This article provides an outline of the history of the American Empire's rise and transformations. The analysis examines the political situation in America around 1800 when the country was established as a republic at a time when international imperialism was prevalent with still powerful British, French, and Spanish empires. The article argues that the territorial expansion within the North American continent was conducted within the realms of imperial ideology, although, unlike other empires, once included in the empire each state became an equal participant in the central authority. The article poses a new type of empire that have emerged in America following the second world war; an American Empire based on international alliances for the purpose of international and national security based on voluntary participation, although subject to economic support or sanction. The article suggests that the war on terrorism has brought power politics and alliances that mirror classic imperial ideals, with an increase in military presence to enforce imperial alliances. The author concludes that based on the problems experienced with imperialistic use of power in Afghanistan and Iraq it is unlikely that the U.S. is establishing a new classical empire. This article is one in a series of articles on the topic of empires. References. E. Sundby
"At the time of this book's publication, almost seven years have passed since the dramatic and brutal terror attacks at Norway's Government Headquarters in Oslo and the island of Utøya on 22 July 2011. How have we coped during this time? Which values have been important? Have we managed to protect the ideals of democracy, openness and humanity? And not least: Who is this ""we"" that we are referring to?
This scholarly anthology includes articles from researchers associated with the project NECORE (Negotiating Values: Collective Identities and Resilience after 22 July) and other researchers whose work is closely associated with the project. They give us insights, opinions and sharp perspectives on not just 22 July, but also about Norway today, about values, identities and resilience in Norwegian society in the wake of the terror attacks. An important backdrop for the book and the project is the assertion that, as the events themselves recede into the past, it is even more important to focus on what the terror events have led to and how we can learn from them. In a world where terrorism has become an all too common part of political reality, it is crucial that we understand how we ought to think about terror, and how we as a society encounter it."
The 2010s was a busy decade for the Northern Sea Route (NSR). It started with the first shipping season to feature the international use of the NSR for commercial purposes, followed by a significant reform of the domestic legal regime, as well as the adoption of the Polar Code. The traffic has gradually picked up, and although the expectations of a significant surge in trans-Arctic navigation have not materialized, the NSR's annual turnover has grown beyond the old records set by the USSR. While the Russian authorities have struggled to find the most optimal means of development of the NSR, the latter has recently been re-marketed as a Polar Silk Road, part of the grand Chinese One Belt One Road initiative. While Russia has been rebuilding its military presence in the Arctic, the French Navy vessel BSAH Rhone unexpectedly navigated through the NSR, inciting strong political, but yet not legal, response. The present article aims to take stock of the last decade, paying primary attention to the Russian State practice in developing, adopting, and enforcing legislation in the NSR. By describing the current status and identifying some of the regulatory trends, the article will draw cautious predictions on the role of the law of the sea in the management of the NSR in the near future.
The standoff between Russia and the West over Ukraine has already obstructed cooperation across a range of issues. Could it also affect state interaction between Norway and Russia in the Arctic—an area and a relationship long characterized by a culture of compromise and/or cooperation? Here we start from the theoretical premise that states are not pre-constituted political entities, but are constantly in the making. How Russia views its own role and how it views other actors in the Arctic changes over time, calling for differing approaches. That holds true for Norway as well. To clarify the premises for interaction between Russia and Norway in the Arctic, we scrutinize changes in official discourse on Self and Other in the Arctic on both sides in the period 2012 to 2016, to establish what kind of policy mode—"realist," "institutionalist," or "diplomatic management"—has underlain the two countries' official discourse in that period. Has Norway continued to pursue "balancing" policies undertaken in the realist mode with those in the diplomatic management mode? Which modes have characterized Russia's approach toward Norway? Finding that realist-mode policies increasingly dominate on both sides, in the conclusion we discuss how the changing mode of the one state affects that of the other, and why a New Cold War is now spreading to the Arctic.
In 2014, Norway celebrates the bicentenary of the Norwegian Constitution. The Constitution has been the backbone of a society that has created political stability, economic development and personal freedom for generations of Norwegians. The Norwegian Constitution was inspired by the democratic forces of its time, but most especially by the American Constitution. Today, they represent the world's two oldest, living constitutions. The book explains how the Norwegian Constitution was created, how it has functioned, and the democratic challenges it faces. The book also examines how the American Constiution has influenced the Norwegian Constiution. The book is directed toward a wide range of readers, especially students in all levels. Prominent Norwegian writers and scholars have explored these themes in this unique presentation of the Norwegian and American Constitution. President of the Norwegian Parliament, Olemic Thommessen, and American Vice President i USA, Walter Mondale, have written the preface. The book is a de lux book of art. A number of Norwegian contemporary artists are inspired by the constitution. They have been especially concerned about subjects related to the role of the individual in society, democracy, freedom of speech and preservation of natural resources. They also have focused on what it means to have a national identity. The artistic presentations cover a wide register and the illustrations are carried out in different technics. Exhibitions will be arranged in both Norway and the US where the pieces of art in the book will be presented
The article discusses opportunities and challenges related to co-ordination across governance levels. The challenge is at least threefold: partly related to the balance between continuity and change, specifically the ability of public administration to balance a stable core while adjusting, updating and reforming; partly the balance between efficiency and legitimacy, more precisely the ability to solve short-term problems in the face of crises and long-term challenges related to legitimate solutions in general and parliamentary anchoring specifically; partly the dilemma between political-administrative order in turbulent times, specifically how public institutions deal with crises and difficult problems when the relationships between problem and solution are difficult to understand and challenging to control. The article discusses these dilemmas in what is presented as a European multilevel administrative state. ; Artikkelen diskuterer muligheter og utfordringer knyttet til koordinering på tvers av styringsnivåer. Utfordringen er minst tredelt: Dels knyttet til balansen mellom kontinuitet og endring, nærmere bestemt evnen offentlig forvaltning har til å balansere en stabil kjerne samtidig som den justerer, oppdaterer og reformerer; dels balansen mellom effektivitet og legitimitet, nærmere bestemt evnen til kortsiktig problemløsningen i møtet med kriser og langsiktige utfordringer knyttet til legitime løsninger generelt og parlamentarisk forankring konkret; dels dilemmaet mellom politisk-administrativ orden i turbulente tider, nærmere bestemt hvordan offentlige institusjoner håndterer kriser og vanskelige problemer når sammenhengene mellom problem og løsning er vanskelige å forstå og krevende å kontrollere. Artikkelen diskuterer disse dilemmaene i det som fremstilles som en europeisk administrativ flernivåstat.
The duty of states to consult indigenous communities is a well-established legal principle, but its implications for practice remain uncertain. Sweden is finding itself at a particularly critical juncture as it prepares to legislate a duty to consult the Sami people in line with its international obligations. This paper explores the ability of Swedish state actors to implement the duty to consult, based on lessons from an already existing duty set out in Swedish minority law, namely to ensure the effective participation of minorities in land and resource decisions. Presenting novel empirical material on the views of Sami communities and state officials in ministries and agencies, we demonstrate the existence of considerable implementation gaps linked to practice, sectoral legislation, and political discourse. We argue that if state duties are to promote the intended intercultural reconciliation, then new measures are needed to ensure enforcement, e.g. via mechanisms of appeal and rules of nullification. In addition, sectoral resource regulations should be amended to refer to the duties set out in minority law and/or a potential new bill on consultation duty in a consistent manner. In the near-term, the state should ensure that Sami communities are adequately resourced to engage in consultation and should invest in state authorities' own ability to implement, i.e. through competence development, staffing, intersectoral coordination, and independent evaluation. Much could also be gained if state agencies and Sami communities worked together to develop detailed consultation routines for relevant resource sectors.
The article addresses the problem of welfare gaps in Europe in the context of the planned enlargement of the EU & NATO. In the beginning of 1990s one of the greatest challenges facing the West was the possibility of uncontrolled mass migration from the former Soviet bloc. The Western institutions, the EU & NATO, could meet this challenge by introducing restrictions on the movement of people, but they decided to embark on what could be termed a policy of "institutional migration." They both decided to go east & at the same time formulated clear entry criteria for those who wanted to join them. After a decade of difficult negotiations, Europe will take the next step on 1 May 2004 when 10 new countries will join the European integration project as new members. However, there are some signs that this enlargement can result in the creation of not a united but a more divided Europe, where the principle of solidarity may become a victim of short-sighted political games. The introduction of restrictions on the access to the common labor market to the citizens of the new member states is an unfortunate symbolic signal sent by the old members of the EU & may herald the creation of a Europe of two speeds, a development that may have far-reaching consequences for the future of the whole European integration project that for more than 50 years has secured peace on the continent. 2 Tables, 10 References. Adapted from the source document.
"This anthology examines various ethical issues related to conflicts of interest in research and raises fundamental questions about the role of research in society. In recent years, researchers and others have expressed concern on several occasions about how research has been conducted or used for political or economic gain, where outcomes of research have been called into question and accusations of rigging or poor quality have been leveled. "Conflict of interest" is a term from research ethics that can help clarify what is at the core of many of these cases.
Questions posed and explored in this anthology include: What exactly is a conflict of interest within the context of research? Is the ideal of pure, unbiased objectivity even realistic? To what degree can transparency remediate challenges associated with conflicts of interest?
The objective with this collection of chapters is to encourage reflection and discourse about the ethical principles and norms that insure quality and integrity in research. The anthology will be of interest to researchers in particular, and all others concerned with ethics in research." - "Denne antologien belyser ulike forskningsetiske aspekter ved interessekonflikter i forskning, og reiser grunnleggende spørsmål om forskningens rolle i samfunnet. I løpet av de siste årene har forskere og andre i flere tilfeller uttrykt bekymring over hvordan forskning styres og brukes av politiske og økonomiske interesser, der forskningsresultater trekkes i tvil, og der det fremmes anklager om fusk eller dårlig kvalitet. «Interessekonflikter» er et begrep fra forskningsetikken som kan bidra til å avklare hva som står på spill i mange av disse sakene. Spørsmål som tas opp i antologien, inkluderer:
Hva er egentlig interessekonflikter i forskning? Er idealet om interesseløshet realistisk? I hvilken grad kan åpenhet bøte på utfordringene knyttet til interessekonflikter? Målet er at tekstene i denne boken skal bidra til refleksjon og debatt om de etiske prinsippene og normene som skal verne om forskningens kvalitet og troverdighet. Antologien henvender seg til forskere og en bredere offentlighet som er opptatt av forskningsetiske spørsmål. Bidragsyterne er forskere, hovedsakelig innenfor naturvitenskapelige og teknologiske fag."
"The Norwegian food market engenders strong opinions and substantial media attention, with questions regarding agricultural regulations, competition between retail food chains, and the relationship between chains and their suppliers fueling debate. Meanwhile the country's politicians call for greater intervention.
Much of the debate can seem to be happening "against our better judgment". Vague assumptions about the state of the food sector, paired with a strong political will to apply initiatives, is reason enough to look closer at the situation.
This anthology provides an up-to-date factual assessment of the entire value chain in the food market. Central topics include development of productivity in the various segments of the food chain, price differences between different countries, and effects of Norway's tariff system. The book presents new contributions concerning the structure of the market, access to food stores and the significance of brand names, and especially to the kind of bargaining tactics employed between food chains and suppliers, with an overview of how their negotiations are carried out and possibilities for regulatory measures afforded under existing laws.
Against Better Judgment in the Norwegian Food Sector confirms existing knowledge and presents new findings that deserve attention from the sector itself, the media and public authorities. The book will be of interest to everyone seeking to understand the Norwegian food sector and take part in its further development.
The book's chapters have been written by seven researchers with lengthy experience in the field, and edited by Frode Steen, a professor in the Department of Economics at the Norwegian School of Economics, and Ivar Pettersen, a senior advisor at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research." - "Det norske matmarkedet er preget av sterke meninger og stor medieoppmerksomhet. Spørsmål som reguleringer i jordbruket, konkurranse mellom dagligvarekjeder og forholdet mellom kjeder og leverandører skaper debatt. Samtidig etterlyser landets politikere en mer intensiv bruk av virkemidler.
Mye av debatten kan synes å skje «mot bedre vitende». Uklare oppfatninger om tilstanden i matsektoren, koblet med en sterk politisk vilje til å gjøre tiltak, gir grunn til å se nærmere på situasjonsbeskrivelsen.
Denne boken gir et oppdatert faktagrunnlag om hele verdikjeden i matmarkedet. Sentrale tema er produktivitetsutvikling i de ulike leddene i matkjeden, prisforskjeller mellom ulike land og effekter av det norske tollvernet. Boken presenterer nye bidrag rundt markedsstruktur, butikktilgjengelighet og merkevarens betydning. Forhandlingsspillet mellom kjeder og leverandører vies stor plass, med innføring i hvordan forhandlingene foregår samt hvilke muligheter eksisterende lovverk gir for regulerende tiltak.
Mot bedre vitende i norsk matsektor bekrefter eksisterende kunnskap og frembringer nye funn som fortjener oppmerksomhet fra bransje, medier og myndigheter. Boken vil være nyttig for alle som ønsker å forstå norsk matsektor og delta i den videre utformingen av denne.
Boken inneholder bidrag fra syv forskere med lang fartstid på feltet. Den er redigert av Frode Steen, professor ved Institutt for samfunnsøkonomi ved Norges Handelshøyskole, og Ivar Pettersen, seniorrådgiver ved Norsk institutt for bioøkonomi."
How have smart phones and social media changed life for young people today? Why do we get irritated when boys are in trouble, but worried when girls are? How do Muslim youth really feel about being called a 'goddamned terrorist'?YOUTH reveals what it's like to be a young person in today's world. We gain new empirical information on life within the context of family, school, and sports. We are invited to drinking parties where sexual boundaries are tested. We also tag along with a group of guys on a hunting trip where the shotgun shells are high gauge. And: Is it true that rates of anxiety and depression have increased? Or that gender identity has become so fluid that more and more young people believe they are neither 'girl' nor 'boy'?The book details some distinct trends – a school that disciplines students in new ways, less alcohol consumption and problematic behavior, disinclination toward early sex. We also see a fascinating political activism. It is the young who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis battle.Publication of YOUTH also marks the 30th anniversary of the leading center for youth research in Norway, established at NOVA, the Norwegian Social Research institute at Oslo Metropolitan University.This book will be relevant to researchers, students, teachers and all those who work on behalf of young people from the national to the local level, as well as politicians, journalists and others interested in research-based information about how young people actually live today.Guro Ødegård is a senior researcher and institute leader at OsloMet's Norwegian Social Research institute, NOVA. Willy Pedersen is professor of sociology at the University of and a NOVA affiliate.; Hvordan har smarttelefonen og sosiale medier endret livet til dagens unge? Hvorfor irriterer vi oss over gutter som lager trøbbel for andre, mens vi bekymrer oss for jenter som sliter? Hvordan oppleves det egentlig for muslimske ungdommer å bli kalt «jævla terrorist»?UNGDOMMEN bretter ut livet til dagens unge. Vi får ny empirisk kunnskap om livet i familien, i skolen og i idretten. Vi blir med inn på fuktige fester hvor seksuelle grenser presses. Men vi blir også med en gjeng gutter på jakt, hvor haglpatronene skal være av grovt kaliber. Dessuten: Stemmer det at forekomsten av angst og depresjon har økt? Eller at kjønnskategoriene flyter, at stadig flere opplever at de hverken er «gutt» eller «jente»?Boken viser noen tydelige tendenser – en skole som disiplinerer elevene på nye måter, mindre alkohol og problematferd, tilbakeholdenhet med tidlig sex. Samtidig ser vi et fascinerende politisk opprør. Det er ungdom som viser vei i klimakampen.UNGDOMMEN markerer at det er 30 år siden det ledende ungdomsforskningsmiljøet i Norge, som befinner seg på NOVA ved OsloMet, ble etablert.Boken henvender seg til forskere, studenter, lærere og alle som arbeider med ungdom på statlig og lokalt nivå, samt til politikere, journalister og andre som kan ha nytte av forskningsbasert kunnskap om hvordan ungdom faktisk lever i dag.Guro Ødegård er forsker 1 og instituttdirektør ved Velferdsforskningsinstituttet NOVA ved OsloMet. Willy Pedersen er professor i sosiologi ved Universitetet i Oslo og tilknyttet NOVA ved OsloMet.
