bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overzicht van het Belgische politiek gebeuren in 1991
Authors: Deweerdt Mark , Falter Rolf
Published: July 2021

België kende in 1991 een bewogen politiek jaar. De houding van de regering in het Golfconflict veroorzaakte spanningen in de regering-Martens VIII (christendemocraten, socialisten en Volksunie) , die nog werden aangescherpt door de rel rond de aanwezigheid in het land van Walid Khaled, de woordvoerder van de terreurgroep van Aboe Nidal, waarover het doek pas eind juni viel. Tijdens de zomer stelde de regering, naar jaarlijkse gewoonte, de begroting voor het volgende jaar op. Tevens werden afspraken gemaakt over de verdere hervorming van de staat. Tot een parlementaire behandeling van de begroting en de staatshervorming is het evenwel niet gekomen. Een dispuut over de uitvoer van wapens naar het Golf gebied leidde in september tot een politieke crisis. De Volksunie verliet de regering, die kort daarop aan communautaire tegenstellingen ten onder ging. Bij de vervroegde verkiezingen van 24 november leden de aftredende regeringspartijen verlies. Pogingen om een nieuwe regering op de been te brengen, zaten eind december nog muurvast.
Nieuwe sociale bewegingen in de Belgische politiek : Een impressie
Authors: Hellemans Staf
Published: July 2021

In overviewing the (scant) empirical evidence gathered on and the literature written about New Social Movements (NSM's) in Belgium this article tries to buttress three general propositions. First, the NSM' highlight a general tendency among social movements today of a thoroughgoing dissociation of the mobilizational potential on the one hand and organizational (decision making) power on the other hand. Second, the NSM's in Belgium have helped substantially in raising participation levels, broadening the action repertoire of the citizens and changing the nature ofparticipation. Third, although participation levels in Belgium are still beneath the West-European averages, the NSM's consitute in Belgium - with the New Right as their direct opponent - a new cleavage line in an altogether weakening system of cleavages.
Politieke participatie van partijmilitanten
Authors: Deschouwer Kris , Opsomer Marina
Published: July 2021

The generally accepted idea of the "decline ofparties" leads to an obvious assumption on the evolution of party activism : it must be declining. There is however only little empirical research on this topic. We conduct a survey among party members in Belgium, in order to test the decline hypothesis. Four dimensions of membership wilt be measured: the numbers, the intensity of participation, the kind of participation (motivation and incentives) and the turnover.
Het gebruik van de voorkeurstem bij de gemeenteraadsverkiezingen : Een terreinverkenning in de provincie Limburg
Authors: Ackaert Johan
Published: July 2021

There is only few information available about the use of preferential votes at local elections, since the Belgian Home Department does not publish that particular statistical material.  This article registers the size of preferential voting and discusses its consequences for the local political system, based on statistical data collected in the 43 municipalities of the Limburg province where local elections were held in 1988.Nearly 9 of the 10 voters used the preferential vote to express their choice. This is a much higher level than the one noticed at the general elections. The use of preferential votes is varying according to the size of the municipalities (more preferential votes in the smaller ones) and differs from one party to another (f.e. 92.7 % for the christian-democratic parties to 47.1 % for the radical left) .The local election system and the size of preferential votes at local elections explain why nearly 7 of the 10 local councillors broke through the order of the candidate-list. For the comparison, this occured only twice at the 1991 general elections.
Nationalisme et parlementarisme : La percée complexe du nationalisme flamand au Parlement belge (1873-1914)
Authors: Delfosse Pasal
Published: July 2021

This article is related with the linguistic conflict in Belgium and the role of the parties and parties factions in the Parliament during the period 1873-1914.  As a contribution to the history of the belgian Parliament, it illustrates the way the flemish claims for more autonomy were transformed in complex agreements in which non-linguistic matters, related to the system of cleavages of the belgian society, somestimes played a crucial role.
Het lidmaatschap van sociale organisaties en trouw stemgedrag
Authors: Billiet Jaak
Published: July 2021

The relationships between the political parties (Christian Democrats, Socialists and Liberals) and the social movements that emerged in the last part of the previous century has been described as a pillarized form of intermediation. The political parties were built on the major cleavages that divided the Belgium society and the links between each organisational network (pillar) and the political party were exclusive, stable, and formal (or structural) . In the so-called new social movements, the links with the political parties are specific, unstable, and informal. A vast and stable support for each network party by the majority of the members of the social organisations that belang to each network (or 'world') is one of the conditions for an adequate functioning of the model of pillarized intermediation. Is that condition still met in Flanders after the General Elections ofNovember 24, 1991 ?This study, based on a sample of 2,691 Flemish voters, shows strong differences in 'faithful' and stable voting behaviour according to the generation and the kind of involvement in the social organisations (trade unions, health insurance organisations, and Christian Labour Movement).  Among the generations that were born after 1945, the proportion of electoral 'movers' is larger than the proportion ofvoters that remain faithful to their network party. In the generations born before 1945, stable and faithful voting behaviour is still dominant in the three traditional political families. The more involvement in the Christian Labour Movement, the higher the degree of stable voting behaviour in favour of the Christian Democratie Party. A logistic regression analysis with church involvement, age category, urban environment, and several organizational variabels shows thatmembership of social organisations still has a substantial effect on stable voting behaviour. The future of the pillarized model of intermediation is discussed in view of these results.
The European Union's Future : A Preview of the Intergovernmental Conference of 1996
Authors: Devuyst Youri
Published: July 2021

During the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) of1996, the European Union's institutional structure should be adapted, most notably in preparation for the Union's enlargement with the Central and Eastern European countries. The IGC's institutional debate will befar from easy. This is not surprizing since the institutional discussions during the IGC will reflect the grave substantive policy differences between the Member States on the Union's functions in the economy and on the Union's foreign policy role. The IGC is, indeed, largely a position game during which the Member States attempt to create a congenial institutional framework, favourable to their substantive policy preferences.
Regionalism, federalism and minority rights : The Italian case
Authors: Dani Mario
Published: July 2021

Three distinctive dynamics may be identified in the post-war developmentsof territorial and minority rights polities in Italy. The first focuses on  recession attempts in peripheral areas in the aftermath of the world war, and on their interplay with the regional reform. The second peaks in the late '60s-early '70s, and relates territorial minorities' demands for recognition to broader protest movements and 'internal colonialism 'perspectives. The third consists of the recent success of regional Leagues in the North, and largely reverses previous approaches to territorial issues. Autonomy is still emphasized here, yet disconnected from, and often in explicit opposition to, social equality ideas. 'Minority rights' are largely replaced with a peculiar version of territorial populist politics.
'Divided we stand' : Regionalism, federalism and minority rights in Belgium
Authors: Van Dyck Ruth
Published: July 2021

In the present Belgian situation the three major ethnic groups (Dutch-speaking Flemings, Francophone Walloons and 'Bruxellois ') share the belief that they are culturally, economically and/or politically dominated by the other linguistic community. This article expounds the thesis that these minority feelings are embedded in different interest which are legitimized by a discourse on democracy.  Both Flemings and Francophones defend their own perceived interests and thereby develop a view on their interethnic relations that is either of a 'regulated democracy ' or of a 'liberal democracy ' kind, according to the situation.  This political 'war of words' is nowadays concentrated on those are as that were left 'untouched' by the recent decentralization and federalization of the country which was designed to defuse the ethnic tinder-box. These remaining stumble blocks concern the position of the Flemings within the Brussels Region and that of the Francophones in the Brussels periphery and along the language border.  The article starts with a short historical overview of the Belgian intergroup conflict to provide a better understanding of the present-day democracy discourse.
Cultuurbeleid op lokaal vlak
Authors: Martens Luc
Published: July 2021

Considering cultural policy it is very important to have a multi-level policy concerning cultural facilities and an active involvement of the citizen at local level. To optimize local cultural policy one should aim for an interactive or complementary policy. This means that each policy level has to take its own responsabilities; that there has to be a mutual consultation between all policy levels and a mutual reinforcement of the policy effects at each level. The role of local governments is to provide for basic facilities and to install efficient frameworks for consultation and cooperation. Future challenges are the reinforcement of cooperation between cultural actors and to support innovating work.
'Maatschappelijk draagvlak' als alibi : macht en tegenmacht inzake milieubeleid op het middenveld
Authors: Walgrave Stefaan
Published: July 2021

Social, political and commercial organisations are stakeholders in the environmental policy decision making. Their mobilised power and counter power determine to a large extent the content of the decisions taken. Lately, the environmental movement in Flanders has grown stronger in members, professionals, financially,... but it remains relatively weak in comparison with the traditional, strong and aften pillarised intermediary organisations like unions, farmers and employers organisations. Especially its limited informal access tothe policy makers is incomparable with the exclusive and privileged access of those big organisations. Nevertheless the environmental movement is becoming a policy insider instead of an outsider, but this threatens the movements independence and its movement functions.
De verhouding tussen politiek en bestuur in het Belgisch Europees beleid
Authors: Beyers Jan
Published: July 2021

This contribution deals with the consequences of European integration for the relation between civil servants and policians. Data of Belgian senior servants who are not involved in European policy networks are compared with data of Belgian officals who are in charge of European negotiations.This comparison shows firstly that officials are more central in European policy networks than in national policy networks. Politicians have only a limited and indirect access to these European networks. Secondly, the more civil servants are involved in these European policy networks, the less their political alienation.  Furthermore, the organisational self-esteem do not affect the communication networks among civil servants and politicians. Finally, alienation and self-esteem do not affect the communication networks among civil servants and politicians. The exposure to politics and anciennity seem to be more important predictors.
Het analyseren van partij-rangschikkingen via het 'exploded logit'-model
Authors: Hajnal Istvan , Maddens Bart
Published: July 2021

Rankings of politicalparties are often used to map the multiple party preference of the electorate. This article shows how the obtained rankings may be analysed by means of the exploded logit-technique, which allows for testing both the difference between the rankings and the effect of either categorical or quantitative independent variables on the rankings. An analysis of the effect of age on the party preference rankings of the christian democratie (CVP) electorate in the 1991 Belgian parliamentary election shows that the older CVP-voters tend to rank the liberal and the socialist party equally, white the younger voters hesitate between the liberal and the green party. The younger CVP-voters are also significantly less averse of the far-right Vlaams Blok.
Het Belgische telecommunicatiebeleid : een retrospectieve analyse
Authors: Verhoest Pascal
Published: July 2021

Por the last decade, Belgian telecommunication policy has been characterised by a defensive, and sometimes even obstructive, attitude towards the liberalisation program of the European Commission. This paper analyses this policy on the basis of official governmental and administrative sources, corporate documents and insights gained through frequent contacts with the government and corporate representatives. The aim of this analysis is twofold. Firstly, this paper explains the Belgian attitude towards telecommunication as the result of a highly politicised corporatist national system of decision making.  Secondly, this paper assesses this policy in terms of its international performance. By means of conclusion, a number of suggestions are made for a more proactive policy.
Het (Belgisch) middenveld en de Europese beleidsvorming : institutionele factoren binnen een meerlagig systeem
Authors: Bursens Peter
Published: July 2021

This article examines the organisation and strategies of Belgian interest groups and their European peak-organisations with respect to the EU policy-making arena. It conceptualises the European Union as a of multi-level governance political system that consists ofmultiple interlocking government levels (sub-national, national and supranational), governed by means of non-hierarchical actor configurations with a blurred boundary between the public and the private sphere. It further argues that the European policy-making can best be studied from a (historical) new-institutionalist perspective which emphasises that the preferences andthe behaviour of political actors are shaped by the institutional context which provides opportunities and constraints. Evidence of the institutionalfactors within a multi-level governance setting is then given from the organisational structure and strategies of Belgian interest groups in general and from the environmental policy sector in particular.
De 'Stille Revolutie' op straat : Betogen in België in de jaren '90
Authors: Van Aelst Peter , Walgrave Stefaan
Published: July 2021

All major post-Worldwar political conflicts that made up the face of Belgian polities, were accompagnied by massive protests and intensive demonstration waves. Analysis of newspapers coverage and of the gendarmerie archives confirms this for the nineties. The 1990-1997 period is marked by an increasing number of demonstrations and demonstrators. The disappearance of the ideological and cultural-linguistical actions was, on the one hand, made up for by the further rising of other issues (environmental, anti-racist, judicial, .. .), and on the other hand by the near institutionalisation of very classic issues like education or employment, who both secured their place on the street. There is no ground to call the 1990's dull, on the contrary: the number of demonstrations grew steadily and, especially in Flanders, Inglehart's Silent Revolution of Postmaterialist values took to the streets. The wider acceptance of demonstrations as a means of actions, the growing political alienation, and the greater openness of the political system are presented as plausible explanations.
De impact van zachte en harde politieke instituties in Europese besluitvorming : de totstandkoming van de 'Verpakkingsrichtlijn' (94/62/EG)
Authors: Bursens Peter
Published: July 2021

This article argues that both hard and soft institutions shape the strategies and - to a lesser extent - the preferences of political actors in the European Union.  First of all, it discusses the institutional perspective in political science and presents an institutional model of decision-making. Secondly the institutional argument is illustrated by a detailed account of the decision-makingprocess with respect to the Packaging Directive. An analysis of the actor configuration, the interactions between the involved actors and an overview of the decision-making process itself, all show to what extent actor's strategies and preferences are constrained and empowerd by the European institutional context.
De (on)macht van de Eerste Minister : Een a-wetenschappelijke ervaringsbenadering
Authors: Dehaene Jean-Luc
Published: July 2021

The position of the Belgian prime minister (PM) is hardly mentioned in the Belgian Constitution. lt was only after almost 140 years, in 1970 he was mentioned for the first time. lts power is rather a matter of common law. Since 1831 through the years, the position and power of the PM changed strongly. This often happened together with changes concerning the power of the King: the weaker the King, the stronger the PM.The existence of coalition governments puts forward bis role as coordinator and even as arbitrator, whereas the federalisation process since the seventies places him as a conciliator between Regions and Communities. The growing importance of the European Council of Head of States have made him the most important decision-maker among the national politicians in the European integration process. The PM's skills concerning timing and agendasetting are very important because it is one of his most important power instruments. Other key skills are bis profound knowledge in certain issues but mostly as a generalist, his insisting on good minister nominations by the party leaders, the way he can motivate his cabinet members, a good team spirit among the government members and the existence of a clear government contract. In order to avoid a strongdependency on or tutelage from the political parties of the majority it is important to have their top politicians in the government.
Het gebruik van de voorkeurstem bij de parlementsverkiezingen van 13 juni 1999
Authors: Smits Jozef , Wauters Bram
Published: July 2021

At 13 June 1999, elections for the regional Parliaments, the federal Parliament (both House of Representatives and Senate) and the European Parliament were held in Belgium.The percentage of voters casting a preferential vote at these elections increased again,  reaching the highest score ever in Belgian history. On average, 60,9 % of the electorate expressed their preference for one or more candidates. Although voters have the possibility to cast a multiple preferential vote (i.e. a vote for several candidates figuring on the same party list) , this possibility is not used very much. A voter who cast a preferential vote, only vote on average for 1,73 candidates.The further increase in preferential votes was a little surprise since strong limitations were imposed upon campaign expenditures and on commercial affichage.  Political and social evolutions, such as individualism, anti-party feelings and mediatisation seem to have had a stronger impact upon preferential voting than these material limitations.The use of the preferential vote varies from one constituency to another, from Flemings to Walloons, and from one party to another. There were some notable evolutions. The voters of the extreme-right Vlaams Blok and of the green parties Agalev and Ecolo, who traditionally cast less preferential votes than voters of other parties, have dimished the gap between them and the other parties. Another important evolution is the decrease of pref erential voting in some constituencies in Wallonia. As for the Senate and the European Parliament, more Flemings now cast a preferential vote than Walloons do. The large constituencies used for these elections seem to attract very well-known politicians and as a consequence also very much preferential votes in Flanders.Despite the increase in preferential voting, the order of the list, composed by the party remained in most cases decisive whether or nota candidate was elected.
Leveled domestic polities : Comparing institutional reform and ethnonational conflicts in Canada and Belgium (1960-1989)
Authors: Jans Maarten Theo
Published: July 2021

The article analyses ethnonational conflicts in Belgium and Canada during the period 1960-1989. Using the most similar case design, it is argued that the different policy performances in Belgium and Canada can be accounted for by the institutional context in which the conflicts occurred. The institutional setup in Canada and Belgium created different modes of joint decision making. Through an analysis of three joint decision variables, namely, decision rules, preferences and default conditions, two empirical cases are scrutinized. The Canadian Pension Plan in Canada and the institutional reform efforts in Belgium (1974-1977) highlight the importance of institutional default conditions. On the basis of these empirical cases it is argued that the different conditions of joint decision making in the two states lead to a continuous production of compromises in Belgium and a genuine absence of mutual agreement in Canada.
Machtsrelevantie van multi-level structuren : een algemene verkenning
Authors: Devos Carl
Published: July 2021

The general question of this theoretical reflection concerns the impact of the multi-level organisation of policy processes for the division of power between collective social actors.  Firstly, We deal with the shrinking of the political capacity in the contemporary era of postfordism and deterritorialisation. In this framework, attention is paid to the ideological significance of governance.Using the concept of 'jumping of scales', We then consider the different consequences of the sui generis European multi-level setting for organised labour and capital, which serves as a case-study for our general proposition. Multi-level governance is looked upon as a new gestalt of scales, which enables some actors and hinders others to build their own jumping strategy between the different levels. The conclusion is that the European multi-level setting is the result of, as well as, the platform for power relations.
Carrièrepatronen van Belgische parlementsleden in een multi-level omgeving (1979-99)
Authors: Fiers Stefaan
Published: July 2021

This article deals with the consequences of an increased number of levels of political decision-making, on the way in which political careers are built. In the traditional bottomup perspective, political careers started at the municipal level. The best were chosen to represent the party in regional assemblies, first, and eventually in the national parliament.  In this perspective, a mandate of Member of European Parliament was the highest obtainable office. Evidence from the 1979-99 period shows that the importance of 'local political experience' in recruiting MPs is decreasing. However still, the Belgian figure remains high in comparative perspective : in 1999 no less than 70 % ofthe members of the federal House of Representatives and of the regional Flemish Parliament have previously been local councillor. Moreover, still 60 % combines a mandate as local councillor with their parliamentary mandate. Only a limited number ofpreviously regional Flemish MPs became federal MPs in 1999, so that one could not speak of frequent level-hopping, nor of a hierarchy among these offices.
Wie dient er tussen te komen ? : De vraag naar het legitieme gezag bij het gebruik van militair geweld in het voormalige Joegoslavië (1991-1995)
Authors: Ceulemans Carl
Published: July 2021

This contribution to the MLG-debate wants to focus on the question of legitimate authority for the use of military force in the framework of international interventions. More in particular, it is the main objective of this article to verify whether the international intervention in Former Yugoslavia (1991-1995) was characterised by a sufficient legitimate authority quality. The analysis itself will be developed in two steps. In a first step, we will describe the three main approaches to the concept of the legitimate authority in the post Cold War literature. Secondly, it is our intention to apply these three legitimate authority approaches in the context of the international intervention in Former Yugoslavia. The final results of this study allow us to formulate a rather remarkable conclusion from an ethical point ofview. Due to the reluctance of the international community to use military force, the central issue concerning the legitimate authority debate no longer seems to be "who among the many candidates has the right to intervene ?", but rather 'who has the duty to do so ?".
Vertegenwoordiging in vrouwelijk meervoud : Behartiging van vrouwenbelangen en 'vrouwelijke' vertegenwoordiging in het Vlaams Parlement, 1995-1999
Authors: Celis KAren
Published: July 2021

In this contribution we confront the results ofa research on the Flemish Parliament (1995-1999) with two hypotheses regarding the request for more wamen in parliament. First, we ask whether female MPs do defend wamen's interests. The research indicates that taking care of women's interests was indeed part of the task of female MPs. Supported by other scholars, we argue that the actual and future role of male MPs in defending women's interests deserves further empirical investigation. Second, we focus on the often-assumed difference that female MPs would make regarding their role orientation. Although there were major similarities in the role orientations of female and male MPs, a number of relative differences were found with regard to representational style, priorities and conception of the relations between majority and minority.
Do Quotas Matter ? : Positive Actions in the Belgian Parliament
Authors: Mateo Diaz Mercedes
Published: July 2021

Belgium has the particularity ofbeing the only EU Member State to have introduced quotas to its legislation. The type of quota which has been implemented is prioritizing the number, without paying attention to how male and female candidates are positioned on the parties' lists. In the article the author examines the evolution of the number of wamen in Belgian Parliament across time. Comparisons are made within and between parties, before and after the law on quotas. The analysis shows that the effect of quotas to a large degree is dependent on the will of parties to obtain more female representatives. Thus, if the major aim of a legislation on quotas is to impose a balanced gender structure in the representatives' assembly, the legislation ought to consider men's and women's positions on the lists.
Het gebruik van voorkeurstemmen bij de federale parlementsverkiezingen van 18 mei 2003
Authors: Wauters Bram
Published: July 2021

At 18 May 2003, elections for both the Belgian House of Representatives and Senate were held within a new institutional framework: among others the constituencies were enlarged.The percentage of voters casting a preferential vote increased again, reaching the highest score ever with 66,5 %for the House and 68,0 %for the Senate. Voters can also cast a vote for several candidates figuring on the same party list, which was not done very frequently in the past. The number of preference votes on one ballot increased enormously, with naw on average 2,23 for the House and 2,37 for the Senate. More candidates than ever succeeded in becoming elected out of the order of the party list, which was mostly decisive in the past.Thenew electoral laws are one reason for these changes, togethers with some political and social evolutions, such as individualism, anti-party feelings and mediatisation.
Het Europa van de opportunities : Analyse van de overlevingsstrategie van de christen-democraten in de Europese Unie
Authors: Van Hecke Steven
Published: July 2021

While Christian Democratic parties in several Western European countries are often said to be in crisis, the European People's Party holds the largest parliamentary group in the European Parliament since 1999. This paradox relies on the specificity of the different 'national' electoral logics on the one hand and the realisation of a long-term 'European' majority strategy on the other hand. The alliance with Conservatives and Conservative parties has to overcome an absolute electoral decline in 'old' EU countries and a relative decline through the accession of 'new' member states without Christian Democratic parties.  The EPP majority strategy is realised through various ways : the key position of the transnational party and party group, the role of political leadership, the way of decision making, the co-operation with side-organisations, the problem-solving of ideological conflicts, etc. Our analysis proves how the majority strategy of the European Christian Democrats realises its ultimate 'survival strategy' despite (or thanks to) several nationalparty crises.
Een halve eeuw vakbondslidmaatschap : Een verkennende longitudinale studie naar enkele cyclische determinanten voor de ledenontwikkeling van de Belgische vakbonden, 1946-1995
Authors: Vandaele Kurt
Published: July 2021

This article explains the ebb and flow in Belgian trade union membership from 1946 to 1995 by replicating the econometric model by Bain and Elsheikhn in which changes in macro-economic variables are highly significant. Since the automatic indexation of wages and the extension of collective labour agreements invite free riding, the relevance of the change in inflation and real wage is quite striking. However, the free riding-effect is slowed down by the institutionalised presence of the trade unions on the work floor. The Ghent system explains the positive impact of the unemployment rate . The model is furthermore improved by the trade union density as a structural variable. The linear form reflects the enforcement effect, while the quadratic form mirrors the saturation effect on the trade union membership. Mainly due to the 'Allgemeinkoalitionsfähighkeit' of the Belgian government system, the impact of left parties on union growth and decline is not significant in a quantitative framework. With only four explanatory variables the model clarifies more than 75% of the fluctuations in Belgian trade union membership.
De rol van de Vlaamse gemeenschapssenatoren in de Belgische federale staatsstructuur tijdens de legislatuur 1995-1999
Authors: Vanhee Dieter
Published: July 2021

Flemish community senators hold seats in both the Flemish Parliament and the Belgian Senate. A lot of expectations are related to their specific mandate. On the basis of our analysis, though, we come to the conclusion that the community senators do not meet these high expectations. While one would expect Flemish community senators to be very active in putting forward parliamentary questions concerning deliberation and cooperation between the different governments, this was clearly not the case in 1995-1999. 'Community senators' in other words, do not exist. They do not act like a community senator, and according to the interviews, nor do they feel like one.  Prime Minister Verhofstadt, who wants to reform the Senate and revalue the role of the community senators by turning every senator into a community senator, is a warned man.  In the future, the concept of community senator will only work if significant structural changes are made.
Determinanten van voorkeurstemproporties bij (sub-)lokale verkiezingen : De Antwerpse districtsraadsverkiezingen van 8 oktober 2000
Authors: Thijssen Peter , Jacobs Kristof
Published: July 2021

In this paper we look for the factors determining the relative share of preferential votes of individual candidates. We focus on the district council elections in Antwerp that were held in October 2000. The unique aspect of this elections is that they are without precedent and because of this there are strictly speaking no incumbency-effects. Unlike other research that is based only on administrative data, we use survey data for 612 candidates. In this way we enlarge the explanatory potential of our models. Hence, we were able for instance to check the extent to which membership of voluntary associations expands the individual vote share. We fi d that social capital does matter but surprisingly this effect disappears as soon as ballot position effects are taken into account.
Post-harvest Management of Cowpea: A potential Cash Crop for the Western Coastal Ecosystem of Goa
Authors: GUPTA MATHALA JULIET , DURAI R. MARUTHA , VANJARI SALONI S , PANDURANG SUMATI CHAVAN , PITRE ASHISH M
Published: July 2021

Cowpea, popularly grown as Alsando (Red Bold Variety) or Chowli (the less bold cream colored variety) is a major pulse crop of the state of Goa cultivated in the rice fallows during rabi season under residual soil moisture conditions. Harvest and post harvest losses of Cowpea were estimated by primary and secondary data collected from 50 Cowpea farmers from five villages each in the two districts, North and South of Goa and 9 storage godowns in the year 2012-13. The results showed that in spite of the crop being highly remunerative, it was cultivated in only 40 % of the paddy area. The average losses on field were 10.84 % for harvest, followed by 6.96% for threshing and 4.34 % for storage as calculated from primary data collected on farm. Secondary data showed that the awareness of losses during harvest and post-harvest unit operations was very less as they reported zero losses. The pulse has a high storage insect pest, pulse borer (Callosobruchus  maculatus,  Callosobruchus chinensis)incidence and hence was stored only for seed purpose in some cases for a year and generally disposed of by the month of  May in the godowns and by September at household level. In spite of having high returns, high local demand and nutraceutical value, the crop is not grown in large area due to labour intensive unit operations and high pest incidence. Sensitizing the farmers on good management practices and development of a drudgery free harvesting device can make this remunerative crop popular in the state.
MI-PACE Home-Based Cardiac Telerehabilitation Program for Heart Attack Survivors: Usability Study
Authors: Ding Eric Y , Erskine Nathaniel , Stut Wim , McManus David D , Peterson Amy , Wang Ziyue , Escobar Valle Jorge , Albuquerque Daniella , Alonso Alvaro , Botkin Naomi F , Pack Quinn R , McManus David D
Published: July 2021

Background

Cardiac rehabilitation programs, consisting of exercise training and disease management interventions, reduce morbidity and mortality after acute myocardial infarction.

Objective

In this pilot study, we aimed to developed and assess the feasibility of delivering a health watch–informed 12-week cardiac telerehabilitation program to acute myocardial infarction survivors who declined to participate in center-based cardiac rehabilitation.

Methods

We enrolled patients hospitalized after acute myocardial infarction at an academic medical center who were eligible for but declined to participate in center-based cardiac rehabilitation. Each participant underwent a baseline exercise stress test. Participants received a health watch, which monitored heart rate and physical activity, and a tablet computer with an app that displayed progress toward accomplishing weekly walking and exercise goals. Results were transmitted to a cardiac rehabilitation nurse via a secure connection. For 12 weeks, participants exercised at home and also participated in weekly phone counseling sessions with the nurse, who provided personalized cardiac rehabilitation solutions and standard cardiac rehabilitation education. We assessed usability of the system, adherence to weekly exercise and walking goals, counseling session attendance, and disease-specific quality of life.

Results

Of 18 participants (age: mean 59 years, SD 7) who completed the 12-week telerehabilitation program, 6 (33%) were women, and 6 (33%) had ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Participants wore the health watch for a median of 12.7 hours (IQR 11.1, 13.8) per day and completed a median of 86% of exercise goals. Participants, on average, walked 121 minutes per week (SD 175) and spent 189 minutes per week (SD 210) in their target exercise heart rate zone. Overall, participants found the system to be highly usable (System Usability Scale score: median 83, IQR 65, 100).

Conclusions

This pilot study established the feasibility of delivering cardiac telerehabilitation at home to acute myocardial infarction survivors via a health watch–based program and telephone counseling sessions. Usability and adherence to health watch use, exercise recommendations, and counseling sessions were high. Further studies are warranted to compare patient outcomes and health care resource utilization between center-based rehabilitation and telerehabilitation.
Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Action Research in eHealth Design and Implementation: Literature Review (Preprint)
Authors: Oberschmidt Kira , Grünloh Christiane , Nijboer Femke , van Velsen Lex
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND

Action research (AR) is an established research framework to introduce change in a community following a cyclical approach and involving stakeholders as coresearchers in the process. In recent years, it has also been used for eHealth development. However, little is known about the best practices and lessons learned from using AR for eHealth development.

OBJECTIVE

This literature review aims to provide more knowledge on the best practices and lessons learned from eHealth AR studies. Additionally, an overview of the context in which AR eHealth studies take place is given.

METHODS

A semisystematic review of 44 papers reporting on 40 different AR projects was conducted to identify the best practices and lessons learned in the research studies while accounting for the particular contextual setting and used AR approach.

RESULTS

Recommendations include paying attention to the training of stakeholders’ academic skills, as well as the various roles and tasks of action researchers. The studies also highlight the need for constant reflection and accessible dissemination suiting the target group.

CONCLUSIONS

This literature review identified room for improvements regarding communicating and specifying the particular AR definition and applied approach.
Costos Educativos del Covid 19 con y sin Optimización de Presencialidad: una estimación del caso de República Dominicana
Authors: Reyes Rolando
Published: July 2021

Se formula y se aplica un modelo que permite cuantificar las pérdidas del cierre escolar inducido por la pandemia del Covid 19 en dos escenarios, partiendo del mismo nivel de ganancia de aprendizaje esperado en un año escolar normal. En el primero, el porcentaje de no presencialidad es sustituido en cien por ciento por la educación a distancia, y en el segundo se utiliza el modelo que minimiza el costo educativo pandémico total, representado por los costos del contagio de la presencialidad y los costos de las pérdidas de aprendizajes de los distintos medios no presenciales. La metodología aplicada en el primer escenario se asume un cierre equivalente al 80 % del tiempo del año escolar, y un efecto adicional de ausencia escolar por pérdidas de ingresos de los hogares de los alumnos. En el segundo escenario se calcula la combinación óptima de presencialidad y no presencialidad, y luego se repiten los cálculos de las pérdidas de aprendizaje. Cuando se considera el promedio del valor de las pérdidas de aprendizajes de las cinco opciones no presenciales, calculado en el escenario sin combinación óptima, y se repite dicho cálculo para el caso de dicha combinación, se concluye que usando esta última, las autoridades educativas hubiesen evitado unas pérdidas de aprendizaje equivalente al 3.89 % del PIB.
Logística e internacionalización de las empresas antes y durante la pandemia del Covid-19. Breve revisión de literatura especializada
Authors: Barbosa Pérez Ehyder Mario , Gómez Rodríguez Dustin Tahisin , Téllez Bedoya Carlos Arturo
Published: July 2021

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo general caracterizar las principales teorías y autores de la logística y la internacionalización antes de la pandemia, y las estrategias que han utilizado en América Latina para tratar de contrarrestar los efectos del Covid 19 en las cadenas de valor. La metodología es de corte cualitativa y el método es de revisión documental. La principal conclusión es que la pandemia ha reflejado las asimetrías del comercio mundial. Donde se pueden identificar organizaciones que se adaptan en relación con su parque empresarial y buscan la manera de sortear la contingencia, o las que no pudieron con la misma. Asimismo, se ha puesto como pivote la resiliencia de los empresas dentro de las cadenas globales, ya que el mundo que viene, las organizaciones que se sumerjan en los cambios que exige la cadena global de suministros competirán y se quedarán o ampliarán su nicho de mercado.
Uso del modelo iRAP para evaluar la seguridad vial en carreteras de dos carriles en Ecuador
Authors: García-Ramírez Yasmany , Camacho Jandry , Montoya Jefferson
Published: July 2021

El International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) permite evaluar la seguridad vial que ofrecen tramos de carreteras. El modelo busca reducir el número de siniestros de tránsito y la gravedad de los mismos, ofreciendo información valiosa para quienes investigan o toman decisiones en las vías. En Ecuador, a pesar de tener un alto número de siniestros viales, solo se suelen hacer inspecciones de seguridad vial esporádicas, que muy pocas veces son aplicadas por falta de conocimiento técnico. Este artículo tiene como objetivo explorar el uso del iRAP mediante su aplicación en una vía de dos carriles en dos carreteras en Ecuador. Para ello, se analizó a profundidad el modelo iRAP en dos tramos de carreteras de dos carriles, analizando un total de 25 km. En esos tramos se recolectó información principalmente con el equipo Video VBOX Lite. Los resultados muestran que, a pesar de tener un alto número de variables, es posible aplicar el iRAP a carreteras de dos carriles. También se muestra que el modelo tiene dos variables que no están claramente descritas en los documentos del iRAP y se encontraron algunos errores menores en el ejemplo disponible en la web. A pesar de esto, se pudo determinar el puntaje de calificación por estrellas (SRS) y calificación por estrellas (SR). La mayoría de los tramos tuvieron una estrella y con la aplicación de las contramedidas seleccionadas se alcanzó hasta dos estrellas. Este estudio se puede reproducir fácilmente a otras carreteras del país o en otros países.
Study of the thermal stability of foam of different expansion ratio
Authors: Koksharov A. V. , Osipenko S. I. , Gaynullina E. V.
Published: July 2021

Introduction. Currently, the industry produces a wide range of foam generators to produce fire-extinguishing foams, and the foams they produce differ significantly in their expansion ratio and, consequently, fire resistance. Since heat fluxes have the main destructive effect on the foam, the purpose of this paper is to establish the patterns of destruction of foam of different expansion ratio when heated.

Methods of research. The foam with expansion ratio from 7.5 to 80 was used for the tests. It was obtained by mechanical beating of 6 % solution of foaming agent PO-6RZ. The thermal stability of the foam was studied when the heat flow from the gas burner flame affects the foam layer. During the experiment, the change in the height of the foam column in time was recorded.

Results and Discussion. The results of measurements, presented in the form of dependence of foam layer destruction rate on time, quantity of released liquid phase on 1 m2·s, dependence of foam layer destruction rate on its density allowed revealing a number of patterns. The destruction rate of foam with an expansion ratio of up to 30 remains constant throughout the entire duration of thermal exposure. As the foam expansion ratio increases, the rate of destruction at the initial stage of heat flux exposure increases. With a foam expansion ratio of more than 50, there is initially a sharp increase in the rate of destruction, which subsequently decreases as the foam column decreases. In the conditions of the experiment, the best characteristics were shown by the foam with an expansion ratio of 50, because in the foam with a smaller expansion ratio the syneresis makes a significant contribution to its destruction, and the foams with a larger expansion ratio are destroyed by the mechanical effect of convective flame flows.

Conclusion. The study of the foam destruction patterns under thermal impact allowed establishing the fact that its destruction is limited by the rate of impoverishment of the upper layers with liquid.
Methodology of dynamic factor influence of services on security subsystems that ensure comprehensive security of enterprises
Authors: Gvozdev E. V.
Published: July 2021

Introduction. In the structure of management of industrial enterprises, it is necessary to create an integrated safety and security system, which has already become traditional and includes sectoral areas (industrial and fi re safety, labor safety, environmental and information security, anti-terrorism security of the facility). The statistics confi rm the facts that the major part of determined hazards is caused by the human factor, including shortcomings (gaps) in the fi eld of impact of personnel of industrial and fi re safety services, labor safety, information security and anti-terrorism security, environmental security (hereinafter – services) on the supervised safety subsystems. To solve this problem, a methodological basis is presented in obtaining indicators of the infl uence (impact) of each of the services, that allows to reveal vulnerabilities in management of considered integrated safety and security system.

Methods of research. Approaches using existing methods in integrated safety and security of the enterprises are analyzed, and the features of their application are considered. At the stage of analytical research, it is proposed to apply the method of direct determined factor analysis, which makes it possible to specify the indicators of factor infl uence, divide them into components. At the stage of synthesizing the obtained analytical results, it is offered to apply the method of the objective tree on the basis of inverse calculations allowing to receive coeffi - cients of increment (decrease) of gaps (erroneous actions) of service personnel arising in the dynamic process of their employment relations.

Problem statement. The statistical data of fi res at the enterprises of electric power industry of the Russian Federation were processed. The coeffi cients of characteristic infl uence (direct, indirect) were determined. It was necessary to solve the problem with dynamic presentation of service performance indicators (by years) to identify those areas that require the formation of management instructions by the head of the enterprise.

Problem solution. The example of inverse problem solution based on the construction of the objective tree, which is characterized by ease of use, visibility, dynamism, universality and uniformity is presented.

Conclusion. The results obtained can be integrated as an embedding into an expert or intelligent management system created at the enterprise (for example SAP).