Magister Administrationis - MAdmin / South Africa

The thesis explores the U.S. early warning system in the context of three separate but interlocking components: emergency management; special needs populations, in this case represented by the Deaf and hard of hearing community; and disaster education. Of importance is the need to bring further understanding to the relevancy of each and how the interrelationship among all three reflects a microcosm illustrative of the larger early warning paradigm and its challenges. Meeting those challenges requires implementation of innovative interventions and evidence-based approaches for adapting to the changing urban and rural demographics, climatological and technological environments. Severe weather and tornado hazard early warning is the embodiment of an integration of multiple systems requiring complex coordination of functions consisting of forecasting, detection, analysis, message development and dissemination, message reception, and action. This culminates in individual decision making for taking self-protection measures. The thesis methodological framework consisted of a mixed method approach. Data collection utilised a survey questionnaire instrument, individual interviews and focus groups. The research questioned if current warning processes within the U.S. tornado early warning system positively integrate with emergency management practices and effectively influence protective actions of the special needs population. Results indicate the emergency management system continues to be institutionally focused and operationally centric. Emergency managers recognise the need to become more of an integrated component between the warning mechanism and the communities they represent. Data indicate the Deaf and hard of hearing population remains underserved and generally ill-prepared for severe weather events. Disaster education programmes addressing their particular needs are scarce and current warning notification processes are often inadequate. Although tornado early warning detection and notification times are increasing, questions remain on how to more effectively encourage individuals to better heed warning messages.

This thesis seeks to explore and understand how people perceive and experience the village pub. There has, over the course of time, been a general decline in the social and economic importance of the village pub as well as in their number. The decline in number has accelerated in recent years and been the focus of much media attention with some reports claiming that it has negative consequences for rural life (see, for example, Hill, 2008; Scruton, 2006). Despite this there has been very little social science research conducted on this topic. This research helps to fill this knowledge gap. By using empirical data, principally collected in villages in Lincolnshire and from various groups (mainly newcomer residents, long-standing residents and publicans) to explore multiple representations of the village pub this thesis provides an in-depth exploration and interpretation of the values underpinning the research participants’ representations and experiences of the village pub. In doing this, the thesis shows that village pubs are seen and experienced as adding value of different kinds – economic, social, and cultural, and that the different groups attach different levels of importance to these kinds of value. It also shows that, whilst the different kinds of value can work in the Bourdieusian interpretation as capital, and be self-expanding and inter-convertible, they can also work to undermine one another. By showing how the village pub is seen through the lens of nostalgia and the rural idyll and that contradictions exist between how the village pub is remembered or imagined and how it ‘really’ is, this thesis contributes to rural studies literature and, more specifically, to that which engages with the cultural turn as well as to pub literature. The thesis also offers a contribution to practice. It does this first, by imparting knowledge, to different groups, on the types (economic, social and cultural) of diversification that can be used to help sustain village pubs, especially in Lincolnshire; and second, by showing those groups that beliefs and practices around diversification have important consequences for the sustainability of village pubs.

This thesis describes the analysis of social security in the context of social policy. Main attention is paid to the historical development of social policy or social security and integration into the social security tax system. The aim was to confirm or disprove the hypothesis: "Whether Social Security tax or not." Attention to two major historical patterns, the European developments and the current situation in the area of social policy. Then you take the analysis of social security in the Czech Republic. In the last chapter analyzes income and expenditure on social security and social policy in the Czech Republic and the European Union. Finally, I concluded that Social Security can see the hidden tax, which is very favorable for the tax system.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to cover all phases of the development of social policy in the European Union from the very beginnings of it as one entity, and, furthermore, to concretize the importance of EQUAL Community Initiative as a tool for completing the European Employment Strategy and for fighting against all forms of discrimination and unequal conditions in the labour market. This initiative is one out of four which are funded by the European Union Structural Funds, namely the European Social Fund (ESF), in the programme period of 2000-2009. The analytical part of this thesis is aimed at the overall analysis of one of the EQUAL Community Initiative projects called "Business Without Obstructions" which is realized within the South Bohemian region. The goal of this three-year project is the support of those people from target groups who decide to solve their difficult life situation -- unemployment - with starting a business activity. The characteristic feature of this project is the establishment of the so called BENEFIT contact places which provide professional consultancy on business issues. These contact places were established in the Regional Offices of South Bohemian Chamber of Commerce.

This thesis considers the development of the concept of citizenship, both historically and in its supranational guise. It addresses the traditional models of citizenship that have arisen in the national arena before turning its focus to supranational citizenship. The development of quasi-citizenship rights at the European level between 1957 and 1992 are discussed whilst asking whether, in fact, these principles amounted to a de facto creation of citizenship as would be formally understood in a national model. Thereafter, post-1992 developments are considered via the activities of the European courts. The courts’ particularly activist role in expanding our understanding of Union citizenship by using existing Union legislation in imaginative ways is highlighted and used as a key factor in determining Union citizenship’s capacity to adapt and develop in the face of new challenges. This thesis plays particular attention to the non-Member State nationals who reside in Union territory and find themselves ostensibly deprived of citizenship rights despite being actively involve in the Union’s activities. Supranational citizenship is viewed through the unusual lens of stateless persons and this thesis suggests that Union citizenship does not live up to its ideals by excluding them from its understanding of the citizenry. It formulates a novel conception of rights-based residence, as opposed to nationality-based, supranational citizenship that is predicated on the Union’s heritage of respect for rights and would include Member State nationals, alongside third-country nationals, the stateless and refugees (who would struggle to gain recognition under a conventional citizenship paradigm), with the aspiration of rendering Union citizenship a more inclusive and rounded conception.

Les révolutionnaires de l’époque 1789 – 1799 ont supprimé les corps intermédiaires entre l’Etat et le Peuple. Selon la Déclaration des Droits de l’Homme, nul corps, nul individu ne devait s’insérer entre le pouvoir et la plèbe. Ainsi, les lois Chapelier (entre autres) ont supprimé les corps de métier et les gouvernements successifs ont tenté d’éradiquer les contre-pouvoirs des régions et des « féodalités » locales. Or, lorsque Napoléon Bonaparte prend la tête de l’Etat en novembre 1799, le pays est en quête de nouveaux repères. Le chef du nouveau gouvernement instauré en février 1800 entend mettre en place des « masses de granit », c’est-à-dire des institutions stables.La création de la Banque de France, des Préfets, des Lycées, du Baccalauréat, de la Légion d’Honneur, sont des exemples connus parmi tant d’autres. En revanche, le sujet de cette thèse est moins connu, excepté peut-être des étudiants et enseignants juristes. Car au cœur du nouveau Code Civil des Français se trouve « l’esprit de fraternité » exprimé dans le texte de la Déclaration des Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen, et dans la Constitution du 5 fructidor. L’Eglise catholique n’étant plus – depuis le Concordat – la religion officielle de l’Etat, mais la religion majoritaire, l’Etat remplace le devoir de charité par une fraternité civile. Le Premier Consul (bientôt Empereur) ajoute une clause du Code Civil stipulant que les parents doivent pourvoir aux besoins de leurs enfants majeurs, lorsque ces derniers en sont incapables (et inversement).A travers l’époque du Consulat et du Premier Empire, cette thèse vise à démontrer le développement des structures de solidarité sociale, notamment dans la législation mais aussi en ce qui concerne les institutions et les politiques de l’Etat pendant cette période. Nous étudierons (entre autres) le Code Civil en son contexte, les Maisons d’Education de la Légion d’Honneur, la législation du travail (dont notamment celui des enfants), les sociétés de secours mutuels (prédécesseurs de nos mutuelles et syndicats d’aujourd’hui) et les administrations de bienfaisance. Nous jetterons également un regard – en conclusion – sur les projets inachevés développés sous des régimes postérieurs. Cela afin de mieux placer cette époque dans son contexte par rapport au XXIe siècle.La période du Consulat et de l’Empire a été une grande période de création de caisses de retraite, et l’Empereur Napoléon en a même précisé les principes qui devaient régir ce « droit » qu’il voulait étendre à tous les métiers. Notre thèse suit donc les traces de la création de ces institutions et de l’encadrement de la vie quotidienne selon les principes napoléoniens, synthèse de l’Ancien Régime et des idéaux de 1789. / The revolutionaries of the period spanning 1789 – 1799 abolished the corps intermédiaires between the State and the People. According to the Declaration of the Rights of Man, no organisation or individual must step between the power and the plebeians. Thus, the Le Chapelier laws (among others) abolished the guilds, and successive governments attempted to eradicate the opposing forces of the regions and local « feudalisms ». However, when Napoleon Bonaparte took charge of the ship of State in November 1799, the country was in search of new references. The chief of the new government installed in February 1800 aimed to lay « masses of granite », that is to say stable institutions, on the soil of France.The creation of the Bank of France, of the Prefects, of the Lycées, Baccalaureate and Legion of Honour are well-known examples among many others. But the subject of this thesis is less famous, except perhaps for students and teachers of law. For in the heart of the new Civil Code of the French, there is the « spirit of fraternity » expressed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and in the Constitution of the 5th of Fructidor. The Catholic Church no longer being – since the Concordat – the official State religion, but the religion of the majority of Frenchmen, the State replaced the duty of charity with civil fraternity. The First Consul (who was soon to be Emperor) added a clause to the Civil Code stipulating that parents must provide for their children, even as adults, if the latter are unable to do so (and vice versa).Throughout the era of the Consulate and First Empire, this thesis aims to show the development of structures of social solidarity, particularly via legislation, but also in relation to the institutions and policies of the State during this period. We will study (among others) the Civil Code in its context, the Maisons d’Education de la Légion d’Honneur, legislation on labour (particularly in relation to child labour), mutual aid societies (predecessors of the mutual insurance companies and trades unions of our times) and the welfare administrations. We will also cast an eye, in conclusion, over the unfinished projects developed under later regimes. In order to better situate this era in its context in relation to the 21st Century.The period of the Consulate and Empire was a great period for the creation of retirement pension funds, and the Emperor Napoleon even set down the principles which were to regulate this « right » that he wanted to extend to all trades. Our thesis therefore follows in the trail of the creation of these institutions and of the framework of daily life according to Napoleonic principles, a synthesis of the Old Regime and the ideals of 1789.

Lifelong learning (LL) has been widely regarded as one of the activities that can enhance well-being of the society and benefit older persons in terms of psychological, physical, mental, and cognitive well-being. In foreign countries like the Unites States of America, the United Kingdom, Finland, France, Australia, and also China, LL among older persons had been developed successfully. Hong Kong, in contrast, has no systematic planning for the development of LL even though the aged population is increasing rapidly. This research aims at constructing a LL model for older persons in Hong Kong. The theoretical framework of study focused on figuring out the breaches between satisfactory models proposed by older persons and the existing lifelong learning model in Hong Kong. Interview survey and documentary study have been employed in this study. Interview survey was carried out from March to April of 2005 in order to understand older persons’ expectations towards LL. A questionnaire consisting of 39 big items was constructed. The author successfully interviewed 54 out of the 60 older persons originally intended, including 31 female and 23 male. The samples of this study were older persons aged 55 or above, and the median age of the respondents was 67.84. Also, 26 respondents had had learning experience in the six months prior to the survey being carried out. In the documentary study, both formal and nonformal learning programmes in Hong Kong were studied. Seven major older persons’ education providers were included, including one tertiary institution, one radio broadcasting company and five active NGOs. The findings show the gaps between older persons’ expectations and present provision of LL programmes. The Hong Kong Lifelong Learning Model should have tertiary institutions actively involved in the provision of both formal and nonformal learning programmes. Face to face interviews should be adopted. Formal learning programmes should be made available on the internet or radio. Moreover, older persons would be more satisfied if they could learn at tertiary institutions or centres most convenient for them. Thus, various organizations should have stronger cooperation with each other so that resources can be shared. Older persons preferred a greater variety of courses and lessons and would like to receive grants or travel subsidy. Most of the elder learners were willing to be instructors, therefore they could be recruited as voluntary teachers, and more courses to train older learners as instructors should be offered. The duration of formal learning programmes may be too long for the elderly learners, and they asked for a credit-accumulating system to be implemented in those programmes. A central data bank and newsletters should be made available so that older persons could gain access to information more easily. In order to improve the quality of courses, evaluation and needs assessments should be carried out regularly by service providers, and they should consider designing the course curriculum with elder learners. In order to help those who did not receive much education when young, foundation literacy courses could be offered. In addition, instead of written course work, tests, and examinations, oral presentations and examinations could be carried out. Finally, certificates, qualifications, and public and large scale graduation ceremonies are found to be good reinforcements for older persons’ learning behaviour. In conclusion, Hong Kong, as a beginner in the systematic development of LL for older persons, has much to do to improve the existing system. Irrefutably, making it perfect is arduous because both the service providers and the government have their own constraints. Nonetheless, trying the best to fill in the gaps between the ideal and the reality will bring the greatest benefits to older persons and the society.

Globalization has increased the interconnectivity in all aspect of life worldwide. The role of local state and local politics are questioned due to the increasing influences of variety of global forces. Social policies have been passed from place to place through different networks and actors. Policy transfer is one of the concepts used to study this complicated social reality by scholars from different disciplines. Existing researches of policy transfer tend to focus on state actors and international organizations. However, some scholars call for attention to local forces including action of the non-state actors that influence the policy transfer process in the bottom level. It is argued that researches should problematize actions that different actors adopted to compete for alternative policy meaning. Moreover, existing researches tend to focus on successful cases of policy transfer. There is lack of comparison of factors that facilitate or constraint non-state actors to transfer foreign policy ideas. The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the discussion of policy transfer by the exploration on the various actions of non-state from the local NGOs, to transfer foreign policy ideas to compete for alternative policy meaning. In Hong Kong, committing to policy advocacy is a convention of the field of community social workers. Introduction of foreign policy ideas is one of the ways that social workers adopted to challenge existing policy. However, the neoliberal restructuring of welfare services had limited capacity for policy advocacy. This contradictory situation is met by community social workers who are involved in the policy process of urban regeneration. Community social workers have been traditionally assigned by the government to serve neighborhood affected by urban regeneration. It is found that they do not only advocate for policy changes, but also strengthen the policy ideas promoted by the government. Comparison of different actions of them can demonstrate factors that influence whether the non-state actors of local NGOs to transfer foreign policy ideas to compete for alternative policy meaning. This research is designed as a qualitative research. With the use of the Agency, Structure, Institution, and Discourse Approach, semi-structured interviews with 21 community social workers and key informants sampled by theory-guided sampling, secondary data analysis of 678 official documents, and participant observation to a major advocacy coalition were conducted. Data were coded and analyzed by using the qualitative data analysis software program-MAXQDA. Through initial coding, focused coding and theoretical coding, 27 and 7 codes and 6 themes were generated. This research suggests that action by non-state actors of local NGOs is a way of policy transfer. Comparison of the various actions between them can illustrate the dynamic of complicated meaning making process of policy transfer. It demonstrates different kinds of institutions may have different impact to the actors. They may facilitate the actors to compete for alternative policy meaning by the transfer of policy ideas, or constraint them to follow the dominant policy ideas.

Bibliography: pages 155-164. / This research study attempted to gather, present and analyse information regarding the current role of the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations in the democratic governance of secondary schools for purposes of contributing towards the education governance policy discourse as South Africa moves away from apartheid to democracy. Central to this largely fact-finding exercise was an attempt to make a contribution to an understanding of how the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations, in the execution of their duties, practice both democracy and accountability; operate; resolve tensions and/or differences among parents, teachers and students; impact upon the schools in general; and relate to both the Department of Education and Training and other organs of civil society. Further, this survey attempted to ascertain m which crucial areas the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations are most lacking, and how these could be strengthened. And finally, an attempt was made in this study to contribute to the possible future role of the Parent-Teacher-Student Associations in the new democratic education dispensation, and how, in the execution of this new role the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations should relate to the new, future democratic government. The study concluded with a number of recommendations for policy in the area of democratic school governance. The study used largely a survey method. The Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations of three secondary schools under the auspices of the Department of Education and Training in the Western Cape region were surveyed. The single most important data-gathering instrument used was the interview. Numerous conclusions were arrived at. First, the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations studied were found to be very powerful and effective in their areas of operation in school governance despite their inability to have access to resources of power, wealth and expertise. These Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations are important education policy actors who are not only influencing policy, but are in total control of very crucial policy areas in their schools. Second, the study concluded that whereas the Parent-Teacher-Student-Associations studied represent an important step towards the full democratisation of education in general, and in their schools in particular, their role in school governance could not be described as an unqualified success. However, despite the problems associated with the PTSAs involvement in school governance, their role does have the potential to make for better schools. And finally, because of the limited nature of the study in terms of the methodology, scope and time, the conclusions arrived at here cannot and should not be generalised beyond the confines of the study as no attempt was made to embark upon regional or national research exercise.