Suchergebnisse

Based on a case study of managers in a large, international knowledge-intensive company this article suggests a rethinking of leadership, taking the mundane, almost trivial, aspects of what managers/leaders actually do seriously. In the study, the managers interviewed emphasized the importance of listening and informal chatting. Managers listening to subordinates are assumed to have various positive effects, e.g. people feel more respected, visible and less anonymous, and included in teamwork. Rather than certain acts being significant in themselves, it is their being done by managers that gives them a special, emotional value beyond their everyday significance. Leadership is conceptualized as the extra-ordinarization of the mundane.

This paper examines the problems involved in developing collective bargaining in the traditionally non‐union environment of the strategically important UK offshore oil industry. In doing so it provides evidence on the success of the "new", stakeholder industrial relations environment established by the present UK government. Drawing on an in‐depth insight into management and union strategies gained from action research, the paper documents the attempt to establish a collective agreement and a partnership approach to industrial relations in the drilling sector of the North Sea offshore oil industry, a sector which has had no previous history of unionisation. In doing the research provides evidence partnership policy, the literature on union recognition and the process of negotiation in international organisations.

This paper makes the distinction between micro-focused unions and macro-focused unions, with the latter emphasizing full employment and competitiveness for the economy. It examines the micro-foundation of the macro-focused labor movement, which calls for certain conditions or arrangements conducive to, and the instruments needed for, the establishment and survival of macro-focused unions. The consequences and outcomes in an industrial relations regime in which macro-focused unions prevail are also examined, and measures for countering the free rider problem suggested. The main conclusion is that a macro-focused labor movement is a strategic partner with the government in enhancing international competitiveness, an option which is superior to an exchange rate policy.

Using an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective, this study explores the dynamics of conflict and its resolution in a group of American professional organizations. The analysis is performed on a convenience sample of 318 professionals. The context for the study covers seminal studies on organizational conflict in national and international settings. Issues explored include the prevalence and intensity of conflict; relationships among power, cliques, and conflict; the use of non-professional decision criteria in professional decisions and their implications for conflict; and conflict resolution styles. The results point out several new directions that may contribute toward the development of a more comprehensive social-psychological theory of organizational conflict.

What are the effects of increased stuctural integration of international trade on the environment of relatively poorer countries, particularly in the southern hemisphere? This is the key question addressed by Corey Lofdahl in his book Environmental Impacts of Globalization and Trade:A Systems Study. Given the theme for this special issue of the Journal of World-Systems Research, a discussion and evaluation of this book seems rather timely and relevant. An immediate fact of interest is that Lofdahl is not an environmental sociologist, let alone acquainted with relevant empirical works grounded in a world-systems perspective. Rather, he is trained as a political scientist, and works in the simulation and information technology sector.

This short paper examines the Howard government's engagement with the World Trade Organization through the prism of two events: the S11 anti‐globalisation protests and the 11 September terrorist attacks against the United States. Several policy dilemmas are highlighted including: concerns about the accountability and legitimacy of global political institutions (democratic deficit); the government's reluctance to expand public participation in trade policy‐making; and the preference for bilateral rather than multilateral trade agreements. Together these developments have undermined Australia's commitment to multilateralism and a "rules‐based" system for international trade, and have subjected Australia to the asymmetries of power that were traditionally mitigated by global political institutions.

Locating the African political scene within the new global paradigm of the war on terrorism, we inquire into the impact of the events of 9/11 on the international relations of African states within emerging new transnational forces, centering on American foreign policy toward Africa and on possible scenarios of African responses. We explore pressures and opportunities emerging and contemplate practical reactions by a new generation of African leaders. Africans have a stake in resisting terrorism and playing a role in a winning coalition. Their interests in development, security, open societies, and decent governance are enhanced by cooperation in the war on terrorism that also include elements of the African diaspora and the North American Africanist community.

This article attempts to explore how changes in the UN's mission may
force it to rethink its responsibilities in terms of human rights. Until
recently, the UN had never thought of itself as actually capable
of violating human rights. But a number of evolutions have made
this a possibility. Starting with peace operations and culminating
with the international administration of entire territories, the UN
is increasingly taking on sovereign-like functions. This evolution
may be seen as a larger metaphor for what the UN is becoming, from a
traditional inter-governmental organization to one increasingly entrusted
with tasks of global governance. With these new powers, it would seem,
come new responsibilities.

D'une exploitation restée longtemps harmonieuse et équilibrée, parce que limitée à ses grandes fonctions naturelles et à ses capacités, le fleuve Niger subit, depuis quelques décennies, une pression de pôles d'activités et d'usages nouveaux, perturbant les caractéristiques, la structure et le fonctionnement de ses écosystèmes. L'Initiative Bassin du Niger (IBN) est un programme de partenariat environnemental entre WWF, Wetlands International et la Fondation Nigériane de la Conservation (NCF). C'est une approche stratégique qui vise essentiellement à garantir la gestion rationnelle et la pérennité des écosystèmes d'eau douce et de la biodiversité à l'échelle du bassin du Niger, un des carrefours environnementaux des plus importants du continent et l'une des principale sources à caractère hydrologique dans la région subsaharienne.

In December 2001, Argentina experienced a decisive crisis. A financial collapse accelerated by the massive flight of capital and the IMF denial of a new loan was followed by a popular insurrection which, by putting forward the slogan ¡que se vayan todos, que no quede ni uno solo! forced the resignation of national authorities. Whilst Duhalde's provisional government is negotiating the conditions for international financial support, faced with inflation and the rise of the dollar exchange rate, social mobilisation is expanding in new forms. This paper argues that the popular insurrection of December 2001 opened a space for the reinvention of the political as negative politics, the asambleas barriales constituting one example of this.

The article is devoted to verification of the Chinese GDP data. The author compares the rates of GDP growth with the rates of growth of energy consumption, transport turnover of goods, and numbers of projected and constructed objects in 1980-2000. The former was significantly lower during that period. He also analyses the level of using productive capacities and the quality of production. About 25-30% of industrial productive capacities are not used because there is neither national nor international demand for their low quality goods. The main conclusion of the article is that the Chinese GDP real size is about 20-30% less than official releases.

This article focuses on the progress of the Portuguese economy under Salazar's successor, Marcelo Caetano (1968-74). It examines some of its chief features of economic development in this period, noting that change was often double-edged and created new problems and challenges.
Eventually, the direction of the economy became another issue that divided the supporters of the dictatorship as the international crisis triggered by the oil price rises imposed by OPEC in 1973 blew the regime's economic strategy off course. It is argued here that, while it was not
the principal reason for Caetano's demise, the state of the economy did play a significant part in weakening the regime's foundations.

There is a growing interest in the comparison of international health care data with the hope that such studies will enable individual systems to learn from other systems. There are, however, few rigorous comparative studies of health care systems. There is little evidence to suggest which model is to be preferred in what circumstances. This paper attempts to compare health care systems in three developed countries, including Germany, Sweden and the United States in terms of access, cost and quality. This paper suggests potential policies for population health in developed countries. They include universal health care coverage, the reduction of poverty and income inequality and the reallocation from health care expenditures to non-health care expenditures.

The legal approach to abortion is evolving from criminal prohibition
towards accommodation as a life-preserving and health-preserving option,
particularly in light of data on maternal mortality and morbidity. Modern
momentum for liberalization comes from international adoption of the
concept of reproductive health, and wider recognition that the resort to
safe and dignified healthcare is a major human right. Respect for women's
reproductive self-determination legitimizes abortion as a choice when
family planning services have failed, been inaccessible, or been denied by rape. Recognition of women's rights of equal citizenship with men
requires that their choices for self-determination be legally respected,
not criminalized.