Suchergebnisse

This thesis examines cultural statecraft in Russian foreign policy. In International Relations, the recently established concept of cultural statecraft is connected to exercising power and especially to the discussion on soft power. In this thesis, cultural statecraft is examined as part of Russian foreign policy. In addition, Russian cultural statecraft towards Kazakhstan is examined. The main objectives of the study are to introduce and analyze the concept of cultural statecraft, provide a framework for Russian cultural statecraft, and analyze Russian cultural statecraft towards Kazakhstan. Qualitative content analysis is chosen as the research method for this thesis. Discussion on soft power and economic statecraft provide the background for understanding cultural statecraft. Critique towards and challenges of the concept of soft power are discussed, after which cultural statecraft is presented as an alternative concept to study foreign policy of states. Cultural statecraft is understood as influence attempts conducted by states. Means of cultural statecraft include either positive or negative non-military and non-economic measures. In this thesis, cultural statecraft is analyzed in the context of Russian foreign policy. In order to outline Russian cultural statecraft, previous literature on the discussion on Russian soft power is investigated. In addition, Russian foreign policy documents are examined. Russian cultural statecraft is understood as influence attempts targeted mainly towards post-Soviet countries. Three means of Russian cultural statecraft are specified: the Russian language, media, and compatriots. After the general analysis of Russian cultural statecraft, the analysis focuses on Russian cultural statecraft towards Kazakhstan. Findings of the thesis suggest that examples of all means of Russian cultural statecraft, namely the Russian language, Russian mass media, and compatriots, are found in Kazakhstan. The Russian language is seen as an especially important part of Russian cultural statecraft in post-Soviet countries. The Russian media enhances Russian presence in Kazakhstan but if views provided by both Russian and Kazakhstani media are similar, significance of Russian media as means of influence is ambiguous. Although Russian compatriots themselves are not utilized as instruments of Russian cultural statecraft to maintain the Russian language and culture abroad, they still contribute to Russian foreign policy aims. In Kazakhstan, the means of Russian cultural statecraft contribute to the preservation of the Russian sphere of influence.

Kollektiv transport er en særdeles udbredt og velkendt måde, at sikre transportmæssig sammenhæng for den brede befolkning i både byer og købstæder. Selv i landområder giver det god mening i det mindste at tilbyde nogle strategiske rejseveje, som forbindes og suppleres med mere behovsstyret transporttilbud. At få flere mennesker til, at anvende de kollektive transportmidler anses bredt, både politisk og videnskabeligt, for at kunne reducere antallet af ture i særligt personbiler og bl.a. kunne frigøre plads i hårdt pressede byer med stor daglig trængsel, som resulterer i mange spildte timer på vejene hver dag. Desuden er det et helt centralt initiativ for at nå de klimamål som bl.a. EU og FN har fastsat og dermed gennemføre den grønne omstilling af transportområdet. For at understøtte denne omstilling er det nødvendigt, at den kollektive transport bliver mere attraktiv og kan konkurrere med de fordele, en personbil tilbyder. Der er mange kritikpunkter at adressere, f.eks. rejsetid, tilgængelighed, komfort og god og præcis rejseinformation. Disse skal hver især løbende adresseres og forbedres, for at kollektiv transport kan blive, og ikke mindst forblive, et relevant, konkurrencedygtigt og grønt alternativ til personbiler. Denne ph.d.-afhandling omhandler særligt forbedring af rejseinformation, mere specifikt præcise og robuste prognoser for ankomst- og afgangstider for busser, som bl.a. deler vejbaner med den øvrige transport, og derfor naturligt er svære at forudsige. Desuden behandles andre emner også, som kan være med til at adressere flere af de øvrige punkter, herunder bedre sikring af skift mellem to kollektive transportformer, som kan reducere rejsetid og kortlægning af rejseadfærd, som kan hjælpe med at indrette det kollektive transportsystem til at passe bedre til borgernes egentlige behov. Afhandlingen er inddelt i tre dele: i) I den første del præsenteres nyskabende metoder og modeller til at danne primært kort-tids prognoser for ankomst- og afgangstider, ii) i den anden del videreudvikles denne tilgang ved at undersøge fordele og ulemper ved at kombinere flere enkeltstående modeller i et samlet prognosesystem samt den industrielle anvendelse, mens iii) den sidste del omhandler anvendelsen af lokationsdata og maskinlærings-modeller til bedre at forstå rejseadfærd. Mere uddybende omhandler den første del tilvejebringelsen af flere nye metoder og modeller, som hver især bidrager med forbedrede prognoser for bus-rejsetid og dermed mere præcise ankomst- og afgangstider for busser. Alle modellerne bygger på forskellige innovative maskinlærings-teknikker og benytter store datamængder til at lære mønstre og sammenhænge fra tidligere observerede buslokationsdata. Til sidst udvikles også modeller, som håndterer den variation, der naturligt er i rejsetider, til bedre at kunne kvantificere usikkerheden i ankomsten. Denne information anvendes konkret til at vise, hvordan et ekspert-system kan forbedre skift mellem busser ved at prioritere holdetid på en intelligent måde. Anden del udbygger denne tilgang fra et mere anvendt og operationelt perspektiv ved at præsentere et koncept for et samlet prognosesystem, hvor flere uafhængige basismodeller kan samarbejde og konkurrere for at opnå et samlet mere funktionelt, robust og præcist system. Der argumenteres for, at dette system i højere grad kan anvendes inden for de eksisterede vilkår i branchen. Der præsenteres nødvendige designvalg for at implementere et sådant system på en skalerbar, robust og omkostningseffektiv måde, og et fuldt operationelt og open source-system leveres som en del af ph.d.-projektet. Tredje og sidste del omhandler to sideløbende studier, som relaterer sig til de forudgående dele ved at kombinere lokationsdata og avancerede maskinlærings-teknikker, men fokuserer på rejseadfærd. Det første studie omhandler estimering af gangtider ved skift fra bus til tog. Der anvendes en model til at skelne mellem passagerer, der foretager et direkte skift, og dermed repræsenterer den faktiske gangtid mellem bus og tog, og den samlede gruppe som også indeholder en mængde passagerer, som foretager aktiviteter under et skift, f.eks. indkøb, besøg i nabolaget osv. Til sidst præsenteres en metode til at klassificere en sekvens af positioner indsamlet via smartphones i enten et ophold eller bevægelse. Dette er et væsentligt skridt for at opbygge automatiske rejsedagbøger fra smartphones, som potentielt udgør en stor og indsigtsfuld kilde om rejseadfærd og kan understøtte beslutningstagere og rådgivere i planlægningen af den kollektive transport, og transportområdet generelt. Overordnet konkluderes det, at avancerede og nyudviklede metoder og modeller til at forudsige bussers ankomst- og afgangstider kan forbedre præcisionen markant, men at de ofte også er urealistiske at adoptere og produktionssætte i praksis, da der forudsættes en række betingelser, som sjældent er sande i virkelige scenarier. Den forslåede multimodel- tilgang løser nogle af disse udfordringer, dog ved at gå på delvist kompromis med præcisionen. En anden vigtig konklusion er, at modellering af usikkerheden i visse tilfælde kan tilføjes uden mærkbar konsekvens for beregningstiden og kan anvendes til intelligent håndtering bl.a. i forbindelse med skift i den kollektive transport. Afslutningsvis konkluderes det yderligere, at de to studier om kombination af lokationsdata og maskinlæringsteknikker kan afsløre detaljerede informationer om rejseadfærd, som ikke anses realistiske at indhente ved de manuelle alternativer. Derved udgør de en automatisk og omkostningslet kilde til en bred og detaljeret indsigt i rejseadfærden. ; Climate change is a complex global challenge that cuts across a range of sectors and activities. For governments, addressing this type of issue is particularly difficult because of the high level of fragmentation of their bureaucracies and administrative structures, which is not conducive to the integrated activities that are necessary for effective climate action. Consequently, there is a growing recognition that integrating climate change across established policy fields is necessary to meet climate-change goals. This awareness has become highly relevant in the context of the implementation of the Paris Agreement, according to which countries must introduce adequate policies to fulfil the mitigation commitments they have made voluntarily in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Against this background, the aim of this thesis is to examine the factors influencing climate policy integration (CPI) in developing countries from the perspective of public policy-making processes. In doing so, the thesis focuses on understanding the mechanisms leading to specific instances of policy change where sectoral policy outputs in the direction of CPI emerge. Furthermore, the thesis continues this analysis through the policy-implementation phase by proposing a conceptualization of the relationship between policy mixes and policy outcomes that addresses the agency of incumbent firms in shaping policy-mix outcomes. The research topic is investigated by means of different case studies presented in three journal articles and one book chapter that form part of this thesis. First, Paper 1 analyses the usefulness of John Kingdon's multiple streams framework (MSF) to understanding policy change in the direction of CPI in developing countries. It does so through a document analysis of two climate-mainstreaming initiatives implemented by international cooperation organizations in developing countries. Findings from Paper 1 show that the MSF is a suitable framework to analyse CPI, however it does not consider the potential effects of transnational governance on national policy processes, such as international trade agreements, global climate-policy negotiations under the umbrella of the UNFCCC, or the role or international cooperation organisations. In the light of these findings, Paper 2 combines the MSF with insights from the literature on policy expansion and dismantling to analyse the integration of climate-change considerations into energy policy. It specifically examines the factors influencing the enactment of the law on the energy transition in 2015 in Mexico as an example of a specific instance of policy change in the direction of CPI. Also informed by the results of Paper 1, in Paper 3 I supplement the analytical framework with insights from the literature on transnational policy influence on domestic policy processes and analyse the potential effects of the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on domestic CPI. Findings from Paper 2 show that the MSF has been helpful in understanding the mechanisms through which the law on the energy transition was approved in Mexico. Think tanks and NGOs, acting as policy entrepreneurs, employed diverse strategies to push for the approval of this law, which explicitly integrates climate mitigation objectives in the energy sector. Policy entrepreneurs framed the proposal as a solution to the increasing costs of meeting the growing demand for energy in the context of uncertainty about oil reserves. They softened up the system for years by participating in forums, generating feasibility studies, and deploying mass media campaigns, as well as identifying COP 21 in 2015 as a conjunctural moment that opened a policy window through which to push the law's enactment. These findings show that climate-transnational governance may influence the national energy policy-making process through the agency of domestic policy entrepreneurs. Furthermore, Paper 3 shows that, given political conditions in the US, the renegotiation of NAFTA did not incorporate climate provisions into the trade agreement, which could have influenced domestic policy processes. Finally, Paper 4 extends the analysis to the policy-implementation stage by combining insights from the literature on policy mixes for sustainability transitions and incentives and opportunities for incumbent firms' diversification. It uses a case study to analyse the effects of the policy mix for grid-connected bagasse cogeneration in Mexico on sugar firms' diversification strategies. The analysis focused on the agency of sugar firms by examining the firm-specific factors that create either incentives or opportunities to deploy resources to diversify from the firm's core business activities (sugar production) into grid-connected bagasse cogeneration. The results showed that the variation found in firms' diversification strategies depended on the different firm-specific incentives and opportunities (e.g., growth plans of core business, technological assets, infrastructural assets, etc.). However, the specific set of incentives and opportunities that motivated firms to invest in sustainable technology varied as the policy mix changed over time. Furthermore, credibility in the policy mix was a necessary condition for firms to diversify, regardless of their firm-specific factors. The overall findings of the thesis point to the value of theories of the policy process in order to inform the analysis of CPI in developing countries. Theories of the policy process provide an analytical starting point to understand the factors and mechanisms leading to specific instances of policy change in the direction of CPI. However, it is important to remain critical about the validity of these theories when applied in different contexts, to identify their shortcomings, and to explore and test additional concepts that could enhance and nuance the analysis of CPI in developing countries.

This article discusses the implementation of fisheries policies related to local government management. The results show that the Cambodian government needs to pay attention to incentives for local entrepreneurs. As a manager, the district government has the authority to carry out the functions delegated to him from the provincial government. Likewise with regents who have many tasks, it is necessary to delegate part of their authority to the officials below them. In implementing regional government policies that focus on implementation, it will indirectly improve the performance of fisheries management policies. Empowerment of fishermen should also be directed to provide alternative solutions for fishermen during the dry season. The hope is that fishermen who are poor and vulnerable to being categorized as poor can improve their welfare. In the government system, top level management gives authority to lower management to carry out certain functions. It's been done well. Potential fishery resources need to be managed legally in the form of regional political decisions. Political decisions that are translated into district regulations are a form of local government policy.

EXAMINES JAPANESE DEFENSE POLICY AND SOME OF THE FACTORS WHICH MAY PRODUCE CHANGES IN THIS POLICY. JAPAN'S DEFENSE POLICY HAS REMAINED STABLE, BUT PRESENT INTERSTATE RELATIONSHIPS MAY CHANGE THIS. JAPANESE POLICY IS PULLED BY TWO CONFLICTING GOALS, ONE IS REACISM, TO WATCH THE POLICIES OF OTHER NATION, IN SETTING POLICY, THE OT AER IS IDEALISM, THE DESIRE TO SET AN EXAMPLE IN POLICES.

This article tests a theory of how key characteristics of a policy tool under debate magnify the importance of particular elements of the policymaking context in U.S. states. In particular, it is expected that state use of more visible policy tools will depend on the economic context in the state, whereas state use of more coercive policy tools will vary with the ideological and partisan context in the state. These hypotheses are tested in a policy area for which states employ a range of distinct policy tools—early childhood education policy. Pooling data from all 50 states at four time points (N = 200), hierarchical linear models are estimated to examine the variation and change in states' use of four policy tools—focusing in particular on the degree of visibility and coerciveness of each tool. As expected, wealthier states typically make use of more visible tools; however, when poorer states experienced economic growth, they expanded less visible policy tools more often than visible tools. Politically liberal states used the primary coercive tool more often than conservative states; less coercive tools expanded under Democratic Party control. This empirical test of commonly accepted theories of the politics of policy tool choices reveals complex relationships between politics and policy, contributing to a fuller description of how the characteristics of the policies under consideration can actually alter the way that "politics determines policy" and "policy determines politics" in U.S. states.