DOCSLIB.ORG

Knowledge Creation in a Cross Cultural Context for Sustainable Organisation Change and Development

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Knowledge Creation in a Cross Cultural Context for Sustainable Organisation Change and Development KNOWLEDGE CREATION IN A CROSS CULTURAL CONTEXT FOR SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATION CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT by Janet Firth A thesis submitted to the University of Wolverhampton in partial fulfilment for the degree of DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY University of Wolverhampton Business School March 2015 This work of any part thereof has not previously been presented in any form to the University or to any other body whether for the purposes of assessment, publication or for any other purpose (unless otherwise indicated). Save for any express acknowledgements, references and/ or bibliographies cited in this work. I can confirm that the intellectual content of the work is the result of my own efforts and of no other person. The right of Janet Firth to be identified as author of this work is asserted in accordance with ss.77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. At this date copyright is owned by the author Signature...................Jan Firth......................................... Date...........................24/08/15........................................ i For Nicole Amy Firth 1986-2013 ii Acknowledgements I wish to record my thanks to everyone who has contributed to this research in any way. In particular I would like to thank the Romanian Border Police for giving me this unique and privileged opportunity to carry out my research, and for the commitment of the fourteen managers who without them this research would not have been possible. In particular my thanks go to the Commissioner, Chief of the Romanian Border Police at the time, who gave me the authority to carry out my research in the organisation at a time of transition and growing responsibility in the EU. I would like to thank my supervisor Professor Roger Seifert for his ongoing support and encouragement. Also my line manager Dr Anthea Gregory, Dean of UWBS, for her empathy and understanding, and the numerous colleagues, too many to mention at the Business School who never lost faith in my ability to get this finished. A special thank you goes to my husband Roger for his ongoing support, guidance and constructive criticism at various times during the research period and write up. iii Abstract The central theme of this doctoral research is organisational knowledge creation in the cross cultural context of the post-socialist transition of former Eastern European (EE) countries towards a more liberal market structure and methods of working. This transition was particularly important for those countries seeking European Union (EU) accession such as Romania, and impacted on those organisations having a major role in accession such as the Romanian Border Police (RBP). The need for organisations to expand their knowledge of strategic decision making for change and development resulted in a plethora of EU-funded training interventions to fill the gap. The literature suggests that as a result of the dominance of Western ideology of the transitional process, cognitive dissonance and a general disconnect with the outcomes of EU-funded projects was a product of such interventions. This research explores how a more collaborative co-inquiry methodology with partners can bring about knowledge creation as a more sustainable and significant approach for organisational change. Specifically, it investigates the reflective capabilities of a group of Romanian Border Police (RBP) managers to reveal how they can create knowledge for organisational change and development in preparation for EU accession. Simultaneously a framework for facilitation was developed as a result of using the original research of Geppert and Clark (2002) and Breiter and Scardamalia (2000), as a foundation for the operationalisation of the research and in the attempt to move away from traditional models of knowledge transfer to further develop the changing dimensions of training interventions in the EE as suggested by Michaelova and Hollinshead (2007). It is offered as a purposeful method for the sustainable organisation, in preference to western style knowledge transfer projects. The findings result in a complex model of knowledge creation for the RBP and a better understanding of how Western trainers can work with EE organisations to achieve the desired outcomes for developing organisations. Moreover recommendations are made on how the EU can best utilise this research as a basis iv for funding future knowledge transfer projects, to guarantee that funding is having an impact on developing organisations at a time of austerity. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page i Dedication ii Acknowledgement iii Abstract iv SECTION І INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1-Introduction: the Research Context and the Romanian Border Police 1-27 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Background to EU Funded projects Relating to Romania and the RBP 7 1.3 Framework: Developing a Model of Knowledge Creation Across 11 Cultures 1.4 The Romanian Border Police 14 1.5 The RBP as a Knowledge Building Community 17 1.6 Research Design 20 1.7 The Researcher 21 1.8 Research Questions 22 1.9 Thesis Structure 22 SECTION ІІ LITERATURE REVIEW CHAPTER 2 – Knowledge and Knowledge Creation in a Cross-Cultural Context 28-69 2.1 Introduction 28 2.2 Insulation Between Society and the Field of Knowledge Production 31 2.3 Economic Change – the growing importance of knowledge in 33 organisations 2.4 Conceptualisations of Knowledge 37 2.5 Knowledge and Knowledge management 39 2.6 Knowledge Building Community Model 42 2.7 Alternatives to knowledge transfer 55 2.8 Knowledge in Communities of Practice 60 2.9 Conclusion 67 CHAPTER 3 – Romania; Borders and Transition to the EU 70-106 3.1 Introduction 70 3.2 Romania as a Late Developing State 71 3.3 Romania and its Borders 72 3.4 Creating a modern social and economic state 75 3.5 Nationalism and Ethnic Groups 83 3.6 End of Ceausescu, Accession and EU Funding Mechanisms 87 3.7 The Romanian Border Police Organisation 94 3.8 Schengen 102 3.9 Conclusion 105 CHAPTER 4 – Cultural Considerations 107-146 4.1 Introduction 107 4.2 The Problem of Culture in the Discussion of National Organisations 109 4.3 Factors shaping research into organisation culture 112 4.4 Romanian Culture 115 4.5 Post Communism – Romanian Culture Redefined? 120 vi 4.6 Defining organisation culture 123 4.7 Romanian Organisations and Management Styles 134 4.8 The Organisation Culture of the RBP 136 4.9 Conclusion, Knowledge Building and Culture 142 SECTION ІІІ METHOD CHAPTER 5 – Methodology and Research Methods 147-187 5.1 Introduction 147 5.2 Research Paradigm and Methodology 149 5.3 The Start of the Research Process: Developing a knowledge Building 155 Community 5.4 Research Methods for Data Collection 161 5.5 Data Analysis using NVivo 172 5.6 Ethics and Gender 174 5.7 Phase Two 177 5.8 Ensuring the Trustworthiness of the Findings 185 5.9 Conclusion 186 SECTION lV RESULTS CHAPTER 6 – Phase One : Data Analysis and Findings 188-227 6.1 Introduction 188 6.2 Findings from the Knowledge Building Framework and Process 189 6.3 Findings from the Questionnaire Insights on the Process of Critical 194 Reflection 6.4 Critical Reflection in the workplace 197 6.5 Levels of Reflection (Journals) 200 6.6 Findings from the Journal Analysis and Interview 203 6.7 Conclusion and Knowledge Building Principles 224 CHAPTER 7 – Phase Two: A Model of Validation and Practical Implementation 228-255 7.1 Introduction 228 7.2 Phase Two 228 7.3 Assessment Stage 230 7.4 Elaboration 247 7.5 Embedding and Evaluating 249 7.6 Theoretical Knowledge Building Principles of Phase Two 252 SECTION V DISCUSSION CHAPTER 8 – Conclusion and Discussion 256-274 8.1 Introduction 256 8.2 Summary of Thesis by Chapters 259 8.3 Synthesis of main findings 264 8.4 Originality of approach, implications and wider significance 269 8.5 Limitations of the study 271 8.6 Further Research beyond this Study 273 vii List of Tables ix List of Figures x Abbreviations xii References 275 Appendices 312 viii List of Tables CHAPTER 1 – The Research Context and the Romanian Border Police Table 1.1 Changing Dimensions of Western Management Training in the EE 6 Table 1.2 Research Timeline 27 CHAPTER 2 – Knowledge and Knowledge Creation in a Cross-Cultural Context Table 2.1 Principles of Knowledge Building 44 CHAPTER 3 – Romania; Borders and Transition to the EU Table 3.1 The Impact of Changing Borders on Population 75 Table 3.2 Romania’s Per Capita GDP 76 Table 3.3 The Ethnic Composition of Romania in 2007 86 Table 3.4 EU Funding Mechanism and its Beneficiaries 90 CHAPTER 5 – Methodology and Research Methods Table 5.1 Programme of Meeting 155 Table 5.2 Phase Two Activities 179 Table 5.3 Training School Visits 181 CHAPTER 7 – Phase Two: A Model of Validation and Practical Implementation Table 7.1 Learning and Teaching Methods 241 Table 7.2 RBP Recommendations for Design of Training Curriculum for 244 Training Schools Table 7.3 RBP Skills Development Programme 2008 248 Table 7.4 Strategy Enabling Programme 252 ix List of Figures CHAPTER 1 – The Research Context and the Romanian Border Police Figure 1.1 An Emergent Model of Knowledge Creation 13 Figure 1.2 Romania’s Geographical Position in Europe 15 CHAPTER 2 – Knowledge, and Knowledge and Creation in a Cross-Cultural Context Figure 2.1 Twelve Principles of a Knowledge Building Community 45 Figure 2.2 Knowledge Building Principles 49 Figure 2.3 Componential Model of Creativity 53 Figure 2.4 Expansive Learning Cycle 54 Figure 2.5 Model of Knowledge Creating Organisations 57 CHAPTER 3 – Romania, Borders, Transition and the EU Figure 3.1 Romania in 1812 72 Figure 3.2 Map Illustration of NATO states in central
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Romanian Political Science Review Vol. XXI, No. 1 2021
    Romanian Political Science Review vol. XXI, no. 1 2021 The end of the Cold War, and the extinction of communism both as an ideology and a practice of government, not only have made possible an unparalleled experiment in building a democratic order in Central and Eastern Europe, but have opened up a most extraordinary intellectual opportunity: to understand, compare and eventually appraise what had previously been neither understandable nor comparable. Studia Politica. Romanian Political Science Review was established in the realization that the problems and concerns of both new and old democracies are beginning to converge. The journal fosters the work of the first generations of Romanian political scientists permeated by a sense of critical engagement with European and American intellectual and political traditions that inspired and explained the modern notions of democracy, pluralism, political liberty, individual freedom, and civil rights. Believing that ideas do matter, the Editors share a common commitment as intellectuals and scholars to try to shed light on the major political problems facing Romania, a country that has recently undergone unprecedented political and social changes. They think of Studia Politica. Romanian Political Science Review as a challenge and a mandate to be involved in scholarly issues of fundamental importance, related not only to the democratization of Romanian polity and politics, to the “great transformation” that is taking place in Central and Eastern Europe, but also to the make-over of the assumptions and prospects of their discipline. They hope to be joined in by those scholars in other countries who feel that the demise of communism calls for a new political science able to reassess the very foundations of democratic ideals and procedures.
    [Show full text]
  • Between Denial and "Comparative Trivialization": Holocaust Negationism in Post-Communist East Central Europe
    Between Denial and "Comparative Trivialization": Holocaust Negationism in Post-Communist East Central Europe Michael Shafir Motto: They used to pour millet on graves or poppy seeds To feed the dead who would come disguised as birds. I put this book here for you, who once lived So that you should visit us no more Czeslaw Milosz Introduction* Holocaust denial in post-Communist East Central Europe is a fact. And, like most facts, its shades are many. Sometimes, denial comes in explicit forms – visible and universally-aggressive. At other times, however, it is implicit rather than explicit, particularistic rather than universal, defensive rather than aggressive. And between these two poles, the spectrum is large enough to allow for a large variety of forms, some of which may escape the eye of all but the most versatile connoisseurs of country-specific history, culture, or immediate political environment. In other words, Holocaust denial in the region ranges from sheer emulation of negationism elsewhere in the world to regional-specific forms of collective defense of national "historic memory" and to merely banal, indeed sometime cynical, attempts at the utilitarian exploitation of an immediate political context.1 The paradox of Holocaust negation in East Central Europe is that, alas, this is neither "good" nor "bad" for the Jews.2 But it is an important part of the * I would like to acknowledge the support of the J. and O. Winter Fund of the Graduate Center of the City University of New York for research conducted in connection with this project. I am indebted to friends and colleagues who read manuscripts of earlier versions and provided comments and corrections.
    [Show full text]
  • Romania, December 2006
    Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Romania, December 2006 COUNTRY PROFILE: ROMANIA December 2006 COUNTRY Formal Name: Romania. Short Form: Romania. Term for Citizen(s): Romanian(s). Capital: Bucharest (Bucureşti). Click to Enlarge Image Major Cities: As of 2003, Bucharest is the largest city in Romania, with 1.93 million inhabitants. Other major cities, in order of population, are Iaşi (313,444), Constanţa (309,965), Timişoara (308,019), Craiova (300,843), Galati (300,211), Cluj-Napoca (294,906), Braşov (286,371), and Ploeşti (236,724). Independence: July 13, 1878, from the Ottoman Empire; kingdom proclaimed March 26, 1881; Romanian People’s Republic proclaimed April 13, 1948. Public Holidays: Romania observes the following public holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1), Epiphany (January 6), Orthodox Easter (a variable date in April or early May), Labor Day (May 1), Unification Day (December 1), and National Day and Christmas (December 25). Flag: The Romanian flag has three equal vertical stripes of blue (left), yellow, and red. Click to Enlarge Image HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Early Human Settlement: Human settlement first occurred in the lands that now constitute Romania during the Pleistocene Epoch, which began about 600,000 years ago. About 5500 B.C. the region was inhabited by Indo-European people, who in turn gave way to Thracian tribes. Today’s Romanians are in part descended from the Getae, a Thracian tribe that lived north of the Danube River. During the Bronze Age (about 2200 to 1200 B.C.), these Thraco-Getian tribes engaged in agriculture, stock raising, and trade with inhabitants of the Aegean Sea coast.
    [Show full text]
  • The Extreme Right in Contemporary Romania
    INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS The Extreme Right in Contemporary Romania RADU CINPOEª October 2012 n In contrast to the recent past of the country, there is a low presence of extreme right groups in the electoral competition of today’s Romania. A visible surge in the politi- cal success of such parties in the upcoming parliamentary elections of December 2012 seems to be unlikely. This signals a difference from the current trend in other European countries, but there is still potential for the growth of extremism in Roma- nia aligning it with the general direction in Europe. n Racist, discriminatory and intolerant attitudes are present within society. Casual intol- erance is widespread and racist or discriminatory statements often go unpunished. In the absence of a desire by politicians to lead by example, it is left to civil society organisations to pursue an educative agenda without much state-driven support. n Several prominent members of extreme right parties found refuge in other political forces in the last years. These cases of party migration make it hard to believe that the extreme views held by some of these ex-leaders of right-wing extremism have not found support in the political parties where they currently operate. The fact that some of these individuals manage to rally electoral support may in fact suggest that this happens precisely because of their original views and attitudes, rather than in spite of them. RADU CINPOEª | THE EXTREME RIGHT IN CONTEMPORARY ROMANIA Contents 1. Introduction. 3 2. Extreme Right Actors ...................................................4 2.1 The Greater Romania Party ..............................................4 2.2 The New Generation Party – Christian Democratic (PNG-CD) .....................6 2.3 The Party »Everything for the Country« (TPŢ) ................................7 2.4 The New Right (ND) Movement and the Nationalist Party .......................8 2.5 The Influence of the Romanian Orthodox Church on the Extreme Right Discourse .....8 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Identity and Multiculturalism in the Romanian Banat
    Méditerranée 110 (2008) Bulgarie-Roumanie ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Remus Creţan, David Turnock et Jaco Woudstra Identity and multiculturalism in the Romanian Banat ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Avertissement Le contenu de ce site relève de la législation française sur la propriété intellectuelle et est la propriété exclusive de l'éditeur. Les œuvres figurant sur ce site peuvent être consultées et reproduites sur un support papier ou numérique sous réserve qu'elles soient strictement réservées à un usage soit personnel, soit scientifique ou pédagogique excluant toute exploitation commerciale. La reproduction devra obligatoirement mentionner l'éditeur, le nom de la revue, l'auteur et la référence du document. Toute autre reproduction est interdite sauf accord préalable de l'éditeur, en dehors des cas prévus par la législation en vigueur en France. Revues.org est un portail de revues en sciences humaines et sociales développé par le Cléo, Centre pour l'édition électronique ouverte (CNRS, EHESS, UP, UAPV). ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • No. 15 TRONDHEIM STUDIES on EAST EUROPEAN CULTURES
    No. 15 TRONDHEIM STUDIES ON EAST EUROPEAN CULTURES & SOCIETIES Constantin Iordachi CHARISMA, POLITICS AND VIOLENCE: THE LEGION OF THE “ARCHANGEL MICHAEL” IN INTER-WAR ROMANIA December 2004 Constantin Iordachi is Assistant Professor of Comparative History at the Central (XURSHDQ8QLYHUVLW\ &(8 %XGDSHVW+HJUDGXDWHGIURPWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI %XFKDUHVW %$ DQGWKH,QVWLWXWHRI,QWHUQDWLRQDO6WXGLHV8QLYHUVLW\RI/HHGV 0$ DQGKDVHDUQHGKLV3K'LQKLVWRU\DWWKH&(8,RUGDFKLLVVSHFLDOL]LQJ in the comparative social and institutional history of Central and Southeastern Europe, with an emphasis on citizenship studies, fascism and the history of historiography. He published numerous articles in various scholarly journals and edited books, mainly in Romanian, Hungarian and English. His book The Making of Citizenship in Southeastern Europe during the Long Nineteenth Ceuntry: The Case of Romania, is forthcoming with the CEU Press. ISSN 1501-6684 ISBN 82-995792-3-6 © 2004 Constantin Iordachi and the Program on East European Culture and Societies, a program of the faculty of Arts. Norwegian University of science and Technology. Trondheim studies on East European Cultures and Societies Editor: György Péteri Editorial board: Trond Berge, Tanja Ellingsen, Knut Andreas Grimstad, Arne Halvorsen, Sabrina P. Ramet We encourage submission to the Trondheim Studies on East European Culture and Societies. Inconclusion in the series will be based on anonymous review. Manuscripts are expected to be in English (exception is made for Norwegian 0DVWHUCVDQG3K'WKHVLV DQGQRWH[FHHGGRXEOHVSDFHGSDJHV3RVWDODGGUHVV
    [Show full text]
  • FINAL REPORT International Commission on the Holocaust In
    FINAL REPORT of the International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania Presented to Romanian President Ion Iliescu November 11, 2004 Bucharest, Romania NOTE: The English text of this Report is currently in preparation for publication. © International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania. All rights reserved. DISTORTION, NEGATIONISM, AND MINIMALIZATION OF THE HOLOCAUST IN POSTWAR ROMANIA Introduction This chapter reviews and analyzes the different forms of Holocaust distortion, denial, and minimalization in post-World War II Romania. It must be emphasized from the start that the analysis is based on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s definition of the Holocaust, which Commission members accepted as authoritative soon after the Commission was established. This definition1 does not leave room for doubt about the state-organized participation of Romania in the genocide against the Jews, since during the Second World War, Romania was among those allies and a collaborators of Nazi Germany that had a systematic plan for the persecution and annihilation of the Jewish population living on territories under their unmitigated control. In Romania’s specific case, an additional “target-population” subjected to or destined for genocide was the Romany minority. This chapter will employ an adequate conceptualization, using both updated recent studies on the Holocaust in general and new interpretations concerning this genocide in particular. Insofar as the employed conceptualization is concerned, two terminological clarifications are in order. First, “distortion” refers to attempts to use historical research on the dimensions and significance of the Holocaust either to diminish its significance or to serve political and propagandistic purposes. Although its use is not strictly confined to the Communist era, the term “distortion” is generally employed in reference to that period, during which historical research was completely subjected to controls by the Communist Party’s political censorship.
    [Show full text]
  • «Poor Family Name», «Rich First Name»
    ENCIU Ioan (S&D / RO) Manager, Administrative Sciences Graduate, Faculty of Hydrotechnics, Institute of Construction, Bucharest (1976); Graduate, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest (2003). Head of section, assistant head of brigade, SOCED, Bucharest (1976-1990); Executive Director, SC ACRO SRL, Bucharest (1990-1992); Executive Director, SC METACC SRL, Bucharest (1992-1996); Director of Production, SC CASTOR SRL, Bucharest (1996-1997); Assistant Director-General, SC ACRO SRL, Bucharest (1997-2000); Consultant, SC GKS Special Advertising SRL (2004-2008); Consultant, SC Monolit Lake Residence SRL (2008-2009). Vice-President, Bucharest branch, Romanian Party of Social Solidarity (PSSR) (1992-1994); Member of National Council, Bucharest branch Council and Sector 1 Executive, Social Democratic Party of Romania (PSDR) (1994-2000); Member of National Council, Bucharest branch Council and Bucharest branch Executive and Vice-President, Bucharest branch, Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2000-present). Local councillor, Sector 1, Bucharest (1996-2000); Councillor, Bucharest Municipal Council (2000-2001); Deputy Mayor of Bucharest (2000-2004); Councillor, Bucharest Municipal Council (2004-2007). ABELA BALDACCHINO Claudette (S&D / MT) Journalist Diploma in Social Studies (Women and Development) (1999); BA (Hons) in Social Administration (2005). Public Service Employee (1992-1996); Senior Journalist, Newscaster, presenter and producer for Television, Radio and newspaper' (1995-2011); Principal (Public Service), currently on long
    [Show full text]
  • Country Fact Sheet
    COUNTRY FACT SHEET ROMANIA July 2007 Research Directorate Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Disclaimer This document was prepared by the Research Directorate of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on the basis of publicly available information, analysis and comment. All sources are cited. This document is not, and does not purport to be, either exhaustive with regard to conditions in the country surveyed or conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. For further information on current developments, please contact the Research Directorate. Research Completed 10 July 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. GENERAL INFORMATION 2. POLITICAL BACKGROUND 3. POLITICAL PARTIES 4. ARMED GROUPS AND OTHER NON-STATE ACTORS 5. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS ENDNOTES REFERENCES 2 1. GENERAL INFORMATION Official name Romania Geography Romania is located in south eastern Europe. The region has a total area of 237,500 km2 and is composed of mountains and plains. Romania shares borders with Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the northwest, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, and Moldova to the east. Its southeast coast meets the Black Sea. Romania has a moderate amount of precipitation, with cold winters and hot summers; however, to the far southeast, the climate is temperate. Population and density Population: 22,276,056 (July 2007). Density: 90.9 people per km2 (mid-2004). Principal cities and populations (as of mid-2003) Bucuresti (Bucharest, capital) 1,929,615; Iasi 313,444; Constanta 309,965; Timisoara 308,019; Craiova 300,843; Galati 300,211; Cluj-Napoca 294,906; Brasov 286,371; Ploiesti 236,724; Braila 221,369.
    [Show full text]
  • God, Mythology, Nationalism and Romanian Identity
    GOD, MYTHOLOGY, NATIONALISM AND ROMANIAN IDENTITY: THE POST-COMMUNIST TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY by Kenneth Allen Adams A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Spring 2016 Copyright 2016 Kenneth Allen Adams All Rights Reserved Pro Que st Num b e r: 10156501 A ll rig hts re se rve d INFO RMA TION TO A LL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will b e no te d . Also , if m a te ria l ha d to b e re m o ve d , a no te will ind ic a te the d e le tio n. Pro Que st 10156501 Pub lishe d b y Pro Que st LLC (2016). Co p yrig ht o f the Disserta tio n is he ld b y the Autho r. A ll rig hts re se rve d . This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. Pro Q u e st LLC . 789 East Eisenho we r Pa rkwa y P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arb o r, MI 48106 - 1346 GOD, MYTHOLOGY, NATIONALISM AND ROMANIAN IDENTITY: THE POST-COMMUNIST TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY by Kenneth Allen Adams Approved: __________________________________________________________ D. Heyward Brock, Ph.D. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: __________________________________________________________ Jeffrey L.
    [Show full text]
  • Boicu, Filip Sebastian (2014) Cultural Discourses in Ceauşist Romania
    CULTURAL DISCOURSES IN CEAUŞIST ROMANIA: THE HERO-MIRROR MECHANISM FILIP SEBASTIAN BOICU, BA. MA. Thesis submitted to the University of Nottingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy July 2014 363 364 ABSTRACT Cultural discourses in Ceauşist Romania: The Hero-Mirror Mechanism This thesis is concerned with main cultural discourses of the second phase of Communism in Romania (1964-1989), period largely identical with that of Ceauşescu’s rule. A secondary aim of the thesis is to look at the post-1989 continuations of these publicly influential discourses with the aim of understanding how the educational system (HE, in particular) is positioned in relation to the cultural domain. With regard to the Communist period, the main assertion of the thesis is that analysis of these discourses reveals an underlying cultural mechanism equivalent with a central mode of governance employed by the Communist party. According to this assertion, the mission of this cultural mechanism, with origins in Lenin’s drastic distinction between the party and the proletariat and in the idea that the party must bestow consciousness on the proletariat, is to create and regulate positive avatars (heroes imbued with the best of humanity) for each social category so as to fulfill and safeguard the aims of the Party. For this reason, this device has been entitled the hero-mirror mechanism. The device has also been linked with religion and theology. This perspective has found that the mirror-mechanism corresponds to the notion of “imago Dei,” and its axes to the notions of “kenosis” and “imitatio Dei.” The assessment of these cultural discourses via the mirror-mechanism results in three dimensions of research, each with its own universes of investigation, and each with its own findings.
    [Show full text]
  • Carstocea Finalspalsh
    Heirs of the Archangel? The ‘New Right’ Group and the Development of the Radical Right in Romania Author(s): Raul Carstocea Source: eSharp , Special Issue: Reaction and Reinvention: Changing Times in Central and Eastern Europe (2008), pp. 22-48 URL: http://www.gla.ac.uk/esharp ISSN: 1742-4542 Copyright in this work remains with the author. _________________________________________________________________ eSharp is an international online journal for postgraduate research in the arts, humanities, social sciences and education. Based at the University of Glasgow and run by graduate students, it aims to provide a critical but supportive entry to academic publishing for emerging academics, including postgraduates and recent postdoctoral students. [email protected] eSharp Special Issue: Reaction and Reinvention Heirs of the Archangel? The ‘New Right’ Group and the Development of the Radical Right in Romania Raul Carstocea (School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London) Introduction The collapse of communism brought to Eastern Europe not only the long-awaited processes of democratization of the political space and liberalization of the economy, but also the reappearance of radical discourses in the public space. While significant academic contributions to the debate on the role that radical movements and parties play in post-communist Eastern Europe have already been made, research on recent developments among such groups is still in an incipient stage. This is possibly due to the fact that these developments are considered marginal, as they do not command sufficient political support to represent a serious threat to democracy. Also, the fact that they differ to some extent from similar occurrences in Western Europe and display specific country or regional features, makes them all the more difficult to study from a theoretical perspective.
    [Show full text]