In recent years, much ofthe political debate in the West, East aud South has focused on the decentralization of responsibilities from the state to private enterprises and NGOs. But what potential is there for local communities to create their own govenlance structures able to deal with issues up till recently seen as the responsibility of the state? In this thesis, answer to this question is sought by analyzing two case studies from the semi-arid Coimbatore-region in South India from an institutionai perspective. One case concerns the efforts to involve farmers in irrigation water management in the Lower Bhavani Project, while the other focuses on the pressure on textile industrialists in Tirupur city to collectively treat their polluted effluent water. In both cases, the new distribution ofresponsibilities required that groups ofwater users would succeed in establishing new entities for collective action among themselves strong enough to prevent free-riding on a massive scale. Overcoming three main obstacles proved crucial in this process; meeting coordination costs, re-defining the notion of free-riding among resource users, and meeting motivation costs. Factors both within and outsicte the loeal community affected the degree ofsuccess. The distribution and lise of economic, moral and physical power between various actors and the interconnectedness between local and external institutions proved crucial for the establishrnent oflocal govemance stmctures. Moreover, the historical relation between the respective user group and the state has to a large extent affected the goals and strategies oflocal entities of eolleetive action. Clearly, resource management problems at localleve1 can not be solved by simply decentralizing responsibilities from the state to groups ofresource users. Rather, the state could playan important role by initiating, supporting and directing slich local entities of collective action.

The purpose of this discourse analysis of health promotion and healing practices was to describe their functioning historically through practices of governance and risk in the context of neoliberal society. The results portray a constructed subjectivity (identity) among citizens and residents of contemporary society who enact expected health promotion and healing behaviors.Two series of texts were analyzed from a Foucauldian perspective: the Healthy People series from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and the series on Uninsurance published by the Institute of Medicine. The findings generated five themes that comprise the reality of current illness care system rationalities:First, the U.S. illness care system, functioning through technology of insurance or wealth extraction, is dysfunctional as a comprehensive illness care delivery system.Second, health promotion and healing have been subsumed under illness care--if they are addressed it is only as discrete indices that comprise compliance monitoring.Third, micro determinants of health (such as behavioral patterns, genetic predispositions, social circumstances, shortfalls in medical care, and environmental exposures), while important, continue to be the single focus of illness care in the U.S. Conversely, macro determinants of health, contingent on macro-level economic and political structures, remain unrecognized as having any bearing on health outcomes. Macro determinants of health frame the configuration of the social infrastructure in which micro determinants of health unfold.Fourth, neoliberal ideology in the U.S. continues to be the status quo for illness care.Fifth, constructed health promotion and healing identity for individuals is one of health anomie, a new prudentialism where access to health promotion and healing has to be acquired from outside the venue of illness care.How can we become different from what we have become? While acknowledging the limitations inherent in this current discourse of heath promotion and healing, other alternatives must be explored for betterment of human health and wellbeing--such as a shift toward "care of the self" or "self care" that encompasses an embodiment of an arché health, a health that moves beyond contemporary illness discourses of mind-body, one that defies society's inscription of our subjectivity.

This thesis examines the role of women depicted in advertisements and aims at evaluating to what degree the advertising industry adapts to the changes of women’s roles in society. The focus of the research lies on Germany. Advertisements of four German brands are analyzed and compared with the role of women in the German society in order to answer the question to what degree the German advertising industry does take into consideration the role of women in the German society. Nivea, Persil, Fa and Triumph are leading German brands, which target women and thus depict them in their ads or refer to them in the ads’ texts. Advertisements for the time period 1950s till 2000s are analyzed on the basis of content analysis. The long timeline permits to evidence the changes of the depiction of women over time.   The results of the content analysis which is quantitative in nature is undertaken to analyse the advertisements show that the depiction of the women in the ads depends on the decade and also differs from brand to brand, meaning that there is no linear development in the roles depiction of women in advertisements. This is especially visible when compared to previous researches presented in the theoretical chapter. Furthermore, previous researches show a linear development, women have typical roles in each decade and these roles change over the decades in a certain way: Women are mainly shown in “classical” roles in the decades ‘50s till ‘70s and in more varied roles since the ‘80s. The research at hand, however, shows that the ads from the 1950s to the 1970s show more diverse roles of women than the last three decades. Furthermore, only two of the four brands’ ads during the ‘50s to ‘70s depict women in classical roles and that not for all these three decades. Therefore, the results of this study are not in line with the ones found by past researches.   The results of the content analysis are qualitatively compared with the role played by women in the German society. From the comparison it becomes visible that the German advertising industry adapts to the role of women in the society but only to a certain extent. The analysis shows that the adaption of the brands’ advertisements differs from brand to brand and from decade to decade. In some decades the ads depict women as they are in society, others show a more “modern” image of the women and other decades’ ads show an antiquated image of women. In whole, no linear development of the adaption of the advertising industry to the role changes of women in society is visible. Overall, the results provide an understanding of how German women are portrayed in German advertisements over time and shed light on the adaption of the German advertising industry to role changes of women in the German society.

This thesis proposes the exploration of three architectural sources that are narrative in nature: the Renaissance Entry of a Monarch as a public event in the city, the Surrealist novel as a critical medium, and the Teatro del Mondo project by Aldo Rossi for the Venice Biennale of 1979-80, in order to address the making of architecture in the contemporary city. The royal entry and the modern novel are forms that provide for possible interpretation of the city and reflect the difference between the modern and the pre-modern eras. Aldo Rossi's Teatro del Mondo as a work of architecture that was both ephemeral and a place of narrative, was a project that addressed the difficult problems of the architecture of the city. Architecture no longer participates in the realization of ritualistic narrative, as when the festival gave permanence to urban institutions by revealing the order of the Cosmos. However, there remains the necessity for architecture to engage imagination and the narratives implicit in the world.

This thesis reflects research undertaken over the past eight years about the way in which the Bible has been brought to bear on a number of frameworks within the South African socio-historical context. It is argued that it is not at all surprising that the Bible would become a part of the dialogues of the church; the Bible remains the source of the Christian identity of the churches in South Africa in a very particular way. Nor is it really unexpected that the Bible would be influential in discussions on broader societal issues in South Africa. With ± 80% of the South African populace subscribing to the Christian faith, and with the most prominent strands of Christianity found in South Africa making so much of the role of the Bible in their lives of faith, it would be perplexing if the Bible had indeed not been a major feature in these debates. The Bible spoke and speaks to church and country in South Africa. Put differently, as a phenomenological formulation: the Bible is brought to speech, that is, is brought to communication within the closer ecclesiological precincts as well as the broader socio-political environment of South Africa, precisely because of the particular religious configurations that characterise church and culture locally. The following is thus, albeit retroatively, posed as a general research question running centrally through all the research essays under review here: How was the Bible brought to communication within different spheres of the South African society? A total of nine scholarly publications are included, although in fact they represent seven research outputs. In two cases the research was first published as chapters in books, and was then re-published in article format. The most important conclusions reached, are: that the Old Testament is a vastly under-utilised source for communicating Christian spirituality, a state of affairs for which ten reasons can been indicated; that literal Bible translations are more effective in engaging Bible readers, because they invite active, interpretative participation by the intended receivers; that the use of the Bible for political purposes, even for opposing political causes, always reduces the Bible to a rhetorical tool, namely to substantiate views being propagated; that the present government's communication on religious matters has been rhetorically ambivalent: while continued funding for university programmes of - by name - Biblical Studies, has been questioned in Parliament and elsewhere, the churches (for whom the Bible is central to their identity and as a motivational force) are called upon to support government's social relief programmes; that the editorial and other comment columns of newspapers offer a substantial, yet vastly under-utilised resource for preachers in their attempts to deliver contextually relevant sermons; that deliberate consideration given to persuasive variables are of substantial importance to preachers; most important, though, for the long term effectiveness of the Gospel message, is the perceived integrity of the preacher; that both the Old and New Testaments offer substantial resources for the enhancement of communication and the building of relationships between different church denominations, with the caveat, though, that texts should not be misinterpreted, as has been the case, since this undermines the integrity of such processes. The ways in which the Bible has been used in these different societal spheres are, thus, varied, yet seldom satisfactory. By indicating the problems and perspectives that have come to light through these research projects, a contribution may be made towards a more mature society in which religion plays a constructive role, and is, as a corollary, respected for what it is in its own right. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Note: / Scholars are in agreement that the kabuki theatre did not attain its first flowering as a complex dramatic art until the Genroku period (16881704). The Genroku period is also the earliest for which detailed study of the plays has been possible, due to the large number of playbooks that have survived. For these reasons, Genroku kabuki has long been an object of scholarly attention among Japanese theatre historians. This scholarship, however, has for the most part been shaped by the same ideological concerns that underlie other forms of Japanese intellectual discourse in the modern period. In the Meiji period (1868-1912), for example, efforts were made to find in kabuki a Japanese equivalent to the Western theatre; while in the postwar era, in light of the critique of feudalism following the national defeat, the trend has been to see kabuki as an example of popular culture, one with roots in older indigenous cultural traditions and which not only enjoyed a special relationship with the urban commoner class, but which functioned as a form of resistance to feudal authority.[...] / Ne au debut du dix-septieme siecle, Ie theAtre kabuki n'a connu sa premiere floraison comme art dramatique complexe que pendant I'epoque Genroku(1688-1704). Grace a la survivance de nombreux textes-scenarios, l'epoque Genroku est aussi la premiere periode dans l'histoire du kabuki dont l'analyse detaillee est possible. Pour ces raisons, le Genroku kabuki est depuis toujours un objet d'etude prefere parmis les specialistes de l'histoire du theAtre au Japon. Mais ces etudes, quoiqu'elles soient souvent basees sur des recherches historiques considerables, ont ete, pour la plupart, determinees par les mames projets ideologiques qui ont soutenu les autres formes du discours intellectuel dans le Japon moderne.[...]

The contemporary society has set certain standards or norms defining what a human being should be and how he should behave. Other individuals, especially with some kind of incapacity, often become unacceptable or even unnecessary. Such an attitude towards an incapacitated person must be undisputedly changed. “The role of art in spreading cognitive powers of the intellect is recognized as one of the most important factors in development of the individual” (Matonis, 2000, :18-19). A research has been conducted attempting to assess a potential for self-expression of teenagers with mental disorder and optimization of the socialization process (while them taking part in a social and art project). The research in the social and art project “Katedra” involved 10 young persons with mental disorder and 5 professional artists. Also by means of filling in a questionnaire 123 assessors – spectators representing the viewpoint of the society on the results of the project, i.e. a performance with participation of disabled and healthy artists, were interviewed. The research revealed changes in the attitude of the society towards people with intellectual problems and showed growing possibilities of social optimization for the disabled persons. It was also concluded that participation in art projects helps young disabled people easier integrate into the society and offers them equal chances to play a role in the life of the society. The analysis of the arrangements indicated that the disabled... [to full text]

Problema. Švietimas - prioritetinė valstybės veiklos sritis. Kalbėdami apie švietimą , kalbame apie jaunosios kartos ugdymą ir lavinimą. . Kaip pastebėjo sociologas A. Giddensas , „asmenybės ypatingumas yra ne jos kraujo sudėtis ar abstrakti žmogaus fizinė prigimtis, o jo socialinė vertė“ (17, 1989, p. 72). Asmenybe ne gimstama, o tampama. Popamokinis ugdymas Lietuvoje nesusilaukia pakankamai dėmesio. Nemaža dalis vaikų nėra papildomai lavinami, tobulinami. Pertvarka, nauji vėjai. 1992m., subyrėjus Tarybų Sąjungai, griuvus Berlyno sienai, žlugus į Rytus ir Vakarus po Antrojo pasaulinio karo padalytam pasauliui, Europai, o ypač rytinėms jos šalims, iškilo nemažai ekonominių, politinių ir kultūrinių sunkumų. Atgauta tautinė nepriklausomybė sukėlė jausmų sumaištį: pasikeitus situacijai reikėjo daug ką permąstyti: tautinės, tradicinės nuostatos pynėsi su poreikiu modernėti ir tarptautėti. Lietuva kartu su kitomis Rytų Europos šalimis ėmė krypti į Vakarus: pradėti plėtoti santykiai su Vakarų Europos valstybėmis, užmegzta nemaža ryšių tarp Lietuvos ir Skandinavijos. Vieni jų – bendradarbiavimas, plėtojant darbą Lietuvos vaikų darželiuose, mokyklose. Visuomenės padėtis. Pastarąjį dvidešimtmetį iškilo trys svarbios socialinės problemos, netiesiogiai veikiančios šeimą. Vis sparčiau auga smurtas, nuvertėjančios moralės normos ir vis didėjanti emigracija, vaikus paliekant su seneliais, giminaičiais ar globėjais . Smurto mūsų visuomenėje daugėja, tiek smurto prieš asmenį... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / For many years (actually, the entire period of Soviet rule) the Lithuanian educational culture was dominated by the idea that children ought to be regarded as insufficiently mature individuals from the social point of view. So, the development of writing, reading, and counting skills was in the focus of attention. This implied leaving the development of personality to itself. Promoted by teachers working at pre-school and school institutions, these views needed correction. However, the correction was a rather complicated endeavour in the first years of Lithuanian educational system reform (1992-1996). Foreign scholars regard children’s education at kindergartens or primary schools as a vital link in the education system chain. In their opinion, it is equivalent to other links, including the regular school and the adults’ education. Thus, reforms were related with the cultural and social significance of childhood stage, and with the changes in children and adults’ education - an absolutely essential thing for the survival of our nation. Lithuania needs a pattern of education. It must be new from the qualitative point of view, and, what is more, it must be geared to the needs of the 21st c. The emerging knowledge society brings up more complex requirements. With the increasing mutual independence, the development of human relations is becoming more and more urgent today. National economies are turning into international or even trans-national ones. People of the world interact... [to full text]

Tyrinėjant „Visuomeninio ir kultūrinio gyvenimo Viekšniuose XIX – XX a. I pusėje“ temą buvo bandoma atskleisti, kaip dvasininkai prisidėjo prie kultūrinio bei visuomeninio gyvenimo Viekšniuose. Buvo siekiama išsiaiškinti, kokios viekšniškių grupės ir kaip įsitraukė į miestelio kultūrinį ir visuomeninį gyvenimą. Viena iš tyrimo problemų buvo nurodyti, kaip Viekšniai įsilieja į bendrą XIX – XX a. I pusės Lietuvos kultūros raidą. Didelės įtakos visuomeniniam ir kultūriniam gyvenimui Viekšniuose turėjo švietimas ir jo raida. Nuo 1865 m. Viekšniuose veikė pradinė valdžios mokykla, o nuo 1911 m. aukštesnioji keturklasė pradinė mokykla. 1919 m. savo veiklą pradėjo Viekšnių vidurinė mokykla. Viekšniuose veikė ir privačios mokyklos. Viekšnių miestelyje didelį kultūrinį ir visuomeninį vaidmenį turėjo vietinė inteligentija. Ypač didelį autoritetą turėjo Biržiškų ir Aleksandravičių šeimos, kurios artimai bendravo. Viekšnių inteligentus aplankydavo garsūs ir žymūs to meto Lietuvos kultūros veikėjai: J. Basanavičius, J. Jablonskis, B. Sruoga ir kt. Viekšnių inteligentija savo namuose turėjo asmenines bibliotekas, o nuo 1870 m. buvo įsteigta kilnojamoji biblioteka, kuria naudojosi visas Viekšnių kultūrinis elitas. Viekšnių krašte buvo paplitusios ir valstiečių bibliotekėlės, kurios dažniausiai priklausė knygnešiams ir jų šeimoms. XX a. pradžioje Viekšniuose veikusios draugijos steigė bibliotekas, veikė knygynas, parapijos biblioteka, arbatinė, skaitykla, kuri vėliau tapo viešąja biblioteka... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / While carrying out the research on the social and cultural life in Viekšniai in the first half of the 19th and the -20th century, the contribution of the clergymen has been tried to reveal. The aim was to find out which Viekšniai-bound groups were involved in the town’s cultural and social life and what their contribution was. One of the goals of the research was to demonstrate how Viekšniai blended into the overall cultural development in Lithuania in the 19th and the -20th century. The social and cultural life in Viekšniai was greatly influenced by the education and its development. A primary state school was established in 1865 and from the year 1911 a higher 4-grade primary school was operating in Viekšniai. Viekšniai secondary school was opened in 1919. The local intelligentsia played an important role in the town’s cultural and social life. Particularly authoritative were the Biržiškos and Aleksandravičiai families, who also were close associates. The well-known representatives of the Lithuanian cultural life – J. Basanavičius, J. Jablonskis, B. Sruoga used to pay visits to Viekšniai at that time. Viekšniai intelligentsia owned personal libraries in their homes, and in 1870 a mobile library was established which was being used by all the members of Viekšniai cultural elite. Peasants’ libraries were also quite popular in Viekšniai region. These libraries were mostly owned by the book-smugglers and their families. In the beginning of the 20th century libraries were... [to full text]

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