Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Authoritative knowledge'

In 2011, African Americans in Tarrant County, Texas experienced an infant mortality rate of 14.3 per 1,000 live births. The leading cause of infant mortality in Tarrant County is prematurity and maternal nutritional status. Both maternal under-nutrition and over-nutrition are known risk factors for premature birth. Improving maternal nutrition, by reducing rates of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, and by increasing consumption of essential prenatal vitamins and nutrients, is a road to decreasing preterm birth in African Americans. This qualitative study, based on both anthropology and public health theory, of the nutrition behavior of a group of African American expectant mothers and the experience of their health care providers and co-facilitators had a goal to provide a foundation for future development of nutrition behavior research and education for this specific population. The main finding of this study was the substantial gap of lived experience and education between the patients and their providers and co-facilitators, which hinders delivery of care and the patients’ acquiescence to nutrition recommendations. The discrepancies between the authoritative knowledge of the providers and the bodily knowledge of expectant mothers were responsible for the ineffectiveness of nutrition recommendations.

Because the authority of science is thought to legitimise governmental regulations to restrict the emission of so-called greenhouse gases (GHGs), in this thesis I study the making of authoritative scientific knowledge through the lens of a controversy about climate reconstruction. While controversies in climate science are typically explained with vested interests that have turned an innocent form of knowledge into the victim of the political opponent’s misuse, I draw on insights from science studies to illuminate a more nuanced and symmetrical critique on climate science, the theory of anthropogenic global warming (AGW) and climate reconstruction in particular. To that end the thesis focuses on three interconnected ideas which dominate the controversy: the idea of an objective scientific method, which places emphasis on the empirical testing of theory, the idea of an unbiased expert, which shifts my analytical focus onto norms and markers of expertise, and the overarching idea of science legitimising political programmes of action, which all of the protagonists subscribe to. First, climate reconstruction promises to be an empirical test for the scientific theory of AGW, but in the controversy over an iconic reconstruction so-called climate sceptics accuse scientists of having violated the scientific method. Second, in public investigations examining these allegations, the scientists and their critics draw on scientific norms to contest respective claims to expertise. Third, in consequence of these inquiries and the so-called ‘Climategate’ affair, which corroborated the critics, independent scientists re-analyse climate reconstruction: if climate science legitimises policies aiming at the restriction of GHG emissions, its authority qua science will have to be re-established. This dependence on science in difficult political decision-making puts a heavy burden on the former and obstructs the latter, and it characterises the climate change debate in the United States. Further research on the role of science in the politics of climate change would benefit from taking more explicitly political cultures into account.

The purposes of this study were to explore the work of midwives and their experiences with the medical community, and to examine their goals and hopes for the profession of midwifery in Virginia. To facilitate this purpose, the guiding research questions included: What do midwives believe the role of a midwife is? What are their experiences with the medical community? What are their hopes and goals for the future of midwifery in Virginia? Through interviews, focus groups and participating as a researcher-observer, I found that both certified nurse-midwives and certified professional midwives believe the role of midwife is one of support. Furthermore, midwivesâ experiences with the medical community are both restrictive and supportive, and both groups are pursuing the advancement of midwifery acceptance and practice through building relationships and advocating for midwifery. The dominance of medical authoritative knowledge of childbirth in the United States creates struggles for midwives. Consequently networking and consumer advocacy are cited as vehicles for the growth of midwifery.
Master of Science

The thesis examines aspects of the construction of methylmercury as an authoritative object of knowledge for Chisasibi, a Cree community on the James Bay coast in northern Quebec. I describe the evolution of a particular set of spheres of exchange which mediate economic relations between the Cree communities, the governments of Quebec and Canada, and state and corporate structures tied to the state. Knowledge claims about mercury can be seen as situated among claims of injury in a moral economy which is based on conflict over the James Bay hydro-electric project. The politicization and subsequent medicalization of these knowledge claims are described. Finally, I trace the emergence of particular concepts of 'normality', 'risk' and 'risk group' in medical and technocratic discourses about the effects of methylmercury on Canadian aboriginal populations.

Out of the diversity of possible ways of knowing in maternity and health care, there has emerged a hegemonic emphasis on knowledge that is based on scientific principles. Arguably, there is also a role for intuition in healthcare. Indeed, leading midwives, educationalists and researchers in related fields have hailed the important role of intuition in advancing midwifery practice and education. A review of the literature shows that there is a dearth of research exploring the nature and use of intuition in midwifery practice. This descriptive phenomenological study explores the experiences and use of intuition in a cohort of seven independent midwives across the South and Midlands area of the United Kingdom. The study explores what midwifery intuition is for them and how they incorporate this form of knowing into the complexity of their midwifery practice. The study found that the experience and utilisation of the independent midwives’ intuition is a complex phenomenon that included the reception of subtle cues, own emotions, bodily-felt sensations, images and dreams. Such ways of knowing provided practice-relevant knowledge that can be either specific or non-specific and can serve various levels and kinds of use (for example, from directly increasing generalised alertness to specific directions for treatment). The findings result in a novel typology of the essence of midwifery intuition and the different nuanced ways it comes to be utilised, developed, and confirmed or disconfirmed within the holistic trajectory of practice. The study concludes with a consideration of how the findings contribute to existing scholarship in the area as well as the implications for practice and education. This comprises how the identification of the salient elements of the midwives’ intuition has contributed to the understanding of the phenomenon and may aid other midwives and students in developing and enhancing their own intuition. This will provide assistance in enabling intuition to be recognised as a first person rational form of authoritative knowledge to be utilised, and at times, prioritised alongside other forms of practice knowledge. Recognising intuition as part of a holistic knowing will enhance individualised, safe, maternity care for women and autonomous, transparent decision making for midwives. It is recommended that the provision of reflective workshops and reflection during revalidation will enable clarification of the phenomenon and enable other practitioners to develop this form of artistry. It is also recommended that models of care that promote this intimate way of knowing are utilised in maternity provision.

This thesis examines the role of authority in the production of archaeological knowledge. It examines how fluid ideas and observations formed in the field become authoritative, factual, solid archaeological products, like scientific texts, reconstructions or museum displays. It asks, what makes a person, a thing or an account of history something that is authoritative? What makes someone an authority on the past? What is archaeological authority? This thesis deconstructs and exposes authority in archaeological practice. It targets how practitioners of archaeology actively enact, construct and implement authority in the process of producing knowledge. Formal representations of the past rely heavily on an underlying notion of the 'authoritative account'. The entire process of reconstructing the past in archaeology is dependent on individuals and institutions existing as authorities, who actively or passively imply that artefacts, sites and final interpretations are 'authentic' or have 'fidelity' to the past. This study examines how authority and acts of legitimation are employed and distributed through the medium of science, and how they need to be actively performed in order to acquire and maintain status. This thesis not only argues that authority is embedded in every stage of the archaeological process, but importantly, it identifies how this authority manifests through the medium of scientific acts. This thesis is structured around two comparative case studies: one case of professional archaeology and one case of alternative archaeology. Both are archaeological sites that produce their own 'authoritative' accounts of the past through practices, publications and presentations. The first case is the professional archaeological project of C̦atalhöyûk in the Republic of Turkey, under the direction of Ian Hodder at Stanford University. This case offers insights about how the processes of inscription, translation and blackboxing establish and maintain authority in archaeological practice. It also addresses how physical and intellectual space, as well as issues of access in localised knowledge-producing social arenas, affect archaeological authority. The second case is the controversial pseudoarchaeological project in Visoko, Bosnia, commonly referred to as the Bosnian Pyramids. This project, under the direction of amateur archaeologist Semir Osmanagić, has successfully created an account of prehistory that has been received by the general Bosnian public as authoritative, despite objections by the professional archaeological community. This case demonstrates how authority can be constructed, mimicked and performed by drawing on academic arenas of scientific practice and by eager public participation. Specifically, this case study highlights the importance of socio-politics, authoritative institutions and performative behaviour in the construction of archaeological authority.

Pregnancy and childbirth complications are a leading cause of death and disability among women of reproductive age in developing countries. Worldwide data shows that, by choice or out of necessity, 60 percent of births in the developing world occur outside a health institution and 47 percent are assisted by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), family members, or without any assistance at all. This thesis argues that TBAs in India have the capacity to disseminate knowledge of beneficial maternal practices to the community. Since the 1970s the training of TBAs has been one of the primary single interventions encouraged by World Health Organisation (WHO) to address maternal mortality. However, since the 1990s international funding for TBAs has been reduced and the emphasis has shifted to providing skilled birth attendants for all births due to evidence that the maternal mortality rate (MMR) in developing countries had not reduced. Researchers have observed that the shift in policy has taken place without adequate evidence of training (in)effectiveness and without an alternative policy in place. This thesis argues further that two main types of birthing knowledge co-exist in India; western biomedicine and traditional knowledge. Feminist, anthropological, and midwifery theorists contend that when two knowledge paradigms exist, western knowledge tends to dominate and claim authority over local ways of knowing. The thesis used such theories, and quantitative and qualitative methods, to assess whether the local TBA training programmes in Ahmednagar District in India have been successful in disseminating biomedical knowledge in relation to the birthing practices of local TBAs and in incorporating local knowledge into the training. The data revealed that some biomedical knowledge had been successfully disseminated and that some traditional practices continue to be practiced in the community. There is a top-down, one-sided imposition of biomedical knowledge on TBAs in the training programme but, at the local level, TBAs and mothers sometimes follow the training instructions and sometime do not, preferring to adapt to the local perceptions and preferences of their community. The thesis reveals the significance of TBA training in the district but queries the effectiveness of not including local TBA practices into the training programmes, arguing this demonstrates the hierarchical authority of biomedicine over local traditional practices. The thesis highlights the significance of community awareness that accompanies TBA training and makes recommendations in order to enhance training outcomes.

Pregnancy and childbirth complications are a leading cause of death and disability among women of reproductive age in developing countries. Worldwide data shows that, by choice or out of necessity, 60 percent of births in the developing world occur outside a health institution and 47 percent are assisted by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), family members, or without any assistance at all. This thesis argues that TBAs in India have the capacity to disseminate knowledge of beneficial maternal practices to the community. Since the 1970s the training of TBAs has been one of the primary single interventions encouraged by World Health Organisation (WHO) to address maternal mortality. However, since the 1990s international funding for TBAs has been reduced and the emphasis has shifted to providing skilled birth attendants for all births due to evidence that the maternal mortality rate (MMR) in developing countries had not reduced. Researchers have observed that the shift in policy has taken place without adequate evidence of training (in)effectiveness and without an alternative policy in place. This thesis argues further that two main types of birthing knowledge co-exist in India; western biomedicine and traditional knowledge. Feminist, anthropological, and midwifery theorists contend that when two knowledge paradigms exist, western knowledge tends to dominate and claim authority over local ways of knowing. The thesis used such theories, and quantitative and qualitative methods, to assess whether the local TBA training programmes in Ahmednagar District in India have been successful in disseminating biomedical knowledge in relation to the birthing practices of local TBAs and in incorporating local knowledge into the training. The data revealed that some biomedical knowledge had been successfully disseminated and that some traditional practices continue to be practiced in the community. There is a top-down, one-sided imposition of biomedical knowledge on TBAs in the training programme but, at the local level, TBAs and mothers sometimes follow the training instructions and sometime do not, preferring to adapt to the local perceptions and preferences of their community. The thesis reveals the significance of TBA training in the district but queries the effectiveness of not including local TBA practices into the training programmes, arguing this demonstrates the hierarchical authority of biomedicine over local traditional practices. The thesis highlights the significance of community awareness that accompanies TBA training and makes recommendations in order to enhance training outcomes.

This thesis is about primary care medicine in the United States today. Specifically, I look into primary care providers’ experiences working with patients in the context of the public’s current access to extensive health and medical information online. In this thesis, I discuss and analyze my conversations with physicians, nurse practitioners, and a physicians’ assistant about their objectives in primary care, the challenges they face, and their perceptions of patients’ ability to seek out information on their own. I explore providers’ educational emphasis in primary care consultations, and argue that this focus on education informs their views of patients’ independent research and involvement in care. I further argue that regardless of my informants’ enthusiasm about patient involvement and the merits of patient-education, these providers still hold and express a strong authority over medical knowledge and decisions. Thus in looking at the influence of what could be seen as a democratization of medical knowledge through public access and the Internet, it seems that the limitations of such access are still great in U.S. medical practice.

Esta tese propõe uma contribuição para as análises do campo obstétrico pré-natal sendo o seu objeto a transmissão e circulação do "saber autorizador" a partir das experiências de mediação tecnológica com a cardiotocografia num contexto institucional local. O principal objetivo é mostrar que o campo obstétrico contemporâneo se constrói a partir da afirmação do feto/bebê como seu símbolo dominante. Para tanto direcionei o meu olhar para a dinâmica dos agentes institucionais em torno da tecnologia da cardiotocografia, observando as relações entre o conceito de "saber autorizador" e o simbolismo dominante contextual. Embora o conceito de "saber autorizador" tenha sido originalmente proposto para a compreensão da dinâmica dos agentes do campo obstétrico, ele foi atribuído apenas aos profissionais médicos que dominam as tecnologias de controle da condição fetal, portanto, supondo que a autoridade deste saber se encontra circunscrito a este grupo de agentes. No entanto, quando se apresenta a perspectiva da incorporação deste saber pelos múltiplos agentes do campo incluindo as gestantes, encontramos o direcionamento conjunto para uma categoria central híbrida que confere autoridade tanto ao saber quanto à experiência do grupo articulado à tecnologia obstétrica. A metodologia consistiu na observação participante da dinâmica da cardiotocografia numa Maternidade Pública do município do Rio de Janeiro, incluindo entrevistas semi-estruturadas com cinco médicos, agentes a quem o saber autorizador é originalmente atribuído. As representações dos entrevistados disponibilizaram quatro categorias: a história, os valores, os instrumentos tecnológicos e as emoções que são incorporadas/corporificadas em torno da relação do saber e da experiência de cuidado com o feto/bebê. Estas categorias serviram para a análise da observação do campo, resultando na construção da nova categoria - a vitalidade fetal - que verifica o simbolismo dominante conferido pelo feto/bebê e que mostra de maneira aprofundada o movimento contemporâneo do campo obstétrico em direção à perinatologia.
This theses aims to contribute to the analysis of the prenatal obstetrical field concerning its object which is the transmission and circulation of the authoritative knowledge from technological mediated experiences with cardiotocography in a local institutional context. The main purpose is to show how the obstetrical field is built within the affirmation of the fetus/baby as its dominant symbol. To reach this consent I turned my gaze to the dynamics of cardiotocography and its relationship between the authoritative knowledge and the contextual symbolism. Although the authoritative knowledge was a concept originally intended to explain the dynamics of the obstetrical field in regard to technology, it was only attributed to medical professionals who were able to deal with the obstetrical technology, disregarding the multiple agents who embody knowledge and experience which eventually enact a central hybrid category attached to the obstetrical technology. The methodology was based on the participant observation of a public maternity in the city of Rio de Janeiro, where I also interviewed five medical professionals to whom the authoritative knowledge is attributed. Their representations disposed four categories: their history, values, technological instruments and emotions, which are all, embodied around the relationship of knowledge and experience with the fetus/baby care. These categories were used in the fieldwork analysis to verify the dominant symbolism concerning the fetus/baby and also to demonstrate the construction of a new category the fetal vitality that explains the movement of the obstetrical field towards perinatology.

Попело, О. В. Особливості модернізації продуктивних сил в умовах переформатування владних повноважень : дис. д-ра ... екон. наук : 08.00.05 / О. В. Попело. - Чернігів, 2019. - 510 с.
Дисертація присвячена обґрунтуванню теоретичних і методичних положень, розробці наукових і практичних рекомендацій щодо модернізації продуктивних сил з урахуванням стратегічних орієнтирів. У процесі дослідження доведено, що оцінювання стану регіонів має безліч напрямків, але всі вони ґрунтуються на ключових теоріях і концепціях регіонального розвитку та вчень про простір і його значення в економіці. Аналіз теоретичних підходів до розвитку продуктивних сил як динамічного, тісно пов’язаного процесу з природними, економічними та соціальними умовами, формує комплексне сприйняття економіки з урахуванням досягнень науково-технічного прогресу й домінуючої ролі людського чинника в усіх сферах суспільного життя. Саме тому акцентується увага на тому, що в системі наукових підходів до дослідження конструктивних аспектів розвитку продуктивних сил винятково актуальне значення мають територіальні аспекти. Дослідження визначення категорій «регіональний економічний простір», «регіональна господарська система» вітчизняними і закордонними вченими дали змогу виявити множинність підходів до дефініцій і сформувати авторську думку стосовно їх трактування. Дисертантом обґрунтовано, що особливості сучасних трансформаційних процесів, що нині відбуваються в регіональних економічних системах, а також глобальні тенденції розвитку світової економіки актуалізують проблему розвитку продуктивних сил у модернізаційному вимірі. При цьому під модернізацією продуктивних сил автор розуміє систему стратегічних заходів інституціонального, організаційно-економічного, інвестиційно-інноваційного та управлінського характеру, яка спрямована на якісно новий розвиток, удосконалення техніко-експлуатаційних якостей засобів виробництва та їх якісне оновлення, ефективне використання інтелектуального потенціалу з активним задіянням людського креативу з притаманними йому освітніми та кваліфікаційними характеристиками, раціональне використання яких у поєднанні з іншими ресурсами забезпечує досягнення конкурентних переваг в умовах посилення процесів інтеграції. Дисертантом обґрунтовано, що регіональний розвиток в Україні потребує посилення впливу важелів державного регулювання. У цьому зв’язку особливої уваги потребує модернізація інституціональної складової регіонального розвитку, адже складність та задавненість багатьох соціальних проблем, нестабільний стан національної економіки, політичні загрози, які спричинені військовою агресією Росії, не дозволяють спрямувати механізми державного управління на задіяння просторового потенціалу та реалізацію конкурентних переваг регіональних господарських систем. У дослідженні доведено, що трансформація суспільних систем, перехід до інноваційної економіки змінює склад та співвідношення важливості факторів, що відображають локалізаційний аспект розвитку продуктивних сил у сучасних умовах. На думку автора, вони являють собою сукупність аргументів та суттєвих умов, які зумовлюють активізацію розвитку потенційних можливостей продуктивних сил з урахуванням таксономічних одиниць різного рівня. У роботі зауважено, що кількість факторів, що впливають на локалізаційний аспект розвитку продуктивних сил, досить значна, і в кожному конкретному випадку мають конкретні форми прояву. Аналізуючи економічні теорії, присвячені обґрунтуванню процесу локалізації продуктивних сил, автором систематизовано й узагальнено перелік основних факторів, що сприяють локалізації та концентрації розвитку продуктивних сил. Доведено, що деконцентрація владних відносин в умовах відсутності галузевого управління економікою має стати своєрідним каталізатором локалізації продуктивних сил і парадигмальним базисом модернізації економічного простору України. У дисертаційному дослідженні запропоновано введення в науковий обіг авторської дефініції концепту «локалізація економічного простору» в сучасних умовах як сукупності чинників, важелів, механізмів та управлінських дій на регіональному й місцевому рівнях, які зумовлюють нові підходи до модернізації структури та просторової організації національного господарства на засадах сталого розвитку та створення передумов до активного використання ресурсного потенціалу, формування кластерних, мережевих та інших новітніх виробничих формувань у складі територіальних господарських систем. Автором аргументовано, що економічні закони та закономірності визначають розвиток секторальних та просторових аспектів відносин у національному господарстві, регулюють формування економічного базису суспільства. Доведено, що пізнання закономірностей дозволяє вибрати найефективніші варіанти локалізації виробництва, цілеспрямовано організувати територію відповідно до вимог регіональної економіки, а їх ігнорування веде до великих економічних втрат. Під закономірностями розвитку продуктивних сил автор розуміє об’єктивно існуючий, постійний причинно-наслідковий взаємозв’язок між економічними сферами та явищами в регіональному економічному просторі. У роботі глибоко проаналізовано принципи модернізації продуктивних сил в контексті сучасної регіональної політики, під якими дисертант розуміє стисло викладені науково обґрунтовані положення та ідеї, які формують фундамент за діяння продуктивних сил і виступають основою, якою має керуватися суспільство при розвитку продуктивних сил на певному історичному етапі з метою забезпечення раціонального використання продуктивних сил і ефективного регіонального розвитку. На думку автора, до їх переліку доцільно додати принцип протеджентності, який полягає в тому, що кожному регіону характерна власна стратегія розвитку, потенціал продуктивних сил, темпи комерціалізації інновацій та власне середовище. У дисертаційному дослідженні автором запропоновано концептуальний підхід до визначення рівня модернізації продуктивних сил, який пропонується визначити за допомогою аналізу таких його складових, як рівень модернізаційного стану економічної сфери, людського розвитку та стану навколишнього середовища. Проаналізовано динаміку та тенденції використання ресурсного потенціалу регіонів, проведено ранжування регіонів та окреслено динамічні зміни в рейтингу за кожним із досліджуваних показників. Виявлено асиметричний розвиток регіонів, що пояснюється суттєвими прогалинами в інституціональному середовищі та владними діями в умовах кадрової нестабільності центральних органів виконавчої влади. Автором доведено, що модернізаційні пріоритети розвитку економіки, в умовах загострення конкурентної боротьби та обмеженості ресурсів вимагають широкого новаторського підходу та максимального залучення інноваційного потенціалу саме на мезорівні. Інновації є стимулом для конкурентоспроможного розвитку підприємств, формують провідні позиції та можливість виходу на світові ринки. Окреслено вектори розвитку та проаналізовано динаміку змістовних характеристик інноваційно-інвестиційної домінанти в регіональному розвитку продуктивних сил. З урахуванням того, що модернізаційні пріоритети розвитку економіки, загострення конкурентної боротьби, насичення ринків, обмеженість ресурсів вимагають широкого новаторського підходу та максимального залучення інноваційного-інвестиційного потенціалу продуктивних сил регіонів. Здійснено моніторинг рівня модернізації продуктивних сил, за результатами рейтингового оцінювання якого автором виділено 4 групи регіонів: регіони з високим РМПС, регіони з РМПС вище середнього, регіони з середнім та низьким РМПС. Проведено рейтингове оцінювання регіонів за динамічними змінами рівня модернізації продуктивних сил і виділено стабільні регіони; регіони, що тяжіють до стабільності; регіони, рейтинги яких характеризувались різким підйомом/спадом; регіони, рейтинги яких суттєво змінювались у різних напрямах. Досліджено науково-освітній потенціал як реконструктивну основу знаннєвої економіки, проведено ранжування регіонів України та проаналізовано динамічні зміни. Доведено, що прискорення розвитку економіки України та її інтеграція в міжнародний простір у середньостроковій і довгостроковій перспективі визначатимуться результатами використання наявного науково-освітнього потенціалу вітчизняної науки та підвищенням ролі науки як впливового інституту й рівноправного партнера в соціально-економічних відносинах. Віддаючи належне важливості загальнодержавних програм для реалізації пріоритетних напрямів національної економіки та формування її конкурентних переваг в умовах глобалізації, необхідно підкреслити вагомість цільових програм формування локальних промислових агломерацій, відновленню сільських територій, модернізації інфраструктурного потенціалу, раціонального природокористування та охорони довкілля. Дисертантом удосконалено етапність розробки й реалізації цільових наукових, науково-технічних та інноваційних програм, що ґрунтується на виокремленні організаційної та формуючої складових, а також дослідженні важелів впливу на сталий просторовий розвиток. Розкрито сучасний стан інституціонального ядра функціонування регіональної економіки в умовах посилення конкурентоспроможності. Обґрунтовано авторську позицію, що основними завданнями сучасної системи управління в Україні мають стати гармонізація реконструктивно-модернізаційної моделі в поєднанні з інституціоналізацією на рівні держави та підвищення ролі територіальних громад у комплексному і збалансованому розвитку всіх таксономічних одиниць. Розроблено реконструктивномодернізаційні аспекти становлення нового інституціонального ядра. Досліджено модернізаційні аспекти просторової організації господарських систем в сучасних умовах. Обґрунтовано й доведено практичну доцільність концептуальної моделі формування та розвитку агропромислового кластеру регіону, в основу якої закладено структурні модернізацію економічного простору, вирішення економічних, соціальних та екологічних проблем завдяки ефективному використанню наявних просторових ресурсів. Аргументовано авторську позицію щодо стратегії впливу органів иконавчої влади на процеси комплексного територіального розвитку та ідентифіковано позитивні ефекти як результати її реалізації. Здійснено деталізований аналіз повноважень місцевих органів виконавчої влади, який базується на розмежування галузевих повноважень органів влади на регіональному рівні, територіальних громад та регіональних органів місцевого самоврядування. Розроблено управлінську модель гармонізації впливу центральних і місцевих органів виконавчої влади, органів місцевого самоврядування та інститутів громадянського суспільства на процеси модернізації продуктивних сил в умовах посилення процесів євроінтеграції.
The dissertation is devoted to substantiation of theoretical and methodical provisions, development of scientific and practical recommendations on modernization of productive forces taking into account strategic landmarks. In the research process, it is proved that the assessment of the state of the regions has many areas, but all of them are based on key theories and concepts of regional development and the doctrines of space and its significance in the economy. The analysis of theoretical approaches to the development of productive forces as a dynamic, closely related process to natural, economic and social conditions forms a complex perception of the economy taking into account the achievements of scientific and technical progress and the dominant role of the human factor in all spheres of social life. That is why the emphasis is placed on the fact that the territorial aspects are of paramount importance in the system of scientific approaches to research of constructive aspects in productive forces development. The study of definition of such categories as “regional economic space”, “regional economic system” carried out by domestic and foreign scientists made it possible to reveal the multiplicity of approaches to definitions and form the author’s opinion concerning their interpretation. The dissertation substantiates that peculiarities of modern transformational processes, which now take place in regional economic systems, as well as global tendencies of the world economic development, bring the problem of productive forces development in modernization dimension up to date. At the same time, the author understands the modernization of productive forces as a system of strategic measures of institutional, organizational and economic, investment and innovative and managerial nature, which is aimed at a qualitatively new development, improvement of technical and operational parameters of the means of production and their qualitative renewal, effective use of intellectual potential by means of active engagement of human creativity with the inherent educational and qualification characteristics. The rational use of the above in conjunction with other resources ensures competitive advantages in the setting of increase in integration processes. The dissertation gives rationale that regional development in Ukraine requires strengthening of influence of the state regulation levers. In this regard, special attention deserves modernization of institutional component of the regional development, as the complexity and limitation of many social problems, unstable national economy, and political threats caused by the military aggression of Russia do not allow to direct the mechanisms of the state administration towards engagement of spatial potential and implementation of competitive advantages of regional economic systems. The study proves that transformation of social systems and transition to an innovative economy changes the composition and correlation of factors reflecting the locational aspect of productive forces development in the modern context. According to the author, they represent a set of arguments and significant conditions that lead to activation of potential opportunities for productive forces taking into account the taxonomic units of different levels. This paper highlights that there is a good deal of factors, which influence the localization aspect of productive forces development, and each case shows specific forms of their manifestation. While analyzing the economic theories on the substantiation of productive forces localization, the author systematized and summarized a list of the main factors that facilitate localization and concentration of productive forces development. It is proved that in the absence of sectorial management of economy, the concentration of authoritative relations should become a kind of an accelerator for localization of productive forces, as well as a paradigm basis for modernization of the economic space of Ukraine. The dissertation proposes to introduce the author’s notion of “localization of the economic space” in the modern context as a set of factors, levers, mechanisms and managerial actions at the regional and local levels, which determine new approaches to modernization of a structure and a spatial organization of the national economy on the basis of a sustainable development and laying the groundwork for active use of resource potential, formation of cluster, network and other latest production formations as part of territorial economic systems. The author reasons that economic laws and predicted patterns determine the development of sectorial and spatial aspects of relations in the national economy, and regulate the formation of the economic basis of society. It is proved that understanding of those patterns allows to choose the most effective options for localization of production, to organize the territory according to the requirements of a regional economy, and their disregard leads to big economic losses. The author understands the patterns of productive forces development as оbjectively existing, permanent cause-effect relationship between economic spheres and phenomena in regional economic space. This thesis deeply analyzes the principles of productive forces modernization in the context of modern regional policy, which a candidate for a degree understands as briefly outlined scientifically proven provisions and ideas that form the ground for involvement of productive forces and are the basis, which should be taken by society as a guideline in productive forces development during a certain historic period, in order to ensure the rational use of productive forces and effective regional development. According to the author, it is advisable to add to their list the principle of protegento, which means that each region has its own development strategy, productive forces potential, the pace of innovation commercialization and the environment. The author of the thesis suggests a conceptual approach to determining the level of productive forces modernization, which is proposed to be determined by analyzing such components as a level of modernization state of economic sphere, human development and the state of environment. The dynamics and tendencies of using a resource potential of the regions are analyzed. The regions are ranked and dynamic changes in the rating by each of the investigated parameters are outlined. The asymmetric development of the regions is determined as a consequence of significant gaps in the institutional environment and actions of the authorities in the setting of personnel instability of central executive bodies. The author proves that the modernization priorities of economic development in the setting of aggravated competition and limited resources require a wide innovative approach and maximal involvement of innovative potential at the mesolevel. Innovation is an incentive for competitive development of enterprises. It forms the leading position and the possibility for entering the world markets. The paper outlines the vectors of development and analyzes the dynamics of meaningful characteristics of innovation and investment dominant idea in regional development of productive forces. Taking into account that modernization priorities of economic development, aggravation of competitive struggle, market saturation, and limited resources require a wide innovative approach and maximal involvement of innovation and investment productive forces of the regions. Monitoring of productive forces modernization level (PFML) is carried out. Based on its rating assessment the author allocated 4 groups of regions: regions with high PFML, regions with upper-middle PFML, regions with middle and low PFML. The rating assessment of regions by dynamic changes of productive forces modernization level is carried out, which revealed the following regions: stable regions; regions that gravitate toward stability; regions with a dramatic rise/fall in ratings; regions with significant changes of ratings in different directions. The scientific and educational potential is investigated as a reconstructive basis of the knowledge economy; the regions of Ukraine are ranked and dynamic changes are analyzed. It is proved that acceleration of economic development of Ukraine and its integration into international space in the mid- and long-term prospective will be determined by the results of existing scientific and educational potential of national science and by increasing the role of a science as an influential institute and an equal partner in socio-economic relations. Paying tribute to the importance of national programs for the realization of priority areas of the national economy and formation of its competitive advantages in the setting of globalization, it is necessary to emphasize the significance of target programs for formation of local industrial agglomerations, restoration of rural areas, modernization of infrastructure potential, rational use of natural resources and environment protection. The candidate for a degree has improved a stage-by-stage approach to development and realization of target scientific, technical and innovative programs, based on the separation of organizational and formational components, as well as a study of levers of influence on sustainable spatial development. The paper reveals a current state of the institutional core of functioning of regional economy in the setting of competitiveness enhancement. The author gives rationale for a point of view that the main tasks of a modern management system in Ukraine should be harmonization of the reconstructive and modernization model in conjunction with institutionalization at the state level and increasing the role of territorial communities in a comprehensive and balanced development of all taxonomic units. Reconstructive and modernization aspects of the formation of the new institutional nucleus are developed. The modernization aspects of the spatial organization of economic systems in the modern setting are investigated. The practical feasibility of a conceptual model for formation and development of the regional agro-cluster is substantiated and proven based on structural modernization of economic space, solution of economic, social and ecological problems due to effective use of existing spatial resources. The author's point of view on the strategy of influence of the executive authorities on the processes of complex territorial development and the positive effects of its realization are identified. A detail analysis of the powers of local executive bodies is carried out, which is based on the separation of sectorial powers of authorities at the regional level, territorial communities and regional local authorities. The managerial model of the harmonization influence of central and local executive bodies, local self-government bodies and institutes of civil society on the processes of productive forces modernization in conditions of strengthening of European integration processes is developed.

“Why do immigrants and refugees need community health workers/lay health workers (CHWs) if Canada already has a universal health care system?” Abundant evidence demonstrates that despite the universality of our health care system marginalized populations, including immigrants and refugees, experience barriers to accessing the health system. Evidence on the role of CHWs facilitating access is both lacking and urgently needed. This dissertation contributes to this evidence by providing a thick description and thorough analytical exploration of a CHW model, in Edmonton, Canada. Specifically, I examine the activities of the Multicultural Health Brokers Co-operative (MCHB Co-op) and its Multicultural Health Brokers from 1992 to 2011 as well as the relationship they have with Alberta Health Services (AHS) Edmonton Zone Public Health. The research for this study is based on an instrumental and embedded qualitative case study design. The case is the MCHB Co-op, an independently-run multicultural health worker co-operative, which contracts with health and social services providers in Edmonton to offer linguistically- and culturally-appropriate services to marginalized immigrant and refugee women and their families. The two embedded mini-cases are two programs of the MCHB Co-op: Perinatal Outreach and Health for Two, which are the raison d’être for a sustained partnership between the MCHB Co-op and AHS. The phenomenon under study is the Multicultural Health Brokers’ practice. I triangulate multiple methods (research strategies and data sources), including 46 days of participant and direct observation, 44 in-depth interviews (with Multicultural Health Brokers, mentors, women using the programs, health professionals and outsiders who knew of the work of the MCHB Co-op and Multicultural Health Brokers), and document review and analysis of policy documents, yearly reports, training manuals, educational materials as well as quantitative analysis of the Health Brokers’ 3,442 client caseload database. In addition, data include my field notes of both descriptive and analytical reflections taken throughout the onsite research. I also triangulate various theoretical frameworks to explore how historically specific social structures, economic relationships, and ideological assumptions serve to create and reinforce the conditions that give rise to the need for CHWs, and the factors that aid or hinder their ability to facilitate marginalized populations’ access to health and social services. Findings reveal that Multicultural Health Brokers facilitate access to health and social services as well as foster community capacity building in order to address settlement, adaptation, and integration of immigrant and refugee women and their families into Canadian society. Findings also demonstrate that the Multicultural Health Broker model is an example of collaboration between community-based organizations and local systems in targeting health equity for marginalized populations; in particular, in perinatal health and violence against women. A major problem these workers face is they provide important services as part of Canada’s health human resources workforce, but their contributions are often not recognized as such. The triangulation of methods and theory provides empirical and theoretical understanding of the Multicultural Health Brokers’ contribution to immigrant and refugee women and their families’ feminist urban citizenship.

This thesis investigated online communication of women utilizing a homebirth forum in order to understand why Canadian women are choosing homebirth methods instead of the mainstream dominant trend of hospital births, and how a sense of community is created through an online forum. For this research fifty posts were selected from fifteen different threads within the homebirth forum group on BabyCenter. The homebirth forum group was followed for approximately one month, and a total of thirty-four women are represented in the posting sample analyzed. Using content analysis techniques, four recurring themes were extracted – Control, Home, Hospitals, and Community – with at least four sub-themes for each identified. It was found that women choose homebirth for a myriad of factors but predominantly because homebirth allows for the ability to have a better sense of control, choice, and comfort over their birthing desires. As well, a sense of community is created in an online capacity because of the commonality of interests between the forum users. The solidarity of the homebirth community is built upon advice, empathy and situational understanding.

The topic of this thesis is woman's experience with natural childbirth and its potential for disruption of medical discourse, which is in the Czech Republic in obstetrics still dominating. Through the method of discoursive analysis I am trying to generate any behavior that may be in conflict with social expectations and may question norms and standards in the field of pregnancy and obstetrics. I am also trying to trace whether and how does the deepening and gaining of the birth knowledge lead to the transformation of woman's identity. Theoretically, the work is grounded in a post-structuralist paradigm and builds on the concepts of biopower, performative acting and authoritative knowledge. Data sources are stories written in support of a midwife Ivana Königsmarková and published on the internet (www.pribehyproivanu.cz).

This diploma thesis deals with home births and how they were referred to in the media regarding the medial cause with a midwife Ivana Königsmarková. The goal of this work is to describe approaches that can be traced on this cause, what is the gender dimension of these approaches like and how does the aspect of power manifest itself on them. To achieve that I've chosen a method of discourse analysis which is the best one to point out the relation between language, power and ideology. Analysed material is represented by the articles from Czech media that are associated with the given cause and on basis of which the most frequently occurring topics can be traced along with their tendencies throughout time. Last but not least I'm closely analysing two chosen articles which represent two dominant ways of thinking - the medical approach of labour and natural or alternative approach.

This diploma thesis focuses on the issue of postnatal care in maternity hospitals in the Czech Republic as it is perceived by women who went through the medicalised obstetric birth in the past year. It examines in particular women's expectations concerning the care on the postnatal ward, their experiences of various aspects of care provided, the moments women highlight and the strategies they adopt in case of possible clashes of their own "non-expert" opinions with the regime of particular maternity hospital or "authoritative knowledge" of the staff. The aim of this thesis is to present the authentic experiences of postnatal care and to implant them into broader conceptual framework, especially considering the medical discourse and possible disciplinary techniques which are implemented to strengthen the authority of medical staff and to provide the opportunity for physical and social control of women.