Suchergebnisse

Intro -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- 1 Introduction -- Themes of the Book -- Outline of the Book -- References -- 2 Descent with Modification -- Introduction -- What Does Evolution by Natural Selection Mean? -- Population Thinking, Adaptation and Fitness -- Are Something like Genes Needed for There to Be Social Evolution? -- References -- 3 Darwinian Social Evolution -- Introduction -- Earlier Models of Social Evolution -- Replicators and Interactors: David L Hull -- Cultural Variants: Boyd and Richerson -- Attractive Ideas: Dan Sperber -- Practicing Roles: W. G. Runciman -- Puncturing Institutions: Hendrik Spruyt -- Generalized Darwinism: Hodgson and Knudsen -- Conclusion: Assembling the Toolkit -- References -- 4 Theories of Social Change -- The Sources of Social Power -- Social Evolution or History? -- The Evolutionary Mann and Zhao -- References -- 5 Theories of Nationalism -- Introduction -- Andreas Wimmer: Nations as Forms of Exclusion -- Siniša Malešević: Does National Identity Exist? -- John Hutchinson's Culture Wars -- Atsuko Ichijo's Multiple Paths to Nationalism -- The Darwinian Synthesis -- References -- 6 The Origins of Nationalism in England/Britain -- Introduction -- Medieval England -- The Reformation -- From Protestants, to Imperials, to Nation: England into Britain -- References -- 7 Fukoku Kyōhei: Nationalism in Japan -- Introduction -- Japan: A Brief History -- Tokugawa Japan-Why No Nationalism -- Nationalism and Modernization in Japan -- References -- 8 The Comparative Case: England, Japan and Darwinian Social Evolution -- Introduction -- Theoretical Conclusions: The Cases in Comparative Perspective -- War and the Formation of Nationalisms -- Variation and the generation of ideas and institutions -- Lineages -- Nationalism, Social Evolution and Social Change -- References -- 9 Conclusion -- References -- References.

After 15 years the WTO is not functioning as envisioned and is faced with many new trade challenges - climate change, terrorism, pandemics, genetically modified organisms, food safety - which it is ill-equipped to handle. Conflict, Chaos and Confusion sheds light on this deep and acute crisis, focusing on contentious and complex new trade issues and how they will affect international trade in the future. William Kerr demonstrates that there is no obvious way forward out of the current antagonistic climate. In the absence of any constructive initiatives the system appears chaotic. Everyone from seasoned trade policy veterans, business people engaging in international transactions, to domestic politicians and voters seem confused and apprehensive given the complexity of the problems brought by globalization. In just over a decade, the WTO has gone from an institution that was imbued with considerable optimism to one in deep crisis. The author explores in detail the major issues confronting the international trading system that have hitherto not enjoyed a great deal of attention.He provides insights that will inform the debate and discounts some of the simplistic solutions that are all too often proffered. Informative, accessible and thought provoking, this book combines economic analysis with law, political science and institutional development within an historical context. As such, it will prove a fascinating read for a wide ranging audience encompassing academics and students of economics, international economics and international law, trade officials in both governments and NGOs, as well as trade policymakers in developing and developed countries.

AbstractThis paper explores the use of Darwinian social evolutionary theory towards understanding the formation of nations through a specific engagement with John Hutchinson's Nations as Zones of Conflict, particularly the idea of 'culture wars'. After outlining Hutchinson's framework and the principles of Darwinian social evolutionary theory – namely, the key concepts of inheritance, variation, and selection within an environmental context – I make a case for Darwinian concepts being able to support and expand on Hutchinson's ethno‐symbolic approach. I argue that Darwinian social evolutionary theory offers a powerful explanation for why particular myths, symbols, traditions, and memories endure and are revived and revitalized in nationalist contexts. The development of nationalism in Meiji Japan is used as an example to explore these ideas.

AbstractThis article explores the use of a revised conception of social evolutionary theory towards an understanding of nationalism. First, I review the debate between ethno‐symbolism and modernism, through the lens of the Warwick Debate between Gellner and Smith, arguing that both are partly right. Secondly, I outline what the revised conception of social evolution is looking first at its traditional conception before outlining a Darwinian view of social evolutionary theory. Finally, I examine how Darwinian social evolutionary theory can help fruitfully bring the ethno‐symbolic and modernist perspectives together. This is done by a sustained engagement primarily with the theories of Anthony Smith and Ernest Gellner pointing to how Darwinian social evolutionary theory can provide a link between the two theories that makes them mutually supportive rather than opposed.

Divergent regulation of GE commodities on the world market leads to trade barriers and reduces trade flow. Rules regulating international trade of GE crops do not exist, even though there is a long history of actions taken by the World Trade Organization to establish paths forward to address trade barriers in the global marketplace for GE crops. Political realities in some countries, especially those with strong anti-GE agendas, are supplanting science as the primary basis for domestic policies and trade rules. Furthermore, the ever-increasing worldwide presence of GE crops in the global marketplace becomes more problematic in light of zero tolerance policies for adventitious presence of GE materials in shipments of non-GE crops. Harmonization of trade standards among different countries could resolve current policies that result in trade barriers; however, harmonization requires establishing mutually acceptable regulatory frameworks for trade in GE crops that exceed the scope of trade negotiations.