Suchergebnisse

"This book examines Sino-African relations with a focus on China's active role in fostering economic and infrastructural development in Africa. It discusses the neo-colonialist implications of this relationship and the consequences for both sides."

Exploring the partnership between the agriculture and social welfare sectors
The intrinsic value of the partnership between agriculture and social welfare sectors can help us to enrich the way that we work, and how we think about work. As an equivalent to what is called "social farming" or "care farming" in the West, the term "partnership between agriculture and social welfare" has now entered the regular Japanese vocabulary. The advocates emphasize its advantage of linking the shorthanded agricultural sector with the people excluded from the existing labor market by offering job opportunities to them. The article in the preceding issue illustrated that the intrinsic value of the partnership between agriculture and social welfare is not limited to such an advantage, mentioning my own initiative targeted at homeless laborers and young trainees receiving employment support. However, I also faced several challenges, which may be inevitable when urban dwellers without rural background attempt farm work.

This work analyses the relationship between the European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries which includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine. We propose to move beyond the center-periphery and external governance models which presume the hierarchical, power-based relations. The specific conditions of the region require us also consider Russia's role in the region as well as local factors of the Eastern Partnership countries which can challenge EU integration. The theory of linkage and leverage is used to analyze the complex interactions between the EU, Eastern Partnership countries, and Russia. The Eastern Partnership Index demonstrates that Eastern Partnership countries have rather intensive linkages with the EU, especially Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. The resource revenues allow Azerbaijan to be less dependent on both Russia and the EU, but its trade relations are closer to the EU. While Belarus and Armenia have more intensive linkages with Russia and Russia's leverage for these two states is more powerful.

Globalization demands a global diplomacy adaptable to regional requirements. In the Asia-Pacific area the close engagement between the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States of America (US) remains a key foundation for regional peace, security and prosperity.For ASEAN the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South-East Asia (TAC) is a legal code of conduct governing relations in the region. The US acceded to the TAC in 2009. That was a very significant symbol of collective political commitment offering useful juridical foundations for the implementation of the Joint Vision Statement on the ASEAN-US Enhanced Partnership released in November 2005. This partnership must continuously be adapted to new dynamics and realities.By the Joint Statement of the 4th ASEAN-US Leaders' Meeting of November 20, 2012, the door was officially open to elevate this partnership to a strategic level. The US endorsed ASEAN centrality in future attempts to build a new regional architecture. Defining a long-term workable and comprehensive strategy requires more energetic diplomatic efforts from all parties for deepening and broadening multi-dimensional cooperation in South-East Asia in the years to come.

Project Green Vietnam is a result of several years of collaboration between Växjö municipality and An Giang province in Vietnam. The project is financed by the municipal partnership cooperation ICLD (Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy). Municipal partnership is a form of cooperation financed by Sida with the purpose to have an exchange of knowledge and to promote the democratic process and a sustainable society. The three-year project's overall goal is to achieve an improved waste management and planning capabilities that contribute to sustainable waste management in the city of Long Xuyen, An Giang province. The project objective is to guide the development of a Waste Management Plan where relevant objectives, methods and activities are defined. The Waste Management Plan must then lead to an increased capacity to establish a functioning waste management system in Long Xuyen. It is crucial that there must also be a mutual interest in partnership in which Swedish municipalities and regions benefits from the projects. The benefits could be such as: building the skills of municipal officials and politicians, developing methods, the contribution to a global and sustainable development through good practices, exchange ideas with other experts who have a different perspective, be inspired to new solutions, learning to work on international arena, and creates the attractiveness of the municipality as an employer. ; Project Green Vietnam is a result of several years of collaboration between Växjö municipality and An Giang province in Vietnam. The project is financed by the municipal partnership cooperation ICLD (Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy). Municipal partnership is a form of cooperation financed by Sida with the purpose to have an exchange of knowledge and to promote the democratic process and a sustainable society. The three-year project's overall goal is to achieve an improved waste management and planning capabilities that contribute to sustainable waste management in the city of Long Xuyen, An Giang province. The project objective is to guide the development of a Waste Management Plan where relevant objectives, methods and activities are defined. The Waste Management Plan must then lead to an increased capacity to establish a functioning waste management system in Long Xuyen. It is crucial that there must also be a mutual interest in partnership in which Swedish municipalities and regions benefits from the projects. The benefits could be such as: building the skills of municipal officials and politicians, developing methods, the contribution to a global and sustainable development through good practices, exchange ideas with other experts who have a different perspective, be inspired to new solutions, learning to work on international arena, and creates the attractiveness of the municipality as an employer.

This study explored a social partnership between Ghanaian and US universities. Through qualitative narratives, participants reported the partnership developed professional and social relationships, but cited problems in preparedness. Findings point to the importance of faculty perceptions in developing academic partnerships and the need for strong relationships in early phases of social partnerships.