When specialists in the evaluation of humanitarian action meet they often complain that “evaluations tell us nothing new”. Can this complaint be justified and, if so, can any additional insights into the reasons be discovered? An analysis and comparison is made of the recommendations arising from the evaluations of the humanitarian response to two major forced displacements and two natural disasters. The comparison is used to identify the extent to which recommendations made in the evaluation of the earlier of each pair were repeated in the subsequent evaluations. An analysis of the subjective influences reported as impinging upon nine of the earliest evaluations of humanitarian actions is made. A series of 22 elite interviews with staff of humanitarian organisations and independent consultants directly involved in the evaluation of humanitarian action reveals the continuing influence of these ‘subjective’ factors and indicates of a lack of confidence in the evaluation process as a tool for institutional learning. The roles of agency and structure in the subjective influences impinging on the evaluation of humanitarian action are analysed and recommendations made for the improvement of the evaluation/learning cycle.

Social policy developments during the past three decades have profoundly changed the way in which welfare services are provided, by substantially increasing the role of voluntary organisations in the delivery of ‘contracted out’ public services in a ‘mixed economy’ of welfare. Policies implemented by successive Conservative, New Labour and Coalition governments during this period have promoted a key role for the voluntary sector as providers of public services in a range of areas including social care, health, housing, education and criminal justice (Griffiths, 1988; HM Government, 1990; Cabinet Office, 2006; Department of Health, 2010b; HM Government, 2010a). Such policies to shift responsibility for public service delivery onto the voluntary sector raise significant implications for voluntary organisations and the volunteer charity trustees charged with their leadership and governance. Although offering opportunities for some voluntary organisations, the public services contracting environment also presents a number of challenges for the voluntary sector. These include questions about the extent to which charities can maintain their independence, financial insecurity arising from short-term contracts, and the ability of organisations to remain focused on their charitable objectives and principles. Furthermore, complex and lengthy bidding processes and onerous monitoring and reporting obligations place a disproportionate burden on smaller charities with fewer staff and resources. This thesis analyses such social policy developments that are facilitating an increasing and diversifying role for the voluntary sector in welfare delivery, and assesses their impacts on volunteer charity trustees. It draws upon primary empirical research to elicit the experiences and perceptions of trustees occupying roles on the boards of local charities within this radically shifting policy environment. In total, 46 qualitative interviews were conducted: 25 with trustees of local voluntary sector organisations, 10 with Chief Executives (or equivalent) of local voluntary sector organisations, and 11 with representatives of influential ‘policy community’ organisations at both national and local levels. The thesis identifies the multiple and complex ways in which the changing policy landscape impacts upon voluntary organisations and, in turn, their trustees. It reveals significant ambiguity in how the trustee role is defined and perceived; varying levels of confidence among trustees about their ability to meet their responsibilities; and inconsistency in the training and support available to them in fulfilling their roles. The thesis offers a significant contribution to knowledge about the experiences of trustees responsible for governing and steering charities through the complex challenges arising from contemporary social policies.

There are increasing concerns that some pedigree breeding practices compromise canine welfare; with many breeds affected by inherited disorders likely due to adherence to breed standards that encourage exaggerated conformations. Consequently, calls for quantitative limits to be included in breed standards have been advocated to safeguard against conformations that are detrimental to canine welfare. This thesis explores the relationships between extreme conformation and disease-risk, to identify the most at-risk conformations currently being selected for, and recommend healthy 'limits'. Three conformation-related disorders of high welfare importance were investigated; brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE) and corneal ulceration. Seven hundred dogs entering the RVe's small animal referral hospital were recruited over 14-months; their conformations quantified using established protocols and disease-status assessed. Generalised linear mixed-model analyses demonstrated for the first time that: (1) relatively shorter muzzles and relatively thicker necks increased the risk of BOAS; (2) relatively longer backs, miniaturisation and being overweight increased the risk of IVDE; and (3) the presence of nasal folds, relatively short muzzles, relatively larger eyelid openings and the presence of exposed sclera increased the risk of corneal ulcers. To test the risk estimates generated from this population, a second study of BOAS was carried out in a non-referral population. Short muzzles and thick necks were confirmed to be risk factors for BOAS, with two further lifestyle risk factors identified: obesity and neutering. A questionnaire-based study discovered an owner-perception of BOAS being 'normal for the breed' that may hamper efforts to reduce its prevalence in the future. As such, educational interventions to change attitudes may be required. The results of these studies are hoped to instigate and inform future breed standard revisions, and influence those within the breeding community to change current breeding practices to improve canine welfare by selecting for more moderate, lower-risk morphologies.

This research study examines the policy formation of post-9/11 government led community engagement and partnerships with Muslim communities in London and New York City between 2001 and 2014 situated within the macro political economic context of neoliberalism and related socio-political phenomena that have shaped post-9/11 United Kingdom and United States counterterrorism strategy. This research study has two research questions: 1. Can a clear difference in the strategies used in approaches to countering post-9/11 Al Qaeda inspired terrorism measures targeting Muslim communities be identified in London and New York? 2. How can situating this examination in the context of neoliberalism as illustrated by the breaking down of a number of traditional binaries in the larger social context, specifically the theoretical debates of the state of exception, the convergence of internal and external security and multiculturalism, provide clearer understanding of similarities or differences between London and New York? This study compares the policy formation and evolution of government initiated community engagement and partnerships with Muslim communities strategies used to counter post-9/11 Al Qaeda inspired terrorism in Muslim communities by the London Metropolitan Police Service (London Met) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD). To thoroughly understand these policy approaches, this research study has situated the research within the larger socio-political contexts in which these programmes were formed. Using a mixed methods research methodology comprised of documentary analysis of official United Kingdom and United States documents, discourse analysis of key terrorism and counterterrorism speeches by political elites in the United Kingdom and United States, and semi-structured interviews with elite police and policymaking officials involved in counterterrorism, this study found that neoliberalism, and specifically the significant breakdowns in traditional social binaries have impacted post-9/11 counterterrorism policing in London and New York City. This study concludes that understanding the effects of neoliberalism in this policy area through the blurring of traditional binaries including distinctions between the state of exception and non-state of exception, internal and external security, and United Kingdom and United States approaches to multiculturalism have made historical distinctions between London Met and NYPD approaches to counterterrorism much less significant in the post-9/11 era, although some distinctions remain in their respective approaches to government-led community engagement and partnerships with Muslim communities.

No description available.

Most LDC regimes, especially those with a colonial past, suffer from a deficit in legitimacy. Basing their rule on the personality and achievements of one person, these regimes have failed to pass on their legitimacy to their successors, or sometimes even secure legitimacy for the state. They have drawn up a social contract with their populations that entailed obligations to achieve objectives such as industrialisation, national and economic independence, and welfare of their societies. In return, their populations were expected to support their regimes, and surrender their political rights and liberties. In this research, we focus on the social contract in Egypt, as an example of an LDC state where the regime has suffered from a lack of legitimacy since the country gained its independence in 1952. Over the last five decades, Egyptian regimes have forged a social contract with their populations in order to legitimise their rule. The social contract encompassed achieving objectives adopted by the regime on the domestic and international level according to their visions. The formula of the social contract has been modified by the regime in response to changes in domestic and international factors. One of the main obligations that the regime has committed itself to since 1952 has been welfare provision by the state. The commitment of the regime to provide welfare for the population has been an effective tool to generate legitimacy. Thus, the maintenance of a 'welfare state' has constituted a central component of the social contract since 1952. However, a social contract based on welfare provision has not been durable; this type of contract has secured the regime legitimacy only as long as it has been able to deliver welfare products. As industrialisation failed to take off, Egyptian regimes found it difficult to sustain the welfare state. Their attempts to withdraw from welfare provision, without compromising their legitimacy, have been unsuccessful. This is because the regime has marketed welfare provision by the state as a right of the public based on citizenship; the populace has proved resilient in defending this right. Hence, the regime had to rely upon aid and or external borrowing to postpone the crisis; and modify the social contract by introducing some measures of political liberalisation.

This study examines the role of the churches of various Christian denominations during the period 1870-1914. It investigates three areas of County Durham. The Borough of South Shields is the main focus of the study and provides evidence of the churches' work in a large urban centre. Two comparative studies are also included: the coal mining villages of the Deerness Valley close to Durham City provide evidence from a newly industrialised area whilst the villages of Upper Teesdale illustrate trends in a more rural area in which the lead mining industry was in significant decline during this period. The approach of the study is comparative throughout. The study concentrates on several aspects of the churches' work. The provision of manpower and buildings are examined as the churches' response to the needs created by social change; there is also an investigation of the effectiveness of evangelical mission as a means of recruiting support for the churches. The study examines the churches' work with and attitude towards children - both inside and outside Sunday school - and with adults in various non liturgical activities. There are also sections on the churches' role in education and social welfare work. The study reflects recent developments in the fields of social and religious history in its examination of the churches' fears of 'decline' during this period and the extent to which such fears were justified. The comparative approach enables urban developments to be compared and contrasted with rural activities and allows the experience of different denominations to be included in the study.

This thesis explored the experiences of post-traumatic growth in adults bereaved by suicide. Past literature into posttraumatic growth, posttraumatic growth in bereavement and bereavement by suicide is examined to rationalise the current research. There is critique of the methodologies used in the past literature. The epistemological stance of the current research and justification of the qualitative approach to the current study is examined. Six participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Transcribed interviews were analysed from an interpretative phenomenological framework. Two superordinate themes, with three ordinate themes in each, were identified: (1) Positive growth: ‘life view’, ‘knowledge of self’, and ‘relation to others’; (2) Social perception: ‘gaze of others’, ‘public guise’, and ‘solace of other survivors’. These are presented and discussed within the journal article. Three additional ordinate themes were identified: (3) Process of time, (4) Bereavement stages and, (5) New normal, which are presented in further detail and discussed in the extended paper. The results yielded that suicide survivors gain extra characteristics and insights due to their experiences, but are reluctant to acknowledge that they do. These results are discussed with reference to previous literature, and the epistemological stance of the research. A critique of the current research is provided before recommendations for research are outlined. The thesis concludes with the researcher’s critical reflection on some of the theoretical, scientific and ethical considerations made during the process of the research.

The use of technology has been a feature of public sector managerialism since its introduction by the Conservative government in the 1990s. Subsequently, New Labour's modernisation agenda embraced and promoted the use of information and communication technology (ICT) through its drive towards 'electronic government' ('e-government'). The target set for all services to be 'e-accessible' by 2005 put pressure on local authorities for their services to be 'open all hours' and encouraged them to utilise call centre technology to achieve this. As a result, 'contact centres' (as they were re-designated) are now in use by local authorities to deliver a diverse range of services including social services. Call centres emerged as one of the most widely adopted organisational forms in the private sector in the last two decades of the twentieth century, and have been utilised in a number of ways, primarily in the communications and service industries. The working conditions in call centres gained a reputation for being harsh and exploitative of employees in the pursuit of efficiency and economy and the labour process in them has attracted a considerable amount of academic interest and research. The principal approach underpinning this research has been Braverman's (1974) labour process perspective. The use of call centre environments and technology for social services was pioneered by Liverpool City Council in 2001 in partnership with British Telecom. The introduction of contact centres in this context epitomised 'new public management'. The use of contact centres to deliver social services is now widespread and the thesis presents an in-depth case study of one such contact centre, 'Northshire Care Direct' (NCD) in the North East of England. It identifies how social work practice has been affected by an organisational form, which, until recently, had not been utilised in this context. In addition to its being used to underpin call centre research, Braverman's (1974) labour process perspective has also been used to analyse the social work labour process and, in this sense, was apposite as a means of shedding light on a setting that conjoined social work and call centre technology. The thesis therefore uses Braverman's labour process perspective as an overarching conceptual framework to shed light on the labour process at NCD and how it impacted on social workers from professional and personal perspectives. The findings challenge the dominant view of call centre environments, which represents them as highly controlled and inherently stressful settings that inevitably damage employees' well-being. The thesis argues that contact centre social work represents a new (and, thus far, neglected) development that further extends the incursion of ICT into the organisation and management of social work practice. The emergence of the twin phenomena of 'e-social work' and 'e-management' is identified. The thesis argues that the contact centre context takes the role of ICT in social work further than before. In acknowledging that it is a snapshot of only one such centre, and that different practices may exist elsewhere, it argues that the findings can only be indicative of the direction of travel. It concludes that the social work profession needs to engage with further developments in order to mitigate potentially negative effects for service users.

The purpose of this study is to revisit the question of whether welfare benefit levels influence female headship, and whether the effect differs between the two main eras of welfare policy relevant to female headship, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). This study adds to the existing literature by including more up to date data allowing for a comparison between the AFDC and TANF eras. Results show that the effect of welfare benefits on female headship rates changes from negative to positive after welfare reform occurred among blacks, while no change occured among whites.