Nicaraguan peasant cooperativism in tension: adaptive strategy or counter-movement

Abstract

Based on qualitative research conducted in three regions of Nicaragua, this paper examines the contribution of the communitarian approach to the new rurality in understanding the orientation and tensions within the peasant cooperative movement. The thematic analysis of 30 semi-structured interviews carried out with members of grassroots cooperatives reveals two main categories of motivation for engagement within the cooperative movement. A first set of motivations shows the will to transform the productive structures through small producer organisations to better adapt to the challenges imposed by global economic integration. A second set of motivations highlights broader socio-political objectives that seem to crystallise around the desire to build long-term alternatives to the exclusionary process of neoliberal globalisation. I explore these motivations in light of the distinction between reformist and communitarian approaches to the new rurality. I outline that the articulation of these two approaches, and more particularly the contribution of the communitarian approach, makes it possible to better understand the tensions within the cooperative movement in regard to socio-economic challenges. On this basis I call for a greater consideration of the communitarian dimensions of the new rurality to better define the role of the state, public policies and non-governmental organisations in supporting these phenomena.     

Be there or be square – The impact of participation and performance in the 2017 Dutch TV debates and its coverage on voting behaviour

TV debates are often seen as the most important events that provide the electorate with information about leading candidates and key issues during electoral campaigns. Research provides evidence for various debate effects, showing both a direct and indirect influence on voting decisions. There is, however, only scant evidence on the relative impact of TV debates when examining these effects at the same time. To fill this gap, our study aims to analyse whether and to what extent a candidate's participation in a debate, their performance in the debate or the related media coverage influence the electorate when examined simultaneously. We consider the case of the 2017 Dutch general elections, which offers an almost ideal setting due to the broadcast of several TV debates of different formats and candidate compositions throughout the campaign period. To distinguish the effects of single debates, we use original Dutch panel survey data. We find a weak overall influence of the debates; the most significant effects are decreasing vote intentions for the two main competitors (VVD and PVV) after both candidates refused to participate in the first TV debate, and a ‘winner-effect’ for one of the two main candidates in a head-to-head debate.     

How political malpractice affects trust in EU institutions

Abstract

Political misconduct is known to harm the politicians involved. Yet, we know less about how such events affect trust in political institutions. We study a real-world political malpractice affair in the European Commission, using a three-wave panel design to investigate how information about the affair influences trust in EU institutions. This enables us, first, to isolate the impact of new information on political trust, remedying endogeneity issues common in political trust research. Second, we assess which institutions are affected most (specificity) and whether effects depend upon citizens’ sophistication levels (conditionality). Finally, we assess the durability of effects over time. Our findings demonstrate that citizens obtain knowledge about EU affairs through the media, and use this knowledge in their trust evaluations. In doing so, citizens differentiate between EU and national institutions, with trust in the European Commission affected most. This suggests a sophisticated process and highlights the evaluative nature of political trust.     

Reading level and the prevalence of a dyslexic profile among patients in a forensic psychiatric clinic

This study aims to investigate Swedish language reading ability of forensic patients and the number of them that present a dyslexia profile. Another aim is to compare the reading level in different subtypes of psychiatric diagnoses. Assessments were made of 185 patients by a battery of reading tests. They were also interviewed about their schooling and their self-estimated reading and writing ability. The results show that the patients’ reading level is below average for grade six children in Swedish compulsory school, and that 16 per cent show a dyslexic profile. Male patients with an immigrant background and a diagnosis of psychosis and anxiety disorders perform the lowest when measuring literacy skills. This proportionately low reading ability can cause difficulties in understanding texts as presented in broadsheet newspapers, civic information and patient records, and might even jeopardize the understanding of adult spoken language.     

条件限制法在警察学员短跑训练中的实验研究

本文运用文献资料法、访谈法、数理统计法、实验法为研究方法,以田径项目中短跑的起跑教学为例,对辽宁警官高等专科学校的20名学员进行了教学实验,以学校为单位,随机分为实验组和对照组,在2013年5月至6月进行15个学时的短跑教学。主要目的是以"条件限制法"使学生在学习技术时,限制多余技术动作和错误技术动作的产生几率或防止多余动作技术和错误技术动作的产生,在有限的时间内,达到更好的教学效果。以短跑的撞线动作及起跑后加速跑这两个技术动作进行教学实验,通过实验班与对照班的对照,学生成绩有明显提高,学习兴趣明显加强,学生的接收能力也有提高。     

Laminated safety glass as an intermediate target: a wound ballistic study

Various 9‐mm ammunitions (A1, A4, A5, ST, GS, GSb, P.E.P., SeCa, HP, PTP/s, VM, McVG, DM41, PTP, SX2, PT, and MEN frangible) were tested regarding their velocity, energy, angle of impact, and potential wound channel after penetrating a car window at 30° and 90°. Test materials were gelatine, soap, and pig cadavers. The velocities of the projectiles were between c. 288 and 430 m/ses, the energy spread between 394 and 564 J. Handgun bullets fired through vehicular side window glass lose substantial energy reducing the effectiveness of the ammunition. This effect is greater when fired at an angle of 30° compared to 90°. At a shooting angle of 90°, none of the different projectiles showed remarkable differences considering its wound ballistic features. Accuracy is maintained at a 90° angle but seriously impaired at 30°. None of the examined ammunition complied with the demanded wound channel effectiveness of 30–60 J/cm.     

从宪法到普通法:法律文本里的地方立法权流变考

地方立法权的存在和运用必须有明确的宪法、法律依据,此乃法治之基本要求。而根据我国《宪法》之规定,除民族自治地方的人大享有自治条例和单行条例的制定权外,仅授予省、直辖市人大及其常委会以地方性法规制定权。其他地方国家政权机关,包括自治区人大及其常委会,以及"较大的市"的人大及其常委会的地方性法规制定权、地方人民政府的规章制定权等,则是分别通过《地方组织法》、全国人大或其常委会的相关授权决定的方式所获得的,并最终为《立法法》所确认。     

婴幼儿心理健康教育研究及教育现状分析

婴幼儿的心理健康越来越受到社会的普遍重视。文章以中国知网为平台,对1979—2010年之间所发表的与婴幼儿心理健康教育有关的文献进行了统计分析,从五个方面归纳了婴幼儿心理健康教育的研究状况。此外,文章还对婴幼儿心理健康教育现状从既得成果和存在的不足两个方面进行了分析总结。为婴幼儿心理健康教育的有效开展与对此问题的深入研究提供参考。     

论成人的学习动机与成人的社会性发展

成人的学习与成人学习的动机因素是有着密切的联系的。研究显示:成人学习中的社会性刺激与成人的社会性发展因素在成人学习动机中占据着非常重要的位置。同时,其他的一些相关因素也较为重要地影响着成人的学习行为。     

两种计数法预测叔侄关系的对比研究

目的对比等位基因全不同基因座及共有等位基因计数法预测叔侄关系的差异性、相似性及其效能,为侦破案件提供参考。方法以已知叔侄关系的204对作为实验组,无关个体的204对作为对照组,采用PowerPlex 21系统检测20个常染色体STR基因座,然后进行统计分析。结果设定等位基因全不同基因座数预测界值≤6个,发现叔侄关系的灵敏度为83.82%,特异性为74.02%,漏判率为8.82%,误判率为11.76%,系统效能为78.92%。共有等位基因数预测界值≥17个,发现叔侄关系的灵敏度为75.98%,特异性为77.45%,漏判率与误判率均为7.84%,系统效能为76.72%。结论等位基因全不同基因座计数法与共有等位基因数计数法有互补优势,联合应用能提高预测叔侄血亲关系的能力,对侦查具有良好的指导意义。