Suchergebnisse

A theoretical discussion on the relationship between globalization and international norms and whether the economy could be reformed into a just and stable system. According to the neoliberal and structuralist rational choice theory, states try to maximize their own benefit, which in turn determines international norms. The constructivist model flags for a socially conditional rationality where these norms are based on ideas, values and cultures alone. A possible path to international institutional reform could be the United Nations whose economist and sociologists disused the market crisis as a system crisis. However, a real reform cannot take place before more powerful multinational institutions have been developed. L. Pitkaniemi

If the struggle for power becomes a matter of decision for a pol'al party or pol'al figure in a democracy, the ensuing action may not be in accord with previous behavior. The British pol'al scene shows an actual example of this kind of applied psychol. The Suez affair & its subsequent crisis created a serious psychol'al crisis in GB, a crisis so severe that Harold Macmillan had to deal with it by original methods. Forced to take measures, such as the one giving British shipowners the right to again use the canal, which really indicate the decline in British power, he nevertheless succeeded in restoring public confidence. He took his cabinet ministers in hand by allowing them a large measure of individual initiative, unlike Eden who supervised the most minute details of admin'tion. His authority over the Conservative party was very rapidly reaffirmed, to the point where he was able to force Lord Salisbury to leave the Cabinet. In the end he managed to get the Conservatives in Parliament behind him, by channeling their dislike toward the Labor Party, & by also directing their animosity toward the US & the UN. His apparent calm & indifference allowed him to take a neutral position toward these scapegoats, leaving vindictiveness to his partisans by this device. All of his efforts, however, did not succeed in restoring his prestige with the public who are less sensitive to the psychol'al techniques of the leader than the politicians, & who measure a politician in terms of his accomplishments, which have not been, so far very favorable. Tr by J. A. Broussard from IPSA.

A review essay on books by (1) Neill Nugent (Ed), European Union Enlargement (Basingtoke, UK: Palgrave, 2004); (2) Karen E. Smith, European Union Foreign Policy in a Changing World (Cambridge: Polity, 2003); & (3) Timothy Garton Ash, Free World. Why a Crisis of the West Reveals the Opportunity of Our Time (London: Allen Lane, 2004). Adapted from the source document.

Both industrialized nations and Latin American developing countries are losers under the burden of the crushing debt crisis. Although lower population growth rates and a certain increase in exports do permit a measure of optimism, Latin America may be facing a future of social turmoil and the possibility of military take-overs. If, on the other hand, the region's debt burden could be reduced, the future could bring an influx of foreign capital providing new growth and a strengthening of the democratric process

2014 marked important milestones for Afghanistan. It gained a new political leadership by a democratic election, the NATO International Stabilisation Force (ISAF) was withdrawn, and the country took the initiative to a wider and more trusting cooperation with its neighbor Pakistan (RFE/RL 2014). 2015 is a crucial year. We will get an indication of whether Afghanistan can stand on its own and if the (partial) military extraction was wise, and to what extent the new administration is viable. Adapted from the source document.

An interview with Geir Lundestad, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, Professor of History, and Author. Lundestad answers questions about his academic career and his position as Director of the Nobel Institute. The role of the individual as a catalyst for peace is addressed. There is a discussion about the candidate selection process of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, for which Lundestad compiles a list of candidates, and about the Committee's definition of peace. Lundestad discusses the inception of the concept "empire by invitation," for which he is internationally recognized. Lundestad will be releasing a new book, "Just Another Major Crisis? The United States and Europe since 2000," which focus on the war in Iraq and its impact on transatlantic relations. E. Sundby

In a critical review of the work of E. H. Carr on international politics, Carr's stature as an early critic of Western-Soviet relations is discussed. Carr, best known for his works What Is History? (1962) & The Twenty Years' Crisis (1939), had good timing: eg, his analysis of the failure of policy toward the Central Powers & the USSR appeared on the eve of WWII. Carr was a pioneering figure in that he served both as influential historian & influential policymaker in the British Foreign Office during this period, & his assessment of realism & utopianism, while critiqued in the intervening years, is part of a body of work that still holds value today, particularly for students of international politics. 9 References. A. Siegel

During the pandemic model for swedish public management have been discussed. In the societal debate, demands have been made for increased centralization and for the state to take over municipal areas of responsibility. The pandemic's crisis management has revealed a lack of knowledge about municipalities among government authorities and that there are differences in conditions between municipalities for the implementation of the activities. In studies of five municipalities and one region during the period 2020–2021 the results show the local level's ability to handle pandemics, which is also confirmed by international studies. The crisis management of the region/municipalities has shown the strength of a decentralized structure, but also that important development issues must be handled locally for an effective management of future crises. The answer lie in strengthening local self-government and addressing the challenges that exist in the multi-level governance that has come to characterize the public sector. ; I samband med pandemin har den svenska förvaltningsmodellen diskuterats. Det har funnits ett ifrågasättande av kommunernas förmåga att hantera den kris som pandemin innebar. Samtidigt har pandemins krishantering avslöjat så väl brist på kunskap om kommunal verksamhet bland statliga myndigheter som att det föreligger skillnader i förutsättningar mellan kommuner för verksamhetens genomförande. I studier som genomförts av fem kommuner och en region under perioden 2020–2021 visar tvärtom resultatet på den lokala nivåns förmåga att hantera pandemin, vilket även bekräftas av internationella studier. Regionens och kommunernas krishantering har visat styrkan i en decentraliserad samhällsstruktur, men också att viktiga utvecklingsfrågor och blottlagda brister måste hanteras lokalt för en ändamålsenlig hantering av kommande kriser och för en gynnsam utveckling i vardagen. Svaret finns inte i en ökad centralisering, utan en förstärkning av det kommunala självstyret och att ta sig an de utmaningar som finns i ...

Discusses what problems were present in the world economy on a macro and a micro level, how it resulted in the financial crisis and how the authorities were trying to intervene in order to stabilize the situation. On the macroeconomic level Americans bought cheep Asian goods while printing a lot of money, but inflation was kept at bay since the money was sent to Asia. The circle was complete when Americans lent the money back from Asia and speculated with it. On the microeconomic level structured investment vehicles (SIVs) and asset backed commercial paper (ABCP) created problems especially when they were combined with collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and mortgage-backed securities (MBS). The boom turned into bust after 2006 when there were not enough house buyers left. L. Pitkaniemi

1970s military dictatorship in Latin America was followed by a democratization process in the 1980s, at a point when military powers had devastated the economy & more than doubled foreign debt. Now, in the beginning of the twenty-first century, the region finds itself in a period marked by governments that, perhaps more than ever before, are characterized by their reaction to the neo-liberal policies of the 1990s. Of particular concern in this respect is the changing relationship between the region & the United States, which in turn opens opportunity for the involvement of other international actors in the sphere. This brings about a high degree of uncertainty both for Latin America itself as well as for the international community. Some of the many cases of Latin American economies & politics in crisis are described here in detail. C Brunski

As the Earth's changing climate has deepened into a climate crisis, the Arctic region has emerged as one of the clearest indicators of the scale and pace of that change. As the ice melts, opportunities are expanding to exploit the Arctic's oil and gas reserves, precious metals, fish stocks and maritime routes. Increased access and development will inevitably generate "system-wide environmental impacts" and will pose novel management challenges for the Arctic states. In the quest to find an effective balance between competing ocean activities and actors, marine protected areas (MPAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) have emerged as indispensable tools to achieve ocean health, including in the Arctic. After first introducing these concepts, this article will discuss the Canadian and Russian domestic regimes for the establishment of MPAs and OECMs. The conclusion will then offer some insights into the key challenges confronting both states in the creation of effective networks of MPAs and OECMs in their Arctic regions.