In literature and popular discourse sustainable development debates have a habit of polarizing around conflicting understandings. On the one hand sustainable development is interpreted as an extension of dominant neoliberal agendas, on the other it is constructed as an alternative to the mainstream. This thesis works through these positions, to argue for an understanding of sustainable development in the spaces between; where hegemony and counterhegemony slip and slide, collide, disrupt and confuse. It is a thesis about the entanglements of sustainable development policy; a study in which I contend that sustainable development is best understood through the multiple sites of practice where policy is enacted. Drawing upon notions of messiness and bringing together actor-orientated sociology and livelihoods approaches, I explore sustainable development as it is negotiated through networks of actors and livelihoods in rural Cambodia. Specifically, I present a study of two projects implementing community fisheries as an instrument of sustainable development policy in two remote provinces of Cambodia. It is a study about the different actors responsible for implementing each project, as well as the life worlds of rural villagers affected by them. Through an in-depth analysis grounded in the diverse realities of people in particular places, I uncover the struggles through which sustainable development is negotiated. I expose a policy interpreted through multiple, overlapping simplifications and assumptions and uncover how these are simultaneously produced, recirculated, contested and transformed in practice. Significantly, I highlight the destabalising consequences of a policy which attempts to legislate away diversity or difference. Thus, I reveal the possibility of alternative realities finding expression through spaces otherwise characterised by domination.

<p>Nano-powders of BaTiO₃, SrTiO₃, Ba_0.6Sr_0.4TiO₃, a mixture of the composition (BaTiO₃)_0.6(SrTiO₃)_0.4 with particle sizes in the range of 60 to 80 nm, and Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ with an average particle size of 100 nm were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The kinetics of reaction, densification and grain growth were studied. An experimental procedure is outlined that allows the determination of a “kinetic window” within which dense nano-sized compacts can be prepared. It is shown that the sintering behaviour of the five powders varies somewhat, but is generally speaking fairly similar. However, the types of grain growth behaviour of these powders are quite different, exemplified by the observation that the kinetic window for the (BaTiO₃)_0.6(SrTiO₃)_0.4 mixture is 125 ^oC, ~75 ^oC for Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂, ~25^oC for BaTiO₃ and SrTiO₃, while it is hard to observe an apparent kinetic window for obtaining nano-sized compacts of Ba_0.6Sr_0.4TiO₃. During the densification of the (BaTiO₃)_0.6(SrTiO₃)_0.4 mixture the reaction 0.6BaTiO₃+0.4SrTiO₃ → Ba_0.6Sr_0.4TiO₃ takes place, and this reaction is suggested to have a self-pinning effect on the grain growth, which in turn explains why this powder has a large kinetic window. Notably, SPS offers a unique opportunity to more preciously investigate and monitor the sintering kinetics of nano-powders, and it allows preparation of ceramics with tailored microstructures.</p><p>The dielectric properties of selected samples of (Ba, Sr)TiO₃ ceramics have been studied. The results are correlated with the microstructural features of these samples, <i>e.g.</i> to the grain sizes present in the compacts. The ceramic with nano-sized microstructure exhibits a diffuse transition in permittivity and reduced dielectric losses in the vicinity of the Curie temperature, whereas the more coarse-grained compacts exhibit normal dielectric properties in the ferroelectric region.</p><p>The morphology evolution, with increasing sintering temperature, of bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric ceramics such as Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ (BIT) and CaBi₂Nb₂O₉ (CBNO) was investigated. The subsequent isothermal sintering experiments revealed that the nano-sized particles of the BIT precursor powder grew into elongated plate-like grains within a few minutes, via a dynamic ripening mechanism.</p><p>A new processing strategy for obtaining highly textured ceramics is described. It is based on a<i> directional dynamic ripening mechanism</i> <i>induced by superplastic deformation</i>. The new strategy makes it possible to produce a <i>textured</i> microstructure within minutes, and it allows production of textured ferroelectric ceramics with tailored morphology and improved physical properties.</p><p>The ferroelectric, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties of the textured bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric ceramics have been studied, and it was revealed that all textured samples exhibited anisotropic properties and improved performance. The highly textured Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ ceramic exhibited ferroelectric properties equal to or better than those of corresponding single crystals, and much better than those previously reported for grain-orientated Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ ceramics. Textured CaBi₂Nb₂O₉ ceramics exhibited a very high Curie temperature, <i>d</i><i>33</i>-values nearly three times larger than those of conventionally sintered materials, and a high thermal depoling temperature indicating that it is a very promising material for high-temperature piezoelectric applications.</p>

Nano-powders of BaTiO3, SrTiO3, Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3, a mixture of the composition (BaTiO3)0.6(SrTiO3)0.4 with particle sizes in the range of 60 to 80 nm, and Bi4Ti3O12 with an average particle size of 100 nm were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The kinetics of reaction, densification and grain growth were studied. An experimental procedure is outlined that allows the determination of a “kinetic window” within which dense nano-sized compacts can be prepared. It is shown that the sintering behaviour of the five powders varies somewhat, but is generally speaking fairly similar. However, the types of grain growth behaviour of these powders are quite different, exemplified by the observation that the kinetic window for the (BaTiO3)0.6(SrTiO3)0.4 mixture is 125 oC, ~75 oC for Bi4Ti3O12, ~25oC for BaTiO3 and SrTiO3, while it is hard to observe an apparent kinetic window for obtaining nano-sized compacts of Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3. During the densification of the (BaTiO3)0.6(SrTiO3)0.4 mixture the reaction 0.6BaTiO3+0.4SrTiO3 → Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 takes place, and this reaction is suggested to have a self-pinning effect on the grain growth, which in turn explains why this powder has a large kinetic window. Notably, SPS offers a unique opportunity to more preciously investigate and monitor the sintering kinetics of nano-powders, and it allows preparation of ceramics with tailored microstructures. The dielectric properties of selected samples of (Ba, Sr)TiO3 ceramics have been studied. The results are correlated with the microstructural features of these samples, e.g. to the grain sizes present in the compacts. The ceramic with nano-sized microstructure exhibits a diffuse transition in permittivity and reduced dielectric losses in the vicinity of the Curie temperature, whereas the more coarse-grained compacts exhibit normal dielectric properties in the ferroelectric region. The morphology evolution, with increasing sintering temperature, of bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric ceramics such as Bi4Ti3O12 (BIT) and CaBi2Nb2O9 (CBNO) was investigated. The subsequent isothermal sintering experiments revealed that the nano-sized particles of the BIT precursor powder grew into elongated plate-like grains within a few minutes, via a dynamic ripening mechanism. A new processing strategy for obtaining highly textured ceramics is described. It is based on a directional dynamic ripening mechanism induced by superplastic deformation. The new strategy makes it possible to produce a textured microstructure within minutes, and it allows production of textured ferroelectric ceramics with tailored morphology and improved physical properties. The ferroelectric, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties of the textured bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric ceramics have been studied, and it was revealed that all textured samples exhibited anisotropic properties and improved performance. The highly textured Bi4Ti3O12 ceramic exhibited ferroelectric properties equal to or better than those of corresponding single crystals, and much better than those previously reported for grain-orientated Bi4Ti3O12 ceramics. Textured CaBi2Nb2O9 ceramics exhibited a very high Curie temperature, d33-values nearly three times larger than those of conventionally sintered materials, and a high thermal depoling temperature indicating that it is a very promising material for high-temperature piezoelectric applications.

A tentative historicalpolicy analysis is developed to generate knowledge about local government policies and political legitimacy, as well as to contribute to policy analysis methodology. Social indicators, institutions and actors are used to gain knowledge about the phenomena. What local governments do to deal with and try to solve local problems is assumed to contribute to political legitimacy. The basic question that structures the thesis is to investigate whether, and to what extent, problem-orientated and "problem-effective" local government policy can contribute to political legitimacy. Time-series analysis shows that social malaise problems (poverty and unemployment) have fluctuated over the last 120 years, increasing in some periods and/or communities and decreasing in others. In contrast, problems concerning health and the environment decreased over the same period. Social policies appear to be closely related to local problems during the first hundred years (i.e. from 1874-1970), which indicates that local government policy is problem-orientated. After 1970 the connection between problems and social policy starts to loosen up. During the 1980s local infrastructure and industrial policy begin, for the first time, to follow social malaise problems in the municipalities. Earlier, infrastructure policy grew when problems were small or decreasing. The analysis indicates that municipalities were generally more successful in coping with local problems a hundred years ago. Health policies appear to have contributed towards solving local health problems up until 1970. Social malaise policies, on the other hand, have not directly contributed to solving local problems. Indirecdy, however, the latter type of policies contributed to economic development and promoted the development of local industry during the first hundred years. After 1970, only certain aspects of social malaise policies show positive effects on local problems. Instead, these policies generally seem to have exacerbated local problems. Attempts to resolve social problems, together with social service delivery, turn out to become part of the problem. The interpretation that legitimacy can be reached through problem-orientated and problem-effective policies has some empirical support in the period prior to 1900 and today. However, under predemocratic regimes, as well as during periods when democracy was highly centralized, the support for, and trust in, legality seems to be the dominate source of political legitimacy. / digitalisering@umu

This project has been design orientated and the focus was to study the possibilities of the glass in a industrial product development process. The goal has been to develop a lighting product with strong character that furthermore has possibilities to rational manufacturing. The inspiration comes from many different elements, like 1700 century Swedish glass, Moulin Rouge and contemporary shapes and expressions.

This study was carried out in Ronneby municipality during May 2006. I chose to compare three senior schools with regards to the implementation of objective orientated directives based on the teachers understanding of the task, motivation, resources allocated and their significance for the disparity between boys’ and girls’ grades. I carried out nine in-depth interviews: three at each senior school. From the interviews it emerged that teachers perceive objectives differently from parents and students. Teachers claim that they understand the directives but say that they lack the resources. According to those interviewed, the disparity in grades between boys and girls is due to biological factors, class affiliation and group dynamics. None of those interviewed feel that they contribute to the difference in grades. This study should not be seen as a generalisation but rather as a preliminary study to further research within the topic area.

<p>This project has been design orientated and the focus was to study the possibilities of the glass in a industrial product development process. The goal has been to develop a lighting product with strong character that furthermore has possibilities to rational manufacturing. The inspiration comes from many different elements, like 1700 century Swedish glass, Moulin Rouge and contemporary shapes and expressions.</p>

<p>This study was carried out in Ronneby municipality during May 2006. I chose to compare three senior schools with regards to the implementation of objective orientated directives based on the teachers understanding of the task, motivation, resources allocated and their significance for the disparity between boys’ and girls’ grades.</p><p>I carried out nine in-depth interviews: three at each senior school. From the interviews it emerged that teachers perceive objectives differently from parents and students. Teachers claim that they understand the directives but say that they lack the resources. According to those interviewed, the disparity in grades between boys and girls is due to biological factors, class affiliation and group dynamics. None of those interviewed feel that they contribute to the difference in grades.</p><p>This study should not be seen as a generalisation but rather as a preliminary study to further research within the topic area.</p>

The aim of this study is to generate a grounded theory that explains the content of teachers' and students' work with personal development dialogues and individual development plans using written assessments, all regulated in the national result-oriented curriculum for the Swedish compulsory school. Two secondary schools participated and data was collected on two occasions. Data consists of recorded personal development dialogues, which are informed by written assessments, and copies of the individual development plans written as a conclusion stating agreements between the teacher and student. All data was continuously compared and analyzed by using a grounded theory method. Underpinning the study are the premises of pragmatic philosophy and transactional theory that are assumed to shape the focus of the grounded theory approach and hence of teacher and student transactional strategies. It is argued that teachers' and students' primary concern is to establish result-oriented individualization. This is a means for cooperation in a mutual endeavor to establish improved results, guided by the phases of visible accountability and responsible awareness. By using strategies for planning, guiding, auditing and reflecting, new ways of managing individualization are developed. It is also suggested that a new professional approach has been developed, where teachers and students work in collaborative teams, continuously focusing on improving student results.

The Apartheid Philosophy resulted in creating a heterogenous society in South Africa, with each group having its own distinctive culture and value-orientation. Organizational values, influenced by personal value-orientation employed by White managers, could be challenged by appointing members of this heterogenous society into positions previously held by White managers, thereby emphasizing the need for congruence between organizational and personal value-orientation. The literature study revealed not only the existence of both Individualism and Collectivism, but the co-existence thereof in individual value-orientation and the existence of Ubuntuism as another form of collectivism - the latter being analogous to humanism. Through this empirical study the value-orientations of managers from either Black or White cultural backgrounds, were assessed, using a value-orientation questionnaire. The findings of the present study, although inconclusive, demonstrated that Black and White managers do not differ significantly in terms of their value-orientation at work. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)