Este trabalho apresenta o quadro da época da chegada dos portugueses no Japão e da sua ação por quase um século em terras nipônicas. A Europa dos séculos XV e XVI era o centro da civilização ocidental, e os portugueses, espanhóis e italianos ocupavam a posição de destaque de controladores e donos do comércio com o oriente médio e a China, via Mar Mediterrâneo e por terra. Os portugueses e os espanhóis, grandes navegadores, ao se aventurarem pelo mar, foram descobrindo e conquistando novas terras e obtendo com isso grandes vantagens de comércio e de divisas. Por outro lado, o Japão, arquipélago isolado e imerso em guerras civis, com muitos conflitos, não tinha a integração de suas unidades, e o desfecho da unificação dos reinos acabou ocorrendo com a ação dos grandes senhores suseranos, os daimyō Oda Nobunaga e Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Os primeiros portugueses - mercadores e missionários - que aportaram no Japão nessa época, por muitos chamada de \"Grandes Navegações\", encontraram o Japão sob o domínio de Nobunaga e Hideyoshi. O primeiro era receptivo, tolerante e pragmático, não se envolvia com a crença, mas servia-se da religião como instrumento para auferir resultados vantajosos desta relação com os portugueses. À primeira vista, o catolicismo foi bem aceito pelas autoridades, por sacerdotes xintoístas e budistas e, consequentemente, também pela comunidade em geral, pois os preceitos do budismo eram julgados coerentes com os \"Dez Mandamentos\" pregados pela Igreja cristã. Posteriormente, com o passar do tempo, os monges budistas e xintoístas sentiram seu espaço ameaçado pela expansão do catolicismo e muitos atritos ocorreram envolvendo adeptos das facções religiosas. As autoridades, sentindo a inconveniência das ações dos católicos e ajudadas pela interferência dos holandeses - que haviam ganho a simpatia dos japoneses -, conseguiram tirar os comerciantes portugueses do caminho, assegurando a exclusividade do comércio juntamente com os chineses, alegando que os ibéricos estariam tramando a tomada do país por meio da disseminação da religião católica. Com isso o governo japonês vetou qualquer atividade religiosa católica no país, promovendo a expulsão de todos os portugueses, espanhóis e italianos, envolvidos ou não com a religião. Apesar de a estada dos portugueses ter sido limitada a 96 anos, este trabalho ressalta o mérito das ações realizadas pelos mercadores e pelos missionários que deixaram um legado importante para os japoneses de então, bem como para as gerações seguintes, servindo de base para outras contribuições que viriam dos holandeses e chineses, que ocuparam o espaço dos retirantes latinos. De todas as contribuições efetuadas pelos portugueses e que influenciaram a cultura japonesa, a que mais impactou na política e na sociedade japonesa foi realmente a introdução das armas de fogo, as espingardas, cujo desdobramento deu outro rumo para a história do Japão. / This thesis presents a state when Portuguese arrived in Japan, and their actions for almost a century in Japanese land. At that time, Europe was the center of occidental civilization and Portuguese, Spanish and Italians were leaders as market controllers and masters of Middle East and China zones, by Mediterranean Ocean and by land. Portuguese and Spanish, great navigators explored the oceans, discovering and conquering new lands obtaining huge benefits in trade and money. At the other hand, Japan, an isolated archipelago and under civil wars with many conflicts, with no integration of their unities, the unification only were be able to be achieved by actions of great lords as Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. When the first Portuguese, merchants and missionaries, ashored Japan, the country was under Nobunaga and Hideyoshi domain, the first one, who welcomed them but not concerning with religion affairs, only shown interests in beneficial gains relating with them. In a first moment, the catholicism was accepted by Government officials and shinto and buddhist priests , consequently also by the people, because it was thought that catholic precepts were coherent with buddhist ones. Lately, buddhist and shinto priests felt a fear with the expansion of catholicism, and troubles started to occur within religion groups. Government officials also feeling the inconvenience of actions of catholic priests and aided by Dutchmen interference, interested in keeping away the Portuguese merchants, gained confidence of Japanese Government officials, alleging that they were attempting to subjugate the people by dissemination of catholicism. Due to that, any catholic religion activity was banned, ending with the expulsion of all Portuguese, Spanish and Italians, missionaries or not. In spite the stay of Portuguese in Japan was limited to 96 years, its showed the merit of works developed by merchants and missionaries, who left an important heritage to Japanese people, as well as for following generations as base for other foreign contributions, as Dutchmen or Chinese. For all contributions made by Portuguese, that so influenced Japanese culture and the most impact caused was really the introduction of firearms that promoted another course of the Japanese History.

Purpose: In the contemporary society in which companies operate there is increasing interest in understanding the effects and changes of culture on projects in connection to decision making. This is evident of the fact that most companies are using groups or teams composed of mixed culture to perform their tasks and develop their activities into different geographical regions by adopting project management as a “way of working” other than a tool or technique. The objective of this study is to explore the cultural influence decision making in project teams through a multi case study of applying Hofstede’s dimensions of culture model to selected Swedish firms. / Research Questions: (a) How does culture influence decision making in project teams?

The thesis deals with the influence of the Mesoamerican indigenous cultures on the work of the Guatemalan writer Miguel Ángel Asturias. The main focus is put on the ancient Maya culture as the author had the opportunity to get very close to their cultural heritage. The studied books are Legends of Guatemala (Leyendas de Guatemala), The President (El Señor Presidente) and Men of Maize (Hombres de maíz). The first part of the thesis outlines the author's life and highlights his connection with the Maya culture. The second part of the thesis briefly presents the native cultures of Guatemala whilst the final, third part of the work is dedicated to the analysis of the influence of these cultures on Asturias' literary creation itself. Key words: Miguel Ángel Asturias, Hispanic-American literature, the Maya, cultural influence, nature

AtkinsonThis study explores Work Life Balance (WLB) in two Palestinian organisations. It argues that the nature and content of WLB policies and the reasons for their adoption in many Arabic organisations differ from those in Western organisations. Additionally, research is under-developed concerning the role of line managers in interpreting access to WLB practices, and to what extent such WLB practices are accessed and utilised by individuals. Based on a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with 49 employees and managers, this study shows that WLB policies involve, particularly for female employees, mainly family support, and financial, social, and religious benefits. These reflect cultural and religious characteristics of an Arab, Islamic country. In addition to identifying the role of government, and the needs of a female workforce, this study develops a new theoretical framework explaining the role of religious and cultural variables, as well as international networking of the organisations, as factors underlying adoption of WLB policies. Line managers often used Wasta, being the political and religious origin of individuals as criteria in granting benefits to individuals. WLB practices are useful for women, but males made less use of these practices, preferring strong ‘breadwinner Arabic cultural norms. A valuable contribution in understanding the extension of WLB policies in Arabic settings is offered, as well as cultural, social and religious reasons for their implementation. The study presents a theoretical model of the adoption and application of WLB policies which can be used in further crosscultural research.

Den här avhandlingen tar till syfte att närmare förklara hur det i svensk 1700-talslitteratur vanligt förekommande satiriska porträtterandet av en landsman som har låtit sig påverkas av fransk kultur, i seder, språk och mode, på sådant sätt att han har blivit en ”sprätthök”, utgör en kritik av det franska kulturinflytandet. Avhandlingen visar också hur det kritiska förhållningssättet till det franska kulturinflytandet, som kanaliseras i beskrivningarna av sprätthöksfigurens förfranskade later, är inbegripet i diskurser om nationell tillhörighet, kultur, moral och språk. Det åberopade källmaterialet, till större delen från perioden 1720-1772, består av varjehanda moralsatirisk litteratur, varav sedekomedier och moraliska veckoskrifter utgör kärnan i analysen. Den analytiska delen av avhandlingen är indelad i tre större kapitel. Det första analsykapitlet tar itu med hur sprätthöksfiguren definieras i källmaterialet. Dessutom visar kapitlet hur resandet till Frankrike och i synnerhet till staden Paris, samtidigt som det ingår i tidens allmänt hållna kritik mot unga adelsmäns bildningsresande, utpekas som förklaringen till att svenskar omskapas till förfranskade sprätthökar. Det andra analyskapitlet visar hur sprätthökarna kan sägas förkroppsliga de stereotypiska föreställningarna om en moraliskt fördärvlig fransk nationalkaraktär och därigenom bidra till konstruktionen av motbilden till en svensk, dygdig och positiv nationalkaraktär. Det tredje analyskapitlet behandlar de språkideologiska motiv och den kritik mot en förfranskad umgängeskultur som kan utläsas i åsikterna om och beskrivningarna av sprätthökarnas språkbruk. / The subject of this dissertation concerns 18th century literary depictions of a certain satirical character, the fop, or in Swedish the “sprätthök”. The overall aim of this study is to investigate how the portrayals of the “sprätthök” are involved in the creation of a critical discourse on French cultural influence and how this, in turn, has a bearing on 18th century conceptions of national identity, morals, culture and language. The material referred to in this dissertation consists of Swedish 18th century literature during the period 1720-1772, mainly comedies of manners and moral weeklies. The analytical part of the dissertation is divided into three major chapters, each dealing with a certain theme. The first of these chapters addresses the question of how the “sprätthök” is defined in the source material and moreover how the criticism of educational travel abroad, to France and Paris, is part of the discussion of how young male Swedes are transformed into Frenchified fops. The second of these chapters deals with the concept of national character and how Swedish fops can be said to embody the negative image of the French national character. The third major analytical chapter concentrates on the language used by fops, and the underlying criticism based on language ideology which is thereby evoked.

The study vacillates between the text, the reader and the author. Examining biography and such socio-cultural factors as marriage and cosmology, the reader is equipped with sufficient background which illuminates the ideology behind the text. The cosmological conceptions of the Northern Sotho shed some light on the poet's views on the child's first cry. These assumptions lay a foundation for the religious views expressed in his texts. The contradictions between African religion and Christianity help us comprehend the frustrations of secular and religious lives in our country. These also serve as linchpins towards understanding the pursuit of religious pluralism. The concept 'intertextuality' is explored. Cases of intratextuality and intertextuality which dispute the absolutist view in meaning composition highlight the interrelatedness of texts and how each relationship impacts on meaning. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

Approved for public release; distribution in unlimited. / The role of Latin America in U.S. foreign policy has ebbed and flowed for over 100 years. Over the last 15 years, the relationship between the United States and Latin America has seen a precipitous drop in both cooperation and cordiality. The amicable relationships that the United States once enjoyed with Brazil and Venezuela specifically have become acrimonious. With the United States' increased interest in completing a Free Trade Area of the Americas agreement by January, relations with Brazil are vital. The United States' continued dependence on imported petroleum from Venezuela and America's concern over Venezuela's growing relationship with Cuba make this country also important to U.S. foreign policy. The thesis focuses on the United States' ability to use its cultural influence (soft power) to positively effect U.S. relations with Brazil and Venezuela. By analyzing past and present effects of U.S. cultural influence in these two countries, the U.S. can better understand and appreciate the influence it wields as the world's only remaining super power. This thesis finds that despite historic evidence, the U.S. has had and continues to have a propensity to use soft power influence tactically, diminishing the effectiveness of its innate power and influence as being the global leader in military, economic, cultural, and technological matters. Conversely, the U.S. attempts to use its hard power (military and economic) strategically, thereby only breeding anti-Americanism globally. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

The study vacillates between the text, the reader and the author. Examining biography and such socio-cultural factors as marriage and cosmology, the reader is equipped with sufficient background which illuminates the ideology behind the text. The cosmological conceptions of the Northern Sotho shed some light on the poet's views on the child's first cry. These assumptions lay a foundation for the religious views expressed in his texts. The contradictions between African religion and Christianity help us comprehend the frustrations of secular and religious lives in our country. These also serve as linchpins towards understanding the pursuit of religious pluralism. The concept 'intertextuality' is explored. Cases of intratextuality and intertextuality which dispute the absolutist view in meaning composition highlight the interrelatedness of texts and how each relationship impacts on meaning. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

La directionnalité est une composante perceptivo-motrice et culturellement déterminée qui intervient de façon prééminente dans l’acquisition initiale de l’écriture. Cette thèse visait à apporter des données empiriques et des éclairages théoriques nouveaux sur 1) son évolution au cours du développement et, 2) sa contribution à la production et à la reconnaissance des formes de lettres. Ces deux axes de recherche ont été déclinés en cinq études. Une première étude investiguait le poids de l’influence culturelle sur la directionnalité graphique au long du développement. Elle permettait de comparer les performances de tracé chez des enfants âgés de 5 à 9 ans dans des conditions où des contraintes biomécaniques, syntaxiques et sémantiques variaient. Les résultats faisaient apparaître un renforcement de l’influence culturelle sur la directionnalité graphique à partir de 6 ans. Cependant, les enfants les plus âgés (9 ans) se montraient capables d’adopter des procédures plus flexibles et de se désengager de contraintes culturelles afin de satisfaire des contraintes contextuelles. La deuxième étude examinait l’évolution développementale de la directionnalité de l’écrit chez des enfants âgés de 4 à 11 ans en comparant la production de formes communes à l’écriture et au dessin. Les résultats obtenus mettaient en évidence une acquisition synchrone des invariants universels (i.e., l’écriture est uni-directionnelle) et des spécificités culturelles du système d’écriture (i.e., la langue est transcrite de gauche à droite). Dans le deuxième axe de recherche, deux études avaient pour objectif de mettre à l’épreuve des faits des hypothèses explicatives récentes de l’écriture en miroir dans l’acquisition initiale et typique de l’écrit. La comparaison de productions en temps réel et appariées d’écritures en miroir et d’écritures conventionnelles chez des enfants pré-lettrés révélait une implication majeure de la directionnalité de l’écrit et une invariance cinématique. Enfin, la dernière étude a permis de mettre en évidence, à l’aide d’un paradigme d’entrainement, une contribution de la directionnalité de l’écriture au rappel de l’orientation de lettres a été mise en évidence chez des enfants pré-lettrés. Les résultats obtenus sont discutés dans une approche incarnée de la cognition et des pistes pédagogiques sont amorcées. / Directionality is a crucial perceptual-motor and culturally-based component of early writing acquisition. This research was aimed at providing empirical data and new theoretical insights on 1) its developmental evolution and, 2) its contribution to the production and the recognition of the shapes of letters. Five studies have been devised to fulfill the research objectives.The first study was aimed at investigating how print experience, as a cultural factor, influences directional tendencies in children’s drawing in the interplay with biomechanical, syntactic and semantic factors. Results showed a reinforcement of cultural influence on directional tendencies from 6 years onward. Older children were better able to disengage from a prevalent embodied behavior to meet contextual constraints. The second study examined the specific developmental evolution of writing directionality in children aged from 4 to 11 years while producing the same shapes in both writing and drawing tasks. The results suggested that universal and culture-specific features of writing appear concomitantly and early on in children’s productions. Another two studies were aimed to empirically test competing accounts of mirror writing in preliterate children. On-line productions of paired conventional and mirror writings revealed a predominant role of writing directionality and a kinematic invariance. Finally, a training study showed a contribution of writing directionality to the subsequent recall of the shapes of letters. Results are discussed in terms of embodiment and perspectives in educational settings.

Dans un monde globalisé où compétitivité et concurrence façonnent en partie la scène politique etéconomique internationale, la construction d’une image voire d’une identité via la communication extérieuredevient un outil de puissance. Ces implications se retrouvent de la même manière dans les relations entre unÉtat, la France, et les opinions publiques nationales et étrangères.Cette thèse de doctorat complète le questionnement de la place de la France dans le monde.L’étude de la production de la communication extérieure par l’État, personnifiant la Nation, prend formedans un contexte géopolitique mouvant, caractérisé par une évolution technologique et médiatiquedifficilement prévisible. Elle propose une synthèse de la communication extérieure marquée par les structuresde la Ve République et par la politique étrangère menée par le Ministère des Affaires étrangères et impulséepar le chef de l’État. Les freins psychologiques, le refus de la communication comme outil de visibilité et depouvoir ainsi que les problématiques intérieures pèsent sur l’élaboration de politiques pensées et crédibles.Cette recherche interroge également la légitimité de l’échelle de la communication extérieure de la Francelorsque l’attractivité économique se dispute au niveau régional et que la compétition politique se livre à unniveau supra – national.Ce travail fait état de l’existant afin de proposer la correction de travers nationaux qui compliquent lespolitiques de communication supposées porter la voix de la France dans le monde. / In a globalized world partly shaped by competition between nations, building a strong identity andimage is becoming an increasing tool of power.Producing such a good image and appearance is similarly important when it comes to relationshipsbetween states as to relationships between France and its own public opinion or foreign publicopinion. That’s where foreign communication and public diplomacy counts.This PhD thesis aims at providing another point of view and an answer to the French questioningabout France’s place in the world nowadays.Mainly managed by the French foreign office, foreign communication policies represent the will ofthe government and express its directions more than a French identity.The characteristics of the French tradition of diplomacy and international relations are marked by thespecificity of the Vth Republic. The governments’ foreign policies between 2003 and 2009 follow thenew strategy of France as a member of the international community building and preserving peace.Ambitions for France as an independent and important nation have to find a foundation in its actionsas well as a translation in the medias.The skills and means devoted to the foreign communicationpolicies appear to miss some points.We looked at the current situation to reveal the lacks and strengths of the process. Our work alsointend to suggest ways of imagining, building and managing operational policies and campaignsthroughout the world this next years.Psychological pressures from domestical tradition of rejecting communication refrains the population in itsself-representation and so far the country from entering the cognitive war this new century brought in.