The Jesus' question which was encased in his shadowy identity was both a fascinating and enigmatic phenomenon to people of Jesus time as well as people of today. The synoptic gospels presented the matter of Jesus identity in varying contexts; however, it is approached in this study from the context of Matthew. After receiving a brief answer of 'who he is' from Peter, Jesus mandates his disciples to keep the information to themselves. This mandate to secrecy shares certain characteristics with the Messianic secret in Mark, but differs in intentions. From the exegesis of the pericope in Matthew, Jesus' refusal to let the public know about his personalities with his motive to keep away from ostentation and self-love. Such ostentation and self-love have been referred to in this study as identity crisis. This study argues from empirical evidence that many Nigerian pastors suffer from identity crisis. It therefore, challenges Nigerian contemporary preachers to emulate Jesus' refusal of self-seeking and to shun hypocrisy and unnecessary publicity. CONTRIBUTION: To reroute the Christian church in Nigeria, especially the pastors from ostentation and self-seeking publicity to a selfless and modest lifestyle modelled after Jesus' own personality example according to Matthew 16:13-20

Abstract This article focuses on a period of government in which a series of special domestic and international factors came together. On the one hand, the domestic context is conditioned by the deepest socio-political and economic crisis of the democratic period. On the other hand, the international context is framed by the securitization of US foreign policy since the attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001. In this context, President Fernando de la Rua resigns, as a result of the announced collapse of the convertibility plan and deep social protest. To resolve the crisis, a multi-sectoral government of national unity was formed with a parliamentary dynamic, which gave rise to Eduardo Duhalde’s transitional mandate. This government designed an emergency foreign policy with multilateral characteristics that was strongly conditioned by the historical link with the International Monetary Fund. Eventually, the situation described above was reversed, and a new development model and its correlation in foreign policy emerged.

Resumen Este artículo se focaliza en un periodo de gobierno en el cual se conjugan una serie de factores de orden doméstico e internacional particular. Por un lado, un contexto interno, condicionado por la crisis socio-política y económica más profunda del periodo democrático. Por otro lado, un contexto internacional enmarcado en la securitización de la política exterior de los Estados Unidos a partir de los atentados a las Torres Gemelas en 2001. En este marco, se produce la renuncia del presidente Fernando de la Rua, provocada por el derrumbe anunciado del plan de convertibilidad y una profunda protesta social. Para la resolución de la crisis, se conforma un gobierno de unidad nacional multisectorial con una dinámica parlamentaria, que da lugar al mandato transitorio de Eduardo Duhalde. Este gobierno, diseñó una política exterior de emergencia de características multilaterales y que tuvo un fuerte condicionamiento del vínculo histórico con el Fondo Monetario Internacional. Finalmente, se logra revertir la situación descrita e iniciar un nuevo modelo de desarrollo y su correlato en la política exterior.

ABSTRACT: This study shows the results obtained through two surveys on arbitration as a mechanism for solving consumer conflicts in Chile, designed with the purpose of knowing the degree of knowledge and opinion currently held by the different groups consulted, entrepreneurs/suppliers and lawyers. Each survey has been designed with a view to the future regulation of this matter, taking into account the mandate given in this regard by article 3, letter g), of the Consumer Rights Protection Law, No. 19,496, incorporated by the Law No. 21,398, which establishes arbitration as a mechanism for resolving individual consumer disputes. The results and conclusions that are disclosed in this work aim to define the characteristics and essential elements that such regulatory regulations must include.

RESUMEN: En este estudio se muestran los resultados obtenidos mediante dos encuestas acerca del arbitraje como mecanismo de solución de los conflictos de consumo en Chile, diseñadas con el propósito de conocer el grado de conocimiento y la opinión que manejan en la actualidad los distintos grupos consultados a nivel nacional, empresarios/proveedores y abogados. Cada encuesta ha sido diseñada con miras a la futura reglamentación de esta materia, teniendo en cuenta el mandato dado en tal sentido por el artículo 3, letra g), de la Ley de Protección de Derechos del Consumidor, Nº19.496, incorporado por la Ley Nº 21.398, que establece el arbitraje como mecanismo de solución de los conflictos individuales de consumo. Los resultados y conclusiones que se dan a conocer en este trabajo apuntan a definir las características y los elementos esenciales que debe recoger dicha normativa reglamentaria.

Résumé La réflexion sur les principes du droit du travail a connu un fort développement vers le milieu du XXe siècle, une question qui a entraîné une inflation des principes, faisant place non seulement à ceux de nature juridique, mais à d’autres clairement économiques ou métajurides. Cependant, le principe de protection est le seul et grand principe de la discipline du travail, et il est proposé comme un mandat d’optimisation conçu pour s’assurer que quelque chose soit réalisé autant que possible. Du principe de protection, une série de règles ont émergé qui, à proprement parler, ne répondent pas aux caractéristiques d’un principe juridique car elles n’ont pas un caractère indéterminé et la plupart du temps elles n’ont pas de texture ouverte. Ces règles (également appelées principes d’application) ne sont que des dérivations du principe de protection. Ce qui précède n’empêche pas qu’en droit du travail, en tant que discipline juridique, s’appliquent également les principes généraux du droit qui interagissent avec les règles particulières de cette discipline.

Abstract The reflection on the principles of labor law had a high development towards the middle of the 20th century, an issue that brought an inflation of principles, opening the way not only to those of legal nature, but also to others clearly economic or meta-legal. However, the protective principle is the only and great principle of labor law, and since its origins has been raised as an optimization mandate that orders that something be done to the greatest extent possible. From the protective principle, a series of rules have arisen that, strictly speaking, do not meet the characteristics of a legal principle since they do not have an indeterminate character and most of the time do not present an open texture. These rules are no more than derivations of the protective principle. The above does not prevent that, in labor law, as a legal discipline, the general principles of law are also applied, interacting with the particular rules of this discipline.

Resumen La reflexión sobre los principios propios del derecho del trabajo tuvo un alto desarrollo hacia mediados del siglo XX, cuestión que trajo como consecuencia una inflación de principios, abriéndose paso no sólo los de carácter jurídico, sino incluso otros claramente económicos o metajurídicos. No obstante, el principio protector es el único y gran principio de la disciplina laboral, y se plantea como un mandato de optimización destinado a que algo sea realizado en la mayor medida posible. A partir del principio protector, han surgido una serie de reglas que, en rigor, no reúnen las características propias de un principio jurídico ya que no tienen un carácter indeterminado y la mayor parte de las veces no presentan una textura abierta. Estas reglas (también denominadas principios de aplicación) no son más que derivaciones del principio protector. Lo anterior no impide que, en el derecho del trabajo, en cuanto disciplina jurídica, se apliquen asimismo los principios generales del derecho, los cuales interactúan con las reglas particulares de esta disciplina.

ABSTRACT The objective of this article is to analyze the regulatory framework of self-employed workers, from a legal, commercial and labor perspective, in order to expose the shortcomings, inconsistencies and incongruities that it presents and to promote the improvement of the Cuban legal order. In Cuba, this regulation has gone through various stages since the 1970s: moments of stability, regression and others of greater empowerment, showing a movement that we could describe as pendular. At present, it is possible to affirm that the juridical regulation shows certain flexibility; however, it is still insufficient. It is necessary that, in accordance with the constitutional mandate established in Article 22, these actors can interact in similar conditions with the rest of the forms of property regulated in the Constitution. On the other hand, given the heterogeneity that their behavior shows in the practical order, it is necessary to provide them with a juridical status in the Cuban order. This will radiate to all the branches of law, particularly to labor law. Meanwhile, in the internal relations that are established, the subjects of the labor law, worker and employer, are visualized, and therefore the characteristics of the juridical relation of employment are presented: subordination, alienation and remuneration.

RESUMEN El presente artículo tiene como objetivo analizar el marco regulatorio de los trabajadores por cuenta propia, desde una perspectiva jurídica, mercantil y laboral, a fin de poner al descubierto las falencias, inconstancias e incongruencias que presenta y promover el perfeccionamiento del orden jurídico cubano. En Cuba dicha regulación ha transitado por diversas etapas desde la década de los setenta: momentos de estabilidad, retroceso y otros de mayor potenciación, mostrando un movimiento que pudiéramos calificar como pendular. En la actualidad es posible afirmar que la regulación jurídica muestra cierta flexibilidad, sin embargo, aún es insuficiente. Es necesario que, de conformidad con el mandato constitucional establecido en el artículo 22, estos actores puedan interactuar en similares condiciones con el resto de las formas de propiedad reguladas en la Carta Magna. Por otro lado, dada la heterogeneidad que muestra su comportamiento en el orden práctico, se hace necesario dotarlos de un estatus jurídico en el ordenamiento cubano. Esto irradiará a todas las ramas del derecho, en particular al derecho del trabajo. En tanto, en las relaciones internas que se establecen se visualizan los sujetos del derecho del trabajo, trabajador y empleador, por lo que se presentan las características de la relación jurídica de empleo: subordinación, ajenidad y remuneración.

Abstract In Latin America, studies on masculinities and intervention with men developed in recent decades have sought to know the subjectivities and practices, as well as the models and mandates of masculinity, making visible the participation of men in some gender inequalities (Aguayo y Nascimento, 2016; Olavarría, 2017). Although these studies show an evolution in the traditional model of masculinity, in Latin America and in Chile, there are knowledge gaps about differences in the representations of masculinity in different generations and social contexts (Aguayo y Nascimento, 2016). The purpose of this study was describing the meanings of masculinity in men from southern Chile, comparing generations and socioeconomic levels. A multiple case design was used, sample consisted of 44 Chilean men, young men between 18 and 25 years, and middle adults between 45-69 years, distributed in 3 socioeconomic: levels, high, medium and low. Six discussion groups were developed around a set of guiding questions, built by the authors, in relation to the mandates of masculinity: identity referred to the characteristics that the participants consider essential to masculinity, sexuality, paid work and paternity. Information obtained was transcribed the first level of open coding was then carried out, which consisted in selecting units of meaning which emerged from the answers to the guiding questions. These units, consisting of paragraphs, were transformed into categories by an inductive process, each category being given a code representing its meaning. The second level of coding –at a greater level of abstraction– consisted in comparing the categories, identifying similarities, differences and possible links between them. Results, in the first nucleus, Identity, arise as main categories: Concept in Transition, Difficulty of Being Men, Action-Oriented, Restriction in the Expression of Emotions, Integrity, Masculinity given by the Biological Condition. In the second nucleus Work: Provide Identity Trait of Masculinity, Facilitator of Independence, Source of Self-Realization and Dignification, Obstacle for the Satisfaction of Other Needs, Labor Discrimination towards Women. In the third nucleus, Sexuality, categories differentiated by age, in young people emerge Acceptance of Homosexuality, Stereotypes in Sexual Behavior and Increase in Sexual Demands. In adults Divergences against the Mandate of Heterosexuality and in both groups Sexual Behavior in Transition. On the other hand, coincidences and differences were found in the meanings associated with masculinity, depending on age and socioeconomic status. The coincidences in the Identity nucleus, realize that men, regardless of their age or socioeconomic condition, experience a situation of accelerated change in their roles, which affects them to a greater or lesser extent, which is experienced by the majority of young people as a possibility of transcending stereotypes, allowing them greater degrees of freedom. Regarding the core Work, however, the broad coincidence in all groups in relation to the mandate of being a provider, certain nuances are appreciated, for adults it is an internal mandate, a duty of masculinity, while for young people it seems respond to an external social demand, which accounts for a masculinity in transition. The differences, by age range were the nucleus Sexuality, where young people have more openness to address their own sexuality and more inclusive behaviors against homosexuality. Differences relating socioeconomic level occurred in the nucleus Work between young people and adults. If in the young people of high and medium socioeconomic level, work implies the possibility of becoming independent, for youngsters of low socioeconomic level, it also means taking care of their parents, responding to a duty of reciprocity. In adults of low socioeconomic level, unlike those in the medium and high level, the centrality and physical requirement of work displaces others needs as health care and sexual life.

Resumen En América Latina, los estudios sobre masculinidades e intervención con hombres, desarrollados en las últimas décadas, han buscado conocer las subjetividades y prácticas, así como los modelos y mandatos de la masculinidad, visibilizando la participación de los hombres en algunas desigualdades de género (Aguayo y Nascimento, 2016; Olavarría, 2017). Si bien estos estudios muestran una evolución en el modelo tradicional de masculinidad, en América Latina, y en especial en Chile, existen brechas de conocimiento acerca de las diferencias en las representaciones de la masculinidad en distintas generaciones y contextos sociales (Aguayo y Nascimento, 2016). El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir los significados de la masculinidad en hombres del sur de Chile, comparando generaciones y niveles socioeconómicos. Se utilizó un diseño de casos múltiples; la muestra estuvo constituida por jóvenes (18 a 24 años) y adultos medios (45-69 años) distribuidos en tres niveles socioeconómicos. Se desarrollaron seis grupos de discusión. Para el análisis de la información se llevó a cabo un primer nivel de codificación abierta, estableciendo unidades de significado. Estas unidades fueron transformadas por medio de un proceso inductivo en categorías, las cuales fueron comparadas para identificar similitudes, diferencias y posibles vínculos entre ellas. Se encontraron coincidencias y diferencias en los significados asociados a la masculinidad, en función de la edad y del nivel socioeconómico. Las coincidencias en función de la edad se dieron principalmente en las categorías Identidad y Trabajo, y las mayores diferencias en el núcleo Sexualidad, mientras que en función del nivel socioeconómico la mayor diferencia estuvo en la categoría Trabajo.

BACKGROUND: A socially accountable health professional education curriculum aims to produce fit-for-purpose graduates to work in areas of need. 'Fit-for-purpose' can be assessed by monitoring graduate practice attributes. AIM: The aim of this article was to identify whether graduates of 'fit-for-purpose' programmes are socially accountable. SETTING: The setting for this project was all 37 district hospitals in the KwaZulu-Natal province in Durban, South Africa. METHODS: We surveyed healthcare professionals working at district hospitals in the KwaZulu-Natal province. We compared four social accountability indicators identified by the Training for Health Network Framework, comparing medical doctors educated at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine (NRMSM) with medical doctors educated at other South African and non-South African medical schools. In addition, we explored medical doctors' characteristics and reasons for leaving or staying at district hospitals. RESULTS: The pursuit of specialisation or skills development were identified as reasons for leaving in the next 5 years. Although one-third of all medical doctors reported an intention to stay, graduates from non-South African schools remained working at a district hospital longer than graduates of NRMSM or other South African schools and they held a majority of leadership positions. Across all schools, graduates who worked at the district hospital longer than 5 years cited remaining close to family and enjoyment of the work and lifestyle as motivating factors. CONCLUSION: Using a social accountability approach, this research assists in identifying areas of improvement in workforce development. Tracking what medical doctors do and where they work after graduation is important to ensure that medical schools are meeting their social accountability mandate to meet community needs.

The compliance action in the Environmental Management Law of Ecuador is the title of the research developed in the UMET, Matriz Guayaquil, Ecuador, which aims at addressing the theoretical framework from a brief assessment of the concept of action as a category of process, with the identification Of the essential elements that differentiate the action of compensation from the action of compliance. From the particularization of this last type of action, the following aspects are identified: the type of subjective right whose judicial protection allows its exercise, the elements of active and passive legitimacy, and the characteristics and social mandate of a new type that assumes the judicial function with the institution of compliance action in environmental matters. For this, a study of comparative law and foreign doctrinal assessments is made, in cases, focusing particularly on Ibero-American countries as the technical-legal and socio-legal context. As a conclusion, despite all the elements that differentiate the compliance action existing in other countries from that regulated in Ecuador, This action constitutes an element of participatory democracy, of an inclusive participation in environmental risks management and a mechanism of control of Legality in regards to the environment.

La acción de cumplimiento en la Ley de Gestión Ambiental de Ecuador es el título del trabajo desarrollado en la UMET, Matriz Guayaquil, Ecuador, que tiene como objetivo abordar el marco teórico desde una breve valoración del concepto de acción como categoría procesal, con la identificación de los elementos esenciales que diferencian a la acción resarcitoria de la acción de cumplimiento. A partir de la particularización de este último tipo de acción, se identifican aspectos tales como: el tipo de derecho subjetivo cuya tutela judicial permite el ejercicio de la misma; los elementos de legitimación activa y pasiva, y las características y el mandato social de nuevo tipo que asume la función judicial con la institución de la acción de cumplimiento en materia ambiental. Para ello se hace un estudio de derecho comparado y de las valoraciones doctrinales foráneas, en ambos casos, enfocado particularmente en el conjunto de países iberoamericanos como el contexto técnico-jurídico y socio-jurídico. Como conclusión final se arriba a que a pesar de todos los elementos que diferencian a la acción de cumplimiento existente en otros países de la regulada en Ecuador. Al igual que en cualquier otro país, esta acción constituye un elemento de democracia participativa, de una participación inclusiva en la gestión de riesgos ambientales y un mecanismo de control de la Legalidad con respecto al medio ambiente.

RESUMO A política fiscal do Plano Real seguiu a lógica do Novo Consenso em Macroeconomia. Desde o Plano criaram-se as bases para uma mudança do regime fiscal brasileiro em que a política fiscal deve preocupar-se com a sustentabilidade das contas públicas, garantindo aos agentes um ambiente estável para tomada de decisão. O regime é consolidado a partir da crise de 1999, com a adoção do tripé de câmbio flexível, metas de inflação e geração de superavit primário. O governo Lula aprofunda a condução da política fiscal nesses moldes até 2006, quando promove mudanças na sua base teórica e na sua condução. Desde então, embora mantenha características da fase anterior, a política fiscal sofreu alterações, com o Estado agindo mais diretamente na economia. Depois de contar com o “aval” da crise mundial de 2008, o ativismo do governo voltou a enfrentar resistência teórica por parte dos críticos presos ao Novo Consenso.

ABSTRACT Fiscal policy implemented in Brazil at Real Plan followed the New Macroeconomic Consensus’ logic. The Plan started the changing of Brazilian’s fiscal regime into one in which fiscal policy must be confined to insuring a stable macroeconomic environment so private agents can make their decision. The regime is consolidated in 1999 crisis, when the tripod was adopted: flexible exchange rates, inflation targeting and primary fiscal surplus. Lula’s mandate deepens the conduction of fiscal policy accordingly until 2006, when it suffers a substantial change, both in its theoretical basement and in its implementation. Since then, Brazilian government has been more active over the economy, although fiscal policy keeps relevant characteristics of the previous phase. The 2008 world crisis endorsed the activism, but since the acute phase of the crisis is over, the sympathetic critics to the New Macroeconomics ideas have put hard theoretical and political resistances to the measures adopted.

RESUMEN Esta monografía identifica las características específicas del modelo pensional colombiano que permiten comprobar su incongruencia con las disposiciones constitucionales vigentes, en especial las relativas al derecho a la pensión como derecho económico, social y cultural. Por lo anterior, se propone la adopción de pilares no contributivos y la eliminación de subsidios a la población con ingresos, como un paso en la corrección de los problemas actuales del Sistema General de Pensiones.

ABSTRACT This paper identifies the specific characteristics of the Colombian pension model that demonstrate its incongruence with to the constitutional rules set out for the right to pension considered as an economic, social and cultural right. Therefore, the establishment of non-contributory pillars and the elimination of subsidies to the population with incomes are proposed as a step in correcting the current problems of the General Pension System.

The development of legislation for the progressive realisation of the right to access to sufficient food is labelled as an international and national objective. Section 27(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 assigns a compulsory mandate to the South African government to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of the right to access to sufficient food. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) proposes a three-level strategy for the implementation of the right to food on a national legislative level, namely through: constitutional recognition, the implementation of a food framework law and the reviewing of relevant sectoral legislation. This contribution focuses on the last level of legislative provisioning, namely the reviewing of relevant sectoral legislation which influences, or possibly can, influence the realisation of the right to access to sufficient food. The right to access to sufficient food has multidimensional, interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral characteristics and consequently various sectors are involved in the realisation of the right to access to sufficient food. The FAO determines that the intended purpose will be to identify and review all sectoral legislation that might influence the availability, stability, access and adequacy of food, by means of a proposed reviewing process. The suggested reviewing process of the FAO is comprehensive and diverse; therefore the focus of this contribution is based on the reviewing of relevant environmental-related legislation only. The FAO does not make recommendations with regard to the specific aspects that need to be incorporated in environmental-related legislation to contribute to the progressive realisation of the right to access to sufficient food (in other words the aspects against which environmental-related legislation can be evaluated). Therefore this contribution contains compiled guidelines that can be used to review environmental-related legislation.

BACKGROUND: The risk of malignancy in patients with multinodular goitre (MNG) is approximately 7.2%. The gold standard for diagnosis of thyroid cancer is fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Unsuccessful, inconclusive or suspicious results mandate further investigations. The concern is that with a benign FNAB result there is no indication for surgery unless the patient has compression symptoms or cosmetic issues, but the risk of missed malignancy is nevertheless present. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and histological features of incidental cancers in patients who had thyroidectomy for MNG. METHOD: Records of patients who underwent thyroidectomy between January 2005 and December 2010 at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa, were retrospectively reviewed. Data retrieved included demographic characteristics of the patients, type of thyroidectomy, thyroid function test results, FNAB cytology and final histology results. RESULT: A total of 166 thyroidectomies were performed on 162 patients, the majority (139) of whom were females. The mean age was 46 years (range 15 - 79 years). A total of 120 pre-operative FNABs were available for analysis, 78 of which were suggestive of benign nodular goitre; 70 benign FNAB results were histologically confirmed to be MNG after thyroidectomy. Incidental malignancy was found in four of 70 cases of MNG (5.7%); all were papillary carcinomas, predominantly (75.0%) the follicular variant. CONCLUSION: The risk of missing cancer in patients with MNG was 5.7%. The commonest histological subtype of thyroid cancer found in MNG was papillary carcinoma.

Não é segredo para os estudiosos e é reconhecido pelos atores envolvidos no jogo político que o Prefeito desempenha importantes atividades, podendo influenciar o dia-a-dia da população, a relação com outras esferas de governo e as eleições gerais. Tomando como universo empírico os candidatos ao cargo de Prefeito das capitais brasileiras em 2008, procuramos identificar e analisar as bases de recrutamento desses concorrentes ao principal posto político do município. As interpretações correntes na literatura concentram-se sobre os vencedores da disputa eleitoral, deixando de lado os derrotados. O que os vencedores têm que os derrotados não têm? Seria o perfil dos vencedores diferente daquele encontrado no grupo dos derrotados? Com o propósito de oferecer uma contribuição aos estudos das bases de recrutamento dos membros pertencentes às elites locais, o texto está organizado em uma única seção, onde vamos discutir três dimensões: (i) gênero, faixa etária e naturalidade; (ii) nível de instrução, grupo profissional e mandato executivo e (iii) gastos com campanha e tamanho do patrimônio. Essas características podem ajudar a construir um perfil sociopolítico dos membros pertencentes aos grupos dos vencedores e dos derrotados nas eleições municipais de 2008 para o cargo de Prefeito das capitais brasileiras. Além disso, o estudo desses atributos pode indicar quais predominaram na disputa eleitoral, isto é, quais deles podem mostrar as características que circundam o processo seletivo dos integrantes do distinto grupo político.

To those who study the mayoral office and those involved in electoral politics, the fact that a mayor carries out important activities, capable of influencing the day to day life of the population as well as relations with other spheres of government and general elections is no secret at all. Taking candidates in the 2008 mayoral races in Brazilian capitals as our empirical universe, we seek to identify and analyze the recruitment bases of these contenders for the highest municipal political office. Common interpretations in the literature concentrate on the winners in electoral disputes, neglecting those who have lost. What is it that the winners have that losers do not? Do winners have a profile that is different the one that characterizes losers? In an attempt to offer a contribution to studies of the recruitment bases of local elites, our text is organized in one sole section, where three dimensions will be discussed: (i) gender, age group and place of birth (ii) educational level, professional group and executive mandate and (iii) campaign expenses and size of patrimony. These characteristics may help to put together the socio-political profile of members who belong to winners and losers groups in the 2008 mayoral races in Brazilian capital cities. Furthermore, the study of these attributes may help to reveal why a certain type of candidates tends to prevail in electoral races, that is, their key characteristics tend to be.

Ce n'est pas un secret pour les érudits et c'est reconnu par les acteurs liés au jeu politique que le Maire exerce des activités importantes, pouvant influencer le quotidien de la population, la relation avec d'autres sphères gouvernementales et les éléctions générales. En prenant comme univers empirique les candidats à la fonction de Maire des capitales brésiliennes en 2008, nous cherchons à identifier et analyser les bases de recrutement de ces concurrents à la fonction politique la plus importante de la municipalité. Les interprétations courantes dans la littérature se concentrent sur ceux qui gagnent la dispute électorale et laissent de côté les perdants. Quelles seraient les particularités des gagnants ? Le profil des gagnants serait-il différent de celui des perdants ? Avec l'objectif d'offrir une contribution aux études des bases de recrutement des membres appartenus aux élites locales, le texte est organisé en une seule section, où nous discuterons trois dimensions : (i) le sexe, la tranche d'âge et le lieu de naissance ; (ii) le niveau d'instruction, le groupe professionnel et le mandat exécutif et (iii) les dépenses avec une campagne et l'ampleur du patrimoine. Ces caractéristiques peuvent aider à construire un profil socio-politique des membres appartenus aux groupes des gagnants et des perdants dans les élections municipales de 2008 pour la fonction de Maire des capitales brésiliennes. En plus, l'étude de ces attributs peut indiquer lesquels ont prédominé dans la dispute électorale, c'est à dire, lesquels peuvent montrer les caractéristiques autour du processus sélectif des membres de ce groupe politique distingué.

In the contemporary international discourse about the role of Government in society general consensus prevails that the state's role should primarily focus on facilitating the "common good". Within a particular ideological framework a government designs systems and instruments of governance providing essential services to society. South Africa can be characterised as a multi-party democracy displaying characteristics of both unitary and federal systems. The state has relatively autonomous provinces and municipalities, a relatively independent judiciary, and a governing framework in which the supremacy of the Constitution is recognised. In a heterogeneous and diverse society such as South Africa, with features of a complex system, it is to be preferred that decentralisation, devolution and delegation of power and authority to lower spheres of government take place. Decentralisation involves the transfer offiscal, political and administrative responsibilities from higher levels to lower levels of government. The typical political argument for decentralisation revolves around power sharing, improved participation in political processes and increased levels of accountability and responsiveness to local issues. South Africa's political and economic reflection on the role of government in society and the degree of decentralisation resulted in a system of co-operative government. The principles of co-operative government and intergovernmental relations are entrenched in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996 (Chapter 3, Article 40 (1)). These principles are based on the application of authority and powers. It should be done in such a manner that the geographical, functional and institutional integrity of other spheres of government are not affected. The three spheres of government, namely local, provincial and national, are distinctive, interdependent and interrelated. The Constitution (Article 41 (1)) requires that the three spheres co-operate in mutual trust and in good faith. They should practise this co-operation through good mutual relations to assist and support each other. The unified nature of the state is clearly entrenched in the Constitution as the supreme authority of the country. However, with regard to additional provisions in the Constitution, it is clear that other factors may interfere with the distinctiveness of the spheres. This obviously hampers the respective spheres' ability to meet their constitutional obligations. Intergovernmental relations not only refer to all the complex and interdependent bilateral and multilateral relations between the different spheres of government, but also include the fiscal and administrative processes through which resources are allocated between the respective spheres of government. Through the allocation of resources Government is able to prioritise needs, formulate policy, and render services to promote the general welfare of society. The success of such a system is largely dependent on the clear division of responsibilities and accountability between all three spheres of government. In this article the system of co-operative governance in South Africa is analysed, with specific reference to the degree of support rendered to municipalities in order to improve service delivery. The local sphere of government is currently suffering from unprecedented levels of service delivery failures and the question is rightly asked as to how collaborative government acts in support of municipal service delivery. When should provinces, for example, intervene in the affairs of municipalities and what mechanisms are in place to foster co-operation? In terms of the Constiution, the provincial and national spheres should be supportive to municipalities, the latter being the level of government that people experience directly. However, current realities place serious question marks behind the level of support that municipalities receive. There seems to be a growing divide between the developmental mandate of municipalities provided by the Constitution and the realities of service delivery. The article also examines the underlying challenges in the system of co-operative government and explores socio-political and economic variables that could influence the future of local government. The article expounds the inherent tension between the relative autonomy of municipalities on the one hand, and the principles of co-operative governance, on the other.

Hierdie artikel ontleed die stelsel van samewerkende regering in Suid-Afrika met spesifieke verwysing na die mate van ondersteuning aan munisipaliteite om dienslewering te verbeter. Die plaaslike sfeer van regering gaan tans gebuk onder ongekende vlakke van mislukte dienslewering. Die vraag kan tereg gevra word hoe "samewerkend" die regering op alle sfere is om munisipaliteite in hulle diensleweringstaak te ondersteun. In terme van die Grondwet behoort die nasionale en provinsiale sfere van regering munisipaliteite te ondersteun as dié vlak van regering wat mense meer direk beleef. Die artikel stel voorts die onderliggende kwessies wat aandag verdien in die stelsel van samewerkende regering aan die orde en identifiseer veranderlikes wat die toekoms van plaaslike regering wesenlik kan beïnvloed. Die artikel lê enersyds die inherente spanning tussen die relatiewe outonomiteit van munisipaliteite bloot en andersyds word die beginsels van samewerkende regering belig. Daar blyk 'n groeiende gaping te wees tussen die ontwikkelingsmandaat wat die Grondwet aan munisipaliteite toeken en hoe dienslewering daadwerklik geskied.

Los docentes de establecimientos escolares constituyen desde siempre un factor clave del proceso educativo y de los resultados de aprendizaje de los estudiantes. En razón del rol constitucional que define al Estado como responsable de la provisión de una educación pública de calidad, es consustancial a su tarea atraer "buenos" profesores, retenerles y motivarles, vía diversos mecanismos e incentivos, como también lo es, para el caso chileno, la generación de mecanismos eficientes de evaluación de su desempeño docente. En este marco se encuentra el Programa de Asignación de Excelencia Pedagógica (AEP), el cual puede considerarse propiamente como un mecanismo de evaluación e incentivo, pues intenta evaluar algunas dimensiones significativas de la calidad del docente, premiando los logros con un bono por encima de su salario regular. En razón de la importancia de la calidad docente en los establecimientos subvencionados por el Estado (municipales y particulares) para el desarrollo del país y la sociedad, este trabajo tiene como objetivo determinar las características de un docente que ha obtenido la acreditación de calidad de la AEP, a través de un modelo probit condicionado con datos de la Encuesta Longitudinal Docente (ELD), e igualmente estimar la probabilidad de participar. Se concluye que los factores que explican la probabilidad de ser acreditado son: experiencia, condición socio-económica del hogar, nivel de estudios de la madre, estudios, pasantías y capacitaciones, calificación de condiciones de salud, vocación y calificación del programa AEP, los cuales tienen efectos significativos pero reducidos.

Os docentes de estabelecimentos escolares constituem desde sempre um fator chave do processo educativo e dos resultados de aprendizagem dos estudantes. Em razão do papel constitucional que define o Estado como responsável pela provisão de uma educação pública de qualidade, é inerente à sua tarefa atrair "bons" professores, retê-los e motivalos, através de diversos mecanismos e incentivos, como também o é, para o caso chileno, a geração de mecanismos eficientes de avaliação de seu desempenho docente. Neste ponto encontra-se o Programa de Asignación de Excelencia Pedagógica (AEP), o qual pode ser considerado propriamente como um mecanismo de avaliação e incentivo, pois procura avaliar algumas dimensões significativas da qualidade do docente, premiando os resultados com bônus adicionais ao seu salário regular. Em razão da importância da qualidade docente nos estabelecimentos subvencionados pelo Estado (municipais e particulares) para o desenvolvimento do país e da sociedade, este trabalho tem como objetivo determinar as características de um docente que tenha obtido a acreditação de qualidade da AEP, através de um modelo probit condicionado com os dados da Enquete Longitudinal Docente (ELD), e igualmente estimar a probabilidade de participar. Conclui-se que os fatores que explicam a probabilidade de ser acreditado são: experiência, condição sócio-econômica do lar, nível de estudos da mãe, estudos, estágios e capacitações, qualificação de condições de saúde, vocação e qualificação do programa AEP, os quais têm efeitos significativos, mas reduzidos.

Teachers at primary and secondary schools constitute a key factor in the educative process and learning results of their students. Given the constitutional mandate that defines the state's responsibility to provide high-quality public education, it must attract, retain and motivate "good" teachers through diverse mechanisms and incentives, and in the Chilean case it must generate efficient mechanisms to evaluate their teaching performance. The Program to Reward Pedagogical Excellence (AEP from its Spanish acronym) came about in this framework as a mechanism for evaluation and incentives, because it aims to evaluate significant aspects of the quality of teachers, awarding bonuses to the most outstanding. Given the importance of educational quality in establishments subsidized by the state (both municipal and private) for the development of the country and society, this work aims to determine the characteristics of teachers who have obtained AEP quality accreditation, through a conditional probit model using data from a Longitudinal Teaching Survey (ELD from its Spanish acronym), while also calculating the probability of participating in this program. We conclude that the factors that explain the probability of being accredited are: experience, the family's socioeconomic condition, the mother's educational level, the teacher's educational level, training and internships, quality of health conditions, vocation and quality of the AEP program, which have significant but reduced effects.

Les enseignants d'établissements scolaires constituent depuis toujours un facteur clé du processus d'enseignement et des résultats d'apprentissage des étudiants. La Constitution déterminant que l'état est responsable de promouvoir un enseignement public de qualité, ce dernier a l'obligation inhérente d'attirer de « bons » professeur, de les retenir et de les motiver, par différents mécanismes de stimulations, et, pour le cas du Chili, d'élaborer des mécanismes efficaces pour l'évaluation de l'activité enseignante. C'est dans ce cadre que se situe le Programme d'Attribution d'Excellence Pédagogique (AEP), qui peut être considéré comme un mécanisme d'évaluation et de stimulations, étant donné qu'il a pour but d'évaluer certaines dimensions significatives de la qualité de l'enseignant, récompensant les résultats par une prime s'ajoutant au salaire régulier. Considérant l'importance de la qualité de l'enseignement dans les établissements subventionnés par l'état (municipaux et particuliers) pour le développement du pays et de la société, ce travail a pour objectif de déterminer les caractéristiques d'un enseignant ayant obtenu l'accréditation de qualité AEP, par le biais d'un modèle probit précisé par les données de l'Enquête Longitudinale d'Enseignement (ELD), tout en estimant la probabilité de participation. En conclusion, les facteurs expliquant la probabilité d'obtention de l'accréditation sont: l'expérience, la condition socio-économique du foyer, le niveau d'études de la mère, les études, les stages et formations, l'évaluation des conditions de santé, la vocation et l'évaluation du programme AEP, dont les effets sont significatifs bien que réduits.