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The absence of representation from the sex industry in efforts to address the commercial sexual exploitation of children is striking. "Voices" that get heard are generally limited to survivor testimony, while those who are currently in "the life" are excluded, despite the fact that many enter into prostitution underage and would have been defined as child sex trafficking victims under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This article explores the silencing effect of conflating prostitution with sex trafficking, the ways in which sex workers might contribute to addressing the commercial sexual exploitation of children as "allies," and the ethical responsibility of social workers in anti-trafficking work.

Purpose
This study aims to examine the positive and negative consequences of relationship closeness between salespersons and their business customers in a B2B sales context: sales performance and salesperson passive opportunism.


Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the social exchange theory, the authors develop a conceptual model of positive and negative consequences of relationship closeness. The authors empirically test the model using matched survey data from 269 salesperson-sales supervisor dyads and individual sales performance ratings from one of the largest distribution and market expansion companies in Myanmar.


Findings
Results provide evidence of positive (i.e. sales performance) and negative (i.e. salesperson passive opportunism) consequences of salesperson's perceived relationship closeness. These relationships are, however, contingent on organization-level and employee-level factors. High extent of supervision enhances the effects of salesperson's perceived relationship closeness on sales performance but attenuates its influence on salesperson passive opportunism. The effect of salesperson's perceived relationship closeness on salesperson's passive opportunism is stronger for salespersons with a promotion (vs prevention) focus.


Research limitations/implications
The results offer guidelines to firms seeking to optimize the efficacy of close relationships between their salespersons and customers. For example, higher levels of supervision could increase the likelihood of positive outcomes of relationship closeness while minimizing its negative consequences.


Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate not only the benefits of relationship closeness between salespersons and customers but also its dark side: the relationship closeness paradox.

In this paper we examine the use of social media, and especially Twitter, in Iran, Tunisia and Egypt during the mass political demonstrations and protests in June 2009, December 2010 - January 2011, and February 2011, respectively. We compare this usage with methods and findings from other studies on the use of Twitter in emergency situations, such as natural and man-made disasters. We draw on our own experiences and participant-observations as an eyewitness in Iran (first author), and on Twitter data from Iran, Tunisia and Egypt. In these three cases, Twitter filled a unique technology and communication gap at least partially. We summarize suggested directions for future research with a view of placing this work in the larger context of social media use in conditions of crisis and social convergence.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how salesperson's emotional intelligence (EI) influences salesperson behaviors (i.e. emotional labor strategies) and the influence these behavioral strategies have on customer's outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe study develops a conceptual model using past literature and tests hypotheses using a salesperson-prospective customer dyadic sample. To participate in the study, 224 salespeople and their potential customers were recruited from three different companies.FindingsResults reveal the importance of conceptualizing the dimensionality of a salesperson's EI ability, as different dimensions impact customer outcomes differently. Additionally, the importance of salesperson's authentic emotional labor strategies is highlighted.Practical implicationsEI is a foundation for successful selling in a business-to-business environment, but it is not a silver bullet. Sales managers and recruiters should use assessment tools to evaluate sales recruit's EI, but it is also critical to train salespeople to engage in deep acting, creating authentic emotions in the buyer-seller relationship.Originality/valueUsing a dyadic sample, this study suggests that the dimensions of EI and emotional labor strategies influence customer's perception of salesperson's trustworthiness and propensity to continue the relationship with the salesperson differently. Specifically, not all dimensions of salesperson's EI is found to be positive, and only salesperson's authentic (deep) emotional strategies are found to influence customer outcomes positively.

[spa] La presente tesis doctoral estudia el significado y las relaciones que se establecen entre los conceptos de «globalización», «democracia» y «emancipación social» en la teoría social y política crítica de Boaventura de Sousa Santos. Para alcanzar este objetivo, se realiza un análisis global y comprensivo de la sociología emancipadora del teórico portugués que busca describir, contextualizar, problematizar y valorar el nuevo sentido común político participativo, intercultural y solidario propuesto por el sociólogo. De esta manera, la investigación muestra cómo el proyecto de teoría crítica de Santos es portador de una nueva cultura política radicalmente democrática que en el contexto de los procesos hegemónicos y contrahegemónicos de globalización hace de la desmercantilización, la descolonización y la democratización los instrumentos clave para la reinvención de la emancipación social y la construcción de nuevos y más justos órdenes políticos, sociales y culturales. ; [cat] La present tesi doctoral estudia el significat i les relacions que s'estableixen entre els conceptes de «globalització», «democràcia» i «emancipació social» a la teoria social i política crítica de Boaventura de Sousa Santos. Amb aquest objectiu, es realitza una anàlisi global i comprensiva de la sociologia emancipadora del teòric portuguès que cerca descriure, contextualitzar, problematitzar i valorar el nou sentit comú polític participatiu, intercultural i solidari proposat pel sociòleg. D'aquesta manera, la investigació mostra com el projecte de teoria crítica de Santos és portador d'una nova cultura política radicalment democràtica que en el context dels processos hegemònics i contrahegemònics de globalització fa de la desmercantilització, la descolonització i la democratització els instruments claus per a la reinvenció de l'emancipació social i la construcció de nous i més justos ordres polítics, socials i culturals. ; [por] A presente tese de doutorado estuda o significado e as relações que se estabelecem entre os conceitos de «globalização», «democracia» e «emancipação social» na teoria social e política crítica de Boaventura de Sousa Santos. Para se alcançar este objectivo, é realizada uma análise global da sociologia emancipadora do teórico português com vista a descrever, contextualizar, problematizar e avaliar o novo senso comum político participativo, intercultural e solidario proposto pelo sociólogo. Assim, a pesquisa mostra como o projecto da teoria crítica de Santos desenvolve uma nova cultura política radicalmente democrática que no contexto dos processos hegemónicos e contra-hegemónicos de globalização faz da desmercantilização, da descolonização e da democratização os instrumentos chave para a reinvenção da emancipação social e a construção de novas e mais justas ordens políticas, sociais e culturais. ; [eng] In this doctoral thesis, I explore the meaning and the relationships established between the concepts of «globalization», «democracy» and «social emancipation» in the social and political critical theory of Boaventura de Sousa Santos. In order to attain this aim, I have comprehensively analyse the emancipative sociology of the Portuguese theorist in which I seek to describe, contextualise, problematise and evaluate the participatory, intercultural and supportive new political common sense proposed by the sociologist. Likewise, the research shows how the project of critical theory of Santos puts the basis to build a radically democratic new political culture. In the context of hegemonic and counter-hegemonic processes of globalisation, this new political culture makes the processes of de-commodification, decolonisation and democratisation the key instruments for the reinvention of social emancipation and the construction of new and more just political, social and cultural orders.

Mutual obligation recognises the interdependence of individuals, communities and broader social groupings. All members of society — government, business, community organisations, families and individuals — have obligations to each other (McClure Report, 2000a: 51).