Regime transformation from below: Decentralization,local governance,and democratic reform in Nigeria

How realistic are democratic-governance strategies that emphasize local governance as a key component? Using Nigeria’s experience in local government and primary health care in the 1980s and 1990s as a case example, the article finds there were substantial shortfalls in local participation and program performance. These were caused by problems in the local political environment and local institutional design, in the national policy environment (particularly in the funding system), and by the stresses of structural adjustment, resource shortfalls, the natural physical environment, and weak leadership. These combined to create poor and inappropriate reward structures and lack of accountability. However, even though the Nigerian case was not successful, most of the specific problems that hurt it are remediable through policy changes at the national level. Several of these were under consideration at the time of the coups of 1992 and 1993.     

Columbia: Neglected dimensions of violence

Editor's note: Rosa Del Olmo has recently written on the same theme in: The Attack on the Supreme Court of Columbia: A Case Study of Guerrilla and Government ViolenceViolence. Aggression and Terrorism 2 (1988): 57–84.     

Significance of functional and nutritive pulmonary circulation for vital reactions in the form of embolisms

The functional and nutritive circulation in the lungs is connected by anastomoses between the pulmonary and bronchial arteries. The anastomoses have the structure of blocked arteries from which arteriovenous anastomoses proceed to the peribronchial plexus. The pulmonary artery is provided with a flow impulse by the anastomoses, and oxygen-containing blood is admixed with the venous blood, thus forming an "aortalization" in the lungs. By diverting the bloodstream, venous blood can reach the bronchial artery. The peculiarities of the lung circulation are important for vital reactions in the form of macro- and microembolisms. Macroembolisms prove the functionality of the system if branches of the pulmonary artery are closed before the arteries are blocked. A hemorrhagic infarction either arises or does not arise, and the hemorrhagic infarction cannot exceed a certain limit. A microembolism is over and above the anastomoses. If the microembolism is greater, pressure in the arteria pulmonaris can cause blood from the pulmonary artery to overflow into the bronchial artery. Because arteriovenous anastomoses arise from the blocked arteries, microemboli can now reach the systemic circulation. Thus, the system described can explain the passage of microemboli into the systemic circulation, avoiding the capillaries of the lungs; on the other hand, larger microembolisms can prove the functionality of the system.     

Cyprus: Federation Under International Safeguards

Constitutional engineering to overcome ethnoregional cleavagesis being put to a severe test on Cyprus, where Greek and Turkishcommunities haltingly endeavor to salvage a divided state Threeyears after independence in 1960, the attempt to govern throughfunctional federalism ended in civil war. Intervention by Greeceand Turkey in 1974 resulted in a de facto partitioning of therepublic into two ethnically homogeneous areas. Under UnitedNations auspices, communal elites bargain for a consociationalsettlement, balancing national autonomy and individual rights.The solution requires international safeguards guaranteeinga new constitution and providing for "free cities" under a bicommunaladministration. Failure of the international community to actwill lead to a partitionist solution as manifested by a growingacceptance of Turkish Cypriot statehood.     

Facing the powers that be

Lobbyists, entrenched forces in congress and self-interested friends will try to stymie Clinton's efforts. A look at four key arenas of combat.     

Historical geography of the population of Michoacan. Eighteenth century

The author incorporates geographic variables into this study of population dynamics in Michoacan, Mexico, during the eighteenth century.