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Making sense of any particular event in global politics through the lens of international relations theory seems to be the predominant approach and is widely accepted by the epistemic community. However, this article argues that such an approach narrowly limits the comprehensive appreciation of international relations phenomena. Hence, this article seeks to provide an epistemological contribution by adopting an engagement between international relations and international law. Embracing the new approach, the analysis of China's claims in the South China Sea requires a fundamental rethinking about the validity of the claims by examining the China's historic rights, land reclamation, and South China Sea arbitration through the perspectives of international relations and international law. In conclusion, this article contests the traditional approach and offers a new one: an engagement between international relations and international law, which will greatly complement the analyses of both.

"The study deals with eco-labeling systems that have spread faster than other types of new policy instruments. The paper focuses on the diffusion of two different types of eco-labels: 1. general eco-labeling systems such as the German 'Blue Angel' (Blauer Engel), and 2. the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification program. We start with three different explanations for policy convergence: international regimes, regional integration, and global policy diffusion. Policy diffusion is gaining in importance due to the diffusion processes triggered by the emergence of international, intergovernmental, and transnational transfer institutions. It is assumed that governmental or quasi-governmental transfer institutions (general eco-labels) and nongovernmental transfer institutions (FSC label) have similar functions and effects. Our main thesis is that labels can diffuse globally, be decided on, and even implemented at the national level without significant state influence. Furthermore, three success factors for the national performance of eco-labeling schemes are analyzed: 1. the characteristics of policy innovations (costs of labeling etc.), 2. the economic, societal, and political-institutional capacities for action, 3. the co-existence and competition between different eco-labeling systems which can result in converging standards. On this basis some conclusions regarding the overall performance of transnational network organizations, such as the FSC, are drawn." (author's abstract)

The aim of this essay is to highlight the role of propaganda during the conflicts in the contemporary age, particularly during the two World Wars. The propaganda developed during two major conflicts of the '900 as a true 'weapon' and instrument of government policy in international relations, has perfected the techniques of 'news management', and today is a real and relished 'art' applied to guide public opinion in favor of government decisions.

Classical Realism most often is falsely associated with a positivist underpinning of power politics. This article presents a re-reading of selected texts of Morgenthau and argues that Realism has indeed something important to say on real-world normative issues; a capacity of which Realism was denied to do. Starting with Morgenthaus engagement on power and the societal pursuit to escape from it, the article objects the conventional 'Machiavelian-Hobbesian' political science view of Morgenthau in the German speaking academic community. Via the Realist origins of International Relations in the 20th century the article turns towards the normative competence of Morgenthaus Realism and argues with Morgenthau against a pure positivism and utilitarianism in the comprehension of international politics. Adapted from the source document.

Examines the probability of reversing economic deregulation strategies through efforts of international cooperation. Case studies of two international cooperative turnarounds -- the standardization of capital adequacy requirements in international banking, & the establishment of a common withholding tax of interest payments -- are provided. While boundaries dividing national capital markets were worn down in both cases, the multilateral banking regulation was successfully implemented, whereas the multilateral withholding tax was defeated. It is contended that fundamental strategic differences are responsible for the variance between the cases; specifically, collective action in the banking case would have adequately benefited Anglo-American-Japanese interests, thus encouraging extensive multilateral cooperation. Thomas Schelling's (1978) diagram of multiactor games are employed to determine the facility & favorable conditions of implementing cooperative turnarounds. 3 Figures, 26 References. J. W. Parker

COMPARISONS BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION AND INTEGRATIVE PROCESSES ON LOWER SOCIAL LEVELS OR IN OTHER SOCIAL SECTORS HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED IN THE RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGRATION THEORY, INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION HERE IS COMPARED WITH THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIPURPOSE OR ALL-PURPOSE INTEREST GROUPS.

Der Themenbereich Afrika, Asien und Lateinamerika nimmt mit unterschiedlichen Akzentsetzungen einen wichtigen Stellenwert in der deutschen Erwachsenenbildung ein. Der Deutsche Volkshochschul-Verband hat durch seine Fachstelle für Internationale Zusammenarbeit seit 1977 wesentliche Unterstützung zu Ansätzen interkulturellen Lernens gegeben. (DIPF/Orig.)