/library/oar/handle/123456789/53370 Sat, 25 Oct 2025 18:19:52 GMT 2025-10-25T18:19:52Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/54037 Title: Democracy : from theory to dictatorial dyspraxia to anarchist eupraxia Authors: Vella, Mary Grace Abstract: In theory: Democracy is the “rule of the people by the people and for the people” (Lincoln, 1863). In practice: “Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few” (Shaw, 1903). This paper addresses the gap between democratic theory and practice by attempting to analyse “democracy’s crisis of meaning” (Trend, 1996:7). It examines the processes through which the theoretical ideal of rule by the people is despoiled to dictatorial practices, typified by regimes of democratic dictatorship arising from the authoritarian rule of representative forms of democracy resulting in the tyranny of the powerful, to regimes of dictatorial democracy arising from the totalitarian rule of global neo-liberal capitalism. These contradictions indeed suggest “more than a simple gap between theory and practice” (Trend, 1996:9) and demand a new praxis for democracy. Despite the hegemonic dyspraxia of these kleptocratic and corporatocratic regimes on both a local and global level, the eupraxia of anarchism through co-operative forms of self-governance offers a glimpse of hope for democratising democracy by closing the gap between theory and practice. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/54037 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/53865 Title: Symposia Melitensia : number 16 Editors: Borg Farrugia, Christine Abstract: Table of contents: 1/ XUEREB, P. - Foreword -- 2/ ATTARD, J. - Aesthetic Properties and their (Non-)Contribution to Artistic Value -- 3/ ATTARD, R., & CREMONA, G. - Primary Children’s Understanding and Relationship with Cartoon Characters: A Multimodal Praxis-based Research Experience -- 4/ AZZOPARDI, M., & AZZOPARDI, C. - Analysis of the Discrimination Index of Final Biology Examinations in Malta -- 5/ BORG, R. P. - Concrete Heritage: Challenges in Conservation -- 6/ BORG AXISA, G. - A Call for Parental Involvement in State Schools -- 7/ BORG FARRUGIA, C. - The Oedipus and Electra Complex in Italian Literature of the Late 19th Century -- 8/ CARUANA, S. - A Bridge Too Far? Reflections on Theory in Educational Practice -- 9/ CARUANA, S., & BORG, M. - Stress-Related Factors Affecting Teachers of Foreign Languages in Maltese State and Church Schools -- 10/ CHIRCOP, K. - Theory, Praxis and Puppet Plays in Cervantes and Pirandello -- 11/ FARRUGIA, A. - Spectral Graph Theory - From Practice to Theory -- 12/ FENECH CARUANA, M. - Students’ Attitudes & Motivation during A-level Chemistry Practical Work (exploring and addressing the needs to enhance the students’ laboratory experience) -- 13/ FRENDO, R. - Parents Know Best – An Examination of Parent Perceptions and Subsequent Proposals for a More Efficient Bilingual Education Experience in the Primary Years Cycle -- 14/ GRAVINA, J. - Gramsci’s Philosophy of Praxis -- 15/ GU, B. - Perchlorate Environmental Occurrences, Health Effects, and Remediation Technologies -- 16/ KOCSIR, A. C., & VARGA, J. - Good Practices to Managing Projects Better -- 17/ KOCSIR, A. C., & VARGA, J. - Own Capital to Credit - The Financial Practice of the Sme Project in Hungary -- 18/ KOCSIR, A. C., & MOLNAR, F. - Energy Acquisition and Project Finance - Priorities in the Past and Nowadays -- 19/ KUSIAK-PISOWACKA, M. - Developing Critical Reading Skills: A Coursebook Evaluation Study -- 20/ LOCHMAN, M. - OAR@UM and Open Access in Malta: Five Years On -- 21/ MARIC, L. - Making Disabled People’s Voices Vulnerable -- 22/ MIFSUD BONNICI, S. - Towards Better Protection of Modern Twentieth Century Architecture in Malta -- 23/ PORTELLI, N. - Avoiding the Pheidippides Effect: How Theories Contribute to Endurance Trail Practice -- 24/ SAMMUT-BONNICI, T. - The Sharing Economy, Jobs and Skills -- 25/ SAPIANO, J. - High Quality Teaching in Higher Education: A Challenge and a Possibility -- 26/ SATARIANO, B. - Social Capital, Health and Place: The Two Sides of the Same Coin -- 27/ STRAUSS, J., LI, H., YU, K., & WANG, X. - Rail, Rivers, Road or Air: Which infrastructure promotes growth in China? -- 28/ VELLA, M. G. - Democracy: From Theory to Dictatorial Dyspraxia to Anarchist Eupraxia -- 29/ XERRI AGIUS, S. - How Effective is Our Feedback? Feeding Forward and Self-Regulation -- 30/ ZARB, C. - Generalisation - Graphs and Colourings. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/53865 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/53863 Title: Foreword [Symposia Melitensia, 16] Abstract: The Junior College was set up in 1995 as part of the University of Malta. Since the very beginning, members of staff have felt the need, and sought the possibility to publish their research in an academic journal. Following the setting up of an Editorial Board, work started on the publication of the first edition of Symposia Melitensia in 2004. Although this journal was published by the University of Malta Junior College, it has always been open to all researchers and academics. The journal has had a multi-disciplinary nature since its inception, and has been successfully published annually since its first edition 15 years ago. Today is an opportunity to express our thanks and appreciation to previous editors for their invaluable work, all the members of the Editorial Board who peer-reviewed the papers, as well as to all contributors. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/53863 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/53858 Title: Generalisation : graphs and colourings Authors: Zarb, Christina Abstract: The interaction between practice and theory in mathematics is a central theme. Many mathematical structures and theories result from the formalisation of a real problem. Graph Theory is rich with such examples. The graph structure itself was formalised by Leonard Euler in the quest to solve the problem of the Bridges of Königsberg. Once a structure is formalised, and results are proven, the mathematician seeks to generalise. This can be considered as one of the main praxis in mathematics. The idea of generalisation will be illustrated through graph colouring. This idea also results from a classic problem, in which it was well known by topographers that four colours suffice to colour any map such that no countries sharing a border receive the same colour. The proof of this theorem eluded mathematicians for centuries and was proven in 1976. Generalisation of graphs to hypergraphs, and variations on the colouring theme will be discussed, as well as applications in other disciplines. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/53858 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z