Food in transition: The place of food in the theories of transition

Among the different theories used to explain social change, the transition theory holds a special place. It has been applied to subjects such as demography, epidemiology, nutrition, etc. and most often from a multidisciplinary perspective. However, beyond the apparent uniqueness of the transition label there are quite different theoretical frameworks and presuppositions, which can be a source of misunderstanding. A first perspective considers change as the transition from one stable state to another and concentrates on the processes at work in the transition phase. It focuses attention on the interactions between cultural and biological variables and tries to take into account the consequences of the fact that they move at different rates. A second perspective conceives change as a series of stages (more or less stable situations) and proceeds to analyse the structural transformation of the organisation at each stage. The emphasis is placed on the transformations that take place during these stages. This brings us closer to the theory of stages. Finally, a third perspective combines stages and transitions. Change is seen as part of an evolutionary and progressive movement and as being reversible or not. This article studies the cognitive organisation of the different theoretical variants of the transition model in which food plays a more or less important role.

The role of repeat photography in establishing theories of transition in high mountain environments

<p>Today, photos play an important role in geoscience and public discussion. When photographical techniques developed during the second half of the 19th century, it took several decades uuntil high mountain areas and specific features could be captured with this technique, as a follow upt o traditional paintings and drawings. In European geography, Friedrich Simony developed the idea of tackling geomorphological processes by time lapse photography. Contemporary literature shows that his technique of combining photography with empirical data and theories was convincing, and that he established a new style of scientific discussion. Still, the comparison of historical with contemporary photography offers scientific insights and information which is not covered by any other type of empirical evidence as measurements, maps or descriptions. For example not only extent, but also firn and debris cover of glaciers, information on type and extent of vegetation,  the width and style of roads, details of infrastructure and cultural practices can be tackled from early photographs.  Several archives do allow not only acess to photographic documents, but also to metadata. Interdisciplinary effort has to be taken to further analyse this wealth of information.</p>

When Revolutionary Coalitions Break Down: Polarization, Protest, and the Tunisian Political Crisis of August 2013

Revolutionary coalitions often break down in the aftermath of revolution, leading to the collapse of transitional governments. Fragmentation among revolutionary elites has been extensively theorized, but few works consider the origins and consequences of polarization among non-elite protesters in the revolutionary coalition. This paper examines the case of Tunisia to unpack how polarization among former revolutionaries may drive secondary waves of mobilization that imperil governing coalitions, even when elites are cooperating. Unique protest surveys of pro- and anti-government demonstrations during the Tunisian political crisis of 2013 – which catalyzed the resignation of the country’s first elected assembly – show that polarization within this coalition occurred along ideological lines concerning the role of Islam in governance but not along class lines, as some theories of transition would predict. Revolutionaries are re-mobilized in part through divergent narratives concerning which social groups participated most in the revolutionary struggle, and which groups suffered and profited most under the old regime. This paper counters the elite-centrism of predominant “transitology” approaches by highlighting how protest politics may shape institutional transitions.

Albania’s Difficult Path towards Democracy

Albania began the democratic transformation process in 1991 with a heavy post-communist legacy. Since then, it has continued to experience many difficulties in its path towards democracy, especially in relation to two critical issues: respect for the rule of law and corruption. Following the theories of transition, this paper analyses important pillars of the rule of law: horizontal accountability, effective and legitimate institutions of governance, and transparent public administration, in order to understand why it is so difficult to establish the rule of law in Albania. This paper aims to bring to focus Albania’s democratization process by looking at the institutionalization of political society. Based on the assumption that corruption is tied up with the issue of governance, we try to show how endemic corruption in the state apparatus undermines the basis of the rule of law in Albania by eroding state capacity, civil society and legal culture.

Protagonism and Productivity

President Chávez, in line with Marx, identified revolutionary praxis as the key link between human development and practice: "We have to practice socialism…and this practice will create us, ourselves, it will change us; if not we won't make it." From this standpoint, the material product of activity is always accompanied by a second product—the human product. Since the human product has historically been neglected in socialist theories of transition, it is worth considering its significance.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.