The manuscript studies NGOs in international law. For that purpose, NGOs were appraised under each of the sources of international law, which, according to authoritative legal doctrine, were listed... Show moreThe manuscript studies NGOs in international law. For that purpose, NGOs were appraised under each of the sources of international law, which, according to authoritative legal doctrine, were listed in article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice. The thesis also addresses the challenges to the legitimacy of States and Intergovernmental Organizations in an era in which electoral democracies constitute the predominant form of government. The research has identified that international law is changing to accommodate new subjects of law that were not conceivable under positivism. The author argues that NGOs are subjects of law to the same extent that Intergovernmental Organizations are, because both are created by subjects of international law (States and individuals) under a typical principal-agent relationship as rational-legal bodies entrusted with certain functions, which, with the attendant duties and responsibilities, were clothed by its constituencies __with the competence required to enable those functions to be effectively discharged__. Show less
The aim was to provide more insight in people's nonverbal reactions to and perceptions of nonverbal behavior in interactions. We argue that nonverbal reactions are not simply linked to nonverbal... Show moreThe aim was to provide more insight in people's nonverbal reactions to and perceptions of nonverbal behavior in interactions. We argue that nonverbal reactions are not simply linked to nonverbal expressions of others, but that social context influences how people react to and perceive such expressions. In Chapter 2 it was examined whether information of a target's status influenced nonverbal reactions. In Chapter 3 we examined whether the legitimacy of such status positions also influenced nonverbal reactions. Finally, in Chapter 4 we investigated whether nonverbal reactions influence the perceptions of dominance, conflict avoidance, and conflict in the interaction. Results demonstrate that social contexts influence people's nonverbal reactions. People mimic or complement a target's expanded or constricted posture depending on the relative status position and on whether or not this status position was obtained in a legitimate way. Furthermore, the contrast between the postures of interaction partners influence the degree to which people perceive postures as dominant and conflict avoidant. Also, the contrast influences the degree to which people perceive conflict in the interaction. Overall, it can be concluded that nonverbal reactions are influenced by the social context. The reactions influence the perceptions people have about the behavior and situation. Show less
