Public Policy Fundamentals: Cycle, Actors, and Evaluation
Understanding the Policy Cycle
The policy cycle is a framework used to understand and analyze policy making through its distinct stages. Policy issues flow from inputs, such as problem recognition, to outputs, which are the resulting policies.
Stages of the Policy Cycle
- Agenda Setting: Problem recognition and defining issues that require government attention.
- Policy Formulation: The proposal of solutions and development of policy options to address identified problems.
- Decision Making: The choice of
Contemporary Spanish Novel: Post-Franco Literary Trends
The Spanish Novel: From 1975 to the Present Day
The atmosphere of freedom that emerged in Spanish culture after the death of General Franco significantly enhanced the understanding of Spanish literature across Europe and within Spain’s Western literary landscape. This period was marked by the disappearance of censorship, the recovery of works by exiled writers, and a deeper appreciation for narrative forms from other countries.
Below, we briefly outline the main trends in the Spanish novel from 1975
Read MoreEssential Chemistry Concepts & Organic Reactions
Fundamental Chemistry Definitions
Analytical Chemistry & Solutions
- Titration
- A technique to determine the concentration of a solution by reacting it with a solution of known concentration.
- End Point
- The point in a titration at which the indicator changes color, signaling that the reaction is complete.
- Equivalence Point
- The exact point at which the amount of titrant is chemically equivalent to the substance being titrated.
- Titration Error
- The difference between the end point and the equivalence point.
Renaissance Literary Themes and Poetic Evolution
Renaissance Poetic Style and Themes
The Renaissance period was characterized by an aesthetic zeal, embracing classical ideals of simplicity, naturalness, selection, and elegance. In the latter half of the period, some authors intensified formal appeals.
Garcilaso de la Vega: A Renaissance Poet
Garcilaso de la Vega’s poetic evolution can be understood in three stages:
- Initially influenced by traditional song poetry, his early verses did not yet fully incorporate Petrarchan elements.
- In this stage, imitating
Understanding Social Science and Philosophical Inquiry
Social Science Methods
The goal of social science is to understand social reality. This pursuit gives the social sciences the following features:
- Predictive capacity is lower than in natural sciences.
- Generalization ability is lower than in natural sciences.
- Value neutrality is often impossible.
Do social sciences use the same methods as natural sciences? The response points to two different traditions: the empirical-analytic and the hermeneutic. The first tradition advocates applying the methods of
Read MoreBritish Society Transformed: Women, Reformation, and Enlightenment
Women’s Changing Role in Post-War Britain (1945-1970s)
After the Second World War, Britain underwent a significant social and cultural transformation. The role of women changed dramatically, influenced by several factors:
- The post-war ‘baby boom’
- Rising divorce rates and the beginning of new sexual openness
- Cinema sex symbols defining a ‘third war’ for women
During the 1960s, the women’s movement successfully campaigned for new rights. In 1967, the Family Planning Act made oral contraceptives available
Read MoreUnderstanding Law: Meanings, Dimensions, and Rights
The Law and Its Fundamental Dimensions
Law is ubiquitous; whether we are aware of it or not, we are surrounded by legal principles. The rules of law are essential for social life, providing order to societal relationships. Humanity possesses an inherent intuition of what is unjust. Justice is necessary in life, and all individuals should be involved in the creation of laws. The word ‘law’ is emotionally charged; it holds not only a descriptive meaning but also different interpretations and several
Read MoreWelding Processes: Oxyacetylene, Resistance, and TIG Techniques
Oxyacetylene Welding
Oxyacetylene welding is a process where the parts being joined and the material input (if used) are of the same nature. Welding is performed by melting the edges of the pieces to be joined using a flame, which occurs from the combustion of acetylene fuel gas mixed with oxygen oxidizer.
Equipment for Oxyacetylene Welding
- Acetylene: The fuel gas. It should not be compressed at a pressure exceeding 1.5 bar. For bottling, it is dissolved in acetone. The bottle is painted red, and its
Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent: Character, Society, and Modernism
Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent: A Literary Analysis
This analysis focuses on a fragment from The Secret Agent, Joseph Conrad’s 1907 novel. The fragment opens with the character of The Professor, a stunted and undersized individual described as disappointed, losing himself in a crowd of London streets, where every individual almost overtopped his stature. Conrad masterfully portrays the nature of the city through the image of the crowd and its relationship to the individual. Revolutionaries in the
Read MoreArgentina’s State Formation: 1862-1880 Era of Consolidation
Consolidation of the Argentine National State (1862-1880)
This period marked the consolidation of the National State’s authority in Argentina, with Bartolomé Mitre, Domingo F. Sarmiento, and Nicolás Avellaneda serving as presidents. The central government progressively assumed and concentrated many functions and powers previously exercised by the provinces. These presidents promoted the centralization of political authority through various actions, including:
- The formation of a national army, which