Multinational cooperation: building capabilities in small air forces

European air power is represented by a variety of air forces, each equipped with different capabilities and facing different limitations. Developing the former and making up for the latter requires resources and finances and is not always possible within a national capacity. It may be particularly problematic for smaller air forces, especially with the trend of shrinking defence budgets and increasing costs of the newest technological achievements. This article investigates the idea of multinational cooperation in Europe as a way to make up for these shortfalls and build collective European capabilities. In doing so, it focuses on two states, namely Poland and Sweden as examples of small air forces. By choosing these countries as case studies it also provides an opportunity to investigate the different forms of multinational involvement existing within and outside a major military alliance, namely NATO. The article explores the participation of the Polish and Swedish Air Forces in several multinational initiatives and investigates how such involvement increases (or not) their capabilities.     

Modelling the relationship between counter‐knowledge and open‐mindedness for policy development

Counter‐knowledge refers to flaws in citizens' mental models arising from utilization of rumours, inappropriate knowledge structures, outdated routines or procedures. When counter‐knowledge is applied to civil servants, it may result in problems of efficiency, equity and motivation. This paper examines the relationship between counter‐knowledge and open‐mindedness to model a framework for improving city marketing and policy development. This study tested two measurement models. While the theoretical model represents the effect of counter‐knowledge on city marketing and that the latter has a negative effect on open‐mindedness, the alternative model involves that counter‐knowledge has a positive indirect impact on open‐mindedness. These relationships are examined through an empirical investigation of 203 Spanish city halls. The results show a potential positive indirect effect of counter‐knowledge on open‐mindedness through city marketing programmes. This paper clarifies the existing literature, which tries to contribute to the discussion of city marketing, and helps us to obtain meaning out of the relationship between counter‐knowledge, city marketing and open‐mindedness. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

E-Government for Lowering Administrative Burden: An Empirical Research on European Rural Businesses

Administrative burden reduction is in the policy agenda in European countries and international organizations. The objectives of this article are to measure administrative burden of rural businesses in three European case studies and to assess the use of semantic electronic government services for its reduction. The main findings are that rural businesses do not perceive the administrative burden significance for entrepreneurship; public administration could implement semantic electronic government services to reduce rural businesses’ administrative burden; and future administrative burden reduction policies should take into account the type and location of businesses to achieve an efficient business environment.     

Folter und Menschenwürde. Zur aktuellen Debatte um die "Rettungsfolter"

Im Ausgang von den jüngsten Gerichtsentscheidungen (des EGMR und des Landgerichts Frankfurt) im Fall "Daschner" bzw "G?fgen" setzt sich die Untersuchung zun?chst kritisch mit Ans?tzen einer Relativierung des Folterverbots in der deutschen staatsrechtlichen Debatte auseinander. Besonderes Augenmerk gilt dem exemplarischen Vorsto? Bruggers zur Legalisierung der "Rettungsbefragung" im Ausnahmefall als Ausdruck staatlicher Schutzpflichten, die aus dem staatlichen Gewaltmonopol resultierten. Dabei werden insbesondere die utilitaristischen Grundlagen und Aporien des darin reklamierten rechtsethischen "Konsequenzialismus" sowie dessen Spannungsverh?ltnis zu freiheitssichernder Rechtsstaatlichkeit offengelegt. Im Mittelpunkt der Kontroversen um die "Rettungsfolter" steht die Frage nach dem Stellenwert der Menschenwürde - als grunds?tzlich abw?gbares "Rechtsgut" unter anderen, wie etwa auch in einer bekannten Neukommentierung von Art 1 GG im Ansatz reklamiert, oder aber als nicht relativierbares verfassungsrechtliches Fundamentalprinzip, das die Positivit?t konkreter rechtlicher Regeln notwendig überschreitet. Im Anschluss an das herrschende Verst?ndnis der Menschenwürde als unbedingtes Rechtsprinzip werden Begriff und "Ph?nomenologie" der Folter hinsichtlich ihrer charakteristischen Eingriffsintensit?t als "Totalinstrumentalisierung" des Menschen und v?llige Negation des wechselseitigen Anerkennungsverh?ltnisses n?her bestimmt. Diese Anerkennung allgemeiner menschlicher Verantwortungssubjektivit?t bildet seit den Ursprüngen modernen Staatsverst?ndnisses aber auch die eigentliche legitimierende Basis seiner zentralen Friedenssicherungspflichten und Schutzaufgaben. Eine rechtlich-politische Ma?nahme, die dieses fundamentale Rechtsverh?ltnis verletzt, kann daher auch kein Ausdruck von Souver?nit?t sein, sondern verletzt deren kontraktualistische Grundlagen. Sie bedeutet darüber hinaus einen exemplarischen Einbruch in freiheitliche Verfassungskultur, der einem weiteren Abbau demokratischer Rechtsstaatlichkeit Vorschub leisten k?nnte.     

Scientists’ perspectives concerning the effects of university patenting on the conduct of academic research in the life sciences

This paper explores scientists’ perspectives on the possible “unintended effects” of university patenting on the definition of academic research agendas, and the norms of open science. Based on a survey of life science researchers in Denmark, we found that a substantial proportion of scientists were skeptical about the impact of university patenting. The most skeptical respondents were scientists oriented towards basic research (particularly the less productive ones), recipients of research council grants, scientists with close relations to industry, and full professors. Highly productive scientists were less concerned. Our results have implications for understanding the ultimate success or failure of academic patenting policies, including how increased university patenting may be affecting how scientists conduct academic research.