This paper does a profound description of the legal framework and its recent modifications related to the State’s use of force in socio-environmental conflicts. This analysis emphasizes in law’s violent nature as a theoretic approach that intends on showing the way that the legal system, instead of defending rights, violates them. The methodology is dogmatic when analyzing law and other legal documents, and interdisciplinary when comparing laws with evidence gathered in interviews, participant observation, documents and databases. The objective its to characterize critically the complex legal framework that articulates the politics that leads to the criminalization of social protests against extractive industries in Peru. / El artículo hace una descripción profunda del marco normativo y sus modificaciones recientes con relación al uso de la fuerza estatal en conflictos socioambientales. Pone énfasis en la naturaleza violenta del derecho como enfoque teórico e intenta mostrar de qué manera el sistema jurídico, antes que garante, es productor de violaciones a los derechos humanos. La metodología empleada es, por un lado, dogmática cuando analiza normas y otros documentos legales y, por otro, interdisciplinaria cuando compara leyes con evidencia recogida en entrevistas, observación participante, documentos y bases de datos. El objetivo es caracterizar críticamente el complejo entramado legal que articula la política de criminalización de las protestas sociales contra industrias extractivas en el Perú.

Esta dissertação analisa o uso da força não letal pela polícia nas ações de policiamento e o papel que a qualificação profissional pode desempenhar como fator inibidor da violência policial e da exposição ao risco dos atores envolvidos nessas ações, retomando a discussão sobre a ação não-letal da polícia sob outro foco: a relação treinamento-performance. Embora a característica militar seja um fator preponderante nas relações entre os policiais, para efeito desta pesquisa, não é considerada determinante da violência policial. Este estudo visa explorar o cotidiano da relação polícia-cidadão e os determinantes do comportamento individual do policial nesses encontros. A hipótese central deste trabalho estabelece que o treinamento tem um papel significativo como um fator capaz de reduzir o emprego abusivo de força nos encontros do policial com o público e de melhorar a qualidade do trabalho policial de uma maneira geral, aumentando o grau de proteção, tanto do profissional quanto do público, e diminuindo a exposição de ambos ao risco. Esta dissertação O Uso da Força Não Letal Pela Polícia nos Encontros com o Público, introduz uma inovação metodológica, e representa um teste do método que utiliza a técnica da Observação Social Sistemática (OSS) do trabalho policial - a grande contribuição dessa pesquisa, em razão de ser uma técnica inédita em pesquisas acadêmicas no Brasil. / This text analyzes the use of non lethal force for the police in the policing and the role that the professional qualification can carry out as factor that can to inhibit the police violence and of the exhibition risk to the actors involved in those actions, retaking the discussion about the non lethal action of the police under other focus: the relationship training-performance. Although the military characteristic is a preponderant factor in the relationships among the policemen, for effect of this research, it is not considered determinant of the police violence. This study seeks to explore the daily of the relationship policecitizen and the determinant of the policeman\'s individual behavior in those encounters. The central hypothesis of this work establishes that the training has a significant role as a factor capable to reduce the abusive employment of force in the policeman\'s encounters with the public and of improving the quality of the police work in a general way, increasing the protection degree, so much of the professional as of the public, and decreasing the exhibition of both to the risk. This text - Use of the Non Lethal Force For the Police in the Encounters with the Public, introduces a methodological innovation, and it represents a test of the method that uses the technique of the Systematic Social Observation (SSO) of the police work - the great contribution of that research, in reason of being an original technique in academic researches in Brazil.

This Master's Thesis is devoted to the United Nations peacekeeping, particularly second- generation operations in the early 1990s and their evaluation. The aim of the thesis is to evaluate the (lack of) success of the selected missions, which were the first examples of operations authorized under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. The theoretical part focuses on the concept of peacekeeping itself, historical development, types of peace operations and literature review, as there are various criteria on how to evaluate peacekeeping missions. For the purpose of this thesis, the work examines three peace operations - the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the United Nations Missions in Somalia (UNOSOM I and UNOSOM II) and the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL). The case studies provide a brief overview of the conflict, the main roots of the conflict, a response from the international community, deployment of the mission and its evaluation according to the selected framework. Furthermore, the supplementary discussion regarding the development and situation in the country in the aftermath of the mission's withdrawal enriches the case study. The thesis concludes with the evaluation of the outcomes of second-generation operations with Chapter VII mandates and aims...

The increased number of video recordings circulating in the media that depict police officers exercising excessive use of force has led to recommendations to equip police officers with body worn cameras. Because a camera’s point of view may influence viewers’ perceptions and understanding of the recorded events, the angle at which a police use of force encounter is recorded may have important consequences. My program of research aimed to understand how various camera angles can impact interpretations of a police use of force scenario. A simulated police use of force incident was video recorded at three different camera angles (body worn camera, security camera, bystander camera). Study 1 (n = 330) examined factors that contribute to interpretations of the scenario such as camera angle, pre-existing attitudes about police, and information processing style. Results showed that camera angle did not have a general impact on viewer’s judgment of the scenario. However, pre-existing biases about the police and legal system guided interpretations of the scenario, and individuals who viewed the bystander video angle of the scenario rated the police officer more favourably when they endorsed positive attitudes about the police. In addition, a high need for cognition increased the likelihood of making judgments in line with participants’ attitudes about police. Study 2 (n = 576) examined the legal implications of video evidence in a depiction of a trial in which a police officer has been accused of assaulting and causing bodily harm to a complainant. Participants exposed to trial information without video evidence found the police officer less credible and more responsible for the complainant’s injury, and were more likely to recommend a guilty verdict and harsher punishment for the police officer. Individuals who were presented with trial information that included the body worn camera video evidence viewed the police officer as less credible. Attitudes and beliefs about the police and the legal system influenced decisions made regarding the police officer’s credibility, responsibility, and legal recommendations. Overall, camera perspective had an impact on interpretations of police use of force videos, but only when considering pre-existing attitudes about police, and video evidence in a criminal trial regarding police use of force impacted judgements. I discuss various practical implications of relying on police use of force videos, and present directions for future research.

The diploma thesis deals with deployment of German army within ISAF strategy in Afghanistan. The deployment of military forces is one of the most discussed queries in German politics and among German public. The thesis analyses the development in Afghanistan from 2001 to September 2013. The thesis is divided into three parts. Firstly, I define the theory of role and the concept of civil power, which is one of approaches for analysis of foreign policy. I define some criteria and according to them I examine, if Germany behaves in Afghanistan as civil power, for which is it considered. In the following part I deal with the development in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2009. I analyse the beginning of OEF and ISAF operations, mandate's extensions, the reasons for deployment in Afghanistan and the development of the security situation in country. The main part of this thesis is the deployment of German army within new ISAF strategy in Afghanistan, which was declared by American president Barack Obama in 2009. The thesis focuses on the attitude of Germany to the most important events in this period, for example to the declaration of new ISAF strategy, to international conference on Afghanistan in London, to transition to afghan lead, to the leaving of the international troops and to support after the year...

Media and activist groups have recently exposed the problem of negative interactions between law enforcement officers and civilians. Many of these civilians have a mental illness. Various researchers attribute these negative interactions to insufficient officer knowledge of mental illness due to a lack of training, education, and personal experiences. Very little research addresses how insufficient knowledge of mental illness may influence interactions. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and analyze self reported law enforcement knowledge using Malcolm Knowles' conceptualization of adult learning theory and andragogy as the theoretical framework. This framework bases self-directed learning/training on a needs assessment of the individual's knowledge. The main research question was: 'What factors related to officer knowledge of mental illness impact interactions between law enforcement and people with mental illness?' Data were collected through recorded and then transcribed in-depth interviews with 8 law enforcement officers with experience interacting with mentally ill people. Using aspects of modified Van Kaam method of data analysis, word recognition computer programing identified repetitive words and phrases from the data. This resulted in significant common themes, namely: the need for more effective formal training on mental illness and the influence of personal lived experiences in the interaction with people with mental illness. The implications for social change are positive for officers and people with mental illness, as this study will inform the development of more effective officer training models about mental health, which will reduce the number of negative interactions.

This study focused on the use of oleoresin capsicum (OC) as a means of force and also tested the effectiveness of OC. A medium-size police agency was studied from 1991-2001. The following reports were collected for analysis: excessive force reports, reports of officers injured during arrests, use of hands-on restraint, and use of police baton. This study revealed an increase in reported incidents of excessive force and a reduction in the number of officers injuired making arrests while using various defensive techniques. Implementing OC into the force continuum remains a solid decision in review of this research. This study has shown oleoresin capsicum to be a safe, effective level in the law enforcement force continuum.

Armed conflict and violence against civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has persisted for years starting in the 1990s. The Eastern, Western and North-Eastern parts of the country have seen the presence of a multiplicity of armed groups that have caused an escalation of the humanitarian crisis. The United Nations, in the interest of civilian protection, peacekeeping and security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a mission under The United Nations Organisational Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). In spite of this mission, civilians continued in the Congo to suffer attacks and to endure human rights abuses by the armed militants that are fighting government and the government forces in shape of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC). This study examines the problematique of the mandate of MONUC in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in light of the challenges that have made its success debatable. The success of MONUC has become debatable in light of the fact that in spite of its presence and implementation in the DRC, between 2007 and 2010, conflict and the violence against civilians escalated to unprecedented levels. This study examines the causalities of the failure and observes its effect while making propositions towards amelioration of the challenges and the failure of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. / Political Sciences / M.A. (International Politics)

Post-force congressional rally effects are presented as a new incentive behind presidential decisions to use diversionary behavior. Using all key roll call votes in the House and Senate where the president has taken a position for the years 1948 to 1993, presidents are found to receive sharp decreases in both presidential support and success in Congress shortly after employing aggressive policies abroad. Evidence does suggest that presidents are able to capitalize on higher levels of congressional support for their policy preferences on votes pertaining to foreign or defense matters after uses of force abroad. But, despite these findings, diversionary behavior is found to hinder rather than facilitate troubled presidents' abilities to influence congressional voting behavior.

Le présent mémoire s’intéresse aux interventions policières en contexte de crise. Il s’attarde plus particulièrement à l’usage de la force par les structures d’intervention spécialisée. L’intérêt de cette étude découle principalement du manque de connaissances empiriques sur le sujet. L’objectif général de cette étude est de comprendre les éléments qui peuvent expliquer le recours à la force par les structures d’intervention spécialisées et de vérifier si ces facteurs varient selon le type de menace auquel font face les policiers. Nous nous sommes intéressés à 438 événements de crise suicidaire, de barricade et de prise d’otage qui se sont déroulés au Québec, de 1990 à 2011, et durant lesquels est intervenu le groupe tactique d’intervention (GTI) de la Sûreté du Québec (SQ). Pour une meilleure compréhension de cette problématique, il sera en premier lieu question de comparer, selon leur niveau de risque, les personnes présentant une menace uniquement pour elles-mêmes avec celles présentant une menace pour autrui et les personnes qui présentent une menace tant pour elles-mêmes que pour autrui. En second lieu, malgré le fait que près de 90 % des situations de crise se terminent par une reddition pacifique, il est pertinent de connaître les facteurs qui expliquent l’usage de la force de la part des policiers et de voir si ces facteurs varient selon le niveau de risque de l’individu. Des analyses descriptives ont permis d’établir que les situations où l’individu en crise présente uniquement une menace pour lui-même diffèrent des autres groupes sur la base de certaines variables. Cet individu est davantage jugé comme suicidaire et il possède plus souvent des antécédents psychiatriques. L’élément déclencheur est souvent associé aux problèmes conjugaux, ce qui coïncide avec le fait que c’est souvent la conjointe ou l’ex-conjointe qui appelle les autorités. Des analyses bivariées n’ont pas illustré de profils distincts selon la problématique de la crise. Or, certains facteurs se démarquent des autres de manière générale pour l’ensemble de l’échantillon et les différents groupes. La possession d’une arme par l’individu, le degré d’intoxication, la présence d’antécédents psychiatriques, la durée du premier contact avec les policiers et la qualité de la négociation sont effectivement des facteurs qui semblent influencer à un certain point les opérations. Les analyses de régression logistique indiquent que les policiers interviennent davantage lorsqu’il n’y aucun contact n’est établi avec l’individu. Nous observons également que ces derniers restent davantage en retrait lorsque l’individu, présentant une menace pour lui-même, est en possession d’une arme à feu. D’autre part, il semble que les policiers réagissent plus souvent auprès des individus présentant une menace pour autrui lorsque la négociation est jugée non satisfaisante. Nous pouvons en conclure qu’ils semblent davantage s’attarder à des facteurs précis qu’au type de menace, ce qui rejoint un certain segment de la littérature à ce sujet. / This thesis argues that police intervention in a crisis context focuses specifically on the use of force by specialized intervention teams. The interest in this study pinpoints mainly the lack of empirical data on the subject. Therefore, the main objective is to understand how to explain the use of force by specialized intervention teams and to verify if these factors vary according to the type of threat police encounter in a particular situation. We studied 438 suicidal crises, barricade and hostage-taking situations that occurred in Quebec from 1990 to 2011, supervised by the Sûreté du Québec’s tactical intervention group (GTI). To begin with, for a better understanding of this issue, we will compare individuals according to the level of risk each one represents, i.e. those presenting a threat only to themselves, those presenting a danger to others and those who pose a threat to themselves and others. Secondly, despite the fact that almost 90 % of critical incidents end in a non-violent conclusion, it is interesting to understand the risk factors involved that explain the use of force by the police and to realize that these factors vary according to the level of risk exhibited by the individual in crisis. Descriptive analyses were used to demonstrate that the situation where the individual in crisis was a threat only to himself differed from other instances based on different variables. Overall, the general level of risk for this type of intervention is less significant since the danger appears to be directed specifically to the individual in crisis, taking into consideration that negotiation has been successful, also, considering the subject has limited or no access to firearms, and considering weapons are not frequently used. Bivariate analysis relating the different characteristics of the individual, the situation and negotiation with the use of force by the police, suggest that certain variables can have different effects depending on the type of threat facing authorities. For example, a history of psychiatric issues would increase the risk of police intervention among those who pose a non-aggressive threat to himself, but would decrease the probability of police intervention for those individuals who present a double threat, i.e. to themselves and others. Consequently, bivariate analyses suggest that certain variables, such as the possession of a weapon by an individual, the degree of intoxication, the presence of known psychiatric issues, the duration of the first contact with the police and the quality of the negotiation, could influence the use of force by police officers. Logistic regression analyses indicate that few of these variables resist multivariate analyses. These findings suggest that police intervene more so when there is no contact established with the individual, and this, regardless of the type of threat manifested. On the contrary, a non-satisfactory negotiation would encourage police to use force in cases where the individual presents no threat to himself. In sum, these multivariate analyses show that the police are less influenced by the type of threat, rather preferring negotiation as long as possible.