Gender and the environment: Traps and opportunities

A growing debate about gender and the environment highlights women's roles in the use and management of natural resources, opening up important opportunities for development analysis and action. But there are traps in conceiving of women's roles in relation to the environment in a partial, narrow, or static way; of isolating them from men's roles; and of assuming a close link between women and ‘nature?s. An alternative approach examines dynamic gender-differentiated activities, rights, and responsibilities in the processes of natural resource management. A case study from the Gola forest, Sierra Leone shows how this approach can help to ensure sustainability and equity in the design of projects concerned with the environment.     

Fatal case of BOTOX-related anaphylaxis?

Anaphylactic drug reactions are rare and often serious events. The Botulinum toxin A, marketed as BOTOX, was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for cervical dystonia and glabellar wrinkles, after its approved use and success with blepharospasm, strabismus, and disorders of the 7th cranial nerve. It has been well received due to its efficacy in improving facial lines. This case report documents the first death associated with a Botox-lidocaine mixture given to a woman for chronic neck and back pain. Based on the medical records, autopsy, and laboratory findings, the cause of death was determined to be anaphylaxis to the Botox-lidocaine mixture. The history, indications, off-label uses and possible future applications of Botox are reviewed as well as the uses and complications of lidocaine. Although the anaphylaxis cannot be definitively proven to be due to Botox alone, this case warns of an adverse reaction related to Botox, a drug that is rapidly expanding in range of use as well as increased usage.     

When methods meet politics: how risk adjustment became part of Medicare managed care

Health-based risk adjustment has long been touted as key to the success of competitive models of health care. Because it decreases the incentive to enroll only healthy patients in insurance plans, risk adjustment was incorporated into Medicare policy via the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. However, full implementation of risk adjustment was delayed due to clashes with the managed care industry over payment policy, concerns over perverse incentives, and problems of data burden. We review the history of risk adjustment leading up to the Balanced Budget Act and examine the controversies surrounding attempts to stop or delay its implementation during the years that followed. The article provides lessons for the future of health-based risk adjustment and possible alternatives.     

A friend in need: the role of friendship quality as a protective factor in peer victimization and bullying

This study examined friendship quality as a possible moderator of risk factors in predicting peer victimization and bullying. Children (50 boys and 49 girls, ages 10 to 13 years) reported on the quality of their best friendship, as well as their bullying and victimization tendencies. Parents reported on their child's internalizing and externalizing behaviors, in addition to bullying and victimization tendencies. Results indicated that externalizing problems were related to bullying behavior; however, friendship quality moderated this relation such that among children with externalizing behaviors, a high-quality friendship significantly attenuated bullying behavior. Internalizing problems and low friendship quality were significantly related to victimization; however, friendship quality did not moderate the relation between internalizing problems and victimization. Implications for interventions based on these findings are discussed.     

Liberal and Illiberal Democracy in Latin America

This article examines the incidence of liberal and “illiberal” democracy in Latin America from 1978 through 2004. It demonstrates, first, that illiberal democracy—which combines free and fair elections with systematic constraints on citizens’rights—became the norm throughout the region. Second, it shows that regime transitions most often ended not in liberal democracy but in illiberal democracy. Third, rare events logit analysis reveals that two variables, hyperinflation and presidential elections, had significant impact on movement toward fuller democracy. As a form of short‐term economic shock, hyperinflation generates widespread discontent; given the opportunity to vote, citizens elect reformist opposition candidates who, once in office, remove controls on civil liberties. This scenario substantially increases the likelihood of transition from illiberal to liberal democracy.     

Development law: Squaring the circle, advancing human rights in Africa

Development law is an ethos-driven law reform paradigm that examines conditions from within the country and provides a frame of reference in which to evaluate the legal regime in the political, economic, social and cultural context. Moreover, development law provides a fresh approach to assessing existing national laws effectiveness generally; it assesses whether modifications are required to promote economic, political, and social progress, including protecting the rights of minority ethnic groups and disenfranchised peoples. By protecting rights, law can be an instrument of social development and will not be alien to large segments of the population. Development law as a paradigm is the result of decision making within the country after careful examination by trained professionals whose sole interest is political, economical, social, cultural and national development. The enactment of laws and integration of customary norms that are embraced by the ruling authority, political elites, and other stake holders will best advance human rights. I thank Professor Mary Wright for reviewing and providing helpful comments on a previous draft of this article.     

The Design and Implementation of Cross-Sector Collaborations: Propositions from the Literature

People who want to tackle tough social problems and achieve beneficial community outcomes are beginning to understand that multiple sectors of a democratic society—business, nonprofits and philanthropies, the media, the community, and government—must collaborate to deal effectively and humanely with the challenges. This article focuses on cross-sector collaboration that is required to remedy complex public problems. Based on an extensive review of the literature on collaboration, the article presents a propositional inventory organized around the initial conditions affecting collaboration formation, process, structural and governance components, constraints and contingencies, outcomes, and accountability issues.     

Rousseau on Fundamental Law

How can we understand Rousseau's use of entrenched fundamental law? Given that absolute sovereignty is of paramount importance to Rousseau, and given that he rejects the possibility of binding the future, fundamental law might be viewed as a paradoxical restraint on the sovereign. However, through a consideration of their substantive form, and of the procedural mechanisms of enactment and abrogation, these laws are shown to serve an 'enabling' purpose. For Rousseau, fundamental law does not constrain the sovereign will, but is constitutive of the sovereign or transforms its operation with respect to morality and justice. Fundamental law should be understood to enhance the capacity of the sovereign; this reading also explains the most familiar limitation that does not take the form of a fundamental law, the double-generality requirement.     

The Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998—impact on the student contract

The relationship that exists in law between a student and the Higher Education Institution at which they first wish to study and then do study has been looked at in the past in terms of both private law (contract or contracts) and public law (member of the corporation etc.). The Teaching and Higher Education Act introduces a new component into the equation for the vast majority of students (the undergraduates) by requiring, subject to ‘means testing’, a direct contribution to fees. What effect might this have? The largest effect is that it will confirm the move to a student/HEI contract that is a consumer contract. The possible new admissions cycle will also play a part in the alteration of communications and formation of the contract. This shift will also impact upon how disputes might be resolved in the future and the level, clarity and timing of information that the HEI must provide.