Regional VS. Global Patterns of Democratization： A Comparative Study

This study analyzes the comparative patterns of democratization between geographic regions and the world. It addresses the question that how some determinants of democracy have different effects among geographical regions. Further, by comparing the similarities and differences in the patterns of democratic diffusion across regions, this study seeks to delineate what changes scholars should adopt in our epistemological approaches and methodological tools, such as the indices of democracy, in an attempt to better understand the policy implications of disparate findings from various empirical studies. As part of a larger research project, this paper focuses its attention on two of the geographical regions Asia and the Middle East.

Diversity and Decentralization in the Democratization Process in Spain

This paper will deal with the history of an important political change in Spain during the transition to democracy between 1976 and 1982： the transformation of a unitary and centralized state to one composed of several political units capable of self-government. The starting point of that process was the confirmation of regional diversity and of the existence of clearly differentiated political sensibilities in some of its territories. The researchers shall rely especially on the legacy of some of the principal actors, and explore the connection between such diversity and the political change that took place.

Electoral Authoritarianism in Togo: How Has Foreign Aid Impacted the Democratization Process in Togo From 2005 to 2010?

After four decades of military dictatorship,Togo is still facing a dilemma of whether to break with the past and take a path of democratization or make changes in the continuity.The death of the former President Gnassingbe Eyadema in 2005 was seen by the Togolese community at home and around the world as a window of opportunity or a step toward the emergence of the political liberalization in the country.Unfortunately,with the backing of the Togolese army,Faure Gnassingbe,one of the sons of Eyadema,was enthroned as the country’s new President since 2005.The international economic sanctions on Togo in the aftermath of the death of Eyadema,due to continuing human rights abuses and violations by the authoritarian regime,have accentuated the already acute suffering and poverty of the Togolese population.However,the 2006 Global Political Agreement reached between the traditional political opposition parties and the government paved the way to the normalization of the international cooperation with Togo and hence the lifting of economic sanctions by the international community.Drawing from Solow-Swan growth model and a cross-national causality test of the development-democracy-growth hypothesis of Abbas Pourgerami,this paper investigates the impact of foreign aid on the democratization process since 2005 and argues that foreign aid played a paramount role in consolidating electoral authoritarianism instead of establishing a viable democracy in Togo.

Polish Media 22 Years After Socio-Political Breakthrough The Road to Professionalization and Democratization

Over two decades have passed by since Poland took the course of democratic changes. In the early 1990s the press sector was re-established as a consequence of de-monopolization and has been taken over by foreigners. The electronle media sector has been restricted for 15 years and foreign companies could only have one third of the ownership. The complexity of Polish media system reflects the long way from communism and governmental media towards free democratized market with some remnants of the previous era. It is hard to predict when it will be shaped in a brand new way and if it is generally possible.

Electoral Governance and Democratization in Francophone Africa:A Critical Appraisal

The exhaustion of dictatorial powers and communist regimes ushered in the third wave of democratization in francophone Africa,through the emergence of democratic institutions essential to the holding of credible elections.This new democratic era,which redefines the stakes of power through peaceful political competition in the form of elections,marked the end,at least symbolically,of a time when a coup or popular insurrection seemed to be the only way to overthrow dictatorial regimes.The election thus appears as an instrument of regulation of political life.Through a constructivist perspective,this research aims to discuss the relationship between electoral governance and democratization in francophone Africa.It shows that even if democracy is taken as a tool of political civilization in francophone Africa,there is no institutional linking.It means that electoral must be the key for the regulation and the credibility of democratization and democracy.

The Impact of Democratization on“FDI”in Tunisia-A Comparison of Pre and Post Revolution Periods

The study examined the impact of democratization on foreign direct investment in Tunisia and has done a comparison of the pre and post revolution periods.The paper has used secondary data for the variables GDP per capita,FDI,Gross Fixed Capital Formation(GFCF),Current health expenditure(%of GDP)for the period 2001-2018.The study aims to provide arguments of the favorable political conditions for FDI,the purpose is to understand;whether,democracy and autocracy attract FDI in the Pre and Post-event of revolution in Tunisia.In addition,this investigation discusses the key elements for path dependency in democratic transitions from autocracy to democracy.The study found that there is a correlation between the adoption of a democratic regime and the FDI evolution.A democratic regime creates the right political circumstances to improve macroeconomic performance.It can stimulate growth if it is conducted in a stable political environment.

The Middle Eastern Democratization in the Context of Anti-Americanism

The US’s Middle Eastern democratization strategy is based on realist considerations of anti-terrorism and national security,while in contrast the Islamic-Arab world’s anti-Americanism originates from negative effects of modernization and globalization along with perceptions of an inherent unfairness in the US’s Middle East policy.Consequently,the advancement of the Middle Eastern democratization processes within this context are bound to face obstacles and distortion.Anti-Americanism not only leads to the absence of a stable environment for democratization in the Middle East,but also constrains the US’s possible avenues to pursue its Middle Eastern democratization strategy when some Arab authoritarian governments use it as a check and balance to resist the US’s democratization pressure.

A step to the decentralized real-time timekeeping network

The composite time scale(CTS) provides an accurate and stable time-frequency reference for modern science and technology. Conventional CTS always features a centralized network topology, which means that the CTS is accompanied by a local master clock. This largely restricts the stability and reliability of the CTS. We simulate the restriction and analyze the influence of the master clock on the CTS. It proves that the CTS's long-term stability is also positively related to that of the master clock, until the region dominated by the frequency drift of the H-maser(averaging time longer than ~10~5s).Aiming at this restriction, a real-time clock network is utilized. Based on the network, a real-time CTS referenced by a stable remote master clock is achieved. The experiment comparing two real-time CTSs referenced by a local and a remote master clock respectively reveals that under open-loop steering, the stability of the CTS is improved by referencing to a remote and more stable master clock instead of a local and less stable master clock. In this way, with the help of the proposed scheme, the CTS can be referenced to the most stable master clock within the network in real time, no matter whether it is local or remote, making democratic polycentric timekeeping possible.

美国两党对台政策的差异及影响

In the context of the whole-of-government strategic approach the United States(US)currently applies toward China,the Democratic and Republican parties have reached a consensus on“using Taiwan to contain China,”compromising the integrity of the one-China policy and seriously eroding the political foundations of China–US relations.However,considerable differences persist between the two parties regarding Taiwan policy.The Republicans,as represented by Donald Trump,have appeared more radical and more straightforward,whereas the incumbent Biden administration of the Democratic Party has shown significant duplicity.Democrats in the US Congress have introduced relatively fewer Taiwan-related bills than their Republican counterparts;by comparison,some Republican lawmakers have even introduced resolutions calling for resuming“diplomatic ties”with Taiwan.The Taiwan policy gap between the Democratic and Republican parties mirrors their differences on China policy:liberal think tanks advocate for“strategic ambiguity”on Taiwan,but conservatives back“strategic clarity.”And the gap also ref lects the shifting lobbying priorities of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party.Looking ahead to the upcoming decade,the Democratic and Republican par ties will continue to compete to“support Taiwan,”thus rendering the Taiwan question even more dangerous.After 2024,if Democrats remain in power,they may hasten the“internationalization”of the Taiwan question;otherwise,if Republicans return to the White House and both chambers of Congress,China and the US may find their relationship even more confrontational.Although the political situation in Taiwan will very unlikely have any fundamental impact on the Taiwan Strait,it will,to a certain extent,influence the intensity of China–US rivalry.

Investigating Non-Compliance with COVID-19 Vaccination through Hesitancy, Refusal, and Access Limitation: A Community-Based Survey from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Introduction: Vaccination plays a pivotal role in mitigating the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, vaccination campaigns encounter obstacles, especially in developing countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This study aimed at investigating the roles of vaccine hesitancy, refusal, and access barriers, while identifying individual-level factors associated with non-vaccination in Mbujimayi, DRC. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in three health districts and included 1496 residents. Attitudes and behaviors related to seeking COVID-19 vaccination were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Hierarchical logistic regression modeling was used to assess factors potentially affecting non-compliance with vaccination. Results: Among participants (median age = 33, IQR = 23.3, M/F sex ratio = 0.7), 60% displayed misconceptions about COVID-19 or its vaccine, while only 35.2% perceived COVID-19 as a significant health threat. Vaccination coverage was estimated at 49.1% (95% CI: 47.5;52.6), with 71.8% of vaccinated individuals having received one dose. Among the unvaccinated individuals, 50.9% expressed no intention to be vaccinated in the future, citing hesitation (30.4%) or refusal (39.6%) mainly due to side effects or distrust of vaccines. Conversely, 32.7% of the unvaccinated persons expressed access barriers despite willingness to be vaccinated. Misconceptions about COVID-19 and its vaccines were the main drivers of vaccination non-compliance. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate significant vaccine non-compliance driven by hesitancy, refusal, and access barriers. Strategies to enhance vaccination coverage and pandemic preparedness should address misconceptions, sociodemographic barriers, and geographic disparities.

Epidemiological and Histopathological Profile of Prostate Cancer: A Retrospective Study in the Pathology Department of the University Clinics of Kinshasa

Background: Prostate cancer, the most common male cancer, represents a real public health problem in terms of its frequency and severity in different countries around the world. It disproportionately affects people of African descent wherever they live in the world [1]. To the best of our knowledge, its extent and particularities in the African environment are not well known. Objective: To determine the epidemiological and histopathological profile of prostate cancer in the CUK anatomopathology department. Methodology: This is a retrospective study conducted at the University Clinics of Kinshasa Anapathology Department from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2022, a period of 8 years. Word processing and tables were entered using the Hp brand computer, with Microsoft Office WORD 2016 software. Data analysis was performed with SPSS version 22.0 software. Results were presented in tables and figures. Results: Prostate was diagnosed in 132 cases, i.e. 1.58% of all CUK laboratory analyses and 8% of cancers diagnosed. The age group most affected was 66-75 years, i.e. 59% of all subjects. Adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histological type, and biopsy dominated in 111 cases (84.1%). Conclusion: Prostate cancer is a real public health problem. Worldwide, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men, and the leading cause of cancer-related death in men. In the DRC, because of the delay in consulting our patients and the weakness of systematic screening, patients are seen at an advanced stage of the disease. Treatment is multidisciplinary, involving surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy (including targeted therapies). Patient awareness and screening campaigns will help to considerably reduce the delay in diagnosis and the morbidity and mortality associated with prostate cancer.

Abdominoplasty, Liposuction and Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. My Experience in This Aesthetic Plastic Surgery with Black African Women in a Low-Income Country

Background: In low-income African countries, the demand and use of plastic surgery operations including abdominoplasty, liposuction and Brazilian butt lift (BBL) are increasing. The goal of this work is to present my experience and the challenges of this aesthetic plastic surgery among black African women. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted about the abdominoplasties, liposuctions and Brazilian butt lift (BBL) which I operated in public and private hospitals at Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) in black African women. It covers a period of 13 years, going from December 1, 2010 to December 1, 2023. For this study, I had at least 6 months period (to Juin 1, 2024) to assess the occurrence of early and late postoperative complications. Results: I performed 84 abdominoplasties, 144 liposuctions and 23 Brazilian butt lifts (BBL). The average age at the time of abdominoplasty was 44 years with extremes ranging from 26 to 55 years and a concentration of cases (60.7%) in the age group of 40 to 49 years. The age group of 20 to 29 years old represented the lowest rate of requests for abdominoplasty (4.7%). Patients with a BMI of 30 to 2 were the majority (61.9%), followed by those between 25 to 2 (29.7%). 67.8% of patients were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). The average age at the time of liposuction was 41 years with extremes ranging from 21 years to 69 years;and more than half of cases (68%) in the age group between 30 and 49 years. As for Brazilian butt lift (BBL), the average age was 33 years with extremes ranging from 24 to 42 years and a concentration of patients (91.3%) between 20 and 39 years. The immediate postoperative complications of abdominoplasties observed were: seroma in 7% of cases, hematoma and partial infection of the surgical site in 5% of cases. Pathological scars (hypertrophic, keloid) after abdominoplasties were observed in 9% of cases. The most common complication of liposuction was contour deformity. I observed 16 patients (11.1%) with soft-tissue depressions or elevations, skin panniculus or folds. For Brazalian Butt Lift (BBL), complications like asymmetry for 2 patients (8.9%), contour irregularities for 2 patients (8.9%), and excessive fat removal for 6 patients (26%), had observed. I have not recorded any cases of death or pulmonary embolism. Conclusion: I perform aesthetic plastic surgery procedures in black African women with a high socioeconomic standard of living compared to the average of the general population. The renunciation of planned surgery is motivated by the impossibility of paying the cost of the operation as well as by popular and religious perceptions regarding cosmetic surgery. The results of these aesthetic plastic surgery procedures carried out are very satisfactory for them. The challenges to overcome are mainly threefold: the unforeseeable complications of these cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, popular and religious perceptions of cosmetic surgery as well as the poverty of the population.

Challenges of Vietnamese Agricultural Cooperatives in the 21st Century:The Link Between Efficiency and Legality

The article shows that the situation of agricultural cooperatives in the world in general and agricultural cooperatives in Vietnam in particular are facing certain challenges in the context of globalization in the 21st century.The article points out limitations on:the nature,principles of democratic member control and principles of surplus distribution of the International Cooperative Alliance,as well as Vietnamese law in cooperative management.

Path for Rural Autonomous Production after Reform and Opening-up

This paper firstly introduces research achievements in change of rural society in China after reform and opening-up. Researches are conducted mainly in household contract responsibility system and the relation between township government and village administration. From the perspective of autonomy, it reviews the course of autonomous growth in rural economic field from the economic system reform to implementation of household contract responsibility system. Then, it analyzes expansion of space of rural self-organizations and reconstruction of relation between township government and village administration. Finally, it is concluded that autonomy is a path for development of rural society.

On the Crisis of Democracy

In the last three decades of the 20th century, important political changes occurred in all regions of the world, making the institutions of many existing political systems closer to the ideals of democracy. But as happened in other moments of history, those processes of democratization, even when successful, always occurred through advances and retreats. Thus, contemporary political practices, procedures, and institutions embody democratic ideals only partially. In many nations, in the present, the rule of law, civil, and political rights, and institutional mechanisms for citizens’ control of governments remain ineffective or underdeveloped. Thus, a double concern prevails among analysts: on the one hand, the regression to authoritarianism in some countries after the processes of political changes—Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Turkey being the paradigmatic examples;the emergence of semi-democracies, i.e., hybrid or illiberal regimes, which have provoked a new interest in the study of patterns of institutional design, the critical role of civil society, different political-cultural developments, authoritarian legacies in the context of the new democracies, competitive authoritarianism and new dictatorships. On the other hand, the acknowledgement of intrinsic limits of the historical development of the democratic regime even in the case of old democracies, i.e., the fact that political equality, active citizen participation, and effective control of abuse of power have never been fully realized in practice. This is the general context in which many analysts and part of the public opinion sustain that there is a crisis of democracy. The general diagnosis refers to the decreasing trust in political elites, political parties, parliaments, governments, and to the dissatisfaction with the regime among democrats;it refers also to the weaker and sometimes erratic performance of democratic institutions and particularly to the failure of the representative system. The picture is completed with the growing rates of partisan misalignment, electoral volatility, and declining civic participation. All this seems to indicate that democracy is inconceivable without crisis. This chapter discusses this scenario. The crisis of democracies is examined from a critical perspective, and the main objective is to understand the different dimensions of its nature and its consequences.

Media Transition in Eastern Europe after 1989 Albania and Poland in Comparison

In this article the author compares the transformation of media systems of two countries belonging to the former Soviet bloc of Eastern Europe： Albania and Poland. The aim is to highlight differences that occurred in this process, in order to show how, albeit a similar past and the belonging to the same political and economic model until 1989. The diversity of media transition explains the existence of different national ways in which post-communism developed during the last 25 years.

Public Deliberation in an Age of Visibility： Political Communication Analysis in Mexico

This paper reviews the importance of visibility in public deliberation in the theoretical construction of political communication. Political communication is the area that study social and political interactions of actors through discourses and practices within the public sphere. The social and political actors manage their public appearances in an exercise of visibility, allowing deliberation of public affairs. In recent years, Mexico has been a relevant case of study for understanding the opening of media into the public discussion of governmental affairs. As an example, this paper presents an analysis of public deliberation in the city of Quer6taro, Mexico. This study analyses political participation and openness of media, based on the concepts visibility, public sphere and citizenship. The analysis was built on the idea that the press concentrates most of the issues of public interest and that it reflects actors and arguments given for deliberation. In a qualitative approximation, we analyzed the discourses published in four journals and developed an analytical framework that illustrates the levels of access and visibility of a variety of political and social actors. This exercise demonstrates the importance of the concept of visibility in public deliberation and the media as managers in the current configuration of political communication.

Considerations for a Planned Democratizing Data Framework for Valid and Trusted Data

A key requirement of today’s fast changing business outcome and innovation environment is the ability of organizations to adapt dynamically in an effective and efficient manner. Becoming a data-driven decision-making organization plays a crucially important role in addressing such adaptation requirements. The notion of “data democratization” has emerged as a mechanism with which organizations can address data-driven decision-making process issues and cross-pollinate data in ways that uncover actionable insights. We define data democratization as an attitude focused on curiosity, learning, and experimentation for delivering trusted data for trusted insights to a broad range of authorized stakeholders. In this paper, we propose a general indicator framework for data democratization by highlighting success factors that should not be overlooked in today’s data driven economy. In this practice-based research, these enablers are grouped into six broad building blocks: 1) “ethical guidelines, business context and value”, 2) “data leadership and data culture”, 3) “data literacy and business knowledge”, 4) “data wrangling, trustworthy & standardization”, 5) “sustainable data platform, access, & analytical tool”, 6) “intelligent data governance and privacy”. As an attitude, once it is planned and built, data democratization will need to be maintained. The utility of the approach is demonstrated through a case study for a Cameroon based start-up company that has ongoing data analytics projects. Our findings advance the concepts of data democratization and contribute to data free flow with trust.

Slightly Analyze the Historical Causes of Walt. Whitman's Democratic Poems

Walt·Whitman was one of the famous poets in American literary field. He is remembered by his masterpiece-Leaves of Grass, which composes a lot of his democratic ideas. His democratic poems and his writing styles have their historical background which helped form his democratic ideas.