Adaptation vs. development: basic services for building resilience

In a transect along Indus River after the 2010 floods in Pakistan, this article explores the relationship between the use and duration of use of basic services, among those who recovered well and those who did not, using non-parametric statistical testing in a quasi-experimental design. The research shows a clear and strong correlation between access and duration of usage of certain services before the disaster, and the rate of recovery in each location. This analysis demonstrates a relatively robust and cost-effective methodology to identify and prioritise development interventions that build resilience against climatic shocks that are not undertaken at the cost of poverty reduction.     

The Palestinian intifada: An analysis of a popular uprising after seven months∗

This study challenges the conventional wisdom that the Internet is a reliable source of operational knowledge for terrorists, allowing them to train for terrorist attacks without access to real-world training camps and practical experience. The article distinguishes between abstract technical knowledge (what the Greeks called techne) and practical, experiential knowledge (mētis), investigating how each helps terrorists prepare for attacks. This distinction offers insight into how terrorists acquire the practical know-how they need to perform their activities as opposed to abstract know-what contained in bomb-making manuals. It also underscores the Internet's limitations as a source of operational knowledge for terrorists. While the Internet allows militants to share substantial techne, along with religious and ideological information, it is not particularly useful for disseminating the experiential and situational knowledge terrorists use to engage in acts of political violence. One likely reason why Al Qaeda and other Islamist terrorists have not made better use of the Internet's training potential to date is that its value as a source of operational knowledge of terrorism is limited.     

Leaderless Resistance and Ideological Inclusion: The Case of the Earth Liberation Front

Leaderless resistance is a strategy of opposition that allows for and encourages individuals or small cells to engage in acts of political violence entirely independent of any hierarchy of leadership or network of support. This article examines the development of the leaderless resistance strategy by the radical right and more recently by the radical environmentalist movement. While both movements use leaderless resistance to avoid detection, infiltration, and prosecution by the state, environmental groups like the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) benefit additionally because of the ideological inclusiveness that leaderless resistance fosters. Historically, ideological cleavages have rendered radical environmental groups such as Earth First! less effective than they would have been otherwise. Using leaderless resistance, however, the ELF eliminates all ideology extraneous to the specific cause of halting the degradation of nature. This elimination enables the ELF to mobilize a greater number of “direct actions.”     

The snowman outline: fact sheets by extensionists for farmers

Writing for smallholders in developing countries is an art that demands clear prose, a sound idea, and a logical outline. Although extension agents are often unaccustomed to writing, and usually need a sympathetic editor, extensionists know the target audience better than agricultural researchers or professional communicators. A one-page, 300-word fact sheet is a suitable format, allowing extensionists to write their insights for farmers. The fact sheet must be validated by farmers, who read it and review it for prose and concepts.

The “snowman” is a logical outline in three-parts: head (problem), middle (agro-ecological background), and main part (the solution). The middle section is the hardest for potential fact sheet authors to grasp, but it is also the most important. Anticipating the information that will convince the reader to try the recommendation requires a good knowledge of the audience. The farmers are not a passive audience. Smallholders can be engaged in logical, creative ways, even in writing.

La silhouette d'un bonhomme de neige : les fiches d'informations produites par des vulgarisateurs pour les fermiers

Ecrire pour de petits agriculteurs dans les pays en voie de développement est un art qui exige de la clarté dans la prose, une idée valable, et une forme logique. Malgré le fait que les éducateurs n'ont pas l'habitude d'écrire et qu'ils ont souvent besoin d'un éditeur compatissant, les vulgarisateurs connaissent mieux que les chercheurs agricoles ou les communicateurs professionnels leur public cible. Une seule page de 300 mots est un format approprié à la fiche d'informations, qui permet aux vulgarisateurs de transmettre leurs perspectives aux fermiers. La fiche doit être validée par des fermiers qui la lisent et qui passent en revue sa prose et ses idées. Le ‘bonhomme de neige’ fournit une silhouette logique en trois parties : la tête (le problème), le centre (contexte agri-écologique) et le corps (la solution). Le contexte est la partie la plus difficile à comprendre par les auteurs potentiels de fiches d'informations, mais il est aussi la plus importante. Anticiper les informations qui convaincront le lecteur d'essayer la démarche recommandée exige une bonne connaissance du public. Les fermiers ne sont pas des lecteurs passifs. On peut impliquer les petits agriculteurs d'une façon logique et créative, même à l'écriture.

El esbozo en forma de muñeco de nieve: hojas informativas escritas por extensionistas para pequeños productores

Escribir para un público de los pequeños productores de países en desarrollo es un arte que exige prosa clara, ideas firmes y un esbozo lógico. Si bien los agentes de extensión no están acostumbrados a escribir y, en general, necesitan de un buen editor, conocen al público objetivo mejor que los investigadores en agricultura o que los comunicadores profesionales. La hoja informativa de una cuartilla y de 300 palabras constituye un formato adecuado que permite a los extensionistas difundir sus hallazgos entre los campesinos. Dicha hoja informativa debe ser validada por los productores, quienes la leen y la valoran de acuerdo a su claridad y a los conceptos que contiene. El esbozo lógico consta de tres partes en forma de “muñeco de nieve”: el encabezado (presentación del problema), la parte central (exposición de los antecedentes agroecológicos) y la parte final (propuesta de solución). Para los potenciales autores de las hojas informativas, la sección de antecedentes representa la parte más difícil de escribir pero también la más importante. Se requiere de un buen nivel de familiaridad con el público para ser capaz de anticipar la información que impulsará al lector a poner en práctica las recomendaciones. Los pequeños productores no son un público pasivo. Participarán en actividades lógicas y creativas, aun cuando éstas impliquen la escritura.

A apresentação do homem das neves: informes produzidos por extensionistas para produtores rurais

Escrever para pequenos produtores de países em desenvolvimento é uma arte que exige um texto claro, uma ideia bem fundamentada e uma apresentação lógica. Embora agentes de extensão não estejam muito acostumados a escrever, e normalmente precisam de um editor compreensivo, os extensionistas conhecem o público-alvo melhor do que os pesquisadores agrícolas ou comunicadores profissionais. Um informe de uma página e 300 palavras possui uma forma adequada, permitindo aos extensionistas escrever suas ideias para os produtores rurais. O informe deve ser validado pelos produtores rurais, que o lêem e revisam o texto e os conceitos. O “homem das neves” é uma apresentação lógica em três partes: cabeça (problema), meio (contexto agro-ecológico) e parte principal (a solução). A seção do contexto é a mais difícil para compreensão dos autores em potencial dos informes, mas é também a mais importante. Antecipar as informações que convencerão o leitor a tentar seguir a recomendação exige bom conhecimento sobre o público. Os produtores rurais não são um público passivo. Os pequenos produtores podem ser engajados de forma lógica e criativa, até mesmo por escrito.     

The US–Russian security ‘reset’: implications for Central-Eastern Europe and Germany

Abstract

The article examines the reactions of selected European states to the US-performed ‘reset’ in relations with Russia and explores the ways in which they have been adapting to the new set-up. The article is divided into three parts: after the discussion of the substantive continuity and limited change in US foreign and security policy (USFSP), the multilateral and bilateral dimensions of USFSP procedure are examined through John Ruggie's theoretical observations. The second part of the article deals with implications of the USFSP for Central-Eastern European countries. This part begins with a discussion of Russian attempts to wheedle Europe into embracing its plans for new European security architecture. The next section sheds light on the unexpected process of strategic realignment of the region (USA/NATO/EU/CSDP) and simultaneous transformation of the special relationship with the USA into ‘normal life’. The third part of the article tackles the implications of heightened US–Russian bilateralism for Germany. Authors' findings, many of them based on conducted elite interviews, suggest the contrary process, namely Germany's strengthened multilateral commitment to the EU and specifically to European Security and Defence Policy, limiting the bilateral option to energy trade with Russia. What follows are concluding remarks.     

Jordanian Palestinians—what do they think? (Part 3)

Reporting from a nondemocratic land presents unique problems for journalists and researchers. This is particularly true of a traditional monarchy, such as Jordan, where all important decisions are ultimately the prerogative of the monarch. Journalists must be careful to stay within certain bounds. If they ask the wrong question they are liable to find themselves on the next flight back to their home country. Questions concerning the legitimacy of the monarchy or the competence of the ruling monarch are considered out of bounds. One must try to discern the underlying political reality without straying into forbidden zones. As with Parts 1 and 2, this study continues to provide a view into the complex fabric of Jordanian political reality through interviews with government officials, prominent private citizens with high‐level connections, and former opposition figures. The interviews focus on crucial areas of foreign and domestic policy.     

Asymmetries in prior conviction reasoning: truth suppression effects in child protection contexts

Abstract

In three empirical studies we examined how people reason about prior convictions in child abuse cases. We tested whether the disclosure of similar prior convictions prompts a mental representation or an additive probative value (Criminal Justice Act, 2003). Asymmetrical use of similar priors were observed in three studies. A pilot study showed that disclosure of a second prior did not contribute a weight equivalent to that of the first disclosure. Study 1 showed jurors did not see left-handed evidence (i.e. matching victim bruising) as more indicative of guilt than right-handedness unless a prior conviction was present, and the presence of priors suppressed the generation of alternative possibilities indicative of innocence. Study 2 showed that disclosure did not decrease community ratings of re-offending propensity and dangerousness as much as a similar prior conviction increased them. We consider the results in the context of a new psychological theory of prior conviction bias and the consequences for the implementation of Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act (2003).     

Exploring sexual harassment and related attitudes in Beninese high schools: a field study

Sexual harassment severely impacts the educational system in the West African country Benin and the progress of women in this society that is characterized by great gender inequality. Knowledge of the belief systems rooting in the sociocultural context is crucial to the understanding of sexual harassment. However, no study has yet investigated how sexual harassment is related to fundamental beliefs in Benin or West African countries. We conducted a field study on 265 female and male students from several high schools in Benin to investigate the link between sexual harassment and measures of ambivalent sexism, gender identity, and rape myth acceptance. Almost half of the sample reported having experienced sexual harassment personally or among peers. Levels of sexism and rape myth acceptance were very high compared to other studies. These attitudes appeared to converge in a sexist belief system that was linked to personal experiences, the perceived probability of experiencing and fear of sexual harassment. Results suggest that sexual harassment is a societal problem and that interventions need to address fundamental attitudes held in societies low in gender equality.     

Group size does matter: differences among sexual assaults committed by lone,double, and groups of three or more perpetrators

ABSTRACT

We compared a total of 340 sexual assault cases based on offender characteristics, victim characteristics, and offence behaviours to identify differences among sexual assaults committed by lone, double, and groups of three or more perpetrators in South Korea. Several differences were found among sexual assaults committed by varying numbers of offenders. First, lone, double, and groups of three or more perpetrators differed with respect to age, marital status, and employment status. Second, substantial differences in victim characteristics were observed with respect to age and the victim–offender (v–o) relationship. Third, significant differences in offence behaviours, including offence type, planning, method of approach, knife possession, and stealing property, were found. Furthermore, we identified several variables that significantly predict group size using logistic regression analyses. The study has theoretical implications for understanding how group dynamics influence the behaviours of rape perpetrators, and practical implications for victim treatment and offender intervention.