Renard Teipelke – författare

Scientific Essay from the year 2008 in the subject Didactics for the subject English - Applied Geography, grade: 1,7, Free University of Berlin, course: Oral and Writing Skills, language: English, abstract: On the introductory historical basis, the role of bilingual education, with focus on English as a second language for Hispanic children in school, will be presented in this paper. After a theoretical introduction, I examine the arguments for and against the bilingual education by balancing previous research on this issue. Then I will analyze the problems in this field and the language legislation in the US. For a better understanding of the importance of bilingualism in the US, I will refer to the interest groups, the differences between the states, and to the issue of identity. To conclude, I will focus on English and Spanish as world languages and try an outlook on the future of the multicultural US.

Essay from the year 2007 in the subject Politics - Miscellaneous, , course: Mediating Skills and Advanced Writing Skills, language: English, abstract: You can stand in front of a McDonald's restaurant and see a variety of burgers, ice cream, French fries, nuggets, coffee, milk shakes, soft drinks and so on. With all of this food, you can create a very tasty meal. For example, if you are dissatisfied with the cheeseburger, you can ask for a cheeseburger without pickles, or perhaps add a side of fries or nuggets to compliment your burger. These meals have hundreds of variations and the same counts for the political spectrum in Germany. You choose meal No. 1 "e;CDU"e; and you can differentiate between a conservative, liberal, or social burger. You can take a religious or atheistic milk shake, and authoritarian or libertarian French fries. In short, concerning German political parties which do not stand for extremist programs, you can find each coloration in nearly every party.

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject Politics - Region: USA, grade: 1,3, San Diego State University (Political Science Department), course: Urban Politics, language: English, abstract: Over 40 years ago, it was hard to imagine that the most numerous local governments in the United States would be special districts. They outnumber every other form of government and counted 35,052 in 2002. Special districts emerged in California especially after the 1970s, when cities and urban areas formed new local governments. At the periphery of urban areas, residential development with a low density occurred – this ‘sprawl’ came along with the creation of cookie-cutter suburbs. Special districts were formed to provide a single service for areas, thereby crossing the boundaries of cities and counties. These special authorities played the major role in the proliferation of governments in California which led to fragmentation and decentralization (‘political sprawl’) (Lecture 10/14/09). In the following essay, I will show that this multiplication of governments in regard to special districts is not per se a critical development in urban politics but rather is the separation of citizens in newly formed municipalities from the socioeconomic problems of urban areas. I will first explain the fiscal crisis and role of Proposition 13 in California (1978). Then, I will outline causes and consequences of the proliferation of local governments. With reference to the example of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, I will provide arguments that support my thesis of the important role special districts have. [...]

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject Politics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,0, University of California, San Diego (Department of Political Science), course: Urban Politics, language: English, abstract: A long and unsettled history, an international reputation for its cultural scenes, a debt of more than 61 billion euros, 3.4 million inhabitants and 400,000 trees – this is Berlin, the capital, biggest city, and political center of Germany. It is famous for its museums and theaters, its art galleries and restaurants, its diverse districts, nightclubs, and universities (Becker 48). These seem to be the perfect conditions for Richard Florida’s Creative Class, a group of young professionals who are searching for a job and a life. In the following essay, I will show how this concept of the Creative Class helps to analyze Berlin’s strengths and weaknesses to attract creative people. Furthermore, I will also point out where this concept lacks practical applicability. After introducing Florida’s concept, several aspects will be discussed: the history and culture of Berlin, its environment and skyline, the life in the twelve districts, the role of educational institutions, the metropolitan region of Berlin/Brandenburg, state politics, and alternative scenes in the city.

Essay from the year 2009 in the subject Politics - Region: USA, grade: 1,0, University of California, San Diego (Department of Political Science), course: Urban Politics, language: English, abstract: In the following report I will present the main points of the minority incorporation hypothesis in Browning et al.’s book “Racial Politics in American Cities.” I will show that San Diego’s first Latino mayor can only succeed in satisfying the demands of a city transitioning toward majority-minority status if he is able to implement policies that enable minority incorporation in quantitative and qualitative terms, thereby working with an issue-oriented coalition on an agenda that balances social and economic interests. After outlining the requirements for successful minority incorporation, the expectations of representative and policy responses from the takeover of the city government by people of color will be described. Then I will explain the (dis-) advantages of multi-racial/ multi-ethnic alliances and ways to solve the possible dilemma between intra-ethnic solidarity of Latinos and interests of the inter-ethnic rainbow coalition. This is followed by a discussion on how different interests of the city’s disparate constituencies can be overcome and how a backlash among the Anglos can be avoided. At the end, the concept of the “hollow prize” mayor will be applied on this specific case.

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - Region: USA, grade: 1,3, University of California, San Diego (Department of Political Science), course: International Politics and Drugs, language: English, abstract: The US likes to fight 'wars' when it faces huge challenges: Lyndon B. Johnson fought the 'war on poverty,' George W. Bush started the 'war on terrorism,' and Richard M. Nixon first talked about the 'war on drugs.' One can discuss if these wars failed; however, none of these battles can be framed as a total success. It can be assumed that these long-term overarching wars were better fought on a lower level with less ambitious but more practicable goals. With regard to the US prohibitionist policy on certain psychoactive substances, I will evaluate the US war on drugs. Before taking a closer look at the data, I will outline the criteria which should be used to guide public policy in the area of psychoactive substances. The scrutiny of the statistics of the drug phenomenon in the US will then lead to my analysis of possible policy solutions for those fields where the war on drugs has not been successful. The standpoints and arguments of different interest groups in the public policy field will be discussed, and strategies for coalition building outlined. In a further step, I will describe how international policies can support my public policy. Different types of evidence to assess the future progress of my policy advices will conclude my analysis and will be followed by an outlook.

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - Topic: Peace and Conflict, Security, grade: 1,0, University of California, San Diego (Department of Political Science), course: National Security Strategy , language: English, abstract: The Iranian nuclear program has been one of the major controversies in international affairs in the 21st century. While Iran insists on the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes (under the terms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, NPT), the international community fears the secret weaponization of Iran's program. Neither could Iran convince the international community that it does not (intend to) work on a program for nuclear weapons, nor could the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China + Germany (P5+1 countries) - implement effective measures in the form of diplomacy with sanctions to initially deter Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons capability. In the following policy paper, the problem will be first introduced by summarizing its history. A presentation of major players in the conflict and their preferences will help to analyze available strategy options for the United States as well as their possible consequences and chances of success. The following three strategies will be discussed...

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - Region: Eastern Europe, grade: 1,0, University of California, San Diego (Department of Political Science), course: Introduction to International Relations, language: English, abstract: Controversies surrounding the delivery of natural gas by Russia and its transfer to Europe over the Ukrainian pipeline network have been a constant feature of Russian-Ukrainian relations. In 2009, the conflict saw a major crisis when Europe was cut off from its essential Russian gas supplies. However, an analysis of the 2005/2006 gas dispute shows how this controversy already foreshadowed many of the problems that later caused the 2009 crisis (cf. Westphal). Therefore, the following discussion will be focused on the events in 2005/2006 presenting the main actors, their interests and mutual interactions. The role of institutions, outcomes of the gas dispute, and implications for the future will also be outlined.

Essay from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - Topic: Peace and Conflict, Security, grade: 1,3, University of California, San Diego (Department of Political Science), course: Introduction to International Relations, language: English, abstract: Bargaining can be described as a zero-sum game: when two players interact with each other, the outcome of a bargaining will make one of these two players better off at the expense of the other. In the following essay, I will demonstrate why the Iraq war in 2003 was a failure to bargain. Using the approach of the World Politics book by Frieden, Lake, and Schultz (2010), I will analyze interests, interactions, and institutions with regard to this bargaining failure between the United States and Iraq.

Essay from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - General and Theories of International Politics, grade: 1,0, University of California, San Diego (Department of Political Science), course: Introduction to International Relations, language: English, abstract: In the analysis of international relations, states are often described as single actors cooperating and/or bargaining with each other. However, a closer look at domestic forces reveals their impact on a country's leadership to act on the international level in a certain way. In the following essay, I will explain what impact domestic winners and losers can have on making cooperation or conflict between states more likely. I will show that narrow interests of (prospective) winners or losers are hardly able to influence a country's general interest for national security or economic progress, but can make themselves heard in particular policy fields. By structuring the discussion along the issue areas of war, globalization, and environment, I will explain the relevance of power structures as well as political systems for domestic winners and losers' potential to influence international interactions.

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,3, Free University of Berlin (John-F.-Kennedy-Institut fur Nordamerikastudien), language: English, abstract: The objective of this work is to bring together findings from different research fields and organize them in a way that helps to detect the ambivalent legacy of Proposition 13 three decades after its ballot success. Since this initiative is such a buzzword in politics, the media, and academia, I will show why Proposition 13 has been both the darling of California citizens and the scapegoat for everything that has presumably gone wrong in the state. With this objective, it is not sufficient to solely focus on the changed fiscal structure of local governments or the role of Howard Jarvis as 'the small people's hero.' Therefore, I will extract Proposition 13's main aspects that have formed its lasting legacy. I will do so by presenting my findings in three parts: The first part will focus on the initiative's 1978 ballot success and causes as well as its sponsors and opponents. I will show that the voters' motivation to overwhelmingly approve Proposition 13 was not a sign of sharply reversed attitudes toward government and public services, but was rather based on two essential aspects: voters requested an immediate, substantial, and permanent property tax relief and wanted to send a strong message to their inactive and unresponsive government through the power of the initiative process. The second part will analyze the proposition's (unanticipated) impacts on the state and local governments and California citizens - with regard to fiscal, socioeconomic, and political impacts. Among other aspects, I will explain why the hopes of the initiative's sponsors for shrinkage of big government were dashed while the alarming prophesies of Proposition 13's opponents were not fulfilled to their anticipated magnitude. With respect to the political impact of the initiative, I will show that the unanticipated shift in power relations between the state and local governments has been one of the most important effects of the proposition. Finally, the third part will turn to the changing debate about Proposition 13's role in the nationwide tax revolt of the 1970s and 1980s as well as in California over the past three decades. I will proceed to analyze the double-edged legacy of Proposition 13 as both the darling of California citizens and the scapegoat for the state's problems. I will underscore the relation between direct democracy and Proposition 13 and identify possible positive results and repercussions of the initiative process as it is used in California.

Essay from the year 2012 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Economic Geography, grade: 1,0, University of Frankfurt (Main) (Institut fur Humangeographie), course: Cultural Geographies of Economy, language: English, abstract: This paper discusses the relation of Richard Florida's notion of creative cities, cluster economics, and urban policies towards creative industries. Two empirical cases, San Diego's bioscience cluster and Berlin's club scene, are examined in order to reconstruct their success, analyze corresponding factors, identify challenges and problems, and discuss recent developments. Conclusions will be drawn on what city governments' policies can or cannot as well as should not do to support creative industries. It will be argued that the scope of urban policies even in a Floridaesque age of creative cities is still wellrelated to ('traditional') cluster policies but therefore also limited by scale and dependent on private enterprises and cluster actors that have an active role in attracting other creative people.

Seminar paper from the year 2012 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Economic Geography, grade: 1,0, University of Frankfurt (Main) (Institut fur Humangeographie), course: Mobilitat 2.0 - Soziale Veranderungen und Zukunft der Mobilitat, language: English, abstract: In an era of information and communication technologies, imaginative and virtual travel have not substituted physical travel but resulted in a network society of multiple mobilities. People are increasingly mobile for maintaining their professional and private social relationships in intermittent face-to-face meetings. So far, we do not know much about the interrelation between travel mobility and social network services (SNSs). With the example of Facebook as the dominating, undisputed SNS of 845 million monthly active users, I will argue how 'place'-focused features are put under the spotlight of Facebook users' activities and perceived character. As a platform combining various services, tools, and applications also of third parties, Facebook can influence its users' mobility habits and expectations of physical traveling. This brings with it important implications for research and practice, since foremostly young generations are concerned and will thus influence future developments.

Theory and practice of high-capacity infrastructure projects are the major focus in the development of countries in the Global South. Aiming at a more fine-grained understanding of such projects, Renard Teipelke studies the Thika Highway Improvement Project (THIP) and its outcomes in the peri-urban Northern Nairobi Metropolitan Region. The THIP is a large transportation infrastructure project that expanded the dual carriageway Thika Road into an eight-lane highway from 2008 until 2012. Based on a strategic mix of methodological approaches, such as interviews with experts in Kenya, literature research and field visits, the ‘black box’ THIP is opened up. In the empirical analysis, the project’s idea, its design, and its implementation are studied. It is concluded that the project’s outcomes are ambivalent – partly living up to the expectations of THIP proponents but not resulting in shared benefits for all concerned stakeholders due to flaws in managing the development in this peri-urban transport corridor area, thereby fitting into the Kenyan context of politics and planning.