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The paper tackled the extremely hot relationship between religion and security and argued that religion is both a threat and a promise for global security. Methodologically, the paper falls within the area of conceptual analysis. By making use of both inductive and deductive reasoning, it tried to find answers to the following questions: Is religion inherently violent? and What are the prospects that religion might contribute rather to peace and stability than to conflict and destruction within the international system? The paper comprised four sections. The first one outlined the background of the discussion, emphasizing that the world is facing a worldwide resurgence of religion, and tried to assess the meaning of the politicization of religion for the global security. The second section comprised a few reflections on the nexus between religion and violence, attempting to prove that no religion is inherently violent or inherently peaceful, as many would assume. The third part explored the positive nexus between religion and security and the last part comprised the conclusions and some recommendations meant to improve the ability of International Relations practitioners and policy-makers to make religion part of the solution to the global security dilemmas, instead of treating it exclusively as part of the problem

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the determinants of the internationalization of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). More specifically, it is to test the effects of entrepreneurship and networking relationship on the internationalization pattern of SMEs from an emerging economy, Brazil.Design/methodology/approachThe study was designed to be qualitative, using a sample of three companies from the manufacturing industries, with significant involvement in foreign markets.FindingsThe study has shown that the importance of entrepreneurs and network relationship are important factors for the understanding of the internationalization's pattern of SMEs. Furthermore, the performance of internationalization depends largely on the ability of companies to relate innovative and proactive international behavior to learning's process through the maintenance of national and international networking.Originality/valueMost empirical studies have been concentrated to evaluate and address this phenomenon of SMEs internationalization based on the experiences of developed countries. Although there is a growing interest on the internationalization of SMEs in less developed countries, they are still very limited empirical studies in this field. This research intends to fill this gap in two manners. First, in terms of focusing more specifically on the internationalization of the case of companies from a developing country, using a qualitative multi case analysis. Second, using a framework, which relates entrepreneurship and networking and how they affect the internationalization's strategy of SMEs.

Abstract
Adaptive governance is a pattern that began to emerge from conflicts over natural resources in the American West a few decades ago. This was a pragmatic response to the emerging evidence that effective control was dispersed among multiple authorities and interest groups, that efficiency was only one of the many goals to be reconciled in policy decision processes, and that science itself was politically contested. Climate change as a policy problem exhibits many of these same features and has similarly led to gridlock in international and national forums. But humankind is not without guidance in securing the protection of life, limb, and livelihood in the face of environmental distress, particularly with regard to the challenge of adaptation. One effective analogy can be drawn to adaptations in the face of large climate variability such as El Niño. This paper compares adaptive governance with the tradition of scientific management in the international climate change regime, and it explores an example of adaptive governance in responding to the effects of a severe El Niño event in the Pacific islands. This event illustrates some of the specific kinds of human choices that will be made by those who are concerned about climate change as a policy problem. The basic choice is not scientific management or adaptive governance but continuing with business as usual or opening the frame to a wider range of possibilities.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare the risk and return characteristics as well as the allocation of mean‐variance (MV) and downside risk (DR) optimized portfolios of international real estate stock markets and to discuss implications for portfolio management.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis focuses on real estate markets only and examines the appropriateness of the Markowitz approach based on MV optimization in comparison to the DR framework suggested by Estrada. Therefore, the two frameworks are presented before the properties of the return distributions are analyzed. Afterwards, the risk and return characteristics as well as the allocation of the efficient portfolios in both frameworks and the divergences are analyzed.FindingsBecause of non‐normally distributed returns, negative skewness, and probably non‐quadratic utility functions of investors, MV optimization is not appropriate and the alternative approach by Estrada has its merit compared with other DR frameworks. Furthermore, MV‐efficient and DR‐efficient portfolio allocation differ, as shown by a similarity index. Summarizing, MV optimization is inherent with misleading results and DR optimization shows stronger out‐of‐sample performance – at least during time periods characterized by high market volatility and financial market turmoil.Originality/valueThis study provides some interesting and valuable insights into the DR of international securitized real estate portfolios and the limitations for portfolio management based on MV optimization.

Conflicts in the water sector are now well-known, and also increasingly researched by economists, particularly in relation to major ideological differences over state-run versus privatized municipal systems. A major dividing line is over how to access and sustain the financing required to expand and maintain municipal grids. In the context especially of third world urban processes, a crucial determinant is whether market-based pricing of water can generate health benefits to justify new capital investments. Such benefits have typically required strong public systems that offer adequate water supply (with sufficient proximity to source) at an affordable price. A variety of financial and fiscal pressures emerged since the 1980s, leaving full cost recovery as the core practice required by international aid agencies, multilateral financiers, and multinational corporations. Those firms were attracted by high potential profits which, ultimately, could not be realized (in part because of currency deterioration and profit repatriation problems), and hence systems were not maintained or expanded, and health benefits not realized. As commodification of water spread during the era of globalization, so too did an international civil society network demanding—and often winning— decommodification of water and deglobalization of water-capital, returning service delivery to local public institutions, often on grounds of improved public health. JEL classification:D63, H44, L95, Q25

PurposeThis paper seeks to develop a business model depicting the relationship between harmony, cooperation, and international joint ventures (IJV) performance.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes the form of a quantitative empirical study with the aim of making a contribution to the knowledge of the effects of harmony and cooperation on IJV performance. An interviewer‐administered questionnaire survey method was used for data collection.FindingsThe business model supports the proposed existence that harmony has both direct and indirect effects on IJV performance. While interorganizational harmony directly affects the performance of the company, it promotes cooperation and in turn enhances performance.Research limitations/implicationsOwing to the exploratory nature of this study, the findings are indicative rather than conclusive. Future studies should be conducted to examine the validity and generalizability of this model in other cultural contexts.Practical implicationsThis study provides empirical support for the importance of harmony and cooperation in conducting business in China, and it has significant implications for international marketers. When formulating new venture strategies in the greater China market, the model developed in this study can help to gauge the degrees of harmony and cooperation held by IJV partners.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates and validates the importance of harmony and cooperation in business ventures in general and in the Chinese business environment in particular. This study also signals that there are important implications for future research in emerging or transitional economies.

This decade is witnessing the proliferation of large-scale population-based biobanks. Many biobanks have reached the stage of offering access to their collection of data and samples to the scientific community. This, however, requires that access arrangements be established to govern the relationship between biobanks and users. Access arrangements capture the convergence of all normative elements in the life cycle of a biobank: policies, laws, common practices, commitments made by the biobank to participants, the expectations of funders, and the needs of the scientific community. Furthermore, access arrangements shape new legal agreements between 'biobankers' and researchers to ensure appropriate, regulated and efficient use of biobank materials. This paper begins by examining the particularities of access arrangements, identifying the key elements of these new regulatory instruments. Second, the paper looks at various strategies used by biobanks to regulate access and surveys the underlying motivations of these strategies and the impact they can have on potential international collaboration. Third, an example of the challenges encountered in creating access policy is illustrated using the case of CARTaGENE, a biobank based in Montreal, Canada. Last, the paper presents how Public Population Project in Genomics (P³G) facilitates the work of biobankers and improves collaboration throughout the international human genomics research community.

The purpose of this study is to answer the following question: 'Does US foreign policy undermine peace efforts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories?' Careful observations of US foreign policy during the Oslo Process reveal that the United States has indeed undermined peace efforts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The American position substantially departed from United Nations Resolutions 242 and 338, which the Palestinians were promised would serve as the basis for negotiations. Although the American–Israeli alliance underwent periodic adjustments, American foreign policy has, over the last decade, helped to create a framework in the Middle East wherein only Israeli needs have legitimacy. During the Oslo Process, the United States and Israel have tried to impose Israel's plans on the Palestinians, ignoring United Nations resolutions and the international community. The evidence reveals that US foreign policy was based on double standards and unfair terms. Further, the seeming link between the aid provided by the United States to Israel and the latter's aggressive policies toward the Palestinians makes it appear as though Washington is 'rewarding' such policies, that is, as if Washington is enabling Israel to deny Palestinians' legitimate rights, violate United Nations resolutions and principles of international law, keep its military occupation forces, and expand Jewish settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Research on whistle-blowing in the Norwegian public sector shows remarkable findings compared with international research. A very high proportion of employees blow the whistle when they experience misconduct, and the majority of these people receive positive reactions. Furthermore, a majority of the whistle-blowers report that the conduct that led them to blow the whistle improved. These positive findings are different from those reported in international research displaying that whistle-blowing is difficult, often results in retaliation and is rarely effective. This article seeks to shed light on the positive Norwegian experiences, first by exploring how power resources can help us understand the extent and types of whistle-blowing, the consequences for the whistle-blower and the effectiveness of the practice. Second, the article asks whether a Norwegian model of labour relations promotes a communicative 'culture' where employees can freely voice their opinions and critical remarks, and report misconduct. The findings show that power resources to a little degree can explain whistle-blowing activity and its results. It is plausible to assume that the strong emphasis on collective arrangements and laws reduces the impact of an individual employee's power resources by making the reporting process less arbitrary. Furthermore, it could be argued that the Norwegian model establishes structures for a communication culture that facilitates whistle-blowing.

MAGUREANU A. & PAUNESCU M. (dirs), « Discours et institutions », Revue électronique Internationale Signes, discours et sociétés, n°6 ; International audience ; The article analyzes degrees of institutionalization of news-weblogs (between amateur discourse and professional discourse) from the observation of the treatment of the Woerth/Bettencourt/Mediapart affair (from 5 till 10 July 2010) in the four news-weblogs following: AgoraVox, Rezocitoyen, Rue89 and Vigi-Infos. In a theoretical point of view of analysis of discourse, the article deals with enunciatives identities of these news-weblogs, interdiscursives forms (hypertextuality, other people discourse reporting, circulation of expressions) and interlocutives forms (soliciting visitors' interest) in order to analyze discursive constraints and liberties of writers and news-webloggers in news treatment. ; L'article analyse les degrés d'institutionnalisation des weblogs d'actualité (entre discours amateur et discours professionnel) à partir de l'observation du traitement médiatique de l'affaire Woerth/Bettencourt/Mediapart (du 5 au 10 juillet 2010) dans les quatre weblogs suivants : AgoraVox, Rezocitoyen, Rue89 et Vigi-Infos. Dans un cadre théorique d'analyse du discours, l'article s'intéresse aux identités énonciatives de ces weblogs d'actualité, aux formes interdiscursives (hypertextualité, représentation du discours autre, circulation de formules) et aux formes interlocutives (pour solliciter l'intérêt des internautes) afin d'analyser les contraintes et les libertés discursives des rédacteurs et animateurs dans le traitement de l'information.

In 2009 the European Union (EU) Directive on Renewable Energy placed an obligation on each Member State to ensure that 10% of transport energy (excluding aviation and marine transport) come from renewable sources by 2020. The Irish Government intends to achieve part of this target by making sure that 10% of all vehicles in its transport fleet are powered by electricity by 2020. Stakeholder groups include but are not limited to policy makers, the public, regulatory bodies, participants in the electricity retail market, the transmission and distribution system grid operators, the automotive industry, private enterprise, civil engineers, electrical engineers, electricians, architects, builders, building owners, building developers, building managers, fleet managers and EV owners. Currently it appears both internationally and Nationally the automotive industry is focused on EV manufacture, governments and policy makers have highlighted the potential environmental and job creation opportunities while the electricity sector is preparing for an additional electrical load on the grid system. The focus of this paper is to produce an international EV roadmap. A review of current international best practice and guidelines under consideration or recommended is presented. An update on any EV infrastructure charging equipment standards is also provided. Finally the regulatory modifications to existing National legislation as well as additional infrastructure items which may need control via new regulations are identified.

Mélanges offerts à André Combes ; International audience ; Le tournant du siècle voit l'émergence en Autriche d'un mouvement d'idées qui accentue notablement son indépendance vis-à-vis de la pensée allemande. L'École de Franz Brentano et les disciples d'Ernst Mach contribuent, autour de 1900, à valoriser une identité intellectuelle authentiquement autrichienne. En Allemagne, la culture philosophique repose en grande partie à cette époque sur l'idéalisme métaphysique et fait référence aux idées de Kant, Hegel, Fichte et Schelling qui ne sont pas étrangères à l'émergence du nationalisme germanique. L'Autriche de 1900 s'affirme contre ce courant de pensée avec une originalité et une force qui verront leur épanouissement et leur rayonnement international se manifester pour l'essentiel après la Première Guerre mondiale. Afin de mieux saisir ce que la période environnant immédiatement l'an 1900 peut avoir de singulier, il faut comprendre en quoi elle porte en germe ces jalons primordiaux de la pensée autrichienne de l'Entre-deux guerres qui séparent le Tractatus (1919) de la Logik der Forschung (1935) en passant par le Cercle de Vienne et la pensée économique ou politique d'Otto Bauer ou de Ludwig von Mises. Nous nous attacherons ci-après à étudier la genèse de ce corpus dans la période initiale du siècle, période d'incertitude, de tâtonnement et d'inquiétude finalement féconds. Vers 1900, l'aristotélisme marque en profondeur la pensée autrichienne.

In recent decades, many changes have occurred in the approach to financing and operating water services in developing countries. The demand-responsive approach is now adopted in many countries in a context of donor-supported decentralization processes, which gives more responsibility to end users. However, the government's responsibility at different levels is enforced by the international recognition of the human right to water. This paper examines specific actions that build the role of local government authorities in this scenario. A collaboration between an international NGO and a rural district in Tanzania from 2006 to 2009 is used as an action research case study that is representative of local capacity-building needs in decentralized contexts and rural areas. Three main challenges were detected: i) lack of reliable information; ii) poor allocation of resources in terms of equity; and iii) lack of long-term community management support from the district. Two mechanisms were established: i) water point mapping as a tool for information and planning; and ii) a District Water and Sanitation Unit Support (DWUS) for community management. The results show how the framework provided by the goal of human right to water helps to define useful strategies for equity-oriented planning and post-project support at the local level. ; Peer Reviewed ; Postprint (published version)

Straipsnyje analizuojamos vaikų grobimo Europos Sąjungos valstybėse narėse atvejais taikomos teis­mingumo nustatymo taisyklės, įtvirtintos 2003 m. lapkričio 27 d. Europos Tarybos reglamente (EB) Nr. 2201/2003 dėl jurisdikcijos ir teismo sprendimų, susijusių su santuoka ir tėvų pareigomis, pripažinimo bei vykdymo (sutrumpintai vadinamas Reglamentu Briuselis IIa arba Briuselis IIbis), taip pat Reglamento Briuselis IIa ir 1980 m. Hagos konvencijos "Dėl tarptautinio vaikų grobimo civilinių aspektų" bei šiuos tarptautinės teisės aktus įgyvendinančio 2008 m. lapkričio 13 d. Lietuvos Respublikos civilinį procesą re­glamentuojančių Europos Sąjungos ir tarptautinės teisės aktų įgyvendinimo įstatymo nuostatos, regla­mentuojančios pagrobtų vaikų grąžinimą bei praktinės jų taikymo problemos. The article analyses the rules of jurisdiction in the cases of child abduction within the Member States of the European Union, which are established in Regulation of 27 November 2003 (EC) No 2201/2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgement in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility (abbreviated as Regulation Brussels IIa or Brussels IIbis), as well as the provisions of Regulation Brussels IIa, 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction and 13 November 2008 Law of the Republic of Lithuania, implementing the acts of European Union and inter­national law, regulating civil process, implementing those instruments of international law, regulating the return of abducted children and practical problems of their application.

This paper analyzes how the European Union has responded to Inward Foreign Direct Investment from Emerging Markets, particularly in the so-called Strategic Industries. Attention is focused on two sectors which have long been considered strategic assets by most countries around the world for decades: energy and telecommunications. In order to understand the dynamics of the EU's international investment climate, particularly from the perspective of emerging markets, the paper contains three main levels of analysis. Firstly, the changing international context, in particular, the extent to which IFDI from emerging markets has challenged the status quo of the traditional investment climate, as well as the unfolding financial crisis and economic recession. Secondly, the European authorities, principally the European Commission (EC), as the main institution responsible for forging the European Single Market and ensuring the "four freedoms," (goods, services, capital, and people). Thirdly, individual member state behavior, since it lies with national governments to establish FDI policy, and satisfy domestic political economy and welfare demands. It concludes that, when analysed comparatively, the EU is still one of the world's most open regimes to IFDI and, though there is some evidence of protectionism vis-a-vis IFDI from emerging markets, there is also evidence of protectionism among member state economies themselves.