The Institutions of ‘Strong’ Local Political Leadership in Spain

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 698-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sweeting
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Political Leadership ◽  
Executive Authority ◽  
Formal Rules

In this paper I examine local political leadership in Spain. Spanish mayors are examples of ‘strong mayors’—that is, they have considerable executive authority and discretion in municipal affairs. Yet little detailed research exists on the formal and informal institutional bases of their position. I fill this gap by presenting empirical research on two Spanish municipalities. Using a new institutionalist theoretical perspective, I examine the rules around the appointment and removal of the mayor, the composition of the cabinet, the role of the full council, and the conventions around the role of the mayor in the municipality. Legal powers, a culture of individualised leadership, and councillor representation based on support for the party are all important for maintaining the mayor's position. Some formal rules around the mayor in the case-study municipalities are ‘latent’—that is, they exist but are not used.

Democratization in Serbia: An Analysis of Rational Choice and Structuralist Explanations

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dunja Apostolov-Dimitrijevic
Keyword(s):  
Rational Choice ◽  
Path Dependence ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Political Leadership ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
The Other ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Transitional Societies ◽  
The Face

This paper explains political democratization in Post-Milosevic Serbia, utilizing two different accounts of the democratization process: one rooted in the rational choice framework and the other in structuralism. While rational choice explains the decisive role of political leadership in overcoming path dependence, the structuralist explanations show the transnational linkages that encourage democratization in the face of domestic setbacks. This particular debate between the two types of explanations represents the larger debate concerning the role of internal factors and external linkages in propelling democratization in transitional societies. The paper concludes by integrating the two sets of explanations offered by each theoretical perspective, in order to develop a coherent understanding of Serbia's democratization.   Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v9i1.240

Power, accidents, and institutional changes: the case of a Chinese hospital in Hong Kong

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-174
Author(s):  
SHU-YUN MA
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Historical Institutionalism ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Institutional Changes ◽  
Political Sovereignty ◽  
Windows Of Opportunity ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTIn response to the call for more investigation on ‘institutional dynamism’, this article examines the role of power and accidents in causing institutional changes, employing the theoretical perspective of historical institutionalism. The impact of two ‘accidents’ (epidemics) on the institutional setting of a hospital in Hong Kong under different power contexts (changes of political sovereignty) is analysed as a case study. The finding is that power matters more than accidents. This is not to deny the importance of accidents. Accidents matter because they produce windows of opportunity for institutional changes to take place. Through political manoeuvres powerful actors may decide which accidents should cause change.

Reasoning and proof in the mathematics classroom

Analysis ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (2-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiso Heinze ◽  
Kristina Reiss
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Mathematics Classroom ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Learning Processes ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Mathematical Activity ◽  
Guided Exploration ◽  
Reasoning And Proof

Proving is an essential mathematical activity that should play an important role in the mathematics classroom. However, performing a proof is a most challenging task for students. The nature of this challenge is discussed from a theoretical perspective. Starting with thoughts on the role of proof in mathematics, the article continues with reflections on limiting factors for performing proofs and the learning of proof in the mathematics classroom. Since empirical research gives evidence that guided exploration and a cherishing atmosphere can be regarded as beneficial for learning processes, this topic will be addressed in a further section.

Engineering Technicians in Africa: a Kenyan Case-Study

1983 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-291
Author(s):  
Paul Bennell
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Middle Level ◽  
Historical Evolution ◽  
Technical Personnel ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Relationship

While the importance of the rôle of formally qualified high- and middle-level technical personnel in the development process in Africa has been repeatedly underlined since the early 1950s, relatively little empirical research has focused on the historical evolution and present constitution of the occupations which embody these skills. As a contribution to such an analysis, this case-study examines the determinants of the institutional provision of Kenyans with engineering technician qualifications, and their subsequent employment and utilisation. In other words, we are concerned with the relationship between the supply of, and demand for, one group of skilled individuals. Although formulating the problem in this way may, at first sight, appear to be narrowly economistic, this framework provides a methodologically useful starting point for a multi-disciplinary analysis.

scholarly journals Good Governance and National Development: Nigeria in Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Osunyikanmi Pius Olakunle
Keyword(s):  
Good Governance ◽  
National Development ◽  
Political Leadership ◽  
Work Force ◽  
Intimate Relationship ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Development Plans ◽  
The Subject

<em>Issues relating to good governance and development have been pushed to the forefront of world affairs, largely because of the wave of the democracy movement now blowing soothingly across the whole length and breadth of the international community. Good governance and development are dividends of democracy that are of great interest to the democratic family. The paper attempts to critically examine the intimate relationship between good governance and development with particular reference to Nigeria as a case study. Abundant literature on the subject matter reveals that democracy and good governance provide an enabling environment for development to take place, and that the role of political leadership in realizing all of this is critical. It is recommended, among other things, that (1) the intellectual class should be involved in the country’s development plan; (2) there is the urgent need to create a virile but flexible work force that can initiate and execute development plans; and (3) efforts must be made to embark on capacity building of all the institutions of governance so that they can perform their roles optimally for the benefit of the country.</em>

scholarly journals Democratization in Serbia: An Analysis of Rational Choice and Structuralist Explanations

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dunja Apostolov-Dimitrijevic
Keyword(s):  
Rational Choice ◽  
Path Dependence ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Political Leadership ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
The Other ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Transitional Societies ◽  
The Face

This paper explains political democratization in Post-Milosevic Serbia, utilizing two different accounts of the democratization process: one rooted in the rational choice framework and the other in structuralism. While rational choice explains the decisive role of political leadership in overcoming path dependence, the structuralist explanations show the transnational linkages that encourage democratization in the face of domestic setbacks. This particular debate between the two types of explanations represents the larger debate concerning the role of internal factors and external linkages in propelling democratization in transitional societies. The paper concludes by integrating the two sets of explanations offered by each theoretical perspective, in order to develop a coherent understanding of Serbia's democratization.

scholarly journals Rabbani Political Leadership for Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Terengganu, Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Hailan Salamun ◽  
Firdaus Khairi Abdul Kadir ◽  
Asyraf Hj Ab Rahman ◽  
Rofishah Hj Rashid
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Development ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Political Leadership ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
Leadership Quality ◽  
The Way

The objective of the current study was to clarify the role of ‘Rabbani’ to establish a balance of sustainable development in Terengganu political leadership, Malaysia. We propose Rabbani political leadership as a task of bridging the understanding of sustainable development in harmony that may influence followers to manage the development in political workplace. It then explores the underlying reason for the mobilisation of sustainable social development. This study classified as a fieldwork study based in Terengganu, Malaysia. The obtained data were analysed systematically according to selected themes. The argument constructed into the following stages, namely an overview of Islamic principles in setting an identity of Islam as the way of life, proposing unity as the foundation of a harmonious life in which the whole life system as a response to having a holistic development as a catalyst of progress. This study was able to benefit the local community of Terengganu and also amongst the rulers and politicians in order to understand and applying the value of Rabbani political leadership quality for the sake of better social lifestyle. Rabbani political leadership in the state of Terengganu could be one of the models that cover three types of political leadership work ethics in Islamic principles namely; building identity that Islam is the way of life; proposing unity ass the foundation of a harmonious life; and a holistic development as a catalyst of progress.   Received: 24 March 2021 / Accepted: 8 July 2021 / Published: 5 September 2021

scholarly journals The Role of Relational Capital in Anti-Crisis Measures Undertaken by Companies—Conclusions from a Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 780
Author(s):  
Anna Walecka
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Relational Capital ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
The Right ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
A Company

The aim of this article was to present the results of empirical research conducted in enterprises of all sizes operating in Poland and Central Europe. The study focused on the impact of relational capital on the prevention of and intervention in the event of a crisis in a company. The author assumes that there is a link between a company’s relational capital and its susceptibility to crisis phenomena. The research carried out allowed different conclusions to be drawn. It turns out that the studied companies were characterized by a high level of relational capital. Their internal relational capital—particularly the relations between employees and company owners—was especially important to them. Relations of the surveyed companies with external stakeholders were also important. In response to the question about the role of relational capital in anti-crisis measures undertaken by companies, it appears that the relational capital of the companies surveyed allowed them, in their opinion, to avoid many crisis situations. Thanks to the right attitudes of the surveyed companies’ stakeholders, they have often managed to avoid crises. This situation also applies to the recent crisis caused by COVID-19.

Learning to Be Affected: Subjectivity, Sense, and Sensibility in Animal Rights Activism

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklas Hansson ◽  
Kerstin Jacobsson
Keyword(s):  
Animal Rights ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Affective Responses ◽  
Identity Change ◽  
Embodied Simulation ◽  
Nonhuman Animals ◽  
Sense And Sensibility ◽  
Animal Rights Activism

Abstract Becoming an animal rights activist is not just a process of identity change and re-socialization but also implies, as this article suggests, a “re-engineering” of affective cognitive repertoires and processes of “sensibilization” in relation to nonhuman animals. Activists thereby develop their mental responsiveness and awareness and refine their embodied sensitivity and capacity for sensing. The article proposes a theoretical perspective for understanding these processes. Empirically, this article examines the development of affective dispositions informing activists’ subjectivity and embodied sensibilities. It looks at the ways in which visceral, bodily, or affective responses are cultivated to reinforce activist commitments. First, the analysis identifies “micro-shocks” and “re-shocking” experiences as mechanisms for sustaining commitment. Second, “emphatic identification” and “embodied simulation” are highlighted as mechanisms for nurturing empathy towards animals. Finally, it identifies the role of “affective meat encounters” and the cultivation of disgust as mechanisms for nurturing sensibilities. The analysis is based on a case study of animal rights activists in Sweden.

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