Entreprises publiques et intérêt général à l'heure de la gouvernance

Sommaire: Le contexte de la mondialisation et la remise en question du rôle de l'État ont menéà des modèles de gouvernance fondés sur la multiplicité et l'hétérogénéité des acteurs dans toute question d'intérêt public. Cette nouvelle gouvernance met en valeur des mécanismes d'ajustement mutuel basés sur la concertation, la négociation et l'adaptation réciproque des acteurs. La nouvelle donne commande une réflexion en profondeur sur la place des entreprises publiques au sein de différents secteurs d'activité. Présentées à l'origine comme étant garantes de l'intérêt général, les entreprises publiques sont elles aussi remises en question et confrontées à des logiques d'action parfois contradictoires (intégration internationale, intégration territoriale, planification stratégique et stratégies émergentes). Les auteurs brossent un tableau du nouveau contexte de gouvernance dans le secteur de l'énergie en l'illustrant par le cas d'Hydro‐Québec et de l'un de ses derniers projets, la centrale thermique du Suroît. Abstract: The context of globalization and the questioning of the government's role have led to governance models based on the multiplicity and the heterogeneity of the players involved in any issue of public interest. The new governance framework promotes mutual adjustment mechanisms based on consensus‐building, negotiation, and reciprocal adaptation among players. This new environment requires a thorough reflection on the role of public corporations in the various industry sectors. Presented originally as guarantors of the public interest, public corporations have also been challenged and are having to deal with occasionally contradictory principles (international integration, territorial integration, strategic planning, and emergent strategies). The authors provide a picture of the new governance context in the energy sector, using as an example Hydro‐Québec and one of its most recent projects, the Suroît thermal plant.     

Strange bedfellows: Federal systems and performance management

This paper offers the first link between models of the measurement and management of performance and the dimensions of governance arrangements in federal systems. Four ideal type approaches to governance in federal systems are correlated against four ideal types of measuring and managing performance. The paper develops a model that will support empirical research examining reform trajectories where evolving systems of federalism require evolving systems to manage performance in joint arrangements between levels of government.     

The Changing Nature of Public Entrepreneurship

This article proposes a cyclical theory of public entrepreneurship that is rooted in contextual conditions. The authors use material presented to the Institute of Public Administration of Canada for the annual innovation award, as well as an extensive literature review, to illustrate a new model for public entrepreneurship, arguing that today's public entrepreneurs are teams and their actions are systemic. Public entrepreneurs do not create new artifacts, nor do they design grandiose projects, but they slowly reinvent their organizations and, in so doing, transform the systems that control government effectiveness and efficiency. The authors generalize and contextualize the idea of public entrepreneurship and structure the emergence of entrepreneurs into a cycle theory. The individual entrepreneur dominates when the organization is new or there is a need for novel activities. As the organization matures and the need for efficiency takes over, dominant individual entrepreneurship disappears, and with time, a new systemic entrepreneurship arises to tackle them.     

Die Rolle der Kritik in der Dynamik des Kapitalismus und der normative Wandel

Die französische Soziologie der 70er Jahre gab sich kritisch, stieß damit aber weder im moralischen Sinne noch im Sinne der Gerechtigkeit auf großes Interesse. Im Gegensatz dazu betonte die pragmatische Soziologie der 80er Jahre das absichtsvolle Handeln der Individuen und nahm die moralischen Motive, die sie für sich in Anspruch nahmen, sehr ernst. Sie hat dabei jedoch sehr oft die kritische Sichtweise aufgegeben. In ?Le nouvel esprit du capitalisme“ haben wir versucht, einen Rahmen zu konstruieren, der es ermöglicht, die Kernpunkte einer kritischen mit denen der pragmatischen Soziologie zu verbinden, und dazu das Programm einer Soziologie der Rolle der Kritik im sozialen Leben entwickelt. Um zu verstehen, wie ein neuer ?Geist des Kapitalismus“ in den letzten dreißig Jahren entstehen konnte, muss man in der Zeit um 1968 ansetzen, einer Phase, die durch ein hohes Niveau der Kritik gekennzeichnet war. Der Kapitalismus hat zunächst — ohne Erfolg — versucht, dieser Krise auf dem Gebiet der sozialen Gerechtigkeit zu begegnen, um dann große Teile einer neuen Form der Kritik zu verinnerlichen, die Ende der 60er Jahre entwickelt wurde und die sich auf Forderungen nach Autonomie, Authentizität und Kreativität konzentrierte. Die Anpassung des Kapitalismus an diese Form künstlerischer Kritik, wie wir sie bezeichnen, hat zu seiner Wiederbelebung beigetragen. Zusammenfassend entwickeln wir ein Modell normativen Wandels, das auf dem Begriff der Bewährungsprobe und dem des Wechsels zwischen Regimen der Verlagerung und Kategorisierung gründet.     

Identity Styles and Conflict Resolution Styles: Associations in Mother–Adolescent Dyads

Adolescent identity and parent–adolescent conflict have each attracted considerable research interest. However, few studies have examined the important link between the two constructs. The present study examined the associations between adolescent identity processing styles and adolescent conflict resolution styles in the mother–adolescent dyad. Questionnaires about conflict frequency and resolution were completed by 796 adolescents (66% female, mostly Caucasian) and their mothers. Adolescents also completed a measure on identity styles. Each identity style was hypothesized to relate to a specific conflict resolution behavior. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that the information-oriented identity style was positively associated with positive problem solving and negatively with conflict engagement and withdrawal, the normative style was positively associated with compliance, and, finally, the diffuse-avoidant style was positively associated with withdrawal and conflict engagement and negatively with positive problem solving. Our results demonstrated that the way in which adolescents tackle identity-relevant issues is related to the way in which they deal with conflicts with their mothers. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Ballpoint pen inks: characterization by positive and negative ion-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the forensic examination of writing inks

A method based on profiling of dye components by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) is described for the characterization of ballpoint pen inks. The method involves benzyl alcohol (30 microL) extraction of ink from paper. The extracts of ink lines 1 and 5 mm in length are used for direct ESI/MS analysis in positive and negative modes, respectively. The instrumental analysis takes 3 min. Basic and acid dyes in the inks are detected in the positive and negative modes, respectively, with each dye yielding one or two characteristic ion peaks. The mass spectrum, which is mainly a compositional signature of the dyes in the ink, was not affected by the type of paper from which the ink was extracted, or by natural ageing of the ink on document in the absence of light. However, exposure to fluorescent illumination caused dealkylation of polyalkylated basic dyes and resulted in changes in the homologous distribution of the dyes. In this study, a total of 44 blue inks, 23 black inks, and 10 red inks have been analyzed, and the mass spectra were used to establish a searchable library. ESI/MS analysis provides a simple and fast way to compare ink specimens and in combination with on-line library search permits rapid screening of inks for forensic document investigations.     

The Provision of Highways in Canada and the Federal Government

This article presents the role of the Canadian federal governmentin the provision of highways since 1867, describes the CanadianNational Highway System, and presents 1989–1998 data onhighway-related revenues and expenditures by the governmentsin both Canada and the United States. The article then examineswhy the Canadian federal government intervention on highwaysis incontestably smaller than that of the federal governmentin the United States. Our hey finding is that the policy ofthe Canadian government in the provision of highways since Confederationin 1867 can be characterized as "no policy." Its interventionsare best characterized by various ephemeral programs, the mainpurposes of which are often other than coordinating or promotinghighway construction.