This diploma thesis examines the Norwegian policy of cooperation in Education and Research as a soft-power tool for Norway's foreign policy. Within a European context, three levels of Norway's participation in Education and Research programmes will be analyzed. The first level is Norway's cooperation policy toward the EU, though as a weaker actor. The second is Norway's value of cooperation as an equal partner, which is typical in the Nordic region. And the third is cooperation via EEA Grants and Norway Grants, in which Norway is a dominant player. This thesis combines a theory of international cooperation and Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye's theory of soft-power, complex interdependence and asymmetry of relations between the participants. In the research, a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods are used. This thesis reveals that Norway decreases the financial spending to the areas where it has more influence and can utilize more of its soft power, while it also invests into areas where it plays the role of substandard actor. An explanation is found in the theory of international cooperation and the game of Chicken, where the longstanding and successful corporation strives to achieve a compromise rather than a win, i.e. to moderate any power fluctuation and strive for an equilibrium state.

Boksamtal och kooperativt lärande är två lärandemetoder som enligt forskning har en positiv inverkan på elevers engagemang och motivation. Dock visar resultat från tidigare forskning att lärare har svårt att implementera dessa metoder i sin undervisning. Därför är syftet med studien att studera hur svensklärare uppfattar sin undervisningspraktik när de kombinerar boksamtal med kooperativt lärande, samt eventuella hinder och möjligheter som lärarna upplever med denna kombination. Till grund för resultatet ligger svar från intervjuer och loggböcker, där tre svensklärare som är verksamma i årskurs 4–6, fått reflektera kring boksamtal och kooperativt lärande. I studien har vi tagit fram färdiga lektionsupplägg som lärarna fått genomföra i klassrummet. Resultat från studien visar att boksamtal med hjälp av kooperativa strukturer inte endast ger lärare möjlighet att skapa mer variation på boksamtalen, utan också bidrar till ett större engagemang och ökat samarbete hos eleverna. Men för att en implementering ska lyckas behöver lärarna få stöttning genom utbildning och ha en egen vilja att använda dessa. Sammanfattningsvis visardet slutgiltiga resultatet av studien att lärarna upplever fler möjligheter än hinder med att kombinera dessa lärandemetoder. Samtliga lärare uppgav att kombinationen med boksamtal och kooperativt lärande är något de vill fortsätta med i sitt arbete med skönlitteratur.

<p>  </p> <p>The overarching goal of this dissertation was to understand how between-partner feedback loops facilitate adjustment in the year following a military deployment (i.e., reintegration). Reintegration encompasses a period of family transitions and can be a challenging and turbulent time for couples as they attempt to reconnect and reorganize household dynamics. Couples may experience changes in how they interact, and partners may be able to act as a catalyst for promoting positive change in each other. Guided by Family Systems and Interdependence Theories, this study tested a specific feedback loop of a between-partner mechanism across a period of family stress and transitions. Whereas the demand/withdraw dynamic is one example of a feedback loop that is consequential for relationship well-being, the present study examined an alternative feedback loop where partners may respond to individuals’ withdrawal with a type of constructive partner support that encourages discussions and facilitates effective collaboration (i.e., active engagement). Relationship happiness, an indicator for relationship climate, was considered as a moderator in this proposed feedback loop as it intersects with individuals’ tendencies to withdraw, partners’ attempts at support provision, and global relationship functioning during periods of stress and transition. </p> <p>This study utilized longitudinal dyadic data from 124 couples at three time points in the year following service members’ return from deployment to examine the 1) longitudinal interpersonal dynamics of individuals’ tendencies to withdraw, 2) mediating role of partners’ active engagement in the change in individuals’ withdrawal, and 3) moderating role of relationship happiness in the interpersonal dynamics. Study aims were evaluated with a series of actor-partner interdependence models and path models in a structural equation modeling framework. Results suggest three interpretations. First, whereas this study sought to examine change in individuals’ tendencies to withdraw, the data indicate high levels of within-person stability. Second, this study modeled a possible feedback loop where partners’ attempts at active engagement would result in less individual withdrawal. While I did not find evidence of this feedback loop as proposed, it appeared that (female) significant others’ withdrawal was salient for reductions in (male) service members’ active engagement. Finally, I sought to understand how relationship climate (operationalized by a dyad-level indicator of relationship happiness) was associated with the interpersonal dynamics. Couples defined by a happier relationship climate had a stronger negative association between significant others’ withdrawal and service members’ active engagement. This finding may be evidence of happier couples being more apt to shift between levels of independence and interdependence, which may be especially useful for postdeployment transitions. Taken together, findings from this study suggest that individuals’ tendencies to withdraw are relatively robust to the perturbations of deployment and the utility of flexibility and adaptability in couples’ patterns across reintegration. This dissertation concludes with a discussion of the theoretical implications, avenues for future research, and potential applications of these findings.  </p>

This study analyzes recent developments in U. S.- Iranian relations during the Nixon administration and attempts to portray the principal objectives of the United States and Iran vis-a-vis each other. Complex Interdependence is the model for development of the arguments. Due to the circumstances, however, the study substantially draws on Realism as well. Chapter I discusses methodology. Chapter II focuses on the Nixon Doctrine and its impact on U. S.-Iranian relations. Chapter III discusses the evolution of mutual interests between the two nations in the Gulf area. Chapter IV drawing on the previous chapters, concludes that an interdependent relation between the two nations has developed to the extent that in some areas policy of one nation would have an impact on the other, i.e., increase in the price of oil.

There is an increasing interest in within-group agreement in organizations, in response to evidence that agreement is predictive of various outcomes of interest. The model in this study suggests that within-group agreement on perceptions of the work environment is predicted indirectly by the quality of exchange relationships, specifically team-member exchange (TMX), leader-member exchange (LMX), social interaction and work interdependence, through the mediation of social influence, and directly by demographic homogeneity. Chan's (1998) typology of composition models was used to appropriately conceptualize the variables at the group level.Results suggest that average high quality LMX relationships are predictive of within-group agreement, and that high quality relationships within the team are predictive of perceptions of social influence within the team. The mediation model was non-significant, and contrary to existing literature, social interaction and work interdependence were not significantly related to any of the other variables in the model.Demographic homogeneity was related to both perceptions of social influence and to within-group agreement on perceptions of the work environment in the opposite direction from that hypothesized. Post-hoc analyses suggest that organizational cultural orientation (collectivist or individualist) may moderate the relationship between demographic homogeneity and within-group agreement on perceptions of the work environment.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / Ethnicity, sectarianism and economic instability are fundamental variables of internal security threats to Pakistan. Religious extremism has created an unenviable image of Pakistan in the eyes of the rest of the world and has affected the country adversely. At the same time inter-provincial grievances could potentially cause serious damage to the federation. Despite recent economic recovery and sound macro policies, the absence of genuine socio-economic development has provided ethno-sectarian elements and regional forces grounds to exploit and weaken Pakistan internally. This paper argues that ethno-sectarian problems are major security threats to Pakistan and will remain a huge impediment to the goals of economic prosperity. Interdependence of these multifaceted threats and their overall impact on internal security is the focus of this analysis. Pakistan needs to address these national security threats and find a viable solution in a reasonable timeframe to find its rightful place in the community of modern nations. The immediate requirement is to introduce political, economic and education reforms and take bold initiatives to obviate present and future threats. This paper recommends three-pronged strategy to counter ethnosectarian threats to Pakistan: halt then reverse present trends, enforce rule of law and lastly introduce fresh incentives for socio-economic development. / Lieutenant Colonel, Pakistan Army

The overarching question of the study was how common mutual love is, and to what extent attachment relates to relationship asymmetries. Four research questions and four hypotheses were posed and explored using a cross-sectional survey design with data analyzed using quantitative methods. Instruments were employed to measure passionate love, companionate love, partner value, emotional involvement and attachment. All four hypotheses found partial support. The main result show that a) asymmetries are relatively common on all scales b) mutual love means increased satisfaction, but mainly for women c) for most couples partners take turn at being the strong link, and this fluctuating dynamic leads to increased satisfaction c) attachment anxiety is related to asymmetries in romantic obsession rather than general passion d) avoidance in men relate to asymmetries in passionate love whereas avoidance in women relate to asymmetries in companionate love e) it seems common to have some form of positive illusions about whether one’s relationship is mutual or not. Finally, disagreeing about emotional involvement affects satisfaction more than actual asymmetries in love. The conclusion drawn is that honest communication is more important than mutual love.

A análise das interdependências e contágio dos países da América Latina em relação aos EUA é o objetivo principal deste trabalho. A dinâmica dos mecanismos de transmissão de volatilidade nos mercados de ações e de CDS (Credit Default Swap) foi alterada a partir da crise iniciada em 2008. A tese apresenta a revisão de literatura sobre crises financeiras, seus mecanismos de transmissão e a sua relação com os fatores macroeconômicos dos países latinos. Em seguida são apresentados os dados secundários, incluindo os índices regionais e internacionais das Bolsas de Valores e de CDS soberanos. A metodologia de análise dos dados utiliza estatística descritiva, séries temporais (DCC GARCH), regressão linear múltipla e testes de hipótese. Os resultados indicam que, notadamente durante a crise, os fatores regional e global aumentam e evidenciam potenciais de contágio na Colômbia, México e Peru. No mercado de CDS, há evidências de contágio no Brasil, Chile, Colômbia e México. Utilizando-se a comparação das correlações dinâmicas, identificou-se contágio para os seis países latino-americanos estudados, sendo que em quatro deles, Argentina, Brasil, Chile e Peru, houve contágio pré-crise e redução de correlações no período seguinte à crise. Na análise de regressão linear múltipla, a inclusão do retorno norte-americano explicou melhor a variância dos retornos de CDS do que a volatilidade implícita das opções do índice S&P500, medido pelo indicador VIX. As mudanças nos mercados foram, em sua maioria, interdependências, quando verificadas as relações com CDS soberano. / The analysis of interdependence and contagion in Latin America countries in relation to the USA is the aim of this work. The dynamics of mechanisms of volatility transmission throughout the stock and CDS (Credit Default Swap) markets have changed since the 2008 crisis eclosion. This thesis presents a literature review on financial crises, their mechanisms of transmission and their relationship with macroeconomic factors among Latin American countries. Data series include regional and international Stock Exchange indexes and sovereign CDS market. The methodology for data analysis uses descriptive statistics, time-series analysis including DCC GARCH technique, multiple linear regression and hypothesis tests. Results indicate that, remarkably during the crisis period, the interdependence among regional and global factors have increased and show evidence of contagion potentials in Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The CDS market exhibit evidence of contagion in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. By utilizing comparison of dynamic correlations, contagion has been identified for the six Latin American countries under study, being that for four of them (Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru) there has been pre-crisis contagion and reduction of correlations in the period following the crisis. In the robust regression, the inclusion of the U.S. return was capable to explain the variance on CDS returns better than the implicit volatility of the S&P500 index options, measured by VIX index. Changes in the sovereign CDS markets have been, in their majority, interdependences.

O presente trabalho examina o chamado problema da indeterminação jurídica, de maneira a procurar explicitar o tipo de questões teóricas que suscita e apreciar o alcance ou fecundidade das respostas que tais questões possibilitam, sobretudo sob o ângulo da discussão dos pressupostos institucionais subjacentes à organização das atividades de aplicação do direito. Nesse contexto, a tese central do trabalho é a de que a ideia de indeterminação do direito, restrita ao contexto jurisdicional e entendida como um fenômeno linguístico, esgotou seu potencial teórico, e que a percepção desse esgotamento deveria conduzir à exploração de formas pelas quais questões de indeterminação do direito podem ser mais produtivamente tratadas como questões sobre configuração institucional do que como questões sobre a natureza, ou defeitos, da linguagem. São analisadas abordagens paradigmáticas do problema - no pensamento de Hans Kelsen, H.L.A. Hart e Ronald Dworkin - e os pressupostos institucionais que as informam, assim como identificados pontos de partida, nos estudos de Lon L. Fuller voltados à avaliação de formas alternativas de organização social, para exercícios de inovação institucional. A possibilidade de tais exercícios é exemplificada, ao final do trabalho, com propostas específicas de inovação, elaboradas por autores contemporâneos, concentradas na função jurisdicional, dirigidas a enfrentar o reconhecido impasse entre propostas de expansão e contenção da atuação judicial no contexto de efetivação de direitos sociais de caráter distributivo. / This work analyses the so-called legal indeterminacy problem, in order to make explicit the kind of theoretical issues it engenders and to assess the scope or fecundity of the answers such issues make possible, especially in terms of the discussion of institutional assumptions underlying the organization of the adjudicative function. In this setting, the central claim of this work is that the theoretical potential of the idea of legal indeterminacy, limited to the adjudicative realm and understood mainly as a linguistic phenomenon, has been worn out, and that the acknowledgment of this result should lead to the investigation of ways in which ?legal indeterminacy? issues might be more productively treated as issues about institutional innovation than issues about the nature, or defects, of language. The exemplary works of Hans Kelsen, H.L.A. Hart, and Ronald Dworkin and the institutional assumptions underlying their thought, in connection with the indeterminacy problem, are reviewed, along with the writings of Lon L. Fuller dedicated to the assessment of alternative processes of social ordering, which are taken as a point of departure for exercises in institutional innovation. The possibility of such exercises is illustrated, at the end of this work, with specific innovation proposals by contemporary authors focused on the adjudicative job, dedicated to facing the theoretical deadlock between proposals for expanding and restricting the judicial role in the context of making welfare rights, of a distributive character, concrete

This is a qualitative study which aims to explore if cooperative learning can be a teaching strategy to improve inclusiveness, social relations and academic achievement for young students in special needs in Swedish primary schools. Earlier research in cooperative learning and its effects suggests that social interdependence and individual accountability are important components, according to Johnson, Johnson and Holubec (1994). Other prominent factors for successful cooperative learning is that students have opportunity to practise and improve their cooperative and social abilities, that the structures of education are thoroughly implemented and well known by the teachers and, finally, that differences among children are viewed as beneficial rather than problematic. To conduct this study, semistructured interviews and participating open classroom observations has been done. Four female teachers with long experience and two female principals have been interviewed. Two classroom observations has been conducted. The results of the study show that principals consider the teachers' abilities to be most important for the inclusion of students, their social relations and academic achievements. Three of the four teachers regard cooperative learning as a teaching strategy for inclusion, social relations and academic achievement, while the fourth teacher experience that cooperative learning can be excluding for some students in special needs. The classroom observations suggest that a thoroughly implemented cooperative learning, with a teacher who is versed in the basic thoughts and theories of cooperative learning may foster inclusion, social relations and academic achievement.