Suchergebnisse

Since the 1980s, Hong Kong triad societies have evolved from hierarchical, pyramidal organizations to loose, compartmentalized syndicates that retain a modicum of hierarchy. Changes in triad organization and modus operandi occurred in response to stringent anti-organized crime measures enacted in Hong Kong. However, organizational evolution has facilitated triad transplantation to China and improved triads' ability to engage in transnational crime. Triads have exploited favorable circumstances in China: prevalent corruption, rapid urbanization, and high demand for illicit goods and services. This paper includes two case studies of the Sun Yee On triad. The first examines Sun Yee On's localized activity by tracing the evolution of one Shenzhen area chapter. The second case study examines Sun Yee On's role as a supplier of methamphetamine precursor chemicals to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel. Sun Yee On exemplifies how modern triads have become hybridized, assuming attributes of both local Chinese organized crime and transnational criminal networks. (Asian Aff/GIGA)

Discusses three problems characterizing the debate on unipolarity: (1) a conceptual dilemma concerning the absence of any logically necessary or historically demonstrable association between unipolarity & unilateralism or between multipolarity & multilateralism; (2) a problem related to the internal US debate & the absence of a dominant "unipolar unilateralist" outlook from any US foreign policymakers; (3) the issue regarding the direction of post-Cold War diplomacy & the difficulty of reconciling the actual record of postcommunist events with the thesis that a shift in the balance of power led to increased US unilateralism. Analysis does not support the view that US unilateralism is the result of a unipolar imbalance of power & that a return to multipolarity is a necessary or sufficient condition for creating a stronger multilateral order. Adapted from the source document.

Arguing that there is no consensus in the academic or policymaking communities about how multilateralism should be defined, five conceptual issues that might be used to frame a more productive transatlantic discussion of multilateralism are examined: (1) the importance of norms vs numbers; (2) universal vs non-universal arrangements; (3) the problem of "dysfunctional multilateralism"; (4) enforcement, compliance, & the role of international organizations; (5) & the relationship between multilateralism & European integration. Adapted from the source document.