The fundamental research question in this dissertation is what the image of man - in the broadest sense of the word - entails within the classical and modern enlightenment points of view. This... Show moreThe fundamental research question in this dissertation is what the image of man - in the broadest sense of the word - entails within the classical and modern enlightenment points of view. This overarching question is considered with regard to the notions of man maintained by the ancients and moderns, with regard to their visions of society, and with regard to the worldview these theories entail. We also evaluate which of the two paradigms is the more convincing upon scrutiny. We have answered such questions by distilling the ideas of the classical philosopher Aristotle -and some ontological ideas from his teacher, Plato- on the one hand, and from the modern intellectual giant, Thomas Hobbes, on the other hand. This is premised on the belief that the essential features of the classical and modern idealtype are to be found within their thought and works.In order to answer our central question, we had to look into the values which underly each vision of man. After all, values are the ideas that motivate our actions as individuals and as a community. We found that the classical vision is guided by the value of Virtue/Duty, Hierarchy and the pursuit of Community in a world permeated with objective values, whilst the modern conception embraces Freedom, Equality and Individuality in a world that is set free of objective values. Show less
During the Cold War, the Dutch Army Medical Service (MGD) promoted the health and operational readiness of the Royal Netherlands Army. Medical war preparations were an integral part of this. The... Show moreDuring the Cold War, the Dutch Army Medical Service (MGD) promoted the health and operational readiness of the Royal Netherlands Army. Medical war preparations were an integral part of this. The evacuation, treatment and nursing of sick and wounded soldiers in wartime required the formulation of procedures and doctrines as well as an extensive organization, complete with supplies and equipment, trained personnel and mobilization plans. However, these activities were shrouded in uncertainty as the prospect of biological, chemical or even nuclear warfare called into question all casualty estimations based on previous conflicts.The central question in this dissertation is how the MGD dealt with the nuclear threat perception and how military-medical war preparations were influenced by it. Against the backdrop of the ominous prospects of future warfare, military physicians tried to legitimize their war preparations and make sense of them. This mechanism is made clear using the concept of sociotechnical imaginaries: constructed optimistic images of the future that are based on the collective belief in scientific and technological progress. This study shows that the MGD maintained an optimistic outlook from the beginning through the end of the Cold War, but the reasoning that supported this viewpoint evolved over time. Show less
Betrokken burgers vormden de ruggengraat van de Republiek. Het dagelijks leven draaide voor een groot deel op buurtorganisaties, gilden en schutterijen – en dat waren juist de stedelijke... Show moreBetrokken burgers vormden de ruggengraat van de Republiek. Het dagelijks leven draaide voor een groot deel op buurtorganisaties, gilden en schutterijen – en dat waren juist de stedelijke instituties waar zij deel van uitmaakten. In 1796 kondigden de Bataafse revolutionairen het einde van sommige van deze instellingen af en introduceerden zij het staatsburgerschap. Maar was daarmee de rol van de stedelijke burger ook uitgespeeld?Dat komen we te weten als we luisteren naar de stadsbewoners zelf. Aan de hand van de levens van Haarlemmers en Groningers tussen 1747 en 1848 illustreert dit boek het voortbestaan van lokaal burgerschap. Zij komen aan het woord via verzoekschriften, kronieken, gelegenheidsgedichten, vergadernotulen en mondelinge klachten op de burgemeesterskamer. Hoe zag de ideale stedelijke gemeenschap er volgens hen uit? Welke rechten en plichten had een burger in hun ogen? En wat waren de dure plichten van een stadsbestuurder? Voor dit burgerschap putten stadsbewoners met souplesse uit traditionele én revolutionaire idealen en praktijken. Show less
Interest groups play an important role within a democratic society. Less is known about their role within the legal system. Meanwhile, interest groups are the driving force behind many high-profile... Show moreInterest groups play an important role within a democratic society. Less is known about their role within the legal system. Meanwhile, interest groups are the driving force behind many high-profile lawsuits against the Dutch government, such as the lawsuits concerning climate change, the quality of asylum facilities, and the Dutch nitrogen policy. This research focuses on the access of interest groups to the courts. How extensive is their access? Does it threaten or protect a democratic society under the rule of law? The access of interest groups to Dutch administrative and civil courts is evaluated in terms of legitimacy and effectiveness. Since interest group litigation is at the intersection of politics and law, the research adopts an interdisciplinary approach. Beyond the boundaries of Dutch legal scholarship, it seeks insights from social sciences regarding the role of interest groups within the political decision-making process. Additionally, it examines, from a legal sociological perspective, the role that interest groups play in public interest litigation in the United States. As a result, the research explores approaches, concepts, and arguments that have largely remained outside of the Dutch legal legal discourse. Ultimately, this leads to a reassessment of both the legitimacy and effectiveness of interest groups' access to the courts. Show less
In the Netherlands, the title of Minister of State is granted to a select set of senior politicians and administrators, generally towards the end of their career. They are appointed by the monarch,... Show moreIn the Netherlands, the title of Minister of State is granted to a select set of senior politicians and administrators, generally towards the end of their career. They are appointed by the monarch, acting on a proposal by the cabinet. In this capacity, they are then asked to perform certain activities or to carry out specific tasks. Both the content of the Minister of State role itself and the appointment process are quite vague. Nevertheless, this exclusive ministerial title has considerable social status. The aim of this research study is to provide insight into the title of Minister of State. The problem description is as follows: What development has taken place in the role of Minister of State; what has the legal and political significance of the Minister of State been; and what can be said about the present-day role of Minister of State, in the Netherlands and in various other countries? Chapter 2 investigates the development of the Minister of State from a historical perspective. In Chapter 3 the various appointments as Minister of State are studied for each monarch. Chapter 4 examines the present-day role of Minister of State. In Chapter 5 a comparative legal study is made of whether other countries also have a Minister of State and what parallels and differences can be seen in relation to this title in the Netherlands.Chapter 6 brings together the findings of the research study and presents the conclusions that were drawn. Show less
The early history and development of the historiographical method and theory of “conceptual history” resp. “Historical Semantics”—the latter being the overarching term that includes the... Show moreThe early history and development of the historiographical method and theory of “conceptual history” resp. “Historical Semantics”—the latter being the overarching term that includes the specifically German version of conceptual history (= Begriffsgeschichte)—is still widely unknown. One of the first central protagonists of the beginnings of this now widely appraised historiographical approach was the German-Jewish historian Richard Koebner (1885-1958). As a transnational actor, Koebner was not only part of the specifically German beginnings of Begriffsgeschichte during the Weimar Republic, but he was also—after his forced emigration to Jerusalem and during his retirement-years in London—influential for the development of Historical Semantics in Israel and England. Show less
This dissertation takes as its point of departure the many problems that Dutch secondary-school classics students have in using their dictionary while translating authentic texts. The main goal is... Show moreThis dissertation takes as its point of departure the many problems that Dutch secondary-school classics students have in using their dictionary while translating authentic texts. The main goal is to complete the first phases of an educational design study in order to lay the groundwork for a curriculum for dictionary use in classics education. By taking the approach of situated cognition, we learned that translating authentic classical texts is inherently complex, because of the ever-changing lingual ‘situations’ that the students need to deal with. A ‘one size fits all’ procedure to manage these ‘problems’ is not a sensible approach. Observing expert learners, we found that their look-up process can be described as a feedback loop, continually monitoring their progress and critically testing their hypotheses. They decided efficiently when to employ the affordances available in a dictionary (and when not to). We argue that Cognitive Apprenticeship (CA) is an effective didactic method to teach this kind of complex situated problem solving. Following CA, the practical outcome of the project consists of the Look-up Curriculum and five design principles for dictionary instruction. These were constructed in collaboration with a teacher design team, that also designed example exercises for the everyday teaching practice. Show less
Little is known about the requirements of a comprehensibly written paragraph. This makes it difficult for Dutch secondary school teachers to teach their pupils how to write a paragraph. This... Show moreLittle is known about the requirements of a comprehensibly written paragraph. This makes it difficult for Dutch secondary school teachers to teach their pupils how to write a paragraph. This dissertation presents a rationale that shows which aspects of language are important when writing paragraphs. It is a didactic design study in which declarative knowledge, skills and self-efficacy beliefs were brought together in toolboxes. An important implication of this study is that the paragraph can play a role in the teaching of formulation skills in secondary education. Show less
This thesis focuses on the duty of independence and impartiality for arbitrators. The starting point is unambiguous: an arbitrator should be independent and impartial. Less unambiguous is the... Show moreThis thesis focuses on the duty of independence and impartiality for arbitrators. The starting point is unambiguous: an arbitrator should be independent and impartial. Less unambiguous is the answer to the question of what this duty of arbitral independence and impartiality entails. This thesis aimed to shed light on this (general) research question.The objective of this doctoral research was twofold. On the one hand, the objective was to gain insight into the way in which the duty of arbitral independence and impartiality is interpreted judicially. To this end, it was examined how the duty is interpreted in arbitration legislation, institutional rules, and (arbitral) court rulings. On the other hand, the objective was to shed light on a number of (open) questions related to the scope of the duty. In this respect, it was examined, among other things, who exactly is subject to the duty, how the duty emerges in arbitration legislation and institutional rules, what the duty aims to achieve, the question from when and to when arbitrators must be independent and impartial, and whether the parties can waive the right to an independent and impartial arbitrator. Show less
Binnen de Nederlandse jeugdhulpverlening komt het voor dat ouders door hulpverleners onder druk worden gezet om ‘vrijwillig’ mee te werken aan hulpverlening, en soms zelfs aan een uithuisplaatsing... Show moreBinnen de Nederlandse jeugdhulpverlening komt het voor dat ouders door hulpverleners onder druk worden gezet om ‘vrijwillig’ mee te werken aan hulpverlening, en soms zelfs aan een uithuisplaatsing van hun kind. Dit wordt in de praktijk ‘drang’ genoemd. Waar het vrijwillige en gedwongen kader van jeugdhulpverlening duidelijk bij wet zijn geregeld, ontbreekt voor het drangkader een wettelijke grondslag. Vanuit verschillende hoeken wordthier kritiek op geuit, omdat dit leidt tot grote onduidelijkheden ten aanzien van de rechtsbescherming en verantwoordelijkheden van betrokkenen.In dit boek worden fundamentele uitgangspunten geformuleerd die gelet op de rechtshistorie en het internationale mensen- en kinderrechtenkader aan het jeugdhulpverleningsstelsel ten grondslag (behoren te) liggen. Vervolgens wordt diepgaand inzicht gegeven in het drangkader, de positie van dit kader binnen het jeugdhulpverleningsstelsel en wat dit betekent voor de rechtsbescherming en verantwoordelijkheden van betrokkenen in de praktijk. Tot slot bevat het boek aanbevelingen ter versterking van de rechten van jeugdigen en ouders die te maken krijgen met jeugdhulp op het snijvlak van het vrijwillige en gedwongen kader. Hiermee is dit boek waardevol voor beleidsmakers en professionals die werkzaam zijn in de praktijk van de jeugdhulpverlening, maar ook voor ouders, jeugdigen enoverige betrokkenen. Show less
In the Teutonic House at Utrecht, knights and priests lived together. They managed the local property of the Teutonic Order, which was a religious military order like the Knights Templar and the... Show moreIn the Teutonic House at Utrecht, knights and priests lived together. They managed the local property of the Teutonic Order, which was a religious military order like the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller. This thesis provides insight into how the Teutonic House's acquisition of property came about during the Middle Ages. Much attention is paid, for example, to the motives of donors. The study draws extensively on a variety of sources, such as charters, lease registers and maps. Crusades, devotion, politics and patronage, leadership qualities and economic conditions emerge as the factors that determined the development of property acquisition in various forms. Show less
De Nederlandse Wet toetsing levensbeëindiging op verzoek en hulp bij zelfdoding (Wtl) kent sinds 2002 de mogelijkheid tot euthanasieverlening aan een wilsonbekwame patiënt die ondraaglijk lijdt,... Show moreDe Nederlandse Wet toetsing levensbeëindiging op verzoek en hulp bij zelfdoding (Wtl) kent sinds 2002 de mogelijkheid tot euthanasieverlening aan een wilsonbekwame patiënt die ondraaglijk lijdt, indien hij wilsbekwaam een schriftelijke wilsverklaring heeft opgesteld. De zorgvuldigheidseisen van artikel 2 lid 1 Wtl zijn van ‘overeenkomstige toepassing’. Dit proefschrift identificeert welke betekenissen schuilgaan achter het concept ‘overeenkomstige toepassing’ in het wetgevingsproces, bij de toetsende instanties en in de medische praktijk, en reflecteert op de vraag hoe dit concept kan fungeren als aanvaardbaar en verdedigbaar normatief kader bij levensbeëindigend handelen door artsen. Door het gebruik van een interdisciplinaire combinatie van perspectieven (geneeskunde, recht en ethiek) en van verschillende onderzoeksmethoden (historische analyse en empirisch focusgroeponderzoek) biedt het proefschrift een omvangrijk en gevarieerd beeld van de problematiek met betrekking tot schriftelijke euthanasieverzoeken van patiënten met gevorderde dementie.Het overhandigen en accepteren van een schriftelijke wilsverklaring is normatief een sleutelmoment: in vertrouwen. Euthanasie bij een wilsonbekwame patiënt op basis van een schriftelijk verzoek blijkt mogelijk indien de schriftelijke wilsverklaring kan worden begrepen in relatie tot diens levensloop, indien met overtuiging sprake is van ondraaglijk lijden en wanneer de kwaliteit van de relatie arts-patiënt voldoende substantieel is. Het gewicht van specifieke feiten en omstandigheden in een individuele casus bepaalt en normeert of sprake kan zijn van gelegitimeerde euthanasie. De normatieve waarde van ‘overeenkomstige toepassing’ is dat het artsen zowel juridisch als praktisch in staat stelt om patiënten met dementie tot en met de laatste levensfase te begeleiden en hun normen, waarden en voorgeschiedenis te honoreren. Show less
The position of writing within the domain of artistic academic research is not self-evident. In academia, standard practice is to use writing for the transfer of knowledge: it is a means of... Show moreThe position of writing within the domain of artistic academic research is not self-evident. In academia, standard practice is to use writing for the transfer of knowledge: it is a means of communication. In the practice of (nonlinguistic) artistic research, the outcome is also often contextualized in a written argument. This leads to the paradox that, if writing as an art form is to be relevant in and for artistic academic research, it must relate discursively to itself in its own medium in order to achieve that relevance. This paradox has been embraced in this dissertation and research.'Word and Whetstone. Perspectives on writing at the intersection of art and academia' is the outcome of inquiry into the epistemological possibilities and characteristics of writing. The question is whether and how writing as a communication vehicle and as an art form can also serve as a knowledge generator. To investigate this, the practice of writing is thought of as an experimental system, analogous to the scientific experiment. Processes of narrating and annotating generate a dialogical encounter for new insights as well as providing a structure. The material is both the object of research and method. Show less
This research presents a multidisciplinary study of information provided by the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration in a context of the rule of law and its implications for the application of the... Show moreThis research presents a multidisciplinary study of information provided by the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration in a context of the rule of law and its implications for the application of the principle of legitimate expectations in Dutch tax law. The study involves both the legal perspective and the citizens' perspective.This study subjects the current legal position to a critical analysis and – partly based on insights from linguistics and communication science – explores options for improvement. The central question is: ‘Should the application of the principle of legitimate expectations in the provision of information by the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration to citizens be re-evaluated, and if so, how?’ Show less
This book explores the underlying principles of the law of compensation. To this end, it examines the meaning of four essential concepts: ‘damage’ (schade), ‘benefit’ (voordeel), ‘damage... Show moreThis book explores the underlying principles of the law of compensation. To this end, it examines the meaning of four essential concepts: ‘damage’ (schade), ‘benefit’ (voordeel), ‘damage attribution’ (schadetoerekening) and ‘benefit attribution’ (voordeelstoerekening). As a result of this examination, a three-step approach to compensation law cases becomes apparent. Although this approach is in my opinion widely followed in legal practice, it is usually not made explicit. By doing so, I hope to help legal practitioners clarify andrefine their reasoning and argumentation in compensation law cases and offer guidance in addressing the many challenging questions that arise in this area of law. Show less
Curaçao is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and has just one single tax treaty for the prevention of double taxation, namely with Norway. Curaçao has proven unsuccessful... Show moreCuraçao is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and has just one single tax treaty for the prevention of double taxation, namely with Norway. Curaçao has proven unsuccessful in the conclusion and ratification of full tax treaties. Until now, little attention has been paid to the underlying reasons why Curaçao has proven unsuccessful in building a tax treaty network. The central research question is: “How should Curaçao design its tax treaty policy in order to build a tax treaty network?” This study does not aim to provide recommendations on the technical aspects of a tax treaty policy or a model convention. Rather, the objective of this study is to identify the conditions for building a tax treaty network.The research identifies the obstacles for Curaçao to conclude (and ratify) tax treaties. Furthermore, the research shows which considerations are relevant for Curaçao to build a tax treaty network. The outcome of this research is an evaluation framework that can act as a guide for Curaçao when designing a tax treaty policy or adjusting a potentially existing (but unpublished) tax treaty policy. Show less
Het begrip burgerschap speelt al eeuwenlang een sleutelrol in de (veranderlijke) relatie tussen burger en de staat en tussen burgers onderling. Verbondenheid komt tot stand in alledaagse culturele... Show moreHet begrip burgerschap speelt al eeuwenlang een sleutelrol in de (veranderlijke) relatie tussen burger en de staat en tussen burgers onderling. Verbondenheid komt tot stand in alledaagse culturele praktijken en gesprekken. In dit onderzoek wordt cultureel burgerschap benaderd vanuit het perspectief van de mensen zelf en niet vanuit instituties. Het onderzoek richt zich op de alledaagse culturele burgerschapsvorming met ondersteuning van Cultureel Ondernemende Professionals. Daarin worden de beroepscompetenties van deze professionals in kaart gebracht op basis van drie casestudies. Het publiek van deze casestudies bestaat uit drie generaties Nederlanders met een Turkse of Marokkaanse achtergrond waarbij binnen de publieksgroep van de derde generatie een nieuwe stedelijke elite aan het ontstaan is met een pluriforme culturele habitus. Show less
This historical study deals with the deployment and the effectiveness of observers in the former Yugoslavia. The intervention started small, but the number of observers from the European Community... Show moreThis historical study deals with the deployment and the effectiveness of observers in the former Yugoslavia. The intervention started small, but the number of observers from the European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM) and particularly the number of United Nations Military Observers (UNMOs) grew substantially during the war. The variety of their tasks and the growing number of observers seem to indicate that they played an important role. However, there was initially little clarity about how they were deployed, how this deployment evolved and how effective the observers really were. In this study, effectiveness is a key concept, which involves not only taking a closer look at the results achieved by this category of military personnel, but also comparing those results with the investments their efforts required. This makes it possible to analyse and weigh the 'costs' and 'benefits' of their deployment. Based on the results achieved by observers in the former Yugoslavia and the investment this required, conclusions can be drawn about their effectiveness. In short, the observer operations on the Balkans could be described as complex, multi-faceted and high-risk. How justifiable was it to deploy observers in a conflict at the high end of the spectrum of force? Show less
Every year, several thousands of companies are declared bankrupt in the Netherlands. The purpose of the bankruptcy proceeding is to distribute the assets of those companies among its creditors. The... Show moreEvery year, several thousands of companies are declared bankrupt in the Netherlands. The purpose of the bankruptcy proceeding is to distribute the assets of those companies among its creditors. The total value of the claims of the creditors, however, almost always greatly exceeds the value of the company’s assets. In approximately 25% of the bankruptcies irregularities have occurred that caused the bankruptcy or increased the deficit in the estate. The societal damage caused by these irregularities is estimated at more than one billion euros per year.The legislator has given bankruptcy trustees a central role in identifying and redressing irregularities. However, the task of the trustee is not without controversy, mainly because the bankruptcy community does not agree with the legislator’s assumption that the task of dealing with irregularities is an extension of the trustee’s core task of liquidating the estate in the interest of the joint creditors.This research examines the discrepancies between the expectations of the legislator and the practice of redressing irregularities by trustees. Based on three empirical studies, it is concluded that the expectations of the legislator have not yet materialized, especially because trustees experience various obstacles when dealing with irregularities. The likelihood of irregularities being addressed does not appear to depend solely on the financial resources in a specific bankruptcy, but also on the person of the trustee and the views of the supervising court and its supervisory judges as perceived by the trustee.The thesis culminated in a number of recommendations to remove obstacles experienced by trustees and a plea for a revision of the primacy of creditors in bankruptcies, in order to promote sustainable liquidation. Show less
