Suchergebnisse

The study & theorization of leadership effects on electoral outcomes have only recently come to be regarded as significant. To augment this body of research, this paper examines the potential impact of political leaders on voting behavior outside of legislative contests -- in this case, the 1999 Australian constitutional referendum. Also considered is the extent to which noninstitutional but well-known political figures may affect popular political behavior. 3 Tables, 16 References. K. Coddon

This study examines the influence of individual-level characteristics on the spiral of silence effect in Singapore. In a representative telephone poll of 668 adults conducted in Singapore in Sept 2000, respondents were asked to indicate how likely they would be to publicly discuss two controversial issues: interracial marriage & equal rights for homosexuals. Based on the assumption that outspokenness is largely a function of a person's psychological predispositions, the proposed model for predicting outspokenness adds a variety of new predictors, such as culturally influenced self-concepts, fear of isolation, fear of authority, & communication apprehension. Other more traditional predictors of outspokenness, such as a person's perception of the opinion climate, media exposure, issue salience, & demographics, were also included in the analysis. The findings provide partial support for the spiral of silence hypothesis. That is, the respondents' perception of the future opinion climate in Singapore interacts with their assessment of how important the issue is in influencing their level of outspokenness. The findings also indicate that outspokenness is associated with respondents' self-concept of interdependence, their fear of becoming socially isolated, their communication apprehension, & their perceived importance of the issue. Media exposure, however, is not associated with outspokenness. 3 Tables, 46 References. Adapted from the source document.

This article develops an analysis of the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, active in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico. Taking recent reflections on neoliberal globalisation and resistance as its point of departure, questions are raised about how the EZLN movement is a response to specific historical circumstances in Chiapas; how the EZLN is a response to the restructuring of the capitalist system on a global scale; and how it is probing the social and political found ations of a future order by challenging the legitimacy and authority of the Mexican state. The article proceeds along two main lines of inquiry in order to emphasise the past, present and future dimensions of the EZLN movement. Firstly, the roots of the rebellion are situated within changing relations of production that affected Chiapas in the 1970s, which led to a grow th of radical peasant organisations. The more immediate context of the rebellion is also discussed in relation to the restructuring of capital in Mexico represented by the rise of neoliberalism and increased coercion throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Secondly, the innovative methods of struggle developed by the EZLN are analysed within the categories of counter-hegemonic resistance developed by Antonio Gramsci. Overall, these various aspects of the EZLN are discussed to show how the movement has mounted a critique of social power relations within Mexico as well as the conditions of world order by contesting and resisting neoliberal globalisation.

Books reviewed:Philip Stiles and Bernard Taylor, Boards at Work – how directors view their roles and responsibilitiesRobert Monks, The New Global InvestorsElaine Sternberg, Just Business: Business Ethics in Action

South Korea is currently undergoing reform of its corporate governance (CG) system, reflecting attempts to harmonise at a global level. Since the financial crisis in 1997, the need for reform has been emphasised and the Government is leading a policy which targets the traditional structure of the chaebol, as well as the system of corporate ownership and control in South Korea. In this paper, we outline the traditional system of CG in South Korea and review the broad agenda for CG reform which is currently taking place. From our review, we develop a conceptual framework which makes the implicit CG reforms in South Korea explicit. The framework comprises two inter–related models which represent the forces driving reform, the need for reform and the specific initiatives instrumental to reform. On the basis of our review and conceptual framework, we conclude by making a number of policy recommendations for the future direction of CG reform in South Korea. Specifically, we suggest a policy of corporate governance awareness involving a more penetrating policy of reform and incorporating the establishment of a CG forum. Our recommended policy should result in the reforms working from within the chaebol and CG system, rather than from without. For reform to have a permanent effect, the policies need to address the business culture, traditions and internal structure of the system. We suggest that this can only be achieved by increasing general awareness of the need for CG and the reasons underlying the current policy as well as by nurturing mutual trust and understanding between the parties involved.