilka huvudsakliga hinder som kan relateras till energibesparing i äldre byggnader. För att få en överblick av den befintliga situationen samt hur olika intressenter ser på denna fråga genomfördes en fallstudie bestående av åtta intervjuer med energikonsulter och fastighetsägare. Resultaten från studien pekade på att det finns en vilja bland fastighetsägare att gå vidare med energibesparande åtgärder. På senare tid har även en förståelse vuxit fram bland fastighetsägare där man inser att det även finns stora finansiella incitament med att implementera energibesparande åtgärder på äldre byggnader. Detta har dock ännu ej lett till att energibesparande åtgärder genomförts på en majoritet av befintliga byggnader. En anledning till detta är att varje byggnad måste hanteras individuellt då alla har olika förutsättningar och därmed lämpar sig för olika energibesparande lösningar. Andra faktorer inkluderar teknisk och ekonomisk kunskapsbrist bland vissa fastighetsägare, långsamma beslutsprocesser och ägarstrukturer. Studien nyttjar teorier relaterade till beslutsfattning för att ge läsaren en överblick av den befintliga situationen kring energibesparing i Sverige. I tillägg bidrar studien till den teoretiska litteraturen om beslutsfattning.

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This thesis consists of three independent papers. They are put in reverse chronological order according to when they were initiated. The first paper, which is a joint work with Özgür Evren, extends the standard rational choice framework with the option to postpone the act of selecting an alternative. In that paper, we propose an axiomatic model of choice over risky prospects that restricts the classical rationality axioms solely to those instances in which the decision maker does not defer. The cardinal approach we follow allows us to identify the preference relation of the decision maker over lotteries, even if the choice data is very scarce due to deferral. Moreover, we also derive the value of deferring choice from a given set of options, which turns out to be an affine utility function over choice sets. At each choice situation, the decision maker compares the utility of each available alternative with that of deferral so as to decide on opting for an alternative immediately. The second paper is a model of status quo bias with choice avoidance. It describes the choice behavior of an otherwise standard decision maker whose choices are affected by the presence of a status quo alternative. The status quo emerges as a temporary choice, which may be reversed upon arrival of new (introspective or objective) information, or upon finding new alternatives. The third paper considers the network formation problem from a matching perspective. In that paper, agents want to link with each other and each has preferences over the subsets of others. We consider various solution concepts regarding the stability of a matching between the agents, establish relations between these concepts under several preference restrictions, and provide sufficient conditions for these solutions to be nonempty. / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögskolan i Stockholm, 2011

We begin with a short analysis of the history of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). We then discuss the merits and demerits of the regime, such as the arguments between finality, speediness, and correctness. Following from this, historical reforms are discussed, and whether those issues have gotten worse or better since these discussions. The modern problems are discussed, leading to the explanation of the “legitimacy crisis”. As Appellate Mechanisms (AM) and Investment Court Systems (ICS) both propose multi layered systems, we argue whether ISDS must be a “one bite at the apple” system. We expand on the issues of regulatory chill, before showing the contradictions in the granting of awards. From this, a discussion is raised on the advantages of a tenured system of adjudicators, particularly in reference to their apparent bias. We delve deeper into the direct consequences of the perceived issues of ISDS, in the context of human rights, the environment, and other issues of sovereignty.As more reforms are suggested, the question of “what makes arbitration, arbitration?” is raised. From here, we may begin to suggest reforms based on which key factors are to be preserved. Firstly, we discuss current reform options, such as the Mauritius Convention. We take inspiration from existing AM, and prior discussions on the implementation of such a system across the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) frameworks. We analyse whether these discussions have led to change by comparing trends in drafting.Thereon, we offer suggestions of reform. ICS and how this would be implemented, what it would look like structurally, and its positive and negative effects. Using the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and other contemporary ICS reform suggestions, we gain some knowledge of what an ICS regime could and should look like, the implementation of AM previously discussed in this regime, and other. Finally, we offer a different solution to the problems, yet less pragmatic, the termination of arbitration.

In 2007, in June the company Europrojekt entered the project with the requirement of the formulation and implementation of heating motherly school by heat pumps in the village Hluk. The projekt was ordered by the management of this motherly school. This is a total reconstruction of the heating system building motherly school, including the use of residual heat for heating the pool water in an open swimming pool, which is located near this motherly school. The requirement is also given to reduce environmental pollution and achieve energy savings. This diploma thesis solves the detailed description of solutions and calculations for each part. In first, the introductory part of the work is focused on getting the project, a description of the object motherly school and a proposal for the energy measure before the realization. Second section is devoted to the selection and design of the system of heat pumps and solar collectors. Next part of work is the use of the residual heat for heating the pool water in the transitional months, i.e. May, September and the main months June, July, and August, when should be the visit of the swimming pool the biggest. In addition, resolving heat recovery through plate exchangers, the calculation of storage tanks, valves insurance proposal, the expansion tank, circulation pumps, etc. The last part thesis addresses the energy and economic assessment of the whole project.

An African Perspective on Poverty Proverbs in the Book of Proverbs: An Analysis for Transformational Possibilities. This thesis contributes to the emerging global scholarly discussion on prioritising the practical relevance of biblical interpretation, particularly in Africa. Taking poverty as a case study, this thesis employs the notion of the popular social origin of proverbs to critically analyse the subject in the Book of Proverbs. A social anthropological approach, historical-critical methods, rhetorical criticism and contextual exegesis are used to analyse proverbs regarding the poor in the Book of Proverbs and African proverbial material. On one hand, the investigation reveals that many Western scholars take their cue from the `official' social context of the Book of Proverbs. However, the impact of an unconscious subjectivity owing to the Western secularising influence on their studies into poverty has posited a conservative status quo in the way the Book of Proverbs addresses it. On the other hand, an investigation of similar traditional African proverbial material on the poor reveals a holistic transformative possibility. Its life-centred dynamism is located in an integrative worldview that comprises mutual assistance, collective responsibility, family, community, social, political, religious and economic networks as one whole. Because cultural parallels exist between the society of ancient Israel and traditional African societies, the thesis argues the use of the African proverbial performance context in the interpretation of proverbs concerning the poor in the Book of Proverbs. The result of such cross-cultural application highlights the possible transformative social, economic, political and religious supportive networks essential to a viable and sustainable holistic development of society. Consequently, such a holistic approach to poverty may enable Bible readers to make meaning and empower the will of African Christians to rise practically to the challenge of poverty eradication in all spheres of their lives. A caution also to the universal church is to be found in the fact that the Book of Proverbs made an essential contribution to the transformation of the social, economic, political and religious life of Israel. Approaching the Book of Proverbs in terms of a popular context is a fact that can no longer be simply ignored. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D.Th.

An African Perspective on Poverty Proverbs in the Book of Proverbs: An Analysis for Transformational Possibilities. This thesis contributes to the emerging global scholarly discussion on prioritising the practical relevance of biblical interpretation, particularly in Africa. Taking poverty as a case study, this thesis employs the notion of the popular social origin of proverbs to critically analyse the subject in the Book of Proverbs. A social anthropological approach, historical-critical methods, rhetorical criticism and contextual exegesis are used to analyse proverbs regarding the poor in the Book of Proverbs and African proverbial material. On one hand, the investigation reveals that many Western scholars take their cue from the `official' social context of the Book of Proverbs. However, the impact of an unconscious subjectivity owing to the Western secularising influence on their studies into poverty has posited a conservative status quo in the way the Book of Proverbs addresses it. On the other hand, an investigation of similar traditional African proverbial material on the poor reveals a holistic transformative possibility. Its life-centred dynamism is located in an integrative worldview that comprises mutual assistance, collective responsibility, family, community, social, political, religious and economic networks as one whole. Because cultural parallels exist between the society of ancient Israel and traditional African societies, the thesis argues the use of the African proverbial performance context in the interpretation of proverbs concerning the poor in the Book of Proverbs. The result of such cross-cultural application highlights the possible transformative social, economic, political and religious supportive networks essential to a viable and sustainable holistic development of society. Consequently, such a holistic approach to poverty may enable Bible readers to make meaning and empower the will of African Christians to rise practically to the challenge of poverty eradication in all spheres of their lives. A caution also to the universal church is to be found in the fact that the Book of Proverbs made an essential contribution to the transformation of the social, economic, political and religious life of Israel. Approaching the Book of Proverbs in terms of a popular context is a fact that can no longer be simply ignored. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D.Th.

This study aims to discern and assess Theodor Adorno’s theories on music as an ‘art’ and how it impacts both the political and social landscape of society; more broadly, the purposes of this paper is to identify, and determine the significance of, the relationship between music and politics – that is, whether or not, and how, music can emancipate society from capitalist enslavement. In juxtaposing Adorno’s theories, the opinions of Herbert Marcuse will be discussed as well. As both theorists are considered integral to the creation and development of critical theory of the Frankfurt School, it is only logical to examine their theories and ideologies in detail to determine the role of music as an ‘art’ in the overarching scheme of political scaffolding within which society resides. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

Many scholars have discussed the sociopolitical consequences of belief in karma but few have investigated such relationships quantitatively. This study aims to establish empirical patterns concerning the connection between karmic beliefs and attitudes related to (i) political ideology, (ii) ableism, and (iii) views on the death penalty. The study’s theoretical framework is based on a Weberian approach to the study of beliefs (viewing beliefs as having attitudinal implications) and the theory of motivated social cognition. It uses original survey data from an MTurk sample of 330 Indians, which is analyzed through a series of regression models. When using demographic variables as controls, karmic beliefs are shown to correlate significantly (p<0.001) with three conservative dispositions (status quo conservatism, laissez-faire conservatism, authoritarianism); political approval of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party; ideological self-placement; ableist attitudes, and with disapproval of the death penalty. Karmic beliefs are also shown to correlate significantly with social class, and with right-wing views across both social classes and castes. Given these findings, I argue that karmic beliefs are likely to affect various political outcomes in India via their role in shaping the moral and political frameworks of the Indian population.