This diploma thesis polemizes with the relationship of human and smart technologies on a background of problematic of a postmodern society and aims to formulate a conclusion in that the use of smart technologies, given their current form and the current state of affairs in general, with its side effects may affect the form and nature of the whole society. By analyzing fundamental aspects of a postmodern society, particularly by reflecting on the processes of globalization, individualization, rationalization and relativization, complemented by illustrative examples of the effects of the use of smart technologies by ordinary and lay users, it is relating to the basic characteristics of current society. Its aim is to demonstrate imaginary spectacularness, in terms of the use of smart technologies and also in terms of the unfulfilled ideal of modernity, and it also aims to relate this imaginary spectacularness to the question of scientific and technological progress and also to the question of human nature as these are questions of the future development of the current postmodern spectacular society.

許英. / Thesis (doctoral)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 354-392). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Xu Ying.

楊秀英. / 附加書名頁題: Social pattern and art : the social pattern on contempory sculpture in Hong Kong. / 論文(藝術碩士) -- 香港中文大學硏究院藝術學部, 1995. / 參考文獻: leaves 56-59. / Yang Xiuying. / Chapter (一） --- 序論 --- p.1-2 / Chapter (二） --- 社會形態的形成及對藝術的影響 --- p.2 / Chapter (1) --- 文化方面 --- p.3-7 / Chapter (2) --- 宗敎方面 --- p.8-12 / Chapter (3) --- 政治方面 --- p.13-14 / Chapter (4) --- 科技方面 --- p.15-24 / Chapter (5) --- 經濟方面 --- p.25-26 / Chapter (6) --- 敎育方面 --- p.26-27 / Chapter (三） --- 社會形態與藝術互動的結果 --- p.27-28 / Chapter (1) --- 部落社會 --- p.28 / Chapter (2) --- 農業社會 --- p.28 / Chapter (3) --- 工業與科技社會 --- p.29 / Chapter (四） --- 社會形態如何影響香港當代雕塑創作 / Chapter ´þ --- 社會形態如何影響香港當代雕塑創作 --- p.3040 / Chapter (2) --- 結論 --- p.40-52 / Chapter (五） --- 附註 --- p.53-55 / Chapter (六） --- 參考書目 --- p.56-59

This multi-year, multi-city investigation seeks to examine how and why civic associations are employing information communication technologies (ICTs) in their work and the extent to which these uses are transforming urban ‘civic space.’ Rather than being passive non-state actors shaped by technologies in the ‘networked city,’ civic environmental associations are treated in this study as co-evolving ‘actor-networks’ that are both shaping and shaped by their ICT practices. This study systematically examines how ICT-linked tools or platforms are reconfiguring civic associations and civic space in the three ‘tiger city’ settings of Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei. This investigation employs grounded theory, case study methods, and actor-network theory to examine the co-evolution of ICTs and civic environmental associations. The concept of info-sociations (ICT-associations) is employed in constructing a socio-technical model for analysis of the fast-evolving ICT practices of civic associations. Such an approach suggests that diverse forms of ICT-linked praxis—where civic ideals and knowledge are being put into practice—involves multimodal digital practices; alongside blended or multiplexed physical and virtual practices; and multiscalar practices. The info-sociational model compares ICT-linked organizational, participatory and spatial practices at the associational level by examining digitally-linked: internal and external organizational change; reconfigurations in the public sphere and cyberactivism; scalar transformations and associational alliance formations. Analyses of city-specific ‘civic space’ storylines; alongside a discussion of the problems and potentialities of ICT-linked practices also contributes to an integrated info-sociational model. An info-sociational approach therefore serves to examine transformations in knowledge, power and space as civic environmentalists employ ICTs. The info-sociational model supports an analysis of three pairs of age-distinct civic environmental associations in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei. These six cases (as units of analysis) were selected for their diverse civic environmental activities; their differences in age; and their variety of ICT-linked practices, including uses for: public deliberations, and mobilizing activism; networked alliance formations; identifying environmental and spatial issues in city regions; and creating alternative green media. Employing the info-sociational model in analyses of the six civic environmental associations led to the observations that: ‘externally-oriented’ ICT-linked practices were of greater importance than ‘internal practices’ amongst civic associations; that groups prioritized ‘digital green public sphere’ practices compared to ‘cyberactivism’; and these associations employed ICTs more frequently for ‘alliance-building’ than for ‘spatial transformations.’ Several of the cases illustrated how ICTs can enhance or augment existing alliances and potentially support new types of civic-cyber formations. By touching on questions of knowledge, power and space an info-sociational approach therefore can contribute to integrated explanations of how and why civic associations are using and (re)shaping ICTs in pursuit of their diverse aims for more livable and just cities. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Univ., Diss.--Tübingen, 2008.

Zugl.: Göttingen, Universiẗat, Diss., 2006.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 279-293).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 295-305). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

The aim of this thesis is to examine whether Venezuela's democratic decline could be explained by the consolidation theory of Juan Linz and Alfred Stepan. Between the years 2005 – 2017, the organization Freedom House concluded that Venezuela’s political and civil rights declined, resulted in that Freedom House classified Venezuela from “partly free” in 2005 to “not free” in 2017, and several scientists classified Venezuela year 2017 as an autocracy. The method is to apply the consolidation theory and its five arenas (the civil society, the political society, rule of law, state bureaucracy and economic society) in the case Venezuela between the years 2005 – 2017. Each arena contains different qualifications which are all needed for a state to transition from democracy to consolidated democracy. However, in this thesis the aim is to study if the consolidation theory is able to explain a state’s transition from democracy to autocracy. By using material as scientific articles and reports, it is concluded that each arenas’ qualifications have deteriorated between the years 2005 - 2017. Therefore, it is found that the consolidation theory works very well in explaining a state’s transition from democracy to autocracy, which in this case is Venezuela.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1966 E68 / Master of Science