Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Quest for freedom'

In this thesis it is argued that while the concept of freedom of religion or belief itself is opaque and difficult to define, the right to religious freedom must contain certain basic factors – most importantly the right to individual (religious) autonomy. The individual autonomy approach is seen here as providing the necessary rationale for the protection of freedom of religion or belief. This rationale is not cemented in stone in the practice of the Convention and this has caused the Court to lose its focus on individual freedom. It is a dangerous tendency. It allows the focus to be placed on the role of the State and leaves freedom of religion or belief to be heavily affected by politics and fluctuating social attitudes. In this regard, this thesis looks for the meaning and scope of individual and collective religious autonomy and how it is and ought to be represented in the practice of the European Court of Human Rights. It is the aim of the author to contribute to a clearer and more principled understanding of Article 9 of the ECHR. The right to individual autonomy is thought to be able to provide the necessary focus for the European Court of Human Rights in creating a more robust framework for the protection of freedom of religion or belief different from current Court practice which shows inconsistency in its reasoning and theoretical chaos. This lack of clarity has also contributed to freedom of religion or belief being a relatively weak right. It is explored here as to how the principle of autonomy (as developed in this thesis) relates to other principles provided by the Court, namely the principle of State neutrality, pluralism and the effective protection of rights, but also the margin of appreciation and the autonomy of religious communities. The individual autonomy centred theoretical framework in the first part of the thesis will be engaged to analyse the conflict in the triangle of state-individual-community explored in the second part.

My journey from an over-practice injury to the final exam concert on a master level. I start with my background and with investigating the possible reasons for my injuries, then continue with providing solutions to my problems. The solutions consist of technical advice, knowledge of ergonomy, information on the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais and the psychological factors. The goal of this thesis was to manage to perform the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and get away from that experinece without renewing my injury.

Sweden is experiencing a national housing shortage. The housing market has created a financial inequality between generations and as a result, homeownership has become unachievable for many. Citizens who have become tired of the situation have found their solution in the mobile dwelling. With the main motivation of freedom this thesis examines the role of the mobile dwelling and those who strive for mobile lifestyles, while discussing whether it is a viable way of living as it is constantly challenged.   The focus has been on investigating the challenges of living mobile, as the dwelling does not address the broader challenge of long-term financial security. Also, as the long-term residency is constantly challenged by its location through legislation it contributes to the already vulnerable situation.   The project concentrates on mobile living on water in the context of Stockholm, where I argue that its water as an asset has not yet been fully explored. The covered case studies have demonstrated the challenges of long-term residency for mobile dwellers have been overcome through different steps of actions, which in turn has contributed to the freedom of mobility.   This project proposes that in keeping the benefits of mobile living and re-imagining a framework, mobile residents using their own assets and know-how, can through a collective action become developers themselves. Focus is given to the achievement of long-term financial and residential security and as a result, the mobile dwelling becomes more than a temporary solution.

Introduced in 1994, the celebrated Zémor-Tillich hash function over SL_2(F_{2^n}) is mathematically elegant, efficient, and now finally broken (Grassl et. al, 2011). Yet, with a new choice of generators Tillich and Zémor's construction over SL_2(F_{2^n}) still remains of interest; looking for generators in GL_2(F_{p^n}) seems almost untouched. Here, we present a large class of generators to choose from, using a novel theorem that outlines conditions under which a set of matrices in PGL_2(F_p((x))) generates a free group, and whose proof is an interesting application of Tits' ``Ping-Pong Lemma" (1972). The hash functions we form from this theorem are secure against known attacks, and simultaneously preserve many of the desired features of the Zémor-Tillich hash function. In particular, our hash functions retain the small modifications property that Zémor-Tillich was known for: for some δ, alterations of less than δ bits will necessarily change the hash value.

People have the right to know. More than one hundred countries have adopted Freedom of Information (FOI) laws that provide legal guarantees for protecting the right of access to information (ATI). The passage and further implementation by Vietnam of an FOI law, namely the Law on Access to Information No.104/2016/QH13 (hereinafter referred to as “the LATI 2016”), adopted in April 2016, can possibly enhance the right of ATI in that country. The LATI 2016 was passed with the purpose of providing „for the exercise of the citizens' right of access to information‟1. As such the law is expected to be a turning point for accelerating the enforcement of the right of ATI in Vietnam when it takes effect on July 1, 2018. This study examines whether or not this expectation is justified and if the requisite conditions prevail in Vietnam for implementing a system that gives people access to information. There is a growing evidence of a consensus that access to certain kinds of information needs to be considered either as a human right or in the context of rights that citizens should have to prosper in their country. This study takes a rights-based approach, and argues that it provides a useful theoretical foundation for investigating the potential impact and implication of FOI laws. The sophistication and level of compliance with FOI laws in countries can vary depending on how aligned they are with human rights ambitions. The alternative instrumentalist approach as to why FOI legislation is enacted ties the regime to pragmatic values, revealing a lack of a consolidation of a theoretical and conceptual framework for understanding and implementing FOI law, and might not go far enough in the cause of protecting the right of ATI. This study draws on the wider historical, political and economic factors influencing the adoption of the LATI 2016 by Vietnam, which give context for the scope of public disclosure endorsed by the new law and the likely effect of its implementation. It argues that the legal text on its own is overambitious and should not be presumed to create sudden and major institutional changes aimed at securing the right of ATI. The enactment of the LATI 2016 demonstrates a positive transformation in the willingness and the capacity of both suppliers (the state) and demanders (the people) to improve the mechanisms for exercising ATI as a fundamental right of citizens. However, this progress has also been influenced by not only the country‟s economic context but also by the political regime. For the purpose of promoting the right of ATI in Vietnam, the study highlights the need for bottom-up reform, stemming from civil and social demands, rather than a top-down process as has been undertaken over the period of drafting of the LATI 2016. The human rights-based approach taken to ATI in this work indicates that Vietnam is making progress towards deeply reforming their legal framework but much work needs to be done in terms of creating a robust implementation regime.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Griffith Law School
Arts, Education and Law
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This paper is a reflection on an actor’s journey through the Graduate Acting Program at the University of Texas at Austin which culminated in a thesis production of Intimate Apparel directed by Melissa Maxwell. This paper examines the tools and techniques acquired in training both in the classroom, production and outside experiences. In addition, this paper will provide an in-depth examination of how the character of Mayme in The University of Texas’s production of Intimate Apparel was created using said tools and techniques as well as new skills acquired during the process.
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碩士
中國文化大學
英國語文學系
98
This thesis presents an interpretation of the ground-breaking 2000 film The Matrix in terms of religious themes (Gnosticism and Buddhism), Plato’s ontological hierarchy in The Republic, and Baudrillard’s theory of simulacra and hyperreality. In Chapter 1 the reading via religion, with the main emphasis on Buddhism, emphasizes Neo’s role as the One, a sort of savior (Christ or Bodhisattva) figure who ultimately will sacrifice himself to save the freed citizens of Zion, and also his “transcendence” to a higher level of reality, now seen in terms of Buddhist meditation, non-duality and enlightenment. In Chapter 2 the reading via Plato focuses on the role of logic, with absolute Goodness and Truth being correlated with the Oneness of an encompassing logical unity. This reading is parallel to but more “rational” than the Buddhist interpretation of the film. In Chapter 3, the Baudrillardian approach sees the virtual world of the Matrix as signifying our contemporary postmodern culture with its many simulacra (false or empty images) and the all-pervasive power of illusion, or what Baudrillard calls hyperreality. All three readings, but most obviously the third, point to the fact that this film should serve as a wake-up call for us.

In nineteenth-century New England, Sarah Remond was one of many who distinguished themselves as ardent supporters of freedom and justice as members of the abolitionist movement. Although her name is less familiar, her contributions were most significant. This dissertation examines the role Sarah Remond played in the abolitionist movement. One of a few African-American female lecturers, she made her greatest contributions to the cause in the British Isles. Going beyond moral issues of slavery and immediate emancipation, Remond was also aware of the larger problems affecting all people of color in the United States; problems of prejudice and discrimination. This work examines the circumstances in Sarah Remond's life that contributed to her views and influenced her actions. It provides evidence of the impact of prejudice and discrimination on Remond's decisions. Additionally, it chronicles the Salem, Massachusetts, community and her family's influence there. The Remond family was a cohesive unit, bound by a spirit of enterprise and a strong sense of the rights of individuals which was kept alive for three generations. The family also embraced a strong activist tradition that reached beyond the confines of their immediate surroundings. Remond accepted an invitation to lecture in the British Isles in the late 1850s. Her arrival there came at a time when English interest in American slavery had waned. However, Sarah Remond's oratorical skills drew attention. Her use of feminist/familial arguments garnered support from British women. Remond's impact on the British abolitionist movement, and the contacts she made while residing there, are also studied. There were others who added their voices to the abolitionist cause, some of whom were Remond's models and contemporaries. They are also reviewed here in light of Remond's life circumstances and contributions to abolitionism. This work describes the life of Sarah Remond and her participation in a reform movement directed at abolishing slavery. It reflects on the effects of familial activism and cohesion on the choices she made in life. It chronicles her separation from patriarchal institutions represented in Antebellum American social and family life.

碩士
國立清華大學
外國語文學系
94
Byron has said that “Man’s love is of man’s life a thing apart, ‘Tis woman’s whole existence.” It is clear that Byron’s love affairs preoccupied most of his daily life; moreover, such a personal history of love inspires him to create a variety of works in which women play a crucial role. Don Juan not only includes colorful romances but also reveals women’s desires and sexuality in a positive way. This thesis is a representation of how women become more individualized and sophisticated through their active pursuit of love in Don Juan. Meanwhile, the inherent tensions of the satiric tones are the narrator’s rhetorical means of compelling the reader to see reality from different perspectives. Within a larger framework of satire, the issue of female sexuality and the concept of love are easily assumed a darker color. In fact, Byron’s usage of a comic tone does not satirize women; instead, he describes how wonderful love is in the world through images of women in love and the emotions that are the original libido desires of human beings. Love is the spiritual enrichment of one’s daily lives and a kind of symbol of energy and happiness. In addition, the author presents women’s gradual getting rid of social constraints and developing their confidence. Their experience of love offers unlimited possibilities for shaping their own identities and results in a kind of spiritual transcendence from which the new thinking and meanings of life are generated. What Byron would like to show in Don Juan is the exploration of human feelings, especially human passion, and the nature of love. In the context of Byron’s arguments against despotism, he thinks that one’s sexuality and desire about love must be free. Traditionally, women’s connection with love is conservative and supposed to be passive. Women become a target for men to choose as part of their lives. However, Byron transforms such a fixed stereotype and depicts female’s active performance in the quest for love. Through the use of satire, Byron presents more accurate concepts of love, human beings, and true freedom. Implicit in the poem is that the nature of love is a kind of desire which exists in everyone’s hearts. Based on Byron’s devotion to liberty, female sexuality is worth admiring and should not be regulated by external limits from society, politics, and morality. Under such a revolutionary intention, the spirit of “carpe diem” is also revised and given a new meaning: it not only includes the hedonic aspect of life but also the extreme effort to change one’s condition. There is no hierarchy in the world of love; women also can dominate men for the sake of true love and happiness they want. Time and physical beauty are fleeting, so making the most present pleasure and fulfillment is very important. Thus, Byron’s revolutionary and rebellious spirit is quite obvious here: he adopts ironic tone to criticize orthodox ideas. He portrays an ideal equality between men and women. This thesis is divided into four chapters. In Chapter One, I outline the background of the study by clarifying the main argument and terminologies, surveying the previous scholarships, justifying my area of study, and laying the foundation for the whole thesis. Chapter Two scrutinizes Byron’s intention by focusing on female characters in his Don Juan. My concern here is to illustrate the positive aspect of female’s active pursuit of love and show their desire, thoughts, personal will and action. Besides, Byron arranges two reversals of gender roles: Juan as a woman in the Turkish episode, and Fitz-Fulke dressed as a ghost to pretend being a friar. The cross-dressing and reversals of both sexes symbolizes a departure from the traditional binary opposition of male/ female. Thus, women are not always seen as subordinate in the gender relation. Chapter Three examines the relation between sexuality and traveling in terms of Julia Kristeva’s discussion of strangers and love in Strangers to Ourselves. For these female figures depicted in the poem, Juan becomes a foreigner for them with whom they can recognize themselves. The women-Juan affairs actually can be seen as a mother-son relationship which Kristeva defines as “chora” whereby women gradually reveal their subversive power to counter patriarchal regulation. In this point of view, the female figures’ aspiration of love in Don Juan can be considered rational and admired in a positive way. Even though women encounter obstacles in the pursuit of love, they still develop their own individualities more and more. In Chapter Four, through Byron’s depiction of amorous atmosphere in this poem, we can understand a kind of life permeated with love is not a waste for a healthy human being. Byron tries to tell the readers that seizing the time to love is very important. Especially as a woman, she should bravely chase her happiness regardless of gender, class, race, and other oppressive elements because love is a kind of strong feeling which happens in a sudden moment without reasons or explanations. At last, Byron’s attitude toward love echoes the typical thinking of Romanticism—“Sentimental emotion is over everything”—an extreme value of love whose strength can save both men and women. Therefore, true freedom and fulfillment for women do contribute to equality between both men and women.

Thesis (M.A.)--Florida State University, 2004.
Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Grant, Florida State University, College of Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Program of Russian & East European Studies. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 23, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

This study analyses the state involvement in religious life in modern Indonesia. It will focus on how the state has constructed a variety of policies on religion. At the heart of this issue is a tension between ensuring religious order and harmony on the one hand, and protecting religious freedom on another. Successive Indonesia governments have grappled with problem but have increasingly prioritized order and harmony over the rights of Indonesian citizens. The state role on religion is implicitly justified in the Pancasila (the Five Principles), the Indonesian ideology, which includes the principle of Ketuhanan Yang Maha Esa (generic meaning: the belief in 'Almighty God'). This First Principle of Pancasila becomes the main basis for the acknowledgement of religiosity in the state system. It has also encompassed a variety of legal arrangements like the Constitution and lawmaking as well as political activism in modem Indonesia. Nevertheless, the contest over interpreting the meaning of Ketuhanan Yang Maha Esa particularly by Muslim activists was also apparent. At the end, the insertion of an 'Islamic interpretation' of the loose clause of Ketuhanan Yang Maha Esa has had a certain impact upon the issuing of state policies based on Islamic precepts. In turn this Muslim-based interpretation on this principle has served the main paramount of the government in intervening religious life. Hence, while the Indonesian constitutions have preserved religious freedom, by the same token it has also tended to construct wide-ranging discretionary powers in the government to control religion and to oversee religious freedom. Thus, regulations on religious affairs often end up not protecting religious rights, but rather undermine them. This is because those regulations reflect majority concerns instead upholding minority rights. The cases to point out are a number of regulations on religious affairs that are tended to be discriminative and restrictive towards the minorities groups such as the aliran kebatinan (Javanese mysticism), local religions and the Ahmadiyah groups in Indonesia. Overall this study argues that the history of the politics of regulating religion has been about what I call 'the constant negotiation' for the boundaries of authority in regulating religious affairs between the state and the majority. In this vein the government is eager to oversee and strictly control religious activities, but at the same time the majority group is interested to steer the direction of the state to be closer to their norms and values. This condition remains in Indonesian stage even until today.

Through this study, I aim to expand the body of knowledge related to Black counter-framing strategies employed in the United States. In this extended case study, I examine the ways in which young Black cis-hetero male creators living in Atlanta, Georgia employ the use of counter-frames to navigate and resist the dominant white racial frame. Specifically, I analyze their use of double consciousness, freedom, and alchemical capitalism as counter-frames as resistance. I advocate for a nuanced approach to examining resistance strategies that includes embracing imperfect and incomplete acts of resistance. By examining these resistance strategies, despite their faults, perhaps we can continue working toward a more complete eradication of oppression.

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
本文运用新闻自由相关理论，系统研究1978 年以来中国媒体界对新闻自由的理论探索与具体实践。它以新闻自由与专制的博弈为主要切入角度，通过文献研究和案例解剖，分阶段对中国媒体人争取新闻自由的脉络进行发掘和分析，并对历史传统、正反经验、观念变迁、市场影响、网络发展等因素与新闻自由程度的关系进行梳理，展现中国媒体人争取新闻自由高潮与低谷变换，成功与失败交织的复杂轨迹。文章的结论是：中国媒体虽然处在共产党高度控制下，但中国媒体人中一直存在着一条试图脱离党的控制、对新闻自由进行不懈追求的线。这条线代代相传，从未间断，取得了有限但珍贵的成果，为中国新闻自由的最后实现积累了宝贵的经验。 本文的研究成果同时体现在理论和实践两个层面。新闻自由理论可以理解为现代新闻事业的基本原则，它是指导新闻业务的基本思想，媒体履行正常功能的基本前提，受众享有知情权的基本要求。当代中国新闻自由的实践主要体现在两个方面，一方面是制约新闻事业的政治法律框架的演化，另一方面是媒体人在共产党高度新闻控制的条件下争取新闻自由的努力过程。从理论上说，这项研究丰富了中国新闻自由状况等方面的理论研究成果。特别是，本文对新闻自由与媒体控制这两种理念的历史纠结进行辨析，对近代新闻事业传入中国以后两种理念对中国新闻实践的影响进行了深入探讨。从实证方面说，这项研究挖掘和提供中国媒体界争取新闻自由方面的实证材料。以中国媒体人从1978 年前后到现在的时间段里争取新闻自由的主要事件、主要媒体、部分代表人物为线索，把中国媒体人争取新闻自由的努力的绵延不绝的图像清晰地呈现给世人。此外，这项研究对于中国当代新闻史、中国新闻立法、舆论监督，以及新闻媒体内部改革等方面也有一定的现实意义。 This thesis is a systematic study on the practice and theoretical exploration of the freedom of press in China since 1978. It sets out to uncover the struggles of China’s media professionals at different stages in the reform era of China and evaluate these struggles in the theoretical perspective of the freedom of press. To this end, the thesis provides a critical examination of the theory and practice of the freedom of press in China since 1978, with a focus on the conflicts between the quest for the freedom of press and the reality of China’s totalitarian and post-totalitarian regime. It also carries out analysis of other factors shaping the degree of the freedom of press in China, such as the pre-PRC experiences with the free press, value change in the era of reform and opening to the outside world, the influence of market forces and the spread of the internet. The findings of the thesis demonstrate that, although the Chinese media is still heavily censored by the communist regime, many professionals working in the Chinese media industry have always been determined to break free from the control of the Party and to achieve the freedom of press. This determination and incessant efforts made by generations of journalists have yielded limited but valuable results that have laid down the foundation for the eventual realisation of the freedom of press in China. This study makes an important contribution to the field at both theoretical and empirical levels. At the theoretical level, the thesis enriches the theory of the freedom of press particularly in assessing the impact of the concepts of free press and press control in the development of modern media in China. Empirically, the thesis is an elaborate account of the trajectory of the heroic quest for the freedom of press by Chinese media professionals under the communist rule.