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Hvað voru kjósendur að hugsa? Forsetakosningar á Íslandi 2012
No full textSocial scientists have not done much research on presidential elections in Iceland and therefore little is known about the factors which affect their results. The presidential election on June 30th 2012 was unusual partly because the incumbent president faced more serious opponents and received a lower share of the votes than ever before and partly because the campaign was characterized by more debate about the nature of the office itself than ever before. This article examines the factors that affected the outcome of the election. The findings indicate that voters in general were more preoccupied with personal factors,such as perceived competence, image and honesty, than with the issues or the political opinions of the candidates, although it appears that voters of the two leading candidates had very different perceptions of the role of the president. It seems likely that voters’ attitudes towards the government were the strongest factor affecting the election results. Candidates with a small following were adversely affected by tactical voting but it is unlikely to have had an impact on the outcome of the election.Forsetakosningar á Íslandi hafa ekki mikið verið rannsakaðar af félagsvísindafólki og lítið er þess vegna vitað um hvaða þættir hafa áhrif á úrslit þeirra. Forsetakosningarnar 30. júní 2012 voru óvenjulegar annars vegar vegna þess að sitjandi forseti hlaut alvarlegri mótframboð og lægra hlutfall atkvæða en áður eru dæmi um í forsetakosningum á Íslandi og hins vegar vegna þess að meiri deilur urðu um eðli embættisins sjálfs. Í þessari grein er fjallað um það hvaða þættir höfðu áhrif á úrslitin, á grundvelli könnunar sem gerð var á netinu og annarra gagna. Niðurstöðurnar benda til þess að kjósendur hafi almennt lagt meira upp úr persónulegum þáttum eins og hæfni, ímynd og heiðarleika en málefnum eða stjórnmálaskoðunum frambjóðenda þegar þeir útskýrðu val sitt þótt fram komi að kjósendur meginframbjóðendanna tveggja hafi mjög ólíka sýn á forsetaembættið. Líklegt virðist þó að afstaða kjósenda til ríkisstjórnarinnar hafi verið sterkasti áhrifavaldurinn á niðurstöður kosninganna. Fylgislitlir frambjóðendur virðast í nokkrum mæli hafa skaðast af taktískri kosningu, en ekkert bendir til að það hafi haft veruleg áhrif á úrslit kosninganna
The Faroe Islands’ Security Policy in a Process of Devolution
No full textSince the late 1990s there has been a remarkable change in the institutional context of safety and security policies for the Faroes. The end of the Cold War led to a reduction in the strategic importance of, and military presence in, the islands. However, today Faroese sea and air space is increasingly exposed to heavy civilian traffic due to expected oil production as well as new sailing routes from the High North. The Faroese government is in a process, nearly completed, of taking over the full responsibility for societal security policy, a field it used to share with the Danish state authorities. In April 2002, the Faroese authorities took over the responsibility for SAR in Faroese sea territory and established a MRCC Center in Tórshavn. A new civic security law was passed by Løgtingið (the parliament) in May 2012. This article discusses micro-states’ options in the international arena; provides a brief overview of the history of Faroese security policy; and discusses the present and future challenges involved in assuring protection and rescue services for the Faroese region of the North Atlantic
Ha-Joon Chang: 23 atriði um kapítalisma sem ekki er sagt frá
No full textÍ umsögn gagnrýnanda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:
Bók Ha-Joon Changs er fjörlega skrifuð, þótt hann sé mjög ósanngjarn í garð kapítalisma, og margt er þar skarplega athugað ... Ég hef hér aðeins skoðað nokkur atriði af þeim fjölmörgu, sem Chang nefnir, en stuðningsmenn hins frjálsa markaðar eiga vissulega að spreyta sig á að svara honum, þótt segja megi um bók hans: Það, sem er nýtt þar, er ekki gott, og það, sem er gott þar, er ekki nýtt
Athafnafólk í opinberri stefnumótun á óvissutímum: Hvernig hugmyndin um notendastýrða persónulega aðstoð varð að veruleika á Íslandi
Get PDFThis research seeks to explain a landmark change in the provision of public services for people with disabilities in Iceland. Public policy has for long been characterized by incremental changes. Every now and then, major policy changes take place and longstanding policy objectives pushed by interest groups come through. Agenda-setting theories seek to explain major policy changes by focusing on how and why a policy issue gets on governments ? agenda at a given point in time. The American political scientist, John W. Kingdon, presented his theory of three streams and the window of opportunity some 30 years ago. European scientists maintain in their recent research that Kingdon ?s approach is helpful in shedding light on how the political system in which public policy-making takes place operates and how behaviour and strategies of those participating in the process influence the outcome. This qualitative research examines how the idea about user-driven personal assistance came to fruition in Iceland. The study is based on existing data and interviews with key people involved in the policy development leading to the decision to implement the programme of user-driven personal assistance. The research describes how and why this idea reached the government agenda and came to be implemented by Icelandic authorities. The conclusions show how the process of decentralisation opened opportunities for a new ideology which benefitted service users, and business as well as political interests. The conclusions indicate that not only was there a right man at the right place at the right time, but it provides theoretical explanations about what characterises policy entrepreneurs and how and why their activities matter in times of uncertainty.Þessi rannsókn leitast við að útskýra tímamótaákvörðun í þjónustu við fatlað fólk á Íslandi. Opinber stefnumótun hefur löngum einkennst af hægfara breytingum, sem gerast í smáum skrefum. Stundum bregður þó svo við að meiriháttar breytingar verða og stefnumál, sem verið hefur baráttumál hagsmunahópa um margra ára skeið, ná fram að ganga. Dagskrárkenningar leitast við að útskýra meiriháttar stefnubreytingar með því m.a. að beina athyglinni að því hvernig og hvers vegna tiltekin málefni koma til kasta stjórnvalda á hverju tíma. Bandaríski stjórnmálafræðingurinn, John W. Kingdon, setti fyrst fram kenningu sína um straumana þrjá og glugga tækifæranna fyrir rúmum 30 árum. Nýlegar rannsóknir evrópskra stjórnmálafræðinga halda því nú fram að nálgun Kingdons geti varpað ljósi á það hvernig það pólitíska kerfi sem stefnumótunin fer fram í virkar og hvernig hegðun og aðferðir þátttakenda í ferlinu hafa áhrif. Í þessari eigindlegu rannsókn er skoðað hvernig hugmyndin um notendastýrða persónulega aðstoð (NPA) varð að veruleika á Íslandi. Rannsóknin byggir á fyrirliggjandi gögnum og viðtölum við lykilfólk um þá framvindu mála sem leiddi til ákvörðunar um að innleiða NPA hér á landi. Rannsóknin lýsir því hvernig og undir hvaða kringumstæðum NPA komst á dagskrá stjórnvalda. Niðurstöðurnar sýna hvernig breytingar á verkaskiptingu milli ríkis og sveitarfélaga gáfu tækifæri fyrir nýja hugmyndafræði sem nýttist bæði notendum, viðskiptahagsmunum og pólitískum hagsmunum. Niðurstöðurnar benda til þess að þar hafi ekki aðeins verið réttur maður á réttum stað á réttum tíma, heldur varpa þær fræðilegu ljósi á það hvað einkennir athafnafólk í opinberri stefnumótun og hvernig og hvers vegna það skiptir máli á óvissutímum í stjórnmálum
Meðhöndlun trúnaðarupplýsinga hjá löggæslustofnunum ríkisins
Get PDFThis article is based on the findings of a research into the procedures regarding the handling of classified and confidential information at law enforcement agencies and related institutions. The aim was to examine how this information was being dealt with at these institutions. A secondary aim was to shed light on the duties and requirements regarding how confidential information should be handled and how the information were being enforced, in addition to examining the knowledge that the employees possessed regarding the legal environment. Procedures regarding the processing of confidential information have not been studied before in a comprehensive manner from the perspective of having the operation and purpose of these institutions in mind.
The research was based on a qualitative methodology, interviews to be exact. The main findings showed that the respondents honoured the legal requirements regarding confidentiality when they handled such information. They referred to declarations of confidentiality, obligations of State employees, and their responsibilities in connection with the legal requirements regarding discretion. There was a difference of opinion whether current laws and regulations regarding the handling of confidential information were sufficient or should be changed. Traditions and customs had furthermore created certain work procedures in the daily work, and proved more valid than predefined rules.Grein þessi byggir á niðurstöðum rannsóknar sem gerð var á meðferð trúnaðarupplýsinga meðal löggæslustofnana og löggæslutengdra stofnana. Markmiðið var að skoða hvernig meðhöndlun slíkra upplýsinga væri háttað hjá stofnununum. Þá var tilgangurinn að varpa ljósi á skyldur og kvaðir varðandi meðferð trúnaðarupplýsinga og hvernig tókst að framfylgja þeim svo og að kanna þekkingu starfsfólks á viðeigandi lagaumhverfi. Meðferð trúnaðarupplýsinga hefur ekki áður verið rannsökuð á heildstæðan hátt hérlendis með hliðsjón af starfsemi og hlutverki umræddra stofnana. Rannsóknin byggði á eigindlegri aðferðafræði, nánar tiltekið viðtalsaðferð. Helstu niðurstöður sýndu að viðmælendur höfðu lagalegar kvaðir um trúnað og þagnarskyldu í heiðri varðandi meðhöndlun upplýsinga. Þeir vísuðu til trúnaðaryfirlýsinga og stöðu ríkisstarfsmanna og ábyrgðar þeirra í tengslum við lögbundna þagmælsku. Skiptar skoðanir voru um það hvort gildandi lög og reglur um meðferð trúnaðarupplýsinga nægðu eða þörfnuðust breytinga. Þá höfðu hefðir og venjur mótað vissar starfsaðferðir við ýmis hversdagsleg störf fremur en að um þær giltu fyrirfram skilgreindar reglur
Internal audit in the public sector – comparative study between the Nordic countries: The development of internal auditing within the public sector in the Nordic countries
Get PDFThe subject of this paper is a comparative study about the current status of internal audit within the public sector in the Nordic countries. The aim is to understand the basis and recognize trends in the development of internal audit in the public sector in these countries. The status of internal audit within each country, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, is presented and also the regulatory basis, laws and regulations, for internal audit and the main challenges that internal auditing faces. Finally, the opportunities for further development of internal audit in the public sector are addressed. The International Standards for Internal Auditing are well recognized and in use in all the countries. There are differences between these countries in their approach of the regulatory framework for internal audit and the arrangement of the operation of internal audit units. Therefore, further development of internal auditing should be pursued in cooperation and to harmonize the regulatory bases in these countries and to learn from each other when implementing internal audit in the public sector.The subject of this paper is a comparative study about the current status of internal audit within the public sector in the Nordic countries. The aim is to understand the basis and recognize trends in the development of internal audit in the public sector in these countries. The status of internal audit within each country, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, is presented and also the regulatory basis, laws and regulations, for internal audit and the main challenges that internal auditing faces. Finally, the opportunities for further development of internal audit in the public sector are addressed. The International Standards for Internal Auditing are well recognized and in use in all the countries. There are differences between these countries in their approach of the regulatory framework for internal audit and the arrangement of the operation of internal audit units. Therefore, further development of internal auditing should be pursued in cooperation and to harmonize the regulatory bases in these countries and to learn from each other when implementing internal audit in the public sector
Support and parent participation are important for teenagers\u27 learning and well-being
No full textÍslenska menntakerfið einkennist af seiglu í vellíðan barna og jöfnuði samkvæmt PISA-rannsókninni 2022. Hún sýndi einnig að í OECD-ríkjunum voru þeir nemendur líklegri til að fá háa prófseinkunn sem voru í góðum tengslum við fjölskyldu sína. Á milli PISA-prófa 2018 og 2022 dró verulega úr foreldraþátttöku yfirleitt. Þessi rannsókn beindist að þátttöku foreldra á Íslandi í námi barna sinna samanborið við hin Norðurlöndin, annars vegar að mati skólastjórnenda en hins vegar að mati 10. bekkinga sem tóku PISA-prófin. Niðurstöður sýndu að skólastjórnendur töldu kennara hafa mun oftar frumkvæði að samskiptum en foreldra og oftar varðandi framfarir í námi barna en hegðun þeirra. Þátttaka foreldra mætti vera töluvert meiri í námi barna sinna en þeir ræða helst um framtíðarmenntun þeirra. Það er áhyggjuefni að einn af hverjum tíu unglingum nýtur hvorki athygli né stuðnings foreldra eða fjölskyldu, samkvæmt svörum nemenda.The aim of this research is to shed light on parental involvement in their children’s education. On one hand, the focus is on school administrators’ assessment of parent participation in compulsory school activities (children 6–16 years old), parent initiative, and communication between parents and teachers. On the other hand, the spotlight is on 10th graders who took the PISA tests and what they say about family time at home, parental support, and interest in their studies.
Research from the OECD indicates that students who have positive family interactions are more likely to excel academically, with those in school systems emphasizing parental involvement achieving greater stability or improvement in mathematics outcomes between the PISA cycles of 2018 and 2022 (Schleicher, 2023). Despite an overall decline in parental engagement during this period, Iceland’s educational system demonstrates resilience in emphasizing equity and student well-being. Parent discussions with teenagers about future educational goals appear to be one area where Iceland excels. However, the study raises concerns about a segment of students, about one in ten, who lack consistent support or attention from family members.
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the role of parents in supporting the educational outcomes of children and teenagers in Iceland, paralleling similar concerns worldwide (Crozier & Symeou, 2017; Jeynes, 2011). Research underscores the belief that parental involvement is essential for fostering positive educational outcomes (Sahlberg, 2015). The Icelandic National Education Policy 2030 further emphasizes the importance of collaboration between schools and families, underscoring mutual respect and trust as critical components for a positive learning environment (Mennta- og barnamálaráðuneytið, 2022).
Findings in this study align with Icelandic educational traditions, where parent discussions with teenagers often emphasize the importance of future education, fostering academic socialisation (Bæck, 2017). Resilience in well-being in education systems is one of the key metrics in the PISA study, and measures sustained support for learning, equity, and well-being despite challenges (Schleicher, 2023). Iceland stands among a selected group of 15 countries demonstrating resilience of wellbeing. A shared priority for student well-being within Icelandic education has enabled schools to maintain stability even during disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, by minimizing extended school closures and ensuring access to remote learning (Kristín Jónsdóttir, 2020). The performance gap between foreign-origin students and their native peers is a persistent concern within OECD countries, often reflecting socioeconomic disparities rather than inherent academic ability (Schleicher, 2023). However, data from Iceland indicate a narrowing gap in reading proficiency between native-born students of foreign heritage and native students. This suggests that Iceland’s focus on equity and support for diverse student backgrounds is yielding positive results (Menntamálastofnun, 2023). The unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of students from less advantaged backgrounds, emphasizing the need for ongoing support in Iceland’s education system (Kristín Björnsdóttir & Eiríksína Eyja Ásgrímsdóttir, 2020).
Findings in this study show that teachers in Iceland are reported to initiate most conversations with parents about student behavior or academic progress, although parents tend to be proactive in addressing behavioral concerns. Nearly 56% of Icelandic students attend schools where teachers initiate discussions on academic progress, and 27% where parents proactively discuss behavior. These patterns suggest that Icelandic parents are more likely to address personal concerns, such as behavior, but less likely to initiate discussions about academic progress than parents in other OECD countries.
The study also highlights the importance of family time, with regular family meals correlating with higher student performance across OECD nations. In Iceland, about 75% of teenagers report sharing regular meals with family members, a practice associated with an increase of 16–28 points in mathematics scores (Schleicher, 2023). Nevertheless, approximately 12% of Icelandic students rarely eat with their families, raising concerns about potential social isolation and lack of parent support.
The findings underscore the critical impact of parental engagement in various forms, from home discussions to structured school interactions. Despite a noted decline in parental involvement from 2018 to 2022, Iceland’s focus on equity and well-being has contributed to a resilient education system. Icelandic parents display notable strength in encouraging discussions about future education, a factor vital for motivating students. However, the study also highlights an under-engaged group of students who lack sufficient parent support, signaling a need for greater outreach to ensure all students receive the encouragement they need for academic success
Students\u27 perceptions of connectedness and teacher caring in the online university environment
Get PDFThere is increasing research on strategies for fostering students’ motivation online. However, a focus is lacking on the role of teacher caring and connectedness and how these motivational constructs develop in the online environment. Mixed methods were used to assess students’ perceptions of connectedness and teacher caring and how the teacher’s behavior related to these factors. Participants were 173 students in an asynchronous, online graduate course in public administration.A survey included a validated caring scale from the MUSIC Model of Motivation Inventory and single items. Students’ perceptions of teacher caring were verystrong. Data from focus groups, open questions, and a teacher interview cast a deeper light on the results. Course structures with quality material, clear directions, positive communication, support, and personal presence were influential.Students’ sense of peer connectedness varied. Instructional strategies should be planned so that students perceive teacher caring, as this factor improves student motivation and learning.There is increasing research on strategies for fostering students’ motivation online. However, a focus is lacking on the role of teacher caring and connectedness and how these motivational constructs develop in the online environment. Mixed methods were used to assess students’ perceptions of connectedness and teacher caring and how the teacher’s behavior related to these factors. Participants were 173 students in an asynchronous, online graduate course in public administration.A survey included a validated caring scale from the MUSIC Model of Motivation Inventory and single items. Students’ perceptions of teacher caring were verystrong. Data from focus groups, open questions, and a teacher interview cast a deeper light on the results. Course structures with quality material, clear directions, positive communication, support, and personal presence were influential.Students’ sense of peer connectedness varied. Instructional strategies should be planned so that students perceive teacher caring, as this factor improves student motivation and learning
Kona í karlahlutverki: Íslenska þjóðkirkjan og spurningin um prestvígslu kvenna
Get PDFHaustið 2024 var haldið upp á hálfrar aldar vígsluafmæli sr. Auðar Eirar Vilhjálmsdóttur, sem var fyrsta konan sem vígðist til prestsþjónustu innan íslensku þjóðkirkjunnar. Á síðustu fimmtíu árum hafa tæplega 120 konur bæst í hóp prestvígðra kvenna. Konur fengu fyrst leyfi til að stunda nám í Prestaskólanum í Reykjavík árið 1886 en það voru takmörk fyrir því hvað þær máttu læra, auk þess sem þær höfðu ekki réttindi til að gegna opinberum embættum, að prestsembættinu meðtöldu. Árið 1911 voru samþykkt lög á Alþingi sem veittu konum rétt til embættisnáms, námsstyrkja og embætta. Þó að konur fengju með þessum lögum fullt aðgengi að embættisnámi í guðfræði við Háskóla Íslands, útskrifaðist fyrsta konan með embættispróf ekki fyrr en árið 1945. Önnur konan, Auður Eir, lauk prófi árið 1962 og var hún vígð til prestsþjónustu á Suðureyri við Súgandafjörð 29. september 1974.
Viðfangsefni þessarar greinar er aðdragandinn að prestvígslu fyrstu konunnar, allt frá því að konur gátu fyrst lært guðfræði á Íslandi og fengu 25 árum síðar rétt til að stunda óhindrað guðfræðinám við Háskóla Íslands sem þá var nýstofnaður. Þá verða umræðurnar sem sköp-uðust í kringum vígsluna 29. september 1974 til umfjöllunar. Sennilega hefur fátt breytt stöðu íslenskra kvenna eins mikið og lögin frá 1911, nema þá kosningarétturinn sem varð þeirra nokkrum árum síðar. Það þótti ekki öllum sjálfgefið að konur fengju þau réttindi sem lögin veittu þeim eins og ljóst er af umræðunum sem fóru fram á Alþingi áður en þau voru samþykkt. Rúmum sextíu árum síðar stóð íslenska þjóðkirkjan í fyrsta skipti frammi fyrir spurningunni um prestvígslu kvenna. Ekki voru allir á eitt sáttir um það hvort vígja ætti konu til prests eins og merkja má af viðbrögðum þeirra sem biskup Íslands, Sigurbjörn Einarsson, ráðfærði sig við áður en hann tók ákvörðun um að vígja Auði Eir. Í lok greinar-innar verður spurningin um vígða þjónustu kvenna sett í alþjóðlegt samkirkjulegt samhengi með áherslu á umfjöllun í skýrslu Trúar- og skipulagsnefndar sem starfar á vegum Heims-ráðs kirkna, um skírn, kvöldmáltíðarsakramenti og þjónustu frá 1982
Hallgrímur Pétursson: Líf, kveðskapur og áhrif
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