Suchergebnisse

A critical analysis of cosmopolitan ideals argues that the development of civilized & non-humiliating international institutions requires an emphasis on global decency. A "decent" society is defined as one whose institutions do not humiliate people. The notion of a decent society is said to be guided by political realism & a sense of urgency. Although it is more important to have a just society, it is not as urgent as achieving a decent society. Stressing the behavior of institutions rather than personal relations distinguishes a decent society from a civilized society. Depending on the prior creation of a world-state is not the way to either stop institutional humiliation or establish a decent society. Rather, there is a need for international interventions aimed at ending cruelty & the humiliation of persons & national minorities. Although decolonization promoted non-intervention in the "internal affairs" of independent sates, it is argued that international intervention carried out on a case-by-case basis to prevent cruelty & humiliation must be considered a prime political priority. J. Lindroth

Considers the possibility of a third major transformation in sociocultural evolution that will bring more sustainable future societies. The agricultural & industrial revolutions are briefly described, noting the destabilization associated with the latter paradigm. A third major revolution is said to be fomenting, & it is argued that greater knowledge of the involved dynamics ought to guide policy choices along a route where the harshest effects of sociocultural change are ameliorated. The roots of sustainability are traced to the combined impact of the global population explosion, industrial expansion, & rapid rise in raw materials demand in the 1960s-1970s, which elicited a response from science. Sustainability is best viewed as a dynamic process linked to a shift from materialist & environmentally degrading industrial to postindustrial & postmaterialist societies, & the sustainability problematique is argued to be a two-sided amalgamation of environmental, economic, social, & political paradoxes related to the waning of industrial society & the rise of a sustainable way of life. In noting the difficult character of such a process, three sets of factors working to destabilize & transform the current environmentally destructive world economy are delineated: widespread recognition of growth limits, demographic change, & emerging postindustrial technologies. In addition, problems & conflicts concomitant with any shift toward sustainable society are elaborated, eg, how to define & measure progress. Sustainable transportation is briefly looked at, focusing on the unsustainable nature of the internal combustion engine & private automobile. J. Zendejas

Offers the apparent North American consensus on the analysis of international political economy, highlighting the empirical hotspots that have captured the most attention & some that require a bit more consideration. The areas of international trade, monetary relations, & foreign direct investment are scrutinized to define the research limits of international political economy in terms of empirical puzzles & a theoretical agenda. Some research strands are organized around concepts, eg, international cooperation, rather than specific areas; the need for more nuanced & measurable outcomes for these analyses is cited. The domestic politics of foreign economic policy is examined, noting that the heart of the domestic-international link lies in the reciprocal impact of domestic institutions & interests on international interaction. Attention turns to the international level of analysis targeting the strategic interactions of national states with respect to economic affairs & the role of international institutions in setting the tone of international economic relationships. The narrow range of analytical & empirical problems tackled by the extant literature is cited, & it is contended that theorizing the integration of the domestic & international levels of analysis is a key pursuit. J. Zendejas

"Verschiedene Ansätze zur Energiesicherheit, wie strategische/ geopolitische Faktoren oder die regulierenden Kräfte des Marktes, sollten nicht als sich gegenseitig ausschließend betrachtet werden, sondern vielmehr als komplementäre Strategien." (Autorenreferat)

Explores the extent to which the media reports extensively on global issues that lack the drama typical of warfare through examining US & German media coverage of global warming debates at the time of the 1997 Kyoto international conference. In the US, media reports concerning global warming were typical of domestic coverage rather than that of foreign affairs. Global warming debate coverage in Germany was less domesticated, largely because of German consensus on the matter & because Germany is not a major actor. Both the German & US news emphasized the role of the US on the outcome of the global-warming debate, & German media coverage was therefore very critical of the Clinton administration. The German media engaged in domestic power indexing through directing greater attention to the governing & opposition parties than to political actors. The German press covered global warming as a threat to humankind. Both the US & Germany indexed & framed the news to fit their domestic political meanings, making the hope that international news could be a unifying force among countries premature. 6 Tables. L. A. Hoffman

It is contended that global & regional integration processes have exerted great influence over Australia's political economy & society & has initiated change within the nation's federal political system. After providing an overview of Australia's extensive participation in international affairs via its current political, security, & trade alliances, an overview of Australia's federal framework is presented; two forces that have influenced the nature of Australia's constitutional system -- the execution of new treaties & the formation of the Council of Australian Governments -- are highlighted. It is subsequently demonstrated that global & regional integration have introduced new difficulties within Australia's federal system; augmented the Australian government's criticism of the United Nations' international human rights regime; & improved economic & social relations between Australia, various Asian countries, & New Zealand. In addition, the Council of Australian Governments' influence upon the nation's federal political system is also assessed. It is concluded that Australian federalism would be strengthened by the establishment of a shared governance regime within the international community but threatened by an international order characterized by dominant regional blocs. 44 References. J. W. Parker

Imperialism, sub imperialism & anti-imperialism are all settling into durable patterns & alignments in Africa, even if the continent's notoriously confusing political discourse sometimes conceals the collisions & solutions. The postures of the antiwar rhetoric expressed by Mandela & Mbeki in South Africa are best understood as "talking left, walking right." The role of sub-Saharan Africa in imperialism is related to global circuits of crisis management that were reflected in the US Naval War College's "The Pentagon's New Map" that identified dangers zones for imperialism as incubators of the next generation of global terrorists. The incorporation of Africa into global capitalism through the South African connection identifies the exploitation of role of Johannesburg businesses in mining, construction, financial services, retail & tourism sectors as the most important factors. The ideological backing for corporate oriented subimperialism is located in the South African Institute for International Affairs, although Mbeki's support for the WTO has generated suspicion as the George Bush of Africa. The function of Pretoria's anti-imperialist rhetoric is concluded to be evident as a disguising of subimperial practices during an encouraging recent rise of social movement protests against neoliberalism. The challenge for Africa's progressive force is to establish the difference between "reformist reforms" & advance a "non-reformist" agenda to strengthen democratic movements, empower the producers, & open the door to the contestation of capitalism itself. References. J. Harwell

The role of transnational media organizations in influencing diplomacy, foreign affairs, & security has increased in the post-Cold War era. The media has evolved from domestic agencies into interdependent transnationals, as evidenced by CNN's role in the Gulf War. The evolution, structure, & operation of the two major global media players -- CNN & BCC News -- are charted. The media are involved in promoting government activities, but at the same time, need to be harnessed for national security. A "CNN effect" is disputed -- the immediacy of the new media does not necessarily underlie a loss of policy-making control in government. Media issues related to war coverage, military operations, & humanitarian missions are discussed. Traditional barriers to the flow of information will be further dissolved by new technologies, so security policy needs to stay on the cutting edge to address these. M. Pflum

"Militärische Auseinandersetzungen in der Straße von Taiwan oder im Südchinesischen Meer werden nicht nur ökonomische und sicherheitspolitische Auswirkungen in der Region selbst haben, sondern global zu spüren sein, auch in Europa." (Autorenreferat)

The presence of HIV in the blood supply in France created probably the biggest political scandal of the 20th century; three former ministers (including the prime minister), doctors, scientific experts, & government advisers have stood trial or have trials pending. The structure of the system contributed to what was also a global failure in technical risk management: (1) Political forces had worked to promote solidarity with the gay victims of the epidemic, rather than to defend public health concerns. (2) Cost containment became important, & the health ministry was subordinated to the ministry of social affairs & could not obtain a budget for AIDS. (3) Decision-making competence shifted from ministers to advisory staff, further marginalizing the power of the central health administration. While France controlled the risk within the normal time frame of other Western countries, the scientific advance in HIV research & the public service structure of the entire blood sector could have could saved more lives. The political fallout was considered a policy failure, but the learning process from the investigations created long-term policy success as the public demanded accountability from public authorities & politicians. L. A. Hoffman

"Chinas Politik in der asiatisch-pazifischen Region sieht bereits heute mehr als nur eine regionale Rolle für Peking vor. Gleichzeitig ist sie sich jedoch auch bewusst, dass sie auf absehbare Zeit keine globale Supermacht ist und mit den USA auf dieser Ebene nicht konkurrieren kann." (Autorenreferat)

"Es gibt hinsichtlich der Bewältigung von transnationalen Wanderungsbewegungen in einer globalisierten Welt keine Alternative zu einer intensiveren internationalen und zivilgesellschaftlichen Kooperation." (Autorenreferat)