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The object of the research is Internet memes that constitute the thematic group “Grand Coalition” and appeared during the reign of the parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany 2018–2021. Internet memes selected under the given denotative and temporal features are analyzed in dynamics within N. A. Zinoviev’s typology, based on a set of dichotomies (“truth — lie”, “character — event”, “tradition — innovation”, “background — figure”, “image — text”, “thought — action”). A conclusion is made about the field organization of the Internet meme structure. This structure includes the remaining constant kernel formed by the visual template and the generalized meaning of the Internet meme. It is shown that the specificity of the functioning of the precedent phenomenon as part of Internet memes lies in its transformation through the distribution or replacement of elements and subsequent reinterpretation. The very development of the Internet meme, its successful promotion online supposes the decontextualization of the primary meme and its further recontextualization in new communicative situations. The precedent phenomena involved are most often the conductors of negative meanings. The following signs of the grand coalition are regularly reflected in Internet memes — incapacity, mistrust on the part of citizens, and a bad reputation of its members.

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• The study proposes hierarchical two-tier optimization strategy for a network of HRES. • The first layer optimization done by minimizing the operating cost of various sub-units. • For the second layer optimization three cooperative strategies are presented under the grand coalition. Hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) is a nexus of several renewable energy systems that concertedly overcomes the limitations of individual systems operating in isolation. This concept of HRES is extended in this study by considering the network of several such HRESs which further improves the flexibility in overcoming the individual limitations. However, operating such a network of HRESs involves complex decision-making and requires efficient optimization. In this study, a novel hierarchical two-tier optimization methodology for a network of HRESs is proposed when they trade power with each other and with the macro grid. In the proposed methodology, the operational optimization of each HRES is carried out by minimizing the operating cost of various sub-units in the first layer. In the second layer, three cooperative optimization strategies inspired from concepts of double-auction e-marketing are applied when HRESs are assumed to operate under the grand coalition. These three cooperative strategies try to achieve the following objectives (i) minimization of power loss during local trade, (ii) maximization of total market gain, and (iii) simultaneous power loss minimization and total market gain maximization, respectively. Simulation results depict that the cooperative optimization approach yields a reduction in power loss up to 7 % and improvement in market utility up to 29% relative to a scenario when they operate non-cooperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chancellor Angela Merkel's second grand coalition (2013–2017) was the most successful federal government since 2005 regarding the adoption of anti-corruption measures. This article first gives an overview of recent German anti-corruption reforms. In order to explain the varying policy outputs of Merkel's coalition governments, an analytical perspective drawing on the multiple streams approach is utilized. This theoretical perspective is then applied to the analysis of three major anti-corruption reforms. Mainly on the basis of these case studies, the article concludes that the SPD was a crucial policy entrepreneur between 2013 and 2017. In former legislative periods, the Social Democrats could not advance their favored anti-corruption policies. But when the CDU and CSU decided not to make full use of their veto power, the spd pushed policy change through. Analyses of anti-corruption reforms should not overlook the constellations of veto players such as coalition parties and their preferred policy options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To maintain political stability and to preserve the plurality and the diversity that characterise its societies, consociational democracies require, more than other states, a grand coalition government. In this type of democracy, the grand coalition is not a model that is used in exceptional cases, as in majoritarian democracies. It is a deliberate and permanent political choice. In Lebanon, following the modifications implemented by the 1989 Ṭā'if Accord, the Constitution instituted a collegial power-sharing within the executive that implies the establishment of a grand coalition which enables the political participation of the main Lebanese religious confessions in the government. On the other hand, the formation of the Lebanese Council of ministers since the spring of 2005 has become increasingly difficult and coalitions are often less stable than in the past. These laborious negotiations for unstable governmental coalitions are especially problematic in what may be called the perversion of the constitutional procedure by leaders of the parliamentary blocs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we examine how labour market policy interventions, notably short-time work (STW), affect voting behaviour in times of electoral downturn. We use the 2009 German general elections as an example. This is a particularly interesting case because the grand coalition of Christian democrats (CDU/CSU) and social democrats (SPD) was up for re-election against the backdrop of a major recession following the 2007/08 financial crisis and extensively used STW policies to counteract rising unemployment. Interestingly, STW policy and unemployment vary considerably between regions. We exploit this variance to create a unique dataset that combines regional information on STW policy and unemployment in 299 German electoral constituencies with individual data from the post-election survey. Our results show that especially the SPD profited from high STW rates at constituency level on election day, but this policy was insufficient to preclude the major losses social democrats suffered during the election. More generally, our results indicate that classic labour market policy can generate electoral support for social democratic parties, even as a "junior partner" in a grand coalition. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether such support is sufficient for electoral victories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germany is setting ambitious goals on its way to digital transformation, yet new framework conditions and sticking to the strategies are required. The country drops behind the international rivals and can’t keep up with its own plans so far. The aim of this article is to analyze the digital agenda of the new cabinet and assess the prospects of its realization.

At the turn of the century, the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna stock (BFT-E) appeared to be heading towards collapse. In 2006, a recovery plan was introduced with the purpose of restoring the stock. Stock size is now increasing. In fact, the stock is now believed to be sustainably harvested. The fishery is managed by ICCAT, a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO). Several authors question the effectiveness of RFMOs. This paper analyses how cooperation has been achieved as well as the stability of the current cooperative management regime. A main conclusion of the analysis is that RFMO management of BFT-E is very successful. This brings hope for the management of high seas fisheries worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]