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The temporal dynamics of the neural activity that implements the dimensions valence and arousal during processing of emotional stimuli were studied in two multi-channel ERP experiments that used visually presented emotional words (experiment1) and emotional pictures (experiment2) as stimulus material. Thirty-two healthy subjects participated (mean age 26.8±6.4years, 24 women). The stimuli in both experiments were selected on the basis of verbal reports in such a way that we were able to map the temporal dynamics of one dimension while controlling for the other one. Words (pictures) were centrally presented for 450 (600) ms with interstimulus intervals of 1,550 (1,400) ms. ERP microstate analysis of the entire epochs of stimulus presentations parsed the data into sequential steps of information processing. The results revealed that in several microstates of both experiments, processing of pleasant and unpleasant valence (experiment1, microstate #3: 118-162ms, #6: 218-238ms, #7: 238-266ms, #8: 266-294ms; experiment2, microstate #5: 142-178ms, #6: 178-226ms, #7: 226-246ms, #9: 262-302ms, #10: 302-330ms) as well as of low and high arousal (experiment1, microstate #8: 266-294ms, #9: 294-346ms; experiment2, microstate #10: 302-330ms, #15: 562-600ms) involved different neural assemblies. The results revealed also that in both experiments, information about valence was extracted before information about arousal. The last microstate of valence extraction was identical with the first microstate of arousal extraction

Over the last decades and especially in the new millennium, global society is increasingly facing new risks and challenges on a global scale, demanding global solutions. With their articles on global risks, the authors have contributed to a topic that suffers from severe under-specification. Their contributions can be summoned up under three headings: Identification and Assessment, Normative Reflections and Alternative Modes of Governance. Each of the assembled articles shows, from very different academic perspectives, how international actors – states as well as regional and international organisations – deal with global risks that in today’s globalised world affect not only one state or region, but the international community as a whole.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit soll zum Thema Geschichtsphilosophie die Frage nach einem Ende der Geschichte, wie es 1989 von Francis Fukuyama in seinem viel beachteten Aufsatz „The End of History?“ postuliert wurde, diskutiert werden. Dazu werden zu Beginn die Vordenker oder Ideengeber, auf deren Werk Fukuyama seine Argumentation aufbaut, vorgestellt. Den Hauptteil der Arbeit bildet die Vorstellung und Analyse der 1992 erschienenen Monographie „Das Ende der Geschichte – Wo stehen wir?“ von Francis Fukuyama. Im letzten Teil der Arbeit werden eine Reihe im weitesten Sinne philosophischer Fragen und Kritiken zum Werk Fukuyamas thematisiert.