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In the centre of this reflection stands the radical change of the state in the modern age. We argue that the ability of the state to use power in its external relations has been distorted in a particular manner, and a new form of power appears as a signature of the modern age. This ability is to be described as a new category of the political. Hence, our argument will revolve around the following question: to what extent the connection of state and war can be led back? The following criteria must be considered: the forms of the organisation of violence, the means of violence, and finally the specific consciousness of violence.

This study tested hypotheses regarding the relationships between types of power used by supervisors and organizational characteristics. Data about organizational characteristics were provided by top level managers in 45 various organizations. Data about supervisory power were provided by 280 employees in those organizations. Results suggested that supervisors possessed more power in organizations that were formalized, growing, innovative, and not status stratified.

The Tatmadaw (the Myanmar armed forces) and the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) are two of the most resilient and enduring politically active militaries in the world, engaging in a decades long process of the institutionalization of a system of military tutelage. There are, however, significant differences in the strategies pursued and the degree of success achieved in each. These variations are due to the combination of three factors creating the environmental context within which they have pursued these projects: (1) the existence of political allies and cohesiveness of the military; (2) degree of unification of domestic opposition elements against them; and (3) international pressures and influences. Based on a Historical Institutionalist perspective, this paper will map the interplay of these factors over time within each case to explain the different pathways these projects have proceeded. With a lack of allies, a fragmented opposition, and various degrees of international pressure the Tatmadaw has been unsuccessful in creating a durable system of tutelage, resulting in lengthy periods of direct rule while attempting wholesale recreations of the state. In Thailand, the RTAF's alliance with the Monarchy combined with a fragmented but at times united opposition and weak international pressure has resulted in frequent coups to remove elected governments, but usually for short durations resulting in their limited institutionalization into the political system. The current democracy projects in both states, in part due to domestic and international pressures, are not about replacing but rather embedding the military's involvement in the political system, though their freedom of action has been constrained to a certain extent. Myanmar and Thailand are best characterized as perpetual transitions as an intentional project to maintain a defective-democratic, tutelary system. Defective in that the military maintains the prerogative to involve itself in electoral politics and tutelary in that the military has cordoned off reserve domains of policy which ensure the system, regardless of who is in charge, supports their interests. (Asian Aff/GIGA)

AbstractDifficulties in intimate partner relationships are known to have detrimental effects on mental health. The association between relationship difficulties and depression is particularly strong for individuals with a tendency for rumination. While the link between rumination and depression has long been established, the indirect effects of shame and emotion regulation on this relationship remain less clear. The present study reports on longitudinal data of 65 participants (36 males) who had experienced recent relationship difficulties with their partner. Respondents provided Time 1 data for rumination (brooding and reflection), shame (personal feelings of shame) and relationship difficulties. Approximately 15 weeks later, Time 2 data was collected for emotion regulation (cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression), relationship difficulties and depression. Mediation analyses with bias-corrected bootstrapping indicated that shame fully mediated the relationship between brooding and depression, and partially mediated the relationship between reflection and depression. The indirect effects remained significant with covariates (relationship difficulties at Time 1, and cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression at Time 2). Results suggest that self-evaluations related to shame contribute to the relationship between rumination and depression, independent of affect regulation. Implications for the role of shame in relationship difficulties are discussed.