Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Western individualism'

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2004.
A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, Education and Social Sciences, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies. Electronic version is also available at: http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/46081.

This study explores the acculturation experiences of long-term Western residents in Japan using a broad intercultural studies approach. First, the historical context of Westerners coming to Japan is discussed. Next, literature from the field of intercultural studies is considered. This literature is used to provide a framework for analyzing Western sojourners’ acculturation experiences in Japan, as well as for choosing the research methods for conducting a qualitative analysis. The research involved interviewing 12 expatriates from English-speaking countries who have been in Japan for at least 10 years. Their acculturation experiences were analyzed, with a particular focus on finding hidden barriers to acculturation. The study concludes that numerous barriers to acculturation do exist. Commonly observable barriers included lack of employment security for some sojourners, and a poor fit between an individual’s personality and the host culture. These issues are applicable to anyone adapting to life in a different culture. However, this research also exposed a number of hidden barriers arguably unique to the Western sojourner’s acculturation experience in Japan. These barriers include the challenge of developing satisfying relationships with Japanese, due primarily to different expectations for psychological closeness and self-disclosure in Japan and the West. Another is the social effect of Othering, the centuries-old process where Japanese society divides things into those which are Japanese and those which are not, and the consequent empathy deficit that Japanese experience toward outsiders. The thesis concludes by offering recommendations for how long-term Western residents in Japan can improve their adaptation and acculturation experience. These include the obvious advantages of learning the Japanese language, and the less obvious benefits of learning and practicing mindful intercultural communication.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the single largest cause of death in the U.S., and is also the leading cause of death in Montana. In addition, the estimated direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. for 2007 were $431.8 billion. Anticipated barriers to health promotion behavior have been shown to affect intentions to engage in and execute the behaviors. Exploring individual\'s perception of the benefits of health promotion behaviors is equally important when addressing barriers to making lifestyle changes. CHD is strongly associated with modifiable risk factors including physical inactivity, poor diet, and tobacco use. Although CHD risk factors have been studied extensively, few studies have assessed individuals\' combined perceptions of barriers and benefits as reasons for non-adherence to recommended health promotion behaviors related to CHD risk and most of these studies included only women. The purpose of this research study was to examine perceived barriers and benefits to CHD risk modification in men and women living in a rural western state. Two survey tools were used to collect the data from a convenience sample of persons seen in the cardiac care areas at a local hospital in a rural western state. The findings of this study provided important information about the perceived barriers and benefits to CHD risk modification of persons previously diagnosed or at risk for CHD. Results from this study imply that in order to develop effective interventions, it is important to understand the individual and his or her unique characteristics including gender, socioeconomic status, and education level in relation to his or her perceived barriers and benefits to health promotion. Nurse practitioners and other primary care providers can incorporate this knowledge into future strategies to reduce or eliminate barriers, increase perceived benefits, and promote health promotion behaviors in individuals who are at risk for developing CHD. Advocating for health promotion behavior adoption and CHD risk modification offer a very important and practical tool for providers to help individuals address and lower risk factors as well as prevent CHD and treat individuals with established CHD.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Aim: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of individuals with Huntington’s disease (HD) in a South African context. The focus of the current study was not only on the challenges faced by individuals with HD, but also the resources/supports that help them cope with their neurological condition. Method: I conducted twelve semi-structured interviews with the participants and they transcribed verbatim. I then performed a thematic analysis. Results: Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System’s Theory as the theoretical framework, several themes were identified that related to the participants’ experiences of living with HD. Challenges included: triad of symptoms, sleep problems, testing process, relationships, children, it’s a monster, employment, social support, partners and family members with HD, medical aid, life insurance, financial problems, lack of HD facilities, lack of understanding of HD, symptoms watching and the progression of HD. Several supports/resources were also identified and included: knowledge about HD, counselling, medication, coping, employment, social support, testing process, partners and family members with HD, medical aid, life insurance, cure, possible HD facilities, religion, grant and adaptation over time. Conclusion: This was the first study of this kind in a South African context, which set out to explore the experiences of individuals with HD in the Western Cape, South Africa. The findings from this study demonstrate that although these individuals with HD experience several challenges due to their debilitating condition, they also employ several resources to help them cope with HD. Lastly, the findings that emerged from this study contribute to raising awareness about the experiences of these individuals living with HD and could serve as a valuable foundation for tailor-made interventions for these unique individuals.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doel: Die doel van hierdie kwalitatiewe studie was om die ervaringe van individue met Huntington se siekte (HS) in 'n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks te verken. Die fokus van die huidige studie het verband gehou nie net met die uitdagings wat deur individue met HS ervaar word, maar ook die hulpbronne / ondersteuning wat hulp verleen met hulle neurologiese toestand om dit te beter te hanteer. Metode: Ek het twaalf semi- gestruktureerde onderhoude met die deelnemers gevoer en woordeliks getranskribeer , waarna tematiese analise uitgevoer is. Resultate: Met behulp van Bronfenbrenner se Ekologiese Sisteem Teorie as die teoretiese raamwerk , is verskeie temas wat verband hou met die deelnemers se ervarings van die lewe met HD geïdentifiseer. Uitdagings sluit in: drietal van die simptome, slaap probleme, toets-proses, verhoudings, kinders, dit is 'n monster, indiensneming, sosiale ondersteuning, metgeselle en familie-lede met HD, mediese fonds , lewensversekering, finansiële probleme, die gebrek aan HD fasiliteite, 'n gebrek aan begrip van HD, dophou van simptome en die vordering van HD. Verskeie ondersteuning / hulpbronne is ook geïdentifiseer en sluit in: kennis oor HD, berading, medisyne, hantering, werk, sosiale ondersteuning, toetsproses, vennote en familie -lede met HD, mediese fonds, lewensversekering, genesing, moontlike HD fasiliteite , godsdiens, staats-toelaag en aanpassing oor tyd. Gevolgtrekking: Dit was die eerste studie van hierdie aard in 'n Suid-Afrikaanse konteks wat die ervarings van individue met HD in die Wes-Kaap , Suid-Afrika uiteensit. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie toon dat, alhoewel hierdie individue met HD verskeie uitdagings as gevolg van hul aftakenlende toestand ondervind, is daar ook 'n paar hulpbronne in plek om hulle met die hantering van hierdie neurologiese toestand te help. Laastens , die bevindinge uit hierdie studie dra by tot die verhoging van bewustheid oor die ervarings van hierdie individue wat met HD lewe en kan as 'n waardevolle fondament vir pasgemaakte intervensies vir hierdie unieke individue dien.

The consensus of recent literature appears to be that drug testing is both legal and valid. However, a testing program can meet legal and technical criteria and still fail to meet organizational objectives because one vital component has been left out – employees’ attitudes. The present study uses data from 148 college juniors and seniors to assess the effects of three hypothetical drug testing policies: (a) consequences of detected drug use (termination vs. rehabilitation), (b) timing of the program (expected interval vs. random interval vs. reasonable cause), and (c) business purpose (weak vs. strong) on attitudes toward drug testing. It was hypothesized that attitudes would be most favorable when testing was for reasonable cause, with a strong business purpose, and detected use resulted in required rehabilitation. Results revealed a significant interaction between business purpose and consequence implying that organizations may reduce negative reactions to drug testing by first having a clear need for drug testing (e.g. in response to an increasing accident rate) and seeking to rehabilitate employees who are detected of using drugs rather than simply terminating them.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Applied Health Science, 2006.
Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-04, Section: B, page: 1959. Adviser: Michael D. Reece. "Title from dissertation home page (viewed June 20, 2007)."

Magister Commercii (Industrial Psychology) - MCom(IPS)
Even though attitudes have been studied for many years, attitudes toward individuals with disabilities still remain an important issue, today (Geskie & Salasek, 1988; Popovich, Scherbaum, Scherbaum & Polinko, 2003). With the relationship between numerous demographic factors and attitudes toward those with disabilities being inconsistent across existing research and the absence of research conducted in the South African context this research study investigated whether variables such as gender, age, education level, exposure to a person with a disability or having a friend or family member with a disability had an effect on attitude towards disability. The population of this study constituted students from the Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) Faculty and Support Staff in a Higher Education Institution in the Western Cape. A non-probability convenience sample method was utilised of which 140 respondents completed two questionnaires. Namely, a Biographical questionnaire and the Affective Reactions Subscale of the Disability Questionnaire (Popovich et al. (2003). Statistical analyses included both descriptive and inferential statistics (the t-Test and ANOVA). According to the findings of this research study, significant relationships do not exist between variables such as gender, age, educational level, amount of contact and exposure to or having a friend or family member with disability and staff and student attitudes toward those with disabilities in a Higher Education Institution in the Western Cape. A few limitations related to the study were recognized and it is recommended that a combination of quantitative and qualitative research approaches be implored as well as other faculties and Institutions in the Western Cape be used to contribute to greater representativeness and generalisability for future research. Also, to establish organisations or institutions as employers and institutions of choice among those with disabilities, organisations and institutions are to better market disability facilities and accommodations. It is also proposed that students and staff with disabilities should be encouraged to fully participate in the design and event management of disability awareness campaigns.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2007.
A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Health and Science, School of Nursing, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.

L’intégration aussi soudaine que réussie du bouddhisme en Occident au XXe siècle a entraîné dans son sillage l’apparition d’une nouvelle figure du croire à trait d’union : les « juifs bouddhistes ». Dans le contexte actuel de l’individualisation du croire et de la globalisation du religieux, cette constellation de postures individuelles se revendiquant à la fois du judaïsme et du bouddhisme témoigne des produits créatifs de l’émergence d’un bouddhisme occidental.Connu principalement aux États-Unis sous le label de « jubu », où selon les estimations, de 6 à 30% des pratiquants bouddhistes occidentaux seraient d’origine juive, le phénomène des juifs dans le bouddhisme est pourtant un phénomène global. Comment s’exprime-t-il en France et en Angleterre, deux autres pôles essentiels de la diaspora juive et du bouddhisme en Occident ? Comment comprendre le succès du bouddhisme en Israël aujourd’hui ? Pourquoi les juifs deviennent-ils bouddhistes, et comment articulent-ils ce choix croyant avec leur identité juive ?Le phénomène des juifs bouddhiste, souvent décrit comme un phénomène post-Shoah, est d’abord un produit de la modernité juive ashkénaze post-Lumières. Dans cette recherche, à partir d’une sociologie croisée de la réception du bouddhisme et de celle des trajectoires croyantes individuelles basée sur une enquête ethnographique longitudinale multisituée conduite entre 2008 et 2018 et composée d’entretiens et d’analyse de récits de vie de pratiquants et enseignants bouddhistes d’origine juive aux États-Unis, en Angleterre, en France et en Israël, je tenterai de dresser un panorama comparatif et diachronique du phénomène des juifs bouddhistes visant à mettre en lumière ses tendances globales, ses particularités locales, et son évolution depuis la contre-culture des années soixante. Parce qu’elle refuse le terme de conversion et s’exprime sous la forme de bricolages identitaires ou croyants, la posture de juif bouddhiste témoigne des liens entre l’individualisme religieux et le groupe, et demande de repenser le concept de syncrétisme dans le contexte de la globalisation religieuse contemporaine
In the wake of the introduction of Buddhism in the West in the XXth century, as sudden as successful, a new hyphenated religious posture has emerged: the “Jewish Buddhists”. In the current context of religious individualism and globalization, this constellation of individual stances claiming to be both Jewish and Buddhist is one of the creative outcomes of the emergence of a Western Buddhism. Mostly known in the states under the label “jubu”, where an estimate of 6 to 30% of the Western Buddhist practitioners would be of Jewish descent, the phenomenon of Jews in Buddhism is however a global phenomenon. How does it play in France and in England, two other essential loci of the Jewish diaspora and of Western Buddhism? How to account for the success of Buddhism in Israel today? Why do Jews become Buddhists, and how do they articulate this choice with their Jewish identity?The phenomenon of the Jewish Buddhists, mostly known as a post-Shoah phenomenon, is first and foremost a product of the post-Enlightenment Jewish Ashkenazi modernity. In this research, combining a sociology of the reception of Buddhism and of individual religious trajectories based on interviews and life-narrative analysis collected via a multisite longitudinal ethnographic fieldwork conducted between 2008 and 2018 between the United States, England, France and Israel, I will attempt to offer a comparative, diachronic panorama of the phenomenon of the Jewish Buddhists, aiming at shedding light on its global tendencies, its local specificities, and its evolution, from the Counter-Culture of the sixties till today.Because it rejects the term « conversion » and expresses itself under the shape of bricolages of identity and belief, the posture of Jewish Buddhist highlights the connections between religious individualism and the group, and calls for rethinking the concept of syncretism in the context of the contemporary religious globalization

Includes abstract.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-140).
Lynch syndrome (LS), the most common form of inherited colorectal cancer (CRC), carries with it a lifetime risk of approximately 80% of developing CRC. This study identified unexpected findings with regard to the relationships between neuropsychological functioning, knowledge and non-adherence within the context of LS, and highlights ways in which this might be investigated in the future.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting females globally. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome is caused by pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 and is seen in approximately 50% of families with a strong history of breast and ovarian cancers. Predictive testing (PT) is offered to unaffected individuals with a positive family history of HBOC, with an already identified BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation in an affected family member. There is an overwhelming amount of research that has focused on the after-effects of diagnostic genetic testing for HBOC but there has been little investigation into how individuals experience the actual PT process. The present study therefore aimed to investigate individuals’ decisions for undergoing and their experiences of PT for HBOC in a local context, by focusing on at-risk South African individuals residing in the Western Cape Province. Sixteen participants were recruited retrospectively from the breast cancer and/or clinical genetics clinics at Groote Schuur Hospital, Tygerberg Hospital and private genetic counselling practices in Cape Town. Semi structured interviews were conducted, and the interview transcripts were analysed using the framework approach for qualitative data analysis. Using this approach, five themes were identified relating to the perspectives and experiences of individuals undergoing PT for HBOC, in selected settings in the Western Cape. While some participants felt that their decision to pursue PT was influenced by their family history of cancer and the associated cancer-related distress, others felt that their decision was made out of a sense of duty to their families or in solidarity with those that were affected or received a positive test result. Overall, the participants felt that the pre-test counselling was beneficial in allowing for an improved understanding of HBOC, however not all participants felt that the pre-test counselling prepared them for receiving their results. Receiving a negative test result was often accompanied by feelings of guilt and did not exempt participants from the fear of developing cancer. Some of the concerns raised by participants that received a positive test result were centred around prophylactic intervention and its effect on body image. Overall, participants felt empowered by their mutation status and felt that they were better able to manage their risk. The need for additional support, both practical and emotional support, was particularly evident amongst mutation-carriers. The findings of this study provide valuable insight into the perspectives and experiences of this population, which could potentially impact the services that are provided to individuals undergoing PT for HBOC in similar settings.

Magister Artium - MA
In South Africa 3.5 million people (estimated 6% of the total population) are diagnosed and living with diabetes. The majority of the diagnosed group suffer from Type 2 diabetes respectively. Described as a metabolic disorder, diabetes is also understood as an illness and disease and is usually handled through the intervention of biomedical perspectives, especially in the manner in which it is treated and managed. However, few ethnographies have interrogated how individuals living with diabetes in South Africa in negotiate between various medical/healing knowledge systems- both ‘alternative’ and biomedical. The study explores the area of Genadendal as a case study, using an ethnographic approach and a material semiotic approach (Mol, 2002) in relation to medical sense-making and treatments. I investigate the partial connections as discussed by Strathern (2004), between medical/healing knowledge systems, i.e. biomedical and herbal management through plant medicines, which inform diabetic realities. Ultimately, this study considers the various notions and understandings of diabetes, local knowledge, experiences of individuals with diabetes and the interfaces of different ways of knowing with each other.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD
Cardiovascular disease is amongst the top three leading causes of mortality in South Africa and the world. The effects of cardiovascular disease can be seen in limitations of function within all spheres of life, including work function. Cardiac rehabilitation programmes have been documented to improve functional abilities, but little is known about the return to work rate after cardiac rehabilitation. Access to cardiac rehabilitation programmes in the Western Cape is limited. This study aimed to determine the return to work rates and influencing factors after cardiac rehabilitation as well as to design an intervention programme that is accessible and could facilitate return to work for individuals with cardiovascular disease.

Magister Curationis - MCur
Depression is defined as a psychiatric condition, wherein a person experiences extreme sadness, social withdrawal, and expresses self-deprecating thoughts. Across the world, millions of people with Human Infectious Virus (HIV) suffer from depression each year. Depression is regarded as the most common disabling medical condition that affects both HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals, globally. It is further reported that depression is the most common neuropsychiatric disturbance observed in HIV infected individuals. In South Africa, the prevalence of depression symptoms among Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clients is reported to be 25.4%. However, depression among this group is often underdiagnosed and untreated in Primary Health Care settings. The need for routine screening is encouraged by studies confirming that depression and anxiety disorders accelerate the progression of HIV disease. Methods A quantitative descriptive research design was used. The study population included 1 440 males and females, aged eighteen years and over, who were HIV positive and received ART at the Clinic. A randomly selected sample of 372 respondents were recruited, but 110 had to be excluded because of eligibility issues; therefore, 262 respondents completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaire. Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher’s exact test and the Spearman Rank test were used to analyse the data, using GraphPad Prism software. Depression symptoms were evaluated, using BDI, and a score of -> 10 indicated depression. Results Of the 262 respondents, 52% had club membership, compared to 48%, who were only on ART. There were significantly more female respondents (44%) involved in Adherence Clubs, as opposed to their male counterparts (8%), a difference of 36% overall (p=0.016). In summary, the number of individuals, who were suffering from some form of depression, enrolled in ART Adherence Clubs was 8.4% of the total sample, compared to 10% of those who were not in ART adherence clubs. The overall prevalence of depression in this current study was 18.4 %, which was in line with other studies conducted in a South African context, and a similar setting. Clinical depression status represents the main outcome of interest in this research project. The model category was 0-10, which indicated that a significant majority, 69.5%, n= 182, of the enrolled respondents were classified as healthy, in terms of clinical depression status. Beck depression scores were consistent across gender. Depression seemed to be more severe in the 35-44 age category. Fisher’s exact test confirmed the absence of any statistical difference between ART club membership and their depression status. Spearman rank correlation coefficient of -0.02 indicates a very low association between length of HIV seropositivity and Beck Depression score. Conclusion This is the first study reporting on the prevalence of depression, in relation to HIV infection, as well as ART treatment, and the associated adherence programme in Cape Town. Further research on a similar topic is recommended, using other instruments in the same geographic area.

博士
國立中山大學
中山學術研究所
96
Through comparative and qualitative research method, this dissertation first analyzes the individual values in political freedom and equality emphasized by modern Western individualism, will further discuss collective consciousness in the form of emotional and moral achievements as emphasized by traditional Chinese Confucianism as comparative reference basis and finally lists common grounds and differences between these two. This dissertation researches political thought and philosophy, mainly aiming at the political objectives of argument foundations, essential connotations and achievements in traditional Chinese political thought, illuminates collective sentiment thinking and will analyze and explain the reasons for a lack of Western individualism in traditional Chinese political thought, caused by the environmental conditions created by that thinking. The author hopes to be able to offer a comparison of nature and characteristics of Chinese and Western culture and thinking and a few answers and explanations regarding the problems the Chinese society is facing since it encountered and started to learn from Western democratic political systems more than 100 years ago.

Due to the changing demographics of South African organisations after the 1994 elections and the subsequent sub-cultural diversification, the working environment is becoming the primary place where the different South African sub-cultural groups, with their different value systems, are in interaction with each other. The consequent lifting of sanctions exposed South African organisations to globalisation and international competition. This forced managers to improve organisational processes and operations, not only to protect their own domestic markets, but also to become internationally competitive. At the same time, they had to adhere to newly created labour legislation, which dramatically changed the face of the South African labour market. The complex combination of several sub-cultures in the South African work environment can adversely affect organisational effectiveness if not properly understood and managed by effective transformational leaders. The concept of cultural values was used to explore the differences, as well as the similarities, between the various sub-cultural groups in the South African environment. This study examined cultural differences and similarities between 477 junior and middle managers in the financial services sector, who belonged to the four South African sub-cultural groups (Black, Coloured, White, and Indian), and between South African male and female managers. It also investigated whether cultural values change indiscriminately during the acculturation process, or whether certain cultural values, labelled peripheral values, change easier or before other cultural values, labelled core values. Due to the importance of transformational leadership in the work environment, this study also explored the differences and similarities of South African managers on Bass and Avolio’s Full Range Model of Leadership. (Avolio&Bass, 1999; Bass, 1985, 1997). A moderate social constructionist theory was used as a framework for this study, to analyse and describe quantitative results obtained with the various measuring instruments. Firstly, it was found that although there were statistically significant differences between most of the cultural value dimensions of the various sub-cultural groups, not all of these differences were practically significant. Results indicated that these groups could often be clustered together on specific cultural value dimensions, sometimes consisting of a Black, White, and Coloured cluster, sometimes as a Black, Coloured, and Indian cluster, and so forth. Secondly, independent variables other than sub-cultural group, gender, and age also showed practically significant relationships with some of the cultural value dimensions. Thirdly, the results indicated that the cultural values are very stable, even in the dynamic and multi-cultural South African environment, and as such, no core or peripheral values could be identified. Finally, the results also indicated that the transformational-transactional leadership model is cross-culturally endorsed within the South African financial services sector. It pointed out that irrespective of gender, junior or middle management level, age, educational level, number of years full-time work experience, number of years as manager, or having been exposed to formal Western management training, all managers evaluated themselves as more transformational than transactional.
Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Psychology
unrestricted

Tese de doutoramento em Relações Internacionais na especialidade de Política Internacional e Resolução de Conflitos, apresentada à Faculdade de Economia da Universidade de Coimbra
This dissertation offers a critical analysis of the North Atlantic Alliance Organisation (NATO) within the field of critical security studies, fundamentally aiming at two concurring goals: innovating the conceptual reflection on the history of the organisation; and deconstructing the psychosocial processes underlying the establishment of prevailing meanings in contemporary international security. It is motivated by a fundamental epistemological concern over how hegemonic forms of knowledge have shaped not only collective perceptions and representations of the world, but also how they have influenced their very becoming. This concern is related particularly to the impact unconscious forms of knowledge may have on the prevailing readings and practices of contemporary international security. The analysis focuses on NATO as an object of study, in which the unconscious dimension of knowledge is fundamentally questioned and searched for in relation to international security. It interrogates to what extent the seemingly natural evolution of NATO’s referent object of security – what it aims at securing – may be framed by unconscious processes. This study specifically looks at the relation between the security of civilisation and the security of individuals, as they have been conceptualised and practiced throughout NATO’s evolution. How did NATO’s priorities evolve from a seminal concern toward the “civilisation of its people” in 1949, to the protection of individuals after the Cold War? How have these two substantially different referents cohabited throughout NATO’s evolution? As both the concept and the narrative on civilisation have been superficially approached in current analyses of NATO, this dissertation suggests a historicisation and a genealogy of both referents of security of the Alliance, drawing on a critical discursive analysis. By doing this, it enhances the importance of a long duration approach of complex processes that have been silently anchored in the unconscious of the world, and that actually go beyond the defense and security of the immediate. Through an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates theories and concepts from areas such as history, sociology, social psychology and psychoanalysis, two interrelated arguments are developed. First, the conceptualisation of the “Civilised Subject of Security” shows that the civilisation of the West has consisted of a psychosocial process consistently producing civilised and secure subjects around the world. This process has relied on an ontological need individuals have for security, which draws on deep psychoanalytic and symbolic reasons, and without which they cannot be produced and reproduced as civilised subjects across space and time. Thus, the unconscious of Western civilised subjects has been the thread holding the timeless meanings and perceptions of security that enables the West to dominate international security. This first claim sustains the second; namely, the Civilised Subject of Security at the core of the West is the basis supporting NATO’s particular endorsement of the Individualisation of Security as a transformative process of post-Cold War international security, through which Western civilisation has been upheld and continued in the field of international security. Thus, individual-centred security policies have been enacted as part of the civilising process of non-Western states, because they have sought to instil specific transformations of behaviour and security rationales that aim at producing secure civilised subjects out of the original North-Atlantic area. Resumo Esta tese desenvolve uma análise crítica da Organização do Tratado do Atl â ntico Norte (OTAN), que se insere no campo dos estudos críticos sobre segurança. São dois os objetivos fundamentais a que se propõe: por um lado, inovar o debate conceptual sobre a história da organização; por outro, desconstruir os processos psicossociais inerentes aos sign ificados predominantes e instituídos na segurança internacional contemporânea. Este trabalho é motivado por uma preocupação epistemológica essencial relativamente à forma como o conhecimento hegemónico te m moldado não só perceções e representações colet iva s do mundo, como também te m influenciado o seu devir. Esta preocupação prende - se em particular com o impacto que formas inconscientes de conhecimento podem exercer sobre as leituras e práticas predominantes da segurança internacional contemporânea. A análi se tem por objeto de estudo a OTAN, no seio da qual é investigada a dimensão inconsciente do conheci mento em relação à segurança internacional. Questiona - se em que medida processos inconscientes podem estar envolvidos na aparente naturalidade com que o obj ecto referente de segurança da OTAN – aquilo que pretende securizar – evoluiu. Especificamente, este estudo considera a relação entre a segurança da civilização e a segur ança dos indivíduos, tal como tê m sido conceptualizada s e posta s em prática ao longo d a evolução da OTAN. De que forma as prioridades da OTAN passaram de uma proecupaçã o original para com a “civilização dos seus povos” em 1949, para a proteção dos indivíduos depois da Guerra Fria? Como é que estes dois referentes substancialmente diferentes foram coabitando no seio da Aliança ? Quer enquanto conceito, quer enquanto narrativa, a civilização tem sido abordada de forma superficial pela literatura existente sobre a OTAN. Em conseq u ência, esta tese sugere uma historicização e uma genealogia de amb os estes referentes de segurança da Aliança, com base numa análise discursiva crítica. Assim, é privilegiada uma abordagem de longa duração dos processos complexos que têm estado silenciosamente ancorados no insconsciente do mundo, e que vão para além da d efesa e da segurança do imediato. Através de uma abordagem interdisciplinar que incorpora teorias e conceitos de áreas como a história, sociologia, psicologia social e psicanálise, são desenvolvidos doi s argumentos interdependentes. Primeiramente , a concep tualização do “Sujeito Civilizado de Segurança” mostra que a civilização do Ocidente consiste num processo psicossocial que tem produzido de forma consistente sujeitos civilizados e seguros em redor do mundo. Este processo depende de uma iv necessidade ontoló gica que os indivíduos têm de segur ança, que advém de motivos psicanalíticos e simbólicos profundos, segurança sem a qual eles não podem formar - se e reproduzir - se enquanto sujeitos civilizados ao longo do espaço e do tempo. O inconsciente dos sujeitos civi lizados do Ocidente tem sido o fio condutor dos significados e perceções intemporais de segurança que permitem que o Ocidente domine a segurança internacional. Este primeiro argumento fundamenta o segundo, nomeadamente, o Sujeito Civilizado de Segurança qu e está no cerne do Ocidente é o pilar que sustenta a implementação da Individualização da Segurança pela OTAN. A Individualização da Segurança afirmou - se como um processo transformativo da segurança internacional no pós - Guerra Fria, através do qual a civil ização ocidental pôde preservar - se e prosseguir no campo da segurança internacional. Com efeito, as políticas de segurança centradas no indivíduo têm sido aplicadas enquanto parte de um processo civilizador de estados não ocidentais, porque têm procurado i nstigar mudanças específicas de comportamento e de pensamento securitário que visam gerar sujeitos civilizados e seguros fora da área original do Tratado do Atântico Norte.
Esta tese desenvolve uma análise crítica da Organização do Tratado do Atlântico Norte (OTAN), que se insere no campo dos estudos críticos sobre segurança. São dois os objetivos fundamentais a que se propõe: por um lado, inovar o debate conceptual sobre a história da organização; por outro, desconstruir os processos psicossociais inerentes aos significados predominantes e instituídos na segurança internacional contemporânea. Este trabalho é motivado por uma preocupação epistemológica essencial relativamente à forma como o conhecimento hegemónico tem moldado não só perceções e representações coletivas do mundo, como também tem influenciado o seu devir. Esta preocupação prendese em particular com o impacto que formas inconscientes de conhecimento podem exercer sobre as leituras e práticas predominantes da segurança internacional contemporânea. A análise tem por objeto de estudo a OTAN, no seio da qual é investigada a dimensão inconsciente do conhecimento em relação à segurança internacional. Questiona-se em que medida processos inconscientes podem estar envolvidos na aparente naturalidade com que o objecto referente de segurança da OTAN – aquilo que pretende securizar – evoluiu. Especificamente, este estudo considera a relação entre a segurança da civilização e a segurança dos indivíduos, tal como têm sido conceptualizadas e postas em prática ao longo da evolução da OTAN. De que forma as prioridades da OTAN passaram de uma proecupação original para com a “civilização dos seus povos” em 1949, para a proteção dos indivíduos depois da Guerra Fria? Como é que estes dois referentes substancialmente diferentes foram coabitando no seio da Aliança? Quer enquanto conceito, quer enquanto narrativa, a civilização tem sido abordada de forma superficial pela literatura existente sobre a OTAN. Em consequência, esta tese sugere uma historicização e uma genealogia de ambos estes referentes de segurança da Aliança, com base numa análise discursiva crítica. Assim, é privilegiada uma abordagem de longa duração dos processos complexos que têm estado silenciosamente ancorados no insconsciente do mundo, e que vão para além da defesa e da segurança do imediato. Através de uma abordagem interdisciplinar que incorpora teorias e conceitos de áreas como a história, sociologia, psicologia social e psicanálise, são desenvolvidos dois argumentos interdependentes. Primeiramente, a conceptualização do “Sujeito Civilizado de Segurança” mostra que a civilização do Ocidente consiste num processo psicossocial que tem produzido de forma consistente sujeitos civilizados e seguros em redor do mundo. Este processo depende de uma necessidade ontológica que os indivíduos têm de segurança, que advém de motivos psicanalíticos e simbólicos profundos, segurança sem a qual eles não podem formar-se e reproduzir-se enquanto sujeitos civilizados ao longo do espaço e do tempo. O inconsciente dos sujeitos civilizados do Ocidente tem sido o fio condutor dos significados e perceções intemporais de segurança que permitem que o Ocidente domine a segurança internacional. Este primeiro argumento fundamenta o segundo, nomeadamente, o Sujeito Civilizado de Segurança que está no cerne do Ocidente é o pilar que sustenta a implementação da Individualização da Segurança pela OTAN. A Individualização da Segurança afirmou-se como um processo transformativo da segurança internacional no pós-Guerra Fria, através do qual a civilização ocidental pôde preservar-se e prosseguir no campo da segurança internacional. Com efeito, as políticas de segurança centradas no indivíduo têm sido aplicadas enquanto parte de um processo civilizador de estados não ocidentais, porque têm procurado instigar mudanças específicas de comportamento e de pensamento securitário que visam gerar sujeitos civilizados e seguros fora da área original do Tratado do Atlântico Norte.