Suchergebnisse

The contribution of multinational enterprises to wealth creation is evident, but there is much discussion on whether the consequent power is, or ought to be, used responsibly for social and economic ends. In employment relations, although international standards have long been established, current issues include the use of child labour, safety, differential pay, hiring policies and conditions, especially towards locals. This paper attempts to identify the ethical, as opposed to prudential or legal, dimensions of the issues, especially as illustrated in case studies, and to estimate the prospects for agreed improvement. The paper suggests that technical management skills, ethical awareness and the propagation of international standards together are not enough to reduce the contentiousness of the various practices. Inclusion of consumers (the ultimate paymasters) tends to be rudimentary. Discussions of other relevant persons in the "stakeholder" debate have yielded little practical application. Economic and business pluralism could be helpful.

The past two years have been especially significant for those subject to or involved in Virginia's system for providing court-appointed fiduciaries for incapacitated adults. Major legislation enacted in the 1997 Session of the Virginia General Assembly substantially reformed, clarified and restated the statutory system. Generally, the 1997 legislation became effective January 1, 1998. Further changes and refinements were made in the 1998 Session. The new system is more rational, coherent, unified and sensitive to the needs and rights of incapacitated adults than the system it replaces.

Why would a declining power help arm a neighboring and once-hostile rising power? Current international relations literature cannot explain relationships in which one powerful country contributes directly to its long-term relative decline in order to make smaller, short-term gains. This study focuses on one example, the Treaty on Good Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, signed in Moscow on July 16, 2001. Presenting evidence that this alliance embodies a relationship that is based primarily on sales of arms from Russia to China, the authors argue that this association cannot be explained by current theory. Three variables appear most important to understanding the arms sales element of this case: declining relative position discloses the structural factors behind Russia's actions; domestic policy explains its willingness to make what had appeared as rash sacrifices; and identity issues explain the core motivations and interests of each actor.