Suchergebnisse

Factors that have prompted regional & international entities to advocate the incorporation of governance into political systems are examined; in addition, several forms of transnational governance are identified & subsequently differentiated from one another. Several circumstances that have encouraged regional & international organizations & interests to support the integration of government & governance are highlighted including the highly complicated nature of existing social problems (eg, poverty & social violence) & the ongoing conflict between various dyads (globalization/localization & integration/fragmentation). Although regional & international entities offer strong support for governance, it is noted that this backing entails certain costs, eg, the further disaggregation of authority & the inability to fully conceptualize relations between competing spheres of authority. A typological framework that separates transnational governance into six distinct forms along directional & structural axis is then introduced; for example, top-down governance is viewed as a unidirectional, formal-structured type of transnational governance. Recommendations for future research designed to address the shortcomings of transnational governance are also given. 1 Figure. J. W. Parker

This article examines the impact of Korean civil society on politics since democratization. Weak mediating institutions prevent the systematic inclusion of societal actors in the policymaking process, pitting an increasingly strengthened civil society against the state. Consequently, Korean state-society relations continue to remain contentious, posing challenges to democratic governance.

PurposeWhile recent changes to Fairtrade's governance structures aim to facilitate "stronger voices" for producers, relatively little is known about the impact on individual farmers. This paper aims to consider the nature of participation and representation, assessing the role of Fairtrade International (FLO) in representing the interests of its members through an exploration of collaborative governance.Design/methodology/approachThe author utilizes Fung and Wright's framework of empowered participatory governance to explore the nature of individual participation in Fairtrade governance.FindingsThis paper finds that, while FLO has demonstrated a commitment to improving producer participation and its governance structures appear to be evolving accordingly, much remains to be done in order to ensure that individual producers are genuinely engaged in decision making and have a voice. The concept of countervailing power may provide a means of achieving this.Practical implicationsThis paper highlights gaps in the literature that future research might serve to fill. It also finds that there are practical implications for FLO's structures and policies that aim to encourage individual participation and representation, particularly with regards to capacity building and leadership. In addition, the notion of countervailing power is outlined as a useful concept for further addressing diversity and heterogeneity in Fairtrade participation.Originality/valueThis paper focuses on Fairtrade's emerging agenda related to producer voices, while applying EPG in a novel manner. This theoretical framework allows for an original interpretation of the existing empirical material on Fairtrade, and the introduction of countervailing power as a useful concept within Fairtrade may be of interest to both practitioners and researchers.

The start of a new European Commission represents a unique opportunity to build on successful regulatory reforms and to create the institutional architecture needed to ensure that high quality scientific evidence is used effectively in EU decision–making. The appointment by President Barroso of a Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) in 2011 constituted an important springboard in this respect. The CSA Office has made a considerable and positive difference to the regulatory environment. This article argues for embedding the CSA Office into the institutional and procedural arrangements of the Commission by re–defining its organisational role and responsibilities as well as the resources allocated to it. The institutionalisation of the CSA Office and the creation of a fully–fledged risk regulation regime would provide a robust element of the EU's response to the demands for better governance by its citizens, as expressed in the recent European elections.