This thesis deals with the African women standing in their societies and attemps to find out what are their possibilities, within this standing, to participate in the current processes of democratization. It tries to identify important facts - by mapping their role in the traditional society and describing its changes during the French colonialism and after the decolonization - that determine women's current status. This serves as a basis for the research of ways in which women participate in the democratization processes that are currently under way in francophone Africa. The thesis focuses not only on their possibilities to take part in the decision-making within the elected bodies, but is also concerned with their chances to influence the politics in a less formal way. The emphasis is on the activities of women's organizations that seem to be an appropriate tool of democratization of the African society.

A model of development aid, which has been known for more than 50 years is clearly ineffective in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is because such assistance demonstrably negatively affects local governments and strongly contributes to the proliferation of corruption and deterioration of the elements od democracy. The theory of the vicious circle of poverty as one of the main arguments of the proponents of this aid is refuted in the thesis and replaced by the theory of the vicious circle of political instability, which is associated with that governments and their policies. It is necessary tu support a citizens' initiative, which will seek the establishment of democratic institutions, not governments, which are responsible for poverty of their country. Development aid is not the only thing that harms poor countries. Less visible, but with a strong negative effect there are protectionist measures in the form of non-tariff barriers, the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU and its export subsidies, or debt relief of bad governemtns. The failure of these policies are so fundamental that the best advice would probably be to end the government subsidies for poor countries and a focus on small development projects helping specific people, instead of grand plans and aid volumes sounding into space.

The thesis highlights the importance of Chinese activities before 2000 and especially the necessity to study this period in order to fully understand the current relations between African countries and the People's Republic of China. Selected major changes in traditional donors' development assistance are also presented. This allows us not only to see Chinese activities in Africa in context but also to quickly compare the development of Chinese aid with similar process in the West. Subsequently, the changes of Chinese foreign policy in Africa, which followed its economic activities, are also the subject of research. The thesis then focuses on contemporary Chinese development cooperation with Africa, for example its forms, implementation, or differences when compared to traditional donors. Finally, I attempt to evaluate the PRC as a donor using the model of an ideal donor and his counterpart.

The main goal of master thesis is to proof that investment into renewable energy may have a positive impact on standard of living for local community and the region of Sub-Saharan Africa. The thesis is divided into three main chapters, while the first one is dedicated to detailed analysis of renewable energies, demographic and geographical indicators, the second one is focused on investment and financing of energy projects. The last chapter leads readers through case study of small hydropower plant into findings that are essential in proving the main idea of whole thesis.

The aim of the theses is to identify long-term consequences of the clash of African and European cultures and its current political, economic and social consequences on the contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa. In the methodological part the terms of socio-cultural complex, socio-cultural structure, clash of civilizations and culture gap are explained, followed by the basic characteristics of African culture and a brief outline of the local history with a special emphasis put on the historical influences of Europe. The application part is divided into three sections according to the areas in which the effects of culture gap are analysed - namely political, economic and social spheres. Each area is further divided into four parts that using specific examples describe consequences of the clash of European and African cultures in contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa.

Building relations with China is a topic of broad and current interest, when it comes to establishing and deepening new economic cooperation between Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions. This thesis analyses current economic cooperation between these two regions with the prevailing emphasis on the African partner. The thesis is formally divided into five chapters. The first two chapters focus on selected theoretical and factual starting points related to the main topic of the thesis, which create a foundation stone for the other chapters. In the third chapter of the thesis, selected statistical data about current trade and investment cooperation between both partners are introduced. The main goal of the following fourth chapter is to analyze real impact of mutual cooperation on the selected country of Sub-Saharan region. The last chapter of the thesis analyses a relatively problematic and widely discussed issue: the classification and allocation of financial flows from China in the Sub-Saharan Africa.

This master´s thesis studies the topic of the economic diplomacy of China and India in Africa. The aim of the thesis is to determine the differences between India´s and China´s economic diplomacy and in their approaches to Africa. First, the official relations with Africa are compared. Thus the thesis examines the goals and instruments of Indian and Chinese economic diplomacy and the institutional framework of the relations with Africa. Second, the thesis seeks to identify the differences and similarities in China´s and India´s motives for their engagement in Africa and also in consequences of their activities.

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / In families, almost no interaction is simply the result of group processes. Even when the process of interaction seems to take on a life of its own, it is the product of personalities, persons conscious of the possibilities of interactions. A perusal of the current literature reveals a move toward the reintroduction of the individual and his/her possibilities into the system. The insistence of a focus on family dynamics, while providing a sharpened awareness of relationships and interactive patterns, resulted in selective absorption and the tendency to ignore individual family matters. In this thesis it is suggested that there is a need for the reintroduction of the individual into family therapy practice. This approach is based on the discovery in a number of therapies, that different individual family members were reacting differently to the same intervention. A detailed case example is presented to illustrate this approach. The study questions the need for all family members to be present" in each therapy session. Furthermore, the study describes concurrent individual therapy processes with individual members of the family and the resulting systemic changes that were observed. Family therapy has demonstrated that it is important to consider relational as well as individual realities in evaluating health and dysfunction. Implications for therapy and treatment anslnq from this study include the need for a broader view which takes into account the realities of all members of the problem determined system. In conclusion, the author warns against the dangers of focusing on any single viewpoint. A lack of respect for the realities of all members of the professional family system, and adherence to a single perspective may in fact perpetuate the trauma and contribute to the distress of the family.

The goal of this master thesis is a complex description of blood diamonds issues and assessment of existing efforts, specific steps and presented ideas, conceptions and strategies on the ground of Kimberley Process, as well as suggestions of possible solutions and future steps of organizations like Global Witness, Partnership Africa Canada, Human Rights Watch and other interested groups fighting against occurence of illicit diamonds. The thesis is divided into 4 chapters. The first chapter describes characteristics and significance of diamonds. The second chapter focuses on organizations agitating against blood diamonds in the world. The third chapter is subsequently designated for definition and features of the term of failed state, which is often highly connected with the blood diamonds issue. The fourth chapter analyses concrete conflicts or illegal activities in Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe.

The work is concerned with political problems in the Horn of Africa region (Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea). It is focused on the course of politics, analysis and future development of both regional and mutual conflicts. First part provides general characteristics of the region as the whole. Next parts deals in detail with each state separetely. There is also given special space to the Ethiopia-Eritrea and Somalia-Ethiopia conflicts.